Michael's Harborside Restaurant & Bar

We came for a birthday lunch for my mom and we both really enjoyed our meals. We loved the heated outdoor area overlooking the water. I had the Caesar salad with chicken and really liked it. My mom had a pumpkin ravioli and that was great too! Will definitely be back.

You win some, you lose some — and this was a loss. Honestly surprised the reviews are so high; must be for the view, which is lovely. I’d recommend coming here for a beer or glass of wine at sunset, but skip the food and cocktails. We ordered the lobster roll (have had better from a truck) and the swordfish taco, which came with sweet seaweed, mango on a flour tortilla - weird combo. Also ordered an aperol spritz that lacked fizz/ spritz, beer was fine.

What's not to enjoy about this meal experience? We had a lovely view, even without a high top table. My husband got the baked haddock and I had the sesame salmon. Both were absolutely delightful! I could eat that salmon dish every day! The staff were friendly and attentive.

I stopped here for a relaxing lunch. The view was awesome. I had the fish chowder which was delicious. The fish sandwich and roasted vegetables were also incredible. The service was very friendly. It really made my afternoon enjoyable.

I was curious about this restaurant since it is busy throughout the year. I had lunch with friends and one of them who lives in Newburyport use to come here a lot. I made reservations in advance so we could get a table right ▶️ away. A great view of the Merrimack River and the Newburyport drawbridge. We watched it open 👐 and close twice to let sailboats ⛵ go underneath. We ordered Buffalo 🐃 Style Chicken 🐔 tenders for an appetizer. Not spicy 🥵 but they tasted good. I had the Chicken Sandwich with Swiss cheese and fries. My friends ordered the Seafood Casserole 🥘 and the Combo plate 🍽️ with shrimp, scallops, fries and coleslaw. My friend who ordered the combo couldn't finish it! We were offered and given complimentary bread 🍞 while we had a short wait for our orders. The bread of my sandwich started to become mushy after a short while. My friend who ordered the combo said it was okay but he has had better. My friend who ordered the casserole liked his entree. Service was great! I had a free 🆓 refill on my unsweetened iced tea with 🍋 lemon. The prices are high but with inflation and it being Newburyport, I am not surprised 😯 or complaining. I would go back 🔙 next Spring 🌱 or Summer 🌞 so I can sit on the deck and have a meal with friends again.

I had an incredible experience at Michael’s Harborside! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with beautiful waterfront views that made the evening feel extra special. What truly stood out was our server, Sharron. She was absolutely fantastic—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. She made excellent recommendations and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. Her professionalism and genuine kindness elevated our dining experience and made it memorable. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Pair that with the great service and lively yet relaxed vibe, and you’ve got a place I’ll be returning to again and again. Thank you, Sharron, and the whole team at Michael’s Harborside, for a wonderful evening!

I had an incredible time at Michael’s. I wanted to take a quick evening trip to Newburyport and Michael’s is where I ended up for dinner. The food was incredible, 10/10. I had the lobster bake stuffed and that was probably the best lobster I’ve ever had. The lobster was cooked so well and was so easy to eat. The overall atmosphere was so beautiful. I was on the heated outdoor seated area which was perfect for the late night cool breeze. The waitress I had was also very nice and friendly. She made everything so enjoyable and always checked in to make sure things were up to my liking. I am planning on returning here for the summer.

This is a spectacular restaurant with views of the ocean from multiple wide windows inside & on the deck. Amazing walk after dinner with scenaries, kids playground not far, nice bike or walk paths. A must to enjoy. Seafood is fresh & delicious.

View beautiful Good service Lobster Bisque delicious!!! Seafood platter ok Im comparing this seafood to my favorite place

We had an excellent experience here. We came in for a late lunch and were seated right away. Beautiful location on the water. The restaurant wasn't overly busy, but there were plenty of people there. Seating inside and outside and lots of natural light. We ordered New England clam chowder, haddock plate, blackened swordfish tacos, and steamers. Everything was delicious. We had a great time and definitely will go back.

Would've gone 3 1/2 stars if available. Food was average to me. Service was really good. Way too pricey for what we got. Wouldn't rush to go back - but wouldn't totally avoid.

Let me start by saying we come here a few time during the summer months to sit upstairs on the deck and have dinner. This was our first coming late season and they were most likely short staffed. We finally got our food but no plates or utensils. The fried seafood portions were definitely smaller than usual too. Not deal breakers but here's what has me thinking we might not be back. It was dusk and not all the tables were filled and mice kept coming out from below the deck. I get it's outdoors but the hostess walked by and stomped her feet to scatter the two mice. They just kept returning while we ate. Worries me that if this is on the deck what's happening in the kitchen.

My family and I stopped here on a rainy day and I was happy to see that they had a covered porch with outdoor seating so we could still sit outside. It was warm out so that was an extra bonus for us. My food was delicious. I had a tuna poke bowl and a cup of lobster bisque. I added one ounce of lobster meat to my cup and it was the perfect amount. Two family members got the fish and chips and enjoyed them. Both commented that the batter was very different than we were used to because it was flaky and more like a chicken finger batter. In fact, my 5 year old enjoyed a piece thinking it was a chicken finger...score for mom! My oldest ordered the kids pizza and our only complaint was that it was very small so we had to order him a second one. (Not a big deal!) The hostesses were friendly and gave all the kids fun kids menus. Our waitress was pleasant. The bus boys/girls could be a little more attentive since we did have a table full of dirty dishes for much longer than we should have. (Appetizers plates stayed with us til the end. Not a big deal just made for a more crowded table with 5 of us.) Overall I would say, stop in, enjoy a nice meal and take in the views! So happy we stopped!

The seafood here is amazing with very reasonable prices and great service. The food is fresh and tasty. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor space.

Great food, great service, great views! We sat on the covered patio which was lovely. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. The food was fantastic. The lobster bisque was my favorite. Velvety describes it so well. The aioli on the crab cake sandwich was so good that I asked for a side to dip my fries in! My husband loved the oysters. The presentation for the jumbo shrimp was lacking, and the white cosmo was way too strong, but overall a great experience.

Food was mediocre. Lobster roll not worth the money. Otherwise, a basic seafood place with high prices. Service was good and ambiance was nice with boats on the river.

Michael Harborside is awesome! Family and kid friendly. Portion sizes were great. Exceptional fish and chips! A truly satisfying and comforting meal that leaves you craving more. Highly recommended for for seafood lovers! Staff was very accommodating and helpful. The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic! From the moment you step in, you're greeted by a warm, inviting ambiance that blends traditional beach decor with a modern twist.

Best view on the north shore. Food and drinks are always solid. My go to is fish and chips or the lobster roll. Service is fine - they get busy and serve a lot of customers!

Took a drive to the coast and found Michael's at noon on a Sunday with a window table! Had the very good clam chowder and a lobster roll, also great but I forgot to ask for it hot and buttered. Clams were fresh and meaty in the chowder. The lobster roll had huge chunks of claw meat and so much fresh lobster meat in the cold salad filling in a soft buttery NE roll. The service was excellent, even as busy as it was on Sunday brunch time. Parking is easy in the private lot and an overflow lot I took notice of. Views of the river were awesome even in the dead of winter!

The location of this restaurant welcomed our small family during our first visit here. My wife devoured an entire lobster in less than 45 minutes, while my sister savored a lobster roll. Some Bang Bang Shrimp and lobster bisque was all I needed to complete our seafood lunch. The ambiance and service is also outstanding.

Great "light" lunch, wonderful atmosphere, and quick service out on the balcony on a beautiful but chilly Thursday afternoon. I had the lobster bisque (WONDERFUL!!) and a side salad and my friend had the clam chowder with GF roll. She noted that there were plenty of additional gluten free options as well, but we weren't here for a big meal. Wonderful first meal experience for my first meal during my visit to the area. Hope I can come back again for one of their tempting entrees, and more of that beautiful view!!

I had not been to Michaels for a few years because the food was just meh. Went 4 times just in the past month and had great meals each time! Highly recommend giving it a try if it fell off your radar as well! Love the chowder, haddock dinner and cocktails as well! Service was excellent each time

I've been back again pretty consistently over the winter and into spring this year. It's been a great place to hang out during the offseason. The staff is friendly and attentive, most* of the menu offerings are pretty good pub food, and the haddock dinner is delicious if you want something more from the protein - veg - potato side of things. The bar service is quick, once you've got a server's attention they can serve up just about any cocktail quickly, and are great with special requests or tweaks to a standard drink. The upstairs bar gets loud, but it's lively. I laughed when I saw my old review ... the upstairs hightop table are *still* wobbly, and could *still* use hooks for purses - over a decade later. Little things that would improve the experience a great deal. * I said most of the menu is good. The one exception so far has been the crab cakes. I usually love crab cakes ... local places all have their own take but they are usually pretty good. But that is not the case with Michael's ... mushy and wet, corn mealy patties with little if any hint of crab anywhere. Will not be trying those again. It's not even that they are not worth the steep price of $22 (or $25 for a sandwich version) It's that they just aren't any good, at any price. To be honest, no local place comes close to the David's Fish Market crab cakes of yore, before they changed recipes, but I know that's a high bar of crab packed deliciousness and usually grade on a curve. But these ... steer clear - stick to the fish and chips, or haddock dinner / plate or fried clams or scallops if you're in the mood for seafood.

We try to come here whenever we are in town. It was my father in laws favorite place. We went to have a drink and meal in memory of him. We ate outside on the covered patio in a rainstorm. It was perfect. The food is fantastic. The clam chowder the best and the scallops so yummy. My husband got whole belly clams his favorite. My kids went the non seafood route and were very happy. Chicken sandwich caprese flatbread. The service is always top notch

lunch today.. 2 ordered 1/2 and 1/2 plate with whole belly clams and shrimp. Clams were very small, no big belly.. both were very disappointed. Also mostly shrimp only had 1 scallop.. Crazy for the price..

We came on a Sunday night, on a hot beautiful day, so it was busy. We sat outside upstairs and it was a nice view of the water. We got the pei mussels, and crispy calamari, and I got the fish n' chips and white sangria. I enjoyed the mussels and calamari, however the calamari were relatively small pieces. The fish n' chips were a good portion and decent. There is no pricing for the drinks, expect for wine, so the sangria ended up being $12. I tried some of the tuna poke, and it was ok. Overall slightly overpriced and decent food but you're mainly coming to sit by the water. Service was decent. Our waitress was attentive, but was ready for her shift to end since it seemed short staffed. It seems like they only take phone reservations (no online reservations). They weren't taking any more reservations that day, so it was a 45 min-1 hour wait. After 40 minutes, the website stated our table was seated so I called them. There was a glitch in the system and they offered to put me back on the list, but it would be another 45 min-1 hour wait. I shortly got a text a few minutes later that my table was ready. They have a private parking lot however you may be driving around a bit when it's crowded.

I visited Michael's last weekend for a bachelorette dinner and we sat at a beautiful table with a view of the water. The service was great and so was the clientele. Everyone kept coming over and talking to us congratulating the bride. It was so sweet! There was a serious family vibe in there. The food and drinks were fantastic as well. They make a killer dirty martini and the mussels appetizer was delicious. I had the fried scallops for my entree and they were incredible. They were big and juicy with not too much batter. Overall great food and a great experience.

Beautiful deck on an oddly warm October day, but a disappointment. The ribeye special was like a fatty thin-cut breakfast steak. The good-looking bloody Mary was bland as a blanket. Straw had a hole in it and took a while to get it replaced. If it wasn't for the atmosphere, I'd be leaving one star!

We had takeout lobster salad. 2 salads. Miniscule amount of lobster. $90. I've had many lobster rolls and salads in that area. I know it's expensive but it should've had a reasonable amount of lobster

I had a reasonably-priced lobster in butter, so how could I go wrong? I'll tell you: we sat by a window, and before my meal was over, I'd swatted ten flies that kept trying to buzz my meal. Ten of them! I counted the bodies! I complained at one point to the headwaiter, then to the server; but they just agreed with me that flies were a nuisance, without stirring themselves or anybody else to do anything. Next time, I'll sit on the outdoor patio, with its heat lamps. There will be a next time, because the food is good. I just won't sit by the window.

We were a party of ten who dined at Michael's Harborside, and it was an absolute delight! As large group with three preschoolers and an infant, we were initially worried about finding a place that would be accommodating on a busy December Saturday. We called ahead to make a reservation and the wonderful staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They were patient, understanding, and attentive to our little ones' needs (and made fabulous drinks for us adults too - one friend had a sugar cookie martini that she loved). The food was simply outstanding! From the appetizers to the main courses, every dish was great. Highlights included the seafood casserole, steak tips, lobster bisque, and buffalo tenders. The service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. They even had a make your own seashell ornament table which was festive! We highly recommend Michael's Harborside to anyone looking for a family-friendly (and delicious!) dining experience.

I always love the food here. The view of the Merrimack River is beautiful expecially during the sunset. Great location, a bit pricey but that's Newburyport for you.

I had a nice lunch on a beautiful Saturday. The heated patio was such a treat to be so close to the water yet still able to be warm. I had the shrimp plate and I could barely make a dent in it. The shrimp were massive and the fries were that good handcut fry, definitely not coated, the perfect temp. I've always wanted to come here but my partner said it was expensive. I found the prices in line with Newburyport and I'd even pay a little more because they have PARKING! This has been added to my restaurants to frequent - the menu is also huge. Enjoy!

We have previously been here for Mothers Day specifically because this location fees gluten free seafood options and other gluten free options for my adult daughter with Celiac This year we booked a reservation for 5:30 pm on Mothers Day for 9. One on our party couldn't make it so 8 of us showed up and were immediately escorted upstairs to a table got 6 not 8-9 After some confusion we were told it was fine they'd clean a table and we'd be all set. Then, 15 minutes later we were told "oh we're short handed today and only have one server up here so we need 10-15 more minutes to get to you! We asked to be seated ASAP and said we understood the server would be delayed but since there were accessibility needs and children in the party we preferred to at least be seated. At least 15-20 minutes later finally our drink orders were taken. 15-20 minutes after that our orders were taken including 2 shared appetizers and 2 bowls of chowder 45 minutes later still no food! Then after my husband complained appetizers and chowder delivered. Then another long wait for entrees. Mine was barely lukewarm but at 7:30-8:00 pm I wasn't sending it back Manager came to apologize and said apps would be covered but no other real discussion or concern Bill $300+ came and 2 shared apps (approx ($30 ) were covered but not chowders or anything else Terrible experience! My 7 yr old granddaughter was tired and hungry and my 18 yr old granddaughter was tired, bored and aggravated. I was simply astonished My husband and I have both worked I. The food service industry and always tip well (as we did even in this fiasco) but this "service" and attention to customers was unacceptable. I don't think I'll return here for a long time (if ever) and I certainly won't recommend it. How can you be short staffed on Mothers Day it's the busiest day of the year. Hiw do you not pay attention to a group spending over $300 in your restaurant? Again not acceptable

Every year (it should be more), I meet my best friend from my neighborhood for lunch. We live somewhat far apart so we agreed on a town about halfway between us. This turns out to be Newburyport. Granted, there are many places to eat in this historic seaside town, but we've, more often than not, settled on Michael's Harborside. I realized I have never written a review, so here it is. The restaurant, as the name implies, sits on the harbor, and you get a lovely view of the water and the boats that are moored there. You can even sit at the outside bar or a table and take in the salty, but sometimes fishy, air. Inside, the maritime decor is simple but bright and clean, complete with wooden floors. A note here, condensation builds up on sections and your footing may be slippery at times, especially for the elderly, so be aware. That includes the bathrooms. The restaurant is very well staffed and were very friendly and helpful. We ended up seated at the bar, right in front of the beer taps, a happy coincidence, lol. The pleasant bartender allowed us to sample a couple of beers before we settled on our selections and we placed our orders. The beer selection is decent, not expansive, with a selection of white ales and IPAs on tap, plus a smattering of bottled selections, including non-alcoholic ones. We both ordered the Michael's Haddock Po Boy with fries. It was perfectly cooked piece of fish the size of my two fists side-by-side, nicely battered, with plump, seasoned steak fries cooked to a lovely golden hue. I know, I'm waxing poetic on fries, but they were good. Problem was, it was served on a roll that only contained about 70% of the fish, so it was rather a messy dining experience. I commented to the bartender they should serve this meal with those individual wipes, and she promptly brought me a couple (if any of the staff are reading this, you get bonus points for doing this ahead of time or mentioning it to the manager). Another thought might be to try something a little more substantial like a brioche roll that might be less soggy (and maybe bigger) towards the end. The prices were commensurate with the current economic conditions, which means a little on the expensive side, but overall a pleasant dining experience with a nice view, and access to a historic downtown and shops or a nice stroll along the water, right from the parking lot.

I was so surprised that this restaurant with the best view, which has been around a long time was such a great experience. Everything we had was nicely presented, fresh and tasty. The service was excellent too. We had the lobster bisque with nice chunks of lobster. Fried scallops that were perfectly cooked and not greasy, the tuna togarashi that was so beautifully presented and enough food for 2 people, and a lobster roll with succulent tender pieces of lobster. All in all, it was a memorable experience.

We had a reservation tonight for a larger party (15 people) and requested to be away from the trivia night and they said it would be. Well, there ended up being some sort of mix up and our family of 15 with 7 of them being kids ended up in the area of trivia. It was a little loud, but everyone ended up creating a team and played along with the trivia and made the best of the situation/ loud music. Overall our food came out hot and most dishes were great. Our waitress was exceptional and handled a large party well. Service was very good and the restaurant made right by their "mix up".

Wedding event. We were on the second floor. There were 100+ in attendance. Beautiful views. Walkable from downtown. Clean bathrooms. Very good buffet items chosen by the Bride. The room(s) are a bit chopped up for this kind of events, but the outdoor patio by the bar is stupendous. Someday I will come back and enjoy the place.

My wife and I went to lunch and dined on the ground level outside area. Wait staff: Our waitress was just what a wait person should be. Polite, cheery, and came just the right amount of times to our table. Meals: I ordered the "Pasta Seafood Toss." It totally exceeded my expectations! That tomato based sauce was so delicious. Plenty of seafood, not over done with pasta. Portion was spot on! My wife ordered a lobster roll and frankly I was so into my meal I never checked with her. She ate it all, so I guess she liked it. I can't wait to have mine again! You can't beat dinning by the water with all the nautical activity right in front of you either.

Lobster roll honestly could've used a little more shrimp. Shrimp scampi was so sour and salty, really overdid it on the lemon and salt, but otherwise the flavor would've been fine. Clam chowder was very, very thick, which isn't my preference. Calamari wasn't all that fresh, but not bad, wish it came with cocktail sauce and tar tar sauce, but the sauce on top was also pretty good! Little spicy!

Went here last week to meet my running friends after their race. For as chaotic as we were, the staff did a good job accommodating our ever growing group of 10-12. They also have a take out window with limited menu items. We all sat on the beautiful second floor with a view. For appetizers, we shared the calamari which I love because it had spice from peppers, and sweetness from oranges. My entree was the Shrimp Scampi (one of their weekly specials) and it's definitely on my "Approved" shrimp scampi list. Ever since I realized it's my preferred pasta (regardless of my seafood allergy), I've been trying it anywhere I can. Michael's is extremely generous with their shrimp and the pasta wasn't too saucy either. I can easily devour a bowl of it!

Bought a house in Newburyport in the early 80's. Spent a lot of time at Michaels. The food was great. A lot of great memories. Having moved to Florida, and now back, we went to Michaels today for lunch. I was really looking forward to it. As in the past, beautiful view, but very disappointed in the food. We ordered oysters, which were good. My wife ordered the haddock, and she was pleased. I ordered clams and scallops. I love fried clams and scallops. The scallops tasted "off". The clams were small, hardly any bellies. All were overcooked. There are too many places here that have really good fried seafood to bother going back.

I won't recommend Michael.s that I loved for years until they decided that Everyone needed Gluten Free battered food. The fried clams, scallops, even onion rings have a slight, off aftertaste. Just don't taste the same, then I realized what GF stood for. Everything else was good but I.ll never get fried clams, etc there again, if we should go there again. I recently discouraged my family group of six from meeting there recently due to what I described about their changed recipe for battered seafood. The whole world would like to choose if they want GF items, not everyone is sensitive to gluton, thank you.

Fried clam roll for $30.00 was a big disappointment. It was all bits of fried breading and not one whole clam. Description is a trick! Let the customer know they are ordering a clam strip roll at that price. Our party of two received two hot dog rolls, two 1/2cups of delicious cole slaw, and two servings of nice french fries. The clams were awful. Won't be back even though the service was good. $72.00 meal with two non-alcoholic drinks plus a good tip was ridiculous. Wish we went to the Galley Hatch for our fried clam rolls!

Sat at bar overlooking water and boats. So scenic. Got the Togarishi Seared Tuna. It was the best seared tuna I've ever had. Date got fried scallops. I had two. Batter perfect. Tater sauce perfect. Staff so nice and attentive. I can't wait to go back

I've been to Michael's Harborside many times and I met my friend the other night for dinner. I ordered the scallops plate (fried scallops, French fries and Cole slaw). I was disappointed in the meal. The scallops (of which there were not many) had absolutely no taste, they actually tasted like they were frozen before they were cooked, and the fries were subpar. I was hoping for the sweet taste of scallops, easy to slice in half with a fork but did not get that. The meal was a little pricey for what I received. Service was great, our waitress was super. I will go back again and order something else. I cannot in good conscience recommend my meal I had to anyone.

A beautiful restaurant by the water! It was nice to feel the breeze outside (first floor) and see some boats. We stopped by to share some fried scallops and oysters which were beautifully crisp and tender, not greasy at all. The scallops in particular were perfect and sweet. They went well with the tangy tartar sauce, not too mayo heavy coleslaw, and crisp thick cut fries. The whole plate was pretty satiating for two. The staff was kind and attentive as well, coming by to add water and provide hot sauce. We will love to come back in the future!

Honestly this was one of the most disappointing and infuriating dining experiences ever. Memorial Day - party of eight. Working in the industry, we always try to be understanding when it comes to service being slow or food not coming out or really anything that can happen with service since most of us in our party have been there when shit hits the fan. Let's just put it this way - our experience was so bad we literally left after the appetizers came out. We were there for over an hour and had a rude waitress who had a case of the "eye rolls" and wasn't attentive at all to our party. This was extremely odd considering our bill was 200 dollars just for the appetizers we had ordered. We had every plan to order meals, yet she never came back to the table. The bill would have been close to 500 bucks if we ordered entrees. I am sorry but wouldn't you be kissing our ass if you had a table like ours? Come on now. I had my 10-month-old son with us, and it was just completely unnecessary to be waiting over an hour to order an entree, or to get checked on to see if we needed anything, it was painful. We ordered over 20 oysters and 20 shrimp cocktails for the appetizers. The shrimp cocktail was WARM it had a weird fishy taste to it, but we couldn't say anything since she never came back to the table to ask how anything was. Our plates were stacked, drinks were left empty, and it was just very odd that we were being ghosted with the amount of money we were spending and planning to spend if we actually ordered entrees. There was one other party in the room with us. We were sat in the function space upstairs where they had round event tables, and the atmosphere was just so blah. Originally my mother in law and other family members were sat outside but it was too cold, so we asked to move, I am unsure if this is why we were treated so badly but if they didn't have the space for us they should of just told us. We get it. It was stuffy with no windows open. We asked for soda refills and those were never brought over. Once we flagged her down, we asked for the bill after clearly seeing all of our drinks empty and the plates stacked never taken off the table. She ROLLED her eyes and walked away frantically. Excuse me? The bill is literally 200 dollars. My sister-in-law left cash and realized she overtipped her when we left. A total let down. I realize times are tough, but this was just completely unacceptable. A rip off and much better places to dine in Newburyport. We would never come back or recommend this place to anyone after what we experienced and how we were treated. Hard pass. Thank you, next.

I was at Michaels Tuesday night 6/25 and the food was amazing and the drinks were great but the best part was that Brianna was our waitress. My girl and I have been there many times before but first time she was our waitress. Brianna was extremely polite, knowledgeable and very friendly unlike some of the other waitresses we've had in the past. She was very busy and had other tables but never failed to make sure we didn't need for anything. We were potentially on the outs for Michaels but this experience made a believer out of us again. Look forward to going back soon. Made our visit much nicer.

Fish is fresh and perfectly breaded but the tartar sauce is so bland. Basically mayo with white pepper. Lacks the vinegar/sour taste whatsoever. If your plate comes with a pickle I guess you can cut it up and adjust the sauce yourself. It's like a ketchup without tomatoes. Funny. Mussels garlic-butter sauce is ok. Good tasting but average. One of the interior female bartender's (tattoos) service was superb. Very productive and hospitable. This must be noted because this place seems like a hit or miss place. So it might just be the service that will make someone come back and chill at the bar.

Holy amazing!! The view was gorgeous, and the food was delicious! EVERYTHING on their menu was gluten free so this made my whole day! I cannot remember the last time I was able to eat onion rings or fried pickles! Our server was sweet and efficient.

Great food!! Kind staff! On the lovely Newburyport pier, in Beautiful downtown!! Went on a Friday during lent, w/a Happy party of 7, celebrating 2 B'days!! Food was Awesome as usual!

First we were seated on deck where it seemed too windy & cool. We went inside & every table was under an a/c vent. There were 2 servers who waited on us. We took our 2 wine glasses in with us. I ordered a small bowl of clam chower & steamed muscles. Friend asked if the small salad was ample. Server tucked her chin in & said "Oh yes!" Good thing friend also ordered steamers. When her salad came, it definitely was a small lettuce wedge with a one red onion slice cut in half, a sprinkle of bleu cheese & 3 hidden cherry tomatoes. I was served chowder with 1 baggette of oyster crackers to which I said $20 chowder & 1 tiny crackers? Server rolled his eyes & brought 1 more. Then out came 2 tin mixing bowl type pans of steamers & 1 grilled hot dog roll cut in half suppose to be a briolette. Friend got no grilled hot dog roll with her steamers. Friend sipped what she thought to be clam broth to find it was just a cup of hot water. She asked server to bring a cup of the broth the clams were steamed in. The waitress returned, smiled & placed another cup of clear hot water in front of my friend. "But thats just a cup of more hot water" my friend remarked. Server looked puzzled. Both steamers were bland & void of any real broth taste. We opted not to stay for dessert or even coffee & was handed a $100 total bill. Not a good experience. Left the required tip but felt server staff was not customer oriented. Go back? Have nothing good to say about the place except way over priced for tasteless, skimpy portions & arrogant server attitudes.

Understanding that it's off-season in Newburyport, we still had an awesome dinner last night with our son (three years old) who wanted to eat at the water. Our waitress Heather was nothing short of amazing. She had an awesome demeanor with our son, and was amazingly attentive and friendly. We often forget about Michael's when we are in town because we are looking at the restaurants closer to the center...after last nights experience we certainly won't forget and will definitely be back. I wish I had a photo to post but at this point it would've been empty plates and cups!

My husband and I were celebrating the end of summer and decided on an evening at Michael's. We were beyond disappointed. Our food was so salty we were not able to eat it.

First believe the negative reviews. Last two visits two bad experiences: First one about 6 months ago took a friend to lunch & ordered two if the most expensive porterhouse steaks-about $50 each. Mine tasted like garbage so asked my guest: " Like the steak? Reply: just a cheap steak...only it wasn't! Second time last week went upstairs with friend: ordered lobster roll and bade mistake of looking at pricing on weekly specials-$16.95 Roll was perhaps the smallest one ever saw & actual price was $38!! Service not rude but not friendly either. Hope all the bad reviews like mine would shake them up but I doubt it. Feels like disengaged management. They just don't care if we ever come back. Great location plenty of new suckers ! Maybe they are in competition with Tuscan for rip off pricing award? Read the negative reviews -believe them & go somewhere else like Loretta's or the Grog.

The food was delicious! And it was Gluten Free! The portions were really large. My husband and I split the Two combination for $36 which was whole belly clams and scallops. So fresh that we both commented, not like some of the scallops you get at other places. We ordered onion rings instead of fries and they were also gluten free. We had clam chowder gf and it was thick and delicious with a lot of clams! Our wait staff person was sooooo nice! She was super sweet and checked in with us just the right amount of time! Bonus: we sat right by the ocean and it was so beautiful! Plenty of indoor and outdoor and covered seating! It was perfect! We'll be back for the gluten free chocolate lava cake with the liquid chocolate inside and vanilla ice cream. We literally couldn't eat anything else. Second Bonus: Free parking - in Newburyport! Great experience! Definitely coming here again!