If you told me I'd find some of the best seafood of my life in landlocked Southern Vermont, I probably wouldn't have believed you--but Anchor Seafood House & Grille is the real deal. This place has been a Wilmington staple since 1997, and you can tell they've spent the last nearly 30 years perfecting the craft. The atmosphere is incredible. While the original 1850s building was lost to a fire in 2010, the current space is a beautiful, faithful replica that feels historic and cozy. It's the perfect spot for a post-ski dinner or a summer night out. Here's the breakdown of what you need to order: The Chowder: This is proper New England clam chowder. It's thick, rich, and loaded with clams--not just a bowl of potatoes and heavy cream. It's the ultimate comfort food. Steamers: You have to start with the steamers. They are clean, sweet, and served the traditional way with a side of broth and drawn butter. It's a messy, delicious classic that they do perfectly here. Whole Belly Clams: These are the gold standard. They're lightly breaded, perfectly fried, and have that sweet, briny pop you usually only find at a roadside shack on the Maine coast. If you're a fan of "the bellies," don't skip these. The Lobster: I went for the steamed lobster, and it was impeccable. Succulent chunks of fresh meat and just the right amount of butter. It tasted like it was caught that morning. It's rare to find a spot that balances a "fancy night out" feel with such unpretentious, high-quality food. Whether you're a local or just passing through for the foliage, make sure you stop here. read more

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When we got to the restaurant and we were asked if we had a reservation, I was a little worried that there wouldn't be a table because I didn't think of making a reservation. It was off-season in the area so many places haven't been busy. Luckily they asked if we were okay with the bar. Most definitely okay with the bar! We actually got pretty good attention when sitting at the bar. I ordered the Broiled Seafood Sampler because I like seafood and anytime I can get a variety in a dish, I'll go for that. The sampler consisted of haddock, salmon, scallops, and shrimp. The dish contained plenty of the fish and only two pieces each of the scallops and shrimp. The dish was not what I was expecting because of the crumb topping and creamy sauce. It was fine. We definitely got a good portion and the linguine with garlic and oil was fantastic! It was definitely garlicky, just the way I like it. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Broiled seafood sampler - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

This is a little bit from Mount Snow, which probably was a good thing given the restaurant still had some room to walk in (unlike those closer to the mountain which were full). A little New England-style restaurant which felt like a Colonial home converted to a restaurant, low ceilings, wood, and painted walls with decor. They accommodated a table reservation for 14, as long as you called in early enough - that was rare as most of the restaurants were first-come, first-served joints in the area. Parking was a bit tight, ended up going around and going to the city parking lot down the road. Best dishes - the Maine steamers were plump and juicy, and the clam chowder was fantastic (get the bowl!). Shrimp scampi and the side of pasta with olive oil and garlic was a little bland, needed more kick, and the seafood sampler was too oily for me (but scallops in it were good - too bad not the full thing!). The French onion soup was salty and not quite covered with cheese so not as savory as expected. The lobster was solid fun watching the kids take it apart and getting it all over ($39 each for the market price that day). Raw oysters looked good but a dozen wasn't enough! And they were out of some of the dishes. Crabcakes were too dry, too much breading and not enough crab - skip that. Mussels in a red sauce needed to be de-sanded a bit more and spicier. Garlic buns with the meals were excellent - had to stop myself from eating the whole thing. The bleu cheese dressing was ok with the salad. Mains came with a salad, garlic bun, side of pasta or rice, and veggies. The green beans were thin and boiled so not much there, but the mashed sweet potato was excellent! Definitely a table favorite. Service was good, even as it was busy. And the staff was friendly and accommodative to different asks and making sure we were covered with dishes being brought and cleaned up after completed plates. Very helpful! Restaurant filled up quick, and overall it ended up being around a very reasonable $40 a person with tax and tip. They do charge 3% for credit cards. read more

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Went for dinner, had a reservation for 6 people at 6 pm. We were there at 10 of 6 and were seated quickly. It went downhill from there. The waitress was unable to handle a table of 6 and the other two or 3 more she had. We waited well over an hour to be served. She overcharged us, brought the wrong food, and never came to refill drinks. The food was just ok, salmon was overcooked, the rolls were supposed to be warm but she had left them to wait too long. The young man working with her was running his tail off but couldn't make up for her poor service. It's very loud and difficult to hear even those at your own table, so it's not a place to have dinner and a conversation. Overall it was a big disappointment. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Balcony seating view - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Randomly found this spot on our drive back from Mount Snow. Cozy atmosphere and kind staff. I got clam chowder and the maryland style lump crab cakes. Food was delicious. I loved the sides that the crab cakes came with. Would definitely come back next time I go to Mount Snow. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

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Great vibe, reliably tasty food and good service. It's family friendly, so it can be bustling, but we go when we are in the area skiing and have been going for 20 years! Love it. read more

Best place in town!!! The people working here are fantastic. We go at least once a week.

Family lives in the area so made reservations here, we have been seated and still have not been waited on 15 mins waived and yes I timed it finally ordered, Broiled scallops dinner and stuffed haddock seafood stuffing and bbq ribs all food was good atmosphere ok nothing fun or exciting I wouldn't come back Wasn't worth it read more

The seafood in this picturesque but landlocked little city in southern VT is far better than a veteran shellfish guy like me could have ever expected. The clam chowder was hot, creamy and bursting with flavor. It was equal or better than what I've had along the CT shoreline, and that's a fact. I ordered a cup and after one taste, I wish I had ordered a bowl. My whole-belly fried clams were reasonably priced and beyond expectations. Our waitress Lisa L. said they were the best in VT. She was not boasting. They were crispy, not at all greasy and with a squirt of lemon and dollop of perfectly blended tartar sauce, it was a culinary moment I'll savor for the long winter ahead. My wife had fried scallops and said they were excellent. My only regret is not having enough appetite to start with some steamed mussels. My only regret read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - This plaque puts The Anchor in the same league with Woodman's of Essex (MA), where whole-belly clams were invented. - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Had a nice dinner. Make a reservation for busy weekends. Casual atmosphere which we liked cause we ain't fancy! Started with house wine. Nice poor and tasted good. Had the clam chowder and luckily the rest of the meal was not indicative to the quality/taste of the chowder. I don't know if it was the bottom of the pot, but there was nothing but creamy soup. No clams, no potatoes and not much flavor either. Very disappointing! We had the whole belly clams which were fried for an app and they were SOOO good. After eating them I wanted to change my entree to the clam meal but didn't. And I was glad I didn't because the shrimp scampi I ordered was really delicious! My partner had the seafood pasta special which had all the seafood in a red sauce. He loved it. The entrees came with killer bread and butter and a side salad which was also good. The service was very efficient and friendly. The prices were reasonable. We would go back. read more

Service and ambiance great but food not so much: stuffed shrimp dry and used medium size- stuffing mediocre. Fish and chips overcooked.

We found Anchor Seafood by accident while taking a scenic route from Boston to Ithaca, and were really glad that we did. The food was excellent, the beers were cold, and the service was very friendly. We'd definitely go again! read more

Alright ya'll let me tell you right now.. I don't make many reviews... but this restaurant has been my favorite since I was young, and the experience has only gotten better since I've become older. Between the waiters/waitresses; The bartenders and the chef's. A few have come and gone, in which I'm very sad about but that's life! Life changes. However, the past few years, since Covid times, ugh Covid , yuck... what brings me back to the restaurant every time is my favorite bartender and what I like to call "steak night"! The service of this fella, Mark, and the steak that I'm served is top notch! Not only is the food good but the bartender always remembers what I'm there for! Whether I call in advance for a reservation or show up unannounced during rush hour, he always makes sure we are served with the best hospitality and the best meal possible! Thank youuuu Anchor staff! And Owners, as well as my favorite Bartender Mark Tiddes! Much love, your fellow native Vermonters from the next county over! -Kate! read more

Made my steak well done when I asked for medium rare tastes like shit don't listen to customers and smells like ass

We stopped on way home very good all the way around food was very good going to come back for dinner some

First, it was over 45 minutes from the time we finished our soup/appetizers before the main entree was served. The clam chowder was warm, not hot, The lettuce in the salad was in the beginning stages of wilting. The salads at chains like Longhorns are superb compared to this one. Maybe Anchor's chef ought to eat there to see what a real side salad looks like. There were 3 of us: one person said their fish and chips were barely warm; the 2nd person said their shrimp scampi did not taste fresh and was chewy; my stuffed haddock was hot, but the vegetables were either barely warm or cool. Over the years we've taken friends to eat at the Anchor when they were visiting us in Vermont. Because it was special and the food was very good. We will never go there again. read more

Food: Came here with a large party to celebrate a special occasion! Heard/read great things about this place and was excited to finally try it out. I got their salmon dish and it was definitely hearty- the servings are fairly large here and so you'll definitely not leave here hungry! Cost: The price seemed reasonable given the type of cuisine they serve and location. Environment: This establishment is extremely large- they also had an upstairs so if you're looking for a place that can cater to a large party, check this place out! Service: I did feel that it took some time for our dishes to come out however we were in a fairly large party and so that could've played a large role. Uniqueness: If you're in town and craving some seafood dishes- highly recommend at least trying out this place once! I wasn't too big of a fan, the dishes seemed a little to generic but overall I enjoyed the time spent here celebrating an important event! read more

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The people were so sweet shout out to Dianna for being an amazing hostess. Overall food was great, the surf and turf was incredible highly recommend that. The the ambiance was perfect for Christmas they were playing music and dressed festively. read more

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Excellent service, super attentive and quick. Great food for the area! We ordered French onion soup and clam chowder to start which we quickly finished and then tackled the big sized entrees. Ambience friendly and cozy. Guests are a mixture of townies and visitors. Overall after a long day of skiing at mount snow this is a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal before you nod off to an early night! read more

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This place is SO good, plus their deck area and super cute and relaxing on a nice night! Really lovely and fun night!

Went with friends for dinner and it was incredibly disappointing. Although the steamers were great and our waitress was really nice, the "fresh" fish was certainly Not! My Mahi was clearly frozen and tasted like cardboard with a grossly sweet sugary glaze slopped on top. One of my friends had the blackened swordfish, which looked good, but he didn't like either. So, I tried it and it was clearly as bad as the Mahi. I feel bad writing this review, but the chef should have felt much worse, sending that stuff out. read more

An incredble value for very good seafood. For $6.95 you get a wide bowl of soul-satisfying clam chowder. For $12.95, a large appetizer of fried calamari. While the market price for the lobster was the most expensive item on the menu at $36, it came with a side of lick-your-plate-yummy creamed squash, salad, and linguini. While not everything was perfect (the linguini was a bit underseasoned), it all was really good and satisfying. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Maine lobster $36 - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Had a terrific dinner here! The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff were friendly and professional. We had dinner outdoors on the balcony which made for a wonderful dining experience. We started out with the Clam Chowder which was tasty. The entrees were outstanding! We had the seafood risotto and seafood Fra-Diavlo. Both tasted great. Service was very prompt. There was a good selection of wines by the glass and I enjoyed an excellent Pinot Noir for a very reasonable price. We'll definitely we returning as there are other items on the menu we look forward to trying! read more

Food is always delicious. Love the atmosphere and friendly staff. Always look forward to dining there.

Wonderful restaurant great service. Parking lot is close and the restaurant is clean and homey. The food is seafood based and outstanding.. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Oh boy! What a total and complete miss. Our entire table of 10 had such difficulty getting through their dishes. Every dish was a complete miss - tasteless, overcooked, and not worth the cost. The only things that were enjoyed were the lobster and the margaritas. I do not recommend this place for dinner, and I have no idea why they have four stars. Perhaps a quick cocktail is ideal as the place is welcoming and the staff is friendly. read more

Such a disappointment. My husband's chicken tenders were the worst quality..I ordered the "special" Coconut encrusted Mahi with a mango slaw. I was presented with an obviously frozen pc of breaded white fish douced with canned mango poured over the dish. No slaw just mushy flavorless canned fruit. I will say the mashed potatoes were good. The squash veggies were good but no need to mix canned green beans and no seasoning. I drove two hours and was so looking forward to a nice meal at a reasonable price with decent wine...If I had known I would have ordered one of their old stand-bys like a great salad and a few sides. Come on Anchor you can do so much better.. read more

Loved this seafood place while on a little weekend getaway in VT! Also, the service was absolutely AMAZING, top notch. I didn't get our waitress' name unfortunately, but she was INCREDIBLE. SO attentive and kind - and we were a party of 7, so I'm glad she had help from another young man. We were seated upstairs and it was a bit more quiet / more intimate area. I had the crab cakes and they were very delicious. Also, the mussels were yummy! I can't wait to be back. read more

I have to agree with a previous review. The Cole Slaw was fabulous. My partner and I were skiing at Mount Snow and decided to stop for a late afternoon lunch on our way back to NH. Service was also fabulous . We will always consider stopping again on our way to Northern NY or traveling east towards NH. read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - March 2023 Spring Snow - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Reasonably priced, amazing food, a good New England atmosphere. You can tell the seafood is fresh read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Scallop entreé platter - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

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The atmosphere was very good. Relaxed and pleasant. The food was also very good. I especially enjoyed the onion strings The service was prompt and very friendly. I plan to go back. read more

Excellent service and food! Great value and cozy atmosphere. The staff was amazing and the food was delicious. Had salmon, veggies, and rice. We will be back for sure! read more

Great New England style seafood restaurant near Mount Snow. I and my guests have been there 5 or more times over the past few years when skiing at Mt Snow and we have never been disappointed. My favorite is the fried steamer clams, everything is outstanding. The bar is comfortable and friendly and having dinner at the bar is nice. read more

Horrible experience. First, the staff. We came in and the server was eating food at the counter. Right as we walked in the gave us the biggest side glare ever, as if it was our fault for interrupting her meal. She asks "you want lunch?" And after we awkwardly told her yes, she walked us to our seats. After MAYBE 3 minutes, she comes over and asks us if we're "finally ready". Later, my girlfriend asks what drinks they have, and she just rudely looks at her until finally saying they have Pepsi product. After we get our food, it just gets worse. The salmon burger was maybe the driest piece of fish I have ever had, and the chicken in my girlfriend's salad was dry and tasted of chemicals. When I brought up the salmon burger, our server said "that's just how it is" and said we should've told her sooner. In the end, she only comped half my meal. We also had to wait around 20 minutes to get our check, while there were maybe 3 other tables, and both our napkins were already dirty. Ambiance is fine, and calamari was good, but the rest was horrible and I will never be eating here again. read more

Tasty, solid quality food especially for a remote ski town! We were relieved that the restaurant was open on Christmas and we called ahead for pickup. Everyone enjoyed what they got, especially considering that our expectations were low given we're in a small ski town. Three of us got fish and found the quality was very good. The portions were on point. One of us got a burger and also enjoyed that. Overall, I recommend this place if you're in the area! read more

Anchor Seafood Restaurant - Blackened salmon (comes with a roll, salad, vegetables, and your choice of starchy side) - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

My wife and I were visiting friends nearby in the New Hampshire/Massachusetts area and on our way home we wanted some seafood. Low and behold Anchor was on our way home. Absolutely delicious food. The Calimari was fresh and my swordfish was seasoned to perfection. My wife really enjoyed her seafood medley. Customer service was very good. Staff was pleasant and professional. I must note they did forget the bread that came with my meal. However, when I mentioned it they were very quick to remedy the situation. At the end of the day their food is fresh and tasty. read more

Very quaint restaurant with good drinks and food. Staff was very friendly and service was prompt. Close restaurant option to mount snow. Food was definitely a little pricey for the quality, but we all enjoyed our meal. The maple wings with the bacon ranch were a big hit with the rest of my group and was given an overall rating of 8/10. The Mediterranean salad was good but did not have enough of the toppings and was mostly lettuce. Would have been even better if there was more of a balance between the lettuce and toppings (only had 2 artichoke pieces and about 5 olives in the whole salad). The side of linguine marinara was delicious and cheap which was a big thumbs up. The mixed drinks and the local beers were very good here. Would definitely come back in the next stop to Mount Snow. 4/5 since the pricing is just a bit too high for the actual quality of food. read more

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Had dinner here one night during our snowboard trip at Mt Snow. We arrived around 6pm on a weeknight without reservation but were seated right away! This place sure fill up quick so highly recommended to make reservation if you choose to dine here. The staffs are really nice and friendly, orders come out pretty quick as well. We had the New England Clam Chowder which was okay, the steamer (special of the night) was not bad. For entree, I had the Sea Scallops and hubby had the Stuffed Shrimp which both were so-so. Overall mediocre food nothing special, but the dessert-homemade carrot cake and tall chocolate cake was pretty good! read more

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Went for the first time and not sure we will go back. My husband got the french dip sandwich that was good but skinny french fries were slightly cold and the coleslaw tasted strange. French onion soup was good but where was the cheese and $8.95 ? My scallops were tasty but had a very strong smell Waitress was nice and attentive no problem there. For what we got it was very overpriced. read more

Had a lovely dinner here with with great seafood. I had the coconut mahi-mahi and it was delicious as was the steamers we had as an appetizer. The cocktails tasted watered down and the flavor was muddled. read more