The Fish Shack Restaurant
21 Dock Sq, Rockport, MA, 01966
The Fish Shack Restaurant Menu
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Address :
21 Dock Sq
Rockport, MA, 01966 - Phone (978) 546-6667
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Vivian C.
Lobster's cheap these days - you can get it at a supermarket for $5.99/lb (sometimes for even less!), so it was nice to see it here, at a sit-down restaurant, for $12.95 for a single boiled lobster with a choice of side (fries, coleslaw, potato salad). For an extra $12 apiece, you can get twins, or triplets! Since someone had earlier in the day planted the thought of luscious lobster dipped in melted butter in our head, that's what we ordered. That's all we ordered! Our waitress was friendly. The place vastly decorated with lobsters and other fun sea-themed things. The water view out back was great! My lobster was likely a chicken lobster - it looked rather small on my plate. But I was plenty full after taking it apart for every bit of meat I could find and after having polished off my fries. Oh, the fries - they were McDonald's in appearance, and lightly crispy, but I did have to add just a touch of salt.
(4)Jay B.
What's not to love here? The dining room looks out to the ocean, the people who work here are amazing, and the food is fresh and from Roy Moore. The real deal here is the 1.5 lobster and fries. Perfect for lunch and one of our stops every time.
(4)Lisa S.
Delicious lobster at a good price
(4)Adam L.
that was the best coconut fried shrimp ever. our waitress was nice. great view. my friend had lobster for the first time and loved it
(5)Cheryl N.
Beautiful day, great seat by the windows. Started off with the Clam chowder, creamy and yummy! Fried Scallops were sweet and delicious, and the Haddock Sandwich was perfect! Definitely would recommend and would go back for sure!
(4)Craig Z.
Dingy restaurant; lackluster food; not great service. I am sure the lobster is great and a good value. I had stuffed clams, fish cakes, and a lobster roll, none of which were very good. Just get the lobster.
(2)A. D.
This place is excellent! Here are the details... a) we ordered clam chowder, which was light and not too creamy. b) we also had fried haddock, fried calamari and fries. Both calamari and haddock were very fresh, as if just caught. c) And here's the part that I loved the most about this place -- everything was only _lightly_ fried, and only _lightly_battered. This allows you to really taste the fish and the seafood, rather than stuff yourself on overcooked batter. Most other places overcook the ingredients, and bury it in tons of batter. Even the fries were lightly fried, making the dinner overall quite light! c) very quaint, comfortable place. Excellent view into the Rockport harbour. I would definitely come back.
(5)Ani C.
I have always enjoyed my meals here. The best part is getting a table right by the window and looking at the ocean. I enjoy the atmosphere more than the food but still delicious. This place also has pretty reasonable prices for their fish.
(4)Jay D.
A no-frills assembly-line of lobster rolls to the tables. If you're lucky enough to get a window-side table it will add a bit of atmosphere. We had a lobster roll and lobster salad. Both were an adequate amount of meat and before we knew it, we were back out onto the sweltering sidewalk.
(3)Ross D.
We shared a couple of appetizers and had a round of drinks here tonight. The view is nice. The decor is not great, so keep your eyes focused on the view instead. Our server was very friendly and did a nice job. Fried clam appetizer - These were strips and bellies. We thought they were good. Not the best ever, but good. Mussels appetizer - A nice bowl of mussels in a tomato and garlic sauce. Tasty, and a good number of mussels. Sauce was good for dunking. Extra points for the hot, fresh bread. I'd give this place another chance.
(3)Lucy P.
My husband and I ate here on our first night in Rockport. To be honest, we thought we were eating at Roy Moore's, because the sign here says Roy Moore's Fish Shack. Not sure I understand, but I think Fish Shack gets its fish from Roy Moore's? Thought I overheard that. Roy Moore's is actually down further on Bearskin Neck. We sat near the back windows, so we could have a close view of the harbor. We were immediately told not to open the shades. The shades provide some visibility if you're standing back or moving, but no view if you're sitting too close to them. I discovered that I could see through them if I moved my head back and forth.. yeah fun. NOT. When we complained to the waitress, she said the manager did not want the shades open because it gets hot in the dining room. This was a time of day when the sun was not hitting the windows, so I'm not sure how the room would get hot. I guess you can't believe what it says on the menu... "Enjoy our beautiful harbor view." We didn't, unless our heads were moving. One little secret is that if you don't want the shades, there's a tiny room off to the right where you might be able to snag a table. I didn't see any shades in there. If you can't get in there, sit a bit away from the windows so you can see through the shades. The food was good and the prices were very reasonable. My husband had a lobster, and I had lazy lobster. Yum. Would have been nice if a baked potato was offered, but only rice, fries and potato salad.
(3)Jakob P.
My girlfriend and I ate here our first night in Rockport. We had checked out the menu earlier in the day and went back later for dinner. No wait, got a table in the middle of the restaurant. Ordered our drinks. I was disappointed they were out of the fisherman's brew. All the tables by the window were filled, but we were able to grab seat in the middle. I had lobster here for the very first time and it was so rich and delicious. It was a great first lobster experience. They were preparing for a wedding reception dinner that arrived shortly after we did. Once they arrived the service and attention dropped off. It was touristy and after spending several days in Rockport I found many more restaurants where I felt more welcome and not sucked into a tourist trap.
(3)Amanda K.
I greatly prefer eating at the real Roy Moore fish shack rather than this restaurant, which is called the Fish Shack. The prices here are about double for the same food you'd get at the shack. But you gotta pay for indoor seating and waitress service. I got the twin boiled lobsters to share, and steamed mussels to start. The lobsters were good, I didn't even need any butter or lemon, but they were small -- barely 1 pounders. I got a female chockful of roe, that was awesome. The mussels were fantastic, the broth was tomato garlicky goodness that I couldn't stop dipping my bread into. Only complaint: Need more bread! If I didn't know about the real shack and the prices there, I'd give this place a better review. But I just didn't think the decor and the service amounted to a 4-star restaurant.
(3)Connie L.
Below average and over-priced seafood restaurant. The seafood is fresh, but the preparation for the cooked dishes (other than steamed lobster) is a big fail for the money. We ordered bowls of clam chowder to start. Yes, the chowder was creamy, but is also had the faint taste of flour (ew!). It also included scant pieces of clams and potatoes. Basically: don't bother. We ordered the shrimp scampi and the provencal baked haddock: both were mediocre and expensive. The shrimp scampi included about a dozen overcooked small-ish shrimp tossed with lots of butter on boiled pasta. I had to pour salt over the dish 3-4 times for it to have any flavor at all. The baked haddock was fresh, but tasted strange with the "provencal" sauce and ritz cracker crumbs. At the end of the meal, we were left sorely disappointed, especially since we had heard such great things about Roy Moore and had paid about $60 for two people (plus tip). Service was friendly, though, and that was the only high point of the meal. I would rather drive a little bit more to Woodman's for great, cheap seafood...
(2)Yoon C.
Even with "Roy Moore" name attached to it, it's a mediocre, over-priced tourist trap that should be avoided. $18 for a lobster roll? Unless it comes on a solid gold souvenir serving plate, that's ridiculous. It's Roy Moore's $15 mediocre lobster roll with lousy fries. Lobster scampi over linguini was okay, but stingy on the lobster. Clam chowder is average in price and taste. Above with an appetizer and tip, my lunch came out to $64 for two. Really, you should avoid this place. Waits can be long and service is unremarkable.
(2)Eric H.
Great place to go after the beach with kids. Casual dining with great food.
(4)Picha M.
Good food. Can be pricey. Great for families. Very touristy, but thats what we came for!
(3)Jorge F.
What a great find! This is your typical no-frills, solid menu and friendly service haunt (Bonus- they have a full bar. NB! Not everywhere in Rockport serves alcohol, due to city ordinance) - definitely worthy of a day trip from Boston. The view is fantastic and the service was awesome. I had the grilled swordfish entree and tried the: NE clam chowder (loaded with goodies!), calamari, lobster roll and strawberry shortcake... ALL were delicious and tasted better with an ice cold brew! A split of surprisingly good Proseco is only $7!!! I would definitely recommend and will certainly be back.
(4)John J.
Great place. Very clean, nice, friendly, and the cheeseburger and mozzarella sticks are out of this freaking world. I would definitely recommend going there if you are in the Rockport area.
(5)wing n.
again, i come to rockport with my daughter and my wife as an annual visit : ) this is still the same old, good place for us to stop by for a yummy lunch. i think they actually changed the name to "Roy Moore's Fish Shack Restaurant" (i posted a photo of the front entrance). i actually wanted to go to roy moore's, but with a baby, we can't do any outdoor sitting and this is a perfect solution. again, we got the lucky fancy window seat. lovely view to enjoy the lunch. this time, instead of ordering the 2lb lobster, we shared the lobster roll. (less messy so we can handle our baby in no time). i will give the lobster roll... 4 stars out of 5 : ) the hot dog bun is well toasted and the lobster meat taste fresh but i wish the mayonnaise is more tasty. (they actually have that on the side). by the way, the fries are really well done : ) we also got the steam mussels and a fried clam. the mussels are fresh and tasty as usual, the fried clam is a bit too chewy. too bad. overall, this is still the must stop restaurant for us to go.
(4)Dave K.
This was our first meal on our honeymoon trip to New England after a rainy drive to Rockport. I had clam chowder and a lobster roll, while my wife just went for a straight up lobster. Everything was pretty great - nothing exceptional or fancy - just some fresh delicious seafood.
(4)R B.
Nice people, nice food No complaints
(4)Bethany B.
I can't wax poetic about my experience here so I'll give the deets: Clean restaurant w/ no wait on a Wed. afternoon in July Waitresses have "diner demeanor" ( kind of surly & for the prices -- shouldn't be, IMO) Clam chowder was hot(!), thick, creamy, full of clams -- excellent Mussles in tomato broth ( I chose it for my entree) was plentiful & was the perfect meal for me ( LOVED the loaf of fresh baked bread for broth soppin') 7 oz. portion of fried shrimp & fries was hot & filling ( nice that the oil was fresh since all we tasted was sweet shrimp w/ no fishy overtones) add in a glass of Pinot Grigio & a bottle of Corona = perfect Summer lunch for 2 in Rockport for under $45 ( w/ tip).
(3)Jen C.
I visited here over the summer for dinner. I was amazed and will be back the next time I'm in Rockport. First, the mussels I had as an appetizer were truly amazing. They had a creamy tomato and garlic broth that was one of the best broths I've ever had with shellfish like this. I could eat just the broth. I had the lobster dinner. You can get a good lobster dinner anywhere in the area, really. But the lobster really did taste fresh. And the price was beyond right. I've paid a lot more for lobster. A lot more. And the staff was great and flexible. I wanted changes with my meal and they were happy to make them. The only downfall is it gets crowded, so be prepared to wait for a table. We didn't wait long, but we did have to wait.
(4)Liv K.
I stopped in here for lunch during a beach day at Front Beach and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the garden salad with shrimp and wasn't expecting much, but there were at least 3 handfuls of plump jumbo shrimp on my salad! For under $8 I saw that as a steal. My husband liked his grilled chicken sandwich and fries. We had a nice view of the harbor and were able to dine in our casual beach cover ups.
(4)Meredith K.
It looks like a nondescript store front at the beginning of Bearskin Neck, but the reviews were decent and they have fresh lobster. The decor is - well there isn't any, but that's not really why you come here anyway. The view of Rockport from the windows is pretty and the lobster is good. They were running a special (maybe it's every day - I don't know), but a 2.5 lb lobster for $30. Sounded good to us (I've paid more than that for less lobster in Boston). Waitress was ok - but we had to ask for water (to me they should just bring that over - who doesn't want water!?) and when we finished our beers (bottles only - no draft) she just took away the bottles never asking if we wanted another round. Um hello!? So we had to ask her the next time she came back for another round - kind of odd to me - isn't that like the first thing a waitress is supposed to ask you when she picks up your empty bottle. Especially when your dinner hasn't even come yet and at this point we had NO water and NO beer! Anyway, mussels appetizer was delicious. And the lobsters were steamed perfectly with drawn butter as it should be. My two gripes? Only 1 cracker for the table - honestly they are like the shitty old school crackers, they can't be that expensive - there should be one per lobster. and while I'm on it my other gripe: get real lobster "forks" - they had these crappy little plastic ones that didn't work at all. We had to give up on them and resort to using our hands.
(3)Peter W.
Summer has started and it's time to hit Rockport to stroll the streets, lie on the beach, and fill up on lobster. I like to come to the Fish Shack for the twin lobsters (~$24) and a couple of coronas. I like the food (classic new england), the location (right before Bear's neck road), and the views (wonderful view of the water and structures). My only issue with this place (deducting a full star) is the service. As another reviewer pointed out, it can take quite a while before your server shows up and other wait staff ignore you. Maybe they are trying to be like the Durgin Park of Cape Ann.
(3)Michael S.
Well if you go to Rockport you go for shops and lobster. We got our fudge and taffy and went out to the rocks then it was time to eat. We go the twin lobster special which was priced right at $24 for 2X 1lbs lobsters and fries. When we sat down it took the server at least 10 minutes to even get to our table, so at that point we made a decision that if out server was one of the 3 other servers that walked past our table, looked at us and ignored us, or just wanted nothing to do with us we would walk out and go eat at one of the competing restaurants. Our server said a quick sorry and wanted to get us drink order and run away but we said we were ready to order and did. 1 bowl of clam chowder to share and the twin lobsters. The chowder was good but a little sandy at the bottom. The lobsters came quickly after the soup as it shouldn't take that long to cook. The lobsters were good but it is pretty hard to screw up boiling a lobster unless you over boil it. I prefer mine steamed but whatever. The food was good but the service sucked. Our kid (server) just needed more training in this industry.
(3)Tom K.
Roy Moore's Fish Shack is what you think an old New England seafood shack should be. It sits literally on the dock at the entrance to Bearskin Neck, serves fabulous food at a reasonable price, with a friendly staff. There are not a ton of restaurant choices in Rockport. In fact, when we arrived in town at 6:30 p.m. on a September Sunday evening, it was really the ONLY choice open (Place by the Sea took its last res at 6:45). But it was the place we wanted to go. I had a HUGE lobster with fries for $12.95. My wife had the baked lobster casserole, for around $18 (basically same as my lobster, but meat picked apart and baked with breadcrumbs). Both were absolutely perfect, as was the caesar salad (with white anchovies) we split. The atmosphere is old time nautical. The only distraction was the open spaced, brighly lit lobby as you entered. In the daytime, you also have great views of the bay. For our tastes, this is the best choice in town. If you want something higher end, Place by the Sea looks incredible at the very end of Bearskin Neck. But it was three times the price.
(4)Aboud Y.
Ok food in a fantastic setting. I must say its not my favorite and I doubt I'll return. Food was just not up to snuff and was overpriced.
(2)Kelly C.
Good deal! I walked in thinking this was the other Roy Moore shack, but the greeter quickly explained that they were owned by them. This worked for me, since it was POURING out and I wasn't really looking forward to sitting outside! We were seated right away, and our waitress was nice. We shared a cup of chowder (not bad!) and each had the boiled lobster and fries... Nice to see a place where you can get this for under $15!
(4)Lauren H.
I want to say upfront that I was at the Fish Shack on a Monday at about 5. Maybe it was shift change, maybe they were recovering from a crazy weekend. They got the second star for the chance that it was bad timing. Also, we only got lobster rolls, so I can't judge anything else. Walking into this place was like the twilight zone. Over half the space is empty but then there are all sorts of signs about how they deal with wait lists. Here's an idea- put in more tables. It is a sit down place that presents like a casual dining restaurant, serves booze, offers great views -albeit through a window- but acts like the shack in its name. Minimal service, cheap accessories and lots of plastic. It seems to be having an identity crisis. It was possibly the most disappointing lobster roll I have ever had. It was a hot dog roll with a giant lettuce leaf, a lump of lobster- and a side of mayo. I appreciate that people's taste vary, but if I am sitting down and paying for it, ask me. Don't make me do it myself. Plus I felt like that's it? No seasoning, no celery? Nothing? I know lobster purists may like it like that but then at least toast my roll! The fries were limp, the pickle was gross and the sauces came in plastic containers. Overall it was a waste of 45 minutes, 60 dollars and quite a few calories. When McDonald's did lobster, they did it better.
(2)Ms. Review S.
I had the baked haddock, it was covered in a buttery ritz cracker topping. It tasted great, but the portions are pretty small!
(3)Tricia V.
this place is not what i expected. it was over done with decorations to try and make it look ocean like. the view was nice. we started out with soup which was gross!! dont get the soup. the clam chowder had no flavor and rick got fish chowder. it was milk fish and onions. i cant believe he ate it. He got a fish sandwich which was large. I got the lobster BLT. which amazing to me was very good and big. the slaw was like something out of a can, not good either. We would not go back.
(2)D C.
Had the Fried Clams... they were good but not great, and a bit expensive. The service was okay, but not very friendly.
(3)Deb J.
Rockport's restaurant choices are pretty limited, especially in the off-season, but I can always find something I enjoy at The Fish Shack Restaurant. Their clam chowder is thick and full of chopped clams. Go for the bowl... it's just a dollar more than a cup and about twice the serving size. To accompany that I ordered the fried sole sandwich. As usual, there was so much fish that I just tossed the bun aside and focused on the fish. It came with a choice of slaw or fries... I had the fries, which were nicely seasoned and crispy, just the way I like them. Service was prompt and friendly. The restaurant always looks clean. This time of year they close early, about 7 p.m., so plan accordingly!
(4)Aimz P.
Lobster so great
(4)ashley a.
Nothing beats sitting on the small deck of the tiny Roy Moore Lobster Company but the Roy Moore Fish Shack is a good 2nd choice. The menu is larger and has some offerings for non-lobster fans. I enjoyed the lobster roll and liked how the mayonnaise came on the side so you could add the amount you desired. Service was friendly and the food came quickly. It is better than other sit-down restaurants that I've eaten at in Rockport on the pier.
(4)Steve B.
Friendly staff and the food was good, kinda down home style. We stayed in Rockport for a couple of days in October and found night life does not exist and it is hard to find restaurants open. And if you do they close early. Not all restaurants serve alcohol. Summer probably is different but we usually visit during October for scenery and Halloween in Salem. Rockport was an extra stop to see something different. But the Fish Shack gets a positive vote in my book.
(4)Robin G.
I got baked scallops and it was some of the best I've ever had. They also have a beautiful view and great service.
(5)Antoinette M.
Went here for lunch on 7/11, was not impressed. Had the corn chowder, which was watery and lacking of any flavor. Got the twin lobsters...how can you go wrong there..my friend had the steak(not a fish lover), and said it was good. Also had an "adult" ice coffee which was awesome. However the service was beyond terrible...as anyone who has ever eaten lobster knows you need a ton of napkins...I got ONE extra and could not get the attention of our waitress(who disappeared) or any other waitress to ask for more, our drinks were empty half way through our meals and we were never offered refills, the waitress never came over and asked how our meals were....and after sitting for15 minutes with our empty plates we finally flagged down a waitress to find OUR waitress...she came back with the bill saying OUR waitress was busy....we told her although not her fault we had not even seen our waitress after our food was delivered...she apologized. OUR waitress finally came over to get the payment for the meal....she NEVER apologized, although we are normally excellent tippers(20% or more) her tip reflected the very poor service..I doubt I will go back there!!!!!
(2)Caroli I.
My parents and I decided to go try this place out for lunch. We were highly disappointed. As others have mentioned, the food is mediocre and overpriced. My dad and I ordered the Fried Haddock - the fish and the fries were incredibly bland. My mom ordered the salmon with the two sides (they actually gave her a side she didn't order but the waitress pretty much ran away before she got to comment on that...) Our waitress never came by to check up on us and it was just an overall unpleasant experience. We definitely won't be coming here again. :(
(2)Michele G.
7th Wave ran out of lobster rolls, unfortunately, so we came here. Just meh. At least we got $10 off with an Entertainment Book coupon.
(2)Mary D.
i love this place. one of the beast restraunts in rockport
(5)Kim P.
Yummy lobster at typical lobster prices. Good service. Nice view of the water. If possible, sit in the lower section as its quieter.
(3)Alinna C.
If you're going to Rockport, the right thing to do is get yourself some lobster, because it's good stuff, and some liquor, because they are finally not a dry town. However, steamed lobster with drawn butter is on every menu and you should expect to pay up the wazoo. The Fish Shack is by no means an exception to this. Your options here are pretty much lobster, more lobster, chowder of some sort, and a fine assortment of fried everything. Oh, and hot dogs.. can't forget the hot dogs. My party of three went for the triple lobster with fries (a real, ahem, steal at 54.95 -- they actually print an apology for the price of their lobster!) with an assortment of chowder. The clam chowder was OK, but I've definitely had better; the fish chowder was mostly soupy/watery and completely unexpected (and I still haven't figured out if that's a good or bad thing). But what we were all waiting for was the lobster. And it was disappointing. Our lobsters came still dripping with water (and, I suspect, injected with it to make it the 1lb they claim them to be). Mine was so lacking in meat of any sort that I suspected that they had dressed a baby lobster in the discarded shell of a much larger mommy lobster. Seriously. The shell was so weak that I was able to break it by squishing it with my bare hands (and I do not have strong hands). The wimpiness of my lobster was borderline pitiful (though I suppose that may have been why it got caught). And so I ate it. All of it. And was left still hungry. The saving grace of the whole meal for me was that they make decent fries. And so I ate them. All of them. And I left unsatisfied. Probably won't be back.
(2)Mike D.
Stopped here because of the sign out front with great prices on Lobster. We ordered 3 steamed lobster and fries for $36.95 for lunch, how can you go wrong with those prices? The lobsters were great and we had a great view of the bay from out window seat! We also has some of their clam chowder, it was very good as well. Sure wish Rockport was much closer to AZ!
(5)Lesley D.
The fish shack has fairly decent food and cute decor, but from having a sibling who worked there for years and knowing some of the various pranks and other things that go on out back, I hesitate to eat there too often haha. Don't be scared, though, it really is a decent restaurant, and the seafood comes from the Roy Moore Lobster Co. up the street which is amazingly good. But I'd say if you want a lobster or a crab cake, go up there instead and eat 'in the rough'.
(3)Tracy S.
Really great seafood, the lobster was fresh and salty/sweet......the service was fast and friendly.
(4)David O.
What a great spot. There are plenty of tourist traps along the New England coast ready to give you a cashectomy for your seafood meal. The Fish Shack Restaurant is at an awesome location, at the foot of Bear Skin Neck. There are nice views of the ocean from the dining room. Lets put it simply. Started with some fried Ipswich clams as an appetizer. No sand, no grit, fried to perfection, sweet as sugar. Got a lobster dinner for $12.95. Yup a 1-1/4 pound lobster dinner with the goodies for $12.95. The fried haddock was outstanding, the fish was clearly fresh, and it was well prepared. Salad that came with the meal was fresh if not basic. Service was fine. Actually, my mouth is watering as I write this review. Seriously having a craving for the haddock goodness. Three of us got out of their for dinner for about $60! You can't go wrong!
(4)shannon r.
Lesley A is absolutely correct, the food here comes from Roy Moore Lobster Co, so if you don't mind paying a few extra dollars, you can have the pleasure of eating at a table (not that I don't like the rustic theme of Roy Moore), watching the tide come in, and having a bathroom to wash your hands of in after eating. I had the lobster scampi, since I wasn't in a dismembering your meal sort of mood, and they did a great job and gave a fair quantity. We also had the clam chowder, and it was my favorite so far (super thick, tender clams, nice and creamy!!)
(5)Kristine M.
We had intended to go to Roy Moore, but the weather wasn't agreeing and there's no indoor seating there...so off we went to the Fish Shack. The lobster market price was shockingly inexpensive for a sit down restaurant. I got the lobster roll, my mom got lobster scampi, and my dad got a whole lobster. Everything was delicious. We also shared an order of fried clams. The clams were plump and delicious and they didn't even taste too greasy.
(5)Helen F.
I've been going to this restaurant for years. As low-key as it is, its actually a little more upscale than it used to be. Prices are mid-range; there's a good range of seafood and simpler food. Last time I ate there, 3 of us had the cheap $12.99 lobster dinner, one of us had the lazy man lobster. The boiled lobster was great, served with butter , your choice of sides (rice, potato, cole slaw). They're good about telling you how much lobster you'll get with the lazy man lobster (4 oz., etc.). Service was friendly, atmosphere is noisy, views are nice. Seating is at booths in the main area of the restaurant. All in all, its a family sort of affair; good food, casual--Not amazing, not horrible--just a good solid meal.
(3)Dave U.
We had lunch here and enjoyed it. There was a wait ti get stable, but it was worth it. Nice view...good food and good service..
(4)Allie L.
When we want to go to a casual restaurant in town, this is where we go. The lobster prices at the Fish Shack are the best in town for a full sit-in restaurant. Roy Moore's owns the restaurant so the only place it is cheaper is there. The people on the waitstaff are very friendly. They pretty much know us now since we go there so often. I think the decor is alright. I'm sure it's "cuter" if you're not a local. It mostly consists of a lot of old buoys and some fish cut outs. It's a little hooky I think but maybe that's just because I live here. Their fries are great. I haven't really tried much else besides the lobster but my family likes the other food. In Alinna's review, she complained about the lobster shell being too soft. I'm sure you wouldn't know this, Alinna, but the lobster had most likely just molted so it's shell was extra soft. The prices were probably high because the fishermen weren't catching a lot of lobster (the prices of lobster go up when there isn't a lot of catch). Just wanted to defend one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)Elvira V.
Came in a little late - they close at 9 pm and we walked in at 8.30. Still very friendly received and shown to a nice table - nice view with the sunset! Both ordered the Lazy Lobster, it was great. I read some reviews saying the portions are small - let's say portions are European sized. So not the massive American way, but a decent meal without feeling completely stuffed afterwards. I enjoyed every bite of it! So, whether this is or isn't a touristic place - we both enjoyed a great dish, the view and the pricing was reasonable! Hope to find more places like this during our trip through New England!
(4)Chelsea P.
I've been coming to Rockport since I was a little kid. My grandparents still live up here, so I continue to come up whenever I can. I was just up for a mini-vacation with my boyfriend and we decided to come to the Fish Shack for dinner on a Thursday night. I've always walked by it and had never been so we thought we'd give it a shot. It's in the middle of town and has a wonderful view. My boyfriend made a comment to me that, if possible, they should really expand onto the gravel that is just outside the window view. They could have outdoor seating which I'm sure would be very popular! Anyway, we went to the restaurant at 6 pm and were immediately seated -- didn't have to wait at all. We were seated at a table right next to the window so we got an awesome view. It was definitely a little chilly in there, so if you get cold easily like I do, bring a sweater! The server was attentive and didn't make us wait long in between visits to the table. We got mozzarella sticks to start. They were your basic appetizer, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. My boyfriend got the clam chowder and fried calamari (the larger option) and there was so much calamari that he couldn't finish the dish. He was very happy with both the chowder and calamari...he's a picky eater so that should say something. He said the chowder up until that point is the best he's had anywhere (except for Disney World...but who knows). I got the pasta with chicken, broccoli, and alfredo sauce, and added a side caesar salad. They were both decent, but nothing special. I requested linguine instead of penne, so I don't know if it's because I changed the pasta, but there was not a lot of sauce on the dish. I think it was just sliding right off the noodles and maybe would have stuck better to the penne. The chicken was delicious (breaded chicken, by the way), broccoli was fresh (and very green!), but as I said, there could've been more sauce. I felt like something was missing in taste from the sauce also, so I added salt and pepper. Overall, it was a pretty good experience. I would come back, but maybe try another dish next time. They also serve alcohol here -- my grandparents were surprised (I know Rockport was once a dry town, but not sure how recently that changed). With a great view, decent food, and pretty speedy service, this place gets the job done for a night out to dinner.
(3)Michael F.
Don't waste your time if you are looking for good quality food. Worst shrimp scampi I ever had. Didn't finish it because it was horrible. Typical tourist trap.
(1)Dave L.
I thought this place was pretty good. I ate at other resturants through out my stay. The fish fry was pretty good. When I came here they were very busy. The service was on the little slow slide but that was due to the place being packed. They had a good size menu and I thought the prices were very reasonable compared to other places I ate at. They had a nice veiw of the water and sunset was pretty.
(4)Michael H.
Granted the place is a little dated and the furnishings are not high quality. That being said the drinks are good and the food was excellent. We had the coconut shrimp (as other reviewers said its the standard version) they were familiar and excellent. Fish tacos (fried soul) were very good and the salmon was great. Service was ok and on the slow end but it was late at night just before closing. Well done.
(5)Lou G.
We had the mussels and they were the best mussels ever we even soaked up the broth with our bread it was that good!!! The Lobster Mac and Cheese was delicious, it had huge pieces of lobster. My niece asked for another pasta instead of elbows and they had no issues making that happen. Throw in the fantastic personalities of the employees and you have a winning combination that can't be beat. If you are ever in Rockport and don't stop here to eat then you would be truly missing out on some amazing food. The food was so good I had to go back and tell the chef personally. If you do stop by tell them BBQ Lou sent you!!!!!
(5)Jameson B.
Fish Shack is a nice spot right at Dock Square in the center of Rockport. The food is reasonably priced and of good quality. The service is always very helpful and friendly there accommodating are very large group. For one reason or another, it just doesn't live up to it's parent, Roy Moore's down the street. I have no explanation for it, but that's just how I feel about the place. Roy Moore's is the best fresh seafood to pick up and take home or even to grab a bite to eat, but it just doesn't feel the same here.
(4)Itay M.
Feels and tastes like junk food. Macdonald's quality fries show the way to less than mediocre food. I can't believe I waited 45 minutes to get a table. Additionally, they put Roy Moore's name on their banner to make you eat the bait.
(1)Steve R.
Easy to find downtown location. We had a table near the window with a nice view. Our sever was slow and not attentive to our need. The scallop and clam seafood baskets were good.
(3)Jeff Z.
Nice location but a smallish dining area where the window tables are apparently saved for larger parties. Coconut shrimp was exactly like everyone else's, baked beans from a can. Shrimp scampi was disappointing bland and the pasta over cooked. Wanted to love the place but can't. Tourist priced. Our waitress was great, however. Cudos to her.
(3)Karen W.
The mussels were good. Lobster was fresh. We had a pretty bad table in the corner. Restaurant definitely catered to the early bird crowd - everyone was over the age of 65.
(3)Rich G.
Hailing from the seafood capital of the world (or darn close) the Fish Shack just doesn't get it done. There's nothing particularly wrong with the seafood entrees there's just nothing for particularly right with them either. Taste is average - ate the lobster roll. Prices are through the roof. Portion sizes are small. Peeps this is a tourist attraction and nothing more. If you want more local fare you will have to drive to Gloucester. The service was very good hence the extra star. AVOID!
(2)Phyllis E.
This place was a great find. My daughter and I went there to eat before catching a play at the local theater. Our food was great !! I had the fried clams basket and my daughter had the fried scallops. Both were excellent in flavor without the usual dryness some fried seafood can have. This is a place to definitely stop by when you're in Rockport. I look forward to us going there again.
(4)Robert D.
This place has the look and feel of a half-assed family business. The dining room is from a rummage sale. Oddly half of the restaurant space is disused (apart from several incongruous bicycles and other junk). We ate a lobster roll, corn chowder and the so-called lobster scampi. There was no thought or cooking skill in any of these dishes. The lobster roll is basically a semi-toasted hot dog roll with pieces of luke-warm lobster. It came with a side of lukewarm cole slaw and siting around too long mayonnaise in a cup. Last time i checked, lobster salad was cold and contained dressing and celery. A little Old Bay can be nice; some diced pickles if you want to go crazy. The corn chowder was basically creamed corn and celery with white sauce worthy of Rachel Ray. The lobster scampi looked like chunks of pre-cooked lobster meat with the fat congealed. Feh, and shame on the many guide books who got those nice tourists in the door.
(1)Colleen C.
Every thing I hoped it would be. Lovely lobster, plentiful Bloody Mary's , perfectly delightful wait staff (Demetri) and good chowder. Large tables for families. Wonderful views.
(5)Tony J.
Excellent food, fast and quality service. I got the lobster roll. Admittedly, the roll was prepared in a different way than I'm used to, but their chowder was amazing.
(4)Guillermo M.
This restaurant has a nice view of the harbor. Loved the fact that by phone they can put you on the wait list. Lobsters are delicious and not very expensive. The haddock chowder was good but I would rather get a clam chowder or the crab cakes next time. Also had a corn on the cob that was really good.
(4)Sara E.
The food here was okay both times I've been here. It was nothing to write home about and definitely not worth the price or wait. Plus when you're in Rockport, there's no shortage of seafood places so definitely look elsewhere. What ruined the experience was the service. Atrocious is an understatement. This was an experience I had a couple of years ago and it's still my worst restaurant experience to-date. The waitress left us waiting for 20 minutes so we had to call over another waitress to take our order. We watched other tables who ordered after us get their food before us. She never apologized and after she gave us our check (which we had to wait an obscene time for), we had to leave our table and walk around the restaurant trying to find out waitress to pay for the food because she was taking so long to come back to let us pay that we needed to go because our two hour meter parking was already up. We ended up asking a manager to run our debit card for us, and the manager didn't even apologize either. Horrible experience and when I went back last summer, the service was slightly better but not worth it for sub-par food. I wish anything in this review was exaggeration but it sadly was not.
(1)Dayna S.
I was visiting Rockport, Mass. with my family and my mom suggested Roy Moore's because she's been to the Shack location many times and has always had a great experience. However, this experience at the Restaurant location was much different. Four of us ordered the Lazy Lobster for $20.95 and were told it was the meat from a whole lobster baked in butter, topped with cracker crumbs. I only had claw meat in mine, while some of the others had scattered pieces of meat, and one only had tail meat. Needless to say, we were highly disappointed in our meal and I definitely don't think they used a 1 1/4 lb lobster in each small casserole dish they baked/microwaved it in. Not to mention, it was dry, tough, and grizzly and the cracker crumbs were more than the lobster itself. We told the waitress it was dry so she suggested extra butter; We tried that and were still disappointed. At the end of our meal we expressed our disappointment to the waitress, who was very nice and stated she would let them know. I would not recommend the Lazy Lobster, instead head to Roy Moore's little Shack down the street for the real deal.
(2)Cheryl R.
The food was good but definitely smaller portion sizes for dinner. The hostess was extremely rude and disrespectful to several customers including our family. The manager never apologized either when notified. Definitely will be going somewhere else next time in Rockport.
(2)F K.
Unfortunately, I had to drop my star rating because the portion sizes of their fried seafood platters and plates has dropped significantly, while maintaining the same high prices. The amount of food now is ridiculous and not nearly generous enough and not worth the money, sadly. Decide for yourself if it's worth it.
(3)Hector G.
Lovely service....perfectly cooked lobster .... Awesome view... Easy to do low calorie meal by asking for salad other than fries. ... Awesome for diabetics
(5)H. L.
I've been to this place several times. Food is fine as I remember, good location with nice view, that's why we kept going back. However service was ridiculous this time. We went there around 3pm, slow time for a restaurant, need an extra chair to hold our stuff beside the table. While most tables were empty, waitress and waiters kept coming back and insisted taking the chair away. For me that was already a bad sign of poor management. Without any replacement plan, like offering a folding chair or suggesting that getting the chair back when they really needed it. Used to be my go-to place in Rockport, obviously not any more. Two thumbs down!
(1)Keith D.
We were there last weekend. Loved it! The seafood was excellent AND not overpriced. The service was superb. The nice view of the ocean made our trip to Rockport very pleasant. Thanks, we'll be back.
(4)Shannon P.
I really liked the view from the restaurant, but the food wasn't overly impressive. I expected the clam chowder to be mind- blowing, but it was just meh.
(3)Brian W.
This is pretty much the kind of restaurant I hate most. If it weren't where it is it would last 10 minutes. I was in in late April 2013 on one of the first nice days of the year. When we walked in at 11:30 on a Sunday they were empty. Our server was uninterested and was standing around talking with the other staff and cursing loudly from time to time. She never came to clear plates and disappeared for long periods. The food was so bland and uninteresting that it was almost like they were trying not to care one way or another. We ordered chowder - hardly any clam flavor, clams or texture at all. Coconut shrimp - overlooked and came with a plastic container (way too small to fit the shrimp in) of some sweet duck sauce type thing. Fried scallops - actually decent but a again a tiny plastic container of tarter which was literally mayo and relish. Lobster - twin for $35. Do they have bigger than "just under 11/4 lbs?" No. One tiny wet wipe. Plastic pick. One extra napkin. Real drawn butter, not just melted and separated. No. I think I wouldn't have been so harsh if the server was even a little better. Skip this place and go to one of the many nearby places which seems to care.
(2)Patricia S.
I visited the restaurant today with my sister and her service dog. They came from overseas and after they assigned a table for us the dog is small and it was under the table. All of a sudden a nasty and bitter ugly woman - staff from there -asked us to leave. The staff was insensitive there and rude. They did not care about the special needs of a n individual. All they asked was " where is the paper about the service dog". My sister has mobility problems and we we rudely and in a hostile way asked to leave the restaurant. I could not believe that there are human beings so insensitive and abusive. I will never go back to this inhuman place.
(1)Jamie G.
Great location, mediocre food. I got the lobster roll, which was literally a hot dog roll, 4 oz plain lobster and 1 piece of lettuce. They gave me a portion cup full of mayo on the side but there was little to no culinary skills there. It came with a side of french fries that were the skinny kind that appeared to be made from frozen. My husband got the coconut shrimp which were also mediocre, they came with portion cups of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. Service was good and no other complaints.
(3)Bruce C.
This place is very average with little fanfare to offer. We had calamari to start with and it was flat with little taste. The baked haddock was similar with not much kick. I am sure one can do better in the area among the many establishments nearby.
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