50 Best American Restaurants near Essex

“Good food, great drinks !! Nice water view !! A little noisy though !! Thanks for a wonderful evening Sharon D.“

“Had driven by this place many times. My mother went for lunch with some friends and raved about it, so we thought we'd give it a try. We went with some friends and the wait was longer than we normally would wait, but we had no where to be and a sitter until 11. We had Tresa as a waitress and apps, food and drinks were all great.“

“So this was our 2nd trip, the 1st was not favorable. Woodman's without question made sure we would come back. So we did and probably on the worst weekend of the year, July 4th weekend! It was well worth it. The line was out the door and down the side walk to the next building. We questioned if we wanted to wait since they had a table set up with water and other items to pass the time. The wait was not bad at all, we had ordered 20 minutes after we started our wait and had our food in under 10 minutes. So a total of 30 minutes, not bad at all. I'm still baffled that there were so many empty tables available, where did all the people go that were in line?
We got clam chowder, a fried whole belly clams plate, a fried scallop plate and 2 fried lobster tails. All of it was excellent. The chowder was full of substance with good flavor, the fried seafood was also excellent, the fried food was clean with no old or bad frying oil taste, the fries are typical fries, the onion rings were outstanding, you can see them battering the onion rings behind the register and the lobster tails were also excellent. We had a beer and a mix drink which both were excellent as well. I actually told the bartender just make something fruity and strong that my wife will like. She made something which she said had no name but my wife was very happy.
This was all nice priced at $110 for the food and another $20 for the drinks. Yeah I know $130 sounds expensive and I agree so that's why we only do this once maybe twice a year. It was worth it to us!
I will be honest I did believe the fried lobster tail was a little small, I think they were a lobster tail that was split in half so 2 pieces out of 1 tail. The only other thing we saw was that the portions are a LITTLE small. Don't get me wrong these plates were not loaded with fries and onion rings to appear they are big portions. There was a good portion of fries and onion rings and a good amount of good sized seafood as well. It was more that when we go to these places when not knowing the size portions we each order a meal and share each other's. At the end of the meal we grab a to-go box and are like holy crap we should have just ordered 1 and shared it which we do the next time. This time we both finished our meals, left full and happy.
In the end this place is well worth it.
Speedy, friendly service, great food, priced comparable makes this place a must visit. In the end I would give this place a strong A to A+.“

“excellent restaurant and bar!…. nice people my issue is the fact when I was leaving this evening I was absolutely eaten alive by mosquitoes… is it just me?� I never in my life been swarmed like that“

“Friendly welcoming staff Very reasonable prices Fun Atmosphere“

“I have had a number of wonderful meals at the restaurant. I go for the food, the individual service and the feel of the beautiful old building.“

“Love the homey atmosphere! You can tell everything is homemade with love patty melt on rye was delicious as was the hash skillet and eggs over hash. The seasonal pumpkin pancake was also great 10/10 would recommend and come again. Street parking only so keep your eyes peeled for a spot.“

“The hamburger was the best I have ever had and beautiful place .“

“From the moment we started the wedding booking process with Grove at Briar Barn Inn, we knew we were in excellent hands. The wedding planning staff was incredibly responsive, professional, and thorough—every question we had, big or small, was answered with care and detail. Especially our event coordinator, Jordan Morrissey, who made the entire experience feel personal and seamless.

Throughout the planning process, the Events Team provided us with so many helpful tools and resources that made organizing everything so much easier. From timelines and checklists to vendor recommendations, we felt completely supported and empowered to plan our dream wedding.

The day of the wedding was absolutely perfect. Jordan was outstanding—calm, attentive, and reassuring. She handled every detail behind the scenes, which allowed us to fully enjoy the day without a single worry. Her presence brought a wonderful sense of peace and joy to the entire experience.

Our guests are still talking about how beautiful and well-run everything was. We received so many compliments about the gorgeous venue, the flawless execution, the warm atmosphere, and the AMAZING food. Many people told us it was one of the most memorable weddings they’ve ever attended.

We are endlessly grateful to Jordan and the entire team at Grove at Briar Barn Inn for making our wedding day so magical. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!“

“Fresh, local, delicious! Will be back! Great service! So yummy!! Hubby's new fave restaurant, super fresh!“

“Absolutely delicious dinner!! Highly recommend Maitland Farm Kitchen and grateful for the gluten free options available!! This was truly one of the best meals out we've had in Salem.“

“Best fried scallops and fried clams! Awesome staff!“

“Had an amazing dinner highly recommended.. I will definitely be back“

“Lydia is beautiful and amazing. Very attentive and professional. She's so great with all the customers even when it's a full house. Wow is all I can say. Highly recommend when she is here. The beers are always cold and they make great cocktails. Food is tasty and fresh. Pizza is a must.“

“Quality of Interior Tasteful old New England Tribute to Fishermen Rooms are nice and clean. 1606 Restaurant best food Very clean Location right on public beach“

“Good food, fast service, & friendly people. I thought the prices were reasonable!“

“I want to hear with a big group of friends after work. I think we had 12 at our table and our server was so accommodating with making sure that we had enough seats, menus, and utensils. She also knew the menu so well and was able to recommend something for me to eat because everything looked so good.

I ordered they're spicy margarita which was just spicy enough. I think I ordered a cheeseburger too and it was good, but I wish I got seafood. Someone at the table ordered musseles and they were amazing, so good that I had to make some for myself that weekend. I also got to try the corn ribs and those are a lot of fun to eat. One of my favorite things was their style of french fries because they are puffy and crispy.“

“I had the fishermen’s platter, wife had lobster carbonara, after starting with bang bang calamari. Food and service was both phenomenal!“

“Cala’s is the Bee’s Knees! I am blown away with the quality of food and especially the service! Golden nachos COVERED in tender pulled pork and fresh cheese, chicken tenders are hand battered and well seasoned, hand cut french fries cooked to perfection. Food and service have been superb, consistent, and dependable. Definitely a regular spot for us.“

“OMG Best breakfast ever. Got a western omelet and I must say was the best one one I've had in years. My daughter got the veggie omlet and is the first time I've ever seen her clean her plate! Will definitely go here from now on. No other restaraunt can will ever top this place. Good coffee, friendly people, great service, and great prices. I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting the best! I'm not the only one that likes it there. There was only one empty table left. Wheelchair access, handicap parking nesr the front door that makes it an easy access for those needing it. Will definitely go back there. Hard to find anywhere with a breakfast this good.“

“Delicious food, great variety, and easy online ordering!!!“

“The Driftwood Restaurant is an absolute standout for both food and atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm, relaxed vibe that makes it perfect for everything from a casual lunch to a special dinner out.

The menu offers a great variety—fresh seafood, hearty burgers, and creative daily specials. I had the walleye sandwich and it was perfectly cooked: crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and loaded with flavor. The side of seasoned fries was a great touch, and the portion size was generous.

Service was fast and friendly, and the staff really went the extra mile to make sure everything was just right. The lakefront views (if you’re near water) or cozy indoor seating add to the experience, depending on the season.“

“Never had a bad meal at this place“

“American Fusion, Friendly staff, Scratch Kitchen, Creative Cocktails.“

“My family and I have been going to IHOP for years now without a single mess-up. Today, they accidentally messed up my order, and I called back asking if they could do anything about it. They immediately remade my meal for me and had a driver send it out. THIS IS HOW ALL BUSINESS SHOULD BE! I will be coming here even more because of my experience today. Great Staff! Amazing food!“

“Such a great experience tonight. We were in town for vacation from Texas and stopped in for dinner. The server was so friendly, relatable, and welcoming. The food was fantastic. Extremely flavorful and just what we needed to and our trip. The chef Nick is incredible and so creative with his dishes. He came out to the table and chatted with us several times. You can tell he loves what he does!!! If you are looking for great food, low key chill environment, and friendly staff… this is the place. Next time we come to town, this place will for sure be our on list of places to come.
Thanks for a great experience tonight y’all!!!“

“We were very happy to discover Sea Salt is pet friendly. The service was great and the food was delicious!“

“Amazing Food & Atmosphere Perfect fried pickles. Steak Frites was delicious as well.“

“Love this cozy little place. Awesome food, great prices and wonderful waitstaff.“

“The steak tips and scallops ate the perfect meal.. always on point. Big juicy scallops, and steak tips always cooked right. Never had a bad meal here. GREAT food..“

“Great food! Even better service, Serena was fantastic!“

“The bartender is awesome beautiful, so that's a W for sure but shes always dancing around and her vibes are contagious. Poors a hell of a drink and always smiling ! My favorite part is FRIDAYS when Dj skully is Blazing beats. Awesome spot.

Vegetarian options: Who cares it's a bar.. maybe icecubes?“

“Very good soup and they were very hot. We had chicken vegetable and clam chowder.“

“Place is so unique! Love the antique feel! Had a wonderful time dining on the patio with friends!“

“Amazing burgers. The sweet and crunchy burger is an all time fav 🙌“

“An Ipswich staple, they have the best sandwiches and roast beef. Always good for grabbing a cheesesteak, roast beef, or chicken salad to name a few of my favorites!“

“Love the food, always fresh. Also absolutely adore the staff!! 🍔🍟🥪 🤩“

“Delicious food Nice atmosphere Friendly people Worth the trip“

“We love the Village Tavern Salem we are in salem a lot and we are always having lunch or dinner here this place is amazing great food great service and great atmosphere“

“Love Settler! My partner and I go for special occasions and have always had an incredible experience ❤️❤️“

“Freshest fish i’ve ever had on the island!“

“The best little breakfast place!!! 10/10 reccommend! ❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“The food was SO good and our server was super sweet.“

“The wicked nachos (with chicken) appetizer was amazing. We also enjoyed our entrees, the 1925 burger and Hawthorne’s penne pasta. Great atmosphere. Wonderful service.“

“First time here we’ll be back!“

“Love the atmosphere there. Friendly staff and the food selection is pretty good.“

“Came during a ladies trip in August. On our first day, we stopped by for lunch and drinks. The food was fresh and tasty. The drinks were cold and were made perfectly by the bartender. (espresso martinis were 💯) The next morning we tried their breakfast and it also did not disappoint. We sat outside both days, but the inside is beautiful and has murals on the walls. Staff were attentive and polite, I Highly recommend!“

“Fun atmosphere. Good service and food“

“Love this place. Can’t wait to come back“

“Very attentive staff! Good music.“