Carlson's Landing - Essex

Four of us had a great meal on St. Patrick's Day. Our meals were very, very good and the service was spectacular! No wasted motion there! Our waitress was very attentive AND patient allowing each of us to take our time ordering. The tables had plenty of room between them so it didn't feel crowded and, the seats were quite comfortable. The view of Essex Harbor is one of a kind! Looking around, it appeared that all of the other diners were thoroughly enjoying themselves too. Witnessing others having fun only adds to the experience! Kudos to Carlson's staff. Carlson's Landing is a special place. I highly recommend you give it a try. We absolutely will return sometime in late April for another great night out!

Nice location, good view of the Connecticut River. Good selection of food at lunch. The burger was really good, as we're the fries that came with it. Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Excellent experience here last week. Gorgeous restaurant overlooking the water with plenty of bar seats. We tried the Thai mussels, brie baked oysters and honey whipped ricotta all amazing apps we would order again. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Can't wait to come back!

When we arrived, we discovered there were no heaters, and the tables were arranged at two different heights, all in a single file line, which meant we couldn't sit together. One of the tables was even a flimsy camping table. This restaurant is marketed as a classy dining establishment, so we were quite disappointed. We raised our concerns, especially since my sister, who is 39 weeks pregnant, was with us along with their two-year-old, exposed to the cold. The manager simply stated that since I had agreed to sit outside, there was nothing he could do, even though the restaurant was largely empty. During our meal, only five other small parties arrived, and one of them sat at the bar. There were plenty of open tables inside while we remained outside. The staff eventually offered us blankets, but they later suggested moving us to the bar area, where there wasn't enough space for our group, and our two-year-old would have to sit on a bar stool with his booster seat, which was not suitable. Despite the unpleasant situation, we chose not to leave because we had plans, and finding another place on short notice was not an option for a group our size. We decided to order our food, eat, and leave as quickly as possible. The waitress was kind, and I felt sorry for her having to manage a situation where we were all unhappy and uncomfortable. The food itself was mediocre; the burgers were nothing special, and the fish and chips looked decent. My mom ordered a seafood dish but said it was served cold. Overall, I would never visit this restaurant again. I only gave it two stars because the food wasn’t terrible and the waitress was nice.

The restaurant is currently closed for renovations, which was disappointing to discover upon our arrival on May 10, 2023. The food and atmosphere are usually fantastic, especially on a nice day. They expect to reopen in the next few weeks, likely before Memorial Day. In the meantime, if you're in Essex, I recommend checking out The Black Seal on Main Street—it's an excellent place!