Blue Marlin Grill in Essex

Best place for haddock, steamers, fried clams, for locals

This place is usually excellent. Today my wife's steak tips as well as mine were way overcooked. We asked for medium rare. Unfortunately they were past well-done. They were kind enough to remove one plate cost from the bill. Fair enough I guess. Ten minutes later after we pay, I realized they overcharged on another dinner. Bummer. Additionally, the service was very slow (but polite) considering the place was nearly empty, and some of our silverware was dirty (dried food stuck to fork prongs). Overall it was pretty dissapointing. I think we'll search for a new favorite spot.

Made a reservation for 9 people, but only 7 could make it. They didn't honor our reservation and put on the waiting list which was an hour long. They didn't inform me of this policy when the reservation was made. I'll never go there again, and neither will the group of people who were with me. Plenty of good restaurants in the area.

The plates are really good, the food was very fresh, and the people are very friendly. Service was great.

Great food as always usually I go after the seafood but for a change I was told to try the kona steak. It was awesome cook just the way I wanted it. Again no matter what you order there it's is some of the best food around. I am a Ipswich resident.

Drinks are great! Food is beyond great. Atmosphere is exceptional and the staff is fantastic. Highly recommend. Has the vibe of a local watering hole and you can understand why people come back!

The Kona Steak was beyond amazing and so was the staff!

Food,service from staff very good . would recomnend and will return myself

Always great food. Megan is a fantastic server.

The Blue Marlin is where the locals go. I've been coming to the Gloucester/Rockport area for 15 years and I've never been disappointed in this place. This is the place to go if you are only in town for the weekend.

Food is good, service is average and manager is abrupt. Call ahead is no benefit and waste of time. Called ahead @7pm. Arrived @ 730pm. Seated at table @830pm. Person in front of me who arrived at 730pm too didn’t call ahead told wait time 45 mins and was seated at table around 820pm. Seems like if you call ahead you no bargain. Tried explaining to manager that call ahead Isn’t worth it and he said she was in front of you what are you missing.

Great food and service. You will never be happier

Another year and as always, consistently exceeding my expectations. This has turned into somewhat of a ritual of mine. Whenever I travel to the North Shore of Massachusetts, I go out of my way to eat at the Blue Marlin restaurant. On Route 133 in Essex. There you will find my favorite restaurant. I never deviate from my order year after year. Blackened swordfish, butternut squash and rice pilaf. The Matchstick vegetables automatically come with it. The menu is quite diverse but that's what I get. I already own a yellow t-shirt with their logo on it. Last week I tried to buy two more T-shirts, one in red and one in White. Unfortunately they ran out of my size in white and I could only buy the red one. Oh well, next year I'll make sure to pick one up.Don't think I need to say anymore. Just go.

Went for dinner last night for the first time. The place was packed but the wait was not as bad as we thought. Our server was excellent and so was the food! It was also nice to see the Manager helping out, checking on tables, being active! I would definitely go back! 🙂

really fresh fish, and the chowder is fantastic. We sat at the bar, because of the dinner time rush, but the service was just as good as if we had been at a table. Plus, it was much more interesting to watch the bartender work!

Amazing absolutely amazing! Staff, cook everyone was super, the food was excellent I had the lobster roll cold coleslaw and fries my husband had chowder and broiled shrimp. Best meal we had in Boston all week. Wish King George Virginia Wasn't So Far Away makes take out a little hard🤔😢

I absolutely like their dishes and customer service, excellent area nearby to my house. The staff members are always very kind. Will visit here again.

I love this place, I always get great food at a great price and the staff is always friendly.

Food was good, didn't have all draft beers listed. Needed to change out the CO2 tanks beer was a bit flat. Nice atmosphere though. I would generally recommend.

Food was really good, except for a few way too overcooked shrimp. (Most of the shrimp were perfect mind you). Lobster was excellent. I didn't like their blue Havana drink, kind of tasted like aftershave.. But the waitress let me switch it out for a drink remanescente of a mudslide, which was much better. Service was great. So in effect, only a few hiccups.

We could not even finish our food. It was not very good and extremely salty. The clam chowder was bad. I don't know how, when you are on the coast in New England, how you can be terrible at clam chowder. This place is a seafood restaurant. On the East Coast. In New England. How do you manage to have so many things going for you, but still mess up clam chowder? I really don't understand. If you are in this general area I would recommend going to Anywhere else.

Great Atmosphere...Bartender was very helpful with the questions about the menu...Great pour on the wine..and my entree was Delicious..Filet was cooked perfect..it was my first time there and I'll definitely be back..

Reservations recommended! Food pretty good. Service was a bit slow. Loud and noisy in the place but it is lively, if you like that kind of atmosphere. Plenty of parking but busy lot.

Lunch blackened chicken wrap. Delicious. They never ever let me down. And my mom had a fried platter that would easily have fed 2. You just can't go wrong here!

I hate seafood... Yet still find this to be a great restaurant. All of their burgers and sandwiches are great options if you're a land lover like me, though I did the grilled combo tonight and was very happy with it.I can't always drink the way I like, so usually settle for a beer... but I have fond memories of their mixed drink specials from the bar as well. It's the only place I've ordered 5ex With a Crocodile without a lot of questions 😂

Excellent food. Excellent prices. Excellent service.

From the first moment you come to this restaurant the waiters give you a comfortable feeling. Very warm crew, it is a friendly restaurant to to go out with friends or with your date. enjoyable cooking, creative chief cook and stuff, reasonable price and courteous service. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed the food very much. We are visiting from Florida and a local recommended that we eat here.

Excellent food. Had the fisherman's platter and the wife had fillet mignon and bothered were delicious. We'll be back :)

Awesome food and service!

Nice chowda and drinks. Great Blackened Swordfish over Greek Salad. Grapenut Custard Pudding brings back thoughts of Hilltop!!!

Great local ambience! Service is excellent, the food is hot and delicious! My martini was enormous! A townie place, to be sure, but still very welcoming!

Great service, well made cocktails. We all had something different, steak tips, halibut, pasta, clams, haddock. All made perfectly, my fried seafood was the best anywhere.

Food is great. Prices very reasonable. Staff is awesome.

Great food and great atmosphere, very nice people. Can't wait to go back!!

Waitresses were great, friendly...shrimp cocktail was crazy good, oysters on half shell awesome and ice cold. Food is incredibly good. Will go back for sure !

Love it my favorite restaurant never got a bad meal out of this place people of Wonderful😍

Excellent as always. Seafood platter enough for 2 meals

We love hanging out. Last night we arrived in this magnificent restaurant which friends told us about. We enjoyed a beautiful time there with excellent meal and a professional team and a distinguished cook. We put this place in our list and we shall certainly come back soon. We highly recommend.

Always a great meal. Excellent fresh seafood and awesome drinks and desserts.

Food was fine, not great. Atmosphere was very casual.

This famous seaside restaurant lives up to its reputation.

The food was delicious and plentiful...service was great also!

This place obviously knows how to satisfy their customers. Consistently with a nice demeanor. The food is affordably priced, always tasty and clean.

I always stop grabbing some food in this place. I enjoy the swift customer service and well prepared food. Great work.

Alway consistent, great portions abd great price!! Service is always very good. Go and see for yourself, you wont regret it.

Great food and drinks. We had appetizers and Thursday 'meatloaf' special. All of it was so good! The waitress was fantastic, attentive and friendly. Always a favorite place for us!

First time there. Worth the 20 minute wait, sat down at 2pm. The service was outstanding and the food delicious. No room for dessert! There were 3 of us. 2 Baked Seafood combo with choice of two sides. I got Portuguese Stew Bouillabaisse that had plenty of seafood and linguicia in it. Seafood combo had haddock, scallops and shrimp. Bread was a round loaf nice and warm when it came to the table with whipped butter. I would definitely go back. Ride to Essex, MA on a sunny winter day was nice.

Excellent food. Can't wait to go back!

This place was excellent for lunch and great value for money, also the staff were very helpful and friendly..