Duckworth's Gloucester

Awesome place for a quality takeout meal experience! I knew Duckworth's as a bistro and while that is SADLY missed, its newest incarnation is not to be missed. A great addition to (East) Gloucester! We had two entrée dishes: 1. steak with chimichurri sauce and roasted sweet potatoes as well as 2. smoked pork belly tacos with some amazing roasted green tomato sauce, pickled onion and salsa sides. Pricing is fair since what you are getting is innovative, full meals. And the portions are right. Next time we will pick up some baked goods, desserts, and/or fresh bread (from Iggy's of Boston). The store itself is adorable, with fun sundries to buy: kitchen towels, straw hats, glassware, etc. They have a few tables to sit at if you prefer to eat there but we were just looking for an easy evening meal. Also, we ran into some of the original DW bistro staff, notably Michelle who was at the register. Congrats on the new endeavor, DW team, and those looking for a good meal, stop in!

I have only been there a few times but it is one of my favorite places in Gloucester! The sandwiches and pastries are great, a big variety of unique foods that are worth the money. Also very nice inside, seems like a great place to relax and enjoy some amazing food.

This is where we go to celebrate. The best restaurant I've been to on the North Shore. The food is delicious (we've been here 5 or 6 times and it's consistently excellent), and this is the place to pair it with a bottle of wine. Our waiter has been knowledgeable and kind. The setting is intimate, so get a reservation well ahead of time.

Always the finest time here. Service is impeccable. The menu is not gigantic, but every single thing on it is something I want to eat! Lovely wine list. Home made super decadent desserts (I’m lookin at you chocolate bourbon pecan pie!) finished off our amazing meal. Been going for more than a decade and never have had a bad bite. Bravo!

Went here for dinner with my aunt and cousin. Our server Colleen was awesome! Super friendly and put us at ease. The food was amazing. We ordered all the salads. The frize was the favorite. We split three half portions of entrees. Hanger stake was killer, duck was delicious, and the salmon was to die for. Recommend all three l. Finished the meal with a Banana cake. WOW. Also love the half/full portion option.

Excellent. They were so accommodating of my wife's gluten intolerance. Many gluten free options, and each better than the next. Service was perfect, they spent so much longer than they needed to talking through the changing menu items. I grew up 10 minutes away and couldn't believe I'd never been.

Service was excellent; our waiter was patient and explained everything. Leave a large budget, though! Even without desserts (and with half a glass of wine each) it came to $90. I had excellent salmon with carrot sauce, roasted carrots, and risotto. Most importantly, you can get EVERYTHING in a half portion (even the wine!) There are only 10 tables so make a reservation! Also had wonderful soups (we tried the creamy mushroom and also a cold cucumber soup.) I highly recommend Duckworth's.

I was taken there to celebrate my Birthday. What an experience! Everything was fantastic. Between the 3 of us, we had the Salmon, Mushroom soup, the cesar Salad, Fish Stew (i think) and we had to try more than one dessert! Banana Cake was to die for; Bread pudding was so good I did not want to share.. I can't say enough about the food and the service. I can't wait to go again.

Simply a four star experience... Duckworth's soups are creative and thoughtful exemplars of my favorites... cream of broccoli and grilled cheese was simply delicious and satisfying, complimented by their hot black tea in the sunlight of the large bay window and a a stroll through arts collective housed next door. Do not miss this Gloucester best hidden experience....

I have always been an enormous fan of Duckworth's over the years. One of the many sad customers when they closed over the pandemic. Super psyched when I opened back up, even if only as a lunch spot, I went in the other day and purchased a Cuban. I felt nothing but super ripped off when I brought the sandwich home to find it 99.99% bread with slender thin slices inside. Disappointed is an understatement. You might expect that at Panera but I thought Duckworth's was better than that.

The Cubano sandwich was very good. Could use a little more of the sauce on it, but was still very tasty.

Great place to pick up a quick bite for lunch or dinner. All homemade meals and baked goods along with a beautifully curated selection of home goods. Owners are the nicest!

As a long time fan of Duckworth's Bistro I was eagerly awaiting their reopening. Their new incarnation exceeded all my expectations, the food is absolutely delicious, the service incredible, and it is definitely a jewel of a spot. If you haven't been, get yourself there! If you have partaken I'm sure you'll agree it is a worthy replacement. Don't get me wrong, I will always have fond memories of the original restaurant but this is a keeper!

This is a tough one to rate. It's 4.5 stars for us! A quick breakdown review: FOOD: 5 Stars Everything we had from starters to dessert was all magnificent. Seasonings were balanced, flavors were great, and most pleasantly, there was not an overuse of butter or oil in each dish. AMBIENCE: 5 Stars Such a quaint little restaurant! It's small, MAKE SURE you get a reservation. It was crowded the entire time we were there. There were maybe 12 (or less) tables, and some bar seating. The lighting, decor, and vibes were perfect. SERVICE: 4 Stars The ONLY downside to our experience (not including the parking fiasco) is the initial service we received. We were not acknowledged upon entry, and were (what felt like) ignored for a good amount of time before being greeted and asked what were standing there waiting for. It felt very strange, and took a few minutes to shake off the initial greetings we received. HOWEVER, after that point the service was great. Our waitress was a doll, and is a great representation to this restaurant. She had great recommendations, a kind smile with every request, was prompt with everything, and answered all my questions about the history of the establishment with excitement. She was an all star. You want to go here. I want to go back. It was my favorite restaurant in the area that we visited, and we hope to return to enjoy the exquisite cuisine! Just be aware that parking is a hassle! I circled the block several times before finding a spot. There is mainly only street parking.

Wow, what a treat!! I was able to get a same-day reservation at the bar (they were packed) and I'm so glad I did! I'm not sure if the bartender was the owner or not, but she treated me like a guest in her home. It was seriously another level of hospitality that made me feel very welcome there. She greeted many guests by name. It was easy to see why there were so many regulars coming in. I asked her for a spicy red wine and she gave me the most delicious Malbec I've ever had. I forgot to ask for the name, but the wine was worth the trip alone! The menu is small but jam packed with so many great dishes that it was hard for me to choose. I love that they offer two portion sizes for the apps and mains. I found a small app and main still left me full. I went with their Bistrot Salad, which was topped with giant chunks of bacon and a perfect over-easy egg. It was chilly out and their seafood stew hit the spot. It had a variety of fish with big hunks of lobster meat, scallops and two clams. The broth was worth drinking on its own. I ended the meal with their dessert special of the day, a chocolate bourbon pecan pie with a side of vanilla ice cream. I mean, how do you go wrong with that? It was like two desserts in one. So decadent! If you're in Gloucester check this gem out!

I have been to Duckworth's twice over the past year for special occasions and I have been really impressed. The location and atmosphere are great, and the service is stellar. What made me come back the second time though was the desert.. the banana cake is one of the best deserts I have ever had. It is truly a gem - please don't ever take it off your menu. For dinner we usually get the specials. The most recent time we went this summer we had a twist on pork schnitzel with a mustard sauce and lettuce. For an app I love the polenta. Looking forward to come back in the future.

I cannot say enough great things about this place! We went for my birthday and everything was amazing. The food was great but the service was even better! Everybody was so sweet and made you feel like you've been there before. What really blew me out of the water was their banana cake! It is hands down one of the best cakes that I've ever had!

Always remarkable! Going to missed you this summer. But we are all having to make adjustments. I'm just hoping you'll be able to fully recover from this shutdown. We miss your food. Have spent every birthday and anniversary with you. All my best!

We were not prepared for the non-Boston portions (or prices) that we found at Duckworth's Bistrot. All of the menu items come in a "half size" but our server definitely undersold the portions because the full sizes were massive! She said the half size would be around 6 oz and the full would be around 8 oz but honestly our lobster risotto seemed more like 10! So full of lobster and so rich, I probably only had about 10 bites. He also enjoyed a "pickle" martini and I also enjoyed my cocktail, which was stiff and floral. The place is TINY so don't come without a reservation!

Every single dish we had here was delicious !! We went there on a early Saturday night after visiting Ipswich and Rockport. The place was already full at 5:30pm. Everything on the menu has an option of full or half. In order to try more things, we went for the half option for every dish. We started with the mushroom soup and bistro salad, followed by lobster risotto and seared scallops, then the lamb leg and seafood stew. My personal favorite was the scallops, which were served with roasted red pepper purée, sauté spinach, and mashed potatoes. We also had a creme caramel for dessert with all the food plus two glasses of wine, the bill only came out to be around $120. We had a great experience at Duckworth's and we will definitely be back when visiting this area!

Very friendly service and excellent food. Minus one star because they are understaffed for what is clearly an extremely busy and hectic restaurant. And they annoyingly charge extra for anchovies for the Caesar salad. Kind of like charging extra for bacon in a BLT or the chocolate bits in chocolate chip ice cream. The smaller portion option is a nice one. Still not cheap, but if you are not starving, it is nice to have the choice. Also, two prices for wines by the glass. One for 3 oz., another for 6 oz. (Who gets 3 oz.?) Better to have 6 and 9 oz. offerings as other restaurants do. Had a hangar steak with whipped potatoes and carrots and the coq au vin. The banana cake is simply delicious and caloric. Everything perfectly prepared- and very French bistro in both flavor and presentation. Also excellent espresso. If you want to dine with the locals (the somewhat elderly yachting set, not the fisherman set), this is the place.

Small, busy, loud... but somehow we still felt special. This place is all around great. Service,food,drinks..EXCELLENT! Banana cake... need I say more. Can't wait to go back

Sometimes I'll rate a place 5 stars not because it was the best food, but for a combination of food, ambiance and service. For instance, I rated my last review 5 stars not because the food was the best I ever had, it was good though, but because the service was outstanding and they basically made me feel like they wanted my visit to be perfect. This place would get 5 stars on each of the above mentioned criteria. I called to get a reservation 1 hour before we wanted to go. Sometimes you have to roll the dice. Well we were shut down, completely booked. However, they took my number and said they would call if anything opened up. They called back about a half hour later and said they had a table right when we wanted it and would we like it. We took it though we had to scramble to get there, we were headed to a different spot in the opposite direction. Well worth it. They offer half and full sizes and I ordered two halves. Ok I was hungry! The service was fantastic. The food was outstanding and the dessert was sensational, Banana Cake. It's a small place and there is only street parking, but that's what makes these type of places so great and unique. So drop off your significant other and go find a space. You get brownie points and your drink can be waiting for you when you find your space and walk back.

so many positive things to say about this place, the ambiance is lovely, pretty handpicked flowers on each table,service is warm & friendly,, food is well prepared and portions are generous. The only negative is the music is totally inappropriate - energetic rock & roll! Like, wtf? Since it's a French inspired bistro consider Edith Piaf, CharlesAznavour, even Brazilian jazz- I wonder when higher end restauranteurs will figure out people want soft background music to dine to not exercise to.

This restaurant is what all others want to be when they grow up. I have been three times and waited to do this review because I didn't have the words to explain it. I still don't. The food is just so good. Undeniably the best I've ever eaten. I had thought that it would be expensive and uptight but I had it all wrong. Wowser. I'm gonna start celebrating half birthdays and anniversaries just to go again sooner.

Duckworth. Pork Schnitzel Was way overcooked not tender but dry. I would have sent it back but we were short for time. Please do not serve a piece of meat like that! Tough. Burnt edges. Thursday October 13. ..6pm Apples listed as ingredient..not discernable German potato salad ..tsk tsk overdone Potatoes dark brown.

We celebrated our 36th anniversary here and it was a brilliant move! It took them a minute or two longer than necessary to connect with is, get water and menus, etc. but once our waitress, Sharna came to the table, we had not a worry in the world. The "ubiquitous bistro salad" with chicken livers and thick lardons served over frisée with a poached egg on top was a memorable gustatory sensation! The schnitzel was perfect: a crisp panko covered exterior and a moist pork cutlet inside. The seafood stew was a very tasty melange of clams, scallops, shrimp, and cod I think with a tangy broth that pulled the dish together. Dessert was the peach cobbler with salt caramel ice cream. It was scrumptious! All of this to say that even though we had the worst table in the house (right next to the kitchen door), we could not have been happier! Kudos to the chef! We will be back.

Romance- YES. Unbelievable food- YES. Date night- ABSOLUTELY! I have heard wonderful things about Duckworth's Bistrot for years, but had never had the chance to visit the restaurant until last night. It well exceeded my expectations. The charming ambience was so cozy, quaint and cute- the perfect spot for a romantic date night. We tried several items on the menu including the bistro salad (So fresh and clean) the lobster risotto (rich and indulgent, seafood perfectly cooked) and the pork schnitzel (Heaven in every bite). Every single thing that we tried was thoughtfully prepared with delicate attention to detail. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, the seasoning was spot-on and food cooked to perfection. The waiter was kind and helpful with a wine recommendation and descriptions of the items on the menu. I honestly think this was one of the best meals if not THE best in terms of creative influence and perfect execution that I have ever eaten on the North Shore. The waiter also informed us that they make a new menu every day so that items are not repeated. The bar appeared small and very busy. Almost all of the seats were full even on a Wednesday night dinner. As it's so busy, it's a good idea to make a reservation. I did find it a little odd that you leave your name on the machine and they call you back to fill your reservation (rather than just having someone answer the telephone), but it was well worth it. This is a North Shore hidden gem that we will reserve for special occasions.

"Need I say anything", is what my brother said to me when I inquired about his meal. We started out with the Boston lettuce salad and the mushroom soup. The salad was perfect and was wonderfully dressed and seasoned. This was perfectly priced considering you what you were getting, a salad topped with a baguette slice, drizzled in a warm cheese like sauce, and caramelized onions. In addition to that we ordered the mushroom soup. I give my compliments to Chef Duckworth on this-a former saucier-for his soups and sauces are exquisite, then again wasn't it all. This mushroom soup was like no other I have ever tasted; rich, creamy, savory, and umami, are all the adjectives for describing this soup, but there are many more. It was drizzled with a little bit of olive oil and contained a small amount of sauteed mushrooms in the center of the bowl, adding a great textural element. I have not even started to describe the main course. I was fortunate enough to have been able to get the sauteed duck breast. When our waitress, who was very kind and hospitable, asked how I would like the duck cooked, I was advised to go with the chefs choice. The dish was brought out and I was amazed by the presentation. The chef had managed to create a dome from slices of duck breast and cooked spinach leaves. The duck had been wonderfully prepared, and wonderfully paired with the greens and cooked apples, but again, the sauce is what I believe made the dish most memorable. After savoring the last of this dish, I was unable to speak, blown away by the quality of the service that was provided, and the quality of the meal. Although I was satisfied, I could not help but desire more, in which case I ordered the flourless chocolate cake. This was wonderful, as it was served slightly chilled with a pomegranate port sauce, and vanilla ice cream. I could have gotten twenty more but that would have done me no justice as I was satisfied beyond words. Overall I was satisfied by the food, the service and the atmosphere. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody who wants to experience the joys of life and the beauty of food.

I will dream of the duck I had; paired with amazing service and atmosphere. What a great new find. We will be back.

Wife is becoming quite good at picking restaurants and this is just another example of this. Our dinner was delicious and the half plates were perfect to try more than one entree. They staggered dinner so you can enjoy each plate and never feel rushed. Our waitress Colleen was the perfect blend of funny, attentive, and had great suggestions while never being overbearing. Facilities were romantic without feeling stuffy as some upper end restaurants can feel. Highly recommend a visit here and I would make a recommendation but everyone around us was enjoying their choices so I am sure you can't go wrong with any choice you make.

This restaurant was excellent. Great service, and an intimate setting right off the harbor. And the food was to die for! I especially liked the carrot soup - who knew such a simple dish could be so rich and flavorful? Dinner at this restaurant was a highlight of my visit to Gloucester. I plan to visit again next time I am in the area!

Under the guidance of chef Ken Duckworth and his top-notch staff, Duckworth's Bistrot has earned its place as one of the finest small restaurants on the North Shore. There is simply nothing more to say about Duckworth's other than the cuisine is world-class, the service is exceptional, and when you walk in the door you feel like a member of the family. Duckworth's is the restaurant of choice for an intimate dinner marking a special event. When my wife and I were eating dinner at the bar on Valentine's Day, the couple next to us made a reservation for Valentine's Day 2020! That's how devoted regular customers are - it's their home away from home. After one visit, you'll feel the same way.

We have wanted to try Duckworth's for years and were finally able to secure a reservation during our last visit to Gloucester. Unfortunately, we were deeply disappointed with our visit. The service is incredibly slow and the waitress takes her time making small talk with customers she knows, rather then serving those that she doesn't. The food was mediocre, nothing stellar. The option for a smaller plate being a plus. As a restaurant boasting their French influence, why would they serve Italian bottled water and olive oil with their bread. French use butter, not oil. And I need to agree with an earlier reviewer with the concept that this is the 'place to be seen'. Since I care little about status or what strangers think of me, I did not get the rush of being with the 'it' crowd. There are too many other great restaurants in the Gloucester area to waist you money here.

We thoroughly enjoyed Duckworth's Bistrot for its outstanding food, friendly service (server Colleen), and ambiance. We plan on returning often!

It's just so good. This is an awesome place for a date night. The location is very cute and the staff are all just so nice. They all seem super legitimately happy to be working there, and they want everybody else to be happy too. As you can see from the reviews, almost anything can be ordered as a half or full portion. This way, you can eat it as a small plates/tapas style meal, or just get a full entree. Even the half-size portions are generous. The chef's specialty is sauces, so everything on the menu has some sort of amazing sauce with the dish. This really elevates a lot of proteins to the next level.

Great atmosphere, great food, great options. Wonderful upscale vibe inside and best part, they have half dishes in case you're being indecisive. I tasted every dish at our table and each was better than the previous. Good drink selection, great apps and we even got dessert (which we never do). Reservations can be hard to get so make sure to book a few weeks in advance.

This very special place has incredible food and the staff is all super friendly. The only downside is they are booked up often weeks in advance. It's worth it to make advance plans because everything on the menu is superb - corn soup with lobster, and the mushroom soup are so delicious, amazing fish, duck, lobster risotto. The desserts are amazing too - made by the wife and co-owner of the chef. Best food on the north shore. Considering that the food is so good it's not stuffy at all. Staff is all charming and super helpful. Make a reservation and go. You will be glad you did!

Everything about this restaurant is the best, the best, the best. My wife and I shared the summer goat cheese salad and each had 2 half-plates (which I made sure to jot down the next day): goose and chicken livers in wine sauce w/ whipped mashed potatoes and spinach line caught striped bass w/ risotto in a creamy corn sauce and asparagus grilled lamb tenderloin in a creamy pesto mint sauce w/ fingerling potatoes and haricot verts seared all natural duck breast w/ sautéed apples and fennel in a sweet and sour cider sauce The atmosphere was perfect, and our waitress was helpful - her wine suggestions were spot on. I could not recommend a restaurant more highly. It was the best "food experience" I've ever had.

The food. The food was incredible. Awesome staff, cute ambiance and extremely affordable. I was shocked that every entree was available in half portions. Turning a $30 dish into $15, and the sizes were still generous. Its a great way to sample everything! And everything tastes INCREDIBLE. Reserve early!

Excellent experience. Our waitress Kristy told me I was ordering too much and she was right. You don't get waitstaff doing that often! The have half portions of everything and my two halves of Lobster Risotto and lamb filled me up. They also offer half glasses of wine and my wife took advantage. Both great ideas. The glass list is extensive. Both dishes I had and my wife's Duck Confit were outstanding. If I lived closer I'd go often!

Wonderful restaurant with terrific service and prepared food. Their bar stocks local purveyors of liquor including vodka, gin, scotch, and wine. Their menu changes with the seasons and offers nightly specials. I had the lobster/vegetable risotto. My wife had the steak. Each was perfectly prepared and served. The bread which they ran out of after our first delivery was house baked by the owners wife. Ken the owner/chef prepares the dinner. The waitress was friendly and knew the menu and explained in detail the questions we raised. The desserts were phenomenal. Each entree was priced in half and full portions. Each of us ordered the half which was more than enough to fill us after our appetizers. I would ave given 5 stars but as noted they ran out of bread which I would have enjoyed to dunk in the heavenly broth. Located in Gloucester, Mass. This was a most pleasant evening. Will return.

What a great restaurant. We had the Ubiquitous salad, duck confit and seared scallops. We then finished up with the pumpkin cheesecake. All were expertly prepared and delicious. The staff was fantastic and interested in us having a great experience.

We arrived on time for our dinner, but our table wasn't ready. Unfortunately, the modest bar was fully occupied leaving us absolutely no place to wait but pressed against a wall of coats. Then, of course, owing to the tiny size of the room we had to do the bistro shuffle as guests came and went. Think rush-hour at Park Street station. Before long, though, we were seated at a table for two in front of one of the windows. Although we prefer to sit side-by-side on account of our desperate and hysterical love, our table afforded probably the most private milieu available. The food we settled for was excellent, so we can't help but wonder how sublime the meal would have been if they'd actually had the food we wanted. Sure, it was an 8:30 reservation on a Saturday night, but isn't that the night for which a restaurant should be most prepared? Sadly, they were out of the cauliflower soup with mussels and crouton; the bibb and iceberg lettuce salad advertised on Duckworth's website was no longer on the menu; Swiss chard was not available with the veal so broccoli rabe was substituted; and the banana layer cake was long gone by the time we were ready for it. We started with a half-order of seared duck breast with apples and fennel in a cider reduction. It was perfect - an amazing dish. Mrs had two tender medallions of veal, but reported a lack of lemon in the butter/lemon sauce. I had the NY strip and it was everything a strip should be. For dessert we had a rum-soaked fruit-ed bread pudding with crme anglaise. It was good enough to make us forget our disappointment over the missing banana layer cake; however, the rum was undetectable. Anyway, that's all just nit-picking. Duckworth's was downright charming and served superior food. Prices were at the higher-end of high-end and they charged Mrs for every soda, but we'd certainly go back - if only for a taste of that banana layer cake. *Update 04/03/2008: We recently heard from Mrs Duckworth who shared with us that soda refills are now free and she apologized that the evening we were there was their first night open following an extended winter break, thus the various shortages of ingredients. While we appreciate the generous sentiment, no apology was necessary. In fact, we returned last night and the banana layer cake was superb!

Absolutely the best restaurant in Gloucester! Duckworth's has now become a staple in my diet ever since I first ate here last year. The pricing is similar (if not slightly cheaper depending on what you order) to the rest of the Gloucester's restaurants. Think 'Latitude 43' and 'Alchemy'. It can get busy on weekends so I would recommend making reservations a week in advance. Wait staff are wonderful and accommodating and great at making recommendations. The menu offers smaller portions for most of the dishes which makes ordering a bunch of dishes to share for a larger party easy. Now on to the food aspect. I've never had a dish here I wouldn't order twice. I always start with the bistro salad (a must order in my opinion), and lately I've been ordering the seared duck breast as my main. You really can't go wrong with this menu. They always have wonderful options for dessert. The banana layer cake is spectacular. Essentially, I'm saying if you live in the area or are stopping by I would make it a priority to come here.

My wife and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with dinner at Duckworth's and a fine and delicious celebration dinner it was! Since I can never remember the exact names of dishes I order, I can only tell you that my swordfish was done perfectly and flavored the same. The wife's steak ... while not the most tender piece of beef ... was done as ordered and also was very flavorful. The cocktails were substantially fortified and that chocolate whatever-they-called-it cake for dessert was fantastic. My only objection is that the half dozen oysters for an appetizer were so small I felt a pang of guilt eating the little fellas. And, believe me: I've never felt guilty about eating oysters in my life! But, please, don't misunderstand. We thought the service and food was top notch. We visit Gloucester fairly regularly and while it was our first visit to Duckworth's it will not be our last.

We had a great Dining experience at Duckworth Bistrot! Food so fresh and different ... fried green tomatoes , yummy leek and onion soup , scallops and fresh carrot cake! You could order half portions so amount and price very reasonable. Plus our server was darling and most friendly ! We highly recommend this out of the way restaurant in Gloucester

My boyfriend and I made a 5:15 reservation for dinner on a whim, and we were so pleased with our choice in restaurant. The service is genuine, friendly, and meticulous, and our food was carefully prepared and presented. I ordered a half portion of the Chicken Schnitzel and my boyfriend ordered a full portion of the Faroe Island Salmon alongside their take on a Dark and Stormy cocktail. The size of my half portion meal was equal to that of my boyfriend's full portion, and we both agreed that we ordered the proper sizes for our meals. Having the available option of a half portion entrée was a welcome alternative for me, and I left feeling quite satisfied. While we did not order dessert, we saw a number of options leaving the kitchen that looked delicious, and we vowed to come back and try them sometime soon.

Not sure what the hubbub is about with this place. The place was very busy last Saturday. We made our reservations more than a week in advance and our only options were 5:30PM (i believe) and 8:30PM. We chose the latter. Maybe this was a mistake because when got around to ordering, the croquette, the lamb and the oysters were no longer available. Then, I heard that some of the items from the bar were also no longer available. This was really disappointing-- this means that almost 20% of the menu was unavailable! There was a slight wait when we arrived because other patrons were still finishing up/chatting. There is no place to wait. We stood in the stairwell near the front door behind another waiting group. The bar is SMALL and there's nowhere to stand. We heard that the Duckworth's was casual but it didn't seem so casual. I guess the term casual is subjective. Some people were wearing suits, some people were wearing slacks/khackis, the waitstaff may be wearing jeans but no sneakers, really. I felt like I could've used a better heads up about the attire. Generally, the service was friendly and good. Great salads and warm bread. I had the scallops with duck confit, yukon potatoes, and asparagus. Husband had the duck breast with sauteed apples. We shared the banana cake for dessert-- the cream cheese frosting was a little much- there was a lot! The meal was better than average but I wasn't wowed. I would go back again but perhaps make an earlier reservation. If you have two items on your menu that call for oysters, please be sure you have plenty of oysters on hand. I mean, you ARE in Gloucester!! People come here to eat sea food!

Just have the chicken liver salad. Period. Just drive from wherever you are, take a seat and have the chicken liver salad. So great. FYI -- so was the halibut, the root soup and the lamb (so says my wife). Did I mention the chicken liver salad? Why not a perfect score? Parking is complicated, especially when it snows. And if you're over six feet, seats packed so tight you'll feel like you're on flight to LA. But overall, wow! Added bonus, helpful and knowledgable wait staff.

My favorite restaurant in the area, bar none. Although on some visits I get the sense that I've got the lowest net worth in the room, I've never felt out-of-place eating here! The service is unobtrusive and attentive all at once and will even converse with you. It's an understated, comfortable atmosphere to spend several hours over a really great meal. The food: delightful. An excellent selection of wines. An attractive feature is the fact that all food is available in half-portions, so if you're like me and prefer smaller portions you don't have to pay for and pack up a full one -- or you can try several things without overgorging yourself. And if you're also a cheap date like me, there are many wines available by the half-bottle -- and even some by the half-glass! The quality of the food is extremely high, and is sourced locally when possible -- one recent evening, the dessert special featured strawberries collected at a nearby farm by the chef and his small children. It may not be the least expensive meal you've had, but I feel the prices are an excellent value... You'd pay a lot more for this meal in Boston, and honestly if I still lived in the city I'd make the trip to eat here. Reservations are pretty much required during the summer; call a day or two ahead.

Visiting Rockport and bam!! Hit a jack pot!! This restaurant is an absolute gem not only in the area but for anyone from everywhere. I do not mind driving 4.5 hours to come here to dine. Food with love with sophistication.

So happy to report that the accolades are well worth it. We have lived in Gloucester for almost 6 years and never tried this place. Wow...our loss. The ambiance is our French bistro with a New England flair. Loved how quiet and intimate it was. Food was 9/10. Wife had the grilled shrimp appetizer, I had oysters (Wellfleet) on the half shell. Shrimp was perfectly grilled with a perfectly complimented slaw. The aoli was a little much, but thankfully was on the side. For mains I got the grass-fed pan fried steaks cutlets wi th broccoli rabe, mashed celelry root and red wine reduction. Wife got the pan roasted local chix with mashed potatoes. The only thing keeping the review from a perfect 5 was the bitterness of the broccoli rabe. It's supposed to be be somewhat bitter, but this was like eating a mouthful of braised hops. Completely in edible. Steak and chicken were exceptional though. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Dessert was made onsite and was superlative. Wife had chocolate ganache cake. I had the cranberry/apple crisp. Amazing. Great place and we'll worth the premium price.

I'll make this simple: Duckworth's is incredible. It is tied (with Oleana, in Cambridge) for most incredible dining experience I have had since moving to Boston. My girlfriend and I went for the second time last night, to celebrate her graduation from her Masters program and her new job offer. We started with a mixed greens salad with goat cheese, beets and sunflower seeds. It was great, the sunflower seeds providing a really nice texture. For dinner, my girlfriend got the soft shell crab, while I got the duck leg confit (I almost got the lobster risotto again, because it was unbelievable last time, but I figured I should try something new). They were very different, and both phenomenal. The crabs were large and meaty, and incredibly flavorful. Meanwhile, the duck was the best I have ever had, perfectly prepared and very flavorful. Finally, we splurged for two desserts. The banana layer cake was good, but the bourbon chocolate pecan pie with vanilla ice cream was UNBELIEVABLE. Some other helpful info: Both times we've been, the wait staff was both friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. And the restaurant itself is small, intimate and romantic without feeling at all crowded. A word of warning: Duckworth's is easily the most expensive restaurant I've ever visited. I'd likely go broke if I visited more than once a year. However, as a place for celebrations, Duckworth's is about as special as it gets. I very, very much hope it's not another two years before I make it back.

A unique menu! The food - Delicious, fresh and flavorful! The staff couldn't have been more courteous and customer service was superior. I've was vacationing for a week in Maine and decided to spend a couple of nights in Gloucester. My friend and I ordered take out on a very busy night. They do not offer take out on a regular basis when busy. The woman who answered the phone was patient and accommodating. Don't miss this restaurant!!

Danish couple stayng i town for three days. (Sorry for bad spelling). It was our last day and we wanted it to be a bit above average for dinner. We had tried other restaurants and dining places in town the other days and had not been disappointed, so with the amounts of recommendations we had had for Duckworth we expected a bit of a treat... We were not disappointed. We decided on a two course dinner each at half size, since our experience and waitress Kelly told us full sizes were large (for us inexperienced europeans "huge") and staying at a motel without a fridge doesnt make doggybags a real option. My wife had seafood, and since i dont have the palate for that ordered more terrastrial. Aswell as pre-dinner drink. (Their equivalent to a dark and stormy is excellent). The food was clearly freshly caught or locally produced and of high quality The dishes themselves were simple but made so every ingredience had been given their own worth, nothing was out of place, and every single simple beet or potato seemed nessecary. Oh.. And the sauces... I will dream of those for weeks... Any restaurant should be judged on their sauces, and Duckworth is a real contender. After dinner we even found room for desserts (I dont know how) and you should not cheat yourself here either. If I was forced to find a downside it was that the kitchen had a hard time timing when the main course should be ready and we ended up having it a bit before we had finished our starters. It was only a minor discomfort, but I would rather have another glass of wine and wait a bit for the main course, than having both starter and main in front of me at the same time. (This alone lowers the stars given from five to four, to some it might be a positive, and it still wasn't anything grivious for our experience). Everything was priced in the higher end of the commonly affordable spectrum and justly so. (2 times three courses, cocktail, wine for each dish and coffee at just under 160$) The restaurant itself is relaxed and kinda small (reservations seemed advicable). Service was attentive, cheerfull and seemed genuinly friendly. We felt at home, even though we were so far away. If we ever find ourselves near Gloucester again we would without doubt drive the extra mile to dine here. A big thanks goes to Kelly (our friendly waitress), the other waitresses of whom we never got their name and to the kitchen... Especially to the one who is in charge of the sauces. Yummy. Tim

I'm so happy that we waited for a 9 o'clock reservation to eat here instead of going somewhere else. The staff was welcoming and our food was delicious - I love that they offer the option of small portions. All the good things that the other reviewers have already said are true!