After all these years still has the best fish and chips the lunch time menu is still 15.00 , great service, and view the coleslaw is great too no mayo no vinegar, friendly place too ! read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - After all these years still has the best fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Fantastic views of Marblehead lighthouse and harbor. Great lobster salad and fries. The fried scallops were delicious too. Friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff too. Parking was tough, I agree with the other reviewers. read more

See all

Great local vibe. Recommended by several in the community. Sat out on back patio for lunch on a gorgeous day. Our group had drinks, shrimp and hamburgers. All was good. Nothing fancy about the place but the water view and the setting is classic. Service was fine. read more

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

4 stars for the view but 3 stars for the food. You pay for the view. Classic seafood on the water spot in Marblehead. We snagged a table on the outdoor area overlooking the water. Food was completely average. Just fried seafood. read more

This restaurant used to be a favorite of my families when our step mom lived here thirty years ago and I am so glad I was able to come here and experience this charming place myself. It's very casual and laid back, and a great place to sit and enjoy and the water for lunch. The seafood chowder was amazing. Not too thick, but obviously really creamy. Lots of seafood pieces as well. Lobster bisque was excellent. Lobster roll was just shy of perfection. I personally like a little more sauce on mine, but the flavor and the lobster was the best so for I've had on my trip. The lobster chunks were massive, and at today's market price it was $26.00 which seemed fair considering how much lobster there was! Was served with onion rings and they were crisp, light and delicious. Great experience and great memories with family. read more

See all

Low-key friendly local place, plenty of young families out having a $100 lunch with the toddlers. Tight seating so you'd best want to make new friends when you head there for your $100 lunch. Fried seafood was fresh and expertly prepared, though portions seemed small for the price - a $40 fried platter should leave me anything but hungry. read more

Friendly service and oh, what a view! The seafood we ate (haddock, crab legs, scallops, lobster) were great. The non-seafood we ate (steak, steak tips, chicken), not so great, but hey, it's a seafood place so allowances have to be made. A short, relaxing walk from anywhere you are staying in Marblehead and well worth a few meals while you stay. You can eat inside or out, weather depending. It's tight, yes, but comfortable. We enjoyed sitting at the counter along the window and looking out into the bay. A perfect way to spend your evening. It's understandable why the Barnacle is a mainstay of Marblehead. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - View from the seats at The Barnacle. - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

I thought this restaurant was highly rated by websites like Yankee way and etc. but it became a bit disappointing: 1. I waited at the gate forever before being seated. The waitresses were running around or chatting, and it took quite a while 2. No water was served until I asked for it 3. To be fair, the fried fish was decent - the batter was light and fluffy 4. It's in a prime location that you could see the Marblehead lighthouse from the porch I guess the labor shortage is real read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Just ordered a side of fried calamari as a snack for the road; unfortunately it was tough to eat, and wasn't so tasty. The crispness was fine, but the calamari itself was so tough. I had to work hard to gnaw on it, and it wasn't tasty. I'm hoping the other things on the menu fare better. Seems to be a popular place. Views of the water, and of the street, absolutely stunning. read more

Two stars for the slow service & very average food. Clearly a bar favorite for locals. Felt a little crammed but clearly taking COVID precautions seriously. Beautiful location if you're in Marblehead and want to wait for an outside table (we did) but not a lot of great options on the menu. We got the fish & chips (ok) and fish tacos (below average effort here). Side salad was fine. Overall, could be worth it for the location if you're from out of town and want to sit outside and look at the view. read more

Place is small and busy. The staff never stop moving. We heard that we have to eat here during our stay. This is correct. Service is slow but it is not for lack of effort. Great food takes time and this place turns tables over like no one else. Like I said the wait staff was hustling. From being seated until the end was about 2 hours. Not bad considering the volume they do in a dining room the size of a small living room. But the entree did not come until about 30 minutes before the end. You need to block out some time and order everything at once. Needless to say, it was a great dining experience. Show up, order and tip big. They deserve it. read more

A small tucked away restaurant in a sleepy beach town. Our usual go to place was way packed with a 30 minute wait. So we walked down to Barnacles. Happy we did. Our 3rd time eating here. Had the shrimp cocktail and a delicious seafood dish. Bloody Mary is decent here. Bus boy was so quick at collecting/cleaning up stuff (which was great, table was tiny) Do wish we had been offered refills on beverages. Outside of that our waiter was very nice and friendly. At the end the table next to us sent my daughter and I delicious chocolate cake and paid our tab! Unbelievable. They were a sweet family, adorable son. We just were blown away by that. So kind. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - My 6 year olds butter noodles. - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

See all

We decided to drive over to the Fort Sewall to check out the historic point and the wind and rain got the better of us. Soaked and thinking of an epic seafood dinner, John did the research only to find we were a block away from this little hot spot. They closed the dining room between lunch and dinner- so we sat in the bar area for about 45 minutes and enjoyed drinks and conversation until the dining room opened at 5pm. Then it was on. The plan- get me lobster while visiting. Success! My brother ordered one of the daily specials- the swordfish with sides of broccoli and mashed potatoes, John ordered the seafood platter with shrimp, scallops, clams (with bellies), haddock, onion rings & fries! I donned my lobster bib and happily enjoyed my steamed lobster with drawn butter and sides of baked potato and broccoli. Josh raved about his meal and John cleared his plate gladly. Service was stellar and we ever ordered bowls of soup to-go! I grabbed some clam chowder and Josh took lobster bisque home to his wife. The clam chowder- omg, so good. Simply a staple- must have clam chowder and lobster. Very happy with this treasure right on the water! Waves crashing on the rocks just out the window! read more

See all

Don't get me wrong, The Barnacle has been one of my favorite places for a fun, and delicious meal at a reasonable price in all seasons. The staff is A+. Best location anywhere within miles. Now the however after two recent meals with my family. Now the however. Food: baked scallops worse than mediocre. Overcooked, drowning in butter and oil, no taste. Not worth a dollar. Steak tip portion was small and served like dog food in a bowl, when futile correction was attempted. Finally, the 2 for 1 lobster special came with a plate and melted butter, and anything else, a la cart, but clearly advertised (as I recall). By the time a salad and other side dishes ordered, it was a $40.00+ dinner. Bait was used get lobsters into traps, switch became apparent as soon as the details were disclosed. Cost; Over $110.00 plus tip for 3 people. I understand costs may be higher, but range of prices might make it more attractive. Ambiance is pure coastal new England and fabulous, especially during coastal storms. Replace the carpets, then professionally clean. Make the eating areas, bar, bathrooms and deck ADA accessible. Thanks for many years of a down home experience. Just not sure if and when I will return home. Just up the street. Robert read more

Ordered food to go . Yummmm the swordfish special was out of this world ! Huge portion also . read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Swordfish special - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Always great. Lobster rolls are wonderful. Consistently good for many years. We keep coming back or 30 years and are never disappointed

The food is delicious! The crab cakes were unbelievable. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Awesome view of the shoreline.

Waitress was exceptional. Lobster excellent. Obnoxious local drunks irritating numerous tables, many left commenting about it. Management and other staff sided with locals. One of the drunk men had a combative argument with our 83 year old aunt. Management still did nothing. Unreal dining experience. NEGATIVE STAR RATING read more

Parking is a challenge on the twisty narrow streets of the picturesque town. Precious spaces are often posted restricting parking for a variety of uses. The good news is the healthy hike to and from Barnacles after an available has been found. Perhaps because of the parking challenge and hike (down historical streets and passed all manner of lobster fishing gear, Baracles is a rare treat with a charmingly informal dining room with large windows to enjoy the rugged view of the Bay. The patio built atop the rugged outcropping of black rocks with the uninterrupted view of the Bay is more charming amidst the lovely sight, sounds, smells and breezes. The clam chowder was fresh, rich and filling. The crab cakes were loaded with crab meat, fresh, tender and sweet. The service was great moving me indoors when the breeze became too chill. A great dining experience. read more

See all

My husband and two year old dinned here Saturday night. The service was great, food arrived quickly and was delicious. We both had lobster bisque, which was yummy. He had the clam basket and said they were some of the best he'd ever had. I had a full lobster dinner which was priced great at $34. We were very satisfied with our experience. read more

We waited 20 min for a take out soup to eat at Ft Sewall. They should be ashamed to call that a clam chowder. It was a large cup of luke warm broth, not a clam in sight. Only solid food was 1 tiny potato. Go for the views, but skip the chowder. read more

Tight quarters - if you need space this is not the place. Drinks are good and worth the money. However there were a ton of flies in the bar area making it a little grimy and wanting to be outside vs inside. I feel like the outdoor seating area which does have beautiful views just has too many tables. Staff was friendly all around, though server was a little forgetful. As far as food felt like it was a little overpriced and would be able to source elsewhere. No reason to travel to or return. read more

I went to The Barnacle recently with two of my sons ! The parking is really difficult but we were able to find a spot not too far away! We sat on the deck which is really small but the view and ambience is very nice! All three of us ordered the lobster roll with onion rings instead of French Fries! The lobster roll was very mediocre! It was basically a toasted hot dog roll with lobster meat pilled on top of lettuce with celery and a glob of Mayo on top of the lobster! It wasn't mixed up! That to me was weird ! It tasted ok it wasn't terrible but just ok and I don't think I would go back ! Maybe other items on their menu are allot better? read more

Food was mixed Lobster bisque had one tiny shred of lobster in it and was more broth than bisque Haddock was very fresh and well prepared Salads were iceberg lettuce Chicken was dry Fried stuff was, well, fried. Hard to mess up We dined with a few dozen flys which was kind of gross after a while Service was very slow and our table of five was served two meals, 15 minutes then the other three Summer season, very busy, obviously they need more help View is nice, but not the best experience otherwise read more

Great local, low-key restaurant with delicious seafood! Came on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised at the quaint fisherman's vibe of this place! We had coconut shrimp as an app and the seafood casserole and baked haddock as entrees. Everything was delicious! Come casual or a little dressed up but not fancy! Would definitely recommend this place. read more

See all

Absolutely a gem to eat here ! Our waitress was so kind and sweet and the view out on the deck was absolutely unreal. Decided to make the little trip from Salem to Marblehead specifically for this restaurant and it did NOT disappoint. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - View from deck seating - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Rustic New England charm, family run, cozy place w/ a small selection of seafoods. Non pretentious and perfect fried whole belly clams and onion rings. Bonus for the nice view and very friendly staff! Seems like a local favorite since they all hang out around the bar. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

This place is a hoot and a howl with a great local vibe even during the tourist season. Food is very good and so are the drinks. If open a table outside is a great place to sit. The chowder is very good and so are the scallops. Great kids menu so bring the family. read more

This restaurant is filthy ! Let's start that we ate at the counter facing onto a deck and the harbor . The windows were not cleaned , flies at the closed window trying desperately to get out in my face, and flees on the counter. Gross! The haddock fish sandwich was ok and reasonable priced. The server was pleasant. The worst was the filthy ladies bathroom, gross! Won't be going back. read more

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. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Yum! - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Food is of poor quality. Mainly fried food. Everything tastes like it was heated a in a microwave View is good. read more

We're visiting home for Thanksgiving and it had been a while since I stopped in at the Barnacle, so my husband and I took advantage of a date night and headed there. The food was delicious (we ordered calamari as an appetizer, then shared the special which was Swordfish with sweet potato and onion rings, as well as a grilled shrimp Caesar salad) and a few drinks, but the SERVICE was top notch. Nicole was our waitress and she was warm, kind, knowledgeable and fast. Tanya was the other waitress working, and she stopped by our table intermittently while Nicole was caring for other tables to make sure we had all we needed. Highly recommended, and we will for sure be back. I wish I had a better photo of our food but by the time I thought to take one, we were already chowing down!!! read more

The quintessential Massachusetts on the water restaurant experience!! The Barnacle is a classic clam/fish shack, not a straight line or a level floor in this tight, cramped, but great seafood restaurant!! The bar was relaxed & friendly. Steely Dan and Little River Band were playing on the music station. Need to spend an afternoon there in the Summer. But I was outside for some early May sunshine on the water. Harbor views with a couple pints of Bent Water Sluice Juice with a platter of fried clams (whole belly and strips). Service was excellent (Friday afternoon), food came out before I got a second sip of my pint. Clams were piping hot, light, crispy and TASTY!! Spot on perfect! I can not find a better way to eat clams then here at the Barnacle. I highly recommend this place! read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Fried Clam Platter. Hot. Crispy. Light. SUPER tasty! - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

See all

The evening started out great Had a few drinks at the bar and we were seated in a reasonable amount of time We sat at our table for 30 minutes without any waitress or waiter, people were seated next to us for 1 minute and ordered their drinks and appetizers immediately, we told the waitress for the other table we have been seated for 30 minutes without a waitress, she told us she wou be right over and no one ever showed up , we left the restaurant, very disappointed read more

This place is amazing!! We had the fried seafood combo, sea scallops, dug and turf, and the apple pie al a mode. Everything exceeded our expectations, so much better than any high end over priced restaurant. It's a gem by the sea. The food is great, the view is amazing, the staff is friendly, and they never steer you wrong with choices. The apple pie was homemade heaven! We will be back tomorrow for lunch! read more

See all

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 entree, 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. read more

What a great view of the harbor from this restaurant!!! Service was good even though they were fully packed. We seemed to have to look for our server when we needed something since he was so busy with many tables. He was hustling and had a lot of tables at one time. Did a good job. Scallops were fresh but the bread crumbs were a little heavy for my liking. The rest of the table tried the fish and chips (hefty portion of fish!!), surf and turf and chicken piccata. Everything was enjoyable. read more

Waited for 45 minutes for our two orders to come. As a result food was lukewarm and bland.

One of my favorite places, fresh calamari and chowder, great drinks, good bartenders, great atmosphere