Updated April 2024 fried clams not same as previous owners, heavy batter and just not cooked same.3023 Best Fried Clams are right here @ J.T. Farnhams !
Bryan Dusza
Very good! Will definitely go back. When you think of fresh seafood, you think of a place like this where the locals go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Justin Cohen
Had an awesome time celebrating my birthday there last night. They were very accommodating for our large party and were extremely nice and attentive. Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Platter, Fried Haddock, Famous Fried Clams
nick mccarthy
“Closed until March 1, 2024” - Sitting in parking lot, wishing they were open - love the scallop chowder. At least we got to enjoy the marsh views. See u in March….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tomas Sanchez
Excellent ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams, Haddock, Chowder
Teresa Frederick
Excellent seafood! The fishcakes are the best!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Ward Davis
Having grown up on Cape Ann, we have eaten at every seafood restaurant around. Farnham's is quintessential Cape Ann New England Seafood. It is our fav in the area. So fresh, perfect clams every time, yummy milky style chowder amazing french fries and rings..and by the way the best hand made veggie burger hands down. They always have something affordable on the menu like fish and chips etc. Oh and amazing fish and blackened chicken tacos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roman Jurkovic
Been here couple of times already. There is a small parking lot so it can be tricky to park during season. Check opening hours as they do not match. I rather called if they are open during weekends now in December. Lobster roll is very tasty. We love buttered version. It was around $30 with fries - normal price. I was disappointed by the chowder. It was a watery soup and not a creamy chowder (see photo). You can pay CASH ONLY so be prepared as sea food is pricey. Nice place to take your out of city/state/country family after/during a day trip on Cape Ann.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Mihir Wagle
This is my absolute favorite place for New England style fried seafood. I get the fried whole bellied clams and the fried scallops every time and try other things on a whim. Really good stuff. The only thing I have against it is the early closing at 7PM. Gets a bit hard to get there if work runs over.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams
Gabriella
Was excited to go here for its great reputation, but was thoroughly disappointed. The breading on all the seafood was soggy, thin, and flavorless, and the food just tasted bad. Also, takeout service is super slow and takes double what they say. There’s much better fried seafood on Cape Ann- would not recommend.
Service was great I opted for a lobster roll it was delicious. My son got chicken strips and said they were good. Prices are a little high but worth the
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gordon W.
Maybe it was an off day ? but we had just had the same two items: fried clams and fried scallops on the Cape and these fried clams at Farnham's were not as sweet and tender and the scallops were smaller and watery compared to the ones we had at the Whaleback Restaurant in Bourne. The scenery at JT Farnham's is pretty nice - of the Marsh. But I'll continue looking elsewhere for fried clams in the Ipswich area. ( have tried the Clam Box but not Woodman's ) Liked the fried clams at the Clam Box but not the sides.
BostonJandP
Hadn't been here on almost 40 years. Avoided since back then they only served clam strips, not fried clams with Belly's. Back then it was only take out. That has changed with all sorts of fried clams, fried fish bits and other entries. Prices are reasonable. Order at a counter and then sit in at a table or on a warm day at the picnic tables outside. Not fine dining, but a good place for a delicious fish meal
Mark Pagliarulo
Every North Shore denizen must declare allegiance to a clam shack, a roast beef joint and a place for steak tips. When it comes to seafood I am ride-or-die for Farnham's. I recently relocated to NC, and had to come back to Boston for a family matter. No sooner did I get in the rental than I hauled my butt up to Essex to the One True Clam Shack, and as ever, it did not disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams, Fried Clams with Bellies, Clam, Fried Clams Plate, Fisherman
Drew H.
I went the the other day and ordered "World Famous" fish chowder. It was $14, which is fine if it's good and fresh however this most certainly was not. The woman behind the counter went over to the cooler with drinks and pulled out a half full to go container of the world famous fish chowder and microwaved it for a minute or two. After looking at it a while deciding and she shouldn't serve me a half bowl she went back to the kitchen for a minute. She then came out, opened the other soup/containers trying to decide which one she should add on top of the half full leftover container she would be serving me. I can only assume there was no fresh fish chowder or else I should have been served a full bowl of that and not leftovers. Whatever soup she pulled from she then mixed into the bowl and sent me on my way. It was watery and just flat out not good. A little transparency could have fixed everything. I would have gladly ordered something else if I was just told they only had half a bowl and it was cold in the drink cooler. Nice views though.
Updated April 2024 fried clams not same as previous owners, heavy batter and just not cooked same.3023 Best Fried Clams are right here @ J.T. Farnhams !
Very good! Will definitely go back. When you think of fresh seafood, you think of a place like this where the locals go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had an awesome time celebrating my birthday there last night. They were very accommodating for our large party and were extremely nice and attentive. Will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Platter, Fried Haddock, Famous Fried Clams
“Closed until March 1, 2024” - Sitting in parking lot, wishing they were open - love the scallop chowder. At least we got to enjoy the marsh views. See u in March….
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams, Haddock, Chowder
Excellent seafood! The fishcakes are the best!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Having grown up on Cape Ann, we have eaten at every seafood restaurant around. Farnham's is quintessential Cape Ann New England Seafood. It is our fav in the area. So fresh, perfect clams every time, yummy milky style chowder amazing french fries and rings..and by the way the best hand made veggie burger hands down. They always have something affordable on the menu like fish and chips etc. Oh and amazing fish and blackened chicken tacos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been here couple of times already. There is a small parking lot so it can be tricky to park during season. Check opening hours as they do not match. I rather called if they are open during weekends now in December. Lobster roll is very tasty. We love buttered version. It was around $30 with fries - normal price. I was disappointed by the chowder. It was a watery soup and not a creamy chowder (see photo). You can pay CASH ONLY so be prepared as sea food is pricey. Nice place to take your out of city/state/country family after/during a day trip on Cape Ann.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
This is my absolute favorite place for New England style fried seafood. I get the fried whole bellied clams and the fried scallops every time and try other things on a whim. Really good stuff. The only thing I have against it is the early closing at 7PM. Gets a bit hard to get there if work runs over.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams
Was excited to go here for its great reputation, but was thoroughly disappointed. The breading on all the seafood was soggy, thin, and flavorless, and the food just tasted bad. Also, takeout service is super slow and takes double what they say. There’s much better fried seafood on Cape Ann- would not recommend.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Service was great I opted for a lobster roll it was delicious. My son got chicken strips and said they were good. Prices are a little high but worth the
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maybe it was an off day ? but we had just had the same two items: fried clams and fried scallops on the Cape and these fried clams at Farnham's were not as sweet and tender and the scallops were smaller and watery compared to the ones we had at the Whaleback Restaurant in Bourne. The scenery at JT Farnham's is pretty nice - of the Marsh. But I'll continue looking elsewhere for fried clams in the Ipswich area. ( have tried the Clam Box but not Woodman's ) Liked the fried clams at the Clam Box but not the sides.
Hadn't been here on almost 40 years. Avoided since back then they only served clam strips, not fried clams with Belly's. Back then it was only take out. That has changed with all sorts of fried clams, fried fish bits and other entries. Prices are reasonable. Order at a counter and then sit in at a table or on a warm day at the picnic tables outside. Not fine dining, but a good place for a delicious fish meal
Every North Shore denizen must declare allegiance to a clam shack, a roast beef joint and a place for steak tips. When it comes to seafood I am ride-or-die for Farnham's. I recently relocated to NC, and had to come back to Boston for a family matter. No sooner did I get in the rental than I hauled my butt up to Essex to the One True Clam Shack, and as ever, it did not disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fried Clams, Fried Clams with Bellies, Clam, Fried Clams Plate, Fisherman
I went the the other day and ordered "World Famous" fish chowder. It was $14, which is fine if it's good and fresh however this most certainly was not. The woman behind the counter went over to the cooler with drinks and pulled out a half full to go container of the world famous fish chowder and microwaved it for a minute or two. After looking at it a while deciding and she shouldn't serve me a half bowl she went back to the kitchen for a minute. She then came out, opened the other soup/containers trying to decide which one she should add on top of the half full leftover container she would be serving me. I can only assume there was no fresh fish chowder or else I should have been served a full bowl of that and not leftovers. Whatever soup she pulled from she then mixed into the bowl and sent me on my way. It was watery and just flat out not good. A little transparency could have fixed everything. I would have gladly ordered something else if I was just told they only had half a bowl and it was cold in the drink cooler. Nice views though.