Michael’s Harborside

Great view of the harbor and the server was super nice.
We waited about 30 minutes to get seated and listed to some great music.
The food was only so-​so.
I had the overpriced lobster roll and like a lot of the other reviews, it had very little taste. I didn’t eat the roll but can’t imagine that would have add any value.
The tuna sandwich was delivered and it was RAWWWWWW! Nasty. I am pretty sure we saw it move on the plate. Had to send it back.
The baramundi with mango salsa lacked flavor.
So we were really disappointed that the food didn’t match it’s superior views.
Go for the music and drinks but skip the food.

Overpriced and unimpressive. 75 for lunch — oversized clams and a lobster roll that tasted far from fresh. 30 plus for pre frozen lobster. Only a star for view but I get that at any ocean edge. Last stop there.

I was very disappointed with our experience, and not how I remember. Our waitress was, meh. Pleasant enough but not super attentive. We waited quite a while for our appetizer then they brought out my daughter’s meal, which had the wrong side dish. About twenty minutes later they brought out the rest of the food. I had what was supposed to be grilled jumbo shrimp and sea scallops with a fiery lobster sauce. There was nothing jumbo about the shrimp and the scallops were small and everything was overcooked. They forgot the lobster sauce and she came back with a takeout container of what looked like orange mayonnaise. It was cold and there was no sign of any lobster in it. My son had shrimp scampi ravioli that was so laden with oil he barely ate.
The location is fantastic as it is right on the water. But the food is terrible. There are so many other wonderful restaurants downtown, minus the view.
Sorry this restaurant is not what it used to be. Spend your money elsewhere.

Great location and great views. Food was just okay. Lobster roll was nothing special and didn’t taste all that fresh. The onion rings that came with the lobster roll were mushy, wet, and stringy. Not good. Our waitress was phenomenal and made up for the bland food with great service. Thank goodness she was quick with the refills making it easy to wash down the mediocre food with cold beer. Maybe it was an off night for the kitchen. I’ll be back for some cold beer and great scenery in the future. Hopefully the food will be up to par.

One of the reasons I like independent restaurants is that rules were meant to be broken. My wife and I went last night for the $ 5 burger Monday special as we have several times during the off season. The hostess and the waitress both mentioned that it was over for the season. When I mentioned that it was still up on the web sight, our waitress (Allison), simply said, «So how would you like them… Didn’t have to check with corporate or some mysterious manager somewhere just actually took care of the customer… what a concept. The food is always great there but it’s the service that sets this place apart.

Worst lobster roll ever…
For $ 30 a lobster roll should be a celebration of fresh jucy luxurious lobster.
This was like what I’d imagine a strangers sour week old jym sock might be like if for some reason someone decided to trick you into eating it.
A malicious act to be sure, unless the cook doesn’t know what fresh lobster tastes like, or possibly gave up after too many burgers and limp fish dishes (I tasted the other plates at the table)
Lobster meat tasted old, soggy, smelled off and had small bits of shell in it.
The texture was more like week old cooked tofu or maybe canned squid, than an actual food related product.
I was wondering if it was canned but the Manager said it was leftover from the morning, like 10 hrs ago.
I told her to eat one…
She left it on the bill
:(
Was hungry but couldn’t finish it.
Lame
Get a better one at a pizza shop.
Fish chowder app and the waitress really good though.
It’s too bad, after the first course, I was excited to have found a new regular hangout, but I won’t be going back ever.
I know it must be rough tossing spoiled lobster, but really.. makes me wonder about the sushi and raw bar.
Feeling kinda off…
Fighting the urge to rid my stomach of this filth.

One star only to get to write a review. All I have to say is DO NOT BOTHER. The only thing good about it was the view. the place was packed though, I just cant understand why. I understand everyone loves fried seafood and fish with breadcrumb topping, it’s the New England way. But really, can’t you just make it edible? The service left a lot to be desired as well, I know that’s my thing, but it all took ages and we didn’t even get checked on after our entrees came and it was like pulling teeth to get items cleared.

I love Michael’s harborside just don’t get the sushi unless your idea of good sushi is from the supermarket. The sushi tastes premade with gummy cold rice. Not good. Next time I’ll get the lobster salad.

Michael’s Harborside is an amazing waterfront dining experience. The staff are very nice and attentive. The local craft beer is delicious, light and aromatic. The beer is well balanced with bitterness complimenting fresh seafood. This is a refreshing beer for a dry palate with a smooth and clean finish. The sushi is very fresh and artfully displayed. Newburyport Riverwalk IPA.

Great views are possible. I usually end up there when invited by others rather than by choice. Food is average for the area; more family style than gourmet. Townies eat there year round; college kids and touristas in the summer.

I love this restaurant. The setting is great, sitting out on the deck watching the boats go by.
Service is always good. I have been there many times and the food is always good and cooked perfectly!

I could probably write a book on this place. My girlfriend and I frequent this gem. Especially in the summer outside. The food is equally as great as everything I listed above

The service alone is why I’m giving this 1 star. Our waitress from the beginning was EXTREMELY rude, short and snippy and rushed us through our ordering. At the end of our meal, we received the check and told her to keep the change. We mistakenly counted the wrong amount of money and didn’t leave a 20% tip. Shortly after, she stormed back over slammed our check back on the table and said, «here is your change» upon waving her down, we simply stated we thought we had left her a different amount of money and she rudely replied we didn’t, she counted it infront of us and said «we didn’t leave her a 20% tip»
It was a complete miscalculation on our part, we had spent well over 140.00 on our bill and when we learned we had messed up, we left the correct amount. Frankly, I was with my family and she didn’t deserve anything, and not only was it rude, it was embarrassing and I’m ashamed that you have employees who treat their customers like that. She could have approached the situation very differently. I often meet family in Newburyport because it’s an easy meeting point, I will never be going back to your restaurant and I will make sure to let others know, not to give you their business. I’m absolutely disgusted and appalled, how I was spoken to and treated last night.

Michaels Harborside is one of my favorite places in downtown Newburyport. Whenever I come to Newburyport it’s the first place I eat at. I would recommend the fish of the day (salmon with citrus ponzu). It never disappoints. The fresh oysters are also amazing.

Wonderful place to enjoy a night on the water with a drink or just relax while eating dinner and gazing out to the river ,
Little pricey but I guess that’s what you pay for if you want a view ! I understand it’s a seafood place but, suggestion would at least have a little more for other that can’t eat it, it’s very Limited and find it unfair! I was with a group and one was highly allergic to seafood and there wasn’t anything other than salad she could eat, unless she got like 15 $ app, but other than that place is clean bathrooms too ! Drinks r pricey !

Went here for dinner while visiting Newburyport over the weekend. Place was crowded, seemed like a very popular venue on a Saturday night. Everyone was friendly and the service was pretty good. My 3-​star review is because of the food. Honestly if it weren’t for the friendly staff, I would’ve given them a 1-​star review…
All the dishes were very salty. Lobster pie was salty and the flounder was so salty my date couldn’t even eat it… Also the onion rings were salty… and soggy. I don’t think I will be returning.

This place is pretty much a singles hangout with very nice views. And that’s okay but the food was a tad pricey and just okay. The clam chowder had a good flavor but was primarily more potatoes than clams.

I can consciously give this establishment a 5 star review… I have friends who live locally, and I’ve been able to call myself a regular here…
I have gotten the Caesar Salad topped with Steak tips several times, the tips have incredibly flavor and are seasoned to perfection.
The Pretzels are a great appetizer and they are something I crave.
Here is my disclaimer: I give this restaurant a 5 star rating because I enjoy the outside bar on the lower deck and the service I have received several times from Kristin… She is great, extremely outgoing and is built for this industry.
Every time I sit inside and get a server in the dining room, I don’t receive this type of service, everything from a server forgetting to ring in my appetizer, to not understanding how to split a bill… The dining room servers need a good training session from Kristin.

I was a bit disappointed in this place due to it being dirty and more of a bar scene than sit down restaurant. I wanted to enjoy the beautiful view of the Merrimack from the deck but the tables were first come first serve and because I was alone I wasn’t comfortable competing with other standing groups for a table. So I went inside. It was dirty. Both the tables and floor. It had a sports bar feel. The place was packed with folks of all ages drinking and socializing. I got the fried Ipswich clams which were good but they were $ 24 and enough for 2 people. I only ate half and was so sad to see the bartender throw them in the trash when I told him I couldn’t finish. I guess if you come at a less busy hour and get a riverside table it would be a better experience.

Had lunch with my coworkers here after going on a whale watch. It was pretty disappointing. It was a nice day out and we wanted to sit outside but got seated in the covered area that’s blocked with plastic sheeting. Too much effort to move a big group so it is what it is.
We started off with drinks and apps. Had the Bantam Americana which was disgusting for some reason – Bantam is usually quite good. They might have just switched out the taps and not flushed the line so it tasted mixed. For appetizers we split truffle tots, oysters, and calamari. They were good but the oysters were way too overpriced for the quality.
Had the crab cake sandwich as my entrée… it was very dry and bland. Would not recommend. Half the group got lobster rolls that didn’t look particularly special either. The fried platters seemed good though – the scallops in the fisherman’s platter was tender and well-​battered. And tartar sauce is my favorite.
We were past the lunch rush and it wasn’t even busy but the waitress gave us the check without even asking if we were all set. Felt like they were trying to push us out so we went and got drinks elsewhere after.

The ahi tuna burger was tasty. It was served on an English muffin, which was delicious, but it fell apart with the sauces. The homemade chips were pretty good, but not the best I’ve had.
The view is very nice, overlooking the harbor (bet you would never have guessed!).
Overall, the food is good but not extraordinary.

Terrible service, sub mediocre food. Clam chowder served cold, as was the fried calamari. Bartender slow, uncaring, and inattentive. Only thing going for this is the view.