Mount Vernon at the Ship

Despite hearing not great reviews my wife and I stopped for supper at this uniquely shaped restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxed but classy, all the staff and maitre d’ were attentive and pleasant. Prices are about what I expected.
My wife had the twin lobsters and claims they were the best she has had. I had baked haddock which was very nice, the presentation was well done and in keeping with the over all feel of the place.
Desert made the meal. I am a strawberry shortcake snob and that is what I ordered. Fresh strawberries, not frozen served over grilled slices of pound cake and drizzled with a strawberry reduction sauce. I am now a fan.

Worst mothers day brunch experience ever!!! They had the inlets station next to a heat sensor, which set off fire alarm. Lynnfield has a volunteer fire dept. so it took about 30 or 40 min to get there and reset alarm, meanwhile I had to bring my 6 month old outside because of how loud alarm was. My wife and I had brought my parents and her parents and my sister at $ 25 per person. We had over a $ 200 bill and they never even offered to take the juices off the bill for the inconveince. When I emailed them about situation they never responded. 2 thumbs down.

Nice atmosphere and the appetizer was great but…
1) our waitress was pretty horrible. No personality, was not at all attentive.
2) our entrees were extremely overpriced for the portion size
3) the entrees were mediocre, at best. The pasta dish with shrimp was super salty
4) they overcharged us for a soup. When we asked about it, the waitress gave us a hard time. Needless to say, we were right and the bill was corrected
5) the side salad was pathetic
I would recommend saving your money and making dinner at home… or just not eating at all.

My husband & I decided to go out to breakfast for the 1^st day of Spring… The first restaurant we stopped at was way too crowded. I had heard there was a buffet at The Hilltop so we were going to go there but the line was out the door & down the side of the building. We saw a sign at the ship advertising brunch so we thought we’d stop in. They were not very busy but it was only 10:30.
We both started off with a Bloody Mary and they were out of this world, good!!!
The breakfast/​lunch buffet was a surprise. It was in a sun filled room. My husband thought the Eggs Benedict was fabulous. I got the usual breakfast items… scrambled eggs, bacon & Hash… everything was perfect. We then went back and tried some luncheon items. My husband got the seafood newburg, Roast Beef and some potatoes. I got some Roast Beef, Salad and some fresh fruit. They had all kinds of fresh fruit, blackberries, blueberries, pineapple, strawberries. It was lovely.
We then went back for dessert. I got the Boston Crème Pie and my husband got Cheeses cake. They had a very large selection of desserts.
Our waitress was very friendly. We really enjoyed our morning there. I have been there and loved the food and I have been there and been disappointing. It looks like, from the reviews, they just need to be a little more consistent.
I only had one small issue. I thought $ 7.50 for a bloody Mary was a bit steep but I would order it again because it was fabulous!!!
Please Mount Vernon… get your act together so we can stop in and know that we are going to enjoy our meal EVERY time!!! HAPPY SPRING!

I have not been to any Mt. Vernon’s although drove past the one in somerville for years. Anyway, tried it out Saturday night. There were two of us in our party. Not sure if they had more customers than usual with valentines day, but it was the pits. Although the wait staff were working hard, they were constantly running around, as if they did not have enough staff. And it did not provide a relaxed dining atmosphere. There was a problem with too much heat in the room we were in, and once notified, I saw the manager come in and adjust things and he appeared to be very responsive.
The Bread: Two popovers and a roll. With two tiny slabs of butter. Who eats a delicious popover with only one butter ?
Soup: The onion soup was very good.
Ceasar Salad: Served on a long skinny plate, with a salad about the size of 4 of my fingers — not very big. Since the kitchen was probably behind in preparing food, I would have guessed that they would have given up a bit more salad. It’s just a case of using your head… if customers are going to have to wait a bit for food, then don’t be shy… give ‘em a decent salad and give em enough rolls.
The Food: Steak Tips: tough as if they had not been marinated, and a bit overcooked. Served not hot, but warm. Baked potato good and fries were not hot, kinda cool. My partner had a mahi mahi salad of some sort. He said it was lousy and disappointing. We can’t remember eating anywhere where we felt so negative on the dishes served. Just plain… not prepared well, or having no taste (blah taste).
We skipped coffee and desert… we just wanted to get out of there.
While the wait staff was professional, and appeared to be working hard, I have to give the entire restaurant a poor rating. Food has to have taste, and things just didn’t add up. It was a total disappointment. Maybe when the restaurant gets busy — the kitchen can’t keep up a high quality of food. I am unsure.

First visit not impressed dishes were too large for the size of the tables.
Newly opened and staff was new to location.
Second visit much better. Staff was good food was excellent and prices more than reasonable.
As a matter of fact we are going there tonight

Usually I dread family outings, nevermind dinner family outings. I went into Mount Vernon not expecting much, and left with a much different view.
The place was very clean, and waitstaff very attentive. The menu was a perfect mix of seafood and meats. It was not too large, but they had a great selection!
I went with the turkey tips. With my meal it came with a HUGE delicious ceaser salad! They also brought us large rolls. The meal itself was very large, and the price was extremely low! The mashed potatoes were homemade, and the turkey was very delicious.
I really wish I had gone to Mount Vernon much sooner (and when I lived near there), but I not have a place that I will visit every time I am back in the area!

We have been to this location about 6 times. Last night (Tuesday) was by far the worst. Maybe it is a Tuesday austerity program.
One Popover to share along with some of the previously frozen hot rolls.
Seafood Chowder was actually a bisque and filled with imitation crab.
Lobster Risotto had lots of fresh lobster but no real risotto taste, like someone poured a sauce over rice and added some steamed lobster meat on top.
Classic Shrimp Sauté was blander than bland.
Am I paying more for this location? Then give me something extra.
Back to the Somervile location for the true Mount Vernon.

For a very impressive and exquisite menu at the «Ship» turned restaurant… I was not amused at all. I’m very disappointed because the food was disgusting and pricey. Cold served lobster bisque, much of the steak dinners were unavailable, so with no reservations anywhere else– our large group had no choice but to stay on that damn ship. Under qualified servers that had absolutely negative zero experience, which is pretty unfortunate for the reputation of the restaurant itself, but all-​in-​all the servers were very friendly. Too bad their kindness couldn’t make up for a very poor experience as a first-​time. Next time I’m back, I’ll have to try out their other two locations.

We were there for a holiday dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant was not particularly crowded, and our waiter was inexperienced but attentive and pleasant. The ambiance of the restaurant was pretty nice, and the only negative I can say about the physical space was that the bathrooms were not very clean.
The food, however, was horrible. We had potato skins, scallops with bacon, and calamari as appetizers, and they were all clearly frozen and heated. Nothing fresh and nothing special. The clam chowder was lukewarm and watery. The salad was clearly made well in advance– the lettuce was wilted and brown.
For dinner I had the «Special Mount Vernon Chicken» which was two chicken cutlets covered with a few spoonfuls of tomato, served along with some dry ravioli and spinach and then covered with a giant heaping of melted cheese. I love cheese, but everything underneath it was so dry as to be inedible.
My companions were also unimpressed with their dinners, the exception being my friend who had lobster. As he said «it’s hard to ruin lobster».
They need to start serving fresh food, rather than frozen, and they need to hire a better chef. I will not be going back.

Well I have been to this restaurant several times in the past and go there for thier popovers. Well on 12/​18/​10my friend and I went there in the afternoon looking forward to the popovers and good meal.
We were told by the waitress that they were getting away ffrom serving popovers and sometimes they served them at night. That was the first dissapointment.
I then ordered the claim plate because it use to be good. The fried claims were soggy and cold (not crispy at all) and there was very little batter on the bellies and they were very unappatizing to look at.
I rasied my dissapoinrmen to the waitress and she called over the manager.
He did not express any concern or apology. For almost $ 50.00 including tip I expected much better that what I got.
I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE AGAIN. THE FOOD WAS DISGUSTING!!!

Oh the Mount Vernon. Such a sophisticated name for a simple restaurant. Okay, well, it’s not that bad per se. The menu is typical New England with plenty of seafood options, pasta, chicken, chops, etc. My grandmother had a coupon which brought the twin lobster special to $ 9.99. Of course they were chickens and just barely over a pound, but she was very happy with them. I had a ½ roasted chicken with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes. Shockingly, it tasted like roasted chicken, and yes folks, that’s a good thing.
The reason I’m giving the Mount Vernon 2 stars is because I just really hate old people restaurants. Everything was just bland and boring. Not that I want to get my taste buds socked every time I go out, but throw me a bone here. Come here with your grandmother. She’ll love it. Otherwise, there’s plenty of other more tantalizing restaurants on Rt 1 to patronize.

I had lunch here with a friend and her daughter and we thought the food was good for the price. The popovers were pretty good (I’ve had better elsewhere, but these weren’t bad either). I ordered the Captain’s salad which was so big I had enough for dinner that night. They ordered clam chowder and some other fish dishes, which they said were great.
I then came here a few weeks later with my husband for dinner, and the food and service was even better than it had been for lunch. I ordered their Mt. Vernon chicken which was almost like a parmisan but served over artichoke stuffed rigatoni. I told our waitress I could’ve just eaten a whole plate of those rigatoni — they were awesome. The hubby ordered prime rib which was good, though a litlte pricier than we’ve paid at other local places for a meal that was just as good.

I’m very excited Mount Vernon opened this place — I’ve been going to the Somerville restaurant for years and am a big fan of the most affordable and super-​high quality twin boil in town. But let’s face it, the Somerville joint is in a sketchy area and the fake-​fancy interior is just laughable. So, I was happy to drive up to Lynnfield to try this incarnation. The restaurant is in a «ship» on Route 1, and the totally kitschy quality works well with the restaurant — one of the things I find most amusing/​endearing about Mount Vernon is that it’s not a «nice» restaurant with high-​quality food, though it tries so hard to be. So, the fake ship was a perfect setting. As with the Somerville branch, I’m afraid to try anything other than the lobster twin boil ($ 19.99) and the popovers. And as usual, the popovers were perfect, and the lobsters were pretty big and perfectly cooked. Can’t beat it.

Really only 1 ½ stars.
The crabmeat stuffed mushrooms were without exception terrible. Loaded with pepper chunks and fake crabmeat.
The lobster crab haddock entrée was just as terrible, stuffed with more of the terrible peppered crabmeat, and 1 tiny chunk of lobster, which my dining partner promptly spit out. The haddock itself was dry and clearly not fresh. The mashed potato was chunks, but had a powdered texture. My dining partner both sent our entrees back and didn’t want another meal (a first for me). Quite frankly, we were tasting that crabmeat and peppers hours after eating them.
On the plus side, the popovers were piping hot and the waitstaff was apologetic and attentive, refilling our cokes as we neared the end of them.
The atmosphere was average but the curved floor was kind of annoying.

Met my friend here for lunch after class on the Saturday of Valentine’s Day. All I can say is never again. In all fairness, my friend knew one of the waiters from another establishment and he stopped by to say hi. He asked about our meal and we told him the truth and he was upset and offered us free desserts, but we just wanted out.
We had a great seat, one of those big cushy half round booths-​the kind you want to sit at with a hot date. My friend is a hot date, but it’s because he sweats a lot (sorry Spagets).
It took us a while to get waited on after we were seated-​I think they forgot us, which is an insult because we are very memorable people.
So I get the special scallops, and they come out cold. Yes, cold and half cooked in a strange kind of cheese sauce. I expected a Mornay sauce. They were also medium sized and cut in half which always ticks me off. Sent them back and by the time my new order came we were finished eating, so I packed them to go. The baked potato was OK, and the asparagus were a joke Three skinny strands-​this was the veggie of the day. Luckily my friend does not care for asparagus, so I got to have 6 skinny strands that equaled 2 normal spears.
My friend had the baked scrod which he thought was OK, but I tasted it and rate it low. (He eats anything so go figure) At the time of ordering I asked if the fish was fresh and the waitress said «Yes». It reminded me of fish I get in the hospital cafeteria on Fridays-​grey, flat and breaded all over.
On the up side they serve a mean popover. It is HUGE (like the size of two fists), and I gave an extra star just for the popover. If I ever dare go back it will be for the popovers. I could make a meal out of one of those and a salad, which was pretty safe. (simple green salad, nothing special).
I have always heard good things about the original Mount Vernon, so I was excited to try this joint when my friend suggested it. Maybe it was just an off day?

A basket of two pop-​overs, which were lukewarm at best, started the meal. We then waited and waited for our drinks, and apps, which took forever to come. The waitress was extremely inattentive. After we got our drinks and chowder, (which took about fifteen minutes, from the time we placed this initial order) we learned that we would get to play a brand new game called «Where the hell is the waitress, now?» for the rest of the dining ordeal.
We wanted a couple more pop-​overs, as they are quite good, even when tepid, and ended up asking the person who was cleaning tables if he would please bring us a couple more. He obliged, but unfortunately they were basically cold. Our waitress was nowhere to be seen. The other wait staff came and went with regularity, but apparently ours had been taken hostage by someone with a grudge against glacially-​slow food servers.
The entrée was served in a timely manner, but this was an anomaly. We should have known this, and ordered more drinks right then, when asked, because the waitress vanished after setting down our entrees, never to return again, or even appear in the dining area, until the end of the meal. So, no other chance was given for us to order more drinks, until the meal was basically finished. At this point, she came by with water and I asked for dessert. I know — I like to live dangerously. When it was time to go, my partner went to hand her his credit card, and she proceeded to scurry away once more, without waiting for him to hand it to her. Ultimately this waitress was as elusive as the unicorns of myth.
We’re done with the Mount Vernon.
One might say that a food establishment should not be graded based solely on the poor service of one waitress. The point, though, is that the quality of a restaurant is directly proportional to the quality of those that the restaurant hires.
So, STAY AWAY from the Mount Vernon. They won’t be around long, anyway, with staff choices like this.

I wish I could give half stars — because this was really a 4 ½.
I had lunch here on Sunday w/​my mom and brother. The place was cute inside (didn’t smell like candles at all?) and very clean.
Our waitress was a doll — very attentive and made great suggestions. She also brought us extra warm popovers (so yummy!).
The food was fantastic — My mom and I both got lobster pie and were only slightly disappointed by the amount of shell in the dish. But, lobsters have shells. What are you gonna do? The portion was huge– enough for lunch the next day.
My brother had baked scallops and they were delicious.
Prices were reasonable given it is fresh seafood. There was also a buffet option for $ 20 a person on Sundays — but we opted to order off the menu instead.
Parking is always tough here– people who love bargains also love to park like idiots apparently. But alas, that isn’t Mount Vernon’s fault!

I had an awesome experience here on Friday night. I’m not sure what happened with the other reviewers but I loved it. Hello, their rolls were popovers. Let’s just talk about how amazing that was for me. It was literally twice as big as my hand and basically butter in my mouth. Aside from my popover obsession, they did lose a star for being good but not great. There are definitely some improvements they could make.
It wasn’t a busy night and we were there around 9, but the service was very fast and courteous. There were at least three people at the host stand, live piano, and nice tables. We had a little booth but unfortunately it was right by the air vent. It was really warm and nice but a waiter came by about ten minutes in and turned on blasting cold air. I asked the manager to turn it down but it didn’t do anything and no one came and actually adjusted the switch the original waiter used. They lost a star for that.
The prices were a little steep but we found some great things on the menu. It was around $ 40 plus tip for two with one drink and no apps. I had the haddock which was nicely breaded with three stalks of asparagus and mashed potatoes. I really wish they had green beans or something because three stalks is rather cheap. The fish was perfectly cooked and lightly breaded. However, I wish there was some actual lemon. The BF got the fried scallops and he was in heaven. It was the perfect portion and came with coleslaw, fries, and onion rings. He was actually full when he was finished which is a shocker with his appetite. Both meals came with salads which were cute but on a weird plate. The blue cheese salad dressing was delicious though!
Most of the entrees seemed like they were in the $ 18 – 24 range which seemed appropriate. They had a $ 21.99 dinner for two special on the sign outside but it wasn’t listed on the specials. I do disagree with the $$$ rating from the others because unless you had a ton of drinks, it’s only around $ 30. I would definitely come back here!

Originally the legendary, «The Ship» restaurant, Mount Vernon is like the 3^rd of 4^th incarnation of this well-​known «half-​ship» restaurant. Unfortunately, it is not yet up to the standards of the original ship restaurant.
Upon walking in the front door, you are greeted by the wonderful scent of candles from the Yankee candle shop next door. After walking up a short flight of steps (or taking the elevator), you enter the upstairs which, to the left, seems very nice and romantic, and, to the right, a separate room which is more cozy but less elegant.
Now, instead of providing reams of words in our attention-​challenged internet age, I’m just going to create an easy to read ordered list to explain why Mount Vernon only gets 3 stars…
1. Told «Soup of Day» was Corn Chowder; I received clam chowder;
2. NY Sirloin strip a bit grisly but otherwise ok;
3. Salad LOOKS fancy on a rectangle plate, but not hearty;
4. Mashed potatoes great w/​small chunks but only 3 stalks asparagus;
5. Understaffed because waiter not only disappeared towards end of meal but was so long we didn’t even let him offer us dessert or coffee which would have been nice had he come when we called him 10 – 15 min earlier;
6. As another party member stated, it wasn’t anything spectacular but just ordinary food that looked really good.
Other non-​food related points:
1. Low ceilings in side room, plus a lot of people, plus candles, plus ventilation not on enough = SAUNA. It was like a wave of heat at the end of the meal that just made us all super tired and sweating;
2. Took elderly person to use rest room and while there were 2 stalls open, a waiter was using the handicap stall and not even for sitting down. Normally, that’s fine but not in an «emergency» situation.
3. The bathroom stall floor was not clean. The last thing one needs is their pants soaked from someone else.
4. The sinks are not wheelchair friendly, knees wont fit under them.
While some of the above might sound bad and cause a reader to not want to go, I’d still recommend any person still try it because it really just could have been a bad night.
Since everything seemed off by just a hair, I’m thinking it was just that particular night… maybe the combination of employees, or an unexpected challenge but the food was very fresh and the eating areas have a nice ambience to them and could be very cozy if they just kept the air circulating.
And if they demanded waiters not go 15 minutes after a meal before offering coffee and dessert, that’d be the final touch.
I say give it a shot… they have all the right elements in place and I think they can do better than I saw.