This is a no nonsense, no thrills, true blue fried seafood shack by the harbor. Is there indoor seating? No. Are there seagulls? Yes. Will you get a mosquito bite? Most definitely. It is a perfect New England summer experience. The fried seafood is the best you can get, the french fries are crisp on the outside, pillowy on the inside, and the tarter sauce is honestly the best ive had. The prices are on par with the price of seafood these days and so expect to spend around 50 bucks for three people. The food is incredible and came out fast. 10/10 read more

My daughter and I spent a majority of our afternoon in Salem. After roaming the streets, checking out all the witch museums and novelty shops, we realized all we had this afternoon was a cup of coffee. We were starving so we looked up lobster roll near us and a shop next to the harbor popped up. So we made our way there. Unfortunately, it was a to go joint. We wanted to enjoy a site down meal so we looked again. The Clam Shack was near us so we made our way there. Parking our car, I'm looking at the shop and it honestly looked like a setting from a Hallmark movie. A cute little shop, in a park, with the harbor in the background with boats freely floating in the water, with the sun beaming through the fluffy clouds and people happily eating on bright blue tables. Like, how much more perfection could be added to this scene? It was simply breathtaking. We made our way to the window. A sweet young lady greeted us! It was wonderful having such great customer service right of the bat! I told the gal that I wanted a lobster roll. It was a must have being in Massachusetts! My daughter got a seafood plate with fried haddock and clams. We got a little of everything so we were excited to eat! It should be criminal to have this kind of food available to you all the time! To live by the water and have this kind of seafood makes me want to move here. My lobster roll looked like perfection wrapped in food paper. My daughter's plate was overflowing with fried goodness. Our food tasted as good as it looked! My lobster was mixed in butter on a soft buttery roll. Ughhhh it was heavenly! The lobster was tender, fresh and amazingly prepared. I tried a piece of my daughter's haddock and clams. You can't get seafood fresher than this. The haddock tasted like it was just caught and cooked. The fries were fried perfectly! Being from Idaho, this was the first place that has given us potatoes that I have approved of! Everything we so so so good! I couldn't have asked for a better last meal on my vacation in Boston. The food, the scene, the customer service and location of this seafood joint was something I could have ever dreamt of. My time eating here with my daughter will forever be a core memory for me. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to come back but if I do, I hope my next visit is just as perfect as today's. read more

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Great location to enjoy a delicious Lobster Brioche smothered in butter and packed pretty good. I ordered one to go, and it came with fries. Nice view of the water and the young ladies working were friendly and helpful (pointed me towards the public restroom). I only found paid parking in the area. They have seating around the shack. The Lobster Brioche did not disappoint. read more

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Delicious food! Came for lunch with my mom and aunt. I had the chicken fingers and they were delicious. We had a lot of questions and they were good about answering. Definitely a yummy spot to eat at the Salem willows! I love the outdoor seating area as well. We sat at a table where we could see the water... nice vibes overall. Would definitely come back when visiting the Salem willows. read more

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If you like fried clam strips, this place is really awesome. I can't say it's better than the clam box in Ipswich, I'd say they're comparable. Both are expenses. Both are excellent in the service of both are great too. Even being so close to Ipswich with clams come from, I still really expenses wherever you get plans. That's just the way it is. My mom turns mine like this month, so we went to the Willows to get fried clams watch the water. Her birthday is in another week and she wants to go back again on the day of her birthday to repeat one of her favorite meals. We used to sit on a bench facing the water rather than their outdoor seating. The last person actually bought a lobster roll and said it was very very good. It looked like it had very little mayo and no celery and was pure lobster which is great. It was $28 which is actually a very good price for a good lobster roll so no complaints here. Highly recommend it sufficient, good and reliable. read more

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We went as a large group twice. Def recommend upgrading to the brioche for the lobster roll (cold with mayo). The clam strips, shrimp, scallops, whole clams, cole slaw, and fries were all delicious too. Their tartar sauce is the bomb.com. The lobster roll beat the crab roll, but the crab roll was still delicious. It's a great place to go and grab a table outside, enjoy the view, and have some yummy seafood. read more

Clam Shack - The view from the clam shack. - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Worth every bit!! Go, Go, Go!!! Lobster Rolls, best I've ever had! They got it all! Location, adorable building, beautiful setting and surroundings. Kind staff. Can't wait to go back. A gem!! read more

Had a beautiful lunch at the Clam Shack today. I got the cheeseburger dinner, it was delicious. Juicy burger on a toasted buttered roll served with fries and onion rings, so good. My daughter and husband both had the haddock bit basket, they loved it. Great portions, plenty of picnic tables to sit at and look at the ocean. read more

First, I am surprised that i haven't been here prior, but that's a tale of another restaurant's closing. This is a gem. Great menu- we had steamers, lobster roll, and an excellent grilled cheese. Clean picnic tables with umbrellas overlooking the water. Nice staff, fair prices. Hint: Go to Hobbs for dessert. read more

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Amazing lobster roll. Go for the premium for the extra dollar. Perfect place for the kids, take note it is window service. Set with the ocean just on the side of you. So ambiance is a dream. read more

Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Super cute local spot on the water....shrimp & clam strips 10/10! Lobster brioche roll 10/10! read more

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The Clam Shack is a seasonal seafood restaurant (but really it is just a shack with no inside seating) located on Salem Willows. I checked it out on a Sunday afternoon in July with my mom. It was pretty busy, with the line wrapping around the side of the building as people waited to order. We ordered a large clam strip basket and a large onion ring. The portion size of the clam strips was massive! They were perfectly battered with a crispy crunch coming right out of the fryer. The onion rings were excellent as well, as they held their circular form and the breading did not fall off, something that tends to happen with a lot of onion rings. They have a number of outdoor picnic tables to sit at or you can get your order to go. The only downside of sitting outside is the seagulls, which have clearly learned that there is fresh food to be had. These birds are daring too, with one of them dive-bombing our table while we were sitting at it in order to steal a clam strip. I'm not sure what the restaurant could do to combat this, considering it sits right on the water, but it did make for a somewhat uneasy eating experience, constantly feeling like you had to be on guard. Ultimately, though, the fresh seafood is worth fighting off the scavengers. read more

Clam Shack - Large clam strip basket and large order of onion rings - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon in August and this place was busy as could be! We were initially excited because of the reviews but this will be our only visit to the Clam Shack. We ordered the Clam Bake and a large Onion Rings. The Clam Bake comes with a small lobster, 1/2 pound of steamers, corn on the cob, clam chowder, clam broth and drawn butter. We were going to get a lobster roll as well, but we saw others who had this and none of the rolls were actually filled with lobster meat (~80%). It took roughly 15 minutes for the order to come out and I could understand since they were busy but we were told it's because the steamers take a while to cook. The only problem was the only part of our meal that was cold was the steamers. The clambake lobster and corn was actually fantastic. But the steamers were cold when we got them, the onion rings didn't have any real crunch or flavor and the clam chowder was just ok. All in all, this place is located in a great spot and is convenient, but not worth the hype. read more

Clam Shack - The clam bake - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

My husband and I shared a box of fried calamari, and the batter was very light, fluffy, and fresh tasting. The size was ample, and the young adult who took our order was kind and efficient. The picnic tables all had umbrellas and were clean, the view of the harbor was very nice, and they had classic pop music playing from their outdoor speakers, which was fun to listen to. We will be back to try more of the large menu they offer. read more

Clam Shack - salem harbor - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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The Clam Shack in Salem serves up some seriously tasty fried seafood! I ordered the fried clam strips and fried shrimp plate, and everything was hot, crispy, and full of flavor. The line was absolutely insane, which is the only reason this isn't a 5-star review. Luckily, I discovered a life hack--placing an order online to skip the wait. At $30, it's not cheap, but the quality and portion size made it worth it. read more

Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We had a great experience at the clam shack. We wanted to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and this place was perfect for that. Order at the window and take your food to one of their picnic tables by the water. We ordered two bowls of clam chowder, a platter with whole belly clams, scallops, coleslaw and fries, and a basket with shrimp and fries and a couple of sodas. Great portions. It was enough for a light dinner to share with our kiddos for around $70. Everything was actually really, really good, but the standouts here were the scallops and the coleslaw, and weirdly enough, their tartar sauce which seems to be homemade. read more

For the price it charges, the high rating it's getting, the long wait it has, and the actual food quality I'm getting back, I start to feel like it's a scam... read more

This place is a must for anyone who enjoys seafood. I came here on a Monday night after a day of work. Clam shack is just as advertised in the name: a small building dedicated to serving seafood and other fried goodies from the take out window. The staff were very helpful l. they took my order, gave me my ticket, and I sat and waited. And only for a few minutes. I ordered a lobster roll on a buttered brioche roll. The lobster was tender and juicy, and the buttery roll complemented it perfectly. The portion of fries that came with it was generous. And even better, it was a $23 lobster roll instead of the stupidly expensive $50 ones you'll get if you grab one in Boston. Well worth the price. And to top it all off, there's a gorgeous view of the harbor. Whether visiting this area or a Boston native, definitely make your way up here. read more

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Amazing!!!! The food was great and right on the water with a great view. I would highly recommend it.

This place is outdoor seating or you can sit in your car but the food here is top notch. The service is great. I can't say enough about the scallops. The clams are even their hotdog. Give it a try. I think you'll love it read more

SOOOOO GOOD!!! even the coleslaw best i ever had and it's right by the water so cute and quaint cant wait to come back read more

Clam Shack - Plate and lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Let's face it, fried seafood can taste amazing if done reasonably well. And the Clam Shack executed my Scallop Plate very nicely. Our party of four grabbed a picnic table with a nice ocean view. About 10 minutes after our order, I was enjoying hot and crispy, fresh tasting scallops. They were nicely cooked, and didn't have too much batter, so they weren't overly heavy. Their fries were also excellent, hot, crispy, delicious. The lobster rolls were given positive reviews from my co-diners. The casual Salem Willows environment was perfect, on this warm summer day. The Clam Shack is located in Salem Willows Park, a 35 acre park located on the ocean with picnic areas, a beach, walking paths, fishing, tennis, basketball courts, arcade games, and restaurants. It's a great place to visit, if you not afraid of the Salem witches! read more

Clam Shack - Seating - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Scoped this out as we were planning our week in Boston and Salem. It was totally worth it! The clams were amazing- get whole belly and you want be disappointed. My son got a hot buttered crab roll because he likes crab more than lobster. It was fresh and the meat was perfect. We also got a basket of scallops and they were super tender. Everything was light and crispy. While it's all fried none of it was greasy. The view as we sat at our picnic table was spectacular. I will definitely go again when I am in the area. read more

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I'm a Midwest girl who was visiting the area for a wedding, and I am still thinking about this gourmet lobster roll. I made sure to have my fill of as many lobster rolls as I could while I was in Massachusetts- I went to 1606 in Gloucester and another restaurant spot in downtown Boston- and personally the gourmet lobster roll at the Clam Shack was by far my favorite. It not only was the least expensive (~$20?!!! A dream), but the butter was decadent, fries were crisp, and everything was just perfect. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Bonjour, hi! Visiting from California we stopped by this hidden lil "hole in the wall". The establishment was clean, which I feel could easily be hard to find. The food itself was stellar! Ordered a bunch of seafood that all was so fresh and tasty. The views were just as good as the food! No complaints whatsoever. EXPERT TIP: ask for an extra tray to swat away the VERY aggressive seagulls that WILL take your food if your guard is down. read more

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adorable spot! pretty extensive menu with various seafood based items. anything from clam strips to bisque to rolls. the CT style roll was good. small, but loaded with lobster meat. incredibly simple. probably needed some garlic or salt, but i liked it. the crab sandwich was also simple, but hit the spot. prices are fair, and service was pretty quick. theres a few benches outside, enjoy the view, metered parking, i dont think i saw bathrooms so keep that in mind. they take cards. read more

This spot was absolutely beautiful. There is no indoor seating but there are plenty of picnic tables available or benches along the "boardwalk". The staff all seemed to be younger but polite and respectful nonetheless. The clam strips themselves were pretty good! I wished they were cooked just a bit longer, to let the batter crisp a little more. The tartar sauce was great and added an extra level of flavor to the clam. Cute place to stop by and enjoy the scenery, as it is just a short walk from dead horse beach. read more

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Best onion rings ever! Hot, lightly battered thick cut onions were so good. Loved the lobster roll too - just lobster in mayo. Skip the brioche bun and stick with the traditional hot dog bun. read more

Clam Shack - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I was in the area for work and wanted a lobster roll, so headed to the clam shack. It is a literal seafood stand in a park, right on the water. They have picnic tables for use if you aren't getting food to go. The setting is perfect! I ordered the gourmet lobster roll. The girl working the window was super friendly and my meal did not take long. But with the views, I wouldn't have minded a long wait. My lobster roll was outstanding and was an extremely generous portion. The fries were good as well. And the scenery while eating was spectacular! Well definitely return next time I'm nearby! read more

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Nice location in the middle of the park. There are lines so the food and prices must good! I need to try it before I leave the music festival. read more

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WOW !!! So far first place I ate while in Massachusetts and every other lobster place has to beat this! Clam chowder, and lobster roll ... get to AZZZ UP AND GET HUR... enuff said. If u like seafood check this place out you might like it!!!! Ps: if they have steamers (clams) get it!! They're huge!! read more

This is what we call "seafood in the rough". All that means is you're sitting outside on picnic tables while eating. I had the full belly clam plate, and my wife had the scallop plate. The fish was fresh, fresh, fresh. And the price is so much less than one of the tourist trap restaurants with overdone chewy clams. You can't beat the location. You're sitting in a park looking at Beverly Harbor. There are public restrooms nearby. It was a little windy while we were there, so I taught my wife (not from NE) how to "eat out of the bag". What can I say - it's paht of the chahm. Until next year. They're seasonal. read more

If you're looking for simple, but delicious seafood and great people watching, visit the Clam Shack in season. The lobster roll (hot and buttered) on a brioche roll was delicious and the clam chowder may have been the best I've ever had. read more

Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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What fabulous seafood they serve here! Extra fresh, lightly breaded with zero grease! The bed of French fries were crispy and hot -- no grease! I was delighted and the flavor was perfect. The staff are so efficient and kind. There were a group of picnic tables to eat at and they were clean and freshly painted blue situated just outside the pickup window and the view is a stunning harbor view. I had a lobster roll (warm with drawn butter on it) in a hot dog bun and there was plenty of claw meat on it. The other members of my party had fried whole belly clams (delish!) with fried shrimp (also great) which was a half and half platter, and fried scallops (wonderful)! On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the Clam Shack an 11. read more

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Me and my Mother and my Husky came up here 7/12/23 beautiful Day weather was great! Came early walked around the park by the water. Enjoyed some seafood when they opened at 11am I got the captains Comb plate and a side of onion rings and my Mother got the Lobster Dinner with a baked potato clam chowder and corn on the Cobb. My plate was delicious scallops clam bellies, fried shrimp and fish was delicious the taste was great, it's well battered and the onion rings are excellent! My mom's lobster was perfect and tasted fresh good size for the price, clam chowder was so good! The corn was moist sweet, baked potato was delicious they give you a cup of melted butter to go along with the lobster also. The staff is great friendly great customer service and very welcoming! Love coming here and enjoy great seafood and enjoying the view of water while seating on the picnic tables! read more

Well it's summer so lines are long. Food is good, not great, but the view! You order, and they call your number. The lobster plate with steamers and chowder is a much better deal than the lobster roll. Fried seafood was good. read more

Where has this place been all my life??? I don't think I will ever have a lobster roll that tops the one I had from Clam Shack. I've heard good things but I was really impressed with the overall experience here. This little shack is quintessential coastal New England at its finest and has such an old school, mom & pop vibe to it. You order at the counter and they'll call your number at the pickup station once it's ready. We ordered a lobster roll with butter served on their special bun and an order of fried calamari which came with fries. The portions for everything were great, especially considering the prices. The calamari plate was almost overflowing and I loved how the lobster roll also came with a side of fries. The lobster was super fresh and melted in your mouth, and the soft, buttery bun was the perfect vehicle for it all. The calamari was also fresh and not too rubbery. We got some tartar sauce on the side which paired really nicely too. We really loved our experience here and I can't wait to visit again sometime! read more

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What an amazing little place right on the harbor. Walk the beach or along old town. Beautiful friendly people. Add it to your list. read more

Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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I had a combination plate of whole clams and haddock bites with fries. When I bit into the haddock it was eating a piece of heaven! So moist and light! Cooked perfectly and so fresh!!! Delicious! The clams were good too! Nice delicate flavor. I'm going back again today for more haddock!!! read more

Clam Shack - Here I am at the Clam Shack, Salem Willows. - Seafood Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Perfect spot for old-school seafood! We had the Captain's Combo - hefty portion of sweet Ipswich whole belly clams, jumbo shrimp, scallops and haddock bites - crispy but not greasy. Coleslaw was a surprising standout-very light. The lobster roll was fresh on a brioche bun and the clam chowder was tasty with plenty of clams. They even offer a Lobster Bake! Chef/Owner Angelo Meimeteas of Lynn came out to meet our group of fellow Lynners! Food, service, value and cleanliness all excellent and you can't beat the harbor views from the outdoor tables there at Salem Willows! read more