Azorean Restaurant & Bar
133 Washington St, Gloucester, MA, 01930
Azorean Restaurant & Bar Menu
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Fazoli's is an Italian-American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988and is now owned by Sentinel Capital Partners. As of 2015, there are 213 Fazoli's located nationwide. The restaurant chain specializes in Italian cuisine and dishes. Carl Howard is the company's president and CEO.
Fazoli's offers a menu of traditional Italian favorites — highlighted by our famous, mouthwatering, garlic bread sticks — combined with a service experience not typically found in the QSR industry and served in a newly re-imagined restaurant environment. And it's all available to our guests at a great price and value. With over 200 restaurants, explosive growth and a booming sales trajectory, Fazoli's has established itself as a leader in the Quick-Service Restaurant segment.
Today, Fazoli's menu consists of classic Italian dishes, baked pastas, their signature Submarinos sandwiches, and other foods, such as:
Twice Baked Lasagna
Chicken Parmigiano
Italian Deli Trio
seasonal salads
Turkey Mozzarella Fresco
Meatball da Vinci
The Primo Italiano
Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza
New York Style Cheesecake
Baked Spaghetti
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
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Address :
133 Washington St
Gloucester, MA, 01930 - Phone (978) 283-5500
- Website https://www.azoreanrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Karl B.
Found this restaurant on Yelp when a co-worker and I were in the area for a class and wanted to get dinner after a little sight seeing. Wanted to get something besides the typical fried seafood meal and was very surprised by what we found Food was excellent. I started with the octopus salad and the moved onto the steak tips for the entrée. The octopus was the most tender that I have ever had. The steak was very tender and had been fileted so there was no fat. Co-worker had garlic shrimp and a pizza. Shrimp was cooked perfectly and not over cooked and tender. Service was very prompt and friendly If you want to enjoy good seafood this is your place
(5)Corey L.
My girlfriend went here w her friend for dinner and brought me home take-out. I got the steak tips w chips/fries and green beans. The steak was really good - very well flavored/spiced. A good amount. Decent quality, though w some thick ribbons of fat through, but overall cooked as ordered and quite tasty. Green beans were fine. Chips/fries were thin, cooked as asked, and nicely spiced as well. Really good food, definitely want to go inside myself
(4)Kent F.
I was almost going to go 4 stars but in can't. The atmosphere is nice but NOISY. Put some acoustic tile on the ceilings! We, my wife and I,sat at the bar. got a couple $5 tapas appetizers. Nice idea, they are kinda small but for $5 just right. I got a 12 oz filet mignion with a spicy wine sauce. The sauce was not spicy and it flooded the plate. You couldn't get away from it. It was in the rice and potatoes. The bartender said you can order the starch on the side. This really took away from the success of the dish. My wife got a grilled seafood dish. The seafood was kinda dry. I liked the place and we will try again as I think there is potential I haven't found the right dishes yet. Nose they have $4 bottles imported beers. 2 appetizers 2 entrée and 4 beers was $80 add tip 13 and it was 93. They got one more shot. If that doesn't work out it will be relegated to a bar and I will stay with the simplest offerings. The bread and oil they serve is really good.
(3)Valorie G.
I wasn't sure I would like Portiguese food, I'm not a big fan of seafood. I have to say that there were plenty of choices for the non-peixe eaters. The braised beef was amazing, the decor was quaint and cozy and the staff was friendly and helpful. So happy I got to try some food from the family's homeland on my trip out east!
(4)Brian G.
I had an event in the back room which was wonderful thanks to the staff and Manny they were extremely accommodating and extremely polite and the food was great and everybody had a great time
(5)Yige W.
We came here for lunch after whale watching. Great service and awesome food in a warm atmosphere! We ordered Tapas tower and a Mediterranean salad, that's a decent amount for two ppl. Everything tastes sooooo good!
(5)Jameson B.
This is a real gem of a restaurant for Gloucester. Every summer we get the whole extended family out to the Cape and we generally try and cook in, but inevitably we roam outside the kitchen for sustenance. This is our second time at Azorean and it lived up to what we remembered it being. Great building with a really nice interior. It's a really exotic menu and a nice change of pace if you're looking for something other then the standard fried plates of seafood around town. Although they don't have a kids menu, they have an unwritten one. They are very accomodating although I would just print one for future use to make it easier on the waitstaff and to calm parents with picky eaters. Must get both the red and white sangria to make the meal complete.
(5)Jessica F.
The food here was alright, nothing crazy. The Portuguese food here is more Americanized, so if your looking for authentic, this is not the place for you. I had the Spanish Cataplana and it didn't really have any taste. The fish needed more seasoning. The cod fish cakes are good and so was the chorizo spread that came with the cheese plate.
(2)Dilean H.
I stop at the Azorean almost every time I come up to Gloucester. It's been hit or miss. Today, I had the garlic shrimp and octopus salad. Shrimp was ok . Could have used some spices. Octopus was great. The 4 stars are for the Portuguese margarita. That sucker was potent. Definitely will order again.
(4)Greg B.
Have eaten here several times and the food and service has been fantastic. I would highly recommend this restaurant
(5)Stephanie S.
I had dinner at Azorean tonight with my parents and my fiancé. After all was said and done we decided that we'd definitely be back. Prices were very fair and portion size was just right. Soon after meeting our waitress we knew she'd be a good hostess for our first visit and we were definitely pleased with her service. The dipping oil to complement their bread was some of the best I've ever had. We shared the cheese sampler and fava bean tapas. The cheeses were very good and the others really enjoyed the fava beans. I ordered the Surf and Turf. I would describe it as just okay. One of my moms had a procedure to reduce her stomach size so the tapas was perfect as a meal for her. All of our meals were very good and we were very pleased with our desserts as well.
(4)Christine H.
In all my years of coming to Gloucester multiple times a year, we were first compelled to go here during the nasty, cold rains of July 5th: Arthur's Revenge. It was freaking awesome. Braised beef was done perfectly, and the flavors were subtle, yet nothing I had ever tasted before. Steak tips were cooked correctly and also had their own small spiciness upon first bite, only to melt into something more savory and delicious. I had to try dessert: the chocolate mousse was the best I have had in a long while. Often I get mousse at restaurants and it's just too sugary with not enough chocolate flavor. Well, this one was just right on all ends. I ate it all up and enjoyed the real whipped cream they put on top. The strawberry balsamic with vanilla ice cream was excellent, as well. I'll have to come one more time to consider it a five star review, but I am SO looking forward to it. Maybe I'll just show up for dessert!
(4)Audrey C.
Delicious food, great atmosphere- nice and comfortable but not fancy, big portions, very reasonable prices. If I lived around here, I would be here regularly. Only minus one star because when they get busy, it can be a wait to get in/get your food (45 min- 1 hour after ordering).
(4)Doc L.
Outstanding food and value! I eat here whenever I'm in town.... The grilled octopus is great!
(5)dajian x.
A distance from me but recommended. I had the nearly nearly $26 Portuguese paella. The size of the dish was smaller than I expected. The food was over cooked and for this much money I would have expected more quality. This was a major disappointment. The oil for the dipping for the rolls was excellent as was the sour Martini. The restaurant is attractive and the service was superb. Given the foregoing I would give 5 star for the service. For $26 I expect quality, being one of the most expensive sea food items. This was not what I received. I believe that this place has more potential but failed to meet this potential. As such, my rating of the restaurant suffers. Since I live so far I doubt i would go out of my way for a second chance. P.s. As far as cost overall: $$$
(2)Michele M.
We go out to dinner A LOT and sometimes forget why we've only been to the Azorean a few times. It's affordable, open late and the food has never been bad. On the plus side, I'm a vegetarian and my boyfriend is not and they have some pretty decent options for both of us, albeit not authentically Azorean most dishes are good and the tapas is usually a good deal. They've revamped the restaurant and the bar is quite nice. The restaurant is clean and the new parking lot is convenient for the area. Having been a waitress/bartender for a long time, I thought twice about writing this. But it needs to be said that if you go here, go early. We came a half hour before closing a few times, which at many places is not a big deal. You will be forced to choke down your dinner even if there are other patrons. Everyone who works there will begin fiercely clamoring and cleaning so that you can't enjoy anything you got. Despite the fact that they were socializing just before and after you're visit. They will sarcastically ask you if you'd like another drink after you've managed to choke down your first one because the noise to get you out of there made the first one less than enjoyable. Be prepared for evil stares if it's 15 minutes to closing. Normally I'd say it was just a fluke thing, but it's happened to us a few times and I've heard from numerous other people that it's a constant here. I haven't written many yelp reviews but if I ever do it's been about food and in Gloucester there is no lack of that. Truthfully, I couldn't enjoy it enough to say if the food was good or bad. Save your money and go to the Gloucester House, Short and Main, Alchemy or many others who will serve you happily, even late.
(1)Joe M.
Fantastic food and even better service! We ordered the "Tapas Tower". It was to die for! A great meal to split! Our waitress, Haley was friendly and attentive! Without a doubt we are going back!
(5)Katie M.
Amazing food, great wine selection and comforting atmosphere. Got the special seafood diablo and it was so yummy!!
(4)Lawrence C.
the bread with olive oil taste so good. the filet mignon is very tendered and with a little bit spicy, I love it. The french fry is made from sliced potato and taste very good. environment is very comfy, relaxed. good restaurant, hihgly recommended
(5)Kathryn E.
My family brought mom here for Mother's Day yesterday. We had a group of 9 and the large square table we got was great for that sized group so everyone could talk to everyone else. I know it was a holiday, and our waitresses said that they were open for brunch for the first time that day, however I was a little surprised that at such an early dinner hour they were already out of several dishes. One of the dishes they were out of was one of the three vegetarian options (unless you want a salad), so my choices left were sauteed vegetables in cream sauce or roasted vegetables in cream sauce. Now the really hard choice was to have it over rice, or linguine. It was pretty good, though a little pricey for just veggies and carbs. I did like the fact that we could bring home our unfinished bottle of wine (a very good red blend for cheap), and the house-made tiramisu was wonderful. We arrived on time for our 5:30 reservation, but we didn't end up leaving until after 8:00. The place didn't look that busy, but I think they were understaffed: our waitress was great but she must've been spread thin over a few tables. It was nice to have a long dinner with family, but those that drove over an hour and those with a baby were less than pleased with how long everything took.
(3)Eric K.
My girlfriend and I live just around the corner from the Azorean. We had enjoyed a few good meals there over the years until our most recent visit. We stopped in one evening about a month ago and started with drinks and the cod fish cakes. The drinks were ok and the cod fish cakes were delicious. It was all downhill from there. Our waitress was clearly new and was extremely slow and tough to get ahold of when we needed something. I'll cut her a break because there's obviously a learning curve when you're learning a new job. I won't cut the kitchen staff a break though as my stuffed lobster was the worst I've ever had. Generally when you order a baked stuffed lobster at most restaurants they stuff it with additional lobster meat and or some crab, scallops, etc.. Not here, they stuffed mine with bread crumbs. Dry bread crumbs. I've never eaten saw dust but this is what I'd imagine that it tastes like. Not only was the chef stingy on the lobster meat I swear that my lobster had been sent back by another customer or pre-made ahead of time. My lobster looked faded, almost white. My gf pointed out two other stuffed lobsters brought out to another table and their lobsters at least looked red and fresh. Luckey them! So, my meal sucked and then there was my girlfriend's. She ordered an octopus dish that she had enjoyed before on other occasions. Not this time. The octopus was like rubber. (I sampled it, as well) Chewing on this dish was akin to chewing on the sole of your tennis sneaker. Yum! Lastly, what kind of restaurant these days doesn't offer WIFI to their customers?! Never again, Azorean!!!
(2)Jimmy F.
Had a fantastic experience again at the Azorean. He made a reservation a day in advance. Pretty busy for a Sunday night. The place nails every detail. Great fresh bread with olive oil and spices. We had the Garlic Shrimp and Fried Calamari for appetizers, yum I had the Mushroom Steak (12 oz tenderloin) And the roasted garlic sauce was awesome. We also ordered the Seafood Stew. Both entrees were perfect. No room for coffee, no room for dessert.
(5)gabriella s.
I rarely give 4 stars because let's face it, nothing is perfect but this meal was as close to perfect as it can get. First we ordered the buttered garlic filet which came with rice and Portuguese potatoes. My filet was cooked perfectly, my sisters a little more on the well side but like I said, nothing is perfect. The quality of the food was so spectacular. The a large beef was so tender and fresh. By far the best filet I've had in years. The rice and potatoes perfectly cooked. Service was great, Jolene was very nice and attentive. Oh I almost forgot the oil and bread it's magnificent. Red pepper extra Virginia oil with garlic and parsley and red peppers I think. Over all excellent place. Def will be back with friends and family.
(4)Deb R.
I'm Portuguese and my mother is a great cook, so whenever I go to a Portuguese restaurant I'm often disappointed because the food is not as good as her cooking, that being said, I went to the Azorean this weekend for my father and sister's birthday and I was so impressed by the food and atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff were all very friendly. There was a mix up in the kitchen so the manager and waitress came over to apologize for the wait. I found this to be so nice and professional. We started off with the little neck clams and assorted cheese platter which were both great. This place is also fairly priced for large portions. It was also very clean and everything tasted fresh. Considering how we were there for their birthdays, they even brought desserts with candles in them! It was very thoughtful! I will definitely be going again soon!
(5)Contessa A.
We've been frequenting this restaurant since they opened. We average approx. 12x yearly. We were always very satisfied, however, last night was an exception. In fact, the last time I was there was another exception. A bus boy spilled piping hot sauce all over me and my clothes. The manager didn't even come to check if I was ok. A hostess did and then she disappeared. I had to ask for cold water to put on my arm. My clothes were ruined and my arm was burned. Not requiring medical attention but it was red and painful for a week. The waitstaff were aware of this incident but did nothing....I mean nothing...no napkins...no seltzer....nothing at all!! The other 6 people in our party were appalled at how this was handled. I wrote to the manager (who BTW, was too busy w/a large party that night to check on a customer who was burned). It took him 3 wks to respond. He apologized and said the next time I went there he'd 'take care' of me. Well, last night was the next time and he was fully aware that I was there avoided me like a hot potato. He stood in front of me and didn't speak to me at all. We didn't go to the restaurant with expectations, but to be ignored was beyond rude. We ordered our dinners and while most were fine, my friend and I got the Frango Assado which is my favorite dish....I've had it many times.....it was so tough we practically needed a saw. It's cornish hen....why was it like shoe leather? We told the waitress, Jilleen, and she apologized but that was the end of that discussion. My husband ordered the rice pudding which was like warm paste....horrible. My friend order the flan that was tasteless. I don't know what happened in the kitchen but I can tell you that it was our last night there for dinner. Not just because of the awful dinners but also because of the rudeness of the manager. We have many friends in Gloucester as well and will let our experiences become known to them as well. Too many good restaurants to waste our good money here. Never again. Contessa
(2)M B.
Big plus is parking lot in the middle of a busy street Old school decor feels like going back in time Many interesting drink combos Tapas seems like the big draw Sandwiches, our choice, were dripping with sauces in a negative way Service was so slow and in attentive that when I went to the ladies room, two people, clearly annoyed as much as we, asked me if I was the owner and if I could help them (!?) I hoped the check would arrive during my trip to the loo but no such luck.we waited 30 minutes for three sandwiches ( one burger) and it was far from crowded. Another 15 minutes for check- we donned our coats as a hint to properly pay. We paid cash to speed up the process at that point. Much radio advertising yet much disappointment after finally visiting
(2)Mark D.
Claudia started it all off with perfect service. So nice and sweet and smiled the whole time. But was also helpful when choosing our meal which was perfect. We had tapas. she broke it down basically said you each pick 3 and you can add more if you need too. The warm salad was excellent. Beautiful presentation and taste I shared it with my spouse. Great start. Make reservations. It's always packed because the locals know there's great food at very affordable prices. Best part was the service. Thank you Claudia!
(5)Jeff D.
We went here because my brother gave us a gift certificate so we made a day out of it. The seafood is excellent and were particularly loved the grilled octopus, which was charred and sweet and succulent all at the same time. The steamers were also very well done. I don't know that we would drive out to Gloucester exclusively for a meal, but if we were out in that neck of the woods we would definitely stop by.
(3)Kelly M.
Claudia, you get a personal shoutout! I only know your name because it said it on your apron, but you are amazing! I arrived here on a Sunday afternoon waiting for a party of 7. I asked if I could sit at the enormous table in the bar since I was there first and was waiting for the others. No hesitation, no problem...absolutely sit down! I've been to a lot of places that, even when they aren't busy, don't let you sit till your whole party is there. Not the case here! AND I was taking up their biggest table all by myself. I felt a bit awkward but that's just me! She brought over menu's and bread with the perfect olive oil to dip it in. Without having to ask she brought me a water. Perfect! We all ordered lunch and everything was phenomenal! (As were the key lime martinis!) When the time came to get the check there was a little issue because some of the girls had ordered from the lunch menu and got charged for the full price meal. I guess they don't do lunch on Sunday, but still gave us the menu and didn't tell us that. She was quick to talk to a manager and fixed the check! She was absolutely the perfect waitress the entire time. Claudia checked on us regularly, refilled our water, and did it all with a smile. I'll be back. For the food AND the service!
(5)C B.
My uncle raves about this place so today he took my mom, aunt, and I. They got octopus and calamari and loved it. I got the baked stuffed haddock and it was delicious. The stuffing was very light tasting and crisp, green beans and potato were very fresh. They also have awesome fried potatoes!
(5)A R.
My husband and I stopped in with our baby on a Saturday afternoon. I had a seafood stew (can't remember the name) and he had an octopus dish (sauteed with garlic, if I remember correctly. My husband is very particular about octopus, but was really, really pleased with how it was cooked. Perfect! My seafood stew was quite fresh and tasty as well. We also had fried calamari, which was quite good. Food pricing was very reasonable, although we spent a bit more than we normally would because we ordered more expensive dishes and more food than usual. (And we aren't ones to spend lavishly on food--so it really is reasonable for the average person). The server and staff were very accommodating and friendly. The atmosphere was perfect--not too casual, not too fancy. Nicely decorated. Overall, a wonderful experience with great food. I can't wait to go back to try more!
(5)Marianne P.
Food was very good. Flavor of broths and sauces were good. Bread and oil dip was very tasty. Prices were very reasonable and portions were appropriate.
(4)Alexander L.
Very nice and tasty, good european cusine. Till now Beat restourant in America that I so.
(5)Dave S.
We celebrated an anniversary at the Azorean. There were 10 children and 8 adults. The restaurant made their function room available and we pre-arranged family style servings. If I tried I could not think of one thing that disappointed us. The service was great, the food was terrific, the arrangements were made very easily and to boot, the price was significantly less than I originally planned. When you are leaving a restaurant and everyone from 12 to upper 60's are commenting on how great the food was, things were done right.
(5)Dr B.
Wait times are long. We got lucky and got outdoor seating 5 minutes after checking in without reservation. The tapas were amazing . Every single one was great, especially the octopus dishes and the cocktails were a nice compliment. The service wan't very fast but given the fact how packed the place was it was understandable. The decor took me back to Europe - from the front facade to the bathrooms - the details just make you forget you are in New England.
(4)Hallie B.
Best grilled octopus I've ever had. Every time I've had it in the past year, it has been excellent. Love the consistency of execution on this dish, as well as the spicy shrimp, and any way they do calamari. Warm atmosphere, perfect martinis, and a not too shabby at all wine list. Always leave full and happy.
(4)Tim W.
I have eaten here at least 2 dozen times, no one is paying me for this review. I have found the food here very good and yes occasionally i have gotten sub par meals - preparation, meat overcooked, or greasy or in one case i just didn't like what I ordered. I have found the seafood to be fresh and well prepared. The prices are comparatively low and the service is above average. It's not 5 stars just fairly priced tasty meals.
(4)Christina G.
Great food and very nice atmosphere. Little necks were very tasty. Lots of choices,definitely going back
(5)Marc D.
The best Portuguese food north of Boston, possibly all of Massachusetts. Other than my mothers of course. The carne guizada takes me back to my grandmothers food. Glad this place is around.
(5)John L.
Having grown up spending summers in the Azores as a kid, I've been fortunate enough to enjoy great homemade Azorean meals my whole life. For years I had been meaning to find my way out to this enchanting little place in the quaint fishing community of Gloucester and man was I missing out. We ordered the tower of tapas which was extremely reasonably priced- all of the options were delicious, the mushrooms in olive oil, cod cakes, squid, calamari and cheese plate all packed tons of flavor and the presentation was excellent. The tower was a cool touch. Sangria was excellent. Will definitely be back for more.
(5)Stephanie G.
Food is always delicious. Bread and Portuguese olive oil came complimentary. My party and I shared the mussels appetizer that came in broth with onions and peppers. Mussels were very fresh! For entree, I got seafood Cataplana that is served in a copper pot and full of delicious seafood and Jasmine rice. Both the rice and the seafood were cooked perfectly. Be sure to save some of that complimentary bread to soak up the delicious broth. I ended my meal with chocolate mousse. The menu has a huge variety of different foods from steak to seafood to vegetarian specials! I tried my mothers stuffed lobster that was a weekend special for Mother's Day and it was delicious! A large lobster cooked perfectly and stuffed generously with ritz cracker and crabmeat stuffing. Portions are generous and the prices are relatively low. I wish I remembered the name of our server - she was so nice! Service at the Azorean is friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you love authentic Portuguese cuisine, you must try the Azorean!
(4)Leopold S.
Bar looks good after recent renovation but the staff needs a change. At best the bar staff is indifferent and borders on hostile. The food is wildly uneven.
(2)A G.
This is a very nice Portuguese style restaurant. The service was good and friendly. For appetizer we had the classical Cod Fish cakes. As far as this type of cake, I found it had more potato than cod fish-but they were still good. Most of us ordered Caldeirada which is a fish stew. The quantity was perfect with few potatoes which was great. The variety of fish was also excellent. The sauce needed more spice as it was bland-needs improvement. Otherwise a great dish.
(3)M M.
Been there a few times and I've never been disappointed. We live over 20 minutes away and it's worth the drive. The food is absolutely delicious. This place is always busy so I would recommend a reservation. I usually just call a few hours ahead and they're always accommodating.
(5)Mary S.
1. Excellent Portuguese food; as close to authentic as can be in the US. 2. Service is great - place is clean. 3. Dinner servings are sufficient. 4. Wait time can be long, so arrive early (we usually wait 45 min on weekends) *pls note, bar is 1st come 1st serve;not seat yourself and you must also give your name to the bartender or waitstaff. 5. For meat eaters; we recommend the carne altentejana (pork and clams) 6. For seafood dishes: we recommend the shrimp and risotto (might be a special) 7. The only downfall is the rice pudding... I think they make it with water and so it is not authentic and watery.
(4)J V.
I ate here and thought the food was amazing; they have a great menu, with a wide variety of things to order. I really liked the staff and thought the martinis were excellent. I recently ate here with a friend, absolutely loved the food, I thought everything was cooked to perfection. I also had a martini, I really liked the fact they put muddled fruit in their martinis, that extra step makes a difference. The staff was very knowledgeable and really did a good job recommending something off the menu. Don't let this place fool you, it advertises Portuguese food, but they do an amazing job at anything Mediterranean. I will 100% be going back, without a doubt, north shore jem!
(5)John S.
Great service, party of seven, adults and kids. Good selection of appetizers and entrees. Flan for dessert, drinks were very good as well, out of the ordinary,a welcome change from average places in Gloucester.
(5)Vicki G.
The Azorean is always a great choice! Food is always delicious and I've never had a disappointing meal. Their Winter wine dinners are fantastic and a great price. Chef Manny is a top chef!! Highly recommend
(5)Tom T.
Not even close to the 4 star ranking that the Azorean has going. Tried it for the 1st time after it was recommended by a friend. Utter disappointment.... Being based in Gloucester you would think there seafood would be fresh and off the docks as well as substantial, but it is not. Quantity is small. Started with a Caesar Salad to be split by my kids, we needed to order another small to satisfy. Wife's Shrimp Mozambique was so salty she could not finish, that also needed to go back into kitchen to reheat as it was cold too. Calamari came out rubbery and cold. Baked stuffed shrimp was all stuffing on 4 little shrimp and overdone, it looked like it had come out of TV dinner box. Steak tips were cooked perfectly , but not a quality meat. I should have known based on the price point on the menu what we were in for. 2 Stars was really for the parking and the building as it was clean and neat. Sorry to say that a return to the Azorean will never happen, this was not an off night but definitely the MO. Goodluck Cheers!
(2)Brian S.
7/10. Went here May of 2013, and had a nice meal with the family. The restaurant itself is a fun environment that tries to mirror the Portuguese culture at its roots and it does a good job. We didn't order tapas, which I will admit might take away from the experience at such a restaurant. We decided to stick with the bread and oil that they provided; the bread was average at best, but the oil / spice mixture with olives helped liven it up a bit. For entrees, our party ordered a couple different fish dishes. I had a grilled salmon with one of their spicy sauces. The piece of fish was delicious - well cooked and seasoned, and the sauce was very tasty as well. One place where Azorean lost points in my book was a lack of presentation on dishes, and small sized sides with meals. Specifically, my salmon came with "punched potatoes" and "mixed vegetables." While they were both tasty, there were only two small potatoes, and the veggie mix was mostly red onion, which is hard to eat by itself. While everything tasted good, they could have easily saved face with more attention to detail. Waiter / waitress service was very friendly and added to the experience. I got a chance to sample a few other dishes and they were on par with mine - tasty, but lacking presentation and big (or even normal sized) sides. I give Azorean 7/10. I would recommend you check it out because the food was pretty good. Just make sure you have tapas in addition to your meal, since it may not be filling enough.
(3)Carol S.
While visiting the east coast, we stumbled upon the Azorean Restaurant and loved it. My husband and I have traveled the world extensively and love trying new things. We were not expecting an Azorean restaurant in this fishing village. Candidly, I wanted lobster and lots of them. But the clean look of the building and signage was compelling so we stopped in to 'check it out' and stayed. The food was delicious. We ate there three times, dinner, lunch, and a gratuitous meal just because we wanted more! The chef does a very nice job of conceiving the dishes, adding just the right amount of spice and implementing so it hits your table hot, and well prepared. The staff and hostess are professional yet real and kind. A chef friend of mine always says he visits the bathrooms before he eats anywhere. If they keep the bathrooms clean, the kitchen's clean too. If not, well, run fast. The Azorean bathrooms were clean and wheel chair accessible. We will certainly visit again.
(5)Gurn B.
Last time we ate here it was good. This time: Wife ordered shrimp pizza, it was very good. But... she was up half the night with stomach cramps. I ordered bake stuffed shrimp. Who the hell leaves the shell on the shrimp prior to stuffing them? I've never in my life seen this, and had to make an abortion out of the shrimp, peeling the stuffing and shell off of them prior to eating. It tasted ok but was not worth the effort. I had very bad diarrhea all day the following day. What is going on here? I will not be back.
(1)Annie H.
I attended one of the Azorean Wine tasting suppers on April 29th. The selections were amazing - especially the marinated haddock and orange cake. I look forward to going back for these events again and again.
(5)Viv R.
We loved this place! Super friendly staff, great wine at reasonable prices but most of all, the food was great! We had the octopus with caramelized onions and the fava beans with choriço to start, then we shared a spanish paella cooked in a Cataplana. For dessert we shared the pinaple coconut tart. This was an amazing meal, we are coming back!
(5)Shelby F.
Love the buffalo chicken tenders! The hawaiian baked haddock is delicious and so is the Mediterranean salad. The servers are always so nice!
(4)K K.
Terrible! The garlic shrimp smelt funny. Service was slow. Baked eggplant burnt inside (charred eggplant completely ruins anything).
(1)Ted S.
Two haddock dishes excellent, Hawaii haddock. Mixed meat grill was not good. All over cooked and cold. Kale soup was just ok, again could have been heated. Rice pudding was lumpy and tasteless . This is the second inconsistent meal in a month. Service was fair.
(2)Nancy D.
Had the "Tower of Tapas "for lunch today, Excellent food and service.
(4)Tricia W.
First time trying this place and this cuisine and am thrilled we were adventurous! We started off with the house red Sangria carafe and as others pointed out, not super sugary and def refreshing on hot summer night! Appetizers were the mussels and the red sauce was AMAZING! Bread and oil dip was pretty good too. Hubby got the Bife Toureiro (Bull Fighter Steak) - he loved it and said the steak was super tender and cooked perfect. Also the fries/chips were really good. He asked for ketchup for his fries but ended up using them to sop of the yummy sauce. I got the Salmon Senape - a humongous slab of salmon with a creamy mushroom sauce. and the authentic punch potatoes. The salmon was cooked perfectly, sauce was really good. Only thing I would ask for more mushrooms. Also, there was a bit much olive olive pooled on my plate. But other than that the plate was really good! Actually I couldnt even finish it. We didnt do dessert, too full even if we wanted lol. We sat at a lone table behind the hostess bar and right at the entry of the kitchen, was really noisy but was cool to see the kitchen and it workings. PLUS to view all the amazing plates coming out! Service was above average and it seemed our waitress perked up a bit after we said we wanted a true authentic experience. She happily pointed out some of the faves on the menu. And on final note, as we were waiting for the bill to be processed the hostess came around from the stand and chatted a bit more with us. Overall, the prices, food, atmosphere were really well done and we are excited for a repeat visit!
(4)Clifford A.
The kitchen cooks with passion and the waitstaff are terrific. The Cataplanas are a great menu item as are the tapas. Reasonable wine selection, great bar....quickly becoming one of my favorites. Nice for a group or a romantic table for two. Seems to on the Big Screen TV trend which is apparently unavoidable......can't wait to go back.
(5)Janet S.
Good food. Pricey though. Nice decor. Older, darker, romantic in the dining area, noisy by the bar. Not a place for kids! Expensive, eclectic. Kids like simple basic food. No pickles for the over cooked burger, only pasta was spaghetti. Too long for a toddler. Pace was too slow also. Nice date place though I'd bet. Scallops were wonderful. Rolls were hot and fresh. Large beer and wine selections. Coffee was AMAZING! I drink decaf and it was richer than Starbucks by a long shot.
(3)Terri Lee S.
Had a wonderful dining experience there last night. The waitress was appropriately attentive and gave good descriptions/suggestions of the food and drinks. Appetizers were great. Entrees were good quality but a little boring. Salad's need a little work but a different lettuce choice would take care of that because the dressings were great. Dessert was fabulous. Would love to go back sometime and try the Tapas style menu items.
(4)James R.
I truly wanted this restaurant to earn a better review but it didn't. Here's the skinny. We sat at the bar and our (female) bartender was a star. Great mixologist, server and personality (forgot her name). Menu was extensive. We went with 6 tapas selections. 5 out of 6 were stale, tasteless and yuck. The grilled sardines were traditional and good. The structure and decor were very well executed, while the lively nature of the Azorean people, who filled the restaurant to capacity, contributed to its five star ambiance. To be fair, it was our first visit and we only had the Tapas. I think, because of the obvious effort by the owner to offer a unique and very classy environment, we will give this restaurant another chance.
(3)Jennifer E.
This is the only place I have ever had Portuguese good but it's really great. The steak tips are amazing! I also love the chip like potatoes. It's certainly not the cheapest place but it's an experience. The tower of tapas is your best bet to get a true taste of the place but, the price keeps climbing and they keep taking stuff off the menu that we used to order. Local papers have coupons that knock $10 off it but only during the week.
(4)Bernard F.
As others have noted, portions are large and not very expensive. I got the caldo verde and chorizo sandwich. Both were good, but the chorizo was a lot sweeter than I expected so it made it hard to eat the whole sandwich. The sandwich came with "portuguese string fries" which seemed like regular thin french fries to me. Service was good, although the place was almost empty (around 1:30 on a weekday in the Fall). Great decor.
(4)Gabrielle M.
We went to the Azorean restaurant for a birthday celebration last night and we can't wait to go back! Great atmosphere, loud for sure but we were in a festive mood anyway so we weren't bothered by the noise level. We all loved the bread and olive oil, we enjoyed a platter of azorean cheeses served with toast, olives and pork. Very tasty appetizer and paired well with the sangria! We all had seafood dishes, one surf and turf. Everything was delicious, fresh and served hot. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. We finished the meal with coffee, liquids and we shared the rice pudding. Portions were large and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Otis H.
Here was another place that we desperately wanted to like. Local place, owned by Portuguese bringing the flavors of their homeland. Sorry, but it just didn't measure up. The good stuff: -Bread and olive oil, I know it seems small, but if you're an Azorean place that can't get the olive oil right...there are going to be issues. Thankfully, this place has an exceptional garlic oil offering. -Decor-Bathroom was a little rough, but the dining area was pleasant and tasteful -Octopus and onions-I liked this dish (my wife less so). It was definitely the most tender octopus I've had. The not so good: -Wait staff weren't particularly friendly or helpful -"Owners Mix" appetizer, although tasty, was essentially fired calamari and chicken wing sauce. -Tower of Tapas was pretty disappointing. We got the braised azorean beef, codfish cakes, artichokes, boiled pepper potatoes, octopus w/ onions and grilled linguica. Out of all of those, the artichokes were by far the best although you could tell they were canned. The linguica was the biggest let down. Over cooked and tasted essentially like Kielbasa. cod fish tasted like fried stuff and the braised beef was uninspired. For Tapas, the flavors seemed really heavy handed. When we have had tapas before it is much more focused on individual bites of light, flavorful stuff....that designed to be tapas. This seemed like Tapas was more like, small plates of whatever an entree would be.
(3)Hilary A.
Went last night and sat outside with the cool ocean breezes blowing and a great view of the parking lot and the commuter train. No matter, with a fantastic $12.99 bottle of Portuguese bubbly (recommended by our fantastic waiver ess Summer) and our lovely "tower of tapas" (6 choices for only $30), we were all set. If sitting outside doesn't work for you, there's a large indoor dining area with a/c, even a sports bar section. Seems fairly kid-friendly (we saw a couple families happily eating) and the service was great. We always appreciate a server who gives his/her opinion and doesn't say "well...it's really whatever you personally like that matters..." and Summer didn't hesitate to tell us what was excellent. We are both allergic to shellfish, so choices were limited, but excellent braised beef, all veggie tapas were nicel done with good flavors, and the cheese plate was quite lovely. We finished with the choc. mousse (put us over the top in terms of being over-full) and coffee. VERY AFFORDABLE!!! Would do this again in a minute.
(5)David M.
My partner and I had a late lunch here today and we LOVED the food. We ordered the Lisbon Octopus and the Fava Bean stew. Both were great but the octopus (which neither of us have ever tasted) was absolutely incredible, one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had. The service was friendly and welcoming and the homemade desserts were fantastic. We split a chocolate decadence and then brought a selection of 3 other desserts home to split with my sister. Everything was very high quality, very fresh and perfectly seasoned.
(5)June D.
Visited the Azorean last night... By far the best steak tips (Azorean style) I've ever had. Delicious bread, great wine/beer choices. Waitstaff was attentive and pleasant. Restaurant and restrooms are clean. We'll definitely be returning.
(4)Jesse B.
I love this place!!
(5)Jeff G.
My mother in law treated us for a last day of vacation dinner. Awful. Gloopy, overcooked pasta, overcooked meat on the grill combination. The waitress was just atrocious. This actually seems pretty typical in Gloucester though. It seems like a lot of the restaurants hire college kids and give them little training and supervision. That's why I like to stay away from the bigger more touristy places here.
(2)Jerry H.
Very nice with good food and service. Wide choice of fish with interesting preparations. Wide range of wine choices. We look forward to returning We returned in September 2014. Good food and excellent service. A winning combination
(4)Westie W.
The evening was beautiful so upon entering this Portuguese restaurant we asked to be seated on the patio. I had a pair of coupons printed off the restaurant's website that provided an early-bird discount on either a tower of tapas or Caldeirada, a seafood stew. We received a complimentary plate with bread, olives and EVO and ordered a Mediterranean salad to share. The salad included olives, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, basil, red onions, cucumber and feta in a balsamic-based dressing. The Caldeirada proved to be an excellent choice as it included an abundance of fresh mussels, little necks, haddock, calamari, shrimp and scallops in a chunky tomato-based broth.
(4)danny b.
The azorean tips if your a first timer. Food in general is pretty good. Service at times can be a little disappointing.
(4)Danie R.
This place has the CHEAPEST drinks in town! Even though their martini glass is a bit tiny (although no smaller than Latitude/Minglewood) it is only $6.50 for a Absolut vodka martini. They start you off with warm bread and some tasty olive oil with olives. Always so yummy. We like the potatoes, although sometimes dry, and the mushrooms. They are fantastic. Their bar/lunch menu is really cheap too. I like coming here if I am a bit early for a train, as it's right next to the Gloucester stop. The bar tenders are really sweet, yet seem to get overwhelmed pretty quick if a lunch rush comes in. You might have to wait a minute, but they'll be there soon as they can, apologetic and smiling.
(4)Brian G.
As a self proclaimed foodie this place is heaven and my logical choice for my first review on this website. Large portions and not to expensive it just dosnt get any better. I got the grilled codfish and my gf got the bife toureiro if you can find me a better ethnic restaurant id call you a lier. ps sangria by the pitcher = winning
(5)James D.
Great food, awesome seafood. I've never been disappointed. The fried calamari is fantastic, and their steak tips americano are great, as is the baked seafood casserole. This is one of my favorite places to bring family and visitors to sample some of Gloucester's finest.
(5)Jonathan F.
So freaking good. Can't recommend it enough. Make sure to get the octopus with caramelized onions.
(5)Andreas T.
Go there a couple of times a month. Love their seafood dishes and of course the fried calamari. Warm atmosphere, great staff. We love ordering the Portuguese house wine :-)
(5)Wallis T.
We try to dine at The Azorean at least once per week. The food is uniformly very good to excellent. The staff, especially the evening bar staff, are tops. Their Azorean steak tips are excellent, as is the Azorean pizza. Perhaps the most interesting menu choice is their tower of tapas -- there are about two dozen tapas on the menu, and you can select six of them. We've tried them all, and their fried calamari and the potatoes with the hot pepper are favorites, but all are excellent. There is a small but thoughtful selection of draft beers and a full service bar. Week nights, you can get a great burger in the bar for about $5. In the off-season, they have excellent prix-fixe weekly dinners on Monday nights where each course is paired with a Portuguese wine. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Dichosa M.
Ordered Chorizo Sandwich ,sad. Tasted more like Canadian Bacon. No insult intended to Canadians. Not tasty and hard bread. I figured if lunch was bad, not willing to risk dinner
(1)F B.
The four of us went there last night for dinner based on a local recommendation. What a find! The Portuguese dishes we ordered were terrific. One of us ordered the tower of tapas--from sardines to fava beans. Others had the grilled seafood plate, the cataplana, and the seafood stew. The portions were generous, the food delicious, the fish fresh. The service was top notch and the wine was reasonable. Exceptional place.
(5)Chad And Steph P.
We chose this place based on the yelpers. Great atmosphere. We went at 6pm on a Sunday, NO tables available in the dining room, but ample space in the bar. Friendly staff, it was very busy, there was a craft fair happening in the area. They offered us bread and olive oil. It appeared normal, but the garlic flavor in the oil was pretty intense, in a good way. We had the calamari with mohlo vialo sauce over it. 9.5/10. Near perfection but I want a dipping sauce. Ignore my idiosyncrasies and order it. I had the "meat combo", very nice. 2 steak tips, 2 chicken tenders, 2 medallions of pork, and one chorizio sausage; with Portuguese fries (sliced fried potatoes) and a seasonal Squash. If you want to sample their culinary talents this would Do it. I asked for medium rare and got one rare and one medium, but there is a sauce on it that is quite unique, I enjoyed it. 3/5 Steph had the vegetable medley. It was topped with st. Johns cheese and a garlic Sauce. It also had pineapple, that was nice. This dish did not fair too well to our liking. Although it was a massive Portion with good seasoning, there was almost no cheese and there was, obviously, frozen carrots and peas mixed with fresh zucchini and squash. That is a dish killer at an establishment like this. 2/5 We opted out of dessert, as the portions were more than ample. Not a disappointment we will return, we'll have to try their seafood since it's the seafood Mecca of Massachusetts.
(4)Deb J.
Just an update. My first review for this place was back in 2011. We visited again last night, Aug 30, 2013, and everything I said still holds true. This is the best place on Cape Ann and one of my favorite overall, anywhere! Without question, my favorite Cape Ann restaurant! Excellent food, reasonable prices, attentive service. The fried calamari is the best around... I could make a meal of that in itself! We've tried many of the appetizers/tapas and entrees, and we've never been disappointed. My one word of caution is that if you're planning to go there on a Saturday night, especially during "the season," call ahead for reservations! We didn't, but the hostess was able to work us in with just a little delay. Don't skip the appetizers or the desserts!
(5)Maria V.
Pretty damn good. You might not think "awesome cuisine" next to the railroad tracks in Gloucester, but you should definitely give this place a try if you are looking for something different and perhaps a bit more classy than your usual lobster shack in Glaw-stah. Came here with my seafood-lovin' parents and none of us were disappointed. The prices were wholly reasonable as well. Service was a tiny bit slow but it was a Sunday night so I will cut them some slack. Definitely will come back next time I'm in town.
(4)Dave R.
We stopped in while on vacation. Similar to Spanish tapas with a different twist. Really liked the various fish choices: octupus, squid, sardines, etc. More fish choice here than elsewhere. Do New Englanders eat anything other than cod, salmon or lobster? Not that we could tell, so this was a nice diversion.
(4)Rob M.
Had a great dinner here for my birthday. The service is great food i amazing and the atmosphere is fantastic. Never had Portuguese food before I ate here and became a fan.
(4)Chris M.
My family and I randomly ended up at this place once a few weeks ago and it had one of the best seafood platters I have had in a long time. My dad and I ordered "The Atlantis" which for $22.95 includes shrimp,calamari, scallops, marinated haddock with molho vilao sauce, monkfish, and vegetables. Everything was grilled perfectly. They give you a lot of food on your plate too. The molho vilao sauce is something I've never even heard of until then and that really made the meal even better. The restaurant in general was very neat and clean. Before we left, my dad was sure to tell the head chef that it was one of the best meals he has ever had. I definitely want to make another trip back to this place.
(5)Jill E.
Went here for dinner on a sat off season. It was busy but we didnt have to wait. Ambiance was very warm and friendly. I had the shrimp Mozambique which was VERY spicy but still delish! My boyfriend had the "bullfighter steak" which was so tender, clearly an excellent quality cut and also delish. Excellent round fries. Overall very good Portuguese food!
(4)Sarah T.
Not only have I experienced better, I have experienced WAY better! The food here is uninspired. I have heard that the original chef has left the restaurant. My fiance and I have been here a couple of times to give it a try. I had the Carne de Porco A Alentejana (pork with clams) - it also has cubed sautéed potatoes. The pork was extremely tough! Really dry and super tough. The potatoes were dry and had no flavor whatsoever. Most Portuguese pork dishes that I have had are so tender, you don't even need a knife at the table. This was extremely disappointing. What was even more frustrating was that I was served a different pork dish that I hadn't ordered at first. Apparently, the waitress wrote up the order incorrectly. I realize that this happens, but I then waited another 30 minutes for my meal to come on top of us waiting 45 minutes to get our food the first time. It ruined the experience - and I ate after everyone else had finished. At least they comped my meal. I have also had the baked haddock. It was dry and bland. My fiance said that the mussels were okay - but nothing special and no savory sauce. He has also had a fish dish here. It was not good at all. It is too bad as the atmosphere is pleasant and cozy. Perhaps a good place for a drink but not for dining. I will stick with eating Portuguese food where it is authentic, flavorful, savory, and tender - at Antonio's Restaurant in New Bedford (if you haven't been, trust me get the tender, juicy pork dish there!! Love it!) or in Portugal!
(1)Ana D.
As usual, at the end of my Portuguese class, I like to take my students to a Portuguese or Brazilian restaurant of their choice so they can try some authentic cuisine (and try to order in Portuguese). Their choice was the Azorean, probably to please me since I'm from the Azores. The waitress was really nice. Our food and drinks arrived promptly. Everyone loved their dishes (Carne A Alentejana, Lobster Risotto, Seafood Cataplana, Azorean Steak, Carne Guizada). The appetizers were excellent as well with cheeses, codfish cakes, and garlic shrimp. Unfortunately, they didn't have Caldo Verde (Kale Soup). Not a lot of Portuguese beer choices but their wine selection compensates for it. We got a tour of their cellar where they keep the wines by the master cook, Manny Lapa, who was very friendly and a total wine connoisseur. My students were very impressed. I'm sure they will return for more. As so will I!
(5)Jim N.
First visit to this restaurant on recommendation from family who went several times last summer. I had looked at the prior reviews and the menu; but the decor, service and aroma once you get there is the first inkling that "this is something special". We had the fava bean appetizer with the linguica, followed by the Azorian Soup and the Azorian Salad, accompanied by wine and followed by cheese and a shared Tiramisu. In total, this was one of the top-ten meals I've ever had anywhere at any price! Wow, what a treat! If you haven't tried this restaurant, drop what you're doing and hurry!
(5)Kelly R.
Please don't overlook this review due to there only being 3 stars: I've only been once and I have yet to go back - therefore to give full stars on one good performance would be premature. I went there a few weeks ago with my fiancee and family to celebrate my birthday. We have been longing to get out and explore some new places and since we are adventurous eaters and have read a fair amount of reviews we decided to give it a go. We certainly weren't disappointed here as they do a great job with their traditional Azorean faire, which is what we chose to stick with in regards to the menu. The menu is large with ample selections, and there are some options on the menu that aren't Azorean, for those that are lacking the palate or muster to try something new. I started with the cold octopus salad and it was spot on - very tender, flavorful, and clean. With the apps and main dishes we ordered a pitcher of Sangria for the table it was done very well. For my main dish I had the Shrimp Mozambique; the portion was generous and delicious. Others at my table sampled for their main dishes, a traditional preparation of a seafood soup/stew which was full of fresh seafood and a nice balance of vegetables, and a pork dish which was also very generous and well prepared. Bottom line: If you're going to go there then do not be afraid of trying something new. They are an Azorean restaurant and what they do best are the traditional Azorean Portuguese dishes. If you go there and order American faire then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. We read a lot of reviews that cut the establishment down based on American faire that they ordered and were subsequently disappointed with. What did you really expect? Relax and step outside the box, trust them and try something new! I know that my fiancee and I will be going back, and if the service and dishes are consistent then I will give a review with more stars :)
(3)Rebecca S.
We went to Azorean with limited expectations. I'm not a huge fan of Iberian fare in general -- I don't dislike it, it just usually doesn't leave me wanting to come back for more. Not anymore! The grilled sardines I had were perfection -- intensely flavorful but not at all heavy, skin crispy and the flesh tender. Determined to try something she'd never had before, my mom had the grilled salt cod, and loved it. My dad was pleased with his seafood platter. The vegetable sides were fine -- nothing special but perfectly good to eat. They really know how to cook seafood at Azorean in ways that allow the natural flavors to come out without heavy batters or sauces.
(4)Jen S.
Amazing! Shellfish stew is loaded with fresh seafood bathed in a broth of, I think, saffron & tarragon. White sangria is tasty and thirst-quenching. Grilled calamari are fresh, not chewy, and perfectly spiced. The bread with herbed olive oil is wonderful. I should have left room for dessert because the dessert menu was gorgeous. Grilled pineapple with a port wine drizzle.
(5)Julie C.
Best restaurant in Gloucester! Hands down. I'm a Gloucester resident and live within walking distance. Best part? I'm a vegetarian and they have the best vegetarian menu in town. I'm also a sherry drinker (that's all I like) and you can buy a glass of Ruby Porto for $3.65 (also 10 and 20-yr tawny's). Great food great prices, if you're visiting Gloucester, eat here!
(5)Josie L.
Came here with my husband, MIL, toddler, and baby on a Sunday around 12:30pm. We got it just before it got busy, and we were seated promptly at the borner table, which has a L-shaped booth and it was perfect for the carseat. Bread was awesome--fresh out of the oven and crisp on the outside yet soft and spongy inside. The garlic oil that came along was delicious too. Here is the list of what we had: App- fava bean: pretty good. Main-Lisbon octopus: tender legs, but on the greasy side, hence one star knocked off. Seafood stew: fantastic stew, although 1/3 of the dish was big chunks of stewed potato. Seafood paella: I ordered one without lobster, and it was the best out of the 3 dishes. I am eating the leftover now and this is making me want to take the next commuter rail to Gloucester so I can have more for dinner. Spiced and salted to perfection and hands down the best paella I've had (compared to the paella I've had in Madrid, Valencia, and Cordoba, Spain). Dessert: flan. Good stuff, although Gustazo Cafe in Belmont has better flan (richer) than here. Overall: family-friendly (except for no changing table in bathroom), good service, awesome seafood paella.
(4)Amanda L.
Me and my BF went to Gloucester for the day and we wanted to go somewhere for dinner that was relatively close to the T station. When we walked about 5 steps from the T station, what do I see but the Azorean Restaurant. I nearly flipped out. Being Azorean myself (Portuguese represent!) I was freakin excited. After walking around Gloucester for the day I was extremely excited and hungry by the time we got there. First off they had the CUTEST place mats, it was a map of the islands, and I saved one for my mother. They had my FAVORITEST Portuguese dish EVAR, fried cod cakes. Holy crap I was in heaven. they were UBER delicious. I wanted to try everything on the menu. They had some of my favorite dishes. The place is really cute too, they had my mom's favorite flowers (hydrangeas) and they had flat screen TVs that flashed pictures of the islands. I wish this place was closer, because I would come here everyday.
(5)Kostis H.
Very good food. They also accommodated a last-minute and very loud 22-person party at 9:30pm and service was great, especially Kate.
(5)Chris M.
This was our first experience at this restaurant, but definiltey not our last. The Azorean features a wide variety of unique, delicious Portugese dishes and had generous portions and fast and friendly service. The sangria was quite tasty, though only served by the glass. For an appetizer, we had the "owner's favorite" which was a combination of shrimp and lightly fried calamari ina hot sauce. This was almost a meal in itself. For entrees, my wife had the paella, which was also a very generous helping, loaded with seafood. My surf and turf featured stuffed shrimp done perfectly - not too much stuffing and steak tips prepared with a spicy marinade. Overall, a fantastic dining experience. Also, its close to the commuter rail if you are car-less.
(4)K P.
My husband just found out that his ancestors were from the Azores, so when we stumbled across this restaurant we had to give it a try! The Azorean beverages were interesting, especially the passion fruit soda. The wine list was varied and intriguing, though we didn't end up ordering any wine. We started off with the Azorean cheese plate, which had a ton of cheese on it. It would have been useful if the cheeses had been labeled in some way or grouped together so we would have had some idea what we were eating, but the cheeses themselves were good. This plate also had a "pork spread" which sounds sketchy but was actually delicious- lean pulled pork with warm spices. We also ate a ton of bread with the spiced olive oil that was brought out with our cheese plate. For main courses I got the cornish game hen and my husband got the Azorean steak tips. The game hen was tasty and the plate had a ton of food on it, with citrusy sauce and roasted garlic slivers. I was a little disappointed by the fries, which I thought would be special but turned out to be just average fries. My food was also more lukewarm than hot when it was served which was a bit off-putting. The steak tips were fine but nothing special. There is something a little chain-like about this restaurant, which is odd given that it's not a chain! I'm not sure if it was the layout of the restaurant, or the paper placemats, or the heavy-duty plain white plates that look like they belong in a cafeteria. I may eat here again if I'm in the area, but I probably won't make a special trip to go back.
(3)Steve H.
It was a beautiful day in Gloucester, sunny and mild, after a number of days of temps in the 50's. We choose to visit late afternoon on a Friday before the evening crowd. Since the day was so nice, we decided to eat out on the patio and enjoy the nice day. The Tapas Tower sounded great to us. This consisted of a choice of six tapas from their menu. All of our selection were great. Our wait staff was busy on the inside with table and we told her that we were just fine outside with our bottle of wine and slowly nibbling on our selection. Great place to spend the afternoon for a light meal and a relaxing time.
(4)Peter F.
Curently eating here and had the azorean steak and loved it! My girlfriend had the carne alantejana and was all smiles. I recommend eating here of you are Portuguese, American, Mexican, or anything other nationality in the world!
(5)James G.
fantastic food. love the menu. no good vegetarian options though.
(4)Bill S.
Varied menu, high prices, mostly good but somewhat inconsistent food. We had a waitress who is not cut out for the profession - somewhat disorganized. She was attentive to the people at the end of the booth, but ignored everyone else.
(3)Jessica K.
I ventured to the Azorean restaurant with a girlfriend for Tapas one Sunday night. The environment is very clean and has an airy / open feel to it.. However, I would not judge the place by the outside. I thought It looked a little to over the top and was a little skeptical when i first arrived. It was pretty empty inside but it was a Sunday night. Any way on to the good stuff. the menu is pretty extensive and they also offer nightly special but the best thing on the menu is that you can order choose six tapas from a two page menu for $24.99. So that is what we did. Six tapas was plenty. We tried the fried calamari, cod cakes, chorizo crostini(one with goat cheese), green beans and quail. everything was great. We even had room for dessert, which was good. Service was great. I will definitely be back.
(4)J. N.
We wanted to like this restaurant, really, we did. One can only eat so much fried seafood and lobster rolls before craving some variety. We arrived at Azorean en masse on Sunday night, with as many kids as adults. The restaurant was really nice and our server was gracious (like I said, kids) and patient. But the food was sub-par. The bread and olive oil tasted great, but it was downhill from there. My steak, ordered medium, arrived grey inside. The hamburger was burnt to a crisp and inedible (even to a 10-year-old). We found a long hair in the seafood casserole (which was being eaten by a boy with short hair). Dessert menu looked good, but we decided to cut our losses and head to the ice cream parlor. Unfortunate, since Gloucester could use a diversion from the ubiquitous beach food.
(2)Eduardo D.
I'm a huge fan! The food is just right, flavors, portion size, family owned, everything is perfect. I'm always debating if I should have the Azorean Steak with fried egg on top or the Pork Filets (the sauce if phenomenal, always ask for little more). This is the place I go when I want to indulge myself and my family with a very good meal...
(5)Phil J.
Answered their appealing radio ad, went there July 5, so everyone was winding down from the Fourth of July. Waited a few minutes for someone to greet us, we had reservation, so we got right to our table. Big menu, many good-looking items. I ordered their Paella - turns out to be a house specialty, and it was fantastic, with a half-lobster. Terrific presentation, and the spices and flavors were perfect. Others had appetizer clams (excellent again), Mediterranean salad w/steak tips (delicious). All the food was great. I would only add that the service was a bit slow, our very nice waitress forgot to bring my appetizer order of fish cakes, and getting the bill at the end was tedious. And the fact that the waitresses have to bus tables is not cool. But the food was great. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Nancy J.
Tried this Portuguese restaurant with a group the other night and it was great! Decor is appealing and it is extremely clean. Waitress was friendly, portions were good sized, not overpriced and delicious. You can substitute veggies for the starch, which is a big plus. I had the Azorean steak without the egg and loved it! The wine sauce was spicy and perfect with the steak.
(5)Karl B.
Found this restaurant on Yelp when a co-worker and I were in the area for a class and wanted to get dinner after a little sight seeing. Wanted to get something besides the typical fried seafood meal and was very surprised by what we found Food was excellent. I started with the octopus salad and the moved onto the steak tips for the entrée. The octopus was the most tender that I have ever had. The steak was very tender and had been fileted so there was no fat. Co-worker had garlic shrimp and a pizza. Shrimp was cooked perfectly and not over cooked and tender. Service was very prompt and friendly If you want to enjoy good seafood this is your place
(5)Corey L.
My girlfriend went here w her friend for dinner and brought me home take-out. I got the steak tips w chips/fries and green beans. The steak was really good - very well flavored/spiced. A good amount. Decent quality, though w some thick ribbons of fat through, but overall cooked as ordered and quite tasty. Green beans were fine. Chips/fries were thin, cooked as asked, and nicely spiced as well. Really good food, definitely want to go inside myself
(4)Kent F.
I was almost going to go 4 stars but in can't. The atmosphere is nice but NOISY. Put some acoustic tile on the ceilings! We, my wife and I,sat at the bar. got a couple $5 tapas appetizers. Nice idea, they are kinda small but for $5 just right. I got a 12 oz filet mignion with a spicy wine sauce. The sauce was not spicy and it flooded the plate. You couldn't get away from it. It was in the rice and potatoes. The bartender said you can order the starch on the side. This really took away from the success of the dish. My wife got a grilled seafood dish. The seafood was kinda dry. I liked the place and we will try again as I think there is potential I haven't found the right dishes yet. Nose they have $4 bottles imported beers. 2 appetizers 2 entrée and 4 beers was $80 add tip 13 and it was 93. They got one more shot. If that doesn't work out it will be relegated to a bar and I will stay with the simplest offerings. The bread and oil they serve is really good.
(3)Valorie G.
I wasn't sure I would like Portiguese food, I'm not a big fan of seafood. I have to say that there were plenty of choices for the non-peixe eaters. The braised beef was amazing, the decor was quaint and cozy and the staff was friendly and helpful. So happy I got to try some food from the family's homeland on my trip out east!
(4)Yige W.
We came here for lunch after whale watching. Great service and awesome food in a warm atmosphere! We ordered Tapas tower and a Mediterranean salad, that's a decent amount for two ppl. Everything tastes sooooo good!
(5)Brian G.
I had an event in the back room which was wonderful thanks to the staff and Manny they were extremely accommodating and extremely polite and the food was great and everybody had a great time
(5)Jameson B.
This is a real gem of a restaurant for Gloucester. Every summer we get the whole extended family out to the Cape and we generally try and cook in, but inevitably we roam outside the kitchen for sustenance. This is our second time at Azorean and it lived up to what we remembered it being. Great building with a really nice interior. It's a really exotic menu and a nice change of pace if you're looking for something other then the standard fried plates of seafood around town. Although they don't have a kids menu, they have an unwritten one. They are very accomodating although I would just print one for future use to make it easier on the waitstaff and to calm parents with picky eaters. Must get both the red and white sangria to make the meal complete.
(5)Jessica F.
The food here was alright, nothing crazy. The Portuguese food here is more Americanized, so if your looking for authentic, this is not the place for you. I had the Spanish Cataplana and it didn't really have any taste. The fish needed more seasoning. The cod fish cakes are good and so was the chorizo spread that came with the cheese plate.
(2)Dilean H.
I stop at the Azorean almost every time I come up to Gloucester. It's been hit or miss. Today, I had the garlic shrimp and octopus salad. Shrimp was ok . Could have used some spices. Octopus was great. The 4 stars are for the Portuguese margarita. That sucker was potent. Definitely will order again.
(4)Greg B.
Have eaten here several times and the food and service has been fantastic. I would highly recommend this restaurant
(5)Stephanie S.
I had dinner at Azorean tonight with my parents and my fiancé. After all was said and done we decided that we'd definitely be back. Prices were very fair and portion size was just right. Soon after meeting our waitress we knew she'd be a good hostess for our first visit and we were definitely pleased with her service. The dipping oil to complement their bread was some of the best I've ever had. We shared the cheese sampler and fava bean tapas. The cheeses were very good and the others really enjoyed the fava beans. I ordered the Surf and Turf. I would describe it as just okay. One of my moms had a procedure to reduce her stomach size so the tapas was perfect as a meal for her. All of our meals were very good and we were very pleased with our desserts as well.
(4)Christine H.
In all my years of coming to Gloucester multiple times a year, we were first compelled to go here during the nasty, cold rains of July 5th: Arthur's Revenge. It was freaking awesome. Braised beef was done perfectly, and the flavors were subtle, yet nothing I had ever tasted before. Steak tips were cooked correctly and also had their own small spiciness upon first bite, only to melt into something more savory and delicious. I had to try dessert: the chocolate mousse was the best I have had in a long while. Often I get mousse at restaurants and it's just too sugary with not enough chocolate flavor. Well, this one was just right on all ends. I ate it all up and enjoyed the real whipped cream they put on top. The strawberry balsamic with vanilla ice cream was excellent, as well. I'll have to come one more time to consider it a five star review, but I am SO looking forward to it. Maybe I'll just show up for dessert!
(4)dajian x.
A distance from me but recommended. I had the nearly nearly $26 Portuguese paella. The size of the dish was smaller than I expected. The food was over cooked and for this much money I would have expected more quality. This was a major disappointment. The oil for the dipping for the rolls was excellent as was the sour Martini. The restaurant is attractive and the service was superb. Given the foregoing I would give 5 star for the service. For $26 I expect quality, being one of the most expensive sea food items. This was not what I received. I believe that this place has more potential but failed to meet this potential. As such, my rating of the restaurant suffers. Since I live so far I doubt i would go out of my way for a second chance. P.s. As far as cost overall: $$$
(2)Michele M.
We go out to dinner A LOT and sometimes forget why we've only been to the Azorean a few times. It's affordable, open late and the food has never been bad. On the plus side, I'm a vegetarian and my boyfriend is not and they have some pretty decent options for both of us, albeit not authentically Azorean most dishes are good and the tapas is usually a good deal. They've revamped the restaurant and the bar is quite nice. The restaurant is clean and the new parking lot is convenient for the area. Having been a waitress/bartender for a long time, I thought twice about writing this. But it needs to be said that if you go here, go early. We came a half hour before closing a few times, which at many places is not a big deal. You will be forced to choke down your dinner even if there are other patrons. Everyone who works there will begin fiercely clamoring and cleaning so that you can't enjoy anything you got. Despite the fact that they were socializing just before and after you're visit. They will sarcastically ask you if you'd like another drink after you've managed to choke down your first one because the noise to get you out of there made the first one less than enjoyable. Be prepared for evil stares if it's 15 minutes to closing. Normally I'd say it was just a fluke thing, but it's happened to us a few times and I've heard from numerous other people that it's a constant here. I haven't written many yelp reviews but if I ever do it's been about food and in Gloucester there is no lack of that. Truthfully, I couldn't enjoy it enough to say if the food was good or bad. Save your money and go to the Gloucester House, Short and Main, Alchemy or many others who will serve you happily, even late.
(1)Joe M.
Fantastic food and even better service! We ordered the "Tapas Tower". It was to die for! A great meal to split! Our waitress, Haley was friendly and attentive! Without a doubt we are going back!
(5)Kathryn E.
My family brought mom here for Mother's Day yesterday. We had a group of 9 and the large square table we got was great for that sized group so everyone could talk to everyone else. I know it was a holiday, and our waitresses said that they were open for brunch for the first time that day, however I was a little surprised that at such an early dinner hour they were already out of several dishes. One of the dishes they were out of was one of the three vegetarian options (unless you want a salad), so my choices left were sauteed vegetables in cream sauce or roasted vegetables in cream sauce. Now the really hard choice was to have it over rice, or linguine. It was pretty good, though a little pricey for just veggies and carbs. I did like the fact that we could bring home our unfinished bottle of wine (a very good red blend for cheap), and the house-made tiramisu was wonderful. We arrived on time for our 5:30 reservation, but we didn't end up leaving until after 8:00. The place didn't look that busy, but I think they were understaffed: our waitress was great but she must've been spread thin over a few tables. It was nice to have a long dinner with family, but those that drove over an hour and those with a baby were less than pleased with how long everything took.
(3)Eric K.
My girlfriend and I live just around the corner from the Azorean. We had enjoyed a few good meals there over the years until our most recent visit. We stopped in one evening about a month ago and started with drinks and the cod fish cakes. The drinks were ok and the cod fish cakes were delicious. It was all downhill from there. Our waitress was clearly new and was extremely slow and tough to get ahold of when we needed something. I'll cut her a break because there's obviously a learning curve when you're learning a new job. I won't cut the kitchen staff a break though as my stuffed lobster was the worst I've ever had. Generally when you order a baked stuffed lobster at most restaurants they stuff it with additional lobster meat and or some crab, scallops, etc.. Not here, they stuffed mine with bread crumbs. Dry bread crumbs. I've never eaten saw dust but this is what I'd imagine that it tastes like. Not only was the chef stingy on the lobster meat I swear that my lobster had been sent back by another customer or pre-made ahead of time. My lobster looked faded, almost white. My gf pointed out two other stuffed lobsters brought out to another table and their lobsters at least looked red and fresh. Luckey them! So, my meal sucked and then there was my girlfriend's. She ordered an octopus dish that she had enjoyed before on other occasions. Not this time. The octopus was like rubber. (I sampled it, as well) Chewing on this dish was akin to chewing on the sole of your tennis sneaker. Yum! Lastly, what kind of restaurant these days doesn't offer WIFI to their customers?! Never again, Azorean!!!
(2)Jimmy F.
Had a fantastic experience again at the Azorean. He made a reservation a day in advance. Pretty busy for a Sunday night. The place nails every detail. Great fresh bread with olive oil and spices. We had the Garlic Shrimp and Fried Calamari for appetizers, yum I had the Mushroom Steak (12 oz tenderloin) And the roasted garlic sauce was awesome. We also ordered the Seafood Stew. Both entrees were perfect. No room for coffee, no room for dessert.
(5)gabriella s.
I rarely give 4 stars because let's face it, nothing is perfect but this meal was as close to perfect as it can get. First we ordered the buttered garlic filet which came with rice and Portuguese potatoes. My filet was cooked perfectly, my sisters a little more on the well side but like I said, nothing is perfect. The quality of the food was so spectacular. The a large beef was so tender and fresh. By far the best filet I've had in years. The rice and potatoes perfectly cooked. Service was great, Jolene was very nice and attentive. Oh I almost forgot the oil and bread it's magnificent. Red pepper extra Virginia oil with garlic and parsley and red peppers I think. Over all excellent place. Def will be back with friends and family.
(4)Audrey C.
Delicious food, great atmosphere- nice and comfortable but not fancy, big portions, very reasonable prices. If I lived around here, I would be here regularly. Only minus one star because when they get busy, it can be a wait to get in/get your food (45 min- 1 hour after ordering).
(4)Doc L.
Outstanding food and value! I eat here whenever I'm in town.... The grilled octopus is great!
(5)Deb R.
I'm Portuguese and my mother is a great cook, so whenever I go to a Portuguese restaurant I'm often disappointed because the food is not as good as her cooking, that being said, I went to the Azorean this weekend for my father and sister's birthday and I was so impressed by the food and atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff were all very friendly. There was a mix up in the kitchen so the manager and waitress came over to apologize for the wait. I found this to be so nice and professional. We started off with the little neck clams and assorted cheese platter which were both great. This place is also fairly priced for large portions. It was also very clean and everything tasted fresh. Considering how we were there for their birthdays, they even brought desserts with candles in them! It was very thoughtful! I will definitely be going again soon!
(5)Contessa A.
We've been frequenting this restaurant since they opened. We average approx. 12x yearly. We were always very satisfied, however, last night was an exception. In fact, the last time I was there was another exception. A bus boy spilled piping hot sauce all over me and my clothes. The manager didn't even come to check if I was ok. A hostess did and then she disappeared. I had to ask for cold water to put on my arm. My clothes were ruined and my arm was burned. Not requiring medical attention but it was red and painful for a week. The waitstaff were aware of this incident but did nothing....I mean nothing...no napkins...no seltzer....nothing at all!! The other 6 people in our party were appalled at how this was handled. I wrote to the manager (who BTW, was too busy w/a large party that night to check on a customer who was burned). It took him 3 wks to respond. He apologized and said the next time I went there he'd 'take care' of me. Well, last night was the next time and he was fully aware that I was there avoided me like a hot potato. He stood in front of me and didn't speak to me at all. We didn't go to the restaurant with expectations, but to be ignored was beyond rude. We ordered our dinners and while most were fine, my friend and I got the Frango Assado which is my favorite dish....I've had it many times.....it was so tough we practically needed a saw. It's cornish hen....why was it like shoe leather? We told the waitress, Jilleen, and she apologized but that was the end of that discussion. My husband ordered the rice pudding which was like warm paste....horrible. My friend order the flan that was tasteless. I don't know what happened in the kitchen but I can tell you that it was our last night there for dinner. Not just because of the awful dinners but also because of the rudeness of the manager. We have many friends in Gloucester as well and will let our experiences become known to them as well. Too many good restaurants to waste our good money here. Never again. Contessa
(2)Katie M.
Amazing food, great wine selection and comforting atmosphere. Got the special seafood diablo and it was so yummy!!
(4)Lawrence C.
the bread with olive oil taste so good. the filet mignon is very tendered and with a little bit spicy, I love it. The french fry is made from sliced potato and taste very good. environment is very comfy, relaxed. good restaurant, hihgly recommended
(5)M B.
Big plus is parking lot in the middle of a busy street Old school decor feels like going back in time Many interesting drink combos Tapas seems like the big draw Sandwiches, our choice, were dripping with sauces in a negative way Service was so slow and in attentive that when I went to the ladies room, two people, clearly annoyed as much as we, asked me if I was the owner and if I could help them (!?) I hoped the check would arrive during my trip to the loo but no such luck.we waited 30 minutes for three sandwiches ( one burger) and it was far from crowded. Another 15 minutes for check- we donned our coats as a hint to properly pay. We paid cash to speed up the process at that point. Much radio advertising yet much disappointment after finally visiting
(2)Mark D.
Claudia started it all off with perfect service. So nice and sweet and smiled the whole time. But was also helpful when choosing our meal which was perfect. We had tapas. she broke it down basically said you each pick 3 and you can add more if you need too. The warm salad was excellent. Beautiful presentation and taste I shared it with my spouse. Great start. Make reservations. It's always packed because the locals know there's great food at very affordable prices. Best part was the service. Thank you Claudia!
(5)Jeff D.
We went here because my brother gave us a gift certificate so we made a day out of it. The seafood is excellent and were particularly loved the grilled octopus, which was charred and sweet and succulent all at the same time. The steamers were also very well done. I don't know that we would drive out to Gloucester exclusively for a meal, but if we were out in that neck of the woods we would definitely stop by.
(3)Kelly M.
Claudia, you get a personal shoutout! I only know your name because it said it on your apron, but you are amazing! I arrived here on a Sunday afternoon waiting for a party of 7. I asked if I could sit at the enormous table in the bar since I was there first and was waiting for the others. No hesitation, no problem...absolutely sit down! I've been to a lot of places that, even when they aren't busy, don't let you sit till your whole party is there. Not the case here! AND I was taking up their biggest table all by myself. I felt a bit awkward but that's just me! She brought over menu's and bread with the perfect olive oil to dip it in. Without having to ask she brought me a water. Perfect! We all ordered lunch and everything was phenomenal! (As were the key lime martinis!) When the time came to get the check there was a little issue because some of the girls had ordered from the lunch menu and got charged for the full price meal. I guess they don't do lunch on Sunday, but still gave us the menu and didn't tell us that. She was quick to talk to a manager and fixed the check! She was absolutely the perfect waitress the entire time. Claudia checked on us regularly, refilled our water, and did it all with a smile. I'll be back. For the food AND the service!
(5)C B.
My uncle raves about this place so today he took my mom, aunt, and I. They got octopus and calamari and loved it. I got the baked stuffed haddock and it was delicious. The stuffing was very light tasting and crisp, green beans and potato were very fresh. They also have awesome fried potatoes!
(5)A R.
My husband and I stopped in with our baby on a Saturday afternoon. I had a seafood stew (can't remember the name) and he had an octopus dish (sauteed with garlic, if I remember correctly. My husband is very particular about octopus, but was really, really pleased with how it was cooked. Perfect! My seafood stew was quite fresh and tasty as well. We also had fried calamari, which was quite good. Food pricing was very reasonable, although we spent a bit more than we normally would because we ordered more expensive dishes and more food than usual. (And we aren't ones to spend lavishly on food--so it really is reasonable for the average person). The server and staff were very accommodating and friendly. The atmosphere was perfect--not too casual, not too fancy. Nicely decorated. Overall, a wonderful experience with great food. I can't wait to go back to try more!
(5)Marianne P.
Food was very good. Flavor of broths and sauces were good. Bread and oil dip was very tasty. Prices were very reasonable and portions were appropriate.
(4)Alexander L.
Very nice and tasty, good european cusine. Till now Beat restourant in America that I so.
(5)Dave S.
We celebrated an anniversary at the Azorean. There were 10 children and 8 adults. The restaurant made their function room available and we pre-arranged family style servings. If I tried I could not think of one thing that disappointed us. The service was great, the food was terrific, the arrangements were made very easily and to boot, the price was significantly less than I originally planned. When you are leaving a restaurant and everyone from 12 to upper 60's are commenting on how great the food was, things were done right.
(5)Dr B.
Wait times are long. We got lucky and got outdoor seating 5 minutes after checking in without reservation. The tapas were amazing . Every single one was great, especially the octopus dishes and the cocktails were a nice compliment. The service wan't very fast but given the fact how packed the place was it was understandable. The decor took me back to Europe - from the front facade to the bathrooms - the details just make you forget you are in New England.
(4)Hallie B.
Best grilled octopus I've ever had. Every time I've had it in the past year, it has been excellent. Love the consistency of execution on this dish, as well as the spicy shrimp, and any way they do calamari. Warm atmosphere, perfect martinis, and a not too shabby at all wine list. Always leave full and happy.
(4)Tim W.
I have eaten here at least 2 dozen times, no one is paying me for this review. I have found the food here very good and yes occasionally i have gotten sub par meals - preparation, meat overcooked, or greasy or in one case i just didn't like what I ordered. I have found the seafood to be fresh and well prepared. The prices are comparatively low and the service is above average. It's not 5 stars just fairly priced tasty meals.
(4)Christina G.
Great food and very nice atmosphere. Little necks were very tasty. Lots of choices,definitely going back
(5)Marc D.
The best Portuguese food north of Boston, possibly all of Massachusetts. Other than my mothers of course. The carne guizada takes me back to my grandmothers food. Glad this place is around.
(5)John L.
Having grown up spending summers in the Azores as a kid, I've been fortunate enough to enjoy great homemade Azorean meals my whole life. For years I had been meaning to find my way out to this enchanting little place in the quaint fishing community of Gloucester and man was I missing out. We ordered the tower of tapas which was extremely reasonably priced- all of the options were delicious, the mushrooms in olive oil, cod cakes, squid, calamari and cheese plate all packed tons of flavor and the presentation was excellent. The tower was a cool touch. Sangria was excellent. Will definitely be back for more.
(5)Stephanie G.
Food is always delicious. Bread and Portuguese olive oil came complimentary. My party and I shared the mussels appetizer that came in broth with onions and peppers. Mussels were very fresh! For entree, I got seafood Cataplana that is served in a copper pot and full of delicious seafood and Jasmine rice. Both the rice and the seafood were cooked perfectly. Be sure to save some of that complimentary bread to soak up the delicious broth. I ended my meal with chocolate mousse. The menu has a huge variety of different foods from steak to seafood to vegetarian specials! I tried my mothers stuffed lobster that was a weekend special for Mother's Day and it was delicious! A large lobster cooked perfectly and stuffed generously with ritz cracker and crabmeat stuffing. Portions are generous and the prices are relatively low. I wish I remembered the name of our server - she was so nice! Service at the Azorean is friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly. If you love authentic Portuguese cuisine, you must try the Azorean!
(4)Leopold S.
Bar looks good after recent renovation but the staff needs a change. At best the bar staff is indifferent and borders on hostile. The food is wildly uneven.
(2)A G.
This is a very nice Portuguese style restaurant. The service was good and friendly. For appetizer we had the classical Cod Fish cakes. As far as this type of cake, I found it had more potato than cod fish-but they were still good. Most of us ordered Caldeirada which is a fish stew. The quantity was perfect with few potatoes which was great. The variety of fish was also excellent. The sauce needed more spice as it was bland-needs improvement. Otherwise a great dish.
(3)M M.
Been there a few times and I've never been disappointed. We live over 20 minutes away and it's worth the drive. The food is absolutely delicious. This place is always busy so I would recommend a reservation. I usually just call a few hours ahead and they're always accommodating.
(5)Mary S.
1. Excellent Portuguese food; as close to authentic as can be in the US. 2. Service is great - place is clean. 3. Dinner servings are sufficient. 4. Wait time can be long, so arrive early (we usually wait 45 min on weekends) *pls note, bar is 1st come 1st serve;not seat yourself and you must also give your name to the bartender or waitstaff. 5. For meat eaters; we recommend the carne altentejana (pork and clams) 6. For seafood dishes: we recommend the shrimp and risotto (might be a special) 7. The only downfall is the rice pudding... I think they make it with water and so it is not authentic and watery.
(4)J V.
I ate here and thought the food was amazing; they have a great menu, with a wide variety of things to order. I really liked the staff and thought the martinis were excellent. I recently ate here with a friend, absolutely loved the food, I thought everything was cooked to perfection. I also had a martini, I really liked the fact they put muddled fruit in their martinis, that extra step makes a difference. The staff was very knowledgeable and really did a good job recommending something off the menu. Don't let this place fool you, it advertises Portuguese food, but they do an amazing job at anything Mediterranean. I will 100% be going back, without a doubt, north shore jem!
(5)John S.
Great service, party of seven, adults and kids. Good selection of appetizers and entrees. Flan for dessert, drinks were very good as well, out of the ordinary,a welcome change from average places in Gloucester.
(5)Vicki G.
The Azorean is always a great choice! Food is always delicious and I've never had a disappointing meal. Their Winter wine dinners are fantastic and a great price. Chef Manny is a top chef!! Highly recommend
(5)Tom T.
Not even close to the 4 star ranking that the Azorean has going. Tried it for the 1st time after it was recommended by a friend. Utter disappointment.... Being based in Gloucester you would think there seafood would be fresh and off the docks as well as substantial, but it is not. Quantity is small. Started with a Caesar Salad to be split by my kids, we needed to order another small to satisfy. Wife's Shrimp Mozambique was so salty she could not finish, that also needed to go back into kitchen to reheat as it was cold too. Calamari came out rubbery and cold. Baked stuffed shrimp was all stuffing on 4 little shrimp and overdone, it looked like it had come out of TV dinner box. Steak tips were cooked perfectly , but not a quality meat. I should have known based on the price point on the menu what we were in for. 2 Stars was really for the parking and the building as it was clean and neat. Sorry to say that a return to the Azorean will never happen, this was not an off night but definitely the MO. Goodluck Cheers!
(2)Brian S.
7/10. Went here May of 2013, and had a nice meal with the family. The restaurant itself is a fun environment that tries to mirror the Portuguese culture at its roots and it does a good job. We didn't order tapas, which I will admit might take away from the experience at such a restaurant. We decided to stick with the bread and oil that they provided; the bread was average at best, but the oil / spice mixture with olives helped liven it up a bit. For entrees, our party ordered a couple different fish dishes. I had a grilled salmon with one of their spicy sauces. The piece of fish was delicious - well cooked and seasoned, and the sauce was very tasty as well. One place where Azorean lost points in my book was a lack of presentation on dishes, and small sized sides with meals. Specifically, my salmon came with "punched potatoes" and "mixed vegetables." While they were both tasty, there were only two small potatoes, and the veggie mix was mostly red onion, which is hard to eat by itself. While everything tasted good, they could have easily saved face with more attention to detail. Waiter / waitress service was very friendly and added to the experience. I got a chance to sample a few other dishes and they were on par with mine - tasty, but lacking presentation and big (or even normal sized) sides. I give Azorean 7/10. I would recommend you check it out because the food was pretty good. Just make sure you have tapas in addition to your meal, since it may not be filling enough.
(3)Carol S.
While visiting the east coast, we stumbled upon the Azorean Restaurant and loved it. My husband and I have traveled the world extensively and love trying new things. We were not expecting an Azorean restaurant in this fishing village. Candidly, I wanted lobster and lots of them. But the clean look of the building and signage was compelling so we stopped in to 'check it out' and stayed. The food was delicious. We ate there three times, dinner, lunch, and a gratuitous meal just because we wanted more! The chef does a very nice job of conceiving the dishes, adding just the right amount of spice and implementing so it hits your table hot, and well prepared. The staff and hostess are professional yet real and kind. A chef friend of mine always says he visits the bathrooms before he eats anywhere. If they keep the bathrooms clean, the kitchen's clean too. If not, well, run fast. The Azorean bathrooms were clean and wheel chair accessible. We will certainly visit again.
(5)Gurn B.
Last time we ate here it was good. This time: Wife ordered shrimp pizza, it was very good. But... she was up half the night with stomach cramps. I ordered bake stuffed shrimp. Who the hell leaves the shell on the shrimp prior to stuffing them? I've never in my life seen this, and had to make an abortion out of the shrimp, peeling the stuffing and shell off of them prior to eating. It tasted ok but was not worth the effort. I had very bad diarrhea all day the following day. What is going on here? I will not be back.
(1)Annie H.
I attended one of the Azorean Wine tasting suppers on April 29th. The selections were amazing - especially the marinated haddock and orange cake. I look forward to going back for these events again and again.
(5)Jesse B.
I love this place!!
(5)Viv R.
We loved this place! Super friendly staff, great wine at reasonable prices but most of all, the food was great! We had the octopus with caramelized onions and the fava beans with choriço to start, then we shared a spanish paella cooked in a Cataplana. For dessert we shared the pinaple coconut tart. This was an amazing meal, we are coming back!
(5)Shelby F.
Love the buffalo chicken tenders! The hawaiian baked haddock is delicious and so is the Mediterranean salad. The servers are always so nice!
(4)K K.
Terrible! The garlic shrimp smelt funny. Service was slow. Baked eggplant burnt inside (charred eggplant completely ruins anything).
(1)Ted S.
Two haddock dishes excellent, Hawaii haddock. Mixed meat grill was not good. All over cooked and cold. Kale soup was just ok, again could have been heated. Rice pudding was lumpy and tasteless . This is the second inconsistent meal in a month. Service was fair.
(2)Nancy D.
Had the "Tower of Tapas "for lunch today, Excellent food and service.
(4)Tricia W.
First time trying this place and this cuisine and am thrilled we were adventurous! We started off with the house red Sangria carafe and as others pointed out, not super sugary and def refreshing on hot summer night! Appetizers were the mussels and the red sauce was AMAZING! Bread and oil dip was pretty good too. Hubby got the Bife Toureiro (Bull Fighter Steak) - he loved it and said the steak was super tender and cooked perfect. Also the fries/chips were really good. He asked for ketchup for his fries but ended up using them to sop of the yummy sauce. I got the Salmon Senape - a humongous slab of salmon with a creamy mushroom sauce. and the authentic punch potatoes. The salmon was cooked perfectly, sauce was really good. Only thing I would ask for more mushrooms. Also, there was a bit much olive olive pooled on my plate. But other than that the plate was really good! Actually I couldnt even finish it. We didnt do dessert, too full even if we wanted lol. We sat at a lone table behind the hostess bar and right at the entry of the kitchen, was really noisy but was cool to see the kitchen and it workings. PLUS to view all the amazing plates coming out! Service was above average and it seemed our waitress perked up a bit after we said we wanted a true authentic experience. She happily pointed out some of the faves on the menu. And on final note, as we were waiting for the bill to be processed the hostess came around from the stand and chatted a bit more with us. Overall, the prices, food, atmosphere were really well done and we are excited for a repeat visit!
(4)Clifford A.
The kitchen cooks with passion and the waitstaff are terrific. The Cataplanas are a great menu item as are the tapas. Reasonable wine selection, great bar....quickly becoming one of my favorites. Nice for a group or a romantic table for two. Seems to on the Big Screen TV trend which is apparently unavoidable......can't wait to go back.
(5)Janet S.
Good food. Pricey though. Nice decor. Older, darker, romantic in the dining area, noisy by the bar. Not a place for kids! Expensive, eclectic. Kids like simple basic food. No pickles for the over cooked burger, only pasta was spaghetti. Too long for a toddler. Pace was too slow also. Nice date place though I'd bet. Scallops were wonderful. Rolls were hot and fresh. Large beer and wine selections. Coffee was AMAZING! I drink decaf and it was richer than Starbucks by a long shot.
(3)Terri Lee S.
Had a wonderful dining experience there last night. The waitress was appropriately attentive and gave good descriptions/suggestions of the food and drinks. Appetizers were great. Entrees were good quality but a little boring. Salad's need a little work but a different lettuce choice would take care of that because the dressings were great. Dessert was fabulous. Would love to go back sometime and try the Tapas style menu items.
(4)James R.
I truly wanted this restaurant to earn a better review but it didn't. Here's the skinny. We sat at the bar and our (female) bartender was a star. Great mixologist, server and personality (forgot her name). Menu was extensive. We went with 6 tapas selections. 5 out of 6 were stale, tasteless and yuck. The grilled sardines were traditional and good. The structure and decor were very well executed, while the lively nature of the Azorean people, who filled the restaurant to capacity, contributed to its five star ambiance. To be fair, it was our first visit and we only had the Tapas. I think, because of the obvious effort by the owner to offer a unique and very classy environment, we will give this restaurant another chance.
(3)Jennifer E.
This is the only place I have ever had Portuguese good but it's really great. The steak tips are amazing! I also love the chip like potatoes. It's certainly not the cheapest place but it's an experience. The tower of tapas is your best bet to get a true taste of the place but, the price keeps climbing and they keep taking stuff off the menu that we used to order. Local papers have coupons that knock $10 off it but only during the week.
(4)Bernard F.
As others have noted, portions are large and not very expensive. I got the caldo verde and chorizo sandwich. Both were good, but the chorizo was a lot sweeter than I expected so it made it hard to eat the whole sandwich. The sandwich came with "portuguese string fries" which seemed like regular thin french fries to me. Service was good, although the place was almost empty (around 1:30 on a weekday in the Fall). Great decor.
(4)Gabrielle M.
We went to the Azorean restaurant for a birthday celebration last night and we can't wait to go back! Great atmosphere, loud for sure but we were in a festive mood anyway so we weren't bothered by the noise level. We all loved the bread and olive oil, we enjoyed a platter of azorean cheeses served with toast, olives and pork. Very tasty appetizer and paired well with the sangria! We all had seafood dishes, one surf and turf. Everything was delicious, fresh and served hot. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. We finished the meal with coffee, liquids and we shared the rice pudding. Portions were large and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Otis H.
Here was another place that we desperately wanted to like. Local place, owned by Portuguese bringing the flavors of their homeland. Sorry, but it just didn't measure up. The good stuff: -Bread and olive oil, I know it seems small, but if you're an Azorean place that can't get the olive oil right...there are going to be issues. Thankfully, this place has an exceptional garlic oil offering. -Decor-Bathroom was a little rough, but the dining area was pleasant and tasteful -Octopus and onions-I liked this dish (my wife less so). It was definitely the most tender octopus I've had. The not so good: -Wait staff weren't particularly friendly or helpful -"Owners Mix" appetizer, although tasty, was essentially fired calamari and chicken wing sauce. -Tower of Tapas was pretty disappointing. We got the braised azorean beef, codfish cakes, artichokes, boiled pepper potatoes, octopus w/ onions and grilled linguica. Out of all of those, the artichokes were by far the best although you could tell they were canned. The linguica was the biggest let down. Over cooked and tasted essentially like Kielbasa. cod fish tasted like fried stuff and the braised beef was uninspired. For Tapas, the flavors seemed really heavy handed. When we have had tapas before it is much more focused on individual bites of light, flavorful stuff....that designed to be tapas. This seemed like Tapas was more like, small plates of whatever an entree would be.
(3)Hilary A.
Went last night and sat outside with the cool ocean breezes blowing and a great view of the parking lot and the commuter train. No matter, with a fantastic $12.99 bottle of Portuguese bubbly (recommended by our fantastic waiver ess Summer) and our lovely "tower of tapas" (6 choices for only $30), we were all set. If sitting outside doesn't work for you, there's a large indoor dining area with a/c, even a sports bar section. Seems fairly kid-friendly (we saw a couple families happily eating) and the service was great. We always appreciate a server who gives his/her opinion and doesn't say "well...it's really whatever you personally like that matters..." and Summer didn't hesitate to tell us what was excellent. We are both allergic to shellfish, so choices were limited, but excellent braised beef, all veggie tapas were nicel done with good flavors, and the cheese plate was quite lovely. We finished with the choc. mousse (put us over the top in terms of being over-full) and coffee. VERY AFFORDABLE!!! Would do this again in a minute.
(5)David M.
My partner and I had a late lunch here today and we LOVED the food. We ordered the Lisbon Octopus and the Fava Bean stew. Both were great but the octopus (which neither of us have ever tasted) was absolutely incredible, one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had. The service was friendly and welcoming and the homemade desserts were fantastic. We split a chocolate decadence and then brought a selection of 3 other desserts home to split with my sister. Everything was very high quality, very fresh and perfectly seasoned.
(5)June D.
Visited the Azorean last night... By far the best steak tips (Azorean style) I've ever had. Delicious bread, great wine/beer choices. Waitstaff was attentive and pleasant. Restaurant and restrooms are clean. We'll definitely be returning.
(4)Jeff G.
My mother in law treated us for a last day of vacation dinner. Awful. Gloopy, overcooked pasta, overcooked meat on the grill combination. The waitress was just atrocious. This actually seems pretty typical in Gloucester though. It seems like a lot of the restaurants hire college kids and give them little training and supervision. That's why I like to stay away from the bigger more touristy places here.
(2)Jerry H.
Very nice with good food and service. Wide choice of fish with interesting preparations. Wide range of wine choices. We look forward to returning We returned in September 2014. Good food and excellent service. A winning combination
(4)Westie W.
The evening was beautiful so upon entering this Portuguese restaurant we asked to be seated on the patio. I had a pair of coupons printed off the restaurant's website that provided an early-bird discount on either a tower of tapas or Caldeirada, a seafood stew. We received a complimentary plate with bread, olives and EVO and ordered a Mediterranean salad to share. The salad included olives, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, basil, red onions, cucumber and feta in a balsamic-based dressing. The Caldeirada proved to be an excellent choice as it included an abundance of fresh mussels, little necks, haddock, calamari, shrimp and scallops in a chunky tomato-based broth.
(4)Danie R.
This place has the CHEAPEST drinks in town! Even though their martini glass is a bit tiny (although no smaller than Latitude/Minglewood) it is only $6.50 for a Absolut vodka martini. They start you off with warm bread and some tasty olive oil with olives. Always so yummy. We like the potatoes, although sometimes dry, and the mushrooms. They are fantastic. Their bar/lunch menu is really cheap too. I like coming here if I am a bit early for a train, as it's right next to the Gloucester stop. The bar tenders are really sweet, yet seem to get overwhelmed pretty quick if a lunch rush comes in. You might have to wait a minute, but they'll be there soon as they can, apologetic and smiling.
(4)danny b.
The azorean tips if your a first timer. Food in general is pretty good. Service at times can be a little disappointing.
(4)Brian G.
As a self proclaimed foodie this place is heaven and my logical choice for my first review on this website. Large portions and not to expensive it just dosnt get any better. I got the grilled codfish and my gf got the bife toureiro if you can find me a better ethnic restaurant id call you a lier. ps sangria by the pitcher = winning
(5)James D.
Great food, awesome seafood. I've never been disappointed. The fried calamari is fantastic, and their steak tips americano are great, as is the baked seafood casserole. This is one of my favorite places to bring family and visitors to sample some of Gloucester's finest.
(5)Jonathan F.
So freaking good. Can't recommend it enough. Make sure to get the octopus with caramelized onions.
(5)Andreas T.
Go there a couple of times a month. Love their seafood dishes and of course the fried calamari. Warm atmosphere, great staff. We love ordering the Portuguese house wine :-)
(5)Wallis T.
We try to dine at The Azorean at least once per week. The food is uniformly very good to excellent. The staff, especially the evening bar staff, are tops. Their Azorean steak tips are excellent, as is the Azorean pizza. Perhaps the most interesting menu choice is their tower of tapas -- there are about two dozen tapas on the menu, and you can select six of them. We've tried them all, and their fried calamari and the potatoes with the hot pepper are favorites, but all are excellent. There is a small but thoughtful selection of draft beers and a full service bar. Week nights, you can get a great burger in the bar for about $5. In the off-season, they have excellent prix-fixe weekly dinners on Monday nights where each course is paired with a Portuguese wine. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Dichosa M.
Ordered Chorizo Sandwich ,sad. Tasted more like Canadian Bacon. No insult intended to Canadians. Not tasty and hard bread. I figured if lunch was bad, not willing to risk dinner
(1)F B.
The four of us went there last night for dinner based on a local recommendation. What a find! The Portuguese dishes we ordered were terrific. One of us ordered the tower of tapas--from sardines to fava beans. Others had the grilled seafood plate, the cataplana, and the seafood stew. The portions were generous, the food delicious, the fish fresh. The service was top notch and the wine was reasonable. Exceptional place.
(5)Chad And Steph P.
We chose this place based on the yelpers. Great atmosphere. We went at 6pm on a Sunday, NO tables available in the dining room, but ample space in the bar. Friendly staff, it was very busy, there was a craft fair happening in the area. They offered us bread and olive oil. It appeared normal, but the garlic flavor in the oil was pretty intense, in a good way. We had the calamari with mohlo vialo sauce over it. 9.5/10. Near perfection but I want a dipping sauce. Ignore my idiosyncrasies and order it. I had the "meat combo", very nice. 2 steak tips, 2 chicken tenders, 2 medallions of pork, and one chorizio sausage; with Portuguese fries (sliced fried potatoes) and a seasonal Squash. If you want to sample their culinary talents this would Do it. I asked for medium rare and got one rare and one medium, but there is a sauce on it that is quite unique, I enjoyed it. 3/5 Steph had the vegetable medley. It was topped with st. Johns cheese and a garlic Sauce. It also had pineapple, that was nice. This dish did not fair too well to our liking. Although it was a massive Portion with good seasoning, there was almost no cheese and there was, obviously, frozen carrots and peas mixed with fresh zucchini and squash. That is a dish killer at an establishment like this. 2/5 We opted out of dessert, as the portions were more than ample. Not a disappointment we will return, we'll have to try their seafood since it's the seafood Mecca of Massachusetts.
(4)Deb J.
Just an update. My first review for this place was back in 2011. We visited again last night, Aug 30, 2013, and everything I said still holds true. This is the best place on Cape Ann and one of my favorite overall, anywhere! Without question, my favorite Cape Ann restaurant! Excellent food, reasonable prices, attentive service. The fried calamari is the best around... I could make a meal of that in itself! We've tried many of the appetizers/tapas and entrees, and we've never been disappointed. My one word of caution is that if you're planning to go there on a Saturday night, especially during "the season," call ahead for reservations! We didn't, but the hostess was able to work us in with just a little delay. Don't skip the appetizers or the desserts!
(5)Maria V.
Pretty damn good. You might not think "awesome cuisine" next to the railroad tracks in Gloucester, but you should definitely give this place a try if you are looking for something different and perhaps a bit more classy than your usual lobster shack in Glaw-stah. Came here with my seafood-lovin' parents and none of us were disappointed. The prices were wholly reasonable as well. Service was a tiny bit slow but it was a Sunday night so I will cut them some slack. Definitely will come back next time I'm in town.
(4)Dave R.
We stopped in while on vacation. Similar to Spanish tapas with a different twist. Really liked the various fish choices: octupus, squid, sardines, etc. More fish choice here than elsewhere. Do New Englanders eat anything other than cod, salmon or lobster? Not that we could tell, so this was a nice diversion.
(4)Chris M.
My family and I randomly ended up at this place once a few weeks ago and it had one of the best seafood platters I have had in a long time. My dad and I ordered "The Atlantis" which for $22.95 includes shrimp,calamari, scallops, marinated haddock with molho vilao sauce, monkfish, and vegetables. Everything was grilled perfectly. They give you a lot of food on your plate too. The molho vilao sauce is something I've never even heard of until then and that really made the meal even better. The restaurant in general was very neat and clean. Before we left, my dad was sure to tell the head chef that it was one of the best meals he has ever had. I definitely want to make another trip back to this place.
(5)Jill E.
Went here for dinner on a sat off season. It was busy but we didnt have to wait. Ambiance was very warm and friendly. I had the shrimp Mozambique which was VERY spicy but still delish! My boyfriend had the "bullfighter steak" which was so tender, clearly an excellent quality cut and also delish. Excellent round fries. Overall very good Portuguese food!
(4)Sarah T.
Not only have I experienced better, I have experienced WAY better! The food here is uninspired. I have heard that the original chef has left the restaurant. My fiance and I have been here a couple of times to give it a try. I had the Carne de Porco A Alentejana (pork with clams) - it also has cubed sautéed potatoes. The pork was extremely tough! Really dry and super tough. The potatoes were dry and had no flavor whatsoever. Most Portuguese pork dishes that I have had are so tender, you don't even need a knife at the table. This was extremely disappointing. What was even more frustrating was that I was served a different pork dish that I hadn't ordered at first. Apparently, the waitress wrote up the order incorrectly. I realize that this happens, but I then waited another 30 minutes for my meal to come on top of us waiting 45 minutes to get our food the first time. It ruined the experience - and I ate after everyone else had finished. At least they comped my meal. I have also had the baked haddock. It was dry and bland. My fiance said that the mussels were okay - but nothing special and no savory sauce. He has also had a fish dish here. It was not good at all. It is too bad as the atmosphere is pleasant and cozy. Perhaps a good place for a drink but not for dining. I will stick with eating Portuguese food where it is authentic, flavorful, savory, and tender - at Antonio's Restaurant in New Bedford (if you haven't been, trust me get the tender, juicy pork dish there!! Love it!) or in Portugal!
(1)Ana D.
As usual, at the end of my Portuguese class, I like to take my students to a Portuguese or Brazilian restaurant of their choice so they can try some authentic cuisine (and try to order in Portuguese). Their choice was the Azorean, probably to please me since I'm from the Azores. The waitress was really nice. Our food and drinks arrived promptly. Everyone loved their dishes (Carne A Alentejana, Lobster Risotto, Seafood Cataplana, Azorean Steak, Carne Guizada). The appetizers were excellent as well with cheeses, codfish cakes, and garlic shrimp. Unfortunately, they didn't have Caldo Verde (Kale Soup). Not a lot of Portuguese beer choices but their wine selection compensates for it. We got a tour of their cellar where they keep the wines by the master cook, Manny Lapa, who was very friendly and a total wine connoisseur. My students were very impressed. I'm sure they will return for more. As so will I!
(5)Jim N.
First visit to this restaurant on recommendation from family who went several times last summer. I had looked at the prior reviews and the menu; but the decor, service and aroma once you get there is the first inkling that "this is something special". We had the fava bean appetizer with the linguica, followed by the Azorian Soup and the Azorian Salad, accompanied by wine and followed by cheese and a shared Tiramisu. In total, this was one of the top-ten meals I've ever had anywhere at any price! Wow, what a treat! If you haven't tried this restaurant, drop what you're doing and hurry!
(5)Kelly R.
Please don't overlook this review due to there only being 3 stars: I've only been once and I have yet to go back - therefore to give full stars on one good performance would be premature. I went there a few weeks ago with my fiancee and family to celebrate my birthday. We have been longing to get out and explore some new places and since we are adventurous eaters and have read a fair amount of reviews we decided to give it a go. We certainly weren't disappointed here as they do a great job with their traditional Azorean faire, which is what we chose to stick with in regards to the menu. The menu is large with ample selections, and there are some options on the menu that aren't Azorean, for those that are lacking the palate or muster to try something new. I started with the cold octopus salad and it was spot on - very tender, flavorful, and clean. With the apps and main dishes we ordered a pitcher of Sangria for the table it was done very well. For my main dish I had the Shrimp Mozambique; the portion was generous and delicious. Others at my table sampled for their main dishes, a traditional preparation of a seafood soup/stew which was full of fresh seafood and a nice balance of vegetables, and a pork dish which was also very generous and well prepared. Bottom line: If you're going to go there then do not be afraid of trying something new. They are an Azorean restaurant and what they do best are the traditional Azorean Portuguese dishes. If you go there and order American faire then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. We read a lot of reviews that cut the establishment down based on American faire that they ordered and were subsequently disappointed with. What did you really expect? Relax and step outside the box, trust them and try something new! I know that my fiancee and I will be going back, and if the service and dishes are consistent then I will give a review with more stars :)
(3)Rebecca S.
We went to Azorean with limited expectations. I'm not a huge fan of Iberian fare in general -- I don't dislike it, it just usually doesn't leave me wanting to come back for more. Not anymore! The grilled sardines I had were perfection -- intensely flavorful but not at all heavy, skin crispy and the flesh tender. Determined to try something she'd never had before, my mom had the grilled salt cod, and loved it. My dad was pleased with his seafood platter. The vegetable sides were fine -- nothing special but perfectly good to eat. They really know how to cook seafood at Azorean in ways that allow the natural flavors to come out without heavy batters or sauces.
(4)Jen S.
Amazing! Shellfish stew is loaded with fresh seafood bathed in a broth of, I think, saffron & tarragon. White sangria is tasty and thirst-quenching. Grilled calamari are fresh, not chewy, and perfectly spiced. The bread with herbed olive oil is wonderful. I should have left room for dessert because the dessert menu was gorgeous. Grilled pineapple with a port wine drizzle.
(5)Julie C.
Best restaurant in Gloucester! Hands down. I'm a Gloucester resident and live within walking distance. Best part? I'm a vegetarian and they have the best vegetarian menu in town. I'm also a sherry drinker (that's all I like) and you can buy a glass of Ruby Porto for $3.65 (also 10 and 20-yr tawny's). Great food great prices, if you're visiting Gloucester, eat here!
(5)Josie L.
Came here with my husband, MIL, toddler, and baby on a Sunday around 12:30pm. We got it just before it got busy, and we were seated promptly at the borner table, which has a L-shaped booth and it was perfect for the carseat. Bread was awesome--fresh out of the oven and crisp on the outside yet soft and spongy inside. The garlic oil that came along was delicious too. Here is the list of what we had: App- fava bean: pretty good. Main-Lisbon octopus: tender legs, but on the greasy side, hence one star knocked off. Seafood stew: fantastic stew, although 1/3 of the dish was big chunks of stewed potato. Seafood paella: I ordered one without lobster, and it was the best out of the 3 dishes. I am eating the leftover now and this is making me want to take the next commuter rail to Gloucester so I can have more for dinner. Spiced and salted to perfection and hands down the best paella I've had (compared to the paella I've had in Madrid, Valencia, and Cordoba, Spain). Dessert: flan. Good stuff, although Gustazo Cafe in Belmont has better flan (richer) than here. Overall: family-friendly (except for no changing table in bathroom), good service, awesome seafood paella.
(4)Amanda L.
Me and my BF went to Gloucester for the day and we wanted to go somewhere for dinner that was relatively close to the T station. When we walked about 5 steps from the T station, what do I see but the Azorean Restaurant. I nearly flipped out. Being Azorean myself (Portuguese represent!) I was freakin excited. After walking around Gloucester for the day I was extremely excited and hungry by the time we got there. First off they had the CUTEST place mats, it was a map of the islands, and I saved one for my mother. They had my FAVORITEST Portuguese dish EVAR, fried cod cakes. Holy crap I was in heaven. they were UBER delicious. I wanted to try everything on the menu. They had some of my favorite dishes. The place is really cute too, they had my mom's favorite flowers (hydrangeas) and they had flat screen TVs that flashed pictures of the islands. I wish this place was closer, because I would come here everyday.
(5)Kostis H.
Very good food. They also accommodated a last-minute and very loud 22-person party at 9:30pm and service was great, especially Kate.
(5)Chris M.
This was our first experience at this restaurant, but definiltey not our last. The Azorean features a wide variety of unique, delicious Portugese dishes and had generous portions and fast and friendly service. The sangria was quite tasty, though only served by the glass. For an appetizer, we had the "owner's favorite" which was a combination of shrimp and lightly fried calamari ina hot sauce. This was almost a meal in itself. For entrees, my wife had the paella, which was also a very generous helping, loaded with seafood. My surf and turf featured stuffed shrimp done perfectly - not too much stuffing and steak tips prepared with a spicy marinade. Overall, a fantastic dining experience. Also, its close to the commuter rail if you are car-less.
(4)K P.
My husband just found out that his ancestors were from the Azores, so when we stumbled across this restaurant we had to give it a try! The Azorean beverages were interesting, especially the passion fruit soda. The wine list was varied and intriguing, though we didn't end up ordering any wine. We started off with the Azorean cheese plate, which had a ton of cheese on it. It would have been useful if the cheeses had been labeled in some way or grouped together so we would have had some idea what we were eating, but the cheeses themselves were good. This plate also had a "pork spread" which sounds sketchy but was actually delicious- lean pulled pork with warm spices. We also ate a ton of bread with the spiced olive oil that was brought out with our cheese plate. For main courses I got the cornish game hen and my husband got the Azorean steak tips. The game hen was tasty and the plate had a ton of food on it, with citrusy sauce and roasted garlic slivers. I was a little disappointed by the fries, which I thought would be special but turned out to be just average fries. My food was also more lukewarm than hot when it was served which was a bit off-putting. The steak tips were fine but nothing special. There is something a little chain-like about this restaurant, which is odd given that it's not a chain! I'm not sure if it was the layout of the restaurant, or the paper placemats, or the heavy-duty plain white plates that look like they belong in a cafeteria. I may eat here again if I'm in the area, but I probably won't make a special trip to go back.
(3)Steve H.
It was a beautiful day in Gloucester, sunny and mild, after a number of days of temps in the 50's. We choose to visit late afternoon on a Friday before the evening crowd. Since the day was so nice, we decided to eat out on the patio and enjoy the nice day. The Tapas Tower sounded great to us. This consisted of a choice of six tapas from their menu. All of our selection were great. Our wait staff was busy on the inside with table and we told her that we were just fine outside with our bottle of wine and slowly nibbling on our selection. Great place to spend the afternoon for a light meal and a relaxing time.
(4)Peter F.
Curently eating here and had the azorean steak and loved it! My girlfriend had the carne alantejana and was all smiles. I recommend eating here of you are Portuguese, American, Mexican, or anything other nationality in the world!
(5)James G.
fantastic food. love the menu. no good vegetarian options though.
(4)Bill S.
Varied menu, high prices, mostly good but somewhat inconsistent food. We had a waitress who is not cut out for the profession - somewhat disorganized. She was attentive to the people at the end of the booth, but ignored everyone else.
(3)Jessica K.
I ventured to the Azorean restaurant with a girlfriend for Tapas one Sunday night. The environment is very clean and has an airy / open feel to it.. However, I would not judge the place by the outside. I thought It looked a little to over the top and was a little skeptical when i first arrived. It was pretty empty inside but it was a Sunday night. Any way on to the good stuff. the menu is pretty extensive and they also offer nightly special but the best thing on the menu is that you can order choose six tapas from a two page menu for $24.99. So that is what we did. Six tapas was plenty. We tried the fried calamari, cod cakes, chorizo crostini(one with goat cheese), green beans and quail. everything was great. We even had room for dessert, which was good. Service was great. I will definitely be back.
(4)J. N.
We wanted to like this restaurant, really, we did. One can only eat so much fried seafood and lobster rolls before craving some variety. We arrived at Azorean en masse on Sunday night, with as many kids as adults. The restaurant was really nice and our server was gracious (like I said, kids) and patient. But the food was sub-par. The bread and olive oil tasted great, but it was downhill from there. My steak, ordered medium, arrived grey inside. The hamburger was burnt to a crisp and inedible (even to a 10-year-old). We found a long hair in the seafood casserole (which was being eaten by a boy with short hair). Dessert menu looked good, but we decided to cut our losses and head to the ice cream parlor. Unfortunate, since Gloucester could use a diversion from the ubiquitous beach food.
(2)Eduardo D.
I'm a huge fan! The food is just right, flavors, portion size, family owned, everything is perfect. I'm always debating if I should have the Azorean Steak with fried egg on top or the Pork Filets (the sauce if phenomenal, always ask for little more). This is the place I go when I want to indulge myself and my family with a very good meal...
(5)Nancy J.
Tried this Portuguese restaurant with a group the other night and it was great! Decor is appealing and it is extremely clean. Waitress was friendly, portions were good sized, not overpriced and delicious. You can substitute veggies for the starch, which is a big plus. I had the Azorean steak without the egg and loved it! The wine sauce was spicy and perfect with the steak.
(5)Phil J.
Answered their appealing radio ad, went there July 5, so everyone was winding down from the Fourth of July. Waited a few minutes for someone to greet us, we had reservation, so we got right to our table. Big menu, many good-looking items. I ordered their Paella - turns out to be a house specialty, and it was fantastic, with a half-lobster. Terrific presentation, and the spices and flavors were perfect. Others had appetizer clams (excellent again), Mediterranean salad w/steak tips (delicious). All the food was great. I would only add that the service was a bit slow, our very nice waitress forgot to bring my appetizer order of fish cakes, and getting the bill at the end was tedious. And the fact that the waitresses have to bus tables is not cool. But the food was great. I highly recommend this place.
(4)