Seven Essex Massachusetts seafood restaurants: An embarrassment of riches, Part 2

If you know anything about the North Shore of Boston, you know fresh seafood is plentiful. If you know Essex, Massachusetts, you know that route 133 is the home to many terrific seafood restaurants.

We’ll start in the center of town on the recently rebuilt Essex causeway and head north on 133. So here goes!

Shea’s Riverside – $$$

NOTE: As of October 2023 Shea’s is closed for the winter. Locals are anxiously awaiting its reopening in the spring of 2024.

Located across the street from Woodman’s you’ll find Shea’s Riverside perched over the Essex River. Views from the restaurant are stunning, whether watching passing boat traffic heading up-river, gazing out over the Great Marsh or looking west towards a sunset over the town’s church steeples. Seating is available both inside and outside on a spacious deck. You’ll find the service friendly and efficient in this bustling establishment.

Shea’s specializes in fresh seafood prepared with a flair. You can’t go wrong with classics like fried clams or selections from their excellent raw bar. If you’re in the mood to graze, you’ll find plenty of tempting starters to nibble on like tuna poke, formaggio frito and shrimp crostini. One of our favorite entrees over the years is their haddock provencal, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try Shea’s take on Mexican-accented halibut and scallops ala vodka.

A fun fact about Shea’s: Since 2019, Shea’s has sourced fresh produce from their own Itsy Bitsy Farm in Essex.

C K Pearl – $$$

Located next to Shea’s and also perched over the Essex River, you’ll find the very popular CK Pearl. The location has had it’s share of restaurants over the past 30 years, but CK Pearl looks like they’ve nailed it and are here to stay, attracting locals in the off season and it seems like everyone on the North Shore in the summer! This family-owned establishment features their own twist on North Shore favorites.

Our friends from Swampscott said it was their new favorite North Shore restaurant. With it’s lively atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating and very own barbecue smoker, it’s easy to see why.

The kitchen shows attention to detail while keeping things fresh and simple, with creative touches that set their seafood classics apart.

A fun fact about CK Pearl: The C and K in their name are the initials of the owners’ two daughters.

Boat House Grille – $$$

It’s easy to forget that the newest of the restaurants on our list in Essex is in fact in Essex! Opened in 2016 and located on Route 133 on the Ipswich line, the Boat House Grille has proven popular from the get-go.

The restaurant is creatively decorated with a nautical theme, beginning with a sailboat proudly displayed roadside. When you walk in you’re greeted by a hostess stationed behind a boat binnacle, complete with engine controls. A large bar and several dining rooms continue the theme, with cozy banquettes lining the walls.

The bar prides itself on it’s creative cocktails and it’s tempting to grab a hightop and eat there and soak in the energy from the bartenders and lively crowd. This is not a room for a quiet table alone!

The Boat House Grille is chef-owned and it shows. The Boat House Bouillabaisse, Haddock Tesoro and Salmon Tower are signature dishes, and the extensive menu includes 11 pasta options. Grazing fans find 20 starters, 8 salad options and a raw bar.

A fun fact about the Boat House Grille: Next to the restaurant is tatty looking cabin cruiser, easily mistaken for the S.S. Minnow of Gilligan’s Island fame.

A quick note: Since August, 2023, Essex has lost three fine seafood restaurants: The Windward Grille, Ripple on the Water and the Village Restaurant. Reasons for their closings vary, but all are remembered fondly by the locals who loved them.