Brine

Name: Brine
Address: 17 State Street, Newburyport, MA, United States, 01950
Telephone: (978) 358-8479
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (1550)

$30 and under

Oyster Bar

17 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 13, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

Lively
Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions

BRINE, known for fresh oysters, crudo, and prime cut chops, is Caswell Restaurant Group’s second foray into the eclectic and innately New England dining scene of Newburyport, MA. Proprietor Nancy Batista-Caswell’s appreciation of the local harvest and her affinity for European classics results in a restaurant devoted to flavorful seafood—ceviche, crudo, sashimi, and beyond—and butcher chops, with a healthy dose of Spanish and Italian influences throughout the menu. The main attractions at BRINE are backed up by soups, salads, Po-Boys, and “off the page” daily specials to provide plenty of variety.

This neighborhood hangout welcomes all and leaves pretension at the door. The low-key design and elevated standards of service allow the food to speak for itself, and Manager Gissele Tache and her staff are always on hand to recommend an adventurous catch, a fine bottle of wine, or a sweet after-dinner treat.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Oyster Bar, Steak, Seafood
Hours of operation
Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(978) 358-8479
Website
http://brineoyster.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chef Justin Horyn

Location
17 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Neighborhood
Newburyport
Cross street
Essex St.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Oysters on the Half Shell
Refer to Daily Oyster Card (Market Price)
Shrimp Cocktail
House-Made Cocktail Sauce (Market Price)
Littleneck Clams$2.00
(each)
Siberian Supreme
Farm-Raised Siberian Sturgeon (Taste $16 | Half Ounce $50)
Giaveri Osetra
Farm-raised Osetra Sturgeon (Taste $21 | Half Ounce $72)
Imperial Amur
Farm-Raised Imperial Schrenckii (Taste $28 | Half Ounce $98)

power tower.

All towers come with signature cocktail, mignonette, louis and habanero crema sauces.

Small$42.00
Six Oysters, Four Littleneck Clams, Two Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Half Order of Crudo
Large$84.00
Twelve Oysters, Eight Littleneck Clams, Four Jumbo Shrimp, Full Order of Crudo

crudo.

Tuna Tartare$18.00
Banyuls Ponzu, Crispy Shallot, Shiso, Black Garlic
Salmon Crudo $16.00
Passion Fruit, Aji Amarillo Crema, Cucumber, Smoked Salt
Composed Oysters $20.00
Yuzu Kosho Mignonette, Citrus, Scallion

sandwiches.

Available Daily from 12 - 3 pm.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich $22.00
Foccacia, Pistou, Tomato Compote, Burrata
Steak Gyro $30.00
Pecorino Fondue, Italian Herb Dukkah, Arugula
Tuna Katsu $28.00
Brioche, Nori Aioli, Yuzu, Coleslaw
Mushroom Tartine $22.00
Dill Goat Cheese, Onion Jam, Focaccia

soup + salad.

Clam + Pork Chowder$14.00
Pork Belly, Potatoes, Leeks, Littleneck Clams
Spinach + Arugula $17.00
Date Vinaigrette, Marinated Artichoke, Radish, Manchego
Beet + Burrata$18.00
Micro Mustard, Lemon, Smoked Salt, Dijon Vinaigrette

small plates.

Pita Bread$12.00
Masala Hummus, Seeds
Octopus$22.00
Cucumber, Celery, Cayenne Butter Hot Sauce, Dill Ranch
Beef Tartare $20.00
Celery Root Puree, Porcini Tapioca Chips, Scallion, XO Aioli
Bacon + Egg$22.00
House Bacon, Fried Oysters, Poached Egg, Salsa Verde
Mussels $20.00
Burnt Coconut, Pepper, Scallion, Ginger
Foie Gras + Scallop$28.00
Strawberry, Pistachio, Herb Oil

large plates.

Tuna$40.00
Wild Rice, Matcha, Snap Peas, Yuzu Kosho Vinaigrette, Lemon Supremes
Cod $35.00
Coconut Milk, Aji Amarillo, Lime, Black Bean, Ginger, Cilantro
Swordfish $37.00
Brown Butter, Carrot Top Chimichurri, Lentils, Shitake Burre Blanc
Roasted Duck Breast$42.00
Hispi Cabbage, Ssamjang, Macadamia Nut, Sunchoke Purée
Signature Brine Burger$21.00
BBQ Aioli, Caramelized Onions, Jalapeno, Taleggio, Brioche Bun, Steak Frites (add house-smoked bacon +$3)
Grilled Iberico Pork $40.00
Mushrooms, Snap Peas, Lemongrass Au jus

steaks.

8 oz. Filet Mignon$56.00
Creamed Kale + Brussels, Bacon Pangrattato
12 oz. Prime NY Sirloin$52.00
Oyster Velouté, Asparagus, Scallion
16 oz. Bone-In Prime Ribeye$60.00
Pommes Puree, Glazed Mushrooms, Au Poivre Sauce

What 1,550 people are saying

Brine reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Brine offers "great food and service," with standout dishes like tuna crudo and $1 oysters on Thursdays. The ambiance is modern and inviting, though noise can be an issue. Guests rave about the "friendly and professional" staff, especially servers like Anna. Some dishes are "creative and exceptional," making it a favorite for many.

1,550 Reviews

C
Chris VIP
Greater Boston7 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 5, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food and service are always great. The tuna crudo is to die for!! They always have unique dishes and cocktails. Prices are slightly high but that’s not unique to brine. My main con for this restaurant is the noise level. Old brick buildings is difficult to diffuse the noise but it can be distracting. Also, probably the most uncomfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in. They have several different styles and they’re all dreadful. At least for this shorter than average person. Still highly recommend!
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C
Cheryl
Greater Boston6 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First visit to Brine and enjoyed the food and experience very much. Would highly recommend, even if you, like a member of our party, doesn’t eat seafood. All dishes we ate were delicious! Thank you!
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T
Ted VIP
Cleveland / Akron / Canton8 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The team was great, and the dishes were exceptional!
BrineResponded on May 15, 2025
Hi Ted! Thank you for your great review! We're thrilled you enjoyed everything during your time with us, and we hope to have you join us again soon!
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L
Lauren
New York City4 reviews
3.0
Dined on May 12, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I found the food to be just ok. The cod was a tiny piece of fish over a large portion of black beans and the rigatoni lacked flavor and the sauce was watery- small portion for the price tag. Beet salad was very tasty. I probably wouldn’t dine here again.
BrineResponded on May 15, 2025
Hello Lauren! Thank you for taking the time to inform us about your experience. We are sorry to hear that the food didn't live up to either your or our standards. We aim for consistent, high-quality food sourced from local purveyors and when we are unable to deliver on that standard, we want to do whatever we can to make things right. Please reach out to us directly, either Gissele or Garret, and we would love the opportunity to make things right for you so that you can confidently dine with us going forward. Thank you!
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P
Patricia
Chicago / Illinois1 review
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We loved the drinks - Sangria and gin cocktails and food - scrambled eggs with goat cheese and crab, Breakfast Sandwich and oysters.
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J
Jim
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great Mother's Day brunch at the bar. Excellent food and friendly service.
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J
John
Greater Boston4 reviews
3.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Very noisy! We went a little ahead of the dinner rush. The place was at about 2/3 capacity and it was difficult to hold a conversation. Oyster service was on point. Would have been nice to see some local oyster farms represented in the selection. Chowder was unique. Flavor and texture was quite good but I wouldn’t call it a chowder. It was more like a veloute with a few mussels in the bottom that were overly chewy and playfully topped with some crouton size pieces of pork belly. The squid ink linguine came so close to being excellent. The spice level was assertive for the dish overpowering the more delicate flavors and one of the elements added a sweetness that conflicted with the dish. In a nutshell, it’s as though they are trying a little too hard. Overall, it was not a good value for what you got. Portion sizes, especially for the entrees was surprisingly small. We had 3 courses and left still hungry. Nice place but seems more bar-centric.
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K
Kevin VIP
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food was great as always. And Anna was outstanding as usual. Thank you for another fantastic time at Brine!!! We will be back soon.
BrineResponded on May 10, 2025
Hey Kevin! Thanks for your awesome review, we love that you've become regulars with us and we always look forward to hosting you and your family! Can't wait to see you soon!
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C
Charles VIP
Greater Boston19 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always great food and the staff go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your time. One of my favorite places.
BrineResponded on May 10, 2025
Thank you for your kind review, Charles! We love hearing that we're one of your favorites, and we look forward to continuing that standard with you! See you soon!
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K
Kathleen
Phoenix / Arizona1 review
2.0
Dined on May 2, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We have been eating at Brine for years. The drive up from Gloucester has always been worth it but not this time on May 2. Something really seems to be off here. As I have looked at some other reviews on various sites, many diners are having the same issues - bland, poorly cooked, overpriced food. First, to point out what we really DID enjoy - the oysters were wonderful, but the mionette on the side was too acidic to use on the fresh, briny oysters. Our server, Anna, was great - informative and gracious. We also had an interesting cocktail made with mescal and Liqour 23. BUT - the food was terrible! I had the cod, a small portion, sitting on a bed of bland, unseasoned black beans for the price of $40.00! My daughter had the squid ink pasta dish, which was remarkable bland and tasteless. We shared a dessert of a key lime "square" which was very small, maybe 2 x 3 inches for $15.00. This is sad to see because this has been a wonderful dining experience on the north shore for years. I read several reviews as well as the manager's responses. It appears that management is not listening to the customers. I wrote this in hopes that someone might listen and make the necessary changes to bring Brine back.
BrineResponded on May 15, 2025
Hi Kathleen! We appreciate your comments on the quality of your experience with us. We work hard as a team to deliver unique, delicious dishes and a lot of research and planning goes into our food program. We absolutely apologize that we missed the mark with your recent visit with us. We always hope the flavor of our dishes is layered and thoughtfully prepared, and we're sad to hear you thought otherwise. We would love the opportunity to make it up to you in the future if you decide to join us again. Please reach out to us directly, either to Gissele or Garret, and lets see if we can turn things around for not only you, but our future guests as well! Thank you!
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FAQs

Brine offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (978) 358-8479.

Brine is rated 4.7 stars by 1550 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 13, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

17 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Essex St.
Neighborhood
Newburyport
Hours of operation
Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Oyster Bar, Steak, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Justin Horyn
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://brineoyster.com/
Phone number
(978) 358-8479

Brine

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Composed Oysters

Tuna Katsu

Tuna

raw bar + caviar.

Oysters on the Half Shell

Shrimp Cocktail

Littleneck Clams$2.00

Siberian Supreme

Giaveri Osetra

Imperial Amur

power tower.

Small$42.00

Large$84.00

crudo.

Tuna Tartare$18.00

Salmon Crudo $16.00

Composed Oysters $20.00

sandwiches.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich $22.00

Steak Gyro $30.00

Tuna Katsu $28.00

Mushroom Tartine $22.00

soup + salad.

Clam + Pork Chowder$14.00

Spinach + Arugula $17.00

Beet + Burrata$18.00

small plates.

Pita Bread$12.00

Octopus$22.00

Beef Tartare $20.00

Bacon + Egg$22.00

Mussels $20.00

Foie Gras + Scallop$28.00

large plates.

Tuna$40.00

Cod $35.00

Swordfish $37.00

Roasted Duck Breast$42.00

Signature Brine Burger$21.00

Grilled Iberico Pork $40.00

steaks.

8 oz. Filet Mignon$56.00

12 oz. Prime NY Sirloin$52.00

16 oz. Bone-In Prime Ribeye$60.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Brine offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Brine restaurant rated?

Is Brine currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information