Spud’s Restaurant & Pub

It’s an OK place to eat, but certainly not great.
This is a favorite townie and elderly spot for lunch and dinner. I’ve been here with and without parties of regular customers. Regular customers consistently receive fast and personable service, while those who do not frequent are often put on the back burner if it’s much past lunchtime. 15 minutes is a long time to wait to place a beer order at a bar if you ask me. Service really needs reforming if they have intentions of attracting customers other than those who frequent.
The menu is what you would expect for a Cape Ann area spot. There’s the usual clam and seafood dishes, as well as an array of burgers, steaks, and other classic meat dishes. With most stuff being deep fried or fatty, it’s not a great choice if you’re on a diet or have a vegetarian and/​or celiac person in your party. Prices are average to a bit high for a general pub type restaurant. Food quality is generally OK. I’ve never felt the need to send a dish back, but everything I’ve tried airs on the bland side. The revolving special menu is the best chance you have at finding something that may be unique. Otherwise, nothing on the menu really separates Spuds from your typical Cape Ann ordinary stop.
Atmosphere is a bit dated, and is in dire need of renovating. While it’s practical, I question the safety of some of it. Last fall, I witnessed a CRT TV fall off a wall platform and come inches from landing on an elderly gentleman’s head. I’ve generally tried to stay clear of here since then.
Bottom line: There’s so many seafood and steak specialty spots less than 15 minutes away from Rowley. You would be best served traveling the extra distance and getting a unique meal that is more reasonably priced. Spuds has a lot of work to do menu, service, and appearance wise if they wish to compete with the well known local spots and bring new customers in at the same time.

Ok so first off the food was good. The service was nice but a little slow but made up for it with there Cheerful and helpful service so go to spuds for cheap and good food.
P.S Kids eat free on Tuesday

Lord of the Flies. Many others besides me complaining about the fly situation. Bartender promising to rectify situation with her fly swatter, indicating to me this is not an anomaly.
Same as last two times I was in. I won’t be back.

went there years ago with my dad, $ 16.00 for a clam plate back then. when we got our clam plate there were about 7 or eight clams on a small amount of French fries. I questioned the portion amount of clams and she said that’s your 6oz. well, we never went back and I will never go back. clam box, park lunch, beach plum, you have my business !!! excellent clam spots.

went last night the waitress was not nice at all she was all upset that she could not close her section down because we were seated there. she finally came to get our order and stated to us they were out of special and an list of other things, so we walked out and went to agawam diner that was great food there

Great homestyle food. Ive never had a bad experience here and ive been countless times. If im headed back from the beach, and have a little extra time, a detour here pretty much almost makes my day.

My family has not dined at Spuds together in about 15 years and decided to go last night…
15 years ago– the last time we went– we sat down, ordered had our salads and drinks… and then just sat there… waiting and waiting… the waitress never came over to let us know what was going on, I mean this was an extended period so we joked and figured at this rate we may as well just go to McDonalds… some time later our waitress finally came over with the manager to let us know the cook had quit on the spot and they were trying to remedy the situation and get our food out to us. So we said never mind left the money for the salads and went to McDonalds.
Last night we sat down at just after 6:30– our waitress had such a strong perfume on that when she left the table it lingered behind her, and she couldn’t have acted less interested that we were there, she was curt and rude. We ordered our drinks, she brought over some bread and someone in our party had gotten a starter salad– she brought over the wrong dressing– so it made us wonder if she had even listened to us at all. We ordered the fried haddock, the teriyaki steak, and the fish tacos. All which were a part of their menu– so in a normal restaurant something the cooks would be trained to make.
Some time goes by the people next to us get their food, a couple comes in sits down, gets their salads right away, and then they bring out their appetizers.
Some more time goes by and just still nothing, finally the waitress comes over and says the kitchen is backed up we are getting your order out as fast as possible and like runs off before we can say something. Of course at this point we are cracking up because it’s like the twilight zone.
Another couple comes and orders and gets their meals before us and at this point we have been there for far too long and we are not happy.
So finally the manager comes over and says, «I’m so sorry, the kitchen is backed up” — there are like maybe 5 other tables filled and all have food or are finishing up…
So someone in our party points out that there are not many others in the restaurant and people have eaten and left at this point and we are still just here waiting.
The manager retracts saying they were busy to then tell us we have a new cook and he didn’t know how to make the fish tacos so he had to start over… It will be up soon. So here we have a lie and then someone who is a cook in your restaurant who doesn’t know how to cook the things offered on the menu. She lets us know that she will take it off the bill.
So finally around 8:15 our food comes out– the waitress brought them out holding towels so one would assume the food was hot. The fish I had ordered seemed like it was just a frozen piece thrown in some oil, the fries were stale, and the onion rings were just okay The steak was cold and was overcooked, the mashed potatoes looked they had been made from a bag, and it came with honey mustard? SO bizarre! The fish tacos were nothing special and it was surprising they were not made right the first time considering it was just fried fish in tortillas… When the waitress came over to ask how everything was we let her know our dissatisfaction and when told the steak was cold she asked if we wanted her to go and nuke it! That had to be one of the biggest jokes of all… um ya no we don’t want you to take our food and put in the microwave. I have NEVER been to a restaurant that asked if I wanted my food microwaved… The waitress then tells us she will ask to have it taken off the bill and screams across the restaurant for the manager.
When we were finally done it took about 15 minutes for her to get the bill– the manager never came over again to apologize– nothing. What a joke.
It’s all well and great when you get food comped… but it should not have had to have been. It also would have remedied the situation just fine had they just offered to bring out an app on the house while they prepared our meals the way they should have been cooked in the first place. OH ALSO HAD THEY NOT LIED! «oh im sorry fish tacos are new to the menu we want to be sure they are cooked to your satisfaction, in the meantime could I bring you out some onion rings or potato skins on the house?»
Needless to say the food and service would have been better at McDonalds and we would not have wasted our Sunday night. I wish I could get those two hours of my life back. I don’t think we will be going back to spuds again… at least not for another 15 years.
Also the place smells and is decorated like a funeral home… maybe they expect you are going to die waiting for your food?! Lol!

The people in Spuds in Saugus are more friendly and have great service. I still miss the closed Danvers spuds. Rowley is more older folks and is out of the way but the food is still great tasting and enjoyable.

First time and last time! Eew! It was dirty. The «well-​done» steak-​tips were red in the middle and were quickly returned to me on the same plate that was now dirty from where they slid the tips off. Table condiment containers were dirty, as was the desert menu (they had food slop on them!) Ew, ew, ew.

Don’t get a sirloin, they don’t know how to cook it!

Been going to the one in Rowley since it opened more then 20 years ago. We really enjoy the haddock and clam chowder. Steak tips are very good. Order the chicken parm and you will get two meals out of it. The value is very good. My wife and I dine at the bar and enjoy the atmosphere. We have a lot of fun on Thursday nights playing trivia. They also offer a senior discount of 25% on entrees on Wednesday night. We didn’t qualify when we first started going but we do now!

It’s a good place to bring children. Lot’s of the older crowd and very quiet. The food is just as good as the Agawam Diner. Kids eat free in the late afternoon/​early evening! Not the best atmosphere, but it’s not crowded like Friendly’s.

I understand SPUD’s has a following. Personally, I don’t get it. Any of it.
The best part of the restaurant so the people. Friendly staff and they really seem to love their customers. I gave an extra star for that reason.

I have been coming to spuds for years, especially for senior Wednesdays. Lately I have been somewhat disappointed. Baked shrimp was like shoe leather. Pot roast was paper thin, no taste to it. Baked haddock is still good.

First time and last time we would ever eat here. Went on a Saturday about 3:30 and the service & food was HORRIBLE!!! The waitress took her own time with us. The ragoons were still frozen in the middle, my crab pie was luke warm and smelt very fishy, more like shredded crab pie. I hardly touched it at all; waitress didnt even ask. My husband steak tips were perfect but his fish smelled and had an after taste that was less desirable.
We told the waitress of the frozen ragoons, she asked us if we were kidding & she brought them back & brought more out, she didnt ask what we’d like, she took 20 mintues each time she left us and had only one other table. She did everything else except care for our table of 2, she even stacked silverware, stood there or disappeared… It was honestly the WORST SERVICE IVE HAD!!! I even wrote it on the bill as well.
The location wasnt not even busy and they was a lot of staff so we should not have had this type of experience.

Great little restaurant in Rowley. Awesome service and food. I would go back.

Have been here a bunch of times. Each worse than the last. Today was the last. Went with three others and waited 5 minutes before our waitress came to see what we wanted to drink and order. The waitress was very rude and couldn’t even pretend to care. She wore an excessive amount of heavy perfume, which was horrible for our group because one of the people that I was with is allergic to perfume. We asked for bread as soon as we were seated because we know from previous experience that they take a LONG time to prepare the food and get it to the table.
When ordering, I asked for fried haddock and asked if I could have a salad instead of coleslaw. I was told coldly and curtly, ‘NO’. Then she looked at the next person in my group to get their order. I pointed out that on the menu it said I could have a side salad for $ 1 extra, which I didn’t mind paying. She sighed heavily and said «okay, what dressing do you want? » Like she was annoyed that I was asking for anything else.
10 minutes after we had put in our meal order, we received our drinks and about 5 minutes after that the bread that we had asked for about 20 minutes before. When we finally got our meals, which took almost 45 minutes, mine had coleslaw on it.
Someone I was with ordered a baked potato with her meal. The potato was hard as a rock when it came to our table. When it was pointed out to our waitress, she said «Do you want me to nuke it?» So the person I was with said, «Well it’s inedible like this, so I guess so.» The waitress took it away in a huff. When it came back a second time it was still hard, but could at least be cut with a fork. Needless to say, it was left untouched.
About half way through our meal, the waitress sort of stopped close to our table, yet looked at another table and said, «How’s the food?» and before we even said anything, she was already onto her next task. She couldn’t have cared less if we liked what we had, as long as we got lost as fast as possible. I really wish I would have gotten her name.
Yes, the food is cheap but I’ve had a bunch of different items on the menu, and there isn’t one thing that I liked. All of the food was bland, unseasoned, not fresh, or just gross. True, the décor could be updated, and the patrons are older or adults with young kids, but the lack of consideration from the staff is just inexcusable. I don’t care if your not having a good day, part of your job is to fake it and make it a good experience for your patrons. I used to work as a waitress, and she did so many things wrong. And as I said before, I will NEVER be going back to any Spuds again.

Spud’s is the best in my opinion. Good food, good service (always with a smile) and good prices. You can’t beat that!
Nice atmosphere, clean and comforable. Love the fried clams and lazy lobster pie.
Colette

I recently went here after a long hiatus. Started with the combo appetizer of buffalo tenders and potato skins. The tender were cooked perfectly but the buffalo sauce was lightly thrown over them and not very tasty. The potato skins were filled with Cheez-​whiz! I thought that was pretty gross!
I ordered a burger for my main course and it was cook through on one half and then still pink on the other half. I am not even sure how that happens but it was weird. I didn’t mind either way, just would prefer consistency. Ended the meal with the fried ice cream that was okay.
Overall, I thought this was going to be a cheap meal but there are other places around that I could have had a better meal for $ 60. I did have a few beers which brought the bill up. Service was good– very casual. I probably would not return here given other alternatives in the area.

I am a little biased to this place, as I grew up in the area.
Location: Its Rowley… enough said.
Atmosphere: At times it feels like heavens doorstep. It needs updating.
Drinks: Typical, nothing spectacular.
Appetizers: You HAVE to have the potato skins. They are to die for. Halved spuds deep fryed then filled with cheez wiz and bacon bits. Lower class? Maybe… but I wont argue with my stomach.
Entrees: I always go with the buffalo fingers and steak tip combo. Steak tips are excellent. I honestly believe they have some of the best buffalo fingers around. They are different, they are not the spicy variety… but rather a sweeter take on buffalo sauce… I think they use honey. You also have to love the fact that dinner rolls and side salad are included with your meal. Great value here.
Desert: Fried Ice Cream. Youve most likely had it at the Topsfield Fair from the Spuds stand. Its good.
This place is not by any means a 3, 4 or 5 star establishment, but it sticks to basics and does them well. I wish they would do a little updating.