A Summer Evening at Turner’s Seafood Grill & Market
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
My cousin is visiting from the West Coast and craving authentic New England seafood — so naturally, that meant a trip to Turner’s Seafood Grill & Market on Main Street in Melrose.
I’m a non-fish eater, but my husband loves seafood, so Turner’s is our go-to for fresh New England catches. The bonus? They also have a nice variety of non-seafood options.
We started with the fresh-baked bread — worth every cent of the $6.00 price tag: warm, crusty, and perfect.
For my entrée, I chose the Watermelon Salad — fresh watermelon and feta with pickled red onion, mint, and a lemon–poppy seed vinaigrette, finished with a sprinkle of Tajín. Refreshing and bright ($12). I also had the Chilled Lo Mein & Veggie Salad with just the right amount of peanut sauce dressing — excellent, crunchy, and full of flavor ($12).
Seafood report (from the true seafood lovers at our table): The men raved about the clam chowder. Paul ordered the Sword Tips Special — sautéed swordfish tips in Marsala with mushrooms and prosciutto over linguini ($24). My cousin went all in with the Seafood Medley — fried haddock, scallops, and shrimp, served with spinach and mashed potatoes ($37).
Everyone was pleased with their meals — and there were plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.
Service was excellent, and the frozen cocktails were just the thing for a warm summer evening.
Turner’s runs a Twilight Menu in summer, Tuesday–Friday from 4:00–5:30 PM (through August 31).
Lively oyster bar and an on-site Fish Market stocked with fresh seafood for grilling season. Take-out available.
Owned by the Turner family, who also operate Rising Eagle — another local favorite of mine. There’s a reason this family-owned restaurant has been around for 31 years: excellent, fresh food, generous portions, knowledgeable staff, and efficient service.
PS. We were chatting and I forgot to take photos so some are from previous visits.
