The Rudder
73 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester, MA, 01930
The Rudder Menu
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Address :
73 Rocky Neck Ave
Gloucester, MA, 01930 - Phone (978) 283-7967
- Website https://www.rudderrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Arielle G.
Talk about fresh! While sitting outside on the deck for dinner I saw a chef walk down on the dock, pull a lobster from a trap, and head back to the kitchen. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious: eggplant napoleon with buratta, crispy chicken wings, fish and chips, and the trifecta special. All made for a fantastic date night. Minus a star for the slow service, but, to be fair, there wasn't an empty table in the place.
(4)Beth G.
We were referred by our hotel, and somewhat disappointed. The dining room was really crowded and noisy. The women behind me kept bumping her chair into me. The service was fast, too fast. They brought our entrees in about five minutes, before our salad. I had the lobster and shrimp scampi, it was lackluster. My husband had the swordfish special, it had crab and guacomole on it, and just didnt work together. Our waitress was very nice, however.
(2)Taylor K.
Came here when visiting Gloucester. Was pleased. Good service and nice environment. Loud but still nice. Food was good. Not amazing but everything we got was good. Highly recommend the pulled pork and scallops appetizer!!
(4)Torrance C.
I had my 29th ;-) birthday at the rudder this past weekend. We were a big party and the staff took care of us as they always do. They were super attentive and put up with our rowdiness. The menu seems to have a few more offerings this year. I had chicken wings and fish tacos which were excelent. The bartenders there are always trying new things so ask them what new or what you should have (not during a rush) and they'll probably have some crazy infusion. You can't beat the rudder! So excited for another great season. Thanks everyone!
(5)Amy C.
This is an inspiring place and it's been a pleasure to meet the people there. We are very pleased with the great work that Greg, the director of bussiness operations, and Donna, the functions coordinator have done to help me planning a wedding reception. They are really supportive, responsible, and considerate. That is real customer support!
(5)Abby B.
Great atmosphere and good food. My husband had clam chowder and said it was pretty good. Beautiful location on the water, decent food.
(4)Aboud Y.
Fantastic restaurant in a beautiful setting. There are dozens of crappy restaurants on the water that offer a nice setting but terrible food/service. The Rudder isn't one of them...the seafood was fresh, the service was great, and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. I've been a few times and def. plan to go back.
(4)Victoria G.
Rocky Neck = Summer Dining!! The patio is lovely. Raw bar & seafood are fresh.
(4)Michael P.
I would say...pretty good food. The issue here is that the taste does not match the price of the food. What makes this spot hot is it's omnience and location on the water. Fun place to be at!
(3)Erica W.
Just had dinner here Sat. night. BEST lamb shank ever! Served w/ yummy corn risotto. Will def be back.
(4)John R.
Great staff, great food but tight seating. Mussels are awesome and the bread was served hot. One draw back people coming in from boats and going back out.
(4)Karen W.
So my first time to Gloucester and it's early May, The hotel recommends going to The Rudder, and we set out to the restaurant. Still cool weather this time of year and the walk from parking was short and quiet. We step inside the door of the restaurant and immediately feel at home. Things are jumping and we are met by the hostess "Coleen" who seems like an old fried even though you have met for the first time! Understanding that these reviews are about the food I have to say that everything we had was great and with the folks that welcomed us and served our food everything was elevated to another level. Gloucester is a great town and this restaurant is one of the reasons why you should give this place a try.
(4)Marc L.
Ate dinner here with three business colleagues. Two of us got fish sandwiches (fried haddock), others got fish plates. Everything outstanding. One of the best fish sandwiches I ever had. Great service, really warm and friendly. Great beer selection (I had Ipswich IPA, outstanding). Prices not too expensive. We sat on the deck overlooking the harbor, charming and lovely. We happened to be there on a perfect weather evening, so it was pretty magical. We ate here because our host's first choice restaurant, the Causeway, had a 40 minute wait for dinner, and this Rudder sat us immediately. I can't imagine any other place beating the Rudder. Would definitely return.
(5)Yella W.
Couldn't get into our first choice and was referred to the Rudder. Was a little concerned as it appeared to be touristy at the outset. But the food was very good. Wedge salad with romaine and bacon strips was quite good. Followed by fried clams. Very large portions. Just a bit noisy and a bit touristy.
(4)eric b.
Nice location... Popular bar scene and fantastic outside seating overlooking waterway.. Great waitstaff... Very attentive and friendly. I have ordered Tuna Steak here 5 times and chef has done it perfectly each time.... Have never heard a dining companion of mine speak poorly of meal quality. I'm an unwavering fan.
(4)kristin h.
What a classic local joint in the heart of a fisherman's town! So glad I had a chance to experience a fresh lobster, tuna, and crab. And on (unknowingly) the last day of the season...and much to our surprise, our server, Emma told us that all of their food was half-price because of the last day of the season celebration. Funny enough, we discovered this after we ordered! The tuna tartare was piled high with fresh tuna and some guacamole, then on the side fresh ginger, wasabi and soy. The crab cake appetizer is lightly fried with 3 crab-packed cakes and a little aioli. Seafood this fresh obviously requires very little seasoning as was the case at The Rudder with our menu selections! Now for the mother load of deliciousness. 2lbs of fresh lobster. Plucked straight from the Atlantic amongst a vivacious crowd of fisherman. I couldn't have scripted it better. We substituted chilled asparagus instead of fries and coleslaw. An excellent option I might add! Butter, lobster, asparagus. Heaven help me!!! So. Dang. Good!!! Thank you Rudder for making this a special experience! Can't wait to come back!
(5)Norma A.
What a great place to eat! We didn't have reservations and it was a busy night. David- who works at the bar saw us standing outside and quickly offered to help us get a table. Not only did he get us a table in less than 15 minutes, but he checked up on us about 3 times! I wish most restaurants would understand the importance of outstanding customer service like David does. The drinks were strong which my boyfriend seemed very happy about :) Great memories from this place! Thanks so much, David! You made our trip to Gloucester very memorable!
(5)Mark A.
To start off, I think a big problem for me was expectations. The menu looked so enticing, it would have been difficult for them to live up to what I envisioned my meal would be. Getting to the restaurant was a bit of a challenge (lots of one-way streets, and it's located on a very narrow slip, with very limited parking). The place is not much to look at from the outside, I'll call it "quaint & rustic". They had string/christmas lights and fake leaves strung across the entire low-hanging ceiling. The place was very busy and extremely loud. We were seated at a table that didn't have enough room for the chairs; the person sitting behind my wife kept banging into her chair (drunkenly). Our waitress came over relatively quickly, and as we looked at the menu beforehand, we knew what we were ordering, and placed along with our drink choices. Tables that seated 5+ minutes after us received their drinks, bread & apps before us, which was peculiar. For appetizers, we ordered the Ultimate Meatballs, and stuffed Mushrooms. We both really enjoyed the meatballs, they were delectable. The mushrooms had a good taste, but I'd say the bacon was a bit underdone for our liking (especially because it was so fatty), and between the ingredients it was rather "slimy". If they mixed a bit of breadcrumbs or something in there, I think that may have helped the texture quite a bit. We finished our apps, and about 10 minutes or so later the waitress came out to tell us the meal my wife ordered was no longer available, so she opted for something else. This meant there was a rather long wait between when we ordered, finished our appetizers, and when our meals came out. Because it was so crowded and loud, we were both pretty antsy. We asked for refills on our drinks, and that took quite a while as well. Our meals came out, and we dug in. I ordered salmon, it was cooked nicely, but could have used more glaze/sauce. The noodles it was on top of were overcooked, and the spring rolls it came with were completely flavorless. The substitution my wife ordered was the artichoke dip (from the appetizer menu). It was loaded with artichoke, as in, there was a hint of cheese in there, with tons of diced artichoke. I leave that part up to personal preference. We both ordered drinks, one of them was a bit bland (Huckleberry Lemonade), the other was a bit too alcohol potent (Rum Rudder) for my liking. Total meal cost with tip, $100. Ambiance - Quaint & Rustic. You get the upper-middle class feel, a place where locals, or people vacationing may visit. Very crowded (tables very close to one another), and loud. Service - Was lacking a bit for me, our waitress just had too many tables. They didn't tell us they were out of my wife's entree till we were done with our appetizers, which meant it was going to be a while for that. No partial discount or anything (while not necessary, it would have been nice). Quality - Metza. I was disappointed with everything on my salmon plate except the salmon itself. As mentioned, the artichoke dip could've had a bit more cheese, but that may be personal preference. Quantity - All portion sizes were spot on Value - A tad pricey for the dive-scene that it has going on, but it's peak season in a somewhat touristy area. Overall - Too crowded & loud (have I mentioned that?), though that may be what some people are looking for. Some of the courses missed their mark, some issues with our order, the food, and our waitress being stretched thin. A place to check out if you're in the area (maybe when it's not quite so busy), but not somewhere I'd personally go out of my way to visit again.
(2)David K.
Been here a couple times. The menu is good and the ambiance is great. The kitchen needs to work on execution. Fried food comes out soggy, and most things I have ordered have been overcooked. E.g. we ordered a burger and a ribeye, both medium-rare, and the burger was completely charred. The ribeye varied from medium-well to well-done. Not really close enough for 33 bucks. My daughter's scallops were a little overcooked as well. The steak tips I got were, however, temped about right. Their mussels were to die for. Their french fries are delicious and actually salted properly. I would love to come here and get everything cooked properly because then it would be worth the pretty high prices.
(3)Axel M.
We were a group of 6.....took over 1 hour to get sodas for kids. Soda machine was broken.....but please those should be on the house then....yet we got charged. My wife's entree was forgotten....came when everyone was finished...they then negotiated half price for it. We don't haggle....Considering that we spent more then $350 on dinner I found it cheap to charge for sodas and super late entree. Waitress was nice but overworked....food was decent...probably choose different restaurant next time...even though we are annual guests for the last couple of years.
(2)Rhonda C.
The location was awesome and my food was delicious. Portions were generous. Wine is reasonably priced. Sit on the patio and enjoy the water.
(4)Jennifer S.
Really fun place! A friend made reservations for us -- which seems to be a MUST here on the weekend. We were told it was an upscale fish shack. The place doesn't look like much from the outside -- a small entrance with stairs going down into what looks like a dark and noisy bar. But once inside and past the bar is a hopping restaurant with a great staff. Our waitress was AWESOME. I'm sorry I forgot her name, but she is blond, relocated from Florida and told us her story working there for the past five years. Interesting story and great service!! My husband ordered the tuna tartar which was really incredible while I got the ceasar salad which was GREAT! Our friend got the natural salad which was julien-cut rainbow chard, carrots, and some other veggies and a gorgonzola crumble on top, also really delish. The place was packed! The tables are all really close together and it's a bit of a gauntlet to get to and from your table if people have their chairs pushed out a bit. But none of this hindered our waitress who was quick with the drinks and the food! Not sure how many tables she was handling but we definitely felt no lack of service here! My husband mentioned he would have no problem taking the kids here because no one would notice them in this noisy atmosphere. However, I do have to say, it was a good hopping noise, everyone seemed to be having fun. For dinner I got the monkfish and my husband ordered the baked stuffed sole. He said it was the best he ever had. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the entrees were a bit bland and desperately needed seasoning or salt, so the kitchen was a bit off their game. And for entrees all above the $20 mark, they should be aware. Otherwise, a great ambiance at night with little sparkly lights interspersed with some fake ivy all across the ceiling in the back deck. When we went the deck was completely enclosed. Not sure if all the windows open or not. Low lights, some solid draft beers along with a pretty good selection of wine. Again, the service made the night thanks to our waitress! If you're lucky, you'll get her...
(4)Squidy D.
What has happened to this place??? Since the new owner has taken over it has gone downhill fast. The old crew used to run a tight ship, now the service is lousy and the food quality has gone downhill. We used to be a big fan of the calimari last time we left half a plate full untouched. It was bland, tough, chewy and it looked like the portion size was smaller. The Waitresses could use some basic training, never reach accross a patrons plate to pour a glass of water, always pick up the glass, pour away from the table, then place the glass back on the table. It will help to prevent spilling water on the table and patron ... I changed my rating down to 2 stars and would have went down to 1, but at least they have been offering half off the food bill which makes up for the drop in service and quality a little bit. I'm willing to give them another chance because it's summer and I love being on the deck, but if they don't figure it out soon i won't be spending any more of my money with them. FYI the same owner also owns the studio right down the street, that is well known for it's lousy service. Seems like he may have bitten off more than he can chew ...
(2)Martha C.
Poor Service and Mediocre Food. Won't come again. We had dinner at the Rudder this evening. From the get go, everything went wrong. Our server, who was apparently new to the job, knew nothing about the menu and couldn't even answer the simplest question (such as "What's on the Chef's choice pizza?") with any degree of certainty. She never asked what order we wanted our food in (i.e., salads or appetizers first) and as a consequence we waited 1.5 hours to get food and then it ALL came at once. Second, there were numerous problems with our orders. I ordered the "Natural salad" with the dressing on the side; when it came (dressed) I was told it was just oil and lemon, when in fact the menu description said it was served with a "honey apple cider dressing," which does not sound like oil and lemon but hey, what do I know? I'm only just a stupid (paying) customer, apparently. My salad also was really gritty but I ate it anyway because I was starving by this time. My brother also ordered a salad with blue cheese dressing on the side, only to be given balsamic vinegar on the side instead of the dressing that went with the salad. We asked for red pepper flakes to go on top of the pizza we ordered, and it took 45 minutes to get these (by this time, the pizza, which was mediocre, had been consumed in sheer frustration). After approximately two hours of bad service and mediocre food, we left. The worst part, by far, was the attitude of the waitress and manager, who really didn't seem to care one bit that the service was extraordinarily slow and the food not what we had ordered. We won't be back, and we actually live in the area, so let me say to the management at the Rudder: if you want business outside of tourist season, get your act together, please!
(1)Tim O.
Great as always! Service was great and the food was outstanding! The Monkfish and Fish Tacos were superb!
(4)Sarah M.
Went over the weekend. My first time dining in Gloucester and this place was recommended by a friend. Made reservations a few weeks ago, and wish they had sat us outside since it was so beautiful out, but the inside was pretty also. I tried a few bites of things, but my favorite app was the muscles. The sauce they were in, I would have had for my meal with a loaf of bread and just slurp up all the sauce. I never want to know what's in the sauce, because it can't be good for you, and I'd want to make it all the time. I had the risotto for dinner, and it was really quite perfect. All the fish was buttery and tender, and risotto flavorful. Very big meal though, I could only eat half, and I'm a chompion. I tried a bit of my sisters scallop dinner with the mascarpone sweet potato. I didn't care for the puree. For dessert we ordered the changa, and chocolate lovers to share with our table. Both were fantastic. Nothing out of the ordinary or super fancy, just delicious. Right amount of everything. Yum! If I'm in the area, I will be back.
(4)Karen W.
Had a great meal last night @ The Rudder. The rib eye steak was cooked to perfection. The "natural salad" was very fresh and loaded with flavor....golden beets, jicama, gorgonzola cheese and crunchy pecans. Great service too! We will definitely be back.
(5)Marie L.
Ate dinner at The Rudder with two of my children and their significant others for the first time tonight. I ordered the seafood risotto. So much food for the price! Delicious! Great atmosphere, too.
(5)Aimee D.
Absolutely disappointing. I am literally in the car leaving from this restaurant, and had such a poor experience, that I had to leave this review immediately. We took my boyfriend's mother here for Mother's Day. First of all, if there is an entree on the menu for over $20, you should not be eating it on Formica tables with plastic chairs. Totally unacceptable. So I thought, "the food must be really good". Wrong. I ordered the lobster shrimp scampi- not that hard to screw up. The shrimp and lobster were a disgrace. They were completely dry and tasteless. The service was ok after waiting about 10 minutes to get it, after we sat. Is this the norm in Gloucester? You can get better seafood at just about any other place in Boston. I'm never coming up to Gloucester again.
(1)Darryl P.
Parking is a mess, service was slow - like 20 minutes to get a glass of water. We had the fried clams for an appetizer which took 1 hour from the time we were seated. Clams were mushy. Had a rum rudder cocktail was bitter to sour. No orange juice in it so the bartender did not do what they were making. Sushi roll was below average. Brother had a lamb burger he liked. Son said the fish sandwich was average.
(2)Max S.
I really can't say enough good things. I went there 6/27/2014. It was very busy and the staff were flying around like crazy. It was a good sign to me. I was acknowledged promptly and seated in a fair amount of time as promised. The food was outstanding, I mean everything that my companion and I ordered was great. I didn't once feel I suffered from the busy atmosphere. Fantastic job "shout out" to the staff. I have been to Gloucester many times, I found a gem. It is now mandatory to visit here EVERY time I visit Gloucester from here on out.
(5)sandra w.
Very nice staff, attentive and friendly, but that's it. This Rudder does not have a chef or a person overseeing what goes out of the kitchen, how it's cooked or how it is presented. Guess it's because it's a tourist spot? I am a mother who cooks for my family and would not dream of serving them a wilted salad. When a salad comes out obviously soggy instead of crisp and cold, the very basics are not being attended to. My salad looked like it sat in the kitchen all day in the heat--no excuses for that, absolutely none in my book since someone had to put it on the plate and looked at it as they did so, or put it up for pick-up. I left it on the table and told the waitress it was wilted and did not want to take a chance on another one. I was still charged for it, and had to tell them I was not going to pay for a soggy salad I did not eat (something amiss there too it seems). The menu read the crab cakes were all lump crab meat--not, and unfortunately (for this place), some people can tell the difference. Though they tasted okay, I don't appreciate bait and switch menus. My friend's chicken piccata was not the usual thin pounded cutlets. It was smothered in capers (which is not the norm for this dish). When I dine at a place that charges up to 30$ a plate, I expect that the food will be well prepared, nicely presented and fresh, all of which would mean someone there would be thinking, "I care about what i serve and my diner's experience." There must not be anyone at the Rudder who is saying that and certainly not doing it.
(1)jim b.
I went with my ladyfriend this past weekend and I liked this place. It was loud, boisterous, and the portions were large. Nothing exceptional food wise, but what they did was good. That a long with the nice vibe means I'll be going back. Parking can be a challenge, surely.
(4)Jerry H.
I have always liked this restaurant. Sitting on the back deck is pleasant and they now take reservations. However I was disappointed by the food last night. Calamari not grilled enough and quality of fish was mediocre. My wife liked her rack of lamb. Very nice waitperson but too busy to give good service. Rudder needs to improve.
(3)Dave C.
Fried clams + great beer + amazing waterfront dining and service! Make reservations or get here early to snag an outdoor table on the deck overlooking the harbor. If you have a boat, you can pull right up to their dock and walk right in! Best fried clams I've had ever. This place is just the right amount of kitschy and almost divey, but locals are all over it & for good reason. Check out all the local artist galleries nearby while you're there!
(5)Peter H.
Fantastic seafood, great ambiance, great bar, local beer, on the water! Everything you want out of a good seafood restaurant. Even had a fantastic, semi-frozen (exactly as it should be) key lime pie for dessert. The brownie/cake looked fantastic. The only cons are that it was a bit noisy and people can walk through the outdoor area to get down to their dinghy at the small dock. Still worth 5 stars.
(5)William B.
Food quality, location, service and atmosphere all are important to a rating. The Rudder gets five stars for location and atmosphere. Food quality a three or four. The oysters were bland and not served with a mignonette, just cocktail sauce which is Americans way of killing the true taste of the oyster. Where the Rudder fails is in service. Not that the wait staff is bad, on the contrary the all were very pleasant, energetic and accommodating. What fell down was timing. We're ordered drinks, jumbo shrimp and oysters. Half way through our appetizers another server brought our entrées. Wanting to enjoy without rushing we finished the appetizers which left our entrees cold and much less satisfying. The other poor timing was matching the 2nd drink order with the food so that we could enjoy the drink and food pairing. Same with desert with the apparetief which nearly didn't make it. Our server was thoughtful enough to apologize.
(3)arielle s.
This is a staple restaurant for the town located in Rocky Neck the art colony. It was pretty crowded for a week night. Food was average and big portions. Fish taco appetizer are 2 haddock tacos but you have to make them yourself. They don't already come ready to eat. For an entree I ordered the shrimp and scallop medley. I was very disappointed. The scallops were more than over cooked, the dish came on a "bed" of arugula. This was more like 4 bags of arugula. The shrimp didn't taste fresh either and they were on the small side. The bean purée also didn't really compliment the seafood. My husband ordered lobster and shrimp scampi over linguini. There was a ton of linguini but was average for flavor. Not one of our standout dinners while visiting glouster. There are other restaurants on the water with better food.
(2)Pat P.
Great atmosphere, sat outside, and the service was fairly good considering they were very busy, prices ok, portions were quite tiny, so if you're hungry, better get some apps or dessert too. Or dine elsewhere. It was was a very pleasant atmosphere though so we tolerated that one negative thing.
(3)Nick J.
The Rudder Restaurant at Rocky Neck, was a great place. Located in Gloucester, this place was right off the bay in a seemingly perfect location, which conveniently enough, allows customers who are boating on the bay to pull up to a dock attached to the restaurant, and walk in for a great meal. The ambiance is loud and relatively open as far as the seating goes, but the street entrance is a bit tight due to the bar being on one side with seating on the other. Getting here a little before the dinner rush negates this almost entirely. If you are coming in around peak times, expect entering and exiting to be a little bit of an issue and long waiting times. Nonetheless, on my visit I walked in (pre-dinner rush), no reservation was told the wait would be 40 minutes, turned out to be 15 minutes, and ended up getting an outdoor table. I had the Seafood Risotto which was as their menu says, a "creamy blend of arborio rice with a medley of shrimp, scallops, mussles, clams, and imported cheese", and a Bombay Sapphire Collins. Total Cost: $34 (without tax). Prior to getting my dish, there was some bread with butter and tapanade on the side. The bread had a crisp crust with a velvet interior. Simply perfection. The tapanade was good on its own, almost like a pesto if you will, but I just decided to have my bread with the butter, which was also just as great. If you are looking to order the Seafood Risotto, you're in for a treat. However, be warned, if you are not a tomato fan, you may want to reconsider your dish. I am not a tomato aficionado by any stretch of the imagination. However, the tomato did give the dish a bit of a color and helped to cut some of the richness of the overall dish. The risotto was cooked to perfection. It is my assumption that the shellfish was cooked together with the risotto, as the scallops didn't have a sear on them, but were still cooked perfectly. The shellfish, perhaps with the exception of the clams, were phenomenal. My drink choice however, was not a good one with this dish. The botanicals in the gin were clashing with the dish and needless to say it was less than desirable. Additionally, the Collins seemed to be more like a Gin and Tonic, served in a pint glass. I'm glad I didn't drink all of it or else I might have been stumbling out of the place. Perhaps with this dish, a red or white wine or a vodka based drink would have been better, to complement the cheese and the scallops. I was dining with some family and their dishes were a kids Chicken Fingers and Fries (cooked perfectly with nice thick cut fries), Shrimp & Scallop Medley (with beautifully seared scallops), and Baked Cod (beautiful plating and cookery). The Rudder Restaurant is a great dining location, the staff is friendly and cordial and it's well worth the wait.
(4)Kaitlyn H.
This place was fantastic. Went on a Saturday night, 8 pm reservation. Had to wait about 20 minutes, but was so worth it. The whole menu is great and reasonably priced. Service was excellent. Decor is beautiful and what a location! Had the ahi tuna, rare. Amazing. Clam chowder is thick and full of clam. Grab a glass of delicious Nativa sauv blanc (for $6!!!) and chow down on one of the specials like the rib eye with Gorgonzola or the baked cod. A GREAT place for dinner if you're in the area.
(5)Charles B.
I have been going to this restaurant over the past 2 decades. There have been times when I have been extremely dissapointed; however, the good times keep me coming back. The atmosphere is incredible (love the deck). The service is friendly and competent. The food has been wonderful recently. In the past prior to the new owners there have been a few occasions that left me wondering if I would ever come back. I do come back hoping I will again be pleasantly surprised. I must say my recent meal was great. I had brought out of town guests, and I was really happy with the service and meals. What a great place to experience New England at its' best. Parking can be a problem at times (This is an artist's community) due to events in the local neighborhood; however, one can park at the end of the street in the working boat yard in the evening.
(4)J. B.
Abysmal service. We waited ages for a table, then sat ages at the table waiting for service, then ages for our drinks and appetizer. The app showed up before the drinks -- turns out she forgot all about the drink order. Also had no silverware to eat the app -- more waiting. Drinks came, we ate the app, it was fine, but then we waited another age for our dinner, maybe 45 minutes. When it finally showed up it was cold, very cold, as if it had been waiting to be picked up from the kitchen for a good 15 minutes. We didn't even get a chance to talk to the waitress about it for ages, but we couldn't eat the meal, had to send it back and get the check, wait ages for that and to pay, and finally left having spent much too much money to sit for an hour and a half and leave literally as hungry as when we arrived. Worst restaurant experience I can ever remember having.
(1)Jeff S.
Great spot!!! Excellent fish tacos, tuna, drinks and atmosphere. Great staff!!
(5)Sue R.
The food would receive 5 stars for sure! However, as a foodie I'm a bit picky on some minor details which may or may not be important to others. My cocktail was the special and it was surprisingly delicious: Huckleberry Lemonade with 44 North infused vodka. First off, the food was outstanding and the portions were surprisingly large as compared to other seafood restaurants. Started off with appetizer fried clams and steamed mussels...our mid-western friends had never eaten a whole-belly clam before. The clams were tender and flavorful and the tartar sauce was excellent. Mussels were great with sage sausage and a garlicky wine broth with tarragon and fennel...sopped up the liquid with their warm, sweet bread. Clam chowder was spot-on for consistency (nice and thick) and good clam/potato ratio, but the flavor could have been more intense with clam/fish stock? But still one of the best I've had. Entrees from our group: swordfish with a nice serving of mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus; fried clam plate is heaped with clams and the celery-seed slaw was crisp & creamy. The rest of us had the nightly special; LOBSTER CAKES. Truly, they were huge and laden with plenty of lobster...served with a tomato coulis over watercress. We were certainly stuffed and couldn't order dessert, which was just as well since I heard they ran out of their key lime pie which is what I had my eye on. Detractors: this is a crowded and loud restaurant. The bar scene was hopping and you tend to have to wait a bit for drink refills or other requests that send your wait staff tunneling though the tightly-packed tables. The entrance through the bar to the back room (where we sat) is a fire-trap waiting to happen! Linty napkins. Not a big deal, you think? I wore a black shirt and by the end of dinner I was covered in lint...a replacement napkin didn't help. The Rudder should change linen services! Our waitress was exceedingly friendly, but could have been more speedy with drink/bread refills. I chalked this up to the fact that the place was packed to the rafters and was perhaps understaffed by a waitress and/or bartender or two. To repeat: fabulous food and a lively atmosphere...we had water-views (from an enclosed porch-like room) and it was a beautiful night.
(4)Azure T.
Five stars for food, view and ambiance. I had the wedge salad and Hawaiian pizza. The salad was perfect and the sauce on the pizza was the best I've had...a perfect balance of chunky tomatoes and spices. The onions were even good, and I hate onions. I'm not sure how they packed so much flavor in. My husband loved his Monkfish. The view is so serene and picturesque. We went around 7pm and were immediately seated at a prime table by the windows on the covered patio. Excellent atmosphere and service with just the right amount of attention topped off the meal and made this one of the best dining experiences so far on our trip to the area. Parking is a bit of a challenge if you arrive late.
(5)Michael L.
My friends and I came here on a Sunday night, unsure of what to expect. What we found was a very local, relaxed atmosphere, with open air seating right on the waterfront. I ordered their seafood risotto, which came with scallops, mussels, clams, and shrimp, as well as imported cheese sprinkled over the top. I'm not the biggest fan of cheese with seafood risotti; I find that the richness of cheese ends up competing with the fresh seafood taste, and makes the taste of the dish cloying. Although the rice was reasonably firm, the overall consistency of the dish was rather thick and settled, and I had difficulty finishing even half of it. I also tried some of the cider bacon salmon, which comes resting on a bed of braised lentils. I had never tried this combination before, and was pleased to find that the sweet crunchy bacon went perfectly with the fish. The bacon flavors soaked into the salmon as you ate it, making it rich and flavorful. I would definitely order this again. The service was extremely disappointing, one of the more poor service experiences that I've had at a restaurant. I think that especially for this style of restaurant, with the local hub feel that they're going for, that customer service should be one of their top priorities. Instead, our waitress was careless and inattentive. She only came by our table twice the entire meal. When she did come, she only filled half of our waters, and then left. When we were trying to pay the bill with credit cards, she explained the restaurant's policy on credit cards per bill in a very condescending tone, that left a sour note on our whole evening. Overall, it's a pleasant enough dining experience that I would recommend it to others. Just be aware that the service may be less than stellar, and I would go for dishes that rely more on the freshness of the ingredient, rather than the thoroughness of the preparation.
(3)Kathleen K.
It's a crowded and boisterous place in summer -- come early, since the wait can easily be more than an hour on weekends. The best restaurant on Rocky Neck, which is a fun neighborhood to visit; right on the waterfront, interesting views. The wait staff are generally quite good and personable. The food is meh -- although your basic seafood is totally fresh, they do best when they keep it simple. Avoid the scampi, but the seafood risotto is quite tasty. Large servings.
(3)Alyssa S.
On the water outdoor seating with grape leave lights on the ceiling so atmosphere good. Great table bread with tapenade. Apps being awesome fried clams and calamari. Huge chunks of lobster in the lobster cakes, HUGE 2 lb lobster with good fries n slaw, and the best new england clam chowder. It is a diamond in the rocks. Also, friendly service!
(5)Kim M.
I'm from out of town and my friend suggested we go here, she knew it would be super crowded later so we arrived at about 5 p.m. on a Monday night and were seated right away out on the covered deck. Wow, what a beautiful setting. I ordered scallops and shrimp on white bean purée and arugula. The seafood was cooked to perfection but I wasn't a fan of the beans/arugula together. Fabulous waitress who was super friendly and was amazing at keeping up with the crowds that were there.
(3)Ashley H.
My dad and I were visiting the Boston area and we were recovering from the disaster known as the Salem Witch Museum when my dad suggested, "Let's go to Gloucester." And by the time we finished gabbing up a real-life fisherman (awesome nerd moment!), we were hungry. We were determined to get a good lobster - definitely on a mission and sortof driving aimlessly to find a place that looked like it had lobsters for us to eat (don't really know what we were looking for, but we were still looking). We drove through downtown and nothing really stood out. And then we meandered over to East Gloucester, when we stumbled across the Rudder Restaurant. No wait (like it!). Sat right on the water. Pretty good service. Great cocktails (I had quite a few martinis). And then....Two pound lobster!!! Yes!!! *party face* Now I can fly back to CA a happy woman. I would definitely recommend this place, but it is off the beaten path. From what I saw, if it's a busy night, you may have a tough time finding a parking spot. When we left, a local art gallery was having an event, so we popped in and looked around. The art was ridiculously expensive, but I did enjoy the living artwork outside (a guy who was very nice on the eyes). Unfortunately, my dad totally salted my game. Haha.
(5)Corbin Y.
Went with my wife for a special night out, and The Rudder did not disappoint! Gloucester is a quiet little town at 6:30pm, until you get to The Rudder. The place was packed, mostly with regulars and locals. We were told the wait for a seat would be 1/2 hour, until I noticed that a side table by the bar was available, which turned out to be a first come first served table. As we were finishing the salads, the hostess came by to see if we wanted a regular table, and we decided to stay put. We were getting served by both the bartender and the raw bar bartender, so we had excellent service, just had to handle being at a slightly cramped table for our meal. We started with the wedge salads. Each of us had two romaine hearts slathered in gorgonzola dressing, with two slices of applewood smoked bacon on top. We also each had a shrimp cocktail. The shrimp were large and fresh, and made for dipping in their tangy sauce. We then ordered the mussels, which was our one disappointment. The mussels come with sausage crumbles and fennel in what was supposed to be a white wine and garlic sauce, but instead seemed to be sweet, with a honey maple like flavor we found did not complement the mussels, or the slightly gritty sand a few mussels imparted. They were fresh, but the cooks must have mixed up the white wine with the white grape juice, making the dish too sweet for our tastes. We ordered the 2 pound lobster, and split it. That big boy was done perfectly, moist and meaty. It comes with fries and slaw, sidekicks to the main event. A fresh 2 pound lobster worth the hefty $42 price tag. At a little over $100 for two, we felt like we ate like royalty, and knew we had chosen well for date night.
(4)Gordon M.
Portugese clams on the sesonal menu were great, but make sure your partner enjoys with you (garlic),,,everything about our expereice, especialy the staff, was great!
(5)East West Coast Girl C.
We boldly walked in with no reservations on a Saturday night mid summer. Somehow, we were seated almost immediately at a little table outside on the deck. Three stars just for that. The demographic is a touristy fried clam lovin' crowd, however, I have to give the chef credit. He's trying. Crabmeat ravioli? Terrific stuffing but the sauce consisted of pepper jelly thrown on top. App sized Cioppino was genius. Pulled pork and scallops were perfect. Cocktails top notch. Service was overwhelmed and practically nonexistent. Everything was dumped on the table and there wasn't another wait staff sighting until we were finished. Dessert took an eon. Noise level was outrageous replete with screaming kids well past 8pm. This is a 3.5 star rating. Given the lack of service, noise level and a few misses with the food, I can't give The Rudder a 4. But thanks for trying. You're a pretty decent restaurant for the North Shore.
(3)Jamie G.
The service has always been great. The food is also fantastic- the crab cake appetizer, and ahi tuna are amazing. The cocktails are delicious and strong (rum rudder is wonderful). Good beer and wine selection. Cute decor, and outdoor seating. It is pricey (~$20/ entree) But it is an upscale restaurant (though dress can be casual). The quality of the food and service and location do indicate the higher prices. They do have some decent less expensive meals too- such as the tuna burger is thick and about 10 or $15 (sorry cannot remember).
(5)Rudy G.
Yeahhhhhh the Rudder is open! I really like this place and something about the small bar is very appealing. Most people want to sit out on the deck...on the water...go figure! A sign of summer when we can change up our "winter places" to include those favorites that open seasonally. This place can get very crowded and parking is a challenge; park at the lot on the right just as you turn onto Rocky Neck...the walk is nice. There IS some parking in the boat yard close to the Rudder but that fills quickly. Pay attention to the "no parking" signs; you will get towed. Okay...now for the food. I really, really, REALLY want to say the food is awesome but it's not. The quality of the chowder is often a litmus test for me. Lukewarm and flavorless; yes, very thick with decent portion of potato and clam, but reminded me of what you would get at a fast food establishment. The duck spring rolls did not taste fresh. We visited about a week after they opened this season.(May)..and maybe with the new ownership there were some hiccups....I don't know, food that isn't warmed through.....have not been back yet...
(2)Ann J.
Extremely slow service, not good food, overly tight seating. I'd skip it.
(2)Michael M.
Twice I have gone in..OK,..it's busy..but it's always busy..so staff for it already...the second time I sat at the bar for 15 minutes before anybody even came by and said "Be with you in a moment"..everyone was hustling around in panic mode..except for the dark haired female bartender who was 10 feet away talking with regulars the entire time...it all took so long I left and went to the Franklin.
(2)Danie R.
The best restaurant in Gloucester! Or at least East Gloucester, for sure. Great drinks, service, food, etc. The location is wonderful too, as it's about a 5 minute walk from our apartment on Rocky Neck. It's on Gloucester Harbor, and the deck hangs over the harbor, providing great views of all the pretty boats and scenery. We always sit at the bar, drinking their full spectrum of beverages offered. We snack on their salads, pizza of the day (which never really changes, but comes with a great simple mixed greens on the side), and spinach artichoke dip... All heavenly. Then we tip well, stumble home... and repeat the next day. It's always nice to have bar tenders that remember you and like to chat with you, even if it's just because they remember you tip about 40% when you get sloshed enough.. Because sometimes we only tip 20% and they are just as nice. Haha.
(5)Peter K.
Visited several times while renting a house in East Gloucester (summer 2012). (new) owners seem a little uptight. Waitress staff was good, as was the food. The seating is tight, but in a cozy way. We asked to sit outside later in the evening, since the bar was crowded and no seats for our party (this was after the crowds were gone). The owner declined to just let us sit at a table for a night cap. So, we're not "partying", as a matter of fact, we had my mother with us. We were looking for a couple of drinks, sit and chat before we walked home (prolly 10 PM). "Nope, we're all cleaned up out there"........really? With the Studio closed and the music blaring at the Mad Fish, they were unable to accommodate us. Too bad
(3)Mike M.
Went on a Thursday night around 5:30 and luckily got the last table on the outside deck. The inside and bar were sparsely populated but within 30-40 minutes the entire restaurant was packed. Service was fast and I ordered the rib-eye special which was just okay. She ordered the oysters and the swordfish and both were very good. Overall it was a great time and sitting on the deck was key. As far as the parking issues if you don't mind a 5 minute walk you can park in the lot just as you turn onto Rocky Neck Ave.
(4)MaryAnn B.
I've been coming to the Rudder for years with family. My understanding is it is under new ownership this year? We had a party of 8 for a birthday celebration. Everyone had gathered by the time of the reservation, but the guest of honor was arriving with wife and son 15 minutes after. This was explained in advance at time reservation was made. However, Manager (?) approached table to ask where everyone was and informed us, "well, we have another reservation for this table in 2 hours. we like to keep things moving along". When the guest and his family arrived, they were greeted at the reception area with, "well, you're finally here". We had a great time, but I have to say, I was in the food business for years. You do not put pressure on parties. We had a pleasant, sweet waitress, but I got my salad after my entrée, not all the food came out at once and we had to ask for lemons for fish. After dinner, four of us had coffee, and four creamers were put on the table. We had to wait for more. It was rather disappointing.
(2)Dottie P.
So I wanted to love the newly reincarnated, Rudder, I really did. I took my land-locked friend there for dinner on a busy Friday night, during Fiesta, of all times. Nonetheless, we went in, and got seated on the deck almost immediately. Very friendly staff hostesses, etc. Our waitress was full of sass, which I love, and we ordered cocktails, I, a Ketel 1 dirty martini, my friend a St. Pauly Girl, and starters. My friend's non-alcoholic beer (no glass) arrived shortly after and I was presented with an olive, stuffed with bleu cheese as a promise of an excellent dirty martini, for which I would have to wait, as the bar was slammed with "a lot of martinis at this time". So I ate the olive, which was not briny and crisp, but oily and slimy: nice on an antipasti plate, but I feared how it would translate in my longed-for martini. My starter was a line up of 6 oysters on the half shell, which were exquisite and my friend had the tuna tartare, which was yummy but HUGE for an appetizer. Still my cocktail had not arrived. My oysters were gone before the waitress appeared with a martini, rocks on the side as I'd asked and two more slimy olives in the cocktail. She set it before me and as she walked away, I quickly removed the garnish from the cocktail, but it was already too late: the oil slick I feared had formed and was floating on my now ruined drink. I looked for the waitress but thought I would try it, just to make sure, and the drink was barely shaken, no icy bits and not one touch of dirty! I caught the servers attention, she was very busy by now, and told her. She said she would make sure to "get some dirt in it right away!" I was hoping that they would start from scratch and I asked her to hold any more olives. To my chagrin, the drink that was set before me the second time was the drink I had before with olive juice added as the little globules of slick were still present. I couldn't even finish it. So when our entrées came, I ordered a glass of cabernet to have with the rest of my meal. I ordered the eggplant napoleon which I was expecting to be pan seared or roasted but it was sliced and deep fried. It was tasty, but I wouldn't order it again. My friend had the crab cakes and she thought the aioli was too spicy. So because it was so busy and because I was so bummed out about my much-anticipated-ruined martini, we decided to just leave. No lingering, the table next to us was uber loud and the one gentleman's chair was pushed back so far, every time our server needed to get by, literally, her butt was in our face! She was good and good natured so we did tip 20%, but it's not worth it to me to go out of my way again. I like duckworth much better!
(2)M K.
Went for the 1st time last night. We have family in the area & The Rudder was their recommendation, they were right. The place is crowded, with a nice view of the harbor,the food is very good, everything you need. My husband had the lobster and shrimp scampi and it was loaded w them, garlic sauce was perfect. I went w the fried seafood plate, scallops, and it was great. Both of us can eat but neither of us finished. Only downside was the clam chowder, packed w tender clams and potato, but the broth, which was nice and thick was really bland. Lots of art studios around so a really fun place to go.
(4)Kevin J.
Now considered one of my favorite all time restaurants. Swordfish was perfect I was almost near tears it was so perfect. Wifes meal was just as good. Ambiance was great. Servers are fast and considerate. Managers walk the floor and check in with you. Oh, and Billy Joel was 2 tables behind me. New favorite place in north shore.
(5)Shep D.
Yum! Yum! Yum! It has been a LONG while since my last review on Yelp and The Rudder has brought me back! I went on Mother's Day with my daughter and some others... It was really a nice time. We had to wait a little bit to be seated, but no longer than expected considering we showed up without reservations... Did I mention it was Mother's Day!?! No worries though, there is plenty to see around the area... small artist studios, beautiful flowers and oh yeah... The Atlantic Ocean!! It is so beautiful there! I went having my heart set on broiled scallops, but was disappointed when they didn't have them on the menu : ( Fear not... I had PLENTY to eat (and then some)!! I started with clam chowder and (yes, I said and) the wedge salad with Gorgonzola dressing. The chowder was excellent... Nice and creamy, but not too heavy. Perfect flavor and plenty of "stuff". The salad... TO DIE FOR!! So, I know I reviewed Ricardo's once upon a time... That means I must have mentioned their salad... Well, the one at The Rudder was the same, only WAY better!! It was lettuce, tomato, apple-wood smoked bacon and Gorgonzola chunks with Gorgonzola dressing. Ohhh... just thinking about it makes me want to go back!!! The only draw back... Way too small! And I don't mean for the price.. I mean for my mouth, taste buds and stomach! Now, about the main event... Even though I was disappointed by the lack of broiled scallops I decided that I had to go for the fried ones because scallops is what I wanted! Considering that I had already pigged out, I wasn't really looking forward to a big plate of greasy scallops and french fries (how can you get anything but french fries with fried scallops??). When they got to the table I was SO happy... They were so lightly coated with the lightest batter I had ever seen on anything fried! As if that wasn't exciting enough when I cut into them... There is only one way to describe it... HEAVEN! They were the freshest, yummiest scallops cooked to absolute perfection! My mouth is watering... So, aside from the great food and the great view what else is there to say? Service was great... Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. She knew all the specials and was very efficient. Everything from the kitchen arrived as it should... Not too fast, not too slow, nice and hot and ready to go. (I hate when you just get your salad then they bring out the food... Didn't happen here!). The only draw back?? I didn't get the sexy bald guy as a server. Woo baby was he HOT!! I am SUPER picky about cleanliness and sanitation (as you will know from other reviews) and I have to say... The Rudder passed my test!! I didn't see anything that made me cringe... That is hard to do! I give it 10 out of 5 stars!!!
(5)Gregory E.
After a hot summer day, with a mild breeze off the water, there are few places closer to paradise than The Rudder. Great seafood fresh from the dock, creative menu, open and shaded deck looking out over the back harbor, smart waitstaff with perfect timing, and an inventive bar that will never let you down. Go there...and leave happy.
(5)Julie C.
Great food, arguably the best restaurant (seasonal) in town. Wish they had more vegetarian and/or vegan options, even just one would be nice! Like a portabella mushroom burger type thing; it'd fit in well with their menu.
(4)Joanne F.
Gorgeous day, altho steamy hot, so I googled beachfront restaurants on the north shore and saw great reviews for The Rudder, so gave it a shot. Love Rocky Neck, for starters, and loved the Rudder, it lived up to all the great reviews. Ambiance wonderful, we sat outdoors but the bar also looked awesome. We got there early to get a table outdoors, but by the time we left, the place was hopping, not bad for 7:30 on a Tuesday nite. The service was excellent, loved our waitress. Great wine selection, the food was wonderful. I had tuna tartare for an appetizer and that was amazing. My husband had the swordfish special that was only so-so, but I had the seared tuna and it was very good - the presentation is exceptional. The food comes out so quickly that you I was honestly surprised at how good it was, and at the presentation. We were glad we ordered appetizers and dinner separately since even though the waitress said she would time them if we ordered together, having seen how fast the food comes out, we were glad we spaced it out.... (There was a large group seated after us, and we were concerned that might hold us up longer than we wanted, but the food comes out VERY quickly. Be warned. :) ) We'll go back, for sure. A little pricey, but all depends on how you order - we could have spent much less!
(4)KP P.
The Rudder is a great spot with excellent food and service. however I must take off points because you can only get a lobster roll on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I asked a manager why and she said its because they're too busy on the other days. Seriously? This to me is unnacceptable. Other than that the place is solid.
(3)M S.
Great food, great location and a fun place to be in the summer.
(4)Lisa C.
Best best best restaurant on Rocky Neck. Get the Pasta Bolognese! It rocks here! Lisa C. Beverly Farms, MA
(5)Eric M.
Love it there, sitting on the patio, smelling the ocean. They serve nice large drinks, the seafood risoto(sp?) is sooooooo good. Been going there for a couple of years now, one of our favorite places to go in Glosta.
(5)F K.
I give this restaurant 4 stars if you plan to eat on the screened in porch in the back - if you sit inside, i'd only give this place 3 stars. They are really nice here, and the food is very good and when you sit outside, the view is so pretty. Unfortunately, i have had the clam chowder a few times, and it's just too floury for me...i've found actual clumps that i feel like werent properly mixed in. This place is pretty loud, but its fun, especially with a group on people.
(4)Jill Q.
Showed up at 6p on a very busy night and managed to get a small table for my family of 5. Very cramped but well worth it. Waitstaff was excellent - very attentive, very fast service even thought the restaurant and bar were crammed full. Food was good but not great. Parking is a big problem on a busy night. Very cranky neighbors and very few legal parking spots. Overall we had a great experience and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Amanda N.
This is my favorite restaurant on Cape Ann -- okay, well, I think it's everyone's favorite restaurant. I've been at focus groups for OTHER restaurants on Cape Ann and we always wind up talking about the Rudder and how you can capture what they've got going here. But you can't. Because it's the owners. Yes, their food is four-star, yes, location is delightful and decor is charming, but it's the owners that make everyone feel special and welcomed and the place is super-friendly because they are so warm and genuine. So... super-ambiance, really good food, terrific staff, a view of a lovely little cove, and right in the middle of a charming historic art colony. Hard to beat that. Oh, and if it's chilly on the deck, Ginger might just bring you a blanket. p.s. It's noisy and there's a wait, but that's just because everyone is having SO MUCH FUN. Well worth it. p.p.s. This is also a great place to go if you're alone -- there is always someone fun and nice to talk to at the bar.
(5)R B.
This horrid place is very crowded, the dizzy waitress couldn't get seasoning or didn't try and lied about the menu items or just didn't know anything about the menu, she ignored us, took forever to get drinks and of course even longer to receive mediocre OVERPRICED food. There was a couple behind us that was having a very profane fight and I looked back and she was full of venom but I said nothing about her vulgarities. Will return next year to see if the place has shaped up.
(1)Mr. Chang U.
Mr. Chang has always been happy with The Rudder. I've been coming here for years. I was there the other night for the first time of the summer. You should expect this place to be fairly crowded. They squeezed the bar into the area at the front entrance. If you need to stand be prepared to have to squeeze out of the way of the wait staff and customers. The food here is some of the best in town. You can always get a great steak. My first meal of this summer was the Ravioli Special (Ravioli stuffed with Chicken). $11 appetizer and it was very good (4-5 Raviolis). I'd get it again. They have a larger portion fit for a meal. You have to try the desserts here... excellent.
(5)W Q.
this is one of those restaurants i'd consider a great find. the atmosphere is amazing, the martini is top notch, and the 2lb lobster is my absolute favorite. i am craving and i wish i'm back in gloucester right now.
(5)Linda S.
I don't know what all the excitement is about. We had poor service and had to wait 30 minutes for the check. I asked to not have cauliflower in my vegetable and was told "you can just eat around it". Steak was not Medium rare and had a lot of fat in it. Table was small and crowded. Waitress could have cared less if we were happy. Will never go back.
(1)m b.
mini review. i like the food, but there were some rpoblems: the service was unable to keep up with things, and our main dish was just a tad off and the portion was a bit skimpy. we ordered the monkfish- which i was looking forward to bc they werew out of it on a prior visit. it came out a bit overcooked & not exactly as described on the menu. it was aalso a pretty small piece of fish. we also ordered a couple premium oysters and jumbo shrimp as appetizers- which were very good, but pricey, and they took a LONG time to be served- which is weird bc theres very littole prep involved in raw-bar type stuff. our waitress vitually disappeared mid-meal, completely overrun with her tables. our wine glasses were EMPTY for several minutes- what a loss of easy money for the place!- and in that time span- we elected to leave the restaurant instead of hangin out ordering more dribnks and food. im giving this a reserved 4 star rating bc the vibe is good, i think the food is overall good, etc.- but if in subsequent visits the service is poor again, and there are problems with the portion & doneness/recipe- i will reduce this to 3 stars in a heartbeat! edited- reduced this to 3 stars bc it isnt on par with restaurants that ive given 4 stars.
(3)Jeannie C.
Take your Mudder to the Rudder. That has been the Rudder's mother's day add for at least 40 years. The funky place complete with piano bar and crazy decor is right on Rocky Neck. The dining room hangs out over the harbor. The deck sits out even further. The bar is rockin at night with artists, regulars, tourists and even some rich and famous who pull up in amazing yacht's. The food is good too! Be prepared to drop some dollars...entrees are $20-$30.
(4)