Minglewood Harborside: A Summer Destination for Lobster Rolls and Cocktails in Gloucester, MA

June 27, 2024 / A Local Favorite, Food and Drink

Located in the heart of downtown Gloucester, MA, Minglewood Harborside offers an unparalleled summer dining experience right on the water. With its vibrant atmosphere, scenic views, and a menu that celebrates the best of coastal cuisine, this spot is perfect for locals and visitors alike.

Here’s a sampling of what’s waiting for you at Minglewood this summer:

Frozen Aperol Spritz at Minglewood Harborside

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

Signature Cocktails & Mocktails

At Minglewood Harborside, the drink menu is crafted to impress nearly every taste. And after our recent visit, we have a couple of favorites to share.

Available during the summer months is their deliciously refreshing Frozen Aperol Spritz, made with Aperol, white wine, and orange (pictured above). Several menu items serve as the ideal complement to this cocktail’s citrusy and slightly palate, including Caprese Salad, sashimi, and sushi rolls with cucumber, avocado, and tuna flavors at the forefront.

Painkiller at Minglewood Harborside

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

No summer cocktail lineup is complete without a Painkiller, and Minglewood’s is top-tier. The MWH Painkiller features a cool mix of cream of coconut, orange, pineapple, and historic Pusser’s Rum topped with nutmeg. For the ultimate trip for your taste buds, pair tropical inspired cocktails like this one with Minglewood’s Tuna Tartare or Bang Bang Shrimp.

Blueberry Gin Fizz cocktail at Minglewood Harborside

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

The Blueberry Gin Fizz was another favorite of ours. It features Acadia Gin made with fresh wild Maine blueberries at Short Path Distillery in Everett, MA, mint simple syrup, lemon, and soda. This drink’s Instagram-worthy color appears naturally from the blueberries in the gin, and it’s a great cocktail for someone looking for a fun, summery flavor that isn’t overly sweet.

Minglewood Harborside Margarita

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

For the margarita lovers, Minglewood’s drink menu features ‘Fire on the Mountain,’ a sweet and spicy mix of jalapeño-infused tequila, orange liqueur, pineapple, and a house-made sour mix. We are already planning our next night out at Minglewood to order another one of these, plus their ‘Pile of Love,’ very shareable, nacho appetizer.

In addition to a couple of non-alcoholic beers, some of the tastiest drinks can be found on Minglewood’s mocktail menu, including a Virgin Strawberry Daquiri, ‘Nojito,’ and the Paloma-Rama, made with grapefruit, agave, lime, and soda, making it perfect for summer.

The restaurant has a stellar draught beer list as well that features several beloved New England breweries, like Maine Beer Company in Freeport, ME, Notch Brewing in Salem, MA, and Jack’s Abby in Framingham, MA just to name a few. Additionally, the draught lineup features a couple of exclusive brews you won’t find at other bars around town. The Minglewood ‘Harborside Light’ is an American Light Lager brewed just for this location by Rockport Brewing Company, and the True North ‘Sheer Hoppiness’ is a Serenitee Restaurant Group exclusive from Ipswich, MA.

Picnic Roll Sushi at Minglewood

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

Sushi & Seasonal Specialties

If you’re in the mood for sushi, the Picnic sushi roll is a must-have. This roll is a delightful blend of flavors and textures, featuring shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and mango, topped with seared ebi, avocado, spicy mayo, eel sauce, scallions, and tempura flakes.

The menu also includes a full list of chef’s specials, plus variety of sashimi, nigiri, and a couple of vegetarian sushi options like the Garden Roll, made with avocado, mango, carrot, and mixed greens, all wrapped in soy paper and topped with sweet pineapple chili sauce.

Seafood lovers are in for a treat with Minglewood Harborside’s seasonal lobster rolls. These rolls are packed with fresh, succulent lobster meat, offering a true taste of New England. The lobster meat guests can enjoy arrives at Minglewood throughout the week from the Jean Elizabeth, which docks right by the restaurant’s patio. Served with a side of crispy fries or a fresh salad, it’s a must-have dish that perfectly captures the feeling of enjoying summer by the sea.

Lobster Roll at Minglewood Harborside

Photo Credit: Brittany DiCologero

A Location to Love

Situated right on the harbor in downtown Gloucester, Minglewood truly shines in the summer with its waterfront patio. It’s in walking distance from Main Street, where you can easily spend a day exploring many of Gloucester’s shops and galleries, as well as nearby whale watches and harbor tours, and the Cape Ann Museum. Harbor shuttles at the adjacent dock even connect nearby St. Peter’s Square to Harbor Loop and Rocky Neck, making it easy to explore more of Gloucester before or after your meal.

For all the latest updates from Minglewood Harborside, including seasonal specials, live music lineups, and more, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram. And visit MinglewoodHarborside.com to check out the full menu, order online, or join the waitlist.