Little's Fish Market — Local services in Clarksville

It is incredibly rare that I say this, but Clarksville actually has something that the internationally recognized foodie paradise of Nashville does not! This little Cajun market used to have a spot in Nashville’s Germantown, a modest building now occupied by a Taco Mamacita. Sadly, Music City lost a reliable purveyor of unique seafood that still lives on in Clarksville in an equally humble space. And thank heavens it does!

I’ve been planning to visit Little’s for about 10 years now to complete my experiment with fried alligator and fried frog legs. And I finally got to put their products to the test with a two-hour, round-trip drive followed by a full scale cooking test at home. I acquired the alligator meat and frog legs in the frozen section of this tiny store, items you simply cannot find in Nashville. I also couldn’t resists the breaded fried clams also in the freezer. And I went home to commence an extensive culinary adventure.

I leaped into Leap Day of 2024 by frying up my secret recipe for Nashville Hot Frog Legs. And thanks to Little’s selling frog legs of exceptional quality, this is one of the best things I’ve cooked in the last five years! Juicer than chicken, good enough to win competitions, and worthy of starting my own food truck, this would have been impossible without such an impeccable product! And the best-kept secret might just be their frozen fried clams, nearly as good coming out of my deep fryer as the best versions I’ve had in Maine and Massachusetts! The alligator was pretty good, too. Let’s just say that I’m an excellent gourmet cook, but I’m only as good as the quality of my ingredients. And Little’s did...

UPDATE 2021:

Initially, I rated Little's two stars for my previous encounters in 2018. Just this year, I gave them another try because they are the only locally owned place where we can purchase fresh seafood (that I know of). A new guy was onsite and provided some guidance and good customer service. This time, I had a better experience. I wish they had a larger selection of seafood for walk-ins.

Previously Two Stars:

This was my second visit to Little's Fish Company. The first time, I purchased whiting fillets and was told there would be bones around the neck area. However, there were bones splintered throughout the fillets... so much so that I had one lodged sideways in my throat. Sadly, I had eaten bread with the fish and it made no difference. I ended up gargling and pulling it out with tweezers, which was not the safest thing to do, but I had no choice. The second visit, I purchased buffalo steaks and ribs and was told that the steaks would only have the large bone from the center. Again, there were bones splintered throughout the fish and after nearly getting a fine bone in my gum line, I decided to stop eating.

In both instances, the fish was inedible. I purchased large amounts for my family, but none of us could eat it. Unless they change how they process their fish, I will not...

I visited Little’s Fish Market, a Clarksville staple since 1955, is a total gem at 319 Providence Blvd. This place is a must-visit for anyone who loves fresh seafood and unique meats. Their selection is unreal—freshwater catches like catfish, buffalo, and tilapia share space with saltwater stars like red snapper, salmon, flounder, and shrimp, plus live crawfish every Friday. It’s all stupidly fresh, with deliveries four times a week. You can practically taste the ocean. They’ve also got quail and grass-fed beef for something different. The staff’s super friendly, always tossing out cooking tips. Yelp folks can’t stop raving about the sushi-grade fish and jumbo shrimp. If you’re in Clarksville, swing by Little’s—you won’t be...