Stopped in for dinner last week and was impressed. Friendly staff, great cocktails, good food, fast service. Definitely would return.

This was a nice little spot and they have done their best with creating outdoor seating & following Covid guidelines- but it's very noisy with all the cars and high seats are not comfortable. However food is good and the staff are so nice and friendly! Love the French onion soup!! read more

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I wish I could give them a higher rating. Service? 5 stars. Food? 2.5. Value? 3. Why? Don't order the lobster roll if you are a true new englandah. Not worth the price. Mussels in coconut curry? I wont fault them for the tiniest mussels ever - but they were good. Cobb salad? Nice. But over priced. The staff was lovely, so it kills me to give this review. But the food was hohum. Don't think I will be back when in the area, but if my friends want to go I'd sit at the bar and have a beer and have the mussels. Sweet potato fries were good, however. Just overpriced and not what I hoped for. read more

9 of us stopped in here for lunch on our way to Salem during a visit to the area. One of our group uses a wheelchair so there was a bit of a wait, but we were finally shown to a lovely table and greeted by a kind and enthusiastic server. I had the fish tacos and a cup of chowder, and both were superb. It was a fun and delicious place to eat and I recommend it completely! read more

Love this location! I was bringing my pup to singing beach when it was open. Came here for some seafood apps and drinks. However I personally felt that the menu was lacking that. We tried the calamari but it was doused in an Asian sauce ? Not a fan. I feel you don't need to ruin a good calamari it's perfect the way it is. I didn't find many options here. Staff was very friendly drinks were great! Wish the food options were better ! read more

Solid local pub with a good chill vibe. Fish tacos are very good, especially the tortillas which I assume are made in-house. They have some nice hot sauce from Guatemala. Staff is super friendly. Would like to see some different beers on tap. Will be back often. read more

I've always been curious about this place cuz I see them on Groupon all the time. since we were in Rockport we figured we'd drive over and try it (no Groupon tho). Grabbed a couple seats at the bar and had a nice time. The grilled Caesar with anchovies ($10) was excellent if slightly overdressed. You can create your own pizza so we chose pesto sauce, grilled Vidalia and mushrooms for $11. I had a large grapefruit martini with jalapeño (not spicy tho) and friend had a beer. Nice bartender cute place and if they could just get rid of the icky cleaning fluid smell that lingered the whole time we were there, I might give 5 stars. read more

Cala’s - Grilled Caesar and pizza. - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

Service is fast and nice and gave great tips on the menu. I've been twice now and the first time I got the mussels and a pizza with mushrooms and jalapenos and the second time I got the fish tacos. All were pretty good, but nothing outstanding. The best was the mussels, because the Thai flavor really packed a punch. The pizza was a bit above what I expected because of the cornmeal crust. A friend of mine who usually does not eat too much always finishes her plate here and she said it's because the portions are not out of control like they are at most places. Interesting art, especially in the bathroom....I'm unsure why all the paintings have an alligator in them as we're nowhere near alligators... read more

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Cala's is such a cozy restaurant to end a wonderful day at both the Manchester by the Sea (Singing Beach), visiting the quaint Manchester by the Book, bookstore, having captured the sea in Photographs with infinite angles of light. The only menu offering that I miss is they're (what once was), extraordinary Portuguese Seafood soup-chowder, it was the best anywhere and I've heard from other patrons that they miss it too. I'm hoping they reconsider and bring it back...that would be 5 stars! read more

Good food, popular with the locals, friendly staff, typically pretty busy but I haven't had to wait for a table yet.

Carla's was a last minute decision when we had to pop into Manchester for something one day. The bartender was really nice. Read the room well. Sensed when I wanted to chit chat and left me be when I was answering emails and such. The food was very pleasant too. We split a salad and a sandwich and they were both solid. We'll be returning for sure! read more

Ok, I like this place, but: Onion soup was lukewarm, and the cheese on top was barely melted. Not good. It is not difficult to heat up an onion soup and put it under the broiler until the cheese melts and bubbles. Kitchen staff and management needs training. read more

A wonderful ambiance in which our group enjoyed a wonderfully cooked meals that were elegantly decorated and presented. We had kale salad and Cobb Salad in addition to Fish and chips as main dishes! For appetizers, we had the edamame and the chicken wings. They were portioned adequately! We ordered Creme Brûlée ( Lovely crust on top ) and Apple Crumble .. We loved the fact that locals were frequenting the place. It was such a friendly and welcoming environment! read more

Cala’s - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

Always something new & delicious to try... My favorite place in Manchester. The food is always tasty - my latest meal was a HIT - the prime rib sandwich, which had a Cala's twist with a spicy kick to it. My favorite is still the scallops w/truffles & I always enjoy the calamari & seaweed salad. I LOVE the new layout with the expansion of the bar area - creates a cozy atmosphere to socialize with friends - and of course the awesome bartenders. If they don't know your name when you came in, they'll know it going out - and then remember you WHEN you come back. If you find yourself in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Cala's is a MUST! (and if you come during the holiday's, you HAVE to order Jamie's Egg Nog. It is amazingly good!) read more

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Great atmosphere, real homey and fun! I had the Mexican Street Tacos with rice and beans, great size, pretty afforadable and VERY flavorful. The food was hot and fresh, and overall great place to stop by for lunch with some friends. After the meal, we walked around to so some town exploring, very lively and fun neighborhood too! read more

Stopped in on a whim. I couldn't have been better treated if I had gone to my mother's house. Jen, the manager/bartender was sensational. They were more than busy and she did not miss a beat. Personalized service, a smile, in spite of being busy, and concern that everything was to our liking. The drinks are well proportioned, the food was wonderful and prepared to perfection. And no problem with the price. As a side note: The waiter, Alex, had no problem when we picked up and moved to another table not in his section. He beamed a 1,000 watt smile and said, "Whatever you wish is fine with me." I wish I lived closer and could go there more often. read more

I've recently moved to Magnolia and have had the pleasure of finding Cala's in Manchester by the Sea and dining there frequently. Jen, the manager and weekend bartender, is an AWESOME bartender with a tremendous personality. The entire waitstaff and kitchen crew create a exquisite dining experience with delicious food. Do yourselves a favor and make it a dining destination when you're in the area. read more

This place is great! I don't eat seafood but I dove in here and had the calamari! I'm so glad my buddy pushed me to. It was easy to go by boat too, love not driving, to bad the season is over for boating, but I'll be back! The sauce is was so good! read more

I have eaten here several times now and it is time to leave a review. I've never been disappointed, I like the variety and options on the menu and the wait staff is very good; friendly and attentive. I'll be back. read more

Just reworked from the most disappointing dinner of our visit to Gloucester. The food was terrible. The hamburger had no flavor and was seemed like it had been defrosted. Fish and chips were tough to cut and eat. Fried clams were burnt and charged 35$ for about 8 clams. Obviously their oil was dirty. French fries tasted burnt also. Not going again. Yuck. read more

We've been here at least a half dozen times, making the pretty drive along the coast until we get to this cute seaside treasure. The food is consistently very good and we've tried many different items on the menu. The service has never been anything other than professional and courteous and the setting is very comfortable. It is one of our favorite places on the North Shore. I read some other reviews and realize that most people only write reviews when something goes wrong. It's just human nature and in the restaurant business, one bad hour can have an impact on how one views a place and once a decision is made, it's for forever. I am guilty of this as well. But I can tell you when you frequent a place like we have at Cala's and get a consistently nice experience it should have a little more weight than the person who goes once and has a less than ideal visit. We'll be going again.... soon. read more

Nice surprise, driving around in rain through surrounding towns finding no place open to eat until we hit this spot. Walking in it just felt like a nice , clean sports bar. The service was friendly and the food amazing. Our group all had different items except for the clam chowder which we all agreed was creamery and better than one of the top rated chowders we had in Boston. Definitely worth the drive. read more

A wonderful community restaurant part of a small group of local restaurants each with their own flavor and theme! I think as a parent what I appreciate most of all is that I can go to one of the restaurants with my kids any one of them-but this one kids eat free on Tuesdays! But I can also go for a girls night out for a date night for a family dinner to celebrate. This is the one closest to our home and during this pandemic they even have staples like toilet paper hard to find rubber gloves and paper towels! And they deliver. They also have a loyalty card/rewards card that's amazing!!! The food is great and my older child has almost outgrown the kids meal but they offer things that even she enjoys like steak tips, but my little one can still have the grilled cheese or cheese pizza that she loves! I would also recommend getting the shrimp teriyaki tacos! The fish and chips are always good too! And the service is always amazing! read more

paid $35 for at the most 8 belly clams that were so overcooked they were black ane didn't remotely taste like clams because the oil was so dirty. very disappointed with our last dinner of vacation. left a bad taste in my mouth. :( read more

We went by Manchester by the sea on our way home from Rockport. We had a party of 8 for lunch. Sat down in a nice table with comfortable seats. The restaurant was decorated like a Spanish tapas bar. Walls painted in beige framed with dark wooden beams. I had the baked haddock with a dill ranch sauce I thought was tasty cooked just right. Portion was about average. The fries that came with it was crispy and tender inside. When we were there it was 50 cent wing day. Great bargain. They were delicious. Crispy outside, tender inside. 2 other people had the eggplant sandwich. They said it was mushy. The kids had cheeseburgers and seemed to thoroughly enjoy them. read more

Great Food Loved the polenta fries and the salmon special Lobster roll was nice and fresh and had plenty of meat. read more

Cala’s - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

Mussels appetizer was outstanding. The mignonette sauce came separate from the very fresh oysters. At a back a piece for their Thursday night special, we'd advise any liver to show up for this treat. The Haddock was fresh flaky and just superb. Add the homemade tartar sauce and the result was Devine and delicate. Thus local eatery was just a delight to a traveler looking for typical New England shoreline town. Our sever was very sweet and accommodating. We would return!! read more

This is definitely not American New. This designation has been abused by restaurants trying to pass for something they are not. Cala is a perfect example. A dull selection of drinks and an odd mix of dishes on the menu. read more

Was ok. Nothing fantastic but not bad. Service was slow but think they were shorthanded. Was a 2 hour lunch

Great lunch at Cala's. The food was great and our waiter must have super human powers. He seemed to be the only one waiting tables in the whole place and somehow he kept up. Hats off to Dan for excellent service in a busy place read more

Cala’s - Nice lobster roll - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

Good food, good vibe and good service. Got the habanero wings for app. Be warned they are very hot! Our. Server Dan K warned us. Then brought us over wet napkins to contain the heat. He did a good job filling my beer. It can be a challenge! GF got the prime rib sandwich. She loved it. I got the haddock sandwich. Was cooked perfect. The fries were great too. read more

Cala’s - Haddock sandwich yum! - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

My wife and I had no regrets after enjoying a late lunch at Cala's in the cute ocean-side town of Manchester. My wife's pulled pork BBQ was quite tasty---buttery and sweet---and the accompanying fries were very, VERY good! As for my New England clam chowder---worth every penny. Unlike most chowders, this had carrots and bacon that created a unique, slightly smoky flavor that I've had never had before in a chowder. Very highly recommended. The service was OK. The noise level was pretty high considering it was mid-afternoon---I imagine this place is quite loud at night. Finally, the prices, while not unreasonable given the quality, will probably put Cala's in the "treat" category for most. read more

This was a wonderful find! The atmosphere and service were fabulous! The fried pickles are great and have a lot of seasoning, the clam chowder was good, but the best part was the fish and chips. Would go back if ever near Manchester By The Sea read more

I have never thought that the staff was overly friendly here. But I could deal because I loved the burgers. But it seems that the burgers have changed - they used to look homemade and now they look like a pre-made (perfectly formed) patty - and it tasted as if it had been frozen. I hope it was just this one time! read more

An excellent, New England lunch! We started with cups of chowder, which should not be skipped. It was creamy and delicious with a classic feel. Our drinks were lovely as well. I had the sangria margarita and loved the combination. The fish tacos were really delicious. The fish was obviously fresh and well-prepared, and the rest of the flavors complemented it nicely. Will definitely return on my next road trip through the area! read more

Cala’s - Clam chowder - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

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Cute comfortable restaurant. The food was delicious. I got the duck breast and the duck was amazing but the sides were equally delightful. Probably the best sweet potato fries ever!!! The food was just the right quantity! My s.o. got the grilled filet mignon which was really tender. We both cleaned our plates so I guess that is a good sign. I was hoping the ostrich special was featured last night, but it wasn't. I do want to come back to try it based on praise from previous reviewers. Prices were a little on the high side for outside of Boston, but at least the quality was top-notch to justify the price tags. I am starting to really dig the North Shore especially quaint places like Cala's. We headed to Captain Dusty's for ice cream but we both were really dying to see the dessert menu . . . maybe next time! :) read more

I have eaten here a few times - and the food each time was amazing. I highly recommend the ostrich. The atmosphere is cozy - but at night they turn the lights down way too low. I have sat in the corner twice now, and could barely see what was on my plate. The wait staff is OK - I have had one really great waiter and one very blah waitress - but this doesn't affect the quality of the food (A+). The burgers are also fantastic. I like that even though it's a "nice" restaurant you can still feel comfortable walking in with jeans and a t-shirt. It's nice to finally have a decent restaurant in Manchester. The Jerry Garcia tribute outside in the wall is a nice feature, too. Oh - my one real big complaint is that they don't have espresso. Apparently they had some big disaster with an espresso machine when they first opened (read: explosion) and haven't dared to get another. It's a real shame, because every time I have been there I've had a craving for a good after dinner pick me up, and been disappointed. Also - i don't think the desserts are particularly good (that's a bit of a broad statement since I've only tried one). I shared the chocolate mousse with my family and was not impressed. read more

Just love this place.. kind of local and fancy. Always warmly welcomed, food is very good. read more

The hostess/server was SO helpful when we went in looking for breakfast and found they did not offer that. The cooks made us a breakfast (for 6 girls) from scratch b/c they were in a good mood. AWESOME Bloody Mary; seriously, amazing. Careful: Add-on food is expensive!!! Go for: Lunch on the weekend Try: Bacon/tomato pizza, anything with bacon really, sourdough bread read more

Best bar ever. The drinks are great and the food is so much better than what you would expect at a bar. Fine ingredients, imaginative menu presented in a gourmet fashion, yet down-to-earth staff and atmosphere. It feels warm the minute you walk in, even when it's blistering cold outside. Have the sangria margarita! read more