After snorkeling with Manatees I was looking for a place to chill out and maybe get some conch fritters. I stumbled unto Dan’s Clam Stand and had one of the best seafood meals ever.
I sat in the outdoor Tiki hut, attached to the very utilitarian looking main building, sat back, and chowed. I was in luck, as they had conch on the day I went. The conch fritters were outstanding. Unlike so many places, I could actually see, feel, and taste the conch.
I then had a gator burger. It was very nice. The taste of gator is actually very mild, so I would recommend tartar sauce, or even better, the really yummy horseradish sauce served by the house. Have the hush puppies, you can get fries anywhere. The puppies are good.
For the less adventuresome stomachs, Dan’s has a lot of the standard seafood fare including clams, oysters, and some really delicious fried shrimp. Decent sized, the shrimp flavor still comes through. My problem with a lot of places that sell fried seafood is that everything, the shrimp, calamari, clams; taste the same—like batter. The fried seafood at Dan’s retains its taste and the crispiness from the fried batter only enhances the texture.
I actually met Dan, a gregarious and generous person. He certainly enjoys feeding people good food. This is a great place to relax, chow, maybe get a beer or two, and watch the world drive by.
Appetizers are between $5 and $7, and a seafood sandwich with hush puppies is about $8.
There is another location run by Dan's wife. The Address is 7364 W. Grover Cleveland Boulevard; Homosassa, FL 34446; (352) 795-9081. Please note that Dan's is not open on Sundays.