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

My BBQ steak tips were delicious. Steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I recommend the garlic mashed potatoes and green beans for sides. The garlic mashed potatoes were some of the best I've had in a restaurant. Our server was really good as well. The restaurant is a little pricey, but hey it's Marblehead. 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

We chose the Barnacle on a Monday afternoon for lunch. We were waiting to be seated when we were informed that the kitchen was closing for an hour so we needed to place our orders quick. I guess they close their kitchen every day to change shifts and the frying oil. Everything was delicious!!! Shrimp was fresh and yummy. The cold slaw was some of the best I've EVER had (and believe me I'm a cold slaw junkie). Very casual atmosphere, beautiful harbor location with a great view!! The only downside to the Barnacle was the extremely limited parking. But even though parking was tight, we will definitely go back. 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

We ate at the Barnacle twice during our week-long stay in Marblehead. The first night I ordered the haddock au gratin (very good) and my sister got the obligatory lobster, which she enjoyed. We both ordered chowder and couldn't have been happier with that. Our server was friendly and efficient. On our second visit, we went in for dollar oyster night and ordered two dozen oysters, only to find when they arrived that the Barnacle does not serve crackers!! Only, ironically, oyster crackers which are useless for actually eating oysters - they just fall right off. Everyone else was just slurping their oysters right out of the shell - must be a New England thing because everywhere else I've been people eat oysters on crackers. Two dozen oysters without crackers are not very filling, so we decided to order actual meals as well. My sister played it safe and ordered a bowl of the same chowder we'd eaten on our first visit - still tasty. I got the stuffed lobster which was good except that the "specially seasoned" bread crumbs dusting the top looked and tasted suspiciously like Shake N Bake. I scraped them off and enjoyed the rest of the dish. Except for the broccoli, which was barely cooked. read more

Had the fish sandwich today and it was excellent. As was the Cole Slaw. Open face 2 good pieces of fish and cheese. Perfect lunch.

Best of Marblehead. The Views, Chowder, the Haddock, the Onion Rings, the wait staff were all the best. A don't miss spot for lunch. Worth the parking hassles. read more

5 Stars for the view and overall ambience. If you can only go to one restaurant or bar in Marblehead, all things considered: this would be the best choice. read more

Quaint little place on the water. Beautiful views of the bay. Don't expect a and expansive layout when you pull up. Although the building is big, the dining room is small. I had no complaints because I went there for lunch during the week and it was sort of empty so no need to worry about seating. The food was good. The batter on the fried foods was light and flaky, but somewhat bland. A cheeseburger in a seafood place to me is sacrilegious to order, but my friend was saving herself for a much better venue later that night. She did enjoy the burger so I guess we can give it a thumbs up. The service was quick and polite. Our server made sure we had what we needed and checked in regularly. I enjoyed the look of the restaurant pub. It kind of looked like my grandfather's den that was converted into a drinking hole for his old cronies. Lol! The pub there really adds to the whole theme. Recommend read more

This place is great! The fish and chips were lightly breaded and not greasy at all. The salmon and swordfish were a huge portions and very moist. As far as quality for your dollar this place can't be beat. The only downsides are the lack of parking (there is a small lot a little east down the road) and the size of the dining room. They cram people in every square inch. Also, the service was pretty poor from the waitstaff. They'd walk over to bring food but not refill our drinks or ask if we wanted more beer (which only adds to their tip). It didn't make sense, but we made due. The food made up for it and we will come again (hopefully the staff is better). read more

I had a great lunch there last week. Fisherman's platter was fresh. The batter was light, not greasy. I don't recall the plastic cups, but my margaritas were yummy. The waitress was attentive and very nice. I would definitely go back. I also loved the charm of the area. read more

Sometimes I feel that restaurants with a great waterfront view should be categorically rejected. They seem to think that they can get away with anything when it comes to food. Half of our seafood platter was fries and onion rings and we wished the entire thing was fries. Because the rest of the haddock, scallops, shrimps were just inedible. They had just lightly battered those things and fried them just enough so that the fish inside was somewhat boiled. Whatever else might be going for it, I would recommend not going here for the food. read more

Some places are a touchstone, no matter what. I was pleased to see several reviewers below who frequented the Barnacle long ago and returned to enjoy it again. The last time I ate at The Barnacle was 1968; I remember with relish the view, the salt smell of the ocean, the sound of gulls, and wonderful clam and lobster rolls. Living in Colorado today (2009) I miss it all, and I vow on Yelp to return with my family someday soon, to once again enjoy the "Barnacle experience!" read more

This place was recommended to us by our AirBnB host for the fantastic view of the ocean. Unfortunately, we came after sunset and couldn't see much. You can sit at the large window spanning the entire length of the restaurant and eat directly facing the ocean. Obviously, we had to try the clam chowder. It was delicious: creamy, just salty enough. I would've liked a more consistent chowder, with more chunks of fish, seafood and potatoes. The waitress was very friendly and patient with me as I hesitated over the menu. We settled on a shared plate of fried seafood with fried onion rings. Of course, the ratio of seafood-to-onion ring was biased in favor of the latter, but I liked that the rings were not overcoated in batter. The fried scallops were perfectly cooked, just juicy enough to fall apart in your mouth. There were also pieces of white fish (haddock, I think?), mussels and huge shrimps: everything tasted very fresh, and was not overly fried. I wished I was still hungry for dessert, but the generous portions got the best of us. Great place! read more

Another very good restaurant in Marblehead Harbor. Always find upscale locals celebrating and yakking it up like true boat people. Foods' better than at the Landing. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Still amazing! This place is epic n every way. The prices are right, the food is fresh and delicious, they pour a good drink and the service is good. We came in on New Years Eve day for oysters, chowder for me/lobster bisque for my accomplice and drinks. We were seated quickly and our waitress was adorable and super nice. She was attentive but not pushy or overly present. If you love Bloody Mary's try a spicy Bloody here so amazing! read more

Wednesday Night Twin Lobsters specials are only one if the reason to check out this local spot in town. Mussels to die for are another. Get there early. They don't take reservations. And extra bonus? Summer time season allows you to enjoy a nice outdoor view of one the nicest harbors north of Boston read more

Great New England Clam Chowder here - like the tough of paprika spice on top, just the thing to take away any potential greasy feeling from the chowder. Except, this one was relatively light, while managing to be hearty at the same time. Even if you're not a clam chowder/cream-based soup sort of person, this is worth getting! It came with a side of corn bread (a new twist on the boring bread side, I guess!), but I wasn't too big a fan on their corn bread. It was cold, poundcake-like in texture (I like cornbread that's got a little more cornmeal grit in it), and overall not a great combo with the chowder, mostly because it was so room temp/cold. I treated it as dessert, vs. a complement to the soup. Service was quick and friendly, best kind! It started to get busy as we left, so make sure you get there before 2:00pm! read more

I'm happy to be able to come here even during these hard times! The staff is so friendly and you can't beat their rum punch. The sea view and amazing seafood just really bring it all home!!! read more

My husband and I came here for the first time today and really enjoyed it. Our server was great, very attentive, and the food was good. I think the prices are fair for what you get. We will be back! Oh, and the view is gorgeous. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - This seagull was sitting right outside the window next to us and putting on quite the show during lunch ;) - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Stopped into this place for some good seafood. What I left with was a bad taste in my mouth. The experience started out wonderful we had a wonderful waitress who was very attentive and efficient. The food was great, until some kids thought it a great idea to throw their fries to the birds. When politely asked to stop. The boy turned around and informed us " it was fine his dad owns the restaurant". So apparently that meant he was allowed to have dozens of seagulls interrupt our dining experience. After being incredibly rude and mocking us he walked back inside the restaurant. Only to have an older man come out and toss some fries himself. So yes, the food is good. The waitress was super pleasant. But I would appreciate the owners to value their customers. The owner of the here apparently does not. Entitled kids aren't appetizing. read more

Not sure why this place doesn't have higher reviews. The view was incredible and the lobster was even better! It comes right in from their boat daily- how much fresher can you get!? The lobster Caesar salad is my new favorite. My mom had the fish and chips - some of the best fish and chips I've tasted. Can't wait to go back! read more

Delicious food, great drinks, and everyone was so friendly (staff and customers). The view from the restaurant was spectacular.

As a child, whenever I visited my Aunt (which was every summer), we could not have completed the week without a trip to the Barnacle. I have many fond memories there. When other family members where in the area that was our go to place. Fast forward many years both my sons attended Endicott College! Many times we would go for a visit just to go to the Barnacle for dinner! Lol, don't tell my kids. One of my sons graduated 4 years ago and still lives in the area...and we still come in for chowder, lobster rolls or just lobster. This Christmas the owners did a tremendous thing for my Aunt, a christmas present from us! She was bowled over and it truly made her Christmas a little less lonely! I am 57 and have been going here since I was 10 years old and hope , god willing ,I have many more times to be able to get the best chowder and lobster in New England at the Barnacle! The owners are the best and I can't thank them enough!! Do not leave the area without trying it out! Thanks again to J and Rebecca!! Liz Post Cundari read more

Poor service and disgusting food! The staff appeared to be sleepwalking. Our soup, intended to be a starter, arrived with the entree, and my drink never arrived at all. I ordered the shrimp scampi. Although the shrimp was cooked perfectly, the scampi sauce was some sort of sickly-sweet glutinous mess swimming with - of all things -carrots. No hint of garlic. The rice pilaff was actually just overcooked white rice, drowning in that glop. The cornbread was undercooked and rubbery. The best part of the meal was the perfectly steamed broccoli. The building itself is cute with good views. But still -c'mon guys. Up the game. read more

Good food and fantastic view! The food at this low-key restaurant is pretty good, but a bit over priced. The staff is friendly, low pressure and had no problem accommodating a modification request to a dish. The harbor side deck is small, but has such a charming view. The mahi-mahi special was the favored dish at our table, but next time I go back I'll order the mussels. The couple next to us devoured 3 servings!! read more

Have eaten here many times when I lived here back in the 90's - I would get so excited for their CHOWDER. My husband and I both ordered BOWLS for our appetizer's, the Chowder has changed significantly used to get oodles of "meat" We hardly had any fish/clams in our soup it was mostly cream and the only texture came from our oyster crackers that we dropped in and it was it hot barely warm! Got steamers also they weRe good but many broken shells and also served only warm. Bummed out if the "Barney" has fell prey to greed - this place has always been a sure bet but It seems their traffic is now folks riding on the coattails of days gone by. Disappointed won't return sorry to say. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Nice view never the less - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

Don't bother. Out of steamers at 6pm on a Saturday night. Onion rings tasted like a raw onion, potato skins just ok. The bread was literally as hard as a rock - clearly recycled multiple times. It took 30 minutes to get the apps. The server was surprised when we didn't stay for dinner. However, friendly server and hostess. read more

What a great place. Mussels and calamari were delicious. Service was great even with it being really busy. Worth waiting to sit on the deck. The thing not to miss, IMO, is the hot fudge sundae! They do it a little different which was amazingly good. Yum!!! read more

Casual spot right on the water. Beautiful views of Marblehead harbor. Weather permitting the outdoor seating is fantastic. Love their fried clams. Moist and delicious with a nice thin coating on the outside. Their coleslaw is delicious as well. Small indoor space, if there is a line it's worth the wait. read more

This classic New England shabby seafood joint was just okay. The baked scallops while meaty and fresh had a cracker crumb coating which tasted terrible --- I'm not sure what went wrong (maybe burnt butter, turned spices or stale crumbs?), but I could only eat the scallops after scraping off the crumb crust. My friend's pricey ($22) lobster roll had large chunks of lobster, but the mayo dressing was bland. Our side salads were generous with mixed lettuce, red onion, black olives, cucumbers, shredded carrots and tomatoes and a nicely balanced balsamic vinaigrette. The onion rings, while not greasy, didn't have much flavor. The coleslaw was crispy with three types of cabbage, but the slaw dressing was overpowered by too much horseradish. On the plus side, the view of Marblehead harbour was lovely and the service was just right. Shoe-horned in a dense residential/commercial district, this place has very limited street parking, necessitating a walk of a few blocks on a Sunday afternoon. Given that there are dozens of better seafood places along the north shore of Boston, I'm unlikely to head back to the Barnacle again. read more

The Barnacle Restaurant - Cracker crusted baked scallops with garlic mashed potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Marblehead, Massachusetts

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Just moved to the area and I've been trying out all the local seafood joints throughout the north shore. After visiting several restaurants my new favorite spot is the Barnacle. The fish and chips were delicious! They were very lightly battered so I didn't leave with that bloated feeling I sometimes get after eating a poorly prepared fish and chips. Other things I loved about this place was the view, the local feel and my waitress Michaela was a doll! She was courteous, professional and everything was right on time! I'll definitely be a regular here now and I highly recommend their fish and chips! read more

We understand common sense & a busy afternoon, but the way we treated today was unacceptable. The food was "ok". We ordered the steak tip caesar and the romaine wasn't even romaine. The salad came out soggy like it was in the fridge for 2 days, Fries sucked and the lobster roll was "decent". The worst part of all was the service... it took them 40 Minutes to seat us when they said it would be 10-15. After we got seated it took them another 15 min just to bring waters after we reminded them. read more

F*** the barnacle. The crab legs and the waitress were overcooked. The waitress started talking to her friends in the bar while we patiently waited for the check. The fish and chips were very bland. read more

Just ate here at the Barnacle. Great food. My husband had the fish and chips and I had the butterfly shrimp. The batter was light on my shrimp and no grease at all. Absolutely delicious. Our waitress was wonderful. Very genuine. So sweet and accommodating. You need to eat here. Great view of the staff ran while you eat. A must see read more

Cute little place overlooking the harbor, with views of the lighthouse from inside as well as tiny balcony. We ordered steamers, oysters and lobster roll. It was all fresh, not slathered with mayo, accompanying fries were perfect and no one got sick on the way home. Only con: it can get crowded (chairs knocking into each other) & loud, and the service was slow. read more

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My boyfriend and I visited The Barnacle a few weeks ago during a weekend vacation to Marblehead. It was recommended to us as the best seafood in town, so it sounded like a sure thing. I wasn't expecting anything fancy, and The Barnacle definitely isn't. It's a small-ish, dark, rustic & no-frills atmosphere, with OK (not great, not bad) service, and decent food. Growing up in Eastern NC and now living on the Gulf Coast, I've had my share of fantastic seafood. Again, I wasn't expecting to have my socks knocked off, but for the price I was expecting a little better than I got. The dishes were huge - no complaint there - and the quality of the seafood was good, but the recipes were neither inspired nor excellently carried off. I had the stuffed scallops, and my boyfriend had surf and turf with stuffed shrimp. His shrimp were great, the steak was OK, and my scallops were just OK, as well. The rice pilaf that came with my dish was amateurish, and there was some sort of grit in my salad (the boyfriend thought it might be dirt from the lettuce, but it actually ground against my teeth, and made me think of how it feels to accidentally bite down on a little bit of oyster shell). Also, I had iced tea and it was obvious they needed to clean out the nozzle more thoroughly, since the tea had that fermented tang that it gets when you aren't cleaning your equipment well enough. If I lived in Marblehead, I'd go back again. I'll probably go back next time I'm in town. Just wish for the price tag they'd take care of a few things. read more

The Barnacle is on the Marblehead coast, with a nice view of the harbor from a small, very informal restaurant that is clearly a local favorite. Our dinners (stuffed jumbo shrimp and swordfish in a honey-garlic sauce) were good, but not outstanding. Friendly service. read more