The best seafood restaurants in Gloucester

The city of Gloucester, Massachusetts (pronounced GLOSS-ter) is not merely a popular tourist town just 33 miles from nearby Boston. It’s also much more than a thriving artist’s colony. The glue that holds Gloucester together, and has for the more 400 years since its founding as a European settlement in the 1600s, is fishing. The town is home to one of the last remaining commercial fishing fleets in the New England states. Is it any wonder that the best restaurants in Gloucester are seafood restaurants?

If you’ve seen the movie The Perfect Storm, based on events that happened here, you know that this is a small town that takes fishing very seriously. The same applies to their seafood. In fact, someone could make another movie about Gloucester and title it: The Perfect Seafood Restaurant. The only trick would be narrowing it down to just one. For travel guide purposes, let’s keep it broad enough to suit multiple tastes, and make it a top three.

#1) The Gull (75 Essex Ave. 978-281-6060)

Almost every single seat at The Gull has a view of the harbor, thanks to the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows. This is a restaurant where you can see the exact spot your seafood comes from, as you watch the fishing boats and munch on the freshest lobster, crab, and tuna you can imagine. Lunchtime draws lots of locals and tourists alike, all eager for the large portions at fair market prices that The Gull offers. The top choice for lunch is the succulent lobster roll, filled to bursting with chunks of just-caught lobster on a perfect white roll. The fried seafood is equally good, so you may want a batch of clams as an appetizer.

Dinner at The Gull is even more exciting. Those who favor meat with legs can chomp on prime rib or a juicy sirloin, but they will miss out on a national treasure. The whole lobsters are something to write home about, and you can order one simply steamed with butter or stuffed full of fresh shrimp and scallops. The Gull serves a full repertoire of wine, beer, and mixed drinks to accompany your dinner. Time your meal just right and watch the sun set over the harbor for a truly memorable meal.

#2) Halibut Point (289 Main St. 978-281-1900)

This tavern-style restaurant is a local legend for its creamy chowders, made from fresh clams or haddock and served by the cup or bowl. Some prefer the Italian Fish Chowder, which has a nice, spicy bite. A good way to sample the seafood chowder is with the Halibut Point Special, which gets you a cup of chowder, a