This was our favorite restaurant in Marblehead. The oysters were fresh and juicy, and the fried clams were outstanding — they were the battered perfectly. Don’t get me started on the shrimp cocktail! This is all coming from someone who normally does not like seafood unless it’s raw. There is something about the Marblehead harbor that makes this food taste incredible, I’ve never had anything like it. We sat by the ocean and drank wine and enjoyed our meal while laughing with the locals. I absolutely love bars and restaurants like this; they don’t have enough of them in California… Old Tony’s and The Galley come to mind, but can’t compare. This place rules and I can’t wait to come back.
Susan W.
Tu valoración: 5 Katy, TX
Our first stop in Massachusetts !!! Looking for some chowder… This is the place!!! The service was excellent and the clam stuffies were of so delish!
Nicole B.
Tu valoración: 5 Boston, MA
Still amazing! This place is epic n every way. The prices are right, the food is fresh and delicious, they pour a good drink and the service is good. We came in on New Years Eve day for oysters, chowder for me/lobster bisque for my accomplice and drinks. We were seated quickly and our waitress was adorable and super nice. She was attentive but not pushy or overly present. If you love Bloody Mary’s try a spicy Bloody here so amazing!
Miles F.
Tu valoración: 5 Swampscott, MA
This place is phenomenal. Our server, Jillian was very friendly, always smiling and was knowledgeable of the menu. The food was great– i got fried clams and a lobster bisque and they were both very good. The location is beautiful, and the deck would be perfect for summer dining.
Mary B.
Tu valoración: 2 Palmerton, PA
Service was nice but food had no flavor ! I had a fish sandwich, onion rings and coleslaw. Nothing was seasoned! The view was beautiful. So it was worth the drive.
Nicole C.
Tu valoración: 5 Brick, NJ
My husband and I absolutely love the Barnacle! He proposed to me right outside bc of the beautiful view! The bartenders Jimmy and Gary are fantastic! We live in NJ and every time we visit we are greeted like old friends! The locals are super nice and it’s just a fantastic atmosphere. Highly recommend stopping by for a drink at the bar and light hearted conversation with some of the most friendly people around!
Jill O.
Tu valoración: 5 Lansing, IL
My dad and I came here at the recommendation of one of the workers at a nearby inn that we were staying at. It was within a quick drive, so we decided to come and check it out. It is a solid place to come and eat, and I’d come back were I ever in the area. First, it has a great view of the ocean. Being from the Midwest, this made me extremely happy. I don’t get to see the ocean much, so it was great to have this view while I enjoyed my dinner. The ambiance is really nice too. It was clearly full of regulars, but it was still very friendly. The staff was quick to make small talk, and the regulars joined in the conversation. It felt very Cheers-ish, but in a really good way. The building itself is historical and neat on the outside, and well decorated and cozy on the inside. Because I was a tourist in Massachusetts, of course I started with a cup of chowder($ 5.50). It was one of the best cups I had on my vacation. It had great flavor and was creamy without being too terribly thick. For my entrée, I ordered the fish and chips($ 17.95). The fish of choice is haddock, and it comes with tartar sauce, fries, and coleslaw. It was delicious! It was fried, of course, but it wasn’t terribly greasy. It also didn’t fall apart, like so many do. I was able to actually taste the fish, and it was so fresh tasting. I don’t know when I’ll be back in Massachusetts again, but if I ever find myself back in Marblehead, I will be sure to pay this place another visit.
Jess M.
Tu valoración: 4 Cambridge, MA
I came here on the recommendation of my airbnb host when I was visiting Marblehead. I got lucky and snagged a deck seat(side deck, but still a nice view) I got the fish and chips(haddock) and it came out super fast. Like 5 minutes. The people near me ordered unfried food and like the menu says, it takes about 20 minutes. At least they warn you. My fried fish was nice and hot and perfectly cooked. The fish was flaky and the breading was just right. The only downside is that they didn’t seem to season the fish or fries so I basically had to dump salt, malted vineger, and lemon juice on it to get flavor. I think this was just a fluke because my airbnb host was surprised when I told her, since she goes to the Barnacle a lot. Otherwise, the service was fast and friendly and the view was fantastic.
Marlene R.
Tu valoración: 5 Laguna Beach, CA
Though we live in CA we are practically locals here because we come here at least once every time we come to Boston. On Father’s Day and most recently last night, they ran out of lobster before we got there. Somehow, both times they were able to come up with more! Thankfully so, because the stuffing is the best we’ve ever had. Sweet scallops and shrimp with a thin though adequate layer of buttery cracker crumbs on top. And the friendliest service around. Love the food, love the view and love the local vibe.
Kim G.
Tu valoración: 2 Princeton, MA
We may have stopped in on a down day but, service was very poor. Plenty of wait staff, not overly busy, when we sat, we mentioned we had a time constraint of 30 mins. Our drinks came out swiftly, but our lunch, fried oysters and grilled salmon salad, never came out. We asked twice and second time the check came out to settle before the lunch was delivered! Out of time, we waited inside until both were boxed to go. Unfortunate. The food was quite good once we ate it!
Mary B.
Tu valoración: 2 West Chester, OH
This classic New England shabby seafood joint was just okay. The baked scallops while meaty and fresh had a cracker crumb coating which tasted terrible — I’m not sure what went wrong(maybe burnt butter, turned spices or stale crumbs?), but I could only eat the scallops after scraping off the crumb crust. My friend’s pricey($ 22) lobster roll had large chunks of lobster, but the mayo dressing was bland. Our side salads were generous with mixed lettuce, red onion, black olives, cucumbers, shredded carrots and tomatoes and a nicely balanced balsamic vinaigrette. The onion rings, while not greasy, didn’t have much flavor. The coleslaw was crispy with three types of cabbage, but the slaw dressing was overpowered by too much horseradish. On the plus side, the view of Marblehead harbour was lovely and the service was just right. Shoe-horned in a dense residential/commercial district, this place has very limited street parking, necessitating a walk of a few blocks on a Sunday afternoon. Given that there are dozens of better seafood places along the north shore of Boston, I’m unlikely to head back to the Barnacle again.
Cindy M.
Tu valoración: 4 Gunnison, CO
The lobster and steamers were very good. The outdoor seating looked fabulous, but we were seated inside where it was too crowded and noisy to have an excellent experience. Wait for a patio table!
Lindsay M.
Tu valoración: 3 Hopkinton, MA
Not a bad spot in Marblehead. This was the second time I’ve been and it’s always crowded. Wasn’t able to sit outside, but the view inside was still nice. Service is good, but the food could be better. Everything is cooked perfectly, but could definitely use some salt and seasoning. The garlic mashed potatoes are pretty good and they go great with the grilled salmon. Good spot for families and there’s a bar as well. Haven’t had any of their cocktails here yet, but if I do go back, I’ll be sure to get one.
Christine K.
Tu valoración: 4 Brighton, MA
Great New England Clam Chowder here — like the tough of paprika spice on top, just the thing to take away any potential greasy feeling from the chowder. Except, this one was relatively light, while managing to be hearty at the same time. Even if you’re not a clam chowder/cream-based soup sort of person, this is worth getting! It came with a side of corn bread(a new twist on the boring bread side, I guess!), but I wasn’t too big a fan on their corn bread. It was cold, poundcake-like in texture(I like cornbread that’s got a little more cornmeal grit in it), and overall not a great combo with the chowder, mostly because it was so room temp/cold. I treated it as dessert, vs. a complement to the soup. Service was quick and friendly, best kind! It started to get busy as we left, so make sure you get there before 2:00pm!
Amy C.
Tu valoración: 5 Baltimore, MD
I was vacationing with some friends and they brought me here for my birthday. I was in the mood for fried clams, and this seems to be one of VERY few places in the area that had them. We all got the fisherman’s platter, which was a wonderful sampling of fried seafood deliciousness! The waitress was attentive and very friendly. The view of the harbor is amazing. Though I probably won’t get to visit again soon, I recommend this to anyone who is in the area and looking for delicious seafood.
Amy H.
Tu valoración: 4 Worcester, MA
Great view, right on the water, the inside definitely feels like you are on a fishing boat. The lobster rolls were great. It was pretty small and I thought it was overpriced. The food was great and it was authentic.
Autumn S.
Tu valoración: 5 Seminole County, FL
Some people that posted before sound quite snobby. They use plastic cups?! It’s not like Dixie cups, folks. They look like glasses. Psh! The ambience is great. I’m a tourist so you can get over that. You’re welcome for boosting your economy. The server I had was quite fantastic and had TONS of knowledge of the origin of the seafood! I had the clam chowder and it was lovely. Had the lobster and the owner goes out and catches them himself during this season! Great price too. Great place.
Gregor H.
Tu valoración: 1 Wakefield, MA
The place was a recommendation from a friend and I was excited to get some fresh seafood, right out of the ocean in front of which we were sitting. Everything promised a perfect meal and I was impressed by the waitress’ knowledge of the origin of their seafood. The first disappointment came with the water, which was served in plastic cups. Then our food arrived — lobster roll, scallops, and fish and chips. The scallops had little taste, the lobster roll was ok, and the first bite of the fish was totally off. I excused the one bad piece and move on to eat a few more fresh, but mediocre tasting pieces until I had another totally expired piece. The fowl smell and taste killed my appetite, and my friends were done when I asked them to verify the condition of the fish. I usually never say anything when I didn’t enjoy a meal, but this time I had to. So we kindly mentioned to the waitress that a few pieces of the fish were off. She didn’t apologize, simple said ok and took the plate. At least she took 10 $ off, but in a good restaurant this would be on the house.
Nina K.
Tu valoración: 3 Fenway, Boston, MA
First time visiting Marblehead we mainly chose this restaurant for it’s location. The view is spectacular. It is a very small restaurant with a lot of families, so it’s quite loud. The lobster bisque was good as was the jumbo shrimp cocktail. Those two get a 3⁄5. The fish and chips however, was the most bland dish I have ever had. I’m not a big fish fan and I’m very particular with smell. The fishy smell really turns me off. I must admit that the fish did not have a smell … But the breading was very odd. I could tell that the fish was fresh but didn’t have much taste. Even the tartar sauce was bland. With all of that said, you get A LOT of fish in small pieces. This dish gets a 2⁄5. The service wasn’t anything special. We had too many people«taking care of us» — though we didn’t get water until we were done eating our apps AND was mid way through dinner.
Luba P.
Tu valoración: 4 Philadelphia, PA
This review is for all visitors! We Unilocaled a place along the coast and this one looked the most authentic and cute. It’s a tiny restaurant on a rock edge with beautiful views of the bay. The place was filled with locals which is a great sign. The inside is almost like a ship. We asked for recommendations to try everything and the best was definitely the lemoncello cake(the most moist lemony cake imaginable, we’be been thinking about it ever since coming back), followed by the crabcakes and scallops. Both were so fresh and melted in your mouth. The guys liked the lobster roll but it’s not for me. Also, the clam chowder was slightly better than the lobster bisque. Everyone raved about the steamers… so we got them and did not enjoy them that much since they were filled with sand. Apparently the little water bowl is for you to rinse your steamer in and then dip it in the butter! Also, do not eat the little black foot! Highly recommend trying this place, plus the little town it’s in is super adorable and Salem is nearby!