North Shore Birthday dinner help needed

[tdmort]

I'll be traveling from 4 nights in Boston to Rockport for 2 nights. The day we leave Boston also happens to be my birthday. Would like to get checked into our room and go out for a nice dinner. Any recs? Seafood, Asian, American, Italian. Thanks!

[Janiekins]

Do NOT go to Woodmans! Go to the Clam Box.

[resipsaloquitor]

Whenever I see that line in front of Woodman's in the summer, I feel like weeping.

[tdmort]

Wow...I guess I won't be going to Woodmans! What about Farnhams?

[sweetsgirl]

Hands down....The Clam Box! They're so worth waiting in that long line. Farnhams is really good too, though I prefer The Clam Box. My parents say that Essex Seafood is really good despite their appearance, but I've never been, so I can't say for sure. But, I would trust what they say.....they introduced me to The Clam Box. They also taught me to stay away from Woodmans. I've been a couple of times and will never waste my money going there again.

[tdmort]

Is there a view of the water at The Clam Box?

[ScubaSteve]

nope.

[tdmort]

Do any of the recs for fried seafood in that area have a view? Or do people take it to go and go to nearby location to view the water?

[ScubaSteve]

views are to be had at The Lobster Pool, which are Very Nice and Farnham's which has a view of tidal areas but Ur essentially you're sitting on the edge of their (small) parking lot.

[tdmort]

How is the chow at the Lobster pool?

[ScubaSteve]

see here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/543497

[tdmort]

Thanks Steve. I'll be sure to report back where we ended up.

[adiosoven]

Did you travel yet? Curious where you ended up as I'm looking at a few of the same places...fyi, I also vote for the Clam Box for fried seafood. Yeah, it's busy but we love it.

[resipsaloquitor]

No need to leave Cape Ann, tdmort. The Franklin in Gloucester is excellent. The Landing in Manchester is good and it's such a pretty little town. There are several decent restaurants in Essex. If you're more casual and like good solid American food, Halibut Point in Gloucester is where the locals dine. And happy birthday!

[tdmort]

Thank you! The Franklin Cafe seems to get good reviews from everyone!

[bgavin]

Duckworth is a bit more elegant, the cooking a bit more ambitious than Franklin. I live in Rockport and those are our two special occasion restaurant. We do Alchemy for weeknight dinners and Halibut Point for Saturday lunch.
If you are looking for a place to stay, think about the Pleasant Street Inn in Rockport. Great, homemade breakfasts. She doesn't serve dinner.
The Emerson Inn is also quite lovely, and they do serve an mediocre to adequate dinner -- but their location is not "walkable".

[tdmort]

We have a room at Beach and King St. B&B for two nights. It looks lovely and right on the water. Thanks for the other suggestions (Halibut Point and Alchemy). Where would you go to get good fried seafood? I've read about Woodmans or Farnhams or the Clam Box - what's your favorite?

[bgavin]

Clam Box -- without a doubt.

[resipsaloquitor]

Not Woodman's.
Not Woodman's.
Not Woodman's.

[ScubaSteve]

Calm Box fo' sho'.
and try to time your visit around 2-3pm which will ensure fresh oil and small(er) lines.

[treb]

For clams, The Clam Box, not Woodman's. For other fried seafood delights, The Causeway in Gloucester on rte 133 next to the cinima's.

[treb]

Check out Gloucester, lots of good places, Franklin Cafe on Main St, Duckworth on
E. Main St., Look on the NE CH board.

[mcel215]

Here's a link to a good blog for the North Shore.

http://www.northshoredish.com/

[tdmort]

Thanks - I'll check it out!