Lindsey's Family Restaurant swept the Seafood Chowder category at Sunday's New Bedford Chowder Festival, held in the city's historic seaport district.

Restaurants from all over greater New Bedford participated in the event but it was Lindsey's famous seafood bisque, with lobster, shrimp and scallops, that won the Judge's Choice and People's Choice Awards.

As a first-time participant, owner Cheri Lindsey said she didn't know what to expect as thousands of attendees sampled clam chowder, seafood chowder, kale soup and stuffed quahogs at the 4th annual Chowder Festival. But she said she felt welcomed by the crowd when approached by a couple from New Bedford who told her that they had their first date at Lindsey's 20 years prior.