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Warning: Don’t come here with a posse. Littleneck is not set up for large parties. But what it lacks in space, the restaurant makes up for in kitsch and shellfish. Creamy clam chowder is pleasingly salty with enough meaty, moist clams to ensure that one ends up in every spoonful—a rarity in the stingy world of chowda. Shell out for a selection of oysters, shucked and served with mignonette and cocktail sauce or, if your wallet is tight, go the raw clam route and then move on to a lobster or clam roll. The former features mayo-slicked chunks of meat stuffed into a warm roll, while the latter’s filling is fried and a bit leaden … though much more successful than the Thai-inspired mussels. They’re disappointingly wan, watery, and without bread for dipping. But you won’t miss them if you opt for the single dessert option: homemade pie and pitch-perfect French brasserie mousse. — Lauren Bloomberg

New England clam chowder, $7; clam roll, $16