50 Best American Restaurants near Essex

“The best trifecta! Food, beverages, service. We always sit at the bar and they have such a nice line of beers on tap. The wine pour is solid and the cocktails appear to be the number one seller.
I’ve had several menu items, but always swing back to their Caesar with swordfish. The others are very good; salmon with vegetables, cod cheeks, steak & cheese, eggplant Parmesan, chicken wings, potato skins, deviled eggs pretty much everything was really good. Busy place during dinner hour, but we usually go early like 3:30-4pm and always get a seat at the bar.“

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

“I have been here several times over the years. I love their fisherman's platter as it has a little of everything. I think my favorite is a toss up between the clams and the scallops. I love their tarter sauce and the plates come with fries or onion rings which are delicious themselves. Nothing better than to take a road on the back roads of Massachusetts and stop in for a plate. The portions are huge and now that I am getting older - I end up having to share. Side note - Woodmans was featured in the Adam Sandler film Grownups - released in 2010. There is also a small ice cream shop in the back which has some great flavors in case you're still hungry afterwards.“

“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.“

“Can’t recommend the Grove for a private event highly enough! We had my daughter’s baby shower in the Bramble House at the end of January. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and loved by our guests! What truly made the day so special was the help of Rachel, our event coordinator and her team. Their professional support made our experience easy and enjoyable. I would 10/10 recommend Grove for your next event!!“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Driftwood is an institution and experience. Reminder: CASH ONLY. They focus on breakfast and lunch and have extremely affordable prices. There are always specials, and the food is homey and well done. I recently had their special French toast with lemon curd and blueberries, it was very good. They have tons of options and it’s super casual. I will of course be back and do recommend for breakfast if you find yourself in Marblehead.“

“Outstanding service and food - can’t wait to return. Staff was awesome !“

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

“Simply the best restaurant on Rocky Neck. Pricey, but worth it. Outstanding entrees and service!“

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

“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.“

“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!!!“

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

“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.“

“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 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..“

“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!“

“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?“

“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.“

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

“Delicious food Nice atmosphere Friendly people Worth the trip“

“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!🍂☺️“

“Very attentive staff! Good music.“

“First time here we’ll be back!“

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

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

“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 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 am a long time customer (1975) Nick's is absolutely the best there is! Once when I had a broken leg, Nick helped me (and my sandwiches etc.)out to my car. Not only great roast beef but compassionate!😍“

“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!“

“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.“

“It was awsome, yummy and all of you very friendly - you are Great. Mans ist warm regards for Jacky from the two germans . Good Luck Kerstin“

“The most delicious pancakes ever great service too“