Open up, damn it!!!

Posted by: discerning "EATS" critic at September 19, 2008 05:12 PM

This is a great place. Very good food. Attentive expert service. Warm and inviting dining room and deck. What I like is the engaging presense of the owners on the floor welcoming first timers and catching up with long timers, locals and seasonals with grace and genuine regard. If I could get to Gloucester more often, this is the restaurant that I would most like to be associated with as a "regular". Excellent people watching at the bar, quite a cast of characters. All of the staff seem to enjoy their work and each other to make the experience consistantly good. I will be there next week on vacation and at least two trips here are planned.

Posted by: Paul at July 23, 2008 04:53 PM

Essentially, this is the best restaurant in Gloucester. The Causeway is fabulous in its own way, the Franklin elegant and gourmet, but if you want to be assured of a fabulous dinner (thank you Chris and kitchen staff), a warm welcome (Ginger, Gino, Patsy and everyone else), and the VERY BEST waitstaff/bartenders in Gloucester (Lori, baby!), this is the place to go.

The Rudder is warm and welcoming. It is an EXPERIENCE. Go! The food is great, the drinks are generous, the staff is invested in what they do.

Luv ya!

Cannoli

Posted by: cannoli at June 28, 2008 07:10 PM

You guys are a good solid restaurant, for all tourist,locals, whoever... i definetly reccomend the rudder, and also the madfish... they are both excellent! even though you see the studio first, dont be fooled, that place is not goos at all.. i dont understnd their management, they obviously dont know how to run a restaurant, so check out both the rudder and madfish, it will be well worth your while!!

Posted by: Kellen at July 22, 2006 04:01 AM

We ate at The Rudder yesterday and loved it. Very good clam chowder and crab cakes for appetizers. The kids had chicken wings, my son had the chicken fingers for dinner and said they were good. He's picky about chicken fingers, too.

My daughter had the fettucine alfredo and it was outstanding. DH had fish and chips which were great. I had the fried clam platter and don't think I've had better fried clams anywhere (and I've had them everywhere).

We sat out on the deck and the view was nice. The service was A+. The waitress was always rushed but she had a lot of tables and she was always attentive. The owner was there keeping a close eye on everything and he was very nice.

We'll be back soon.

Posted by: Anne at July 16, 2006 12:31 PM

I have frequented this restaurant over the past few years because of the view. My family and I went for my birthday tonight. First the view is still good. However, the server was just adequate and didn’t seem very interested in her job. She is the same person we had last year. If you are going to work at a restaurant please at least make the people feel that the place is special and you care about your job. The prices are average to high and the food was just average. I may go here again but would be reluctant to recommend the place to friends.

Posted by: Joe at June 21, 2006 09:10 PM

The FOOD and LIPS are delicious. MMMMMMMMMMMM!

Posted by: bill at June 7, 2006 07:01 PM

to the man with the below two listings: are you the same bill who makes out with his girlfriends at the bar? yuck.

to the rudder: great food, great service

Posted by: fellow rudder customer at June 7, 2006 04:23 PM

AT LAST! Again greated and treated with hugs and kisses, like a valued customer. Food is always good...expensive, but who cares! There's nothing else like it in Gloucester.

Posted by: bill at May 21, 2006 03:39 PM

HURRY UP AND OPEN! This is the only restaurant on Cape Ann that takes the time to know its patrons and treats them like gold. Food is good, but who cares. OPEN!!!

Posted by: bill at February 12, 2006 01:29 PM

Over the years they have gotten worse, in the beginning they were always jam packed, but then the prices went up and the food quality and service went down. The kitchen staff is just one big mess, and the service is only good when you get a veteran of the restaurant, every year they hire new pretty girls who have never work in a restaurant before. Needless to say they could be better

Posted by: J.A. Cambece at December 2, 2005 01:27 PM

I've been dining at the Rudder regularly this season, and highly recommend it for both the quality of the cuisine and the ambience. If you don't mind the often swarming crowds and inconsistent table service (although staff is quite amenable), this place is a true gem. I prefer to sit at the bar...convivial bartenders, great service. The daily specials are always fresh and good, always feature a fresh fish. For starters, try the calamari salad. I've had it at least 5 times. It comes with a tasty tomato/hot pepper saute. When the kitchen is v.busy, the dish can come out a little soggy and sloppy, but I like the light breading they use, and the fact that it's real calamari...not just the "o" rings. Crab and lobster cakes are delicate and filled with shellfish. Salads aren't anything special, but all ingredients are fresh, portions copious and no waxy hard tomatos! I don't eat meat, but all fellow diners seem to really enjoy what they order. I love all fish on the menu, (including fish sandwich), they know how to properly sear tuna, never overcook white fish. The main courses are well balanced by fresh and interesting veggie accompaniments. Please don't go there if you are in a rush. The pace is slow (despite the waitstaff whizzing around), and with crowded quarters, sour expressions and grumbling can ruin it for the rest of us who are tucked in for a nice evening! The Rudder is to be savoured. Important: Drinks are always good. Ask for the Lime Rickey for a refreshing opener. Martinis are top notch. Nice and varied wine list. Honestly, it's the only place I would have a meal on Rocky Neck,(apart from breakie at Sailor Stan's). One pet peeve: 20% tip added to the bill of our party of 8. Our waitress was nice but clearly inexperienced. I get that it's tough to satisfy the voracious needs of diners, but for 20%, the service should have been spot on!

Posted by: Lilli at July 17, 2005 01:07 PM

, The atmosphere is charming; the food is mediocre; the drinks and wine list are on par.
Wish the food was better and worth the price! It is a beautiful setting but potatoes and lentils dont cut it.

Posted by: jimmer at May 21, 2005 01:44 PM

YES IT IS VERY PLEASANT, AND I AGREE LET US NOT FORGET THEY ALL GET THE WINTER OFF TO REGAIN THEIR COMPSURE, BUT IF THEY HAD TO DO IT YEAR ROUND IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY. THE FOOD IS GOOD, NOT THE BEST IN THE TOWN, BUT THE PRESENTATION, FOOLS YOU.

Posted by: JANE at October 24, 2004 09:04 PM

What a great place. Cozy setting, great bar, great live music on Thursday nights. The food was the best. The waiter had to battle the large crowds, but that's a good thing. Great local feel but they don't make you feel like an outsider if you're from out of town.

Posted by: Doug at August 27, 2004 06:21 AM

yes, very nice, but if the owners know you, you are treated with the red carpet, if your just the odinary joe from the street, you wait and if they see you, you might get a drink! it's a click there without a doubt.

Posted by: jane at August 21, 2004 02:09 PM

The Rudder has amazing staff, amazing food visited in May 2004, July 2004 & August 2004 - all visits have been terrific. What a pleasant way to spend a relaxing delicious evening !

Posted by: smiley64 at August 10, 2004 10:48 AM

The food is good for a good price, but it is the waitresses that are exquisite. Thier prompt service and "go get 'em" attitude had me dreaming about waffles for weeks.

Posted by: co captain at July 1, 2004 02:30 PM

Had a bad experience there. Our waitress maybe was having a bad day, a really bad day? But she was sour and rude. The draft beer was flat and gross. The food wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't go back.

Posted by: O at May 6, 2004 04:20 PM

yes, i agree, fun place, but the food is ok, the presentation makes you think it is the best, but i have definetly had better for the price, people are nice and let us not forget, it is just a summer thing, i wonder how nice they would be, if they had to do that all year round?????

Posted by: stephanie ann at April 25, 2004 09:32 PM

Yes i Agree, Salads and desserts are extremely tasty and well presented. The Staff is Awesome and the food is Divine. Eat at The Rudder and get a taste of heaven

Posted by: Gino Mortillaro at April 22, 2004 09:46 AM

The salads and deserts are exquisite. and the people who work there are the nicest people around. good time and enjoyable atmosphere! go to the rudder. u wont b disapointed

Posted by: Ross Collins at November 14, 2003 03:16 PM

Post a review! (Read Posting Guidelines.) The name field is a required field (real name or screen name). Due to an overload of spam, an email is also required to post a review. Only your name or screen name will be displayed in your entry. Cape Ann Web will not use or distribute your email in any manner - it's simply an added measure in our battle against spamming. Thanks for understanding!