50 Best American Restaurants near Essex

“. When I visit my hometown, we often have dinner on Cape Ann. This weekend it was The Boat House Grille. The haddock Tesoro is the best seafood dish I have ever had in the Essex/Gloucester area. Kudos to the chef. Our good server was Molly.“

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

“I grew up going to the coasts of NH and ME but never spent any time on the North Shore of MA. I was aware of the debate surrounding the Clam Box vs Woodman’s and took this vacation opportunity to do my own comparison. The fried seafood was very good - not greasy, very fresh and flavorful. Where Woodman’s let me down was their clam chowder. I prefer a really thick chowder, the kind where your plastic spoon stands up on its own. That would have been so comforting on the rainy, windy, cold day I was there but sadly, it was just too watery and thin without much flavor. Seafood: thumbs up, Chowder: thumbs down“

“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“

“My girls and I attempted to eat at the Salem retreat on our first morning of our trip. We waited 20 minutes for a table after watching 7-10 people be seat AFTER we were given a buzzer to wait. We left and came to Dotty & Rays. We got a table as soon as we walked in, had water brought over immediately, drink and food orders promptly taken. The food was fantastic. We had one part of our order missing and once they realized the issue, it was remedied with speed and courtesy. Everyone was very friendly and renewed our experience in Salem. We enjoyed it some much we came back this morning. This is the place to come to a good meal and pleasant experience to start your day. Come to Dotty and Rays!“

“We first found mercy tavern last October! We planned a quick trip again this year and it was on our list of places to return to! We absolutely love the atmosphere, food and amazing drinks! Can’t wait to go back.“

“We just had our wedding at The Grove, and the experience was top notch. Staff, food, and atmosphere were spot on every step of the way. We need to give a special shout out to Julia, who coordinated every little detail while making everyone feel at ease and welcome. Her efforts leading up to the wedding and through the whole event were very impressive, down to the smallest details of our requests that she knew by heart, as well as her experience and input on the other small details we wouldn’t have even thought of. The organization is very lucky to have her. Thank you to all of the incredible staff for such a wonderful day. Down to the extra gift the morning after!“

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

“Their Italian Sandwich -- BEST EVER! The bread was outstanding, meats were top shelf and the special sauce put it over the top!“

“We met our son and two grandsons for Saturday morning breakfast. Food was good, fast, eggs done perfectly with not too much grease, and generous portions. Staff were excellent. Loved the meal.“

“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.“

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

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

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

“The food was great, our server was awesome. Get the Angry Shrimp! We’ll 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.“

“If you want a $31 omelette with a $18 watery mimosa, skip this place. If you want a delicious breakfast that has a huge portion, is well made in a diner atmosphere with friendly locals…here you go. We had a wonderful breakfast, and the thirty or so seats were filled with mix of tourists, locals and college kids. The food is terrific, two huge breakfasts for $30…no pretense. Shaved truffle eggs have their place, but pancakes or some home fries are breakfast!“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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..“

“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!!!“

“Great food and great service!“

“We were a few days late for Halloween in Salem so we decided to stop in at Longboards for a quick bite. Their flatbread pizza is excellent and the full service bar has it all. Friendly service and great food on the water at Pickering Wharf in Salem. We had lots of fun playing music trivia at the bar! Highly recommended.“

“Never a bad meal! Plate portions enough for 4 people to share! Our wait staff, Jennifer, was an outstanding server. She anticipated our needs with a smile every time. See you soon!“

“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!“

“Never had a bad meal at this place“

“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?“

“Delicious food Nice atmosphere Friendly people Worth the trip“

“We like the Serenitee Group Restaurants, including 15 Walnut. The menu has been changed since our last visit, and we found two delicious entrees - the special Steak au Poivre, which was perfectly plated and prepared, and the green curry spiced Roasted Salmon, which was imaginatively seasoned and perfectly cooked. The casual setting is conducive to easy conversation, and the sports screens are unobtrusive., but allow sports fans to keep track of the action. We'll return!“

“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!“

“Always a good meal and relaxing atmosphere. Thanks Larry!“

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

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

“Amazing Food!! We tried the Avocado Toast, Industry Burger & Counter Burger & they were awesome!! First time going & we’ll definitely be back! The staff was super nice also!!“

“My husband and I sat outside and had a lovely snack in the sun, away from most of the hustle & bustle that October brings to Salem. We thoroughly enjoyed the butternut squash hummus, falafel, and cauliflower & quinoa tabouleh but the real highlight for us was the apple cider! Holy. It was the best we had on our trip around New England. Not too sweet, served nice & hot, lightly spiced and so, so good! The service was wonderful as well! Best of luck to this crew, we wish you much success & hope to see you next fall!🍂☺️“

“First time here we’ll be back!“

“Very attentive staff! Good music.“

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

“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 food was great! love the wall art inside.“

“You will not find a more beautiful, excellent hotel than here. They have exceptional staff, excellent food, amazing accommodations. There is just not enough good to say about the Beauport Hotel. They did not miss any details. The interior is so beautiful and inviting, the food menus are eclectic and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Recently ran into a self created 😂 snag, and Lauren went above and beyond duty and out of her way to resolve it! Don’t miss the Beauport.“

“My girlfriends and I stopped into this little diner on a whim, and I’m so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious (classic comfort food done right!) Everything tasted fresh and homemade, and our meals came out surprisingly fast. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier!! They treated us like regulars from the moment we walked in. You can really feel the heart and pride they put into their place. Definitely one of those hidden gems that makes you wish every restaurant still had this kind of charm and hospitality. We’ll absolutely be back!“

“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.“

“I love this place! highly recommended. Impressed with the food and drinks, the atmosphere and also the staff. Kelly B was our waitress, she was awesome, our first time there, she had a great attitude and always checking in with us! thank you for the great service! we'll definitely be back!!!!!!😊“

“The most delicious pancakes ever great service too“

“We thought this place was absolutely awesome. Very clean, private. Very well run and everyone Very friendly. Very modern rooms but still has the historical charm throughout. Breakfast just a few steps down the hall. Very close to all historical places we enjoyed visiting. We will definitely return and highly recommend.“