The Rudder in Gloucester Has Closed

A waterside restaurant on the North Shore that a well-known local chef/restaurateur had taken over has shut down.

The Boston Globe is reporting (via an Instagram post) that The Rudder in Gloucester is no longer in business, with the post--which comes from the restaurant's IG page and which was signed by Barbara Lynch--saying the following:

After three years in this beautiful space on Rocky Neck, I have made the very personal decision to close The Rudder with immediate effect. I would like to thank the community for all of their support. Gloucester has always been and will remain very dear to my heart.

Both the previous and current incarnation of The Rudder was known for its seafood dishes and its harborside deck, residing in an area popular with art lovers who browse the studios and galleries found on Rocky Neck.

Several other places run by Lynch have closed of late, including The Butcher Shop, Drink, Menton, and Sportello.

The address for the now-closed Rudder was 73 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

    

The Cut Opens in Gloucester on November 20

A brand new place for food, drink, live music, and more is getting ready to open on the North Shore.

According to a press release, The Cut is slated to open in Gloucester on November 20, with a ribbon cutting for the Main Street spot taking place that day. The new place, which gets its name from the nickname for the Blynman Bridge that spans the channel between the city's Outer Harbor and the Annisquam River, will include a restaurant and bar with seating for 180, an entertainment venue with seating for 300 (and general admission for 500 total), and rehearsal and recording studio space--and the entertainment area will be used for local, regional, and national music acts, with an earlier Gloucester Times article also mentioning its being used for comedy and film.

The address for The Cut is 177 Main Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930. Its website will be at https://thecutlive.com/

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

---

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Topside Grill in Gloucester Has Closed

A restaurant on Cape Ann whose roots date back nearly 35 years has shut down.

According to a source, Topside Grill in Gloucester has closed its doors, with a post on the Facebook page for the Rogers Street spot from earlier this month saying the following:

As many others have experienced within the industry, it has been a challenging uphill between the impacts of COVID, increasing product costs and labor shortages. Throughout the years we have had some of the most wonderful customers that we will always remember. THANK YOU, you truly made all the hard work worth it! We would also like to give gratitude to our remarkable staff. We acknowledge your commitment, camaraderie and positivity which has kept us focused and moving forward throughout the years. We are truly looking ahead to our next family chapter.

Topside Grill was formerly home to Schooner's of Gloucester Restaurant which first opened in 1988 and was run by the same family; Schooner's morphed into Topside in 2007 and offered seafood dishes along with Italian and classic American fare.

The address for Topside Grill was 50 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Captain Carlo's in Gloucester Is Closing

A popular seafood restaurant on the North Shore that is known in part for its water views and outdoor dining is shutting down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Captain Carlo's in Gloucester is closing permanently, with a Facebook post from the dining spot saying the following:

From the early days as a fish market, to picnic tables and fried clams, years of crazy late nights and live music to the pandemic it's been a wild ride! We have staff and customers that have become family over the 30 plus years and so many amazing memories. All good things though must come to an end and it's the end of the road for Captain Carlos. It's time for Rosemarie to enjoy being a full time Grandma. Thank you for always supporting us!

The post mentions that its last day in business will be Saturday. September 4.

Captain Carlo's changed from being a full-service restaurant to an "eat in the rough" spot this summer, being set up for counter service and takeout while also keeping its deck open for diners. The menu features a variety of seafood dishes, including clam chowder, lobster rolls, fish and chips, calamari, steamed lobster, baked haddock, fried scallops, and more.

The address for Captain Carlo's is 27 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA, 01930. Its website can be found at https://captaincarlos.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Essex Seafood Reopens After Being Hit by Fire Last Spring

A beloved North Shore seafood shack that was destroyed in a fire last year is back in business.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Essex Seafood on Route 133 in Essex has reopened, with a Facebook post from the place saying the following:

We just had a 2 day soft open to appreciate the firefighters who responded to our fire last year, contractors and others who helped rebuild our new restaurant. Thank you again to all! WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR CUSTOMERS! We can't wait for everyone to see the new restaurant and enjoy some great food!

Essex Seafood sustained major damage in a two-alarm blaze that started after they closed for the night last Mother's Day, with the damage being so extensive that the structure had to be torn down. It is one of several iconic clam shacks along Route 133 in Essex and Ipswich, including such spots as J. T. Farnham's, Woodman's, and the Clam Box.

The address for Essex Seafood is 143 Eastern Avenue (Route 133), Essex, MA, 01929.

[Earlier Article]
Essex Seafood Heavily Damaged in Two-Alarm Fire

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Payment Options

Option 1 : $1.00 USD - monthly Option 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly Option 3 : $10.00 USD - monthly

Cape Ann Brewing Company in Gloucester Has Permanently Closed

A North Shore brewery has decided to call it a day.

According to a source, Cape Ann Brewing Company in Gloucester is no longer in operation, with a Facebook post from Boston's Wicked North Shore confirming this, while a Facebook post from the Rogers Street brewery says the following:

During the summer of 2002, a casual conversation spawned the, perhaps ill-thought, idea of what would become the Cape Ann Brewing Company. Since that day, we strove to create a brand and a place that would represent "the courage and spirit of the North Atlantic Fishing Fleet." We are proud of what we've created over the past 18 years. During this time we've weathered many storms, at times enjoyed smooth seas, and have always been thankful for the [strong] headwinds that have guided our voyage. Unfortunately, the current climate has proven to be our last sail.

Cape Ann Brewing Company was known in part for its brewpub which had harborside seating on an outdoor deck, while its menu featured BBQ dishes, seafood, and pub grub.

The address for Cape Ann Brewing Company was 11 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Halibut Point Restaurant & Pub in Gloucester Has Closed Permanently

A decades-old Cape Ann tavern has shut its doors for good, though it appears that its closing was not a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a source (Cynthia Lawry), Halibut Point Restaurant & Pub in Gloucester is shuttered permanently, with an article from the Gloucester Daily Times saying that owner Dennis Flavin made the decision approximately three weeks ago, while also saying that the coronavirus outbreak "has absolutely nothing to do with it....It's just time. I knew it was coming. I just had a gut feeling that we wouldn't open again. So this is it." Flavin, who also has a studio with his wife Peggy where he does abstract paintings, put the Main Street building, business, and liquor license on the market last weekend, and it is too early to know what might go into the space at this point in time.

Halibut Point Restaurant & Pub, which has been in business since 1982, resides on the site of a tavern that dated back to 1900.

The address for the now-closed Halibut Point Restaurant & Pub is 289 Main Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Essex Seafood Heavily Damaged in Two-Alarm Fire

An iconic North Shore seafood shack is closed for the foreseeable future after being hit by a fire overnight.

According to an article from CBS Boston, Essex Seafood on Route 133 in Essex sustained major damage in a two-alarm blaze that apparently broke out around 11:00 Sunday night. The post mentions that the fire started only hours after it wrapped up a busy Mother's Day for the restaurant, but fortunately no injuries were reported. The fire, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to Essex Seafood, is currently under investigation.

Essex Seafood is one of several iconic clam shacks along Route 133 in Essex and Ipswich, including such places as Woodman's, J. T. Farnham's, and the Clam Box.

[May 22 update: The Gloucester Times mentions that Essex Seafood owner Howie Lane plans to tear the structure down and rebuild, saying that "We want to rebuild just like it was, with the wood inside just like we had....I have a lot of friends that do construction and cement work -- they've all reached out to me. We'll make it company friendly, handicap-friendly and put a sprinkler system in so nothing like this will happen again." In addition, Lane is planning to have a grand reopening celebration in which the firefighters who extinguished the fire will be recognized for their work, with Lane stating that "I can't believe they saved the house....They more than did their job. They're the real heroes. Everything will be on the house -- no charge." (Thanks to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page for bringing this to our attention.)]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Fred's Franks in Wakefield Opens Second Location on Pontoon Boat in Gloucester

A popular hot dog cart north of Boston has been joined by a second location that should be popular with sun worshipers.

According to its Facebook page, Fred's Franks in Wakefield is now selling its hot dogs and other food items on a pontoon boat that is set up at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, with one post stating that it is located to the left of the sandbar where other boats are tied off. The Facebook page for Fred's also says that the Gloucester location is only open on weekends and it is assumed that this will be a summer-only location, though an exact closing date does not seem to have been given as of yet. Based on the photos shown and the menu at the Wakefield location, the pontoon boat sells hot dogs, Shnurbles (which includes a hot dog, chourico, mayo, cabbage, and hot sauce), Italian sausages, burgers, drinks, and desserts.

The original Fred's Franks can be found at the northern edge of Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield near where Route 129 and Route 128 intersect. Its website is at http://fredsfranks.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Anthony Caturano of Prezza in Boston's North End Is Opening Tonno in Gloucester

One of the most familiar figures within the Boston restaurant scene is opening a second dining spot, and this one will be north of the city.

Eater Boston is reporting that Anthony Caturano, who is the chef/owner of Prezza in the North End, is planning to open Tonno in Gloucester, taking over the space on Main Street where the Blackburn Tavern had been. The article says that the 99-seat dining spot will be a "coastal Italian seafood concept" with the menu including seafood caught off the New England coast. Expect to see such items as octopus salad, local oysters, roasted cod oreganata, cioppino, and more, along with a huge wine list with most being from Italy and "classic Italian cocktails." If all goes as planned, Tonno could be opening sometime in the spring of 2016.

[June 7, 2016 update: According to a press release, Tonno opens on June 17.]

Caturano's 15-year-old Prezza is an upscale Italian restaurant on Fleet Street in the North End that features dishes from Italy's Abruzzi region.

The address for Tonno is 2 Main Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Tweet

2010 Cape Ann Restaurant Week Is This Week (October 17-22)

Another restaurant week has begun in Eastern Massachusetts, with this one being on the North Shore.

According to The Cape Ann Beacon and Wicked Local, the 2010 Cape Ann Restaurant Week began this past Sunday (October 17) and will last through this coming Friday (October 22). A total of 16 dining spots are participating this year, including Alchemy, The Azorean and The Dog Bar in Gloucester, Bistro 127 and The Fish Shack in Rockport, Periwinkles and The Windward Grille in Essex, and Cala's and The Landing in Manchester.

Restaurants participating in Cape Ann Restaurant Week are featuring three-course prix fixe menus for $25 (not including drinks). Regular menus are also available.

For more information on the 2010 Cape Ann Restaurant Week (including a complete list of participating restaurants), please go to the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce link below.

http://www.capeannchamber.com/

Tweet This!

Taste of Cape Ann Coming to Gloucester September 16, 2010

A restaurant-based event is coming to the North Shore this month, with food, wine, and beer offered.

The second annual Taste of Cape Ann will be held on September 16 at the Cape Ann YMCA in Gloucester from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a number of area restaurants participating. Some of the dining spots at the event will include Alchemy, Chili Choice, Emerson By the Sea, Latitude 43, Lobsta Land, Madfish Grille, The Rudder, and Seaport Grille. There will also be six wine vendors at the event.

Tickets to the 2010 Taste of Cape Ann are $35 per person and can be purchased either at the Cape Ann YMCA (71 Middle Street in downtown Gloucester) or at the door on the night of the event.

For more information on the second annual Taste of Cape Ann, please go to the Cape Ann Vacations website from the Chamber of Commerce:

http://www.capeannvacations.com/

Tweet This!