Went with friends on July 10, and had a delicious meal with grilled shrimp. No problem getting seated right away with reservations. So different from the ONE bad experience someone had there 4 years ago.
See my post: Posted by: Glenn at August 17, 2006 03:42 PM
I was so ticked I never EVER went back.
So many many better places than this out there.
Posted by: Glenn at July 9, 2010 03:35 PM I ate at Captain Carlos for the first time last night and I found the food to be excellent. The clam chowder was the best I have ever tasted and the service was great. The waitress couldn't have been nicer. I will definately go back again.
My wife, children and me went there during the scooner festival. It was great. We got the fishermans platter, and a clam role. There was more than enough food for the four of us, although my children are young and don't eat much, but besides quantity the quality was fantastic, the seafood had the perfect color to it, you know the way is should look when cooked in clean oil. The only minor thing issue was that our server seemed to be a bit snippy, he was nice but at times we felt like we were bothering him, probably because he was busy, not a big deal. If we go out to seafood we will keep it local and go here, rather than give essex our business.
Food has improved there in the last year. Menu selections with more variety. If you like fried fish, the fisherman's platter is your dream come true.
Good Food! I had the BBQ Chicken Sandwich, it was very good! Great Clam Chowder!
Food sucks! But you can smoke and drink at the same time. i only go when Mile 21 is playing
RUDE OWNERS!!! RUDE HELP!!!! TERRIBLE FOOD!!! NEED I SAY MORE??
I saw a maury Povich show with a Whoopi Look alike. I immediately questioned whether that was even actually the real whoopi serving drinks!!!
I DOUBT IT!!
Posted by: JJ at January 25, 2008 02:48 PMMy awful memory is still very much alive from my bad experience on the 8-18-06. I have no plans to EVER return. There are so many better options available in the area.
Posted by: Glenn at September 19, 2007 02:14 PMThe food was good, service was the worst. We waited for 45 mins to be seated although half the tables were empty. We waited another 15 mins and then the hostess took our order because the waitress was ignoring us. Two people walked in from the parking lot, sat themselves down, and had their order before ours. When we finally got our food, it all came at the same time. Appetizers, salad, meal. Another waitress had to bring it as we still had not seen our waitress. She only showed up to take the check. I did not tip her. The management kept telling us it was very busy, but half the tables inside and out were empty. Would hate to be there when it was really busy. I will never go back. I can get good food in lots of places, it's the service that makes or breaks a place.
Nothing to go out of your way for. But Service was good.
whats up with the attitude...? true gloucester experience right down to the..... oh man, i can't go into this... just, not good... but a fun time... and the tuna carpachio, while not on the menu is one of the best things i've ever had
Posted by: Judson Abts at October 13, 2006 12:49 AM 
I have had dinner at Capt Carlos' a few times this 2006 season and never had a bad meal until this past weekend...I ordered the baked scallops which in previous visits to the restaurant have been excellent; fresh, sweet and well prepared, on this visit it seems they may have been pre prepared or frozen, not sure, but they were mushy and had a very "off" flavor. Also be warned if you order "red bliss" potatoes they are fried, breakfast type potatoes. My husbands steak was also very mediocre. Maybe just an off day?
Glenn,
I'm sorry you had a negative experience the other night. In all fairness, I know they were short-staffed due to a family emergency of one of the waitstff. I was off that night and had received a call to see if I could come in, but I had a prior obligation. You said that you enjoyed your previous visit, so why not give it another try. To avoid a wait, call in a day or two in advance, reserve a nice table on the deck, and enjoy one of the last evenings of the Summer. Hope to see you there!
Posted by: Donna at August 18, 2006 02:02 PM
Last night was my second time here. The first time was a month ago and all was great, except the wait. But last night was a roller coaster ride of confusion. It took 25 minutes for the waitress to even introduce herself, another 15 minutes for the first round of drinks, we specifically asked that they hold off on placing the order for the entrée until after we finished the appetizer.
The entrée came before the salads, my swordfish was tiny (menu stated a pleasing portion) HA ! I complained to the manager, they then gave me a huge portion but by this time we were just so frustrated with horrendous service that it was now a laughable situation. Not sure I would ever allow myself to go back here.
We ate here on Fiesta Sunday and we had the best waitress ever named Donna. My burger came out burned and she told me to munch on the fries, she already had another burger ordered. The food was delicious, fun atmosphere and great staff.
My family & I live on our boat in Gloucester for the summer. Cpt. Carlo's is a fun, family-oriented, casual place we like to frequent. The fish is hauld off the boats daily. The prices are easily compared to all other chowda houses and seafood joints in Gloucester (the other cape). You'd have to be a local to know. People go for drinks ON THE WEEKEND, as with all the bars in Gloucester. Woopie can OCCASIONALY be seen tending bar. However, I'm under the impression when she's there she'd rather "just" be a local. The waitstaff's ALWAYS welcoming but we expect to pour our own water. WE LOVE THE PLACE.
Lot's of parking now we know why. Greasy baked clams. Cold dinners. Wilted salad. Dirty windows, dirty bathrooms, dirty floors. 1/2 hour wait between courses. Dried out lobster pie. Dried out tuna steak. Very over-priced. Hit the McDs for a whaler and you'll be much happier.
As far as I'm concerned, there is NO better clam chowda anywhere around! Love this place!
Posted by: jackie hutchings at March 7, 2006 04:50 PM
This place is good, it only open in the summer, and it’s always packed. One of the bartenders is famous; you might know her she was the center square on Hollywood squares. The food is tasty.
Cambece
Posted by: J.A. Cambece at December 2, 2005 01:33 PM
My partner and I were extremely dissapointed with the dining experience at this facility. The "best when used by date" of December 2004 (that I noticed after consumption)on my beer bottle confirmed my taste bud's suspicion that it was stale. The lettuce in our salads was not fresh, nor were most of its vegetables. The flies hopped happily amidst the dust on the windowsill.
The waitress service was adequate, but I was not offered a glass for my 10 month old beer. No need for us to hurry back!
Went there last night. I found the waitstaff to be great. It was interesting to see Whoopi actually working at the bar. The food was good although I would recommend not to get baked dishes as they seemed a bit over done. The fried seafood was excellent as well as the lobster rolls. It was very nice outside but inside was extremely noisy. Very fun place for a summers evening.
It doesn't deserve any stars. The staff is so unbelievably rude. During Fiesta, my friend asked for a water for herself along with the other drinks she ordered for people. The bartender slid a warm, 1/4 filled carafe at her with no glass. He wasn't joking. What a way to encourage safe driving.
Posted by: Heather at July 1, 2005 10:02 PMhello,
well i went there because last year, they had the BEST band, GRUPO FANTASIA LATIN BAND. well, only to find out that they did not even book them this year, so i will NOT go back there unless i see the band back. the entertainment the night that i was "baited" by a woman on the phone, into going was so HORRIFIC, we actually walked out. i just found out that GRUPO FANTASIA will be PLAYING AT THE STUDIO in gloucester, this summer, so we will all go there. yes, you go Studio!!!!!
I love to go there for a drink outside, enjoy to being a fresh air and listen the band outside. The food isn't that great, but it is okay.
Great Food- Fun Atmosphere- High Quality Service!
Best place on the North Shore to see local musicians. Entertainment is un-matched by any other establishment.
Restaurant? Give me a break, please. The food is forgettable, the beer is stale, and the place is filthy. It is essentially a summer hang-out for tourists and twenty somethings looking to get high.
The best place around in the summer! Fun and good food. Large portions.
O.K. if your visiting, and you want to have a glass of wine while you wait for your scallops, but this place is more hype than anything else.
I mean, having Whoopi Goldberg behind the bar serving drinks is nice, but it won't make the food any fresher.
The food is usaully fresh enough but there are plenty of places on Cape Ann that'll give you twice as much for the price.
On weekends this place is full of boisterous clientelle that use it as some kind of drinking hang-out which does nothing for the dining atmosphere.
Tourists and wannabe's will love this place.
This Restaurant was amazing! The food, the atmosphere, the people, the entertainment, it is all wonderful. Captain Carlo's is a place you have to go to if you are visiting the North Shore of Massachusetts.
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