The Barnacle is a phenomenal joint for a good view and a strong drink. Service is great, but unfortunately the food lacks. Even the chicken on my caesar salad kind of tasted funny. If you do happen to stay for dessert, however, the Champagne cake is incredible. read more

My mom and I wanted to stop somewhere local after some intense Christmas shopping ...surprisingly never been to The Barnacle, despite the fact that we've lived in the area since 2001, and we wanted steamers... Sadly, there weren't any steamers, but the food we received made up for that small disappointment! The restaurant is small and beachy-- but not by any means a dive bar like scene. We got there around 9PM as the kitchen was closing, but the chef said no problem. He whipped us up some lobster bisque, the fried fisherman's platter, and mussels. Everything was so delicious! The lobster bisque was perfection. The mussels were clean, sweet, and delicious (not to mention the enormous portion we received ), and the fisherman's platter was light and yummy-- not covered in grease like some places. Our server, Noah, was so sweet and gave us great service. The bartender was equally as great, and made an off the menu martini (that was incredible) for me. Altogether, we thoroughly enjoyed The Barnacle and will definitely be back soon! Thank you Barnacle crew read more

This is a beautiful little restaurant tucked away in Marblehead, right on the harbor! The views are incredible, and it's worth a trip out there just for those alone. The place is teeny-tiny but the food they purvey is not, neither in flavor nor portion. The clam chowder that I had was probably one of the best I've tasted in a long time, very flavorful and just the right consistency. I was impressed. My dining companions had the lobster roll, and they said that it was beyond delicious (both are picky eaters). A nice feature of the lobster roll is that they put the mayonnaise on the side so that you can adjust the amount that goes into the roll to your liking. The onion rings that we ordered for the table were cooked perfectly crispy and without too much grease, nicely done. The only sub-par feature of the meal was the lobster Caesar salad that I ordered, the lobster had a funny taste to it and was slightly overcooked. It wasn't sweet or rich at all, which is one of the things that I love about lobster and was sad to see amiss here. I think that part of the problem might be because it's out of season. The greens, cheese, croutons and dressing used for the salad were not the greatest quality either, they were all storebought and that was a downer. But that's the only negative out of the entire Barnacle experience! Yet another bonus: we didn't order any alcohol, but I noticed that the surrounding tables that did had their wine and beer glasses filled to the very top, almost to the point of overflow. Cheers to that! On my return trip drinks will definitely be in order :0) read more

We came here on an overcast Saturday for a late lunch - having a bowl of clam chowder each and splitting the mussels. We would definitely go back - wish it was nicer to sit outside. The cons: The decor is rustic - the inside really could use a fresh coat of paint. There were a few flies buzzing around the dining area. The clam chowder was warm, not piping hot as we would have preferred. The pros: The outstanding view. I mean, if it weren't for this, I would not have given it as many stars. The mussels were the best I have ever had - the butter/garlic oil with bread was just a perfect finish to the dish. Service was quick - both in taking our orders and serving. We walked here from the town center - highly recommend walking over to Fort Sewell for some great views. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

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I can't believe I am looking at any positive reviews. This 2 star rating is being generous and a small sampling of people walking out had the same thing to say. We are in from out of town and it was recommended. We ordered take out and knew we would not get the whole experience. We pulled up and walked into the most unwelcoming hallway where we were greeted and stopped. She had our order in three bags that were not really packed well. Items were on their sides and not in any particular order. They ran our credit cards and that is when I asked people coming out how everything was. Not good. Got home and realized the bottom of the bags were covered in butter or other sauces. The sideways stacking let everything seep out of the containers. Same with the soup. Really? We can't figure out that soup should not be thrown in sideways? Three people got steaks and they were cooked to order. Nice flavor and good sized portions of mashed potatoes as a side. Three got the seafood casserole. For those who are thinking of going with this $24 entree, please save your money. We opened the box and wondered if that was it. Two scallops, two shrimp and we are not sure what the fish was. It was cooked together with breadcrumbs on the top. No flavor, too small and overdone. Sides of rice were disappointing to say the least. Still don't know if this was cooked or warmed up. One order of Salmon. Crazy dry, but it could be that all of the butter or sauce was at the bottom of the bag. That individual decided to eat the mashed potatoes and add in pieces of salmon so the fish would be edible. One order of scampi. We couldn't find it. We called the restaurant and they said it was in a soup container. Oh, there it was. 5 medium shrimp sitting soaked in butter with a couple mushrooms. What made that dish worth $20.00? That is like $4 per shrimp and I can tell you it wasn't worth it for all $5. We ended up using the butter to dip the pieces from the seafood casserole into it to give it a flavor. 2 orders of lobster bisque. Oh my. Opened it up and saw that it was the consistency of water. I stirred it and no chunks of anything could be found. I drank it because the spoon was ineffective and I filtered out any solid pieces to see what this was made of. Total seafood in the bowl of bisque would be less than half a tablespoon of what seemed to be crab pieces since it was stringy. What were they thinking. $6 for bisque flavored water is what we got. Not sure what the thinking is here. I believe they got a name for themselves back in the day, but they stopped trying from what I see. I will not be returning unless someone tells me there is a complete overhaul. The two stars was for the steaks. The beef is the only thing that saved this seafood restaurant. read more

A crowded little place that's got tables with painted wood like your grandmother's picnic table. But that's exactly the ambiance: low key surroundings where there's nothing left but to see the beautiful ocean view out the windowsill, and enjoy tasty simple fried seafood dishes. Great for a date or even a solitary diner. Staff friendly too. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Window seating - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

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I wanted to love this place. Great location with beautiful views of the harbor. Unapologetically original, old school. The waiter was a good kid and worked hard. There was no wait, we were seated immediately, and they accommodated our slightly messy one-year old baby. That said, it's very small. Bordering uncomfortably so for me. A wheelchaired individual would not be able to get in to the dining room, deck, bar, or restrooms. ADA nightmare. There is no parking. Is what it is, just something to know before you go. Drinks were OK. What was probably just a one-off issue, every food item they'd brought to the table had an overpowering taste of dish soap. The table next to us complained about the same thing. We sent our meals back three times with the same complaint before eventually giving up that they could serve us edible food on that day. Mistakes in food prep / handling are one thing, but it was repeated over and over. Lucky it wasn't something worse than soap. A manager never came over, though it wasn't overly busy... no one seemed to care. Not sure why. Really surprising. Most folks look to have had great experiences here. We did not. read more

This meal was terrrrible. The New England Clam Chowder was so thin; it looked and tasted like warms baby's milk. The tuna "tartare" was grey and warm. I literally had to spit it out in my napkin. My poor mother ate half of it...so send her your prayers. The fish and chips had the scales still on under all the fried batter... I'll be absolutely shocked if one if not all of my family members get food poisoning. RUN the other direction. R U N. read more

The waitresses are so friendly and attentive. We were especially lucky to be served by Tanya! We shared clam chowder which was delicious as well as the steak and scallops combination. The scallops were so fresh and well prepared and the additional steak was prepared perfectly. String beans were cooked judy right and fries were hot and crispy. The view of the Marblehead harbor can't be beat. Why go anywhere else in Marblehead? read more

I was so disappointed. We drove on my birthday for an early dinner. We got there at 4:05 and was told that they wouldn't sit us since they don't serve from 4-5pm :( There were plenty of people in the dining room and the bar. I told them we drove over an hour to get here but the waitstaff was very dismissive and crabby. I explained that this was not noted on the website and said 11;30-9pm. OH WELL was the response. I was so disappointed and local overhead and told us to check out the landing down the street the food was better anyway. I was so thankful for his help. The food and service was great at THE LANDING.. It must be nice to be so successful you can disregard people that come out of their way to visit your restaurant. I WOULD SAY PASS AND CHECK OUT THE LANDING DOWN THE SAME STREET. read more

Updating my review. Currently sitting in a crowded Barnacle restaurant. Paying customers are jammed in together, but the management is allowing two employees to take up two prime tables BSing with each other. I'd complain, but I think I'll just get a clueless blank stare. It's something I shouldn't have to point out to them. read more

Unfortunately for me, it's not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. Otherwise, as I remember when I could walk with only a cane, excellent in every way. read more

Service was beyond slow for the 4 of us. People were waiting a very long time for a drink on a Saturday- they needed more than 1 bartender! Waitress never asked if food was ok or anything; after the entrees were finally delivered, she never came over again until the bill was dropped off. We were at our table for almost 3 hours because service was sooooo slow. Service was horrible! There are wonderful harbor views from the outside deck tables, weather permitting. There is no parking, so you'll have to try to find somewhere on the streets to park. read more

Despite a healthy population of flying critters floating around the small space (this place is tiny guys), my lobster and clam stuffy were great. I would say come for the food but don't have crazy high expectations for the venue. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Such great views of the water and boats. An overall cool experience. They were accommodating for our party of 10 even though we had to sit separate. Food was good, calamari was the best! read more

I'd always wanted to visit this place, and finally did with my three kids. A busy place! (That's good) Food was very reasonably priced. Had the tuna melt (it was fine) and the kids lunch items were fine too. Lots of seafaring and local authenticity, and it was fine to have kids there. Great location! You can smell the salt coming off the water below. For a reasonably-priced waterfront place with local charm, you can't do better. read more

Great chowder with a nice view! I came last October for lunch and had chowder and the best lobster I had on the trip. Really great service paired with the food left a lasting impression. We came back during another trip this summer and hit it up again. This time the service was much more hectic, but we seemed to be there during a weekend lunch rush. While the food was great, our order got a bit messed up and the service was nice but not entirely good. I'm sure we'll be back the next time we're in Marblehead! read more

I love the location...but..what kind of seafood resteruant does'nt have lobsters...went for birthday...no lobsters? Second time...lobsters not there.Woud have gone to Essex...weren't told until order....got scallops...while there my grand daughters were showing me a video on the phone...now remember it's loud in the resteruant and everyone is on top of each other.. And a man behind them loudly protested the noise...vety ruefully...wont be back...three strikes ..your out... read more

Perfect place for a lunch stop in Marblehead! Easy parking, the seafood chowder was delicious, and the lobster rolls (cold on a toasted bun) were simple but packed with lobster meat and hit the spot. Had a seat outdoors with an unbeatable view of the marina. Will absolutely be back! read more

Went here for lunch with a friend, after adventuring in Marblehead, not knowing much about the place. We got a seat on the deck late afternoon looking out over the ocean...so beautiful! We shared coconut shrimp for an app and it was great. We both got lobster rolls and they were amazing! We were saying we would definitely go back :) read more

(score 1-100) - 78. I lived two doors away from the Barnacle for 10 years so I've been here a few times...lol. It is one of those places that people love or hate. It is located down on the end of Front St.. sort of hard to find if you are not familiar with the area. If you are not a Marbleheader, you can bring your mistress here and not be noticed! The skinny is the food can range from month to month, year to year. They change over the cooks rapidly so like many restaurants you are taking a risk. The steak tips have always been pretty good and the basics (burgers etc.) but I know many people think because it sits on the ocean that they are getting great seafood....well think again.. it's not bad but they are better options around the north shore. This place sits on the ocean and has a great view depending on your seat. It is very narrow and cramped so if you are on the larger side... you may find that getting in and around tables and the bar difficult. read more

I thought it was a lovely idea to go here but youch, what a mistake. It was very noisy in there. The staff was rude and acted too busy even though there was only 3/10 tables filled including us. The waitresses acted like they were annoyed because we wanted to order. They got the orders wrong, we were missing food and they were sitting in the corner gossiping and yakking like obnoxious cackling chickens who looked about as old as Hannah Montana. The total bill for McDonald's quality food (a ghetto McDonald's) was that of a sophisticated steakhouse. Ridiculous. read more

I was wandering around Marblehead with some friends and we saw this place had lobster bisque. It was 5:30pm. The bar was noisy and crowded and we waited for a table in the dining room. The place was empty- only two other tables were full. It was a cramped but the view was great. The waitress brought our beer and water and we ordered soups. She informed us that we were sitting in the dining room and soups and drinks don't count as dining room food so we had to move to the bar. Are you kidding?! We took our stuff and beers to the other room and after about 10 minutes the bartender yelled over (you could barely hear anything, the bar was pretty noisy) to see if we wanted to order anything. Turns out the waitress from the dining room never even placed the soup order. Good thing, we weren't terribly interested in giving them our business anymore. This has never happened to me. We were kicked out of the empty dining area at 5:30 on a cold winter day - no one else was heading over anytime soon. Not to mention we wanted to order SOUP. Wouldn't exactly have kept the table busy for long! Instead we got $4 beers that were past their freshness date and drank them in a crowded incredibly loud bar filled with TVs and a few drunk people. Barnacle's service was so ridiculous I won't be back. read more

I'm a fan because of the location and view. But this isn't the best seafood in New England. So I can't give it 4 starts. Sorry Barnacle. I wouldn't go with more than 4 people, and don't go very hungry because the wait is a killer. We went on a not so busy day off season so I can't imagine what summer is like. That being said- it was def a good spot for our group who wanted to try "New England seafood". I was the only New England who knew it wasn't the best seafood. Very cute, and if you are in marblehead, fine. But I wouldn't drive here from Maine or NH. There are better spots! read more

The place was a recommendation from a friend and I was excited to get some fresh seafood, right out of the ocean in front of which we were sitting. Everything promised a perfect meal and I was impressed by the waitress' knowledge of the origin of their seafood. The first disappointment came with the water, which was served in plastic cups. Then our food arrived - lobster roll, scallops, and fish and chips. The scallops had little taste, the lobster roll was ok, and the first bite of the fish was totally off. I excused the one bad piece and move on to eat a few more fresh, but mediocre tasting pieces until I had another totally expired piece. The fowl smell and taste killed my appetite, and my friends were done when I asked them to verify the condition of the fish. I usually never say anything when I didn't enjoy a meal, but this time I had to. So we kindly mentioned to the waitress that a few pieces of the fish were off. She didn't apologize, simple said ok and took the plate. At least she took 10$ off, but in a good restaurant this would be on the house. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - View from the restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

The Barnacle was a great pub to stop at during our stay in Marblehead. The bartender Jackie was so welcoming and gave us a bunch of local recommendations. She made us feel like a local and gave us excellent service! Would highly recommend to anyone visiting from out of town! read more

Went in for a late, mid-week lunch with no great expectations- because usually waterfront restaurants treat food as a mere accessory to the view. So the Barnacle surprised with a truly excellent seared, sushi grade tuna with a sesame crust and a creative soy based dipping sauce. The lobster roll had a generous portion of fresh lobster meat in a buttered bun- the mayo and celery on top- so you could mix it in yourself. We wanted to order the mussels, but they were completely out of bread for sopping up the broth. They had no beers on draft. The young hostess was cranky and unfriendly- and the staff in general consisted of fairly untrained girls who clearly would have preferred being at the beach than telling people "we are out of bread". The view is fantastic- and if they could train the staff to smile a little more, another star is entirely possible. read more

I live in Marblehead and have eaten at the Barnacle at least 15 times. The greatest attribute of this small harbor-side restaurant is the view. Everything else falls short of what it could be. The service is generally good. Many of the staff have worked here for years and are friendly and efficient. The exception is usually the hostesses. They tend to be high school aged women who seem to begrudge the fact that their parents have made them get a job. Their goal appears to be to exert as little effort as possible while being unfriendly and uninterested in customers. The dining room is small and customers are crammed cheek to jowl. The food is here is marginal. The menu has a few better than average items and many that are ho-hum to bad. Think fried seafood and you get the idea. Two bright spots on the menu. First, the chowder is above average. Thick and creamy with enough clams in it to remind you that this really is clam chowder, not fish chowder. The rest of the better items tend to require little effort from the kitchen staff. Most notable are the steamer clams, fish and chips, and boiled lobster. No real culinary skill required here. Stay away from the crab though. It's not a regular menu item but appears frequently as a special. I had it once and it reeked of ammonia. A sure sign that it was well past its prime. When I reported this disturbing find I got an acknowledgement that I was correct and nothing more. That is, not even an apology. So I recommend coming here for the view and if you have low expectations for the food you'll probably be happy you came. read more

Way too over priced for what you get. Fish and Chips was priced at $17.95 for a small portion of fish served with store bought shoe string fries. Good service was good. Other than the really high prices, not a bad spot! read more

Unfortunately, it appears that the Barnacle has fallen victim to the post-Covid dearth of help in the kitchen and at the tables. My family came for a nice lunch, and were among the first parties seated inside. We gave our order as other parties arrived, yet half an hour later, we still had not received our food, while everyone else in the room had. The waitress would not address our concerns that our orders had been overlooked. Nearly an hour after ordering, we got our food, lukewarm, and my sister's fish was way undercooked. I've always loved this place, but better not go when it's moderately busy. It's a mess. read more

Hey, All ~ I want The Barnacle to be my "resting place". lol For those of you nearby... A MUST visit... truly. For those not so nearby - worth the road-trip. It's GORGEOUS, charming and rustic, it's delicious, it's intimate and best of all... it seems to TRULY be a place where people come together and what I love, as well, is that GREAT FOOD is why! You'll find it here, no doubt! read more

I didn't stick around long enough to eat...there were no Covid protocols in place...no social distancing, every table was full, people in the bar, two deep, were shoulder to shoulder without masks. You had to walk through the bar and a bunch of standing, maskless people to use the rest rooms. Employees were masked but they were few and far between making service painfully slow and impossible to adhere to the 90 minute limit. I walked out after about a half hour when no one had approached to take an order and the lack of COVID protocols made me feel unsafe. read more

It doesn't get much cozier than The Barnacle. The view from the patio is AMAZING if you can grab a seat in nice weather. It can be a little snug, so it is definitely better for more intimate groups. Their steamers are fantastic as is their chowder - haven't tried much of the other meals so can't comment on those. But a chilled bottle of sparkling wine and giant plate of steamers for two is definitely our go to. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Sparkling wine with a complimentary view of Marblehead Lighthouse. - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Stopped in here for the first time for lunch with my wife and sat at the window counter space. You can't get any closer to to harbor without being in a boat! It's a charming if small restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere to accompany the view. The lobster roll, onion rings, fries and seafood chowder were delicious and market priced. As a bonus our waitress was genuinely pleasant and attentive. As mentioned in other reviews parking is a challenge at best but if your strolling around Old Town and have an appetite the Barnacle is worth the stop. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

An institution with a great view of everything that matters. I grew up in Marblehead and first went to The Barnacle as a kid when it wasn't much more than a walk-up counter. You could get a lobster roll for 50 cents, thereabouts. (If you find one now for less than a tenner, text me and I'll be right over!) It's grown up but never got fancy. Sometime after I moved away, they built a real restaurant off one of the marble heads (granite, really). With a small dining room, tiny bar and some alfresco seats hanging over a beach of small stones. That last may be the best place ever built to eat on a sunny warm day. It used to be that I'd order all sorts of things but when I came to town for a visit there was only one thing I craved. Quahogs (steamers), onion rings and that view. From the mid 1980s up until a year ago things have not changed. The steamers were always tender and sweet, and the rings were light. Even lighter than tempura-style which is best. (Heavily breaded rings aren't any more than a donut that tastes of onions.) It has always been a singular, simple pleasure for me. Predictable and the same as it's always been. (Indulge the nostalgic home-town boy.) Over the last quarter-century, the servers have sometimes been great but always pleasant, but if you want to be spoiled stay down in Boston. This is swamp Yankee territory. Oh, and if you're staying in or near town on a visit, go to The Driftwood off the town landing. You'll meet all the locals and step back in time. I've been to The Barnacle with many friends and most of my family. All have enjoyed it across the years. I remember being in Boston for a Mac World, flying in from LA and taking work friends from my company and a few from Apple up to this place. A small phalanx of rental cars were terrorized on the Lynnway and upon arrival we smushed a few tables together, told stories and splashed lobster-butter on each other for close to two hours. The staff didn't mind. My friends loved the food and I waved them off desert so we could trundle down the road to Peabody to eat ice cream standing in the parking lot of Russ Treadwell's. It's the only way I can end a Barnacle dinner and my companions agreed. (I have silly friends and like it that way!) In sum, The Barnacle is "same as it ever was" to quote the Talking Heads. Good New England seafood dinners, pleasant servers, great views and sunsets to die for (you're looking east but who cares!) Oh, and the fish you're eating tonight likely woke up out near Halfway Rock this morning. Nuff said. read more

Visited during our stay in Marblehead. The only issue that evening was the hostess. She seemed to not know what was going on or what she was doing, but shes young and eventually we got to sit in the bar so no harm done. The lobster bisque was great. The fish tacos were probably the best I've had anywhere. Absolutely fresh and delicious! Enjoyed talking to the locals and would visit here again one day! read more

Stiff T&Ts. Perfect steamers. Not really much more one needs in life.... read more

Brought my little sister here along with fiance last night. We are introducing her to all the hot spots of Marblehead before she makes her big move to Somerville in September. Again, we sat outside. This time, the sun was down and it was a little eery because we had come across a very interesting story just recently. I will share it for your edification! There's a small, stone strand called Screeching Lady Beach in Marblehead, Massachusetts, which is off Front street in Marblehead's old town. Also known as Lovis cove, the beach is home to a well-known restaurant, The Barnacle. The Barnacle's main claim to fame is that during Nor'easters, the waves actually crash over the building, which no doubt provides a great view for the locals who sit inside the glass encased dining room and watch the action. The Screeching Lady of Lovis Cove (from gothichorrorstories.com) An English woman was captured by Spanish pirates in the late 17th century, and robbed of all her valuables with the exception of an emerald ring which wouldn't slide off her finger. Try as they might, the pirates couldn't deprive the hand of the ring. As a result, they let her live for the time being, and slaughtered all the others who were captured in the raid. A bit later, the pirates found themselves off the then tiny village of Marblehead, and decided to go ashore and engage in a bit of pillaging and plundering, as pirates oft-time do. Being so close to shore for the first time, the unfortunate woman with the swollen finger leapt from the ship, and made her way to shore, hoping to find sanctuary. By this time, the pirates had determined that there was nothing worth pillaging or plundering in Marblehead, and were in something of a foul mood. Finding the unfortunate woman dripping water on the beach did not improve their mood. The woman screeched, the pirates pounced upon her, and beat her savagely. The villagers in Marblehead, at first sight of pirates, had retreated to the woods, and from there could hear the screams of the unfortunately lady, which no doubt kicked up an octave or two when the scoundrels finally realized that they could remove the finger and obtain the ring. Which they did. Soon the screams ceased, the pirates went back to their ship and left. The townspeople came out from hiding, and there on the beach they found the mangled and mutilated corpse of the woman. They felt bad for ignoring her cries, and so buried her in the burial grounds. But old timers insist, that each year on the anniversary of her death, you can still hear her cries, rising up from the beach. OOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!! I admit, I'm intrigued. And I will be there next July 17th (the assumed anniversary) to see what happens! So screeching spectors aside, I enjoyed the surf and turf (baked scallops and a honking steak) for $20.95. My sister ordered the mussels and it was so good. I don't believe anyone who says the mussels aren't amazing. The garlic, butter yum broth that they are served in is ridiculous. Our only wish: that we had bread to sop it all up with! We ended up dipping everything we could find into it (including my steak). Watch out...I'm going to be the Duchess of this place in no time! read more

Ate here a few weeks ago with my cousin who lives in Lynn. The view was amazing. Sun setting to the west, and a great view of the Atlantic. Food was very good. My wife had the chicken and she said it was very good. I had the scallops and they were done just right, not overcooked. Chowder was good too (I am a chowder snob!) All in all, it was a good night and we will be back. read more

Came here early August 2018 for my mom's birthday. Friends of my Mom's live here and heard the best lobster roll around was here. I'm a super lobster roll snob now so I had to try. Huge lobster chunks on a nice hotdog bun with lettuce and a dab of mayo. I've never had lettuce in my roll but was delicious. Was different too with the dab of mayo instead of all over the lobster. Truly a keeper. Will definitely come read more