
Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem
A family-run seafood institution in Salem, serving the freshest New England catch in a historic 19th-century venue.

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Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A family-run seafood institution in Salem, serving the freshest New England catch in a historic 19th-century venue.
"The food here is incredible, we got a bit of everything, the pasta special was delicious and tasted fresh!"
Weekdays for a Quieter Meal
Visit during weekdays to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.
Book Your Table Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Seafood
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

New England Seafood Perfection
Indulge in unforgettable seafood, from classic clam chowder to Baked Stuffed Shrimp and fresh oysters.

Historic Lyceum Hall Ambiance
Dine in a 19th-century venue steeped in history, where Alexander Graham Bell once demonstrated the telephone.

Oyster Bar Delights
Shuck your way through the finest local and regional oysters and clams at their classic raw bar.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Weekdays for a Quieter Meal
Visit during weekdays to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.
Book Your Table Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings.
Bar Seating for Quick Service
Consider sitting at the bar for potentially faster seating if tables are occupied.
Ask Your Server for Favorites
Servers are knowledgeable and can guide you to their personal favorites on the menu.
Tips
from all over the internet
Weekdays for a Quieter Meal
Visit during weekdays to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.
Book Your Table Ahead
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings.
Bar Seating for Quick Service
Consider sitting at the bar for potentially faster seating if tables are occupied.
Ask Your Server for Favorites
Servers are knowledgeable and can guide you to their personal favorites on the menu.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall is consistently praised for its incredibly fresh, high-quality seafood and its reliable preparation, rarely disappointing diners. The attentive and knowledgeable staff contribute to a positive dining experience, even during busy periods. While reservations are recommended due to popularity, the historic ambiance and delicious offerings make it a must-visit in Salem.
"Our group of 10 wanted a quick bite and a local recommended Turner's Seafood for Clam Chowder, said it was the best in the area. So we went in and I tried the Clam Chowder while others tried the oyster appetizer, calamari, fish & chips and even the Mac & Cheese. The Clam Chowder was very good, and everyone else who had it and the other items we ordered agreed that this place is worthy. It looks a bit fancy, but casual dress is perfect. Our waiter John was also fantastic! If you are in Salem and want some Chowder, this is your place!"
Rick Smith
"On the hunt for some good seafood in town, we went to Turners based on reviews and I am so glad we did! We got the perfect seat next to the patio, the ideal spot for someone that isn’t a huge fan of eating outside but still wanted to feel the breeze on one of the only days recently that wasn’t above 80 degrees.
The food was incredible, we got a bit of everything, the pasta special (pictured) was delicious and tasted fresh, fish and chips were a classic, calamari, chowder, and an amazing strawberry shortcake dessert with fresh berries and still warm cake.
The highlight of the visit was our server Rachel. Despite being a busy lunch day, every time she stopped at our table she made us feel like we were her only guests. An incredibly warm and inviting personality, she took the time to go over the menu with us and highlight her personal favorites in all of the sections when I asked.
Overall, our lunch here was a nice relaxing break from a busy week of sightseeing, and I fully believe that begins with someone as hospitable as Rachel. Congrats, Turners, on hiring the best and thank you for a great experience, we will surely be back next time we are in town!!"
Julia Nichole
"The best restaurant we went to on our MA trip, hands down. I highly recommend making a reservation, though we only waited 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. The hostess was maybe a little rude, but I can excuse that easily because of how busy the place was!
Our server (I feel so bad, I can't remember his name), was phenomenal. We had a person in our party who's Kosher, and he helped her out a TON with the menu.
The food here is a very decent price as well, when considering the quality of it all. Also amazing history to the place!"
lorey
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant can get very busy.
Diners rave about the lobster bisque, Baked Stuffed Shrimp, clam chowder, and the fresh oysters from the raw bar.
The dress code is generally casual, though the atmosphere can feel upscale. Casual dress is perfectly acceptable.
The restaurant is housed in the historic Lyceum Hall, where Alexander Graham Bell famously demonstrated the telephone in 1877.
Yes, you can often sit at the bar for quicker seating if there's a wait for tables, and they also have patio seating.
While specific accommodations aren't listed, servers are known to be helpful with menu modifications, and some dishes can be adapted.
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Foodie Travel Guide To Salem, Massachusetts
Turner’s Seafood offers that and more, in a gorgeous restaurant setting that’s both upscale and casual. That day, the soup special was a tuna chili, something I had never heard of but let me just tell you, it was SO delicious I can’t wait to recreate it at home!. Along with that, we ordered a variety of dishes but all focused on their delicious seafood: a salmon entree atop a parmesan risotto cake, a tuna wonton appetizer that was creative and flavorful, and a tuna burger that was bright with color and texture.
The 52 Best Restaurants, Cafes, and More in Salem Right Now
A fabulous, family-run seafood restaurant inside Salem’s historic Lyceum Hall, Turner’s wholesales its super-fresh New England catch to customers around the country. But we’d argue it’s best enjoyed at its Salem restaurant, where our favorite has to be the finnan haddie, house-smoked haddock in a pearl onion au gratin sauce. Every preparation is excellent, though, so swim on by for similarly stellar Gloucester hake marsala, mussels and calamari fra diavolo, or salmon pasta in cream sauce.
Reviews of the 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Salem MA 2024
Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall in Salem, MA, emerges as a beacon of culinary excellence amidst the bustling streets of this historic town, offering a dining experience that leaves a lasting impression. Upon arriving post a Salem walking tour, my daughter and I were pleasantly surprised to find a short wait of less than ten minutes before being seated at the bustling bar. Sensing the Friday fervor before Halloween, we opted for bar seating, expecting a longer wait for a table.
Patio dining in Salem, MA
The patio at Turner’s Seafood offers a quiet respite in a historic and picturesque location for you to enjoy your evening meal. Start off with their mussels appetizer steamed in white wine and scampi butter to share, and then finish out the evening with Fish N Chips with fries and slaw. If you are looking for a waterfront view with your outdoor patio dining, Sea Level Oyster Bar offers wonderful panoramic vistas of Salem’s Harbor and the Friendship of Salem.
Salem Is the Coolest Destination in Coastal MA & Not Because of Witches
And Turner’s Seafood, only seven years old in its Salem location, is practically an institution. (Good luck getting a table; on three different weekend visits, it had a nearly two-hour wait.) At industrial-chic Kokeshi, feast on fresh, flavorful dishes like an ahi tuna poke bowl while watching Godzilla movies projected onto the wall across from the bar. Or hit Bambolina for wood-fired pizzas with fresh farmers’ market toppings.
Things To Do In Salem MA
Turner’s Seafood is located in the original Lyceum, where Alexander Graham Bell presented the first public demonstration of a long-distance telephone conversation following the first dispatch of the news to the Boston Globe. That in itself is a reason to soak up the atmosphere here. But, as Turner’s is family owned, by a “fishing family out of Gloucester” at that, you’ve got to come for the freshest of sea creatures.
Why Restaurants are a Hot Ticket in Salem Ma for Next Two Weeks – Salem Main Streets
Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall is an authentic New England seafood house in an iconic 1843 building with noted cultural history, complementing their family’s seafood heritage spanning four generations. This is where they prepare the catch-of-the-day becoming classic appetizers, entrees and creative daily specials. Turner’s shucks and serves the finest local and regional oysters & clams in their classic raw bar.
Salem Witch Tour
A unique aspect of this tour is the visit to Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall, located on the property of Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the trials. This site, now a lively restaurant, connects Salem’s past with its present. Afterward, the tour points out the Salem Jail, where many accused witches were imprisoned—adding context to the grim history behind modern-day Salem’s vibrant magical scene.
10 Best Restaurants in Salem, MA 2023
Turner’s Seafood is well known around Massachusettes and carries the freshest local, New England-style cuisine. They have multiple branches across the coast, and their popularity exudes everywhere they go. They thrive on a niche industry that locals simply adore and, while it seems impossible, have built a brand that features an extensive array of menu items, varying per season and region.
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Turner’s Seafood is one of my personal favorite restaurants in Salem Massachusetts. We love eating at Turner’s during all four seasons!. The restaurant offers a variety of fresh catches from the sea (haddock, clams calamari, lobsters, fresh oysters, etc.) as well as house smoked and cold meats, prime rib, steak, and fresh pasta dishes made daily.
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Salem, MA - The Samantha Show
–Turner’s Seafood: I am not a seafood person so I was a little nervous based on the name but let me tell you, their Chicken Marsala is the best I’ve EVER had. I dream of it and yes, I will cheat and eat gluten for it because it’s that good. The vibe of Turner’s is also immaculate; it’s warm and cozy and one of my favorite spots for date night!.
Best Places to Eat in Salem, MA
If you go to just one place for seafood while in Salem, go to Turner's Seafood in Lyceum Hall!. Much of Lyceum Hall is still preserved in this restaurant, featuring beautiful high tin ceilings, brick walls, oak floors, and large pane glass windows. The building itself was a place of import in Salem history...it’s also supposed to be haunted!
All Restaurants in Salem, Massachusetts, United States
With our own fish plant in Gloucester, no one gets New England’s finest seafood from the dock to your plate faster. Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall provides classic New England Seafood with a creative flair and the city’s only seafood market. With our new interactive menu, you can self-order or work off the same tab as your servers for your
21+ Witchy Things To Do in Salem MA You’ll Love
History lovers rejoice because Lyceum Hall, the place where Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the first long-distance phone call, is here in Salem. In 1877, Bell called his assistant, Watson, who was located in Boston, in front of the public — changing the world forever. Lyceum halls would be built all over the country after this!
Salem Restaurants - Where To Eat and Drink in Salem
43 Church St. 978-745-7665 Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall expands our culinary footprint presenting four generations of our family’s experience, expertise and passion with our signature, classic New England seafood for lunch and dinner, a lively oyster bar and Salem’s first, fresh, locally-sourced seafood market.Turner’s Seafood
Salem's Best Lobster [Updated 2025]
I have to say, my visit to Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem was nothing short of AMAZING. From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with excellent service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The staff was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their lobsters, and it truly made a difference in my dining experience.
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Lyceum Hall, site of Alexander Graham Bell’s first public telephone demonstration in 1877, is also home to a real paranormal dining experience. Legend says that Turner’s Seafood is haunted by the ghost of Bridget Bishop, the first victim of the Salem Witch Trials. But you'll want to come here for more than the bewitching company.
Salem Witch Tour
Moving to Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall, you’ll visit the site associated with Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the trials. This spot provides context for the tragic and often tragic misjudgments of the period. It also highlights Salem’s ongoing efforts to connect historic sites with engaging storytelling.
Where to Enjoy the Perfect Crispy Bite of Fish and Chips in Salem
James “Jim” Turner opened Turner’s Fisheries in 1954 after working on the Boston Fish Pier for many years. He wanted to supply the freshest New England seafood to anywhere in the U.S. In 1994, Jim’s sons opened Turner’s Seafood. The restaurant includes a fresh fish market and turn-of-the-century oyster bar.
The Ghosts of the Lyceum and Turner's Seafood in Salem
Lyceum Hall, Lyceum Bar and Grill, 43 Church, Turner’s Seafood – Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard?. The property of 43 Church Street is as historic as it is, well, haunted. Now a New England-style seafood and oyster bar, 43 Church Street provides nineteenth-century style in twenty-first-century Salem.
Salem Mass - Rick Steves Travel Forum
If you want burgers Boston Burger is great and their milkshakes are out of this world, seriously they are a work of art!. Howling Wolf is good too if you are looking for Mexican food. For a quick bite we also like The Gyro Spot or a sandwich at A & J King or Crave for breakfast sandwiches & tots.
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43 Church StSalem, MA 01970(978) 745-7665 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. This is just one of the several Turner’s Seafood stores that opened in Massachusetts. It’s one of the best restaurants downtown serving authentic New England dishes, with emphasis on seafood.
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If you’re seeking a vast seafood selection, Turners Seafood is the spot for you!. Here, you’ll find classic seafood lunch and dinner fare on a menu that changes weekly. There’s also plenty of sandwiches, burgers, and steak and chicken dinners for non-seafood eaters.
Salem Historic Sites
Built in 1830, the Salem Lyceum is a historic public lecture hall built for the Salem Lyceum Society. The building is built on the former site of accused witch Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard and house. The Lyceum is a two-story brick building with a gable roof.
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There are many historically significant parts of Salem, Massachusetts that don’t have anything to do with witchcraft. case in point, Lyceum Hall. This is where Alexander Graham Bell showed an audience the first example of a long-distance telephone call.
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Voted a "2019 best fish and chips, best fish sandwich and best mussels", Turner's is the most impressive seafood in the more central area of Salem. It has a classic full bar, an oyster bar, a delicious menu with tons of options, and cozy fireplaces.
Witchy Travel Guide SALEM: Lodging, Shops, and Restaurants
The first night in Salem, we decided we had to have lobster rolls so we went to Turner’s Seafood Restaurant. The ambiance is super cool in an old building with decorative ceilings. The staff, particularly the owner, is friendly and welcoming.
What to eat in Salem Massachusetts
It looks like it’s really upscale but the prices are less expensive than you’d think. They’re also more kid-friendly than I would expect too. Everything I have had on their menu is delicious- From brunch, lunch, and dinner.
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In Salem’s Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall, guests choose from a cold Maine Style lobster roll with celery and mayo and a hot Connecticut Style lobster roll served with drawn butter. Both come with a choice of two sides.
Self Guided Walking Tour of Salem, MA
Where to Eat: Turner’s Seafood - If you’re looking for a nice place to eat, Turner’s Seafood is famous for it’s delicious fare and its beautiful historic setting. 43 Church St, Salem, MA 01970 www.turners-seafood.com.
How to Visit Salem in October
When in New England, you should try some fresh, local seafood. Turner’s Seafood is one of the best spots in Salem for a nice seafood meal. If you visit in October, you can also enjoy an autumn-inspired cocktail.
The Daily Lunch: Turner's Seafood Salem
I was invited to a Blogger event at Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall at their newest location in Salem. Their original restaurant is in Melrose. They also have a market in Gloucester, next to their seafood plant.
Settler - The Coach House
No one delivers fresh New England seafood to you better than Turner’s Seafood, and they serve it in a lovely historic setting thanks to their own processing factory in Gloucester, […]
Five places to have a “mini-monie” or small scale wedding in Salem, MA – Salem, MA Wedding
Turner’s is a great spot to consider for your smaller scale wedding. The Loft can accommodate up to 40 guests and the ballroom can fit up to 60. I also hear it’s haunted.
Picture-Perfect Places to Propose in Salem, MA
Tuck into a romantic meal at Turner's Seafood with your beloved before popping the question. The upscale eatery is housed in one of Salem's most beloved—and haunted!
What to do in Salem, MA while house and pet sitting
Turner’s Seafood: located in the historic Lyceum Hall, you can either buy Turner’s fresh seafood to take away or enjoy it in its welcoming restaurant.
Honeymoon Guide to Salem, Massachusetts
Turner’s Seafood: Known for its fresh, local seafood, this restaurant is a favourite for couples looking for a delicious, elegant meal.
October in Salem Massachusetts is fun for the entire family!
For buffet style dinner the second level of Turner’s Seafood has a hot bar with a variety of options to dine in for a quick meal.
7-Day Spooky And Unique Sights Trip From New York To Salem: Itinerary 2024
For lunch, indulge in fresh seafood at Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall. After your meal, take a leisurely stroll through the
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