Causeway Restaurant

Reviews 4

SA

Sam Melnick

Ya know I really wanted to like Causeway. Popular reviews brought me here and I had high expectations. Me and the girlfriend decided to go up to Gloucester walk on the beach and get some low key bomb diggity seafood. After reading the reviews I expected the long wait, I expected the BYOB, and I expected the loud crowded dining room. So, I was not turned off by these facts. I like to be pampered, but its about the food, not the atmosphere, so I have no qualms going to divey like places to get my eat on. The issues I have with Causeway are not as much with the food, but the experience. We got there around 6:30 and were told it would be a 30-45 minutes which was fine as we were expecting this. About an hour later and after witnessing 2 parties (of 3 and 4) get skipped to the front of the line (they had been there for no more than 15 minutes and were seated before many of the people who had been 30 mins to an hr) my girlfriend decided to find out where we stood on the list. After getting a snarky response from the host she found out we were next in line. 5-10 minutes later my name was called. We got up to go inside (since there isnt enough room to wait inside everyone just sits outside) the host practically slammed the door in my GFs face, once inside he throws the menus on the table throws some bread on the table, and not once looks at us. I mean Im all for a laid back atmosphere, but the guy was an A** H***. That combined with the fact that apparently if you speak Italian you get to skip the hour long wait pissed me off. The food. I would give it a 3.5/4. GF had fish and chips ($14) it was good, but not the best she or I have had, the price was fair. I had the Lobster Pie ($20), it was a special, it was basically chunks of lobster with bread crumbs and butter. I love lobster so I was happy with this and they gave me a ton of lobster. The menu wasnt quite as cheap as I was expecting (some people said average meal is $10-12 NOT TRUE), $22 dollars for fishermans platter, some of the pasta plates were $18/19 nothing was below $14. I might have made a mistake by not getting a pasta dish as those were huge and looked delicious (muscles particularly). You definitely could get by with splitting one of those and keep the cost down.

MA

marco delgado

For nearly 2 years I have been excited for trying this restaurant out. When we arrived there was close to an hour wait which I was fine with considering the great stuff Ive been hearing about this restaurant. Once we were seated, it took nearly 10 minutes before our server or anyone else for that matter approached us. We ordered a couple of sodas and placed our order for a bowl of chowder to share and we both chose the seafood marinara dish. The chowder arrived and within 2 minutes our meals showed up. So we had to down our chowder very quick so couldnt really enjoy the whole appetizer experience cause our food was waiting on us. The clam chowder was good I will say, not the best, but was up there in quality. Now onto the entree. After both of us took our first bite, we both agreed that there was no seasoning of any kind, the meal although enormous (which was my favorite part of the experience) was bland as hell. I waited for our server to come check on us, never did, as a matter of fact, he disappeared for almost 10 minutes, its not like the place is big, so where he went off too I have no clue. I asked another server to get us some salt and pepper, and to refill our sodas. Nobody came back to us, but then our main server appeared from the kitchen. Took me 2 minutes to get his attention. 5 more minutes passed before our refills and pepper and salt showed up. So we dug back into our dinners and both discussed how bland the dish was. I mean, its just marinara tossed with tossed in shrimp, mussels, squid, Calamari. During our time there, I also observed the cooks in the back drinking beer and playing there music rather loudly, I kinda found that aggravating. I truly was disappointed, and hope that this was just a bad day, I should also mention that we showed up 1 hour before closing, so perhaps thats why things in my view went bad. The many positive reviews of this restaurant, through me for a loop, but if that many people feel satisfied after visiting there must be some truth behind that, but as for me Im up in the air on whether I will go back. Wish I could have given better review, the 2 stars were more for feeling guilty of leaving a 1 star.

DO

Doug Northcote

Fantastic food! Best clam chowder Ive ever had. Better than the chowder at the Wind & Sea in Boston, which was a heck of a lot pricier. Had the bowl (not cup) which was a meal in itself, and was fantastic. Not understanding that the portion was large my friend and I ordered that, well he got the Fish Chowder, since he cannot have gluten at all. Hes got Celiacs so gluten is literally poisonous to him. They completely understood and had their menu ready for it. Which is uncommon and AWESOME. So anyway, we both get the chowder and a bowl of clams. Expecting a smallish bowl of both. Mistake. The clams were huge! And very good, littlenecks from probably about 500 yards away. Butter and clam juice as you want for it. Anyway, while this was a big mistake, we manfully tried to finish our plates. We were so full... I finished the clams, barely. Could not finish the chowder. Which was a shame. My friend finished the fish chowder, couldnt finish the clams. Lunch was 25 each... but thats because we basically double ordered two main dishes. And we rolled out the door. Barely fit through the door really. We didnt eat dinner. We barely ate breakfast the next day. And it wasnt a late lunch! They also had 2 lobsters for 25 at the time on the menu... wanted to come back a few days later but just never had time on that trip again. The place was truly full of people as well. Its "where the locals eat" and we were recommended to go there as well. Next time Im in Gloucester you know where Ill be eating.

A

A Private User

After eating at the Causeway, I realized that clam chowder really was born in the North Shore, and not in Boston. It was so sweet, with the freshest tasting clams ever. I just finished eating there with my GF, and we ordered a fried oyster platter, the clam chowder, and the appetizer mussels in white wine and garlic sauce. We were stuffed, and let me just say I am no lightweight when it comes to food. The mussels were extremely tasty, and there was a mountain of it. The oysters were some of the freshest Ive ever had. Its one of my favorite haunts with my GF, and the best part is, it also doesnt break the bank either. Anyhow, its a must for anyone who loves seafood and happens to visit. The interior and exterior decor, as everyone has pointed out, leaves something to be desired, but if you want large portion of really great seafood within a reasonable budget, this place cant be beat. One other thing... my GF just pointed out I should say something about ther BYOB. Its nice, cause you dont end up paying half your bill on alcohol, and theres a liquor store right next door. We got in tonight exactly at 6 pm, though, on a Sunday, and the liquor store had just closed. So, plan accordingly, cause seafood is best with beer.