48 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 .“

“An excellent Massachusetts wedding venue! I'm a wedding photographer and had the pleasure of photographing one of my couple's weddings at Grove. I love it so much that I had to write a venue guide about it on my website.

Everything was great, from visiting one partner in Briar Barn Inn (where they were getting ready) right up until the dance party portion of the reception.

The staff were very kind (to the couple and to the vendors) and everything ran smoothly. I was particularly impressed by how they handled plan changes: this wedding took place during the first storm of the season, so I just had to get the couple outside for some snow pictures. This was no problem though, which was great.

I highly recommend Grove at Briar Barn Inn for your wedding. This cozy venue will take care of you on your big day!“

“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“

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

“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.“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Never had a bad meal at this place“

“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!!!“

“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!“

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

“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?“

“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..“

“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“

“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 🙌“

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

“Delicious food Nice atmosphere Friendly people Worth the trip“

“I have had many satisfying and delicious experiences at “The Nut” over the years (decades), and really enjoyed coming to 15 Walnut on my annual visit to my family. However, this time, the choice of loud heavy metal guitar playlist made conversation impossible, and the ubiquitous and obnoxious big screen tvs didn’t give us a moment of peace. I am done with giving my business to restaurants that intrude on even precious moments of connection and companionship. The service was extremely slow as well.“

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

“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!“

“The prime rib is one of the best around! Every time we go the food and drinks and above expectations. Also, wanted to give a shout out to Brooke. She's taken care of use many times and has always been excellent!“

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

“First time here we’ll be back!“

“Very attentive staff! Good music.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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!“