Amazing location which literally just out over Lobster Cove Annisquam River Gloucester. Small menu which features fresh. Locally sourced produce, seafood as well as meat and poultry. Bohemian vibe which leans into French inspired cuisine. Small restaurant with limited seating. If the stars align, you may land a seat at the bar ( arrive early). Gorgeous would flowers and local art adorn this establishment throughout. Reservations are highly recommended. read more

I had dinner with my mom at Talise a week or so ago when we spent a long weekend in Cape Ann together. Talise is absolutely beautiful. It's located right on Lobster Cove on the Annisquam River, with beautiful views. We were seated outside, and it was so peaceful out there - the perfect place for a meal! We had an early reservation on a Sunday night (I'd have taken something later, but Talise is very popular, and I took what I could get) and were seated at a beautiful table outside right away. The menu is really incredible - seasonal, fresh, inspired by the restaurant's surroundings. My mom eats mostly vegan, and they were extremely accommodating and made her a pasta dish that wasn't on the menu. I had their sourdough bread with butter, sourdough soy, and sel gris (my mom shared it with me without the butter - more for me!); two of their raw oysters from New Brunswick with a sparkling rose mignonette; two of their dressed oysters with plumcots, prosecco mignonette, and smoked trout roe; and their bucatini with Cape clams, Calabrian chile, onion cream, bacon, pounded basil, bread crumbs, and 2-year Parmigiano Reggiano. Everything was very good, but I wish the sauce on the pasta had been thickened a bit so it would stick to the pasta; the sauce was delicious, but was as thin as broth and that made it hard to enjoy. My mom and I also shared their apple crunch (with almonds, vanilla gelato, and caramel), with the gelato on the side, which was a great ending to the meal. With a glass of orange wine to boot, I really enjoyed the meal overall. The meal was mostly lovely - it'd be hard not enjoy a meal this tasty in such a beautiful location - but I found the service a little cold, almost to the point that I wondered if I had annoyed or offended our server somehow. The less friendly service was only a slight damper on what was a very nice meal. I'd be happy to return - it's a gorgeous spot with a great seasonal and regional approach to its cuisine. read more

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Talise is a special place. Casual. Calm. Scenery that cannot be better of course. You can even travel there on your boat of course. The menu changes daily, and it isn't until late that day that we found out what we would be eating that evening. One of the 4 chose the pork and other three chose lobster spaghetti. Though that is not what they called it. There was plenty of lobster. Mostly underneath, and plenty of cut tail, too which was nice. But for $55 I guess you can use an ingredient like that. It was in a light sauce, not oily at all which was great. A nice light yet almost bland taste to it. One the of the chose the pork loin which was very good. I had a bit. of course. I don't care for pork other than bacon but this was nice. The sear on it tasted so yummy yet not too salty. For apps we got half dozen Cadillac oysters which our friends raved about, and the sourdough with salted butter, which was yummy but wouldn't get that again. We skipped dessert to go to Holy Cow 5 mins away which we highly recommend. Size of portions was perfect. No leftovers but more than enough. Definitely a special place though. read more

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We stumbled upon the dreamiest little harbor spot and crashed their end of the season party! We had a great time sitting at the bay having a few drinks, we decided to move on since their menu was a set menu for the evening. We loved our bartenders and they were quick and fun to chat with! Super romantic little spot! read more

Talise - Area nearby - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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I came here with a friend for brunch on a Sunday morning. We arrived around 9:30 and didn't have a reservation, but were seated right away. While we were not on the deck, we were seated next to a window and had an incredible view. My friend and I both ordered Huevos Rancheros. The sauce was delicious and the avocado was perfectly ripe. The corn tortillas were fresh and tasted homemade (I think they make them at the restaurant). The meal was delicious and it was a great setting. Definitely recommend! read more

Talise - Huevos Rancheros - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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This is such a great hidden gem we found as we were driving around Gloucester. It's located on a residential street so parking is limited and we had to walk a little further which was alright since the water views surrounding the restaurant are lovely. The place was hard to get a reservation at so I recommend booking ahead of time and choosing their patio seat as it has the closest view to the water. The food was the main star it's a different menu everyday and we were so impressed by how fresh and flavorful everything was. We got a variety of seafood: Oyster, Bluefin Tuna, Clam and Tiramisu. All were great for sharing and potion well. read more

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Lovely view, great service, terrific food. We were concerned about the somewhat limited menu options but there was something for everyone.

Talise hits the rare balance between elegant and totally unpretentious! We instantly unwind here, the view is incredible and I love watching folks hop on and off their boats at the dock. The menu is just a fun ride of fresh, local and r pertly prepared items that will leave you totally satisfied. Unlike so many other upscale restaurants on the area the portions here are generous. The wine menu has something for everyone and there is also a nicely curated beer menu. On this visit we had the tuna carpaccio as an app which was really summery with pistachios and blueberries. My husband then had the duck breast-outstanding! Cooked to perfection and totally juicy and I had the scallops and pasta. Succulent scallops, so tender and perfectly crisped just to brown the edges. We have yet to try dessert here but keep threatening to get to it the next time! Please make your reservation and bring someone you really want to treat to a wonderful evening! read more

Talise - Tuna Carpaccio with pistachios and blueberries - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

I plan my summers around at least one reservation at Talise. I recommend this unique dining experience to all.

I went to Talise twice over the summer and I was really impressed with both the food and the ambiance! The Market was always a favorite of mine so I was glad to see this beautiful spot filled with a great new restaurant. The menu is pretty small but very well curated. Amazing seafood and lots of fresh, locally-sourced options. The bread is a must! I had the lobster bucatini last time and it was absolutely delicious with huge pieces of fresh lobster in it. The service was excellent as well. I am looking forward to going back! read more

Talise - Lobster Bucatini - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

When you tell your guests , that they have to finish their meal by 7 PM - it generally doesn't go down very well. Not sure if this approach was crafted by your hostess, or you inform all your guests this - but this is about as UNWELCOMING as it can be. It took us a little bit to sort thru it, as we sat at our assigned table - but my mood was ruined and appetite gone. After a much anticipated wait to enjoy this place - this was the conclusion. I am surprised they didn't want to charge me for the water, as I informed them that we won't be dining there. Do better. read more

Can't say enough about this restaurant. Staff are friendly and attentive. Menu varies and the dishes are all excellent. I love the location, views, and the general vibe. Great experience. Highly recommended. read more

What a treat!! This place is really something special. On point from atmosphere to food to service. From the moment you arrive you are greeted by the sweet smell of the sea and the warmth of the host(ess). I love that they offer several options for dining - indoor, outdoor (covered) and outdoor (open air). The menu is small -- for good reason; everything is super fresh and in season. We had Wellfleet oysters to start, they were deliciously briney and a perfect start to the evening. My friend and I both opted for the Maine halibut; though we maybe should have tried different items, we couldn't resist. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD! The halibut was presented so beautifully (almost too good to eat) and tasted even better than it looked! It was cooked to perfection - tender and flavorful, and served with the most mouthwatering lobster. I have no idea what the sauce atop the fish and lobster was, but it elevated the flavors of the entire dish. The snap peas and greens were the perfect contrast, adding color and texture to the plate. I basked in every bite of this entree! Our server Paul (with a smile to kill!) was perfectly attentive without being invasive. He was a delightfully charming. Thank you so much for a special dinner Talise. You are such a fabulous addition to the North Shore! (I was so caught up in the delicious food, I neglected to snap food pics....next time!) read more

Talise - a view of a marina from a restaurant - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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We had a very good experience-charming setting excellent staff great service and simply wonderfull food well prepared. We will be back again. read more

Lovely spot, farm to table, like seeing the food sources. Rigatoni was seriously meh watery and flavorless. Great sourdough bread. Honestly much too pricey for food you can make at home. Go to Tonno for homemade pasta with flavor, otherwise buy homemade pasta, add a few cherry tomatoes and save your money for another meal at another restaurant. read more

Talise is our new favorite restaurant. The charming view on the water from every indoor or outdoor table with a relaxed, comfortable, clean decor sets the stage for a lovely evening. The wait staff and service is friendly and knowledgeable on the menu. We had the Wedge Salad, Halibut, fresh Pasta and Tiramisu with well paired wine - all of which were outstanding. The dishes are somewhat pricey but portions and quality make it worth it. The only challenge was parking. Arrive early to find parking. We cannot wait to return! read more

Amazing food, breathtaking views & phenomenal service. Talise is an absolute gem and a MUST visit every season!!

I dined there when it was The Market. Loved it and was sad it had closed for good. Went there for the first time under the new owners and now called Talise. Service good, ambiance a bit noisy but I was sitting inside. Maybe outside would have been better. But let's get to the menu. First I had to get over the drastic increase in prices. I don't mind paying that if indeed the food ended up being a mind blowing experience. I ordered the Romaine salad , 16. and the bucatini pasta entree, 38.00 , the least expensive entree . I just couldn't bring myself to pay 41. for chicken or 48. for swordfish. Others in my group were more willing. I thought the salad was ordinary, but hoping the pasta dish would be amazing at 38.00 , and worthy of a premium price. It was not. In fact there was nothing special about it at all. My friends all agreed after letting them have a taste. Overall the other dishes were good but nothing that warranted the pricing or additional stars in my opinion. The dessert was excellent , so they earned a star for that. I guess if prices don't matter and you just want an outing to be with friends and food is secondary then go ahead and enjoy. There was a good crowd there and people were doing just that, enjoying themselves with family and friends. But next time I'll suggest we go to places in the Cape Ann area that have never disappointed with dishes at more reasonable prices and far better in taste. Sorry Talise. I doubt this review would stop your regulars, but perhaps your chefs will step up their game. 3 stars for not being a total bust , but if it was just me .. 2 stars and that's only because of the dessert. read more

A lot of positives here: beautiful location (a bit of a marina feel), friendly service, and fresh & local seafood -- the clams and shrimps from the raw bar as well as the striped bass main dish were very good (as was the brownie dessert). However, I couldn't shake the feeling that this restaurant hasn't fully found its place yet. The prices are certainly upscale, so why charge for a small piece of (homemade) bread that could instead be served as an amuse-gueule to get everyone excited? The wine list had a few good options by the glass (like a nice Sauvignon Blanc from France), but most choices did not seem to match the top quality of the seafood. The lettuce starter was a bit unimaginative. More attention to these details could really elevate the experience. Still, we would return if we are back in the area. read more

Wow! What a thrilling surprise. We were so sad about the closing of Market, we were at first reluctant to try Talise which opened in their former spot. (They left big shoes to fill in their small, perfect waterfront location in Annisquam...) Talise is a delight with beautiful, fresh main dishes, perfect seared fish, yummy curry, spectacular bread, fabulous raw clams and a dessert with peaches we are still swooning over. Service in the time of covid was perfect and safe at our perch on the dock. Sometimes change is good read more

Talise - Diners Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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Such a wonderful place! Maybe the best restaurant in the north shore? Innovative, delicious, focused, locally sourced.... It is high end and gourmet, though relatively informal, with a seafood focus, but also terrific pasta options and amazing salads. The view so spectacular, it will make you want to cry. I live close by, and have probably eaten here twenty times (a lot, but particularly when our kitchen was being renovated, we were going out all the time). The menu generally has a relatively small number of options for each course, but it is very focused, with options to suit your every mood, and every single thing is exceptional. The wine list is very thoughtful. Often, I'll get a couple of the amazing appetizers, or an appetizer and a salad, and also the amazing bread. It's all always spectacular! Even just simple salads are extraordinary, here. But the ceviches and crudos, such as the scallops with kumquats... omigod.... Then, there are the pastas, which are just ridiculous. They sometimes do a spicy lobster one (fra diavolo?), which is life changing, but even the pork bolognese is just magical and fantastic. The desserts are exquisite. Anyhow, this place is worth a special trip. It is so good, you should just plan a whole weekend around eating here. Go to the beach to work up an appetite, just so you can order more here. Definitely get a reservation, but if you mess up and don't, you can sometimes find a seat at the bar. The menu changes every day. Service is perfect: friendly and informative. read more

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Beautiful location, impeccable service. My pork loin was ok. At that price, it should have been fantastic. My husband loved his tuna appetizer and sea bass. We ordered a bottle of chilled Rose, perfect for a hot night. A wine chiller would have made the subsequent pours equally chilled but one was not provided. We'll try walk in service later in the season, but this won't be a weekly dining out location for us. read more

One on the best restaurants I've been to in terms of menu and service, and most of all...the location and view. Someone offered to take our pictures with the view. We didn't realize he was the owner! read more

Wow the swordfish smelled as bad as the garbage cans out back. What a waste of hard earned money our dinner was. I can't fine one think we liked about this place, the view was nothing unless you like a gas dock and a view of houses on the other side of this little river inlet. Unless you come by boat and have no other option to eat I would highly recommend to skip this place. Also if you are expecting to have a cocktail you better have one before you come as they only sell wine at about $15 a glass, bad start and only got worse. read more

We're long-time customers at Short & Main (and fans of the former Market restaurant) and went to Talise last night (July 2) for a special birthday dinner. On the plus side, the atmosphere is friendly with good spacing between tables, and a small menu, and the service was good with nice touches like offering me a small sample of the wine I had ordered to be sure I liked it before the glass was poured. The portions are generous and the bread (Iggy's) is excellent, served with butter and olive oil. My partner really liked the Peekytoe Crab appetizer. My Yellowfin Tuna Crudo appetizer looked beautiful. It was marred by several sinewy strands that made much of it hard to cut and not so pleasant to eat. I gave this feedback at the time and was told more about how the tuna was prepared, but nothing that would explain the issue I had with it. While I really liked my beef tenderloin entree, which was perfectly cooked and had interesting accompaniments like shitake mushroom relish, my partner found his striped bass bland. It's great if a meal ends on a high note, but desserts were disappointing. My partner's Valrhona chocolate mousse had too much sel gris (and he really likes salt), and my creme brûlée tart with sake lees was really tasteless with a crust that was not as good as what I can make myself. (I'm a good baker but no pastry chef.) The prices are inconspicious on the menu -- I saw afterwards that entrees ranged from $36-$45. For 2 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, the bill was over $200. I would have preferred smaller portions and a more reasonable bill. If the excellence of the crab appetizer, the beef tenderloin entree, and the bread had been matched by the rest of the elements, it would have been a happier evening and maybe I would have felt better about this splurge. read more

Fantastic food and an absolutely gorgeous setting. Ingredients are fresh and local. The owners and the servers could not be nicer or more welcoming. The outside dining is awesome. Do yourself a favor and go to Talia's. And save room for dessert! read more

I have always loved this little spot in Annisquam. It has been many restaurants over the years. Talise is the latest and higher-end than some of the past. While it is wonderful for an occasional "fancier" (food-wise) night out (would give 4-5 stars for that), it also serves brunch on the weekend which may be a bit too fancy if you just want a basic, good breakfast. One slice of French toast is going to run you $12 and I would say it is not food that kids would enjoy/recognize. You can get eggs, orange juice ($4) or bacon ($5) as sides, but at these prices, it would not be a place that locals might wander down to regularly. Unfortunately, they do not serve weekday breakfast, which was one of my "go to" events previously. The dinner menu varies daily and there is always something on it that is very enjoyable for a once a month type visit. The three star rating is based on the brunch. read more

Update: I received a nice email from this restaurant after my review offering a gift certificate as compensation. I did not think it was necessary for them to comp us, I really just wanted to give some constructive criticism. I do want to say that this restaurant is very much worth checking out; it has a beautiful view and ambiance, and the food is quite good; we just had a less than perfect experience on that day. Perhaps it's not really fair to compare it to the previous establishment since it is its own entity, and we will return and wish them well. read more

LIke other reviewers I was a regular at the Market. I was very excited to see that the chef and faintly have ties to Short and Main and Neptune Oyster. The food does not disappoint the oysters are fresh and delicious and the menu fresh and farm to table. The service is impeccable and the owners are very present checking on each diner's experience. Excited to experience more from Talise!! read more

What a great spot! With a pristine view of the Annisquam, a soft but up-beat ambiance, killer service, and even better food and wine, I recommend this spot to all of my friends and family. Despite opening unexpectedly during a pandemic, the Smith family and their crew have done an amazing job! The menu features all local ingredients that come together in thoughtful ways. I'm not usually a seafood lover, but this restaurant has changed my mind on that! Everybody needs to check it out ASAP. read more

Love Talise! Fresh food, local twist and super nice people. Great job setting up during hard times, certainly the best view around and wonderful food! I live in the area and do their take out constantly. Thank you for doing what you do and for coming to the neighborhood! read more

Best meal and evening of the summer. The staff treated us like old friends and guests in their home. The view is the best on the Northshore for outdoor waterfront dining. The food and wine were perfection. read more