Recently I was craving seafood BIG TIME. As a native Mainer who has lived in the area now for over 15 years, it can be tough to find places that serve "traditional" lobster dinners. (Typically consist of steamers, lobster, a baked potato and some corn on the cob if you're lucky). My husband found Turner's while doing a search for a place that would come close to giving me what I was looking for, and they delivered! We started off with the steamers. They're to die for... so tender, no sand in the bellies, and the broth? OOH the broth. It's delectable. It adds flavor that complements the clams perfectly (doesn't overwhelm them at all). My hard shell lobster was incredibly delicious. I'm usually a soft shell gal, but I will take whatever is offered - as long as the meat isn't tough, I'm fine to do the extra work. (It's part of the fun). The tail was split, which is helpful for people who don't know their way around a lobster- for me, I'd prefer it whole, so that's the only (extremely small!) thing I'd change next time. My baked potato and carrots were tasty and the waitress was attentive, kind, and she also had a sense of humor. My husband and I had an awesome evening, and we will be back! read more

Turner's Seafood - Steamers - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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This is one of the most famous places in downtown Melrose. It's always packed, as it's the only "white tablecloth" restaurant nearby. The food however is just OK. It's your basic Italian seafood place. There is a singular type of clientele inside, which tells you how your experience will go. We got tuna "tacos" (more like crudo) as appetizers. This was the best part of the night. The tuna was delicious. For our mains, I got the New England Bouillabaisse and my friend got a fish dish. The food was on the salty side, it's great to have this down the road instead of having to go down to north end. We ended the night with the flourless cake. Our server was very friendly! But the food was just ok. Drive a little farther and get some Mexico Lindo instead. read more

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Food delicious Service attentive and welcoming Ambiance was what you wanted All great read more

OH the seafood!!! As a Midwestern girl, the seafood is my jam! I had the seafood medley which was fried haddock, scallops and shrimp with spinach and roasted squash. My friend had the steak because she does not like seafood at all and said it was a delicious steak. We both LOVED the fresh baked bread appetizer. My only note would be for the restaurant to score or pre cut the loaf of bread-it can be challenging to gracefully cut a loaf of bread in a fancy setting. Otherwise, everything was top notch. Great service, atmosphere and food! read more

Turner's Seafood - Filet - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Went to Turner's Seafood in Melrose on May 10 2026, on Sunday it was my birthday I started with a garden salad with ranch dressing and my main meal was the baked scallops with mashed potatoes and broccoli and for desert I had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream everything was excellent special thank you to Ella my server you made my day for my birthday read more

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Very nice seafood place. They have fresh seafood and their dishes really honor the seafood. The Haddock Piccata was so savory and comforting. The sauce was clean and you can really taste the freshness of the haddock and the fish. They are also generous with the capers, which is a great plus. The calamari is amazing, super fresh and crispy all around. The crust sticks to each piece. Only thing I'm upset about is that I didn't get more! Nice place with good service. Very casual. read more

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This place is pretty good. The staff is friendly and it's very cozy inside. My biggest complaint is the price. I understand seafood is expensive but for the amount I am paying I would expect the best fish I've ever had which it is certainly not. read more

Beautiful restaurant, with the exception of a large screen tv advertising their food in our section, very distracting and kinda obnoxious. Other than that a great night. We had the award winning chowder and lobster bisque. I would say the best I can remember having. Our entrees were delicious too, salmon in a creamy Marsala sauce for me and finnan haddie, a fish "pie". All our food came out hot and timely, something very important to me. We skipped dessert, way too full! I would definitely put this on our let's visit again restaurant!! read more

The APPS were 11/10. I like my crab cakes crispy and Turner's was the best I've had. The slaw was a great element of freshness since it was salty (my partner thought it was too salty, but I enjoyed it). Can't go wrong with oysters and clam chowder (both excellent). I ordered the grilled salmon with Korean BBQ sauce, stir fry veggies, and salmon. It wasn't anything special to me but I still enjoyed my meal. My partner enjoyed his 6oz steak with fries and rice. Planning to try the Salem location next. read more

Turner's Seafood - Clam chowder, oysters, and crab cake - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

The food here was superb. My husband and I went to celebrate his birthday. We got the buffalo shrimp as an appetizer. And then I had a white fish Hake Marsala that they custom made without bacon. My husband had a fish dish in an Asian sauce. It might have been teriyaki. I don't remember since it was back in May. Also I got the lobster risotto cake which was incredible. The quality of the food was worth the cost. I am definitely going back again. read more

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We live in Melrose so Turner's was our go to place for seafood, however, the quality of the food has gone down hill. Earlier this Spring I got a lobster roll and the lobster was chewy and not tender. Last nite we spent $300+ for 4 people including two apps, three drinks and four entrees. The food was nothing special and we literally had to chase down the waitress to pay the bill. Our daughter manages a restaurant so we get it that the margins are small but, I'm done unless I hear or see better reviews. read more

I have never gone here when it is not busy. This place has been in business for a long time, and there's good reason. The food is excellent, the waitstaff are knowledgeable and attentive, and it's got a nice old school atmosphere. We had the lobster appetizer, it was great! And then some simple but delicious haddock. Great preparation and portions! read more

For our last meal in Boston, we got reservations on Halloween night. They weren't needed because it was dead lol. I don't recall our waitress' name but she was so warm and genuine, even at closing time, and we truly appreciated our time with her. The area seems to be super cute and the restaurant gives a 30s feel that was very nice. The bisque was tasty, my husband's chowder was good (Tavern at the End of the World wins though), apparently the oysters were the best he's ever had (we are comparing these with WA, CA and Ensenada oysters), and my dish, although would've benefitted from some seasoning, was truly tasty. The quality of the fish was, all around, fresh and actually tasty. I haven't had scallops taste so fresh and scallop-y since Spain, the haddock was fluffy and warm, and the shrimp were fat and juicy. I chose the veggies au jour and it was simple gourds, but they too were tasty. I would've preferred a variety of veggies but whatever. Oh, and the mash tasted like actual potatoes and cream! My husband did have an issue with his wedges - he found them to be over toasted. Honestly, to me, they were fine, but I do like toasty things. The truffle was fragrant and definitely present in the flavoring. I'm honestly so sad that we are so far for more visits, but we definitely recommend! read more

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This place has been around forever. It's fine and my sister's favorite spot. We go there most Mondays and every Wednesday.

After posting my review, I was contacted by Shelby Turner who was genuinely concerned about my disappointment with my last visit. After apologizing she was nice enough to send me a very generous gift certificate. It says a lot about a business when they make a mistake and then own it. I will happily recommend Turner's as a great place to dine! read more

My parents were visiting for the weekend for the first time in Melrose and I brought them here for their last dinner while in town. The food was amazing. The service was second to none. Carla, who was our server was kind and patient with my parents who are on the elderly side. She was intuitive and provided the best service. Highly recommend and will be back. The evenings have a little bit more of a lively atmosphere. The afternoons are a little bit more quiet. Which is great depending on who you want to bring you can pick the right environment. read more

I love the interior and the busy-ness of this place certainly indicates it's popularity. I sort of regret my selection, which was a piece of fish basically swimming in heavy cream. I know-it's what I ordered, but it wasn't something I could'nt've made at home. My dining companions had dishes that looked excellent and they loved it. Great atmosphere and I'd come back to try other dishes. read more

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Amazing service from Charlotte ! super friendly, helpful and delight to have served us. thank you Charlotte! read more

"Anything fresher is still swimming!" And you can tell. My favorite purchase here is the cooked shrimp. But all the fish is outstanding and so fresh. Treat yourself to a lobster roll or Fish & Chips on Fridays. Can't beat the selection, the great staff and the food! read more

Was very good! Disappointed we went at 4:30 and they said they were already out of the fried clam appetizer.

Absolutely phenomenal restaurant!! We went in yesterday about 4 and sat at the bar. If I want outstanding service and fresh seafood this is where I'll be going in the future!! Well worth the 45 minute ride!! read more

We ate at the Melrose location this time. We have been to the Salem location as well. By far the BEST New England Clam Chowder I have ever had. Most other places it is overpowered with pepper but this is EXQUISITE! Lots of seafood in it and terrific flavor. I made my lunch out of the chowder and bread, I was very full. My wife and daughter had Ceasar salads with shrimp also very good. My son had a cheeseburger which was a very good size and flavor. By far the best part of the meal was the $4 Bread. It was stupendous, the best bread I have ever had and I LOVE bread. Kind of ridiculous to pay for bread but..... Wish they could put the chowder in the Bread itself to serve as a bread bowl, but the waitress couldn't figure that one out, weird. The tables are small and we were cramped a bit but the food was Excellent. read more

Heard a lot of great things about Turner's and decided to check it out. Parking is on the main street and there's a lot behind the building. For the weekly menu when I went had the hake. I never had this fish before so I wanted to try it. It was so good and the defaulted sides complement the dish very well. You want to mix everything together! The prices are really good for a seafood restaurant and we were really impressed. I think this is one of the best seafood restaurants in the area. read more

Turner's Seafood - Lo Mein & Veg Salad Mkt - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Fabulous service, fabulous food.. We stopped in for a seafood dinner, and were pleasantly surprised. We started with the lobster bisque and clam chowder. The lobster bisque was rich, creamy, flavorful, and had chucks of lobster. The clam chowder was thick, and had potato, onion, and clams. The baked haddock was delicious, buttered and tender. Our sides included a loaded baked potato (butter, bacon, and sour cream) and summer veggie medley. Our dessert was decadent. The chocolate lava cake with an espresso martini. Best hot lava cake ever, and the martini was a dessert in itself. The best part was our server, Charlotte. Thank you for a great evening. read more

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In 3 years of living nearby Turner's became our favorite date night spot. The raw bar is an awesome spot to sit, with a front row seat the the shucking station and seafood steamers. Their raw littlenecks and cherrystones are always super fresh and they serve an assortment of delicious pasta dishes that rival those found in Boston's north end. I love the linguini with clams and my wife says the sausage with shrimp is one of her favorite dishes of all time. read more

Turner's Seafood - Linguine with clams (bottom) and the sausage with shrimp. - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Our family member who frequently dined here told us about Turner's Seafood Grill. It was our 1st visit to Turners Seafood Grill which was a surprisingly delicious dinner. We had the lobster risotto cake which tasted like a riceball with a amazing aioli. We would of loved "little more" of a lobster in it & then we had the chicken fingers. They were definitely Two great choices. The Salmon dinner was perfectly prepared & fresh they give you a choice of two side items. I asked our waitress Judy about the grilled braised beef sandwich which she highly recommended it comes with a side of Parmesan Cheese fries the beef was so tender it comes with a side of gravy for dipping. The French fries were the most delicious fries I ever had. It was a baked potato that was baked a drizzle with cheese. The skin was crunchy & seasoned perfectly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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We use to go to Turners for over 25 years. Until a bartender was rude and unprofessional. We haven't been there for over a year. Management let this girl think that her rudeness was ok. read more

The staff is extremely friendly, the restaurant itself is a great atmosphere whether you sit at the bar, the oyster bar or one of their seatings. The weight staff is extremely helpful if you're not sure what to order because everything on the menu looks and sounds extremely delicious. The linguine and clams are my go to along with the haddock. Their cocktails are you must try. read more

First time eating here and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!! Turner's really have some of the best seafood in the Greater Boston area! I did outdoor dining during lunch and the process was very quick and seamless - scan a QR code and order/pay through your phone at your leisure (90 min seating cap). Service was pretty fast and super friendly/helpful! I do want to note that if it's a relatively windy day, if you do outdoor seating in the alley, you'll REALLY be feeling that wind. We got clam chowder (REALLY good consistency - not too thick nor watery, very flavorful, and not overwhelmingly full of potatoes - one of my new faves), lobster risotto ball (kind of like an arancini - but of course with lobster, slightly too salty for our taste), the catch of the day: crab crusted pollock (SO good and not fishy at all - really fresh tasting), as well as the waiter recommended baked shrimp (it tasted good - a little salty for me and reminded me a lot of thanksgivings stuffing...plus big pieces of shrimp haha). Overall, we enjoyed our meals, but knocked down a star due to too much salt in some of the dishes! Fairly priced with tons of fresh seafood! read more

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We hadn't been to Turner's for a while and so we thought we'd give it a go. Glad we did. They have a really good menu and the food is excellent. (Suggest looking at the menu online first as the pictures help.) We started off with a glass of Chardonnay and some very fresh oysters. Delish. My wife had a watermelon salad which she loved (not my thing) and I had a cup of very creamy clam chowder. We had some bread which unfortunately they charge you for. (They had a bunch of crab specials that night but we can take or leave crab.) For entrees, my wife had Portugese Fish Stew. She liked it but has had better. I tasted it and there was cinnamon in it. I don't know why anybody puts cinnamon in anything but a hot toddy. It ruins everything and that's all you can taste. I had the lobster pie which comes in a coffee cup-size cup and looks bigger in the picture. But no matter. It was delicious and with everything else, there was plenty to eat. It was like having baked stuffed lobster without all the freaking work. They kept flashing a picture of delicious-looking strawberry shortcake on a big screen but we passed as A) we didn't need more calories and B) we were stuffed. Only quibble here is that on the table was a card that strongly suggested (ORDER NOW) we scan the QR code and order ourselves. We assumed that's what they wanted us to do and struggled with connecting with the Internet till the waitress came over and said it was a COVID thing and it would be easier to just order through her. Really? Take those off the table, guys. Confusing. Pre-tip price - $187. Steep, but it was our anniversary and no, we didn't tell the restaurant as we don't like the attention. Would we go back? Absolutely, even though it's a 25-minute drive. There's a lot of other things on the menu to try. read more

Been a fan forever (fresh and delicious always) but tonight's haddock piccata and 1st class service experience pushed me to boost my rating to 5/5. Ownership is committed to continuous improvement and providing the best experience possible! read more

This place never disappoints - the food is delicious and the drinks are amazing (Melrose location--Salem is just ok, to me)! This is my second review, and it has gotten better. I kept it simple and ordered the tuna "nachos", they're so delicious with the wasabi aioli and the NE Haddock Dinner. I had no complaints. If you like a good meal,--it isn't cheap (in quality and price)--and you're in the mood for seafood, then head over to Turner's!! ...in Melrose. read more

Turner's Seafood - Tuna "Nachos" - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Consistently fresh and well prepared seafood that never disappoints. My daughter had the filet mignon and it was excellent as well.

Ate here for the first time during COVID restrictions. A friend and I arrived for lunch, the place was largely empty and they were serving a limited takeout menu, which you could eat at a table. My fish sandwich was excellent, with a couple of breaded cod cutlets, hot and crispy and slathered with aioli. My friend enjoyed his Caesar. I look forward to returning sometime post pandemic. read more

Turner's Seafood - Fish sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

1. How was the service? Service was good. Fast and friendly! 2. Would I eat there again? Yes! This place was recommended to me from a local and I can see why! I'll recommend this place when I know people traveling to Boston. 3. How was the food/drink? Food was amazing! I had the cold lobster roll with the lobster risotto cake and Cole slaw. Soooo good. Lobster roll was great but that risotto was to die for! I just had an ice water to drink. 4. How was the vibe/aesthetic? Very typical seafood decor, I enjoyed it. Above the bar area is a toy train and track. Thought that was pretty cool. 5. How was it priced? Fair prices. read more

Turner's Seafood - Cold Lobster Roll with Lobster Risotto cake and Cole slaw - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Easy to make reservation which was important as I was from out of state! The best lobster roll ever!!!! That's it! That's the review! Go get it!!!! read more

Turner's Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Before I even leave for #boston I start drooling for oysters ! @turnersseafood did not disappoint. Great local oysters we polished off a couple dozen. Then real New England clam chowda! And a hot lobster roll for the main course. So good! Shared a round of some amazing toffee for dessert. Great food! Great service! The manager lLinda and our server I think Rachel maybe were absolutely awesome! A perfect New England meal and so nice to be just outside of Boston in a quaint little New England town and local restaurant! Get here if you can! read more

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My wife and I had dinner here recently and the experience did not live up to prior visits. I had the lobster roll and the lobster was tough and tasteless. When ordering my wife asked the waitress if the baked potato was covered with salt and the waitress (C.E.) assured her it wasn't. When the food was served the potato was covered in salt. This shows a lack of training by management and/or indifference on the part of the waitress. This was probably our last visit to this establishment. read more

Oh Turner's! What a delight to have in the city of Melrose! Very cozy atmosphere. When you walk in, there's a nice and small size bar to your left and a small dining area. Then on the right, there's a larger bar, also known as the oyster bar, and larger size dining area. They have some good beers on draft and make some delicious cocktails. For food, I ordered the swordfish dinner. I changed it up to make it healthier due to my diet, but I ordered the swordfish with lemon juice with rice and broccoli. Cooked phenomenally and was delicious! My partner ordered the haddock piccata over rice, instead of pasta, and loved it! Overall, highly recommend! Instead of eating at home tonight, (Turn)er's your arm and give it a try! You won't regret it! read more

Turner's Seafood - Haddock Piccata over jasmine rice - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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Loved my lo mein vegetable salad. I will say it might have a bit of a bite/spice for some people. Service was great. I also got stuffed clams. They were really good and prepared well too! Will be coming back for sure! read more

Turner's Seafood - Lo mein vegetable salad - Seafood Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

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