The Shipyard Tavern is a welcoming restaurant and nightlife destination in Essex, MA, where casual comfort meets dependable quality. Located at 74 Main St, this local favorite has earned a strong reputation with a 4.50 out of 5 rating from 59 reviews, reflecting the kind of experience that keeps guests coming back.
Whether you are stopping in for a relaxed lunch, settling in for dinner, or just looking for a place to enjoy good food and drinks in a friendly setting, The Shipyard Tavern offers an inviting atmosphere that feels easy to enjoy and even easier to return to.
Guests appreciate the variety and flexibility here, with options for outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, and delivery, making it simple to enjoy the tavern’s food in the way that suits you best.
The menu brings together comfort food, small plates, coffee, and dessert alongside a well-rounded drink selection that includes beer, cocktails, alcohol, spirits, and wine.
Highlights such as fast service, a great beer selection, great cocktails, and local specialties help set the tone for a memorable visit, while table service and a bar on site add to the convenience and overall experience.
It is a place designed for everything from solo dining to casual meals with friends, offering the kind of warmth and variety that make a restaurant feel like a reliable local go-to.
Accessibility and comfort are also clearly part of the experience. The Shipyard Tavern provides a wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible seating, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet, helping ensure more guests can enjoy their visit with confidence and ease.
The restaurant accepts reservations and offers payment options including credit cards and debit cards, making planning and settling in straightforward.
With its casual setting, attentive service, and balanced mix of food, drinks, and flexibility, The Shipyard Tavern stands out as a dependable choice for anyone looking for a relaxed, well-reviewed place to eat and unwind in Essex.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Shipyard Tavern
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Drizzled with pineapple aioli.
Fried shrimp tossed with pepperoncini rings and red pepper flakes in a scampi inspired sauce.
Fried chicken tossed with pepperoncini rings and red pepper flakes in a scampi inspired sauce.
Baked with a mild cheese sauce, cheddar cheese sauce and bacon. Served with sour cream.
Lightly battered and deep-fried. Choice of Original or Blackened.
Buffalo, BBQ or Hot-Honey sauce. Served with carrots, celery sticks, and homemade blue cheese dressing.
Buffalo, BBQ, Hot-Honey, Caribbean Jerk, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, or Salt & Vinegar. Served with carrots, celery sticks, and homemade blue cheese dressing.
Steamed in white wine and garlic butter
Served with hot cherry peppers and jalapeno aioli.
Lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, red cabbage, carrots, green peppers, red onion, kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, hot cherry peppers and feta cheese. served with creamy Greek dressing.
Mixed field greens tossed with walnuts, cranberries, blue cheese crumbles, and our homemade ginger-soy vinaigrette. topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion.
Romaine lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese. Tossed in Caesar dressing.
Iceberg and green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, green peppers, red onions and croutons. Served with your choice of dressing.
Lettuce, pepperoni, salami, black olives, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini, basil, tomatoes and mozzarella tossed with a zesty Italian dressing.
Baby kale, apples, white cheddar cheese, pomegranate seeds, cucumber, red onion, and candy pecans tossed with a maple Dijon dressing.
Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and French Fries.
A cajun burger with carmelized onion, mushroom, bacon and crumbled blue cheese. Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and French Fries.
Two beef patties, carmelized onions, orange american cheese and a tangy aioli. Served with french fries.
Two beef patties, pickles, orange american cheese topped with a ‘Big Mac’ inspired sauce. Served with lettuce, tomato, onion and french fries.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
A fresh fried haddock filet topped with american cheese. Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with French fries.
Served with french fries.
The original fried chicken sandwich. Served with french fries.
Served with french fries.
Served with french fries.
Fried chicken served on a bulkie roll with spicy sriracha mayonnaise, american cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Served with french fries.
Buffalo Chicken Dip, Crispy Jalapeños, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Hot Honey Drizzle. Served with french fries.
With Prosciutto, Gouda, Cheddar, American, garlic aioli, caramelized onion & arugula. Served with french fries.
With red onions and pickles. Served with french fries.
Three tacos filled with bold, blackened haddock, topped with fresh greens, pico de gallo, avocado, and pineapple aioli.
House marinade. Served with a choice of two sides
Daily shucked fresh native lobster & mayo piled high on a toasted roll. Served with french fries and cole slaw.
Ginger-soy marinated salmon served over wild rice and our vegetable of the day.
Fresh shucked lobster meat baked in a casserole and dusted with Shipyard Crumbs. Served with mashed potato and fresh vegetables.
Pan-seared, blackened swordfish served with grilled asparagus and wild rice topped with a mango-pineapple salsa.
Capers, diced tomatoes, olives, red onions, and black pepper baked with olive oil, garlic, and wine. Served with your choice of two sides.
Seared sesame crusted tuna and mixed vegetables served over sticky ginger-soy noodles tossed in house-made ponzu sauce, topped with wasabi aioli.
Andouille sausage, leeks, tomatoes, shrimp, haddock, mussels, and scallops in a garlic saffron broth.
Grilled to perfection and served with two sides.
Daily shucked fresh native lobster & hot butter piled high on a toasted roll. Served with french fries and cole slaw.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Scallops, shrimp & haddock dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Baked haddock, shrimp, and scallops topped with Shipyard crumbs and a mild cheese sauce. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and a fresh vegetable.
Drizzled with pineapple aioli.
Fried shrimp tossed with pepperoncini rings and red pepper flakes in a scampi inspired sauce.
Fried chicken tossed with pepperoncini rings and red pepper flakes in a scampi inspired sauce.
Baked with a mild cheese sauce, cheddar cheese sauce and bacon. Served with sour cream.
Lightly battered and deep-fried. Choice of Original or Blackened.
Buffalo, BBQ or Hot-Honey sauce. Served with carrots, celery sticks, and homemade blue cheese dressing.
Buffalo, BBQ, Hot-Honey, Caribbean Jerk, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, or Salt & Vinegar. Served with carrots, celery sticks, and homemade blue cheese dressing.
Steamed in white wine and garlic butter
Served with hot cherry peppers and jalapeno aioli.
Lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, red cabbage, carrots, green peppers, red onion, kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, hot cherry peppers and feta cheese. served with creamy Greek dressing.
Mixed field greens tossed with walnuts, cranberries, blue cheese crumbles, and our homemade ginger-soy vinaigrette. topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion.
Romaine lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese. Tossed in Caesar dressing.
Iceberg and green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, green peppers, red onions and croutons. Served with your choice of dressing.
Lettuce, pepperoni, salami, black olives, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini, basil, tomatoes and mozzarella tossed with a zesty Italian dressing.
Baby kale, apples, white cheddar cheese, pomegranate seeds, cucumber, red onion, and candy pecans tossed with a maple Dijon dressing.
Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and French Fries.
A cajun burger with carmelized onion, mushroom, bacon and crumbled blue cheese. Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and French Fries.
Two beef patties, carmelized onions, orange american cheese and a tangy aioli. Served with french fries.
Two beef patties, pickles, orange american cheese topped with a ‘Big Mac’ inspired sauce. Served with lettuce, tomato, onion and french fries.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
A fresh fried haddock filet topped with american cheese. Served with french fries and on your choice of bread.
Served with French fries.
Served with french fries.
The original fried chicken sandwich. Served with french fries.
Served with french fries.
Served with french fries.
Fried chicken served on a bulkie roll with spicy sriracha mayonnaise, american cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Served with french fries.
Buffalo Chicken Dip, Crispy Jalapeños, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Hot Honey Drizzle. Served with french fries.
With Prosciutto, Gouda, Cheddar, American, garlic aioli, caramelized onion & arugula. Served with french fries.
With red onions and pickles. Served with french fries.
Three tacos filled with bold, blackened haddock, topped with fresh greens, pico de gallo, avocado, and pineapple aioli.
House marinade. Served with a choice of two sides
Daily shucked fresh native lobster & mayo piled high on a toasted roll. Served with french fries and cole slaw.
Ginger-soy marinated salmon served over wild rice and our vegetable of the day.
Fresh shucked lobster meat baked in a casserole and dusted with Shipyard Crumbs. Served with mashed potato and fresh vegetables.
Pan-seared, blackened swordfish served with grilled asparagus and wild rice topped with a mango-pineapple salsa.
Capers, diced tomatoes, olives, red onions, and black pepper baked with olive oil, garlic, and wine. Served with your choice of two sides.
Seared sesame crusted tuna and mixed vegetables served over sticky ginger-soy noodles tossed in house-made ponzu sauce, topped with wasabi aioli.
Andouille sausage, leeks, tomatoes, shrimp, haddock, mussels, and scallops in a garlic saffron broth.
Grilled to perfection and served with two sides.
Daily shucked fresh native lobster & hot butter piled high on a toasted roll. Served with french fries and cole slaw.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Served with french fries and onion rings.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Scallops, shrimp & haddock dusted with shipyard tavern crumbs & served with a choice of two sides.
Baked haddock, shrimp, and scallops topped with Shipyard crumbs and a mild cheese sauce. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and a fresh vegetable.
Served with fries.
Served with fries.
Hear from our valued guests
Food was fabulous; service was friendly, helpful and attentive; and the restaurant was clean and bright with lots of windows onto a beautiful river view. We had the fried clams and deviled egg appetizers; and salad with salmon and Sicilian haddock for dinner. Everything was delicious! Definitely will visit again!
Great, new and bright spot! I joined friends for lunch and Alexa was our awesome server! Super friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious- especially the tater tots and waffle fries. I got the kale salad- baby kale, chunks of apples, cheese and sugared nuts- I added chicken - the dressing was light and tangy and delicious. We will definitely go back!
Chris, our server was polished, professional, and friendly. My honey had Bleu cheese burger, also delicious. Prices are reasonable for the decor, views, and quality. This was our second visit here. I expect we will return often.
My husband and I just returned from eating dinner here. And it was fantastic! I had a tequila cosmo prepared by Dean, who was an exceptional bartender. Michael had an IPA on tap. We shared the fried oyster entree with onion rings/French fries, and coleslaw. It was plentiful, and the batter was light and crispy. It was priced at $3,2, which is the going rate. We sat at the bar as usual, and there was a good energy. We will be back.
Andy was our server today in the bar area. He went above and beyond to make sure our lunch was perfect. I mentioned that the steamers, although delicious, were a bit too sandy. He immediately took them back and served us with a whole new order, even though we ate more than half. I tried to explain that it really wasn’t a problem but he refused to let us finish the bucket. On top of that he brought us a round to make up for the inconvenience. He’s my new favorite local bartender. I’ll be back. Thank you, Andy!
We had a fantastic dining experience at The Shipyard! The host on Saturday night was exceptional—kind, attentive, and he seated us at a wonderful outdoor table that truly made our evening.
Our first time there and we were very impressed! Guinness on tap is always a plus for us. Clam and seafood chowder to start packed with exactly what is says. I always complain that clam chowder should be called potato chowder, it never has enough clams. This chowder is full of tender delicious clams, I honestly don't remember a potato though I am sure there was one in it.
The drinks were very creative and amazing! The food was fresh and delicious. I will always go here when I'm in the area.
This spot is in my weekly rotation and for good reason. The staff is always on point — super efficient and accommodating.
This place is Awesome. My wife ordered the appetizer Fried Clams, best anywhere. Portion size was big. Price was great for the size. But the tartar sauce was fantastic (took extra home). I had the Seafood Cameron Alex, very good.
Common questions about The Shipyard Tavern
The Shipyard Tavern is located at 74 Main St, Essex, MA 01929, United States, Essex, MA, United States.
You can reach The Shipyard Tavern by calling +1 978-890-5103.
The Shipyard Tavern has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 59 customer reviews.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Serves local specialty.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following atmosphere: Casual.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following children: Kids' menu.
The Shipyard Tavern features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, On-site parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
