Piedmont seafood restaurant does not disappoint
March 2025
by Peggy Hyland, Contributing Columnist
Thanks to a reader’s suggestion, my companion and I spent a sunny Saturday heading to Bedford, Va., to visit Clam Diggers Seafood. What caught my attention was discovering that they originally started along the Chesapeake Bay and kept the same suppliers after relocating to the Piedmont. It felt strange to travel away from the water for the freshest seafood, but I had to see for myself.
Immediately, I was excited to see the many options on the menu and wanted to try a bit of everything. Luckily, you can order a wide variety of items a la carte, so I didn’t have to make a definite choice. Of course, we had to start with the bacon-wrapped scallops. The smoky bacon complemented the tender scallops perfectly, enhanced by a zesty sauce that held them together. The spicy crab dip was creamy and rich, offering just the right amount of lingering heat.
If you’ve only ever had fried clams, Clam Diggers is the perfect spot to try fresh ones. The clams were incredibly fresh and lightly steamed, tasting delightful with a generous sprinkle of Old Bay. Growing up in Maryland, I have strong opinions about crab cakes, so I was thrilled to find one that reminded me of home. It was silky, light on filler, and tasted as if the crabs had recently been caught.
After enjoying our appetizers, we turned our attention to the main courses. The scallops were perfect, featuring a luxurious texture that highlighted their freshness. My companion chose roasted potatoes as his side dish. They were tender on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside, and beautifully seasoned. I ordered the shrimp burger, opting for the Asian barbecue sauce based on our server’s suggestion. It was a true delight: generous pieces of shrimp, fantastic texture, and caramelized on the outside from the glaze of the sauce. It was spectacular, and I couldn’t stop raving about it all the way home.
The food arrived quickly, but we never felt rushed. We had ample time to enjoy the appetizers and then relax with our main courses. By the time we reached dessert, we were stuffed, so we took our brownies to go and savored them at home. They struck that delicate balance of texture, combining fudgy richness with a cakey lightness.
I never would have imagined driving several hours inland to enjoy some of the best seafood Virginia has to offer, but Clam Diggers truly did not disappoint.
Clam Diggers Seafood
109 S. Bridge St., Bedford, Va.
Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
540-587-6727