Clambake Season Is Here In Southern New England: What to Expect When You Book One

Can you smell it? That unmistakable combination of fresh lobster, steamed clams, and salt air that tells you summer in New England is almost here. Clambake season kicks off in earnest around Memorial Day weekend, and every year we hear the same thing from first-timers: “I had no idea it was this easy.”

That’s kind of the whole point.

If you’ve been thinking about booking a clambake for a graduation party, a family reunion, a backyard birthday, or any occasion that deserves something more memorable than a deli tray, here’s exactly what to expect — from the menu to the setup to why April is the month to make it happen.

What’s Included in a B&M Clambake

A traditional New England clambake from B&M isn’t just a pile of seafood on a picnic table. Our full-service New England Clambake menu includes lobster (or your choice of BBQ chicken, steak tips, or lemon dill salmon for guests who’d rather skip the shell), New England clam chowder with oyster crackers, steamed clams, steamed mussels with drawn butter and broth, corn on the cob, red bliss potatoes and onions, watermelon, and lemonade or coffee. It’s a complete spread.

With our full-service events, the B&M team cooks everything on-site at your location. That means your guests get their food fresh off the fire, not reheated in a hotel pan. Our staff handles the entire buffet — setup, service, and cleanup — and we pack up leftovers for you before we head out. You won’t be scrubbing pots at midnight.

Prefer a more relaxed option? Our Baby Clambake and drop-off delivery menus are great for smaller or more casual gatherings, and everything can be picked up from our commissary in Pawtucket, RI.

What You Need to Have Ready

Here’s the setup question we get asked most: what do you need to provide?

The short answer is: not much. B&M brings the cooking equipment, buffet serving tables, utensils, paper goods, and everything needed to run the food service. You’ll want to have guest seating arranged — tables and chairs for your guests aren’t included — but that’s about it. We take care of everything else from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave.

Outdoor space is a natural fit for a backyard clambake, but we work in all kinds of venues — tented events, waterfront properties, farms, you name it. If you’re planning an event in Rhode Island, South Coast Massachusetts, or Eastern Connecticut, just share the details when you reach out and we’ll make sure the setup plan fits your space.

Ideal Party Sizes for a Clambake

This is a format that scales beautifully. A clambake works just as well for an intimate backyard gathering of 25 as it does for a corporate party of 150 or more. Drop-off and delivery menus are well-suited for smaller groups, while full-service on-site catering really shines when you’re feeding a crowd.

Not sure which service level makes sense for your headcount? That’s what our catering coordinators are here for. We’ve done intimate clambakes in backyards across Westerly, large-scale corporate spreads in New Bedford, and everything in between across southern New England. Tell us what you’re working with and we’ll help you build the right plan.

Why April Is the Time to Book

Memorial Day is the unofficial starting gun for clambake season in New England, and June, July, and August go fast. Our calendar fills up earlier every year — especially for summer Saturdays and holiday weekends. If you’re targeting a date in May, June, or July, April is genuinely the window to be working in.

Booking early also gives you more flexibility. More room to customize your menu, more options on service levels, more time to think through the details without rushing. Wait until June to book a June date and you’re likely working around our availability rather than locking in your first choice.

The weather is turning, the calendar is starting to fill up, and summer is closer than it looks. April is exactly the right time to get your New England clambake catering on the books.

Ready to get started? Call us at 401.723.4180 or fill out our online catering form to start planning. B&M Catering Co. has been bringing clambakes to backyards across Rhode Island, South Coast Massachusetts, and Eastern Connecticut since 1985 — and we’d love to bring one to yours.