The Absolute Best Lobster Rolls Spots in Boston
If you’re heading to Boston soon, you’re likely looking forward to the delicious seafood that the area is known for. Luckily, it’s easy to find some of the best lobster rolls spots in Boston by asking the locals and getting a few recommendations. After attending a sports game or strolling through a museum while you’re in the city, check out these quality seafood eateries to get a buttery and flavorful lobster roll that will make your Boston vacation worthwhile.
Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113,
(617) 742-3474
Neptune Oyster is one of the best lobster roll spots in Boston if you prefer the popular seafood sandwich in its purest form. A toasted bun, lobster cooked to perfection, a light layer of mayonnaise, and fresh lemon make this lunch or dinner especially satisfying. The lobster roll is served with a side of crispy fries and ketchup and the scenery you’ll take in at the restaurant will make your time in Boston even more enjoyable. In addition to tasty lobster rolls, you can also feast on fresh oysters with cocktail sauce, braised mussels with garden veggies, and the restaurant’s famous Wellfleet clam chowder which is made fresh to order. If you want to enjoy a salad with your seafood, you’ll love delicious choices like the Maine lobster and greens with blood orange vinaigrette. Keep in mind they don’t take reservations, so you’ll likely need to wait in line, but it is worth it.
James Hook & Co
440 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210,
(617) 423-5501
James Hook & Co is a casual yet elegant Boston eatery that offers fresh seafood and side dishes that are perfect for a lunch with friends or a dinner with your mate. You can enjoy our sandwich with a bag of Cape Cod potato chips, which are popular in the area, or you can enjoy your lobster roll with a hearty bowl of clam chowder. You can also choose the seafood you’d like for your meal from the fresh bar, which means you can select fish, shrimp, or other types of shellfish to customize your meal. Aside from the lobster roll, James Hook & Co is also known for it’s two-pound steamed lobster served with a side of chowder.
Yankee Lobster
300 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210,
(617) 345-9799
Yankee Lobster is close to the Boston Inner Harbor so you can take in the view while you enjoy your lobster roll. The buttery roll and flaky lobster served with a side of crispy fries is sure to hit the spot, and you can also enjoy the crab cake sandwich or the blackened salmon sandwich for lunch or dinner. Yankee Lobster is also popular for its stuffed haddock and delicious fish and chips so you’ll be full and satisfied once you leave the restaurant with all the tasty seafood options you have to choose from. You may also want to try the crab platter if you’re dining with friends since the steamed crabs come with garlic butter sauce and a mallet for cracking the crab shells.
Luke’s Lobster Back Bay
75 Exeter St, Boston, MA 02116,
(857) 350-4626
If you’re in a hurry to get to your next business meeting or tourist attraction in Boston, stop by Luke’s Lobster in the Back Bay area to get a delectable lobster roll. The lobster is chilled and tossed with lemon butter and served on a soft roll. You may also want to try the crab rolls served on a soft bun and seasoned with a blend of secret spices. Another popular item at the restaurant is the Taste of Maine, which allows you to choose from three types of seafood to create the tasty sandwiches of your choice. This is a great option if you’re having a dinner party or picking up dinner for a large family. You can also enjoy a spinach salad with fresh lobster pieces and organic lemon garlic dressing for a meal that is both nutritious and delicious.
Barking Crab
88 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 426-2722
Barking Crab is known for its soft and buttery lobster rolls, but you can also get some of the best fish and chips in town at this popular seafood eatery. The restaurant also has a tasty seafood boil complete with steamed shrimp and fresh lemon and huge portions of lobster and crab with lemon garlic sauce for dipping. Barking Crab also has some delicious appetizers to choose from such as the hot crab dip which and stuffed crabs with chorizo and Ritz cracker stuffing. Both of these are ideal for sharing with a group, but of course, you can enjoy them if you order your meal to-go as well. Be sure to try the restaurant’s award-winning clam chowder with any of your entrees. Barking Crab is also known for its pasta dishes such as the pasta divolo with steamed mussels and clams or the buffalo scallops in a buttery hot sauce and served with fresh celery.
Belle Isle Seafood
1 Main St, Winthrop, MA 02152
(617) 567-1619
This spot is ideal to get unparalleled views of the Boston skyline, Logan Airport, Zakim Bridge and the Bunker Hill Monument. People travel all over to try their award-winning lobster rolls. A tall and generous heap of fresh and sweet lobster meat (made with ¼ lb. of knuckle meat and ¼ lb. lobster tail with a touch of mayo) over crisp and fresh iceberg lettuce in a hot dog bun with a side of coleslaw. All the accolades are true: tons of gorgeous lobster meat highlighted by its simplicity with mayo is heavenly. The coleslaw is simple but tasty. There’s hardly a dud on the menu. You can also go with the fried seafood platter that’s stuffed with more fish than the New England Aquarium, or the little fried smelts that don’t carry a hint of grease. Note: Belle Isle Seafood is Cash Only.
Alive & Kicking Lobsters
269 Putnam Ave Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-0451
Located just outside of Boston is a hole-in-the-wall seafood shack serving up an incredible lobster sandwich! Alive & Kicking Lobster is a bare-bones, no-frills delicious seafood discovery for primarily lobster sandwiches and soups. Their clam chowder & lobster bisque are a must, and you must dip the sandwich in the chowder as it is heavenly. We recommend getting your order and walking a block over to enjoy a scenic lunch overlooking The Charles River.
Pauli’s
65 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113
(857) 284-7064
Family-owned and run, Pauli’s has been providing takeout and catering to the North End and Boston for years. Their 7 oz “Lobsta” Roll is excellently made with a twist of mayo & lemon or buttered. They also offer a 14 oz version on a sub roll as well as the “USS Lobstitution” served on a grilled sub roll. Other tasty options are the Steak Bomb & the Chicken Cutlet and their sides of Garlic Parm Fries & Arancini Balls are not to be missed.
Saltie Girl
279 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-0691
Also featured in our Wicked Good Clam Chowder Restaurants in Boston, Saltie Girl in The Back Bay has a wicked good Glouster Lobster Roll. Stuffed with fresh lobster meat their takes on the Lobster Roll are served hot or cold with Saltie Girl Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips. This is virtually a can’t miss menu, our favorites include their clam chowder, fried lobster & waffles and the torched Salmon Belly crispy rice and yellowtail crudo and, of course, some Saltie Girl fries.
Bostonia Public House
131 State St Boston, MA 02109
(617) 948-9800
For a stately, vintage & modern decor to enjoy hot or cold lobster rolls in Boston’s downtown try Bostonia Public House. All the food is terrific, our favorites other then the hot buttered lobster roll were the Lobster Mac & Cheese, Fish & Chips, and the Pasta VOL. The restaurant is big and has both outdoor and indoor seating. We recommend making reservations in advance as it can get busy here.
Gather
75 Northern Ave Boston, MA 02210
(617) 982-7220
For a funky, cool indoor/outdoor dining experience in the hot new Boston Seaport head to Gather for a traditional lobster salad with mayo on a brioche roll. Gather serves up other scrumptious dishes like Chicken & Waffle Bites, amazing Charred Octopus, and an Award Winning New England Clam Chowder. The Seaport is a great location to take in Boston’s downtown waterfront while you enjoy your Lobster rolls.
Row 34
383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 553-5900
Another option for hot buttered Lobster Rolls in the Boston Seaport is Row 34. They are serving them up 2 ways Warm Butter Lobster or Ethel’s Creamy Lobster rolls both served with slaw and chips. Row 34 is located in a beautifully renovated Boston Wharf Company textile warehouse. It’s a cool destination for locally sourced seafood, hanging out at the bar or dining on the patio.
Woodman’s of Essex
119 Main St Route 133 Essex, MA 01929
(978) 768-6057
Nothing beats the convenient proximity of Boston to see scenic New England destinations, and touring Boston’s North Shore will not disappoint. Head north to Woodman’s of Essex for fresh-from-the-ocean Clam Chowder, Fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and a great Lobster Roll Family Recipe! Woodman’s cold lobster rolls are made with a generous serving of fresh lobster & perfectly seasoned mayo. This iconic New England stop has been around since 1916 and is a fun & delicious family or group outing from Boston. Plenty of parking spaces with indoor and outdoor seating accommodating large groups. Ordering is up front where you pay then they call your number.
The Lobster Trap
290 Shore Rd, Bourne, MA 02532
(508) 759-7600
If you’re touring New England you need to take a tasty tour of Cape Cod. The Lobster Trap in Bourne, MA is located just over the Bourne Bridge, making it an easier destination to get to from Boston than further out on Cape Cod. The Lobster Trap has both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an amazing fish market. Of course, they serve a killer cold lobster with mayo on a toasted brioche roll. The restaurant serves other locally sourced seafood and is a perfect spot for drinks and lunch or dinner overlooking the water.
Editors Note: This article was originally published on September 21, 2021 and last updated on March 3, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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