Ellen’s Harborside

Pretty good. We both got lobster rolls, me with coleslaw and my husband with fries. Coleslaw was classic and good. And I’m glad I didn’t get the fries, pretty blah.
Not too crowded yet not super fast service. And They don’t take American Express

What a god awful place. I suggest we do Rockport a favor and stop going here. Maybe these ass-​clowns will close up and go bankrupt.

Good food, good service. Crabmeat casserole was a favorite, as was their corn chowder. Be sure to have the cranberry-​rhubarb pie with ice cream. A local favorite I am told. Friendly and efficient service. Nice view from window tables.

I had the crab casserole, fried pickles and sangria. Strange combination but utterly delicious. The crab meat melt in my mouth, the pickles were slightly spicy and with a very crunchy coating, and the waitress was the cutest and most attentive. Thirty dollars overall for my meal but worth every penny. I’d come back here again for sure!

Just had the lobster blt, fried pickles and the homemade sangria. I couldn’t be happier. The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. I am definitely coming back again.

Ellen’s Harborside was a great experience. Food was delicious and the customer service was fantastic. Colleen was extremely helpful and super nice. I recommend the swordfish and crab salad.

I don’t eat seafood, so I can’t comment on that. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich that was ok– I’ve definitely had better. We ordered fried pickles, which were delicious. We ordered wine and oddly had to open the bottle and pour ourselves. The staff was very friendly and accommodating for a group of 7 and a baby.

My husband and I have been here twice — once last winter and then over this past 4^th of July weekend as we were staying in town. Both times we had the same thing! Lobster rolls, french fries, cole slaw, Arnold Palmer & Beer! He even tried the homemade pudding which was like Grandma’s. The dining room is quaint with large windows overlooking the water & boat yard. I see the other reviews and am surprised as we’ve always had wonderful service and no complaints!

This place is aweful. Lets start with the fried three way. We got the haddock, scallops, and clams. Extra money for clam, which is fine but there were literally 5 pieces of clam, 2 scallops, and 5 small pieces of haddock. Portion size: too small for the cost. I don’t mind paying for good quality and service. Well, here again this place disappoints. The batter was terrible, saugy and flavorless. The calamari, same thing, and literally 10 calamaris! we asked for a couple of appetizers and they all came with the main course. The lobster bisque was good.
The service was equally terrible. Our server never came back to check on us, and it wasn’t because the place was too busy. I would NEVER come back. This place is over priced, the food is of quality poor, and the service is even worse.

Skip this unless you just want a nice location. There was this annoying doorbell that chimed everytime an order was ready. Good for cold beer next to harbor.

Food was great! Lobster roll was delicious and a bargain. Swimming reuben was darn tasty! However, the manager, Donna, is a hot mess. Our table overheard her berating the wait staff, who were performing well, for no reason. The dining room is tiny so it’s not like we were eavesdropping. Donna was super nice to customers but super rude to the staff. Not cool! I guess she’s drunk with power. In my opinion, it’s better to be drunk on booze. Treat your staff well, Donna! Won’t be back if Donna’s still working there.

THEY HAVE A GLUTEN FREE MENU! We only got lunch to-​go: tuna salad sandwich on gluten free bread, awesome homemade pickled beets. The waitress was really attentive asking to double check and make sure everything was definitely gluten-​free. It looked very clean, but had a casual rustic atmosphere.
One of few restaurants in Rockport that actually have some legitimate gluten-​free options. We will definitely be back. Thank you!!!

Just ate dinner at Ellen’s where we go at least once a year with the kids. As usual it was a great meal with friendly service. Nothing fancy, so you don’t have to get all dolled up after a day on the beach, but the food was delicious. And now that they serve alcohol, the meal is complete!
Thanks for great memories and great service.

Went in because I really wanted to try the cranberry rhubarb pie. I was going to get it to go but seeing that there were lots of tables available out front we decided to have something to eat. We were informed that we would have to wait to be seated because they were only seating out back. We figured, no, but I still wanted the pie and asked for it to go. All orders have to be put through the computer. I don’t know what the issue was, but the computer wasn’t taking the order and when the server asked a co-​worker for help she was told «don’t ask for me for help, I can’t do it». Five minutes later I left, no pie. If they can’t figure out a piece of pie to go I don’t have much faith in anything they may try

A nice seaside restaurant.
The menu felt very limited.
Gluten free products for celiacs.
The hours are a bit tough being opened from afternoon to early evening.
Parking is a mess, but most of rockport is walking or boating.
I ordered a gluten free burger because it was the first one I ever had and I was curious. It was delicious.
It felt like the staff was having an off day when we went. I did not penalize them, but we asked a question about their entrée and they looked at us as if we just asked to pay with silver. They also were not very attentive with drink refills. These are both knit-​pick comments, but since the place is so small, I would have thought that they would notice my drink was very low.
The gorgeous ocean view made the visit special.
If I was around the area, I would considering stopping in again and giving it a second shot.

The worst meal we ever ate.
We were four people and three were served the wrong meals and the waitress was clueless. Even when we complained the problem was not fixed. The food was barely edible. It was an expensive menu.
The management offered us 10% off to come again.
No way. Not in this lifetime.

went to rockport for the day and wanted to stay for the fireworks… and grab a drink for an hour and a half between sunset and the fireworks. in rockport — it’s illegal to order drinks without food…
asked a shop owner where we could find a restaurant we saw a yummy menu of — and he let us know that it was driving distance away (didn’t have a car). he suggested an alternative… ellen’s harborside.
the drink menu read like a cheesy cancun restaurant… and from behind the bar you could see that the waitresses were taking turns making their own drinks with exactly one jigger full of alcohol to the drop.
food menu looked like normal diner food… but we could see some seafood markets from the door of the restaurant… and the place was called harborside… and we were on a seafood trip in rockport… so we ordered the lobster roll and a cranberry rhubarb pie.
worst lobster roll of my life. wasn’t the right color. definitely wasn’t the right taste. meat was easily in the fridge… maybe even frozen for a few days. ate the mediocre fries and flipped the lobster roll over so we didn’t have to look at it.
pie was good… but the lobster roll was so bad that i started to have second throughts about the pie.

Reading the Unilocal reviews of Ellen’s made my head spin. How can half the reviews be good and half the reviews be really negative? Are we talking about the same place?
Anyway, I’ll weigh in and say that our first lunch at Ellen’s was fine. My wife had fish tacos which she described as «great». I had a terrific sandwich called a «swimming reuben» which was a reuben with haddock in place of corned beef. It tasted a whole lot better than it sounds, and the fish was cooked exactly right. I thought the price was reasonable for a seaside tourist spot, and we got our meals quickly and without attitude. The only slight glitch was after encouraging me to order the sweet potato fries instead of the regular fries, our server brought me regular fries. She was very apologetic about the error and returned with the correct fries in short order. I would have no trouble eating at Ellen’s again next time we’re on Cape Ann.

As I write this I am burping up the remains of my lunch which was clam chowder and a ½ plate of friend clams.
We entered the restaurant which was sadly very dated. I know the restaurant has withstood the test of time and if you read any of my reviews I am a huge proponent of nostalgia and tradition. Sometimes a restaurant needs to just update a little or do something to be a little more comfortable. We sat in the back and yes the view is amazing but the dining is just not inviting. It was clean and the servers attentive if über present. We got there early and 3 servers stood across from us just standing there. Just watching us eat… creepy.
So we had the clam chowder which on the sign out front said and I paraphrase «THE BEST CALM CHOWDER IN THE GALAXY» iirr well maybe the North Shore. I was expecting to be blown away by the chowda as they call it. I wanted the heavens to open and the earth to quake as I took a bite of the best chowda anywhere EVER. You know if it’s just good chowda you’re gonna be disappointed. It was ok… It was loaded with potatoes and just a few scraps of clams and it was hot and who doesn’t like the little side bag of crackers. right.
The clams were different… lightly breaded and friend… whole belly clams and french fries which were very good as well as a side of coleslaw… industrial strength coleslaw.
Lunch was good and it has also been the gift that keeps on giving…“BURRRPP”. Perhaps it’s my sensitive stomach or just friend food haunting me. The food was average in terms of summer friend seafood and the prices seemed a bit high to be honest but I really wasn’t paying that much attention to the prices.
The servers were young and for the most part pleasant and attentive. I just wish they wouldn’t hover. It truly wasn’t a bad dining experience just average and truly I’be experienced better which isn’t to say that I would not return.

The worst food ever…
The place appeared as having good food especially with the Unilocal sign on the window and advertising that they have been in business for 45 years… We were three of us ordering different items… they all were horrible. i didn’t even finish half of my food. which was supposed to be honey mustard grilled chicken… it was a chicken breast that looked microwaved (hospital food might be even better than this) and had pored!!! east with honey mustard just dumped on the chicken… it was a beautiful day until we went in there… do yourself a favor and go anywhere else… i am sure you will do better… Oh yes, and the doorbell kept ringing every time the front door opened… how relaxing…