When we travel the 35 minutes it takes us to get to Essex...we "always go to The Village....it's the best in Town if you are looking for relaxed sit down dining. If you are just looking to eat good seafood...there is always Woodman's.
Posted by: Tom at April 29, 2011 04:13 PMWe usually reserve The Village for winter, when other local, walking-distance restaurants are closed, but stopped by last week. The meals here are always good, without exception. The chefs do not "mail it in," every meal, winter or summer, lunch or dinner, is good, plentiful, well-though-out, absolutely delicious.
And the cornbread is the best.
A REALLY good restaurant, where the owners & staff care about their product and their customers.
Fabulous.
Posted by: jo at September 7, 2010 07:54 PM
Been coming up to Rockport for years....driven by this place alot never stop in....Big mistake!
Dinner was fabulous....deep fried scallops were out of this world...baked haddock & swordfish were delish! My son ordered some maccroni/cheese w/chicken dish...he didn't like that...it wasn't what he thought it would be.
Claire was our waitress....she was fantastic...a professional...she had a great sense of humor...and would definately come back because of her!
We must have driven past this restaurant a million times and never went in. Then, we tried it for a late lunch. It's good! Simple food, well-prepared. Local crowd at the bar, friendly & quiet. Crazy creative stuff not always appreciated, but a nice piece of dayboat fish, nicely cooked, is always good. We will be back.
Posted by: jo at January 14, 2009 08:06 PM
The atmosphere is so cozy and the food was delicious! The Indian Pudding is the perfect New England dessert and they nailed it.
Posted by: Heather at January 8, 2009 09:40 PM 
Every time I go here I'm amazed at the quality of the food and the variety of the food which is ALWAYS some of the BEST on the North Shore.
Our waitress Claire was outstanding, great sense of humor and very efficient and friendly.
What a GREAT meal at a decent price as well.
Can't wait to return to The Village!
Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Clam chowder was great. Baked seafood is better than the fried. Service has always been good.
the village is tried, it's true...but the fare has that 50's hangover thing going on...even tho' they try to be upscale...
i think they overcook the baked stuff. the fried stuff is good, and, at times, i need to say that the fried clams are simply breathtaking...
i have had more unpleasant waitresses there...it has become a joke when i go there with friends. one time, the waitress took an ess-x style (can't write out essx fully - won't post because it contains the word s-x), restained nutty when we asked for an extra plate to share food. i thought she was going to spit, she was so mad. alright. so we were trying to stretch the meal a bit...is that such a crime?
We went there again tonight for what must be the fiftieth time. Always good food, professional service and reasonable prices. The baked haddock or scallops are the best on the cape. It's easy to see why they have been in business for so long.
What a great place. Always enjoyable and what a menu ! If your out for seafood, this is one of the best places to dine. Something for everyone, and with no attitude. Honest value here, and for many many years too.
Posted by: glenn at August 15, 2007 04:25 PMLove The Village.
Great meals for vegetarians, even. Order the fish and sit by the front windows to see the inner harbor. Meals are always fresh, a great family reastaurant and not pricey compared to dining in Gloucester these days. If you like N.E. food then go here.
Has a really nice atmosphere, and a fair selection from the bar, food is overpriced and not the best quality, had the baked haddock -- very bland, oysters on the half shell were pretty good, "we'll how can those be messed up" although a bit pricey for only six. Some day I may return but I have to say some of my favorite resturants are in Essex so I think I shall stick with what I know is safe. I'm not really sure if it was worth my money to go there. Oh well.
I don't see why this place is so expensive, the food was nothing to talk about. Cold fried clams and tough steak was my one and only experience here.
Pleasant dinner with haphazard service. Despite an acceptable meal I can't imagine what Gourmet and Saveur ate while there, because the Village certainly did not wow me as it did their critics. Shrimp crostini was garlicy but good, steamed and fried clams were also good. And that is my point....good, but magazine worthy? Probably not.
Great Menu
Wonderful food and service
Discovered this 'lil GEM in the 1980's --- when I was not yet a resident of Cape Ann-- when "the girls" and I were able to spend a day at Cranes trying to get a tan. We can't sit in the sun anymore--- but one thing that remains the same is the Village!
The best fried clams in Essex. Sit down service, full liquor license, great service, reasonable prices. Excellent seafood. Check out their site: http://www.wedigclams.com
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