Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market

I love this place. If you can’t enjoy this store you are from another planet. Almost everything is really good here. I recommend signing up on the lunch time specials email list. Especially if they are doing gyros that day, or monte Christos. The soups/​chowders are all so good. Lobster bisque is Probably the best ever. The Chrisi’s crumbs in the refrigerated part are great to cook with. I highly recommend this place.

Was looking for a more logistically convenient place to shop for fresh fish after stopping off at Market Basket in Rowley. Walked in and the place was blah. 3 employees and 1 customer and no one said hello or asked me if they could help. Only after literally standing in front of the seafood counter did someone ask me if they could help. Purchased scallops and haddock. Scallops I could tell were not fresh when I prepped them. Haddock was dry prior to cooking but tasted okay. Scallops… I’ll leave them on the plate. If I pay fresh seafood prices, I WANT fresh seafood. I could have got the quality I purchased this evening at Market Basket. I’ll drive the extra miles to Cherry Street Fish Market or even to Rowans next time. At least I’ll get what I’m paying for.

I have dealt with these people twice first a big food order almost a thousand dollars for lobster and fish fry. They didn’t scale the haddock which I specifically asked them to do and I had to do it myself which was a nightmare. When I called to complain a woman who could hardly speak English YELLED at me saying I made no such request. They made no effort to correct their mistake I called a few weeks ago and that same voice answered the phone and she couldn’t hear me so she started raising her voice and asking what do u want louder and louder obviously couldn’t understand me. So I hung up and ordered a grand of seafood from a competitor which was top notch. Will never recommend this place to anyone

This store is a great. Everything you need to make a nice fish dinner. I have many times come here for ingredients, cook books, and fish. Service is great too. More expensive than supermarkets of course, but the fish is fresh.

Go early because by 4 PM the fish counter is picked clean and the soups are low (but still delicious smelling). Good selection of local fish plus some other fish (I saw only one fish, the tuna, that stated it was previously frozen).
Prepared food stand on the far right, tucked in the back with some tasty options and a large lobster tank in the back.

A mix of housemade gourmet items and local things compliments a good range of both local fresh and previously frozen seafood.
Chrissi’s café has a small but fresh and high end salad bar, several kinds of soup –the avgolemono was very good. There are also hot prepared foods.
Rounding out the selection are little knick knacks and gifty things, sweets, and specialty foodstuffs and kitchenware — along with books by and about the owner.
If the two table in the main room are full, don’t forget to check in the back room past the register/​fish area, where you’ll find several more tables.

We initially came for a lobster quickie but ended up staying for some more food porn. This place is indeed «F#*@ing AWESOME!!!». Thank you, John K., for beating me to that sentiment :]
Lobster was $ 8.99/lb, so naturally we got two fat ones. Nothing like slowly boiling a helpless creature alive, only to smash it up with a hammer and rip it apart with your bare hands afterwards. Lookin’ forward to it. They also have a seriously beautiful selection of fish — I mean, ohmylord, just thinking about that gorgeous display of pink and white filets is insta-​salivation. I could give Pavlov’s dogs a run for their money any day.
Other items of note: mussels, clams, soft-​shelled crabs and hot soups. ISFM also carries fine foods such as olives, fancy popcorn, jams, etc.
Customer service gets an A+++. The woman who helped us was patient, knowledgeable, and professional. She carefully packaged our goods in a box and gave us plenty of ice to keep the lobsters comfortable on their trip to Cambridge/​our kitchen. I would say it’s almost like the Whole Foods of fish markets — clean and slightly bougie — which a lot of people might find appealing.
FYI — if you plan to eat lobster on-​site, you need to call an hour ahead; apparently it’s a $ 1 preparation fee per crustacean

Awesome fish/​seafood products. Wonderful fresh seasonings and spices. Knowledgeable, helpful staff.
I beg them to bring back the old corn bread; it was rustic, thick, moist. The new one is decorative yet tastes awful. It had real kernels in it served in a cupcake type holder and is just awful.

F#*@ing AWESOME!!!
ISFM/​Chrissi’s Café deserves six stars. They carry fresh local fish when possible but also have other fresh and frozen items to satisfy any home chef’s desires. When I do the cooking I’m a big fan of the scallops, mussels, and sea bass. Great prices for the superb quality.
The prepared items are good for a quick lunch. Salmon burgers or fresh grilled salmon with cucumber and tzatziki are my favorites from the case.
Unlike many of the little markets up and down the coast you’ll notice when you walk in the door the place is clean and doesn’t smell like a fish market. Cold, Fresh, and Clean. Staff is very helpful don’t be afraid to ask questions.