Barnacle Restaurant Inc

"Maybe they just don't like "outsiders", but I truly have nothing positive to say. Service without a smile was neglectful, with mistakes. Chowder was flavorless unless you like milk soup. Stuffed shrimp was also flavorless, not stuffed, just sitting in a pile of odd tasting breadcrumbs. And their pride & joy, lobsters from their own boat? Over-boiled, not steamed as indicated. It had very visible black holes on the tail & claws, which tainted the meat. The excuse was that you can't tell if they're gonna be good; but you can, if there are visible hints. No pride in serving it whatsoever. When I showed her, she offered lobster meat so I didn't have to wait for another to be cooked. Great solution, except it was ice cold. If I wanted cold lobster, I would not have ordered a steamed fresh one. Horrible waste of money."

"I very rarely rate restaurants less than 5 stars but I just couldn’t do more than 3 for the Barnacle. A friend and I ate there about a week ago. We were told it would be a 20-30 min wait and to stand in the bar area or outside and they would come get us. After 40 min I went back inside and they had struck our name off the list. They said they yelled twice (down the hallway) but they were too busy to step outside (despite their instructions). They corrected the issue by getting us a table immediately, thankfully. I ordered clam chowder and a lobster roll. The chowder wasn’t super hot but was tasty. The lobster roll was just….not good. I should have listened to some other negative reviewers. I’d ate 7 lobster rolls in a weeks period traveling through Maine by that point and this one was by far the worst. They don’t mix the mayo and lobster here like every other restaurant. The mayo blob was just too much. I wish I had asked for a bowl to mix the ingredients myself honestly. The atmosphere was lovely. I think I would have had a better experience with another dish and on a less hectic day."

"The restaurant is situated in a charming neighborhood by the ocean. We opted for a window-side table, and while it was small, the breathtaking ocean view more than made up for it. I ordered the baked stuffed lobster, and the portion was truly enormous. I found myself in a food coma after the meal, but it was incredibly satisfying. Every ingredient was fresh, and the service had that warm New England family restaurant vibe. I would definitely recommend it."

"The location is absolutely perfect. Really cozy outdoor seating with a fantastic view. The food was great and served by a very friendly waitress. Wanted whole lobster but they sold out the day before so we had grilled and fried scallops along with lobster roll. They were all very good, especially the scallops."

"Fantastic views of Marblehead lighthouse and harbor. Great lobster salad and fries. The fried scallops were delicious too. Friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff too. Parking was tough, I agree with the other reviewers."