The Rudder is an iconic institution nestled between some of America’s oldest operating art galleries in the Rocky Neck neighborhood of Gloucester. We invite guests to dine with us right on the water and even visit us by boat. Combining the fine food and attentive hospitality of Chef Barbara Lynch, The Rudder offers a rotating menu highlighting Gloucester’s local seafood.
Inspired seafood & seasonal menus to enjoy in a rustic dining room or on a heated harborside deck. Based on 126 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.0 stars. Price
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ No takeout
Address:
73 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: (351) 217-1265
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | 3–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 3–10 PM |
| Thursday | 12–10 PM |
| Friday | 12–10 PM |
| Saturday | 12–10 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: therudderrockyneck.comopentable.com
Reviews
Jim & Peter Schatz / Souza
Barbara is bringing it all together at Rudder. You enter as a stranger and feel like you are leaving friends behind at the end of your meal. Grace is key and an elegant low key vibe runs through the room. Everything is cooked to perfection. Saffron shellfish stew, melon balls, prosciutto, and mozzarella starter and bibb salad were delicious. Drinks are great. You can also spot Barbara’s art on the walls while you dine. Her talent extends beyond the kitchen. Have fun!!
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Michael Krizansky
Medium sized “tavern” atmosphere on the waterfront with boater access and little to no street parking. Prices are high although in line with current, similar style establishments. Portion size is on the small size, aligned with “tapas” style plates. My guest raved about the Halibut entre, my Ipswich clams were unremarkable at best.
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Emanuele Pagani
Average experience for a premium Boston price. Impossible to park close by, Service was inconsistent, we had to get an additional plate and silverware ourselves. Food was good but not exceptional. Bolognese was a soup, as italian, it was disappointing. Wine served in home style glasses warms up in no time. Prices should be reduced by 30% and staff should get some formation and alignment.
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Colleen Malik
We had the most delicious
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Leslie Bloss
A tough one. Leans into the tropes for small Gloucester restaurants on the water. Hard to find, crazy parking, and seating is a toss up. Menu is very paired down, dessert selection lacking, no coffee served, at least that night!!? When our party of 4 turned into a party of 3, got the worst table in the place (by the kitchen) until we complained and got our original table for 4 back. Positives: excellent tuna tartar, bread service very good; waiter was excellent, view is stunning and atmosphere upscale cozy. Go with an open mind, but if you only have one chance to dine in Gloucester on the water, not sure this would be my pick.
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Jennifer Ruhl
Lynch is coasting on her laurels here. Zero attention to detail. Food was ok but nothing special. The bread and truffle butter were amazing but entrees were , sadly, not. Beef tenderloin was hard to cut and a steak knife was not offered. Seafood stew has a nice flavor but the shrimp, scallops and fish were over.
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Gillian McCafferty
Highly disappointing. I had high hopes since I love all of her other restaurants, but went in with open minds after hearing mixed reviews. Lighting was terribly bright – we sat at the bar where there were spotlights above the seats, no dimmer? The deck was just as bright. The inside dining room is perfectly lit and would be best. There were many empty tables that remained empty for hours until the kitchen closed, yet were unavailable for reservations.
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Karen Hendershot
Last night we had one of the worst restaurant experiences we’ve ever had. From the time we were seated, there was one botch up after another. The sad thing was that we were being treated that evening, and our hostess had to deal with one slip up after another, and paid a fortune for it.
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Jim Burke
Went there august 22 with friends. We had a few drinks at the bar. Bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Dinner was amazing! Pasta Congolese could not have been better, as were the gnocchi bolognese and the ravioli.
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Hylan Hoffman
Typical pains of a new restaurant are evident here and is to be expected when a new team is trying to find their flow. I found The food quality, preparation and execution to be excellent. The drink program seems to be a work in progress so I will probably stick to the decent wine choices on my next visit. All the Barbra Lynch controversy aside, I think this will be a great seasonal fine dining option once the bugs have been worked out.
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