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    The Barnacle Restaurant

    3.6 (302 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Bars, Burgers
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    The Barnacle Restaurant Photos

    THE BARNACLE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Barnacle Restaurant

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    Our visitor
    Bonnie Z.

    Early dinner for us on a busy day walking around Boston. Marblehead is a great quiet town with a fishing history. The homes tell the story. The bar was full of locals and it was wonderful. We were seated at a window overlooking the water. It was wonderful! We even had a visitor join us. I had the haddock filet which was fabulous! Hard to find fresh haddock in Florida. My husband enjoyed the lobster roll. We both had a lovely Pinot noir as well. Love the whole vibe!

    Betsy S.

    It's one of my husband's favorite places when we go back to Marblehead. We ordered a plate of steamers (entree size to split) and a lobster chowder. The steamers were delicious and it's a true Marblehead place that locals love. It sits on the water and you can look out and enjoy the view! They have a pretty big bar area where people have one or more drinks and just hang out there. Last time, I even got a great zip up sweatshirt that I love!

    Tricia W.

    On recommendation from friends, we took our out of town guest to this restaurant yesterday for lunch. It was a glorious sunny afternoon, so we opted for patio seating. While the fit is tight, and they do not have a lot of room on the small deck, its def worth sitting out there on days like yesterday. Staff was quick to get what we needed, happy to chat a bit when we were feeling social but not in way at all. Food, we started with the garlicky mussels, yum. I had the salmon Caesar salad, another had the salmon with a lobster horseradish sauce (divine, a kick but not overwhelming) and other had their seafood platter. All was delicious and devoured in no time. Hubs opted to try the special strawberry champagne cake, which we all had to try and yes indeed, yummy! He was toying with the idea of lemoncello cake too, so I had them place that in to go bag for him. This is not an upscale over priced on the water restaurant. The floors and bathrooms could be a lil cleaner. But I still highly recommend it!

    Clam Chowder
    Megan B.

    While restaurant was a cute little Place, the food was... mediocre for the amount they charge you. The service was not anything to compliment about, when asked if they had Coke or Pepsi products- it's off brand. For the amount you charge for food the least you could do is provide a good drink on ice. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone or even go back.

    Exterior
    Adina S.

    What a fun spot! I'm always a sucker for restaurants on the water. I was so pleased to get a spot on the back deck, even during the peak weekend lunch rush. There were plenty of people dining inside as well. Great service, even for the outdoor area. My friend ordered the Bbq Sirloin Steak Tips, which were delicious, and I got the Fish And Chips, which was also very yummy! I opted for a broiled fish instead, which was a nice option. I'd happily come back!

    Steamed lobster
    Suzanne C.

    Great service and good! We easily got a table for 8. We got lobster, stuffies, clams, chowder and more. Everything was delicious! Our server Mike was superb. Enjoy ever changing water views with the boats coming in and out. Great place.

    Nightly specials!
    Mary Jo T.

    Marblehead is not too far from Boston, where my family lived for a season. This is an INSTITUTION that has been around since the 50s! It's not the easiest to find, as the streets are narrow and a bit of a challenge to navigate. BUT, that is part of the adventure! When you consider how many decades this restaurant has operated in the SAME spot, it's worth visiting simply for the historical experience! It's small and cozy, with a great view of the ocean. It's wonderful to watch the sunset with night gradually falling across the bay, during your meal. I had the scallop special and chowder, which I enjoyed. It was great to look out on the shores, where my father and brother went clamming many years ago. . . A nostalgic spot, not to be missed!

    Rainbow

    Ordered lobster caeser. It was yum yum in my tum tum. My bestie westie ordered the lobster bisque. She says it was magical. My mother ordered the steamed mussels she said they were the best she ever had. The mashed potatoes were so good I would come back here just for them. My wonderful sister ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer as her meal and said it was deliciouso. We had a lovely waitress who had speedy quick service. She was so friendly and even helped us when my sister spilled her drink all over my bestie westie. The view with the rainbow made the whole ambiance better. I even asked the waitress if she has ever seen seals and she said she hasn't but others have. The service here is impeccable. We all agree that the aesthetic is wonderful and more people should go here.

    Baked Sea Scallops
    Jennette P.

    We found this place on whim. It was a Sunday rainy evening and we were a table of 9. We were greeted and seated right away. The service was phenomenal and this place was a hidden gem with with a nice harbor view. It's a small casual hole in the wall that serves fresh seafood. You can't go wrong with anything you order and you can't beat the prices. Clam chowder had chunks of clam! Scallops were baked perfectly and soft to bite. The steamed mussels were recommended by the table next to us who are locals and they were delicious with a sweet buttery wine broth. Everything was fresh out of the water!

    Lauren K.

    When I heard The Barnacle had $20 twin lobster tails I almost passed out. Seriously, Marblehead, do you know how good you have it? How blessed you are? This is not normal where I'm from. We came back here multiple times just for the lobster tails. I really took a large liking to Marblehead in big thanks to The Barnacle. The servers were friendly and this local watering hole (no pun intended) had a great sense of community to it. It's snug on the inside and you don't need to feel a big need to dress up. They know everyone's names and will remember you even if you're a tourist. Again, I'm dreaming of these excellent lobster tails, which were some of the best I've ever had. They make their own catches daily, and the quality of seafood here can't be beat. I truly never felt guilty we came here more than once. I loved this spot.

    K-k-k-clams!

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Very nostalgic setting!! Fresh seafood and good drinks! Very friendly staff and fabulous view of Marblehead harbor!

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    7 months ago

    Beautiful location right on the water. Loved our meal but service was slow due to being super busy.

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Great food, great service and a spectacular harbor view. All this and reasonable prices. This place is highly recommended ! !

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Best seafood on the North Shore! Amazing location in a beautiful historic town. Delicious clam chowder and great cocktails. 10/10

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Staff and patrons were very friendly, good drinks and a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

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    2 years ago

    Great location, great menu, salty service. It's exactly what you want from a seaside haunt in coastal New England.

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    Page 1 of 8

    The Barnacle Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Barnacle Restaurant

    What do they have for vegetarians?

    various sandwiches such as vegi- burgers, grilled cheese, salads, caesar wrap, pasta, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, grilled or baked seafood dishes and more

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    We really enjoyed Sea Salt tonight. It is located in the basement and enter via the back. Once you…read moreget to their outdoor patio, you know you've arrived. What a lovely spot. The restaurant is deceptively large with a pleasant atmosphere. Service was prompt even on a busy Saturday evening and our server was enthusiastic about the food. I had the goat burger, which was absolutely loaded with goat cheese. I appreciate that they are generous, so be forewarned it is a delicious and messy situation. I also tried the Brussels sprouts, which were terrific. I snuck bites of my husbands truffle fries, which were also super good. My husband ate every bite of his sea salt burger, which he reported was very good between bites. Also worth noting that the burger patties were gigantic. We finished up dinner with an Irish coffee. Yum! Overall, this is a really good choice for dinner. I'd definitely recommend stopping by here for a meal if you're in the area.

    Sea Salt is the kind of place that just feels good to be at. The food is fresh and straightforward…read morein the best way -- easygoing but still packed with flavor. The ahi tuna poke was incredible, one of those dishes you could eat every day and never get tired of. I also tried the black bean burger and was blown away. I don't usually go for veggie burgers, but this one was fantastic -- flavorful, satisfying, and made me forget I wasn't eating meat. The service was excellent, too. Everyone was welcoming, attentive without being over the top, and just genuinely nice to interact with. It's rare to find a spot where both the food and the people hit the mark like this. Highly recommend Sea Salt for anyone who wants a great meal in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

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    The hidden local favorite seafood place in Marblehead. Small business by the water, you can get the…read morebest lobster roll LOADED with lobster meat (not just the meat from the claws). Comes in 2 flavors: mayonnaise or lemon butter. Both are amazingly good. They also have lobsters, crab cakes, fish cakes, chowders, etc. you can get raw seafood here as well. Heads-up, only outdoor seating, but the view is totally worth it. Highly recommended, 10/10!

    The Barnacle Restaurant - seafood - Updated May 2026

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