Clam Shack

Lobster roll was great. The bread is very buttery and salty so that really set off the flavor. Everything else is fried. The scallops and fish were very tasty, lightly battered. Fries were decent. You sit outside and look out at the water so its very pretty! You can get your lobster roll hot or cold. Both ways were good. Fish was light and flaky. Everything was very very good.

Cute little seafood shack by the water. Food came out pretty quick. Gets busy so plan ahead. Good portions. Prices were good. Service was friendly. Lobster rolls and fries were AMAZING!!! 😍 Open air picnic tables by the water - so dinner with a view. Must visit! 10 out 10 recommend!

My husband and I shared a box of fried calamari and the batter was very light, fluffy and fresh tasting.The size was ample and the young adult who took our order was kind and efficient. The picnic tables all had umbrellas and were clean, the view of the harbor is very nice and they had classic pop music playing from their outdoor speakers which was fun to listen to. We will be back to try more on the large menu they offer.

We traveled from BUFFALO NY with a mission to find THE BEST lobster roll on the East Coast, and boy oh boy did we find it! We were in Boston for our son’s heart transplant testing and had asked around town where to go… every person we came in contact with told us to make the drive to Salem and eat at the Clam Shack! From start to finish, the experience was perfect. The staff was phenomenal. Quick, attentive, and excited to answer all of our questions. We order (2) brioche lobster rolls, the blue crab roll, and steamers. The broth and butter is to die for! A big shout out to the owner who came and introduced himself and his 2 newly adopted daughters 😉 who were so sweet to our family. We can’t wait to make this a regular stop on our monthly Boston trips! Run! Don’t walk, to the Clam Shack! 100/10

Great place if your craving good clam strips. They are cooked to perfection and I loved the salt added to the fries. I also appreciate the to-go packaging with holes to vent the steam. My meal did not get soggy at all.

Absolutely delicious food and amazing waterfront views. I haven’t had a good lobster roll in years, but the Clam Shack’s lobster roll was buttery heaven served on a perfectly sweet brioche bun 🤤 All of the seafood my family ordered was fresh, great quality and beyond tasty. The portion sizes were great and all the food was affordable. Additionally, you can’t beat the breathtaking views of sunset on the water. There are great spots to walk around, take a seat and picnic all-around the area. Such a lovely spot, I highly recommend paying a visit! :)

Loved the location! Not super busy when we went weather was great and food was yummy. We got the lobster roll and the 2 for 2 with calamari and shrimp!

Today was my day off, mom wanted to come here so we took a drive beautiful day to Salem. We left Roxbury early 9am. Got here about 9:50am. Mom & me took a walk around the beautiful park! Around 10:50 she got a picnic table I was the first in line, then about 9 people behind me. I ordered 2 Captain Combo plates comes with fries & 3 golden onion rings clams,fried shrimp, Fried scallops, and fried haddock! The staff of girls where friendly great customer service! The haddock was delicious cooked perfectly the outside batter was well proportioned, the shrimp was cooked well tasted fresh cleaned good! Clams small belly were my favorite fried tasted great no grit taste at all! Fries crispy on outside and moist inside and the onion rings delicious! This was a great day for me & my mom and the view is unbelievable the lake kids in the water having fun and kids in the park doing activities painting Portrait! Amazing day and great food!

SOOOOO GOOD!!! even the coleslaw best i ever had and it's right by the water so cute and quaint cant wait to come back

The Clam Shack is a seasonal seafood restaurant (but really it is just a shack with no inside seating) located on Salem Willows. I checked it out on a Sunday afternoon in July with my mom. It was pretty busy, with the line wrapping around the side of the building as people waited to order. We ordered a large clam strip basket and a large onion ring. The portion size of the clam strips was massive! They were perfectly battered with a crispy crunch coming right out of the fryer. The onion rings were excellent as well, as they held their circular form and the breading did not fall off, something that tends to happen with a lot of onion rings. They have a number of outdoor picnic tables to sit at or you can get your order to go. The only downside of sitting outside is the seagulls, which have clearly learned that there is fresh food to be had. These birds are daring too, with one of them dive-bombing our table while we were sitting at it in order to steal a clam strip. I'm not sure what the restaurant could do to combat this, considering it sits right on the water, but it did make for a somewhat uneasy eating experience, constantly feeling like you had to be on guard. Ultimately, though, the fresh seafood is worth fighting off the scavengers.

First, I am surprised that i haven't been here prior, but that's a tale of another restaurant's closing. This is a gem. Great menu- we had steamers, lobster roll, and an excellent grilled cheese. Clean picnic tables with umbrellas overlooking the water. Nice staff, fair prices. Hint: Go to Hobbs for dessert.

With mom at Salem Willows. Got her chop suey sandwich and clam strips. Expensive but excellent. Very good. Only outside tables with umbrellas.

We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon in August and this place was busy as could be! We were initially excited because of the reviews but this will be our only visit to the Clam Shack. We ordered the Clam Bake and a large Onion Rings. The Clam Bake comes with a small lobster, 1/2 pound of steamers, corn on the cob, clam chowder, clam broth and drawn butter. We were going to get a lobster roll as well, but we saw others who had this and none of the rolls were actually filled with lobster meat (~80%). It took roughly 15 minutes for the order to come out and I could understand since they were busy but we were told it's because the steamers take a while to cook. The only problem was the only part of our meal that was cold was the steamers. The clambake lobster and corn was actually fantastic. But the steamers were cold when we got them, the onion rings didn't have any real crunch or flavor and the clam chowder was just ok. All in all, this place is located in a great spot and is convenient, but not worth the hype.

The Clam Shack in Salem serves up some seriously tasty fried seafood! I ordered the fried clam strips and fried shrimp plate, and everything was hot, crispy, and full of flavor. The line was absolutely insane, which is the only reason this isn't a 5-star review. Luckily, I discovered a life hack--placing an order online to skip the wait. At $30, it's not cheap, but the quality and portion size made it worth it.

This place is a must for anyone who enjoys seafood. I came here on a Monday night after a day of work. Clam shack is just as advertised in the name: a small building dedicated to serving seafood and other fried goodies from the take out window. The staff were very helpful l. they took my order, gave me my ticket, and I sat and waited. And only for a few minutes. I ordered a lobster roll on a buttered brioche roll. The lobster was tender and juicy, and the buttery roll complemented it perfectly. The portion of fries that came with it was generous. And even better, it was a $23 lobster roll instead of the stupidly expensive $50 ones you'll get if you grab one in Boston. Well worth the price. And to top it all off, there's a gorgeous view of the harbor. Whether visiting this area or a Boston native, definitely make your way up here.

My husband and I shared a box of fried calamari, and the batter was very light, fluffy, and fresh tasting. The size was ample, and the young adult who took our order was kind and efficient. The picnic tables all had umbrellas and were clean, the view of the harbor was very nice, and they had classic pop music playing from their outdoor speakers, which was fun to listen to. We will be back to try more of the large menu they offer.

Scoped this out as we were planning our week in Boston and Salem. It was totally worth it! The clams were amazing- get whole belly and you want be disappointed. My son got a hot buttered crab roll because he likes crab more than lobster. It was fresh and the meat was perfect. We also got a basket of scallops and they were super tender. Everything was light and crispy. While it's all fried none of it was greasy. The view as we sat at our picnic table was spectacular. I will definitely go again when I am in the area.

Let's face it, fried seafood can taste amazing if done reasonably well. And the Clam Shack executed my Scallop Plate very nicely. Our party of four grabbed a picnic table with a nice ocean view. About 10 minutes after our order, I was enjoying hot and crispy, fresh tasting scallops. They were nicely cooked, and didn't have too much batter, so they weren't overly heavy. Their fries were also excellent, hot, crispy, delicious. The lobster rolls were given positive reviews from my co-diners. The casual Salem Willows environment was perfect, on this warm summer day. The Clam Shack is located in Salem Willows Park, a 35 acre park located on the ocean with picnic areas, a beach, walking paths, fishing, tennis, basketball courts, arcade games, and restaurants. It's a great place to visit, if you not afraid of the Salem witches!

I'm a Midwest girl who was visiting the area for a wedding, and I am still thinking about this gourmet lobster roll. I made sure to have my fill of as many lobster rolls as I could while I was in Massachusetts- I went to 1606 in Gloucester and another restaurant spot in downtown Boston- and personally the gourmet lobster roll at the Clam Shack was by far my favorite. It not only was the least expensive (~$20?!!! A dream), but the butter was decadent, fries were crisp, and everything was just perfect. 10/10 recommend!

Bonjour, hi! Visiting from California we stopped by this hidden lil "hole in the wall". The establishment was clean, which I feel could easily be hard to find. The food itself was stellar! Ordered a bunch of seafood that all was so fresh and tasty. The views were just as good as the food! No complaints whatsoever. EXPERT TIP: ask for an extra tray to swat away the VERY aggressive seagulls that WILL take your food if your guard is down.

adorable spot! pretty extensive menu with various seafood based items. anything from clam strips to bisque to rolls. the CT style roll was good. small, but loaded with lobster meat. incredibly simple. probably needed some garlic or salt, but i liked it. the crab sandwich was also simple, but hit the spot. prices are fair, and service was pretty quick. theres a few benches outside, enjoy the view, metered parking, i dont think i saw bathrooms so keep that in mind. they take cards.

We had a great experience at the clam shack. We wanted to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and this place was perfect for that. Order at the window and take your food to one of their picnic tables by the water. We ordered two bowls of clam chowder, a platter with whole belly clams, scallops, coleslaw and fries, and a basket with shrimp and fries and a couple of sodas. Great portions. It was enough for a light dinner to share with our kiddos for around $70. Everything was actually really, really good, but the standouts here were the scallops and the coleslaw, and weirdly enough, their tartar sauce which seems to be homemade.

This spot was absolutely beautiful. There is no indoor seating but there are plenty of picnic tables available or benches along the "boardwalk". The staff all seemed to be younger but polite and respectful nonetheless. The clam strips themselves were pretty good! I wished they were cooked just a bit longer, to let the batter crisp a little more. The tartar sauce was great and added an extra level of flavor to the clam. Cute place to stop by and enjoy the scenery, as it is just a short walk from dead horse beach.

Best onion rings ever! Hot, lightly battered thick cut onions were so good. Loved the lobster roll too - just lobster in mayo. Skip the brioche bun and stick with the traditional hot dog bun.

This is what we call "seafood in the rough". All that means is you're sitting outside on picnic tables while eating. I had the full belly clam plate, and my wife had the scallop plate. The fish was fresh, fresh, fresh. And the price is so much less than one of the tourist trap restaurants with overdone chewy clams. You can't beat the location. You're sitting in a park looking at Beverly Harbor. There are public restrooms nearby. It was a little windy while we were there, so I taught my wife (not from NE) how to "eat out of the bag". What can I say - it's paht of the chahm. Until next year. They're seasonal.

If you're looking for simple, but delicious seafood and great people watching, visit the Clam Shack in season. The lobster roll (hot and buttered) on a brioche roll was delicious and the clam chowder may have been the best I've ever had.

Perfect spot for old-school seafood! We had the Captain's Combo - hefty portion of sweet Ipswich whole belly clams, jumbo shrimp, scallops and haddock bites - crispy but not greasy. Coleslaw was a surprising standout-very light. The lobster roll was fresh on a brioche bun and the clam chowder was tasty with plenty of clams. They even offer a Lobster Bake! Chef/Owner Angelo Meimeteas of Lynn came out to meet our group of fellow Lynners! Food, service, value and cleanliness all excellent and you can't beat the harbor views from the outdoor tables there at Salem Willows!

Where has this place been all my life??? I don't think I will ever have a lobster roll that tops the one I had from Clam Shack. I've heard good things but I was really impressed with the overall experience here. This little shack is quintessential coastal New England at its finest and has such an old school, mom & pop vibe to it. You order at the counter and they'll call your number at the pickup station once it's ready. We ordered a lobster roll with butter served on their special bun and an order of fried calamari which came with fries. The portions for everything were great, especially considering the prices. The calamari plate was almost overflowing and I loved how the lobster roll also came with a side of fries. The lobster was super fresh and melted in your mouth, and the soft, buttery bun was the perfect vehicle for it all. The calamari was also fresh and not too rubbery. We got some tartar sauce on the side which paired really nicely too. We really loved our experience here and I can't wait to visit again sometime!

What an amazing little place right on the harbor. Walk the beach or along old town. Beautiful friendly people. Add it to your list.

My clam and scallops plate was amazing and a good value. I will definitely come here again.

I was in the area for work and wanted a lobster roll, so headed to the clam shack. It is a literal seafood stand in a park, right on the water. They have picnic tables for use if you aren't getting food to go. The setting is perfect! I ordered the gourmet lobster roll. The girl working the window was super friendly and my meal did not take long. But with the views, I wouldn't have minded a long wait. My lobster roll was outstanding and was an extremely generous portion. The fries were good as well. And the scenery while eating was spectacular! Well definitely return next time I'm nearby!

WOW !!! So far first place I ate while in Massachusetts and every other lobster place has to beat this! Clam chowder, and lobster roll ... get to AZZZ UP AND GET HUR... enuff said. If u like seafood check this place out you might like it!!!! Ps: if they have steamers (clams) get it!! They're huge!!

Nice location in the middle of the park. There are lines so the food and prices must good! I need to try it before I leave the music festival.

Would love to have tried it here based on great reviews, but it only has outdoor seating without a tent or any protection from rain. Seems like a worthy investment!

What fabulous seafood they serve here! Extra fresh, lightly breaded with zero grease! The bed of French fries were crispy and hot -- no grease! I was delighted and the flavor was perfect. The staff are so efficient and kind. There were a group of picnic tables to eat at and they were clean and freshly painted blue situated just outside the pickup window and the view is a stunning harbor view. I had a lobster roll (warm with drawn butter on it) in a hot dog bun and there was plenty of claw meat on it. The other members of my party had fried whole belly clams (delish!) with fried shrimp (also great) which was a half and half platter, and fried scallops (wonderful)! On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the Clam Shack an 11.

I had a combination plate of whole clams and haddock bites with fries. When I bit into the haddock it was eating a piece of heaven! So moist and light! Cooked perfectly and so fresh!!! Delicious! The clams were good too! Nice delicate flavor. I'm going back again today for more haddock!!!

Oh my gosh, what a little gem!! We stopped at the Clam Shack on a whim after visiting family in town. My husband wanted some fried clams, so we looked up a few places before picking this one. We went a little later in the day, so it was very quiet, but I imagine it gets busy around lunch time. We ordered the lobster roll (hot, brioche bun and butter), and it was fantastic! Loaded with plenty of lobster and a great mix of pieces. My husband ordered the fried clams, and they were perfect- not super greasy, not a single off flavored one, etc. We also ordered a chocolate peanut butter pie slice to share at the recommendation of the cashier. She was right, it was so good!! Not overly sweet, and the perfect size. The service was great. I mean it's a clam shack, lol, so nothing fancy. But the gals taking orders and prepping food were super friendly and sweet. Everything was SUPER clean. Staff came around frequently to wipe off tables and kept an eye out for stray trash pieces. And the view was amazing- it was so relaxing to sit and look out over the harbor. The one negative thing (which we actually found entertaining) was that the seagulls are pretty sassy and clearly know where to get good food also. They are pretty brave and will try to snag food from the careless person who doesn't guard it, but they won't bother you. Will definitely be going back!!

Lobster roll was not fresh lobster. It was chewy and plain. The hype in social media did not make the trip worth it.

I'm glad we made the effort to visit Willows Park while in Salem. The park has great views and the food at Clam Shack was delicious. The lobster roll was great, we then went with the pick two basket and got fried shrimp and fried scallops - never tried fried scallops before and they were amazing. I would have liked to try more items off the menu. Recommend to a friend.

A great stop if you are in the local area. food was fresh, quick and the restaurant workera were very nice.

Well it's summer so lines are long. Food is good, not great, but the view! You order, and they call your number. The lobster plate with steamers and chowder is a much better deal than the lobster roll. Fried seafood was good.

Definitely recommend the hot lobster roll on the brioche bun. It's very savory and the butter makes it even more tender. Paired with crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside fries. 10/10 recommend. The staff is very friendly and kind. The owner should be proud. Can be quite a line outside, so call ahead and pay by phone. Bring a blanket so you can eat by the water. Just watch out for the seagulls. They can be aggressive!

So good! Had the clams and and the scallops in butter where to die for! The view was amazing and the old style amusement park was awesome!

The food is excellent and never disappoints. It's a great casual spot, right in the water. Something for everyone. Lobsters rolls are fantastic!

Very good! We had chowder - delicious and garlicky. Large calamari- good and very generous portion. Maybe should have tried the small. Nice picnic tables on the water. Perfect lunch.

Amazing! The lobster roll was big and delicious and a steal for $20. They had a veggie burger for my vegetarian family member. The other stand out was the fries. They were crispy, fresh and very good. There are signs warning about seagulls and some lady was upset because she got fried scallops (huge and great looking) but didn't watch her tray and the seagulls grabbed it. She was sitting on a bench away from the shack. We had no problems at our table. Anyway, locals were ordering to go and that looked like a good sign. Great place. Worth it!

Was in Salem last weekend. I ordered Clam Chowder and a Lobster roll. It was very delicious! Highly recommend. 10/10

I have traveled the entire New England coast with my family many times... The fried clams, AMAZING!!!! Might be the best I've ever had. We eat lobster and clams for breakfast lunch and dinner when traveling New England so I'd say I've had my share. Absolutely worth the spend, you will not be disappointed. My family also enjoyed lobster rolls that were up with the best rolls we've had in our days. To top it off, the staff was super friendly and the setting is perfect. We will definitely be back!

Me and my Mother and my Husky came up here 7/12/23 beautiful Day weather was great! Came early walked around the park by the water. Enjoyed some seafood when they opened at 11am I got the captains Comb plate and a side of onion rings and my Mother got the Lobster Dinner with a baked potato clam chowder and corn on the Cobb. My plate was delicious scallops clam bellies, fried shrimp and fish was delicious the taste was great, it's well battered and the onion rings are excellent! My mom's lobster was perfect and tasted fresh good size for the price, clam chowder was so good! The corn was moist sweet, baked potato was delicious they give you a cup of melted butter to go along with the lobster also. The staff is great friendly great customer service and very welcoming! Love coming here and enjoy great seafood and enjoying the view of water while seating on the picnic tables!

Delicious!!! I ordered their buttered lobster roll and fried haddock&fried scallops. Both orders came with French fries. Usually I don't care for the type of French fries that are served with lobster rolls or fried seafood plates, but these fries were freshly fried which made it have a nice warm crunch! Loved them! They offer Mayo lobster and buttered lobster with your choice of brioche bun or hot dog bun. I appreciate the fact that they have these options since so many other places do not. I got the buttered lobster roll on a toasted brioche bun and it was filled pretty well with lobster, could be better. Tasted great though! They have an option of a "pick 2" plate of fried seafood options. I picked their fried scallops and fried haddock. I have no complaints! Both were delicious! They gave me just enough tartar sauce. Outdoor bench seating provided. They have benches that seat about 4 and smaller benches that seat 2. Great atmosphere and very friendly workers who smiled and said their thanks! Just thinking of their food right now as I type this review makes me hungry enough to return very very soon!

First time here this year and the food didn't disappoint. Here's what we ordered: Double cheese burger Clam strips Clam chowder Steamers Thoughts: Burger: this thing was huge. Will definitely order again but will probably order a single. This puts other burger places to shame. Again, absolutely huge. Steamers: good, thought they could have had a little more flavor but they were good. Clam strips: another huge order. Clams tasted super fresh, and fries were really crispy. We'll definitely be getting this again. Clam chowder: very good. Probably our number 2 go to clam chowder right next to Crosby's market ( if you know, you know). All in all, the service was quick and friendly, the food was amazing, and we thought the portions were huge for the prices. My only feedback: they call out your order number on a Lou's speaker and the speaker wasn't working/was crackly. But this was a minor thing when you're eating great fresh seafood with a water view.

The go-to place to eat after you had a ton of fun at the arcades over at Salem Willows! The line goes by very quick and it doesn't take long for them to have your food ready! Very efficient! Really love this area too because it overlooks the beach area and there are both picnic tables and lots of shady areas along the park to set up a picnic blanket! We got the Pick 2 Plate (Haddock + Clam Strips) and a Lobster Roll. The plate was huge portion-wise, definitely something shareable! The lobster roll was good, but I'd pass on it the next time I come here as they gave little lobster meat for the price (pricey!!) compared to other places I've been to.

Excellent place for lobster rolls! These rolls are just lobster, nothing added as fillers. At first, I was skeptical as it was literally a shack in this park, but there were a lot of people. The lobster roll was full of lobster and the roll was upgraded to a brioche bun instead of that tasteless hotdog roll. Lightly toasted and delicious. With a side of fries, it was perfect. I have had a lot of rolls in Boston and this beats them all. The seating is limited, but it's in a park, so lots of other seating options, not to mention the water view. The wind does get strong though, my soda tipped over. Just be advised it's a simple place, but the rolls are great with fair prices.

Great little place for a lobster roll and a great view. Beware of the hungry sea gulls they can be aggressive.

The Clam Shack is an unpretentious, laid back spot with all the staples you'd hope to find along the Massachusetts coast--lobster rolls, clam chowder, crab cakes. There's only outdoor dining, but it's situated in a peaceful park along the north Salem waterfront. It was the perfect start to our trip, and I would definitely recommend it.

Amazing... 5 star service, 5 star food and you're sitting by the harbor eating.. awesome. Maria , the young lady who helped us was just amazing.. her customer service is a 10 star .. the owner was also great... without question we will be coming back for more.. if you are anywhere close to here it's worth it to go. We can't wait to come back for more. My wife says the best lobster roll she's ever had..

We visited 2 days prior to labor day and arrived at the shack at about 2pm. Despite it being later in the afternoon, there was quite the long line and we ended up having to wait 10-15min before putting in our order at the order window. The line moves very quickly but go prepared knowing what you will order or deciding from the menu while waiting on line so as not to hold up everyone else. The staff taking the order was super friendly and the ordering process was smooth. The staff repeats your order back to you at the end so as to make sure nothing was missed gives a numbered pick-up slip for picking up your order when it is ready at the side Pick-Up window. We got 2 clam bakes, a clam chowder, and a plate of clam strips so our total came out to a little less than $85. SEATING: I believe there were about 6-10 patio tables and benches with umbrellas avalable for outdood seating, and each table could seat around 4-6 people. We managed to snag a table after ordering, which was great, but it CAN be a pain to sit near the shack because it gets super windy with the water being nearby. There are a few picnic tables nearby the area OR you could easily just bring some towels or a picnic blanket to simply sit on the grass and have your meal under the shade of the willow trees. The FOOD: We waited 30min for our food, but don't worry normally the food does NOT take this long to prepare at the shack. We were informed ahead of time that our clam bakes could take a while because of the clams and lobsters having to be steamed so we appreciated the heads up. I could rave for hours about the clam chowder, which was by far our favorite. Not too watered down and just the right consistency! Plus it was also not too salty and had plenty of clam pieces that paired perfectly with oyster crackers. SO YUMMY & so worth getting the chowder while visiting the shack. The clam bakes (chick lobster set that comes with chowder, corn cob, and 1/2lb steamers) were equally as delicious, but the only complaint we had was that it was difficult to break the lobster shells by hand as the grooves made in them were quite shallow and the plastic forks given to us would keep bending when trying to maneuver the meat out of the shells. Overall: Such a worthy visit for great food in a beautiful park with picturesque waterside views and only 30-40min drive away from Boston. Whadda ya waiting for?! Come on down to the Clam Shack