First - set your expectations here. It's a window-order place, generally will be full to the brim with cars on a nice day, and you'll be waiting a little bit for your food (and that's after you've waited quite a bit in line to get the order in.) Second - I like it! I've been going here on and off for most of my life, grew up in the area, and for some mystical reason the tuna sandwich tastes exactly the same after 20 years. I suspect it's the tangy industrial-type restaurant mayo, but I'll never ask the secret. It's on smushy white bread and I love it. (Never noticed onion, but there are some pieces of crunchy celery if that's a deal-breaker for you!) The fries are great (fat but not steak) and the onion rings are great (light batter, thick cut, rings don't slide out, it's the flaky kind and they're not super greasy.) I've seen and tasted the fish and fish sandwiches, they're really tasty (same thin batter and thin cut fish, so not big chunky stuff that might not be cooked.) My friend LOVES the footlong grilled hot dogs. It's what you'd expect from shack-style take out - tasty, not super pricey, lots of summer atmosphere. I actually sort of like it when it's busy and the numbers get announced over the loud speaker. Ahhh, nostalgia. The ice cream is Richardsons (although I can't totally vouch that the soft-serve is, it's been a point of heated debate among myself and friends) so it's good. If you really want the full Richardsons' experience, I'd just shoot up there personally - but if you're in town and just want a cone and this is easier, it works. read more

I love this place. Family owned and operated. My mother took me here as a kid because she took care of Cindys mother Ethel. I remember like it was yesterday. See you soon. Pam and Hudson. read more

This is the "Cheers" of Gloucester http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-cupboard-of-gloucester-gloucester?select=hTIJFA_t65TjvlGNWoHArA#csTmRkoyp4tA6aSGDYPVwQ I was starting to become hungry, but still wanted to seek out more hidden areas of Gloucester. Hubby drove into a park and then it hit! The hunger pangs, not the I can wait a while honey, but the I gotta eat NOW! Commonly known as B*$chy hungry! So he parks and we look up and see The Cupboard. Looks rustic and non-toursity - let's do it! All locals and the Special of the Day is Spaghetti!!! One man comes in and the waitress says "You're not eating chicken again are you?" Man replies "Nah... too d@mn expensive. I want a hot dog for $2.75!" For those prices, I know what I am getting myself into. And I am OK with it. Once again, we sat at the countah... Me being the pastaholic, I ordered the Spaghetti $7.95 - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-cupboard-of-gloucester-gloucester?select=hTIJFA_t65TjvlGNWoHArA#RazISsK1apprkBO6rmfLig with bread and a salad http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-cupboard-of-gloucester-gloucester?select=hTIJFA_t65TjvlGNWoHArA#DQADW8p5S5eVgxEdU-ecJA Yummy for my tummy and saved the rolls to feed the birds - way too much food for me! Hubby: Cheeseburger $4.25 - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-cupboard-of-gloucester-gloucester?select=hTIJFA_t65TjvlGNWoHArA#wQcBefnGRJhjAZYxIlFJ9w It was a good 'ol homemade burger, nothing more, nothing less. Cindy and Grover Carter were in the kitchen making our dinners http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-cupboard-of-gloucester-gloucester?select=hTIJFA_t65TjvlGNWoHArA#rJwxXeBSFOXRF5fOAsH_Sg They look several years older, but they were there. We listened to the woes and tales of the locals and felt like we were in someones' home instead of a cafe. Ambiance - 5 Stars - VERY homey, casual and as a result attracts locals and conversation! Do NOT come here if you want a Umami burger or Spaghetti at Lucca! Food - 5 Stars - as good as it gets for the price you pay. I knew this the moment I stepped in and loved the warm atmosphere. Good 'ol home cookin' without all the glamour! Service - 5 Stars! Friendly, quick and with a Gloucestah accent! What more could a tourist like me want? We were lucky to find this place before they closed on 9/23 for the season. read more

See all

Food is pretty good but honestly too expensive for what you're getting. Really you're paying extra for location when I'd rather go to the Causeway for seafood or one of the many ice cream places for ice cream. Overall it's good but has a heavy convenience fee read more

Can I just say how refreshing it is to be a Southerner and eat somewhere where Southerners prepare the food. The cole slaw is finely shredded and made with a homemade sauce. The result is a more vinegary and sweet pickle taste. Just like home. The potato salad does not have eggs but is still warm and super creamy. I did not miss the boiled eggs which is a tradition in my family. I got a grilled hot dog and it was prepared perfectly. My husband enjoyed his BBQ chicken. It is not a traditional Southern variety but delicious just the same. The fries are delicious but fried in the same oil as the fish- be wary if you have a shellfish allergy. The fries do not taste or fish however. The brownies on the counter were moist and delicious. read more

The Cupboard of Gloucester - Hot dog and potato salad - American Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

See all

My favorite summer spot, love the bbq chicken , great fries ,homemade coleslaw , clams , fresh fish sandwich, nothing fancy just good food

Great location next to Stage Fort Park. I used to go here all the time as a child but hadn't returned in years. The ice cream is Richardson's so you know it's good quality. Cash only but they have an ATM right outside the building. There was no line when we went on a Monday evening but you can tell it gets packed during the day during the summer. They had some interesting flavors. I went with peanut butter Oreo. So yummy. We also got a frozen pudding. Not the greatest - seemed a really small amount and had tons of ice crystals. We also tried the chocolate peanut butter cup. No complaints there. They also offer a small dish of vanilla for your dog, complete with doggy treat on top. My dog loved it. read more

It is taking them 25+ minutes to warm up two hot dogs. There was only one person in line ahead of me and they waited even longer. I got the impression that this was a grab and go kind of place but maybe they need to hire more help. They are calling the numbers out of order and have an attitude. They also burnt the hot dog. read more

The Cupboard of Gloucester - a hot dog with bacon and ketchup - American Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Had fish and French fries -- last day of their summer season fish was fresh. Funny - they were out of many things but last day. A good experience and the environment is great. read more

We decided to go here thinking it was a clam shack and probably had great fried seafood. Well we were right about the shack part. They definitely don't re-invest in repairing or cleaning the building. The restrooms were two gross port-a-johns. As far as the food goes, it seemed to take awhile and when we got the food we knew why. The clams and scallops were overdone. For the 80 dollars we spent, we could have had a nice lunch somewhere with table service and a clean bathroom. Definitely won't be going here again. read more

I'm really not sure why you would go here for food if you couldn't get away with parking here for a bit to enjoy Stage Fort. It's a typical greasy spoon and its nothing special. $5 for a cheeseburger with nothing else and it's tiny and unsatisfying. Your kids will be begging for McDonalds after this. They have ice cream on the other side, which is pretty hard to screw up, although mine had huge shards of ice cubes mixed in. Not quite sure how that happens. So, in short, it's beach food. If you think of it as just that, you might not be disappointed. Other than that, stop somewhere along the way or bring your own picnic and pay to park at the park. read more

The Cupboard, to me, says summer. Only open a few months a year, my family visits almost on a weekly basis. They have burgers, hot-dogs, fish & chips, clams... basic stuff, for the most part, but all of it is tasty (and cheap!). You can either sit inside (at the counter or the few tables) or outside-- either way, if it's hot, well, you're out of luck. No A.C., no fans. If you don't want to sit and eat there, they have a take-out window for both regular food AND ice cream. mm, ice cream. The location may be one of the best things about it. It's right at Stage Fort Park, which is also up the street from the boulevard. Chances are, if you're a local, you'll be in the area at some point or another. No reason NOT to go if you're right there, anyways. read more

I just discovered this gem the other day... It is surprising that I never had ate here before considering that I grew up in the area. Anyway, this is a Lunch Counter/Eat-in-the-Rough style place. We had the clam plate and a fried fish sandwich. Both were excellent. Native clams and thin sole fried in New England style corn flower. Also, it seems like all the other patrons were regulars, always a good sign. read more

$14.91 for a small box of fried whole-belly clams. This is the only thing I had the opportunity to enjoy here, and enjoy I did. What's a trip to the beach with out a deep-fried sea creature snack! The clams were really large and the menu claims they're local, too. They were cooked just right and I'd order them again even though they're on the pricey side. Though I didn't try any other menu items, the prices looked reasonable especially given that it's the only food option in walking distance from the beach. About $4.50 for a burger, $2 for fries, $3 for onion rings etc. It looks like they have a large selection of ice cream and soft serve too. Service was quick and nice enough, there's ample seating on the beach and behind the shack, and you can even park there without paying the beach fee if you're down in the area to go here specifically. read more

I wish there was a zero star rating. Extremely aggravated with the service and prices. We ordered and were told it would be 30 minutes and we waited for around an hour. On top of that the lady taking our order was extremely rude when taking our order. After waiting for what felt like forever to get out food, we opened the boxes to see the smallest amount of food. We ordered a fish sandwich boat which cost around 14 dollars and we received a handful of fries and a piece of fish smaller than the roll it was on. We have always come here during the summers and over the past few years service has gotten worse, but we decided to give it one more shot tonight and it was not worth it. I would not recommend this place to anyone, the time it takes to wait in line and then actually receive your food you would have already been able to sit down at a restaurant and eat. read more

Cute seafood stand serving the best seafood in town. Have been visiting for years and never had a bad meal. We love the fried clams and seafood plates. Ice cream is very good too. Take your food across the street to Stage Fort Park and have an ocean view picnic. read more

Not open today during Covid. Maybe it's not open until later in the spring? Wish they updated their website.

Long wait for food even tho it wasn't busy at all. Service and friendliness could be improved upon. Onion rings were bland. Hot dog was good. read more

Im giving this place a 3 for 2 reasons. 1) location...you can take your food and take it over to the park and eat while looking at the ocean and 2) Really good French fries. The burger was not good, and my sisters fish sandwich was not good either. We then drove to rockport (about 20 minutes) and really wished we had had lunch threre! read more

i grew up going to the cupboard. several family members have worked at the cupboard and we're on a first name basis with the owners. they do everything on the menu exactly as they should; fried foods are fried perfectly, grilled food is grilled deliciously, the ice cream is portioned well. i know the cupboard is famous for its fried fish and all that, but the grilled ham and cheese has been my summer staple for at least a decade. i know that sounds uninspired but you have no idea until you try. it's loaded with ham and just the right amount of cheese. it gets sort of soggy from all the juicy deliciousness but not so soggy that you can't pick it up. oh my head, i want one right now. i just can't do them the same way at home. anyway, go to the cupboard for your standard, delicious tourist-trap food. enjoy the outdoor seating and scenery and definitely grab an ice cream after. read more

Absolutely the WORST dining experience in the last 6 months - the hot dog was burnt beyond recognition; the fish sandwich was comparable to McDonalds - we asked for extra tartar sauce and to our surprise we didn't receive that or ANY condiments...what a shock! Even the fries were COLD and without flavor! This is supposed to be a "take out" facility and so you would think after all these years they would have it down...but NOPE - they DO NOT! BOTTOM LINE: DO NOT waste your time or money - plenty of other places out there that serve the correct order hot and on time! read more

Perfect little place inside stage for park. Spend the day at the beach or playground and grab a quick lunch/dinner. The staff is always super friendly. Good prices for the portions. The outside is awesome... Picnic tables with umbrellas, spacious parking, views to the ocean. Great end to a summers day in Gloucester read more

I would NEVER go back again. Service was terrible. They said it would be a 20 minute wait for take-out. It was 50 minutes later we got our food and it was awful. Overpriced, low quality, cold and small portions. If you want to waste money and plenty of TIME, give it a whirl. You won't see my family there! read more

We went during the Waterfront Festival and it didn't seem particularly busy. My husband and I each ordered fish and chips for $16.95 each...not out of the ordinary for good fish and chips. They would go 10 minutes without calling out a single order. We waited half an hour for paper thin fish and chips. I usually pull out some of the fish for my son, but the pieces were so thin, it was an impossible task. We shelled out $37 for a tray of breading and over cooked fries. Blech. read more

Excellent food and an awesome location! They have the best lobster rolls and on Friday that have the best baked haddock! If you haven't tried the fish sandwich, it's the best in town, and I've had them all. You can get take out and carry it to the beach and eat and see the beautiful view. read more

This is a great restaurant with the best onion rings and hot dogs in gloucester. I totally recommend going. I gk all the time and there's always great service and the staff is so friendly read more

The service sucked, we ordered and they took the slip 20 minutes after we ordered, we got two burgers, others who came and ordered after us got their food before us. I dont understand how they get away with charging $8 for a burger plate, when the burger is no bigger than a toddlers hand and very thin, and you get about 6 fries, in which my fries had hair fried to them, not very appeasing to my stomach, certainly not worth the hour and a half we spent there waiting. only thing that was enjoyable was the cole slaw. read more

Was not happy with this place. They do not take credit cards and they told me to go up the street to the Atm, that was at 8:30 pm. so that's what I did and got back at 8:45 planning on eating some delicious ice cream but nope. I pull up to a dark ice cream shop with nobody around. I was extremely mad at that point. They should have informed me when they close so I would not have had to waste all that time. read more

Great fried clams and ice cream.

Great place! Best burgers, fish, and real fries. The food the setting the whole package!

terrible service. the owner was so rude. we are not tourists, not cool to treat gloucester residents like that. if i could i would give zero stars. service is extremely important in a restaurant. honestly we will not be back nor would we ever recommend this place. i actually own a restaurant and i would never treat guests nor tolerate my employees to treat guests with such ignorance. straight up disgusting. read more

Went to the cupboard for ice cream and they were closed at 8:40pm. There hours online said they close at 9pm. Not only that, but I waited at the window and a worker saw me and didn't have the decency to tell me they had closed. She just stared at me and kept cleaning. I finally (after several minutes) had to tap on the window and ask if they had closed. Very rude and disappointing. read more

I love this place. We practically planned our Massachusetts vacations around their months of operation. When you're a kid on summer vacation, there's nothing better than eating fish & chips and running around like a maniac in Stage Fort Park. Besides running around like a maniac on Long Beach. read more

Working on the ice cream side of The Cupboard was the first job I ever had. It is family owned, and they travel up here every May to open her up for the summer. The ice cream is Richardson's best. The food is delicious as well. I recommend the Fried Fish Sandwich with cheese, and of course some fries. The small seating area inside will be filled with regulars on any day of the week. Every thing is delivered daily and freshly hand made. Different soups and dinner specials every night. And its right at Stage Fort Park on the ocean. I would gnaw off my own arm right now to have a fish sandwich!! I anxiously await the opening each year, and get depressed when it closes early fall. Highly Recommend! read more

What a strange place. We stopped in to get some fried clams recently. It was about 8:35 and we did not know that the place closes at 8:30. My hubby stood at the window and a woman inside was wiping the counter about a foot from him. She made no eye contact, said nothing and continued to work. No sorry we are closed, no hand gesture, nothing, she just averted her eyes and pretended he was not there, he stood there for a bit, she came and went, all the time ignoring him. He tried the door and it was locked, so we knew it was closed. Really strange behavior - not a youngster either, but someone who should know better. A few days later we foolishly stopped in again. Same woman at the window - he wanted clams and we were near by. Terrible clams - huge, tough and giant bellies. The batter had a raw uncooked taste. Make the drive to Essex or hit up the Causeway - no good reason to waste money here. read more