Went here for our anniversary because we had eaten here a few nights before we got married 41 years ago. One of the worst dining experiences we have had. We sent back the backed oysters-were burnt! We got replacements that were good but didn’t understand how they could bring the burnt ones to the table. My husband ordered the $65 prime rib medium rare and twice they brought a well done piece. Heard them tell other customers after he sent the 2nd one back they only had well done. My sole was very thinly sliced and fried, not sautéed as described on the menu. Needless to say, we didn’t stay for dessert. The manager came over to see the 2nd piece of prime rib and didn’t disagree that it was well done, but no comp on a glass of wine or anything to compensate for our unpleasant experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
David Hepworth
Hawthorne by the Sea is one of the most delightful restaurants on the North Shore! It is very formal! Maitre D’s in black tie, waterfront dining, free freshly made warm popovers and delicious pickled mushrooms! My brother and I had spectacular steamers and steamed lobster 🦞! The service is impeccable! This is a restaurant that is a part of a storied group serving amazing meals for almost a century! Parking is easy! Nice big lot! Loved our meal! Cannot wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Lucia Bermudez
We had a mother’s day reservation. We walked in with our infant in her stroller and they wouldn’t sit us down with our stroller unless we took the sit out. Not a friendly place and they will not accommodate families. Stick to Salem or Marblehead for welcoming establishments.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Stephanie DeRosa
We ate there on Sunday night, May 5, 2024 As usual we were warmly greeted by George the most gracious host, who patiently escorted us to our lovely table next to the window overlooking the ocean. We started with our drinks which consisted of hot tea, a Bombay martini and wine. Next came the fabulous fresh hot popovers served with oversized pads of real butter. We next enjoyed the most succulent shrimp cocktail, which was 4 very large shrimp along with delicious cocktail sauce, and also a General Glover salad. Our entrees, which everyone enjoyed immensely, were baked stuffed shrimp, a club sirloin, broiled scallops, and broiled haddock. For dessert we all shared the oversized picture perfect baked Alaska, which was cut into 4 ample portions. All of us were truly happy with our entire experience, and, in fact, I am dining there again tonight, Weds, May 8, 2024, with 3 other friends. We are all really looking forward to it
Parking: The free parking lot is massive.
Wheelchair accessibility: I use a cane myself but have been there with someone who uses a wheelchair, and she found the entire place to be wheelchair friendly, including the ladies room.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak, Popover
Brian Hohmann
I used to go to Anthony's Pier 4 in Boston, when Anthony Athanas was there, the food, service, and ambience was truly world class. I feel that Hathorne -by-the -Sea is at the same level. The service was top notch, very attentive. They had all of my favorites, glover salad, popovers, filet, baked Alaskan, etc, and the view is stunning. Plus, plenty of parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Petit Filet Mignon, Popover, Caesar Salad
Spiro
This place went down hill.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Linda Donahue
Haven’t been to the Hawthorne by the Sea in years. Went in for a light lunch and cocktails with a friend. I had a shrimp cocktail, my friend got the baked clams a la Anthony we both got the yummy Glover salad, of course popovers and marinated mushrooms it was all delicious. We also had delicious expresso martinis. Recommend going I think they may be closing which is sad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Popover, Caesar Salad
j C
Old school freaking love it
Sue Hein
One of the best restaurants on the north shore! We have all our family gathering here! And the popovers!! Nom
Hawthorne By The Sea is a holdover from another era, and in spite of stories of its imminent demise, it seems to endure. Our food was good, if not especially inventive. The setting is quite nice, and service was good.
Susan Lyle
We love the food, service and atmosphere.
Christina Vo
If I could give it 0 stars I would. The Caucasian older bartender refused to service me, even upon showing my ID.I am over 21, yet he was “uncomfortable” servicing me because he feared of “losing his job”. He didn’t approve of my ID and addressed that he will not look at any other forms of ID and refused to service us.I even tried opting out for even just a ginger ale to allow my friend to enjoy the bar, however he decided to service neither of us.The other bartender also refused to service us as well mentioning that “if we started with that bartender, then we should end with that bartender” which I found was rude. If the drinking rules and ID verification are that strict to lose a job, then I’d suggest getting an ID scanner/recognizer. I was willing to show more than one form of identification, but I feel as though the bartender was just racist and didn’t want to serve a person of color. I will take my business elsewhere.
MegsOnMain Street
Loved the view of water & seeing Boston in the distance!! Very charming place that you can feel the golden days that existed here many, many years ago… the service was good, the food was ok. The popovers were fun to get despite being a tad too eggy. We’d wanted the crab cakes & they didn’t have them- something ab they’d not found “quality” crab meat & so salmon was ordered in its place. Our steak was ok- nothing too special. The Clam Chowder wasn’t the best- chewy & fishy. The lobster was a bit chewy & fishy as well. The swordfish was delicious!! The presentation was top-notch. I think this place may be hit or miss, very cool vibe- almost feel you’ve entered into another era (very cool!). Lots of potential here. And really neat fact- Jennifer Lawrence filmed American Hustle here :)
Wayne P
We love this place! The last bastion of the Athanas family restaurants with the full menu from Anthony’s Pier 4, the top restaurant in America for 20 years in the 1980s-90s. The food is simply terrific! Baked Clams Anthony, Glover Salad (like Caeser, but better!), and Baked Stuffed Shrimp are absolutely delicious. Traditional atmosphere without the kitsch; subtle white seaside, yet still upscale. Wonderful staff. George, the Maitre D is there to welcome you.
Went here for our anniversary because we had eaten here a few nights before we got married 41 years ago. One of the worst dining experiences we have had. We sent back the backed oysters-were burnt! We got replacements that were good but didn’t understand how they could bring the burnt ones to the table. My husband ordered the $65 prime rib medium rare and twice they brought a well done piece. Heard them tell other customers after he sent the 2nd one back they only had well done. My sole was very thinly sliced and fried, not sautéed as described on the menu. Needless to say, we didn’t stay for dessert. The manager came over to see the 2nd piece of prime rib and didn’t disagree that it was well done, but no comp on a glass of wine or anything to compensate for our unpleasant experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Hawthorne by the Sea is one of the most delightful restaurants on the North Shore! It is very formal! Maitre D’s in black tie, waterfront dining, free freshly made warm popovers and delicious pickled mushrooms! My brother and I had spectacular steamers and steamed lobster 🦞! The service is impeccable! This is a restaurant that is a part of a storied group serving amazing meals for almost a century! Parking is easy! Nice big lot! Loved our meal! Cannot wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a mother’s day reservation. We walked in with our infant in her stroller and they wouldn’t sit us down with our stroller unless we took the sit out. Not a friendly place and they will not accommodate families. Stick to Salem or Marblehead for welcoming establishments.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
We ate there on Sunday night, May 5, 2024 As usual we were warmly greeted by George the most gracious host, who patiently escorted us to our lovely table next to the window overlooking the ocean. We started with our drinks which consisted of hot tea, a Bombay martini and wine. Next came the fabulous fresh hot popovers served with oversized pads of real butter. We next enjoyed the most succulent shrimp cocktail, which was 4 very large shrimp along with delicious cocktail sauce, and also a General Glover salad. Our entrees, which everyone enjoyed immensely, were baked stuffed shrimp, a club sirloin, broiled scallops, and broiled haddock. For dessert we all shared the oversized picture perfect baked Alaska, which was cut into 4 ample portions. All of us were truly happy with our entire experience, and, in fact, I am dining there again tonight, Weds, May 8, 2024, with 3 other friends. We are all really looking forward to it
Parking: The free parking lot is massive.
Wheelchair accessibility: I use a cane myself but have been there with someone who uses a wheelchair, and she found the entire place to be wheelchair friendly, including the ladies room.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak, Popover
I used to go to Anthony's Pier 4 in Boston, when Anthony Athanas was there, the food, service, and ambience was truly world class. I feel that Hathorne -by-the -Sea is at the same level. The service was top notch, very attentive. They had all of my favorites, glover salad, popovers, filet, baked Alaskan, etc, and the view is stunning. Plus, plenty of parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Petit Filet Mignon, Popover, Caesar Salad
This place went down hill.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Haven’t been to the Hawthorne by the Sea in years. Went in for a light lunch and cocktails with a friend. I had a shrimp cocktail, my friend got the baked clams a la Anthony we both got the yummy Glover salad, of course popovers and marinated mushrooms it was all delicious. We also had delicious expresso martinis. Recommend going I think they may be closing which is sad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Popover, Caesar Salad
Old school freaking love it
One of the best restaurants on the north shore! We have all our family gathering here! And the popovers!! Nom
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Roll, Popover
Very nice..
Restaurantji Recommends
Hawthorne By The Sea is a holdover from another era, and in spite of stories of its imminent demise, it seems to endure. Our food was good, if not especially inventive. The setting is quite nice, and service was good.
We love the food, service and atmosphere.
If I could give it 0 stars I would. The Caucasian older bartender refused to service me, even upon showing my ID.I am over 21, yet he was “uncomfortable” servicing me because he feared of “losing his job”. He didn’t approve of my ID and addressed that he will not look at any other forms of ID and refused to service us.I even tried opting out for even just a ginger ale to allow my friend to enjoy the bar, however he decided to service neither of us.The other bartender also refused to service us as well mentioning that “if we started with that bartender, then we should end with that bartender” which I found was rude. If the drinking rules and ID verification are that strict to lose a job, then I’d suggest getting an ID scanner/recognizer. I was willing to show more than one form of identification, but I feel as though the bartender was just racist and didn’t want to serve a person of color. I will take my business elsewhere.
Loved the view of water & seeing Boston in the distance!! Very charming place that you can feel the golden days that existed here many, many years ago… the service was good, the food was ok. The popovers were fun to get despite being a tad too eggy. We’d wanted the crab cakes & they didn’t have them- something ab they’d not found “quality” crab meat & so salmon was ordered in its place. Our steak was ok- nothing too special. The Clam Chowder wasn’t the best- chewy & fishy. The lobster was a bit chewy & fishy as well. The swordfish was delicious!! The presentation was top-notch. I think this place may be hit or miss, very cool vibe- almost feel you’ve entered into another era (very cool!). Lots of potential here. And really neat fact- Jennifer Lawrence filmed American Hustle here :)
We love this place! The last bastion of the Athanas family restaurants with the full menu from Anthony’s Pier 4, the top restaurant in America for 20 years in the 1980s-90s. The food is simply terrific! Baked Clams Anthony, Glover Salad (like Caeser, but better!), and Baked Stuffed Shrimp are absolutely delicious. Traditional atmosphere without the kitsch; subtle white seaside, yet still upscale. Wonderful staff. George, the Maitre D is there to welcome you.
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