This lovely venue is a bit of a hike from Boston during rush hour but well worth the trip. It's a lovely and popular restaurant housed in a colonial-style building. The staff are friendly and the servers knowledgeable and efficient. The hostess had trouble finding our reservation (my companion was already seated) but it seemed to be quite busy that Friday night. The restaurant consists of quite a few separate rooms and we were seated in one that was not too crowded. (I walked through the bar on my way in and that was hopping.) I had a glass of sauvignon blanc and after studying the menu and consulting our server my companion and I both went for a burger. There was no problem with my swapping out the french fries for onion rings (points there!). The burgers were done exactly to our liking (mine mediume rare, hers medium well). I should have turned down dessert, I was that full, but my companion was willing so we went for it. There was a good selection of typical New England desserts and we finally settled on a blueberry crisp topped with vanilla ice cream which was good but not great (not sure I can put my finger on why, so it may be that I was too full to enjoy it). There is a parking lot although it is not paved so was not fun walking through at the end of a day when it clearly had rained. It also could use some lighting. This is a wonderful restaurant suitable for a special occasion or an ordinary night out. I will definitely be back. read more

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Spoke with Kim at the beginning of September to schedule a visit to tour the Barn for our rehearsal dinner, and we confirmed the appointment. Today, when I called to see if we could come a little earlier, we were told there was another event in the room and that it might not even be over by the time of our appointment. We completely understand that events can run over, but we should have been given a heads-up. Unfortunately, Kim was also incredibly rude and condescending on the phone. As someone who has worked in the service industry for years, I would never speak to a potential customer that way. Really disappointing experience and not the impression you want to get when considering a venue for such an important event. read more

Great atmosphere, wonderful staff, delicious food! A+ experience. A family of 12 served in private room, and felt totally relaxed!* awesome place read more

1640 Hart House - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

The 1640 Hart House home of our 50th Ipswich High School Class Reunion. The room was spacious the atmosphere was relaxing. The appetizers were outstanding shrimp cocktail,, a box of sweet Ipswich Clams, spanakopita and a few more outstanding treats.the service was consistent in making sure everyone had an appetizer or a cocktail. The main course Prime Rib I let everyone go first then I got all the end cuts medium and full of flavors the potatoes melted in your mouth. We stayed until closing and when we in the parking lot the staff made sure we were all right you don't see that too often. I strongly recommend the 1640 Hart House for the food and a special occasion you might have. read more

Wow! First time to the 1640 Hart House. Delicious Sunday dinner! I had the roast chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The sauce was lite and lemony. Yum! My husband had the Blackened Swordfish with corn. He loved it! Will be back for more. Thank you! read more

1640 Hart House - Roast Chicken with whipped potatoes, green beans and light lemon butter sauce. Perfect Sunday dinner! - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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They put the 3 of us in the living room with 10 very loud people. We couldn't hear ourselves talking. Four other patrons asked to leave that room. They should've offered us another room but they didn't. My meal the encrusted tuna was very good, my granddaughter's Ipswich clams were a bit chewy, and the special Pork Marsala was inedible as the pork was like shoe leather. Our waitress gave my husband clam chowder instead..She was sincerely trying..The Hart House is pricey but they have lost our business due to lack of customer appreciation and quality of food served.. feel badly about that. read more

Delicious every time we have eaten there ! I usually get a fish dish or steak . Portions are fair read more

Just moved to the Boston area and celebrated our anniversary here. The clam chowder was excellent NE, and the French Onion soup was classic. I had the baked oysters, which was a first for me and I'd return for them as well as the mussels! We had the special Sea Bass and the Seafood Risotto, both large portions and excellent! Their special Old Fashion was made the same way as my all time favorite of bourbon on the rocks with an orange slice or twist but made perfect muddled with sugar and cherries. The Old Fashioned and wine were huge free pours. Reservations are difficult to get, so plan early and let them respond with availability. The large private parking lot is not large enough!! Cars were overflowing to the side street! Will return for sure! read more

This restaurant is like taking a step back in time - old wood, fireplaces galore and cozy vibes. The moment you sit down, you're greeted by someone who hand picks a dark or white roll for you, with butter on the table. It's nice that there's a bottle of water at the table too. We ordered the French onion soup cups, which was the perfect size before diving into our entrees. The menu is extremely diverse, but the comfort foods stole the show (pot roast and meatloaf). We ended with the caramel bread pudding, which was absolutely delicious. Portions are generous and prices are extremely affordable, which is a combination hard to come by today. Definitely recommend making a reservation, but looking forward to coming back the next time we're visiting family on the North Shore. read more

1640 Hart House - Meatloaf - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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Wow, loved this restaurant. First thing you must know is servings are huge. Pan roasted oysters appetizer, (14), was delicious. Salads are a huge dinner plate full of goodness, enough for two. French onion soup was perfect, not too salty, three chunks of crusty bread covered in cheese. Halibut with risotto and parsnips and brussels sprouts so incredible. Parmesan encrusted sole with lemon caper sauce with mashed potatoes and green beans... outstanding! Indian pudding served hot with large scoop of vanilla ice cream was the perfect ending. Really enjoyed the historical ambiance this restaurant provides, rooms were a little dark but a small table light was promptly brought over. Our waitress , Libby, couldn't have been nicer, informative and a quick laugh. We'll definitely be returning to this restaurant! read more

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Great food. Great pours. Great bartenders! I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed. I always sit at the bar and if you want to get a seat make sure you are at the doors as soon as they open. The dining room looks nice but definitely a different vibe. The portions are huge and the menu has a good variety of options. It's a true tavern so the lighting is dark and cozy. I don't usually go during the summer or sunny days but it's perfect for when the weather changes over. read more

1640 Hart House - Sesame crusted tuna. - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

Absolutely stunning venue! Attended a wedding rehearsal dinner last night. This place is beautiful. Great service, wonderful staff, great drinks and food. I highly recommend. I would love to come back if I'm ever up this way again. read more

We met our friends there for a birthday dinner; they love the place and it was our first time. It is a quaint place with lots of character. The service was very good as were the martinis. We did not get apps, however our main entrees were all very tasty. We would like to go again! read more

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Looking forward to returning soon for their Fall menu.

Great food and ambience. The only thing that ever lacks is the service. It is often slow and once, I had a server argue poke fun at one of my friends at the table, which was extremely uncomfortable! read more

I have been going here for years! I love everything about this place the atmosphere, the staff, and of course the food and drinks. Their eggplant Napoleon appetizer is to die for! If you have haven't gone to the hart house, it definitely is a must try. read more

I should've written this review ages ago as it's well deserved. The Hart House is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the area. My family had been coming here for years and the consistency in friendly service and great food is exceptional. I love how the rustic interior and the history of the restaurant add to the coziness of the atmosphere, creating a lovely New England dining experience. When having my birthday dinner last weekend, we learned that George and Martha Washington stayed at the Hart House. I recommend reading some of the history before your visit! On to the food!... The meatloaf and pot roast are TO DIE FOR, however, if you're in the mood for seafood I highly recommend the seafood risotto or a classic, local fish dish like the baked haddock. Pan seared salmon salad is excellent as well. The asiago mashed potatoes are perhaps the best mashed potatoes I've ever had as are the veggies that come on the side of entrees. Every bit of your meal will be cooked to perfection and so well seasoned. I've dined at the Hart House about a dozen times over the years to celebrate birthdays, New Year's Eve, etc. Our experience is always wonderful. Have to mention that the heavy pour when you order a glass of wine is always appreciated Make a reservation already and go! No regrets! read more

Great food with amazing service. Can't go wrong with this amazing place. The historic ambience can never be matched.

Had a very strange experience here last night. We were seated in the downstairs area. Had a table twice the size of our party so that felt weird from the start. We sat down at 6:30. We didn't get food until 830. Our server brought drinks and then never came back, even though several employees would walk down the stairs look around and walk back up over and over again it was actually quite humorous. we ordered and got food finally and we were barely done eating when all the servers were clustered around the stairway and one of them was playing piano music waiting for us to leave. It was very odd and I'm going to hope was just an off night- I have heard good things about this restaurant and it was my first time but I'm not sure I'm in a hurry to come back. Maybe out of pure intrigue? Also no one was very friendly and everyone seemed bothered that we were there- from host to servers to bread person. Food was fine though, drink good, and the atmosphere is cozy. PS - I hate the reservation system it was very difficult to play phone tag to secure it and even that person was not very friendly. read more

Absolutely amazing New England restaurant in a multi-room setting with tavern vibes and also cozy ambiance. Server Jen was amazing. Wonderful food. Hearty portions. Well staffed. Attentive and engaging. Don't rush through your dinner here. You will want to stay a while. A little of the olde, a lot of the new. This was a delightful experience. I love it. read more

Nice atmosphere, the food was awesome! No problems with service during this visit. Highly recommended for anyone looking for American style dining read more

1640 Hart House - Fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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1640 Hart House in Ipswich is one of my go-to spots. The staff is always friendly and helpful when it comes to the menu. Last time, I had the pan-seared salmon, and it was excellent--cooked just right. They take reservations ahead of time, and I've never had any issues getting a table. It's a solid choice if you're looking for a good meal in a nice, relaxed setting. read more

1640 Hart House - Pan Seared Salmon - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Hart House and it was absolutely amazing! Kim and her team did such a phenomenal job. From the atmosphere to the food, we couldn't be more happy! read more

Booked a private dining room to have a nice dinner at an historic American restaurant with a family visiting from Italy. Arrived at the restaurant and was told that the owner had kicked us out of the private room we had booked because the owner had family friends visiting. Embarrassing to have our friends from Italy see how selfish and disrespectful a restaurant owner can be to their "guests" read more

This place is a family favorite and has never failed us. The food is amazing and consistent and the service is always impeccable and never rushed, giving time to linger. The layout of the restaurant is little rustic rooms so it's a cozy, romantic but casual feel with warm twinkle lighting and big comfy chairs for seating. Sometimes I feel so at home, I could fall asleep when I'm there. Some of my favorite dishes to get are the pan seared salmon, seafood risotto, shepards pie, halibut and butternut risotto, carbonara, chicken milanese, etc. Thinking about the grilled tenderloin truly makes my mouth water with the bacon wrap and blue cheese and it is probably the best meal I've had. The green beans and mashed potatoes are perfect. Also definitely get the chocolate chip cookie skillet, chocolate gift cake, or peanut butter bomb for desert, they're all great. My family has stayed in the beautiful private rooms upstairs after special occasions which is a cool, intimate experience! Perfect for family dinner read more

Genuinely the best restaurant in the ipswich area - super consistent for the past 10 years! Not bad pricing and lovely atmosphere in the restaurant! Service is always top notch as well read more

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Food tastes great and is made well. The ambiance is very classic but the flooring is very uneven. Service was okay, the people where nice but the drinks were served in a glasses that were sticky. Also the bar and servers didn't know what a Vieux Carré is which is okay. Though instead of asking about what it is they just keep insisting that the classic French cocktail doesn't exist and that I was just talking about a sidecar. read more

Poorer than expected... supported with take out orders during the pandemic, food is usually very good. They appear to prefer large group events and bar patrons. My guest arrived before me harassed by a drunken party goer. Lots of excuses and no apology... seeking new dining experiences elsewhere. read more

Amazing! Been here over 25 times... absolutely nothing to complain about. A+ for food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. My favorite is the steak au poivre and a britishtini. Wife always gets the parm crusted sole. Steak tips and fried chicken are amazing as well. Kids love the arancini! read more

Wow, what a nosedive. This was one of the best places to eat at, but not now. My lamb had the texture of being frozen for a century with freezer burn. Mashed potatoes were like instant ones. My wife's plate was pretty bad too. Couldn't believe how expensive it was for such brutal plates. Only saving grace that night was our server, who was super nice, and, they still pour a good drink. I was there last about 10-12 months ago and it was superb. In the meantime I kept getting turned away for not having reservations. After this they are going to have to chase me to get in there. Never again. read more

Best meal I had visiting the area. Had the Parmesan crusted Halibut with a citrus beurr blanc. Very fresh, generous portion perfectly prepared with a beautiful sear. Came with broccolini and homemade mashed. I only wished we opted to sit outside, but enjoyed the rustic interior, which I think would make this a perfect winter place to visit too. read more

Another small sample size but really enjoyed our experience at the bar here. Always enjoy visiting old inn type spots and this would be great for a larger gathering in one of their old dining rooms. Fireplaces all over, just a cool spot. We squeezed in at the bar and had a couple cocktails and split the stuffed clams app. Service was nice and the food and drink were good. Will have to revisit for a full meal sometime. read more

1640 Hart House - Cocktails at the bar. - New American Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

We went during COVID so we sat outside in the tent. It was early November so it was slightly cool out but they had heaters that made it very comfortable outside. There was a band playing that was ok, truthfully it was just nice to be out, eating, with friend, with music. Anything sounded good. The waiter was horrific, he was not obeying the COVID rules well- he made us yell out orders over the loud music to him instead of walking around the table to take orders. It was awkward, uncomfortable and frankly almost ruined our visit. Thankfully, the food was great. We ordered a lot! Wedge Salad- huge, refreshing and delicious Brussels Sprouts- served with bacon and very good. People at our table who normally don't like them enjoyed them. French fries- ok, have had better Clam chowder- ok, had better Greek salad- huge and amazing. I had it with chicken and it was a large portion. It was not over dressed, perfect amount. Short ribs- good Bacon burger- huge patty, must have been a 1/2 lb Salmon and lobster dinner- very good Risotto- very heavy and a huge portion, too much to eat read more

It's a good thing the food was tasty and the ambiance was good because despite our reservation being at 7:30, our food didn't come out until 9:15. I think they likely forgot about us, since we counted three similar sized parties of 2-4 people who came after us and left before us. Complete timeline: 7:30 Reservation 7:45 Seated 8:15 Appetizers 9:15 Main course 9:35 Dessert 10:00 Check paid read more

This place is an absolute gem. Its as old school as the building its located, in all the best ways. All sorts of tavern classics, all done the right way. Their steak tips might be the best in the north shore. Stellar martini list, and they are made expertly and are delightfully icy cold. Just good luck getting in. read more

Been Too Long! Met brother and sister in law for dinner and oh boy, why haven't we been back sooner! Love the ambiance and decor. Very romantic. I had the Onion soup and it was absolutely divine!!! Has to be right up there with the best, the calamari was so crisp and light, outstanding. Rare tuna was loved by one, two had the eggplant lasagna, that could not have been more delectable, loved by both. Rack of lamb was a beautiful presentation with a mountain of perfectly seasoned green beans. Desert had crazy huge portions, bread pudding, apple crisp and chocolate chip Sunday was so well presented and much enjoyed by the desert lovers. Can't wait to bring our adult kids to enjoy this experience with us soon! read more

The food was delicious. They location was a bit loud for a birthday celebration. However, we did have an enjoyable time.

My family and I have been loyal customers of The 1640 Hart House for about 15 years. We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions at this restaurant and never had a bad experience. Even during COVID, the food and service was still excellent. My family & I took my husband to the Hart House for Fathers Day's on 6/15/25 and I was shocked by the horrible service and indifference from the staff, manager and owner of the restaurant. We had reservations for 5:30 pm and the waitress took our drink orders right away. After the drinks arrived and we placed our orders, our waitress concentrated more on the bigger parties in our dining room and pretty much ignored us the rest of the night. We had to ask another waitress to bring my son a glass of milk that the original waitress never brought. After an hour and a half, we still had not received our meals. Our waitress never told us if there was an issue with our order. My husband and I noticed that other customers who arrived well after we did, were getting their meals in out 20 to 30 min. After chasing down our waitress, she just told us that the kitchen was behind and to be patient. Again being ignored for another 15 minutes, we decided to leave and went to the hostess to ask for the manager. After explaining the situation, the manager just shrugged and said the kitchen was behind. I couldn't believe the indifference and unaccountability coming from the manager. He told us to just leave and we didn't have to pay for our drinks. After we left the building walking to the parking lot, the manager suddenly burst out the door yelling to us that he made a mistake and we did have to pay for our drinks. My husband went back in the restaurant and was told to wait and they would settle up with him. After waiting another 15-20 minutes, the owner came out and told him that the kitchen was behind and that they were doing the best they could. No apology or any attempt to make amends were made by the owner. We were so disappointment by the treatment of everyone and will probably not go back for a very long time. There is, obviously, mismanagement from the highest level of the restaurant which caused our evening to be ruined. read more

The service was outstanding especially the hostess. I had called for a specific night and timeframe that was way too late in the week. The hostess went above and beyond to help me out! The drinks options were great along with the menu and specials. We all appreciated the attentive service throughput the evening. We can't wait to return read more

Food is amazing and reasonable priced. Portions and drink pours are huge. Ambiance is old world fire place. Make sure you have a reservation because the hostess is inept. Either we came on a bad night or this is the cracks in the foundation of a once amazing restaurant. They don't know how to take reservation, walk ins and turn tables. The focus of this review will be focused on the hostesses. After driving to the parking lot we walked in last Saturday the 26th of October year of our lord 2019. It was the wife and I's bi annual date night. We were told the wait would be 45 minutes.... ended up waiting 1 hour and 25 minutes. We left 3 hours to eat food and barely made it home by the time our babysitter mom rolled into the goddamn drive way. You ever eat a cheese burger with a stress knot in your back cause I have. Not the worst thing ever but ya know, I'd rather get drunk and watch Netflix. Again, we were told 45 minute wait which I translated as 30 min, so grab a drink and relax. I have distinct memories of going to restaurants for 30+ years... never once did our wait exceed the hostess estimate, let alone 2x the estimate. I've eaten at chains, truck stops, tourist traps, best restaurants in Italy and this has never happened. 16 year olds who shouldn't be allowed to work have done a better job at running the hostess than the ladies on Saturday night. And boy do they appear to have a vast enormous huge amount of life experience that would prepare one for such a difficult complicated job. Again, barely literate children do this job. 1640 would be better of leaving a bowl full of weapons and let the guests fight to the death in the lobby vs working with the Tweedledum Twins. The good news is the hostess calmly explained why they were no where near their estimated wait timesand apologized..... (this is sarcasm) They were nasty and shot angry dagger eyes at everyone who asked for an update on their table. They acted like it was our fault for the wait. When asked for an update they said, "someone has your table when they leave its yours what do you want me to do." A broken vending machine that steals your money has a better personality than 1640 front of the house on last Saturday night. They would snap at everyone who came near them. I shit you not the anger from the guests waiting raised the temperature of the lobby. I saw at least 6 arguments. Mean mean mean. I'm also positive they let regulars cut the wait line. 2 regulars came in, were given beepers, and the hostess said out loud that she was unable to give a wait time.... that makes no sense, would only happen if you were sneakily up to something. Oh you best believe my old lady sniffed this out and followed them finding out they got seats in 5 minutes. I have no problem taking care of regulars.. but don't do it at my expense. When we were sat I saw 4 open 4 seat tables.... that's just bad business and poor table turnover given the amount of people waiting. Then we told the water pour girl the wait was long... she said " yeah Saturday night" Do you want to know whats the cherry on the shit sundae of waiting for ever for a table... snark form a 12 year old. The wife explained what happen and she was and she was like, "eeeek, thats bad" They could give her a lobotomy and move her to the hostess and it would be an improvement. Not sure if this is the cracks in the foundation of a once sterling business or just a bad night. I gave this 5 stars cause its a great restaurant. My daughters classmates parents are friends with the owners and I am told they are great. Grab a reservation. Some one should upper deck the bathroom. Please bring back the queen burger. read more