Woodman’s of Essex

Vastly overrated tourist trap. Also filthy inside, which raises doubts about food safety. Clams are average at best. Save your money.
The locals go to Farnum’s just down the road, or to The Clam Box in Ipswich.

Favorite clam shacks are a polarizing topic in New England. Ask 10 people for a good clam shack, you’ll get 12 answers.
Woodman’s is by far the best place for fried clams and seafood.
Their batter is perfected down to the onion rings. The fisherman’s platter is piled high with fried foods galore. The lobster rolls are great too. This all mixed with the view out back and ice cream shop in the parking lot is a great experience. The feel is 100% New England and perfect after Crane Beach. I have driven from Boston just for their food. It’s that good!

Better in days of yore. Spoiled by success me thinks. On my two most recent trips the clams were not good nor plentiful, but very expensive. I guess they can’t keep up with cleaning the oil due to the high volume. The staff working at full throttle, aren’t as sweet as I remember either. My wife is a fries connoisseur, and doesn’t rate theirs well. Possibly on a low volume day they might be like the old times, but certainly not weekends and holidays. So, given the available choices in the area, we’ve sworn off Woodman’s.

Saying that Woodman’s is only «famous» because of the movie Grown ups is like saying that 2+2=6, incorrect in other words. While others are most certainly entitled to their opinions, I can’t sit idly by while someone spreads lies about such an institution. I have been coming to Woodman’s since I was a young child, and have always immensely enjoyed it. The seafood is fresh and delicious, the drinks are cold and plentiful and the staff is friendly and helpful. Some previous reviews have stated that the food was «over-​fried» and oily. Yup, fried seafood tends to be on the greasy side. It is, after all, fried in oil. The lines are long because the food is worth the wait. The scallops are juicy and sweet, the clams have just the right amount of chew and the chowder is thick and packed with flavor. Woodman’s is an experience. From the cardboard boxes to carry your giant order to the picnic style tables in the dining room. After a long day of fun in the sun, bring your tired, sunburned self to Woodman’s, and you won’t be disappointed.

Ordered clams plates 30 bucks a piece. Brought the plates back to the table. Expecting big clams bellys. instead got clams strips. tiny bellys. RIP OFF FOR SURE. will never go back again. OVER RATED
.

It’s just a fun place to be and eat great seafood. Order at the register, wait for your number to be called, get tons of food by the cardboard 24 pack crate, and find a spot to eat and laugh with friends.
Steamers were fantastic– fried clams and fish were the best in Boston…

Wow, this place is a must! The fried clams were amazing and so was the lobster roll. The lobster meat was so fresh and I loved the sweet buttered roll. The clam chowder was also very good.

HISTORY: I believe my opinion of Woodman’s is less influenced than most because I was NOT aware of it’s «legacy.» You see, the movie «Grown Ups» was filmed here, so now it is famous. My boyfriend’s family lives in Ipswich and took me here, explaining how famous the restaurant this place had become… although it was always popular with the locals.
PRICE: I live in Boston, but was still shocked by the expensive prices and LONG lines in such a low key, little décor, stick wood floor and tables, no frills fried food place. We waited in a long line to place our order… and another one to get our drinks.
FOOD: I assumed the food was so expensive because it was super fresh, highest quality and big portions. The reality the food was over-​fried, absorbing too much oil. Maybe the oil needed to be changed? The portions were large, BUT… only because our plates were loaded with onion rings… much more than seafood. My family thought that their food was good, but nothing memorable.
THE DEAL: Come here if you’re a fan of the film, «Grown Ups,» and have your photo taken with the celebrity pictures on their walls.

Expensive and GROSS! We saw the busy line and thought it would be good – like hole in the wall — great food kind of good.
We were so wrong. It’s just a tourist trap — and everything was gross. The fish fry was all breading and no taste – $ 17…it was gross — so were the soggy tasteless fries. The chicken fingers didn’t look like chicken and the lobster roll — $ 20 — drowning in mayonnaise on a cold bun… blech…the only thing that looked halfway normal was my daughter’s hot dog — everything else was a rip off…
If you want GOOD fish fry and awesome lobster roll for half the price, go to Sullivan’s in South Boston… it blows this place of the water — or drive just 20 minutes further north an get anything close to Portsmouth or Kittery… There were also dozens of screaming babies and toddlers… the place is a zoo.

Went to Woodmans today with some friends and it was an overall good experience. I got the small fried clams and my girl got the scallop plate. I also got a sprite and she got a vodka/​soda. Came to about $ 70 total. People are so shocked about the price but I think it s pretty reasonable for the amount you are getting. There were at least 15 – 20 scallops in the dinner with fries and very good onion rings. The clams were good but not great in my opinion.
The line moved fast and got a table inside right away.
For me this is a once a year type place since I do not each much fried foods but overall a good experience.

Onion rings! AWESOME! We’ve been coming here from the south shore of Boston for the past 25 years. Their combo platter this time had less of the clams and more shrimp. Need more clams. For $ 33 bucks, need more claims!

This is a place to visit if you are in the area, which I was… so I stopped in because I heard great things!
I got a simple order of fried clams with tartar on the side.
The clams were nice, with a clean flavor and no sand to chew on. The breading was ok, I would have liked to see it a little more crispy.
But altogether, it’s a really nice operation, they cranked out lots of orders that looked delicious — including their chowder which overflowed it’s cup/​bowl! Which I would definitely like to try the next time I am in the area.
There is ample seating inside with a large outside tent in the back behind the parking lot. Lots of land great views of the sky!!!
They even have an ice cream shop, which happened to be closed… secretly, that may be the reason I took away a star. Lol… if your in the area def go enjoy!
Be prepared though… they are a little pricey… $ 24 for a small clam only! $ 34 for the dinner…

Came to Woodman’s yesterday with a bunch of other people, mid afternoon arrival and the restaurant was packed. A long line outside waiting to come in. I didn’t quite understand why the guy was cooking whole lobsters out front, then when cooked, placing in front of him, just a few feet from the street. Cooked lobster exposed to the heavy traffic on that street is a serious health issue.
Walk in the door, and it was very busy and hot. We were in line for a good 15 – 20 minutes and as we approached the counter to order food, saw a line on the opposite side at another counter. We soon discovered that line was for drinks. So, now we were going to waste more time in the drink line. I wished I had brought my own bottled water.
Back to the food counter, I ordered two clam rolls and an order of fries. $ 51 please. Holy $&@!!! What are you kidding me? We live on the seacoast and don’t pay that much for fresh clams and certainly not a small bunch like we received. Sure, the clams were good but small bellies and more strips.
After having to wait 20 minutes to order, then 10 – 15 more for the small plate of food and overpriced drinks, we were able to find a seat to sit and eat. Fortunately with all the people there, we did find a seat.
Time came to wrap things up, wash hands in the bathroom. Ok, so their bathroom was disgusting!!! I won’t even tell you what was on the toilet seat. It’d make you gag. There was clearly no management of the bathroom. No towels in the bathroom, just a blower that only worked when you had to constantly hold down the button; a useless dryer.
Ask me if I would return? Not in the middle of summer and maybe never again. The last time we were here had to have been over 25 years.
Beware of the high cost of fried food, that there are 2 separate lines to order — one for food and one for drinks, and that the bathrooms will likely be filthy. Comparing this restaurant to other local tourist traps, it’s the same. The Clam Box up the street is the same situation but the quality of food there isn’t as good.

This place is expensive. I know clams are expensive but $ 32? That’s a bit much. I got the $ 21 «boat» and it didn’t exactly hit the spot. I do love the atmosphere and great beer options though!

There is much debate over who has the best fried clams. The major players are The Clam Box in Ipswich, MA, Farnham’s in Essex, MA, and the proclaimed originator of the fried clam, Woodman’s of Essex. I have not tried the others since Woodman’s was always awesome with sweet whole belly clams in a nice light batter. They would melt in your mouth. Why go elsewhere?
Yesterday was National Fried Clam Day and apparently everyone in New England was out getting their fried clam fix. The line outside Woodman’s extended a half block down the street. Farnham’s up the street had a similar long line.
We got in after about 45 minutes and ordered up a clam plate, $ 30, and a small fried sea scallop box $ 18, to share between the two of us. Another 30 minutes or so my order was ready for self pick up. Strange that as long the lines were, there were plenty of available tables. Many took their orders outside in the picnic area.
I hate being critical of Woodman’s and maybe because it was National Fried Clam Day which was especially busy and near the end of their day, but the clams this evening were disappointing. They were indeed sweet. But they were very small, and not very juicy or flavorful. The scallops, on the other hand, were awesome. Both the clam plate and «small scallop box» we’re more than enough for the two of us. The plate also came with tasty fries and onion rings.
I am still giving Woodman’s 4 stars as I know they are better than what I had yesterday, fried clam wise. And the awesome sea scallops makes me believe I was just a victim of the end of a crazy day mad clam rush. I will go back later this summer and earlier in the day. I am certain I will get the 5 star fried clams.

I ate there again last night. Still totally love this place. I just wanted to underscore my earlier observation that the fried shrimp are fantastic. I think they are the best I’ve ever had anywhere, and I’ve tried them in literally dozens of places.
I think the key thing to remember is clams don’t taste good under any circumstances. So when you fry them they actually begin to taste pretty good, but the underlying food is a little bit gross. So imagine if you start by frying something that is inherently good like a shrimp, or a scallop. It is pure joy.
The usual caveats still apply: super long lines, totally outrageous prices.
In the summer, I like to eat out back underneath the big tent. It’s the absolute essence of summer.

Fresh lobsters sold right out front, there’s a big tent sent up outside so you can eat outside. Head inside for fried food and drinks. The fried clams are not to be missed. Ice cream served out back to round out a classic New England dinner after a long day at the beach.

Weird how you have to go to 3 separate lines… one for lobster, one for drinks and one for fried food, ugh! I always get a lobster and wish it came out at the same time as the fried food, something always ends up cold! Toss up on how the lobsters come out, sometimes perfectly cooked, sometimes overly done. They do have corn, which is a plus!
Love the picnic area out back and they have plenty of parking and a cute little gift shop/​ice cream out back. Avoid the long lines by going at off times!

We had the clam strip box, clam cakes & clam chowdah… all excellent!
We left with happy bellies!

I’ve never had a lobster roll or clam strips before, and I don’t think I really like either… but they’re famous for a reason I guess. The onion rings were amazing and so were the fries. Everyone else loved the cab roll.
Surprisingly fast service, it’s like a well oiled machine in the back.
Lot’s of parking.