Avoid avoid avoid! Food couldn't be worse. Edible if you have zero cares or tastebuds. Overpriced slop.

Omg!!! The food here is EXCELLENT!!! From the outside you would think it's a crab shack but when you sit down and open that menu...baby you're in for a REAL treat!!! The Lobster grill cheese and the lobster bisque are A1! The sangria mocktails are AWESOME!!! To make things even better was the service!! Our server was really great with the recommendations and he was great! read more

Ordered the seafood platter and yes I knew it was fried but was looking forward to my cheat meal for the week. It was literally dripping in oil..breading fell off the shrimp and calamari and the clam strips were almost burnt black. Forget about the fries..they were inedible. So disappointed and we called to discuss but no one answers the phone at the restaurant. This was our second meal (decent the first time-lobster tails, mussels, clam strips and lobster fritters) and we were surprised with the low quality of this meal. read more

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I came here last night for the first time it's right across the street from the Whole Foods on the corner Ed wanted to check it out for a few weeks the girl greeting me at the door sent me at a hightop and I was served by a nice girl name Evette I was looking at everybody's food everybody seem to be happy I just ordered the lobster bisque which I thought was a little bit too creamy for me and it was shredded lobster it was just OK and then I took some lobster fritters to go I was by myself and really didn't want to stick around but if you look at this in place The prices seem decent and the service was friendly there is parking across the street read more

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Went for lunch. Server was soo nice and polite. Food came out quickly. Bisque was "ok". There was too much of one ingredient not sure what it is but it overpowered the lobster. The flavors are there tho. Little Spivey but I like that. I ordered lobster sandwich, Connecticut style. Very good, full of lobster meat and flavor. I opted for salad but you can get fries, chips or possible veggies if you want. Honestly, thank for I got salad, I was so full with the sandwich. Overall very good, reasonable and server was fantastic. read more

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I ordered from Jacks Seafood Shack a few days ago and was totally underwhelmed. I ordered the lobster roll that came with salad and coleslaw. The coleslaw was dry and unappetizing and the lobster roll was way smaller than I thought it would be and the lobster take as rubbery read more

There's one thing that New England has going for them...and no it's not the Patriots or Red Sox you savages...it's their abundant supply of lobstah! Why-oh-why are those people blessed with a teeming supply of deliciously fresh crustaceans?! It's simply not fair. As I have stated the best lobster that I have ever tasted came from Portland, Maine with Boston coming in a close second. I really can't have another lobster anywhere else after tasting the real-deal up north, but when the craving hits one has to settle for something that comes close. Jack's Seafood Shack in Montclair tries very hard to swim with the fishes but in the end the effort is nothing but a minnow in the vast expanse of the ocean. To be fair I didn't have a bad meal at Jack's but it simply fell short on my (high) expectations. I knew going there, with my amazing friends MC, Kar, and his fiancée Allyson, that whatever my preconceived notion of a lobster roll would be the restaurant wouldn't be able to deliver. I hate to say it though but I was right. My friends and I ordered both the Maine and Connecticut style lobster roll with a side of homemade chips and salad. We also ordered a seafood combo to share knowing that the sandwiches were going to be small. Let me start with the Maine style. It was served cold with just the right amount of mayo on a grilled bun. The lobster was cooked fine but it lacked flavor. I could no longer taste the flavor of the ocean--just the water--as in it was bland. The Connecticut style fared much better on flavor, with its warm, buttery goodness with a hint of lemon zest, but ultimately the amount of grease took away from the experience. The seafood combo--fried shrimp, clam strips, calamari and fries--was the typical fried seafood fare that one can find down the Jersey shore. Overall, the restaurant is okay. I can understand why locals would flock to this place to get a fix of lobster roll. As for me though, I can wait once (or twice) a year to drive north and enjoy a true helping of the deliciousness that New England offers. read more

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Food good. Service bad as hell. Pretty much sums up the whole experience. Ordered a mussel app at end of meal, we were still hungry. Over 20 minutes later this app that takes 3 min to cook finally arrives. While we are ready to go. Because of the mistake they offer up free ice cream to the kids. One small bowl comes....for three kids. Ok thx for your response couple of things... ok mussels take 5 not 3 minutes to cook. At most or they will get tough. I have harvested and cooked mussels, clams, of all variety my entire life. So fine on that point. I understand dinner rushes on. Saturday night. I worked in restaurants for ten years - doing everything from managing to bartending to line cook to calling slips to waiting tables. Your restaurant has been open for at least 2 years, you should have enough Saturday nights under your belt to have this worked out. That said, we asked our wait person three times where our mussels were. Each time "they were coming". You should have done the right thing and allowed us to cancel our order at the third ask (which we did) or take the charge off the bill. read more

Enjoyed this place sooooo much . Went on our second date night and it did not disappoint! It's byob but they are partnered with a local liquor store so you can buy a bottle right from them and they bring it to you . Great service , great food , and not to crowded ( at the the times we went ) ! read more

We visited Jack's Seafood Shack for a date night. We had made reservations for 7, however it was not necessary - only 3 other tables were occupied. This was surprising for a Bloomfield Ave restaurant on a Thursday night but we were undeterred. Pros: The food was outstanding. We ordered crab cake fritters, truffle lobster mac and cheese, a Connecticut lobster roll style and a steam pot. Everything came out promptly, tasted extremely fresh and was overall delicious. Cons: Service. Our waitress might have been new but she didn't check on us - we had to flag down the other waiter working to get more napkins/ice/the check. A manager (?) arrived after we were seated and appeared to reprimand our waitress for not attending to the patrons sitting outside; the outside patrons received more attention than the patrons inside. I visited the original location when it first opened and service was not an issue. Overall: The food was great and it outweighed the spotty service. I will definitely order take-out in the future. read more

I have had this spot bookmarked ever since I came across it on Yelps Hot and New restaurants posted about a month ago and I was so happy I finally got to check this spot off my bookmark bucket list. The restaurant is really cute and has two sections to sit in, up front to the entrance seemed to be a little bit fancier than the back where my friends and I sat. I personally felt the back section was a bit more spacious. I enjoy the nautical theme as most seafood restaurants have with lobster cages hanging on the walls along with the netting. We started off by ordering some fried clam strips, lobster fritters and an order of fried shrimp. The clam strips were a large portion and tasted delicious as did the shrimp. I really enjoyed the extremely light breading that they had on them. The tartar sauce was very tasty as well and added a nice hint of flavor to the seafood. The lobster fritters I was a little bit disappointed about... I myself really love a good hush puppy and that's what I was secretly hoping for. The fritter was just meh, there was corn and tiny bits of lobster claw meat throughout the fritter but the entire time eating them I never really got any lobster flavor. For our main courses I ordered the lobster gnocchi, my friends ordered a lobster roll for the first time ever because she has a gluten allergy and can never eat the roll its served in until discovering Jack's Seafood Shack. Jack's actually offers a few gluten free options so if that's an issue for you normally I would say come check out what Jack's has to offer you. The house made potato chips that came with her lobster roll were the bomb, I stole a few and dipped them in my pasta sauce. My lobster gnocchi was absolutely amazing... light as a feather homemade gnocchi pasta with large chunks of lobster meat, fresh peas and cherry tomatoes in a creamy light sauce. You can't beat this. I cant wait to come back and try out more of what Jack's has to offer me! ** Side notes** - parking can be tricky ( street parking available ) - back portion of restaurant is the take out area read more

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Really didn't know what to expect from looking at the reviews. Got there around 12:30 on a Friday. Wasn't too busy. Place is decorated really cute. Service was very attentive. I ordered the lobster salad. For $19 I received a heaping pile of delicious lobster with a pile of really good cole slaw and a pile of potato salad. All this sat on a bed of leafy greens. Totally worth the $19. My gf had the shrimp over leafy greens. Hers looked meh and she said it was ok but nothing special. Menu was pretty decent so I can't wait to go back and try some other things! Oh and when we left (about an hour later) the place was packed. read more

We came here for a work day lunch based off a friends recommendation. Jack's totally nailed the lobster shack décor straight down to the open lobster tanks on the counter service side of the restaurant. I liked that there are two rooms, a dining room and a counter service dining area, which allows you to either have a quick meal or a more leisurely experience. I ordered the Maine Style lobster roll which was very good, just a touch of mayo, small bits of celery and lemon and some chives to top it off all in a split top roll. This lobster roll was served with a generous portion of homemade chips and coleslaw. I also ordered a bottle of water and my total came to $22. This is not how much typically pay for lunch, ever, but the portion of lobster meat and sides justified the price. I would recommend Jack's to anyone looking for a New England style lobster roll in Montclair, NJ. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Maine style lobster roll - $19 - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Food is fresh! The Maine style Lobster roll was delicious/tasty and the Shrimp were jumbo and cooked perfectly. I enjoyed my new fave spot. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Jumbo shrimp with old bay - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Jacks was awesome!! The lobster roll (warm) was awesome.....plenty lobster, roll fresh and perfectly toasted and salad was fresh. The service was timely but server neglected to share the lunch menu which was cheaper. The atmosphere was fitting and bathroom was clean. Met the owner a nice and personable young man. read more

I'm glad I stumbled on Jacks. I drove past and decided to lookup their menu. They had at lobster roll! I ended up ordering the Maine lobster roll, fried shrimp and lobster bisque. The batter on the shrimp was light and had just a hint of Old Bay (yay). They were fried perfectly. EVERYTHING was delish. When I couldn't get ChowNow to work, I went inside and ordered my food. Although they seemed fairly busy, I received my order in a reasonable amount of time. I'm said I'm just finding them. I can't wait for my next visit. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I love Lobster and while Lobster Rolls are not the same as a whole Lobster (or tails) they are a delicious alternative in a pinch. Jack's offers both Maine (cold with Mayo) and Connecticut (warm with butter). I got the Connecticut and it was perfect. The roll comes with yummy creamy coleslaw plus we each got Corn (also yum) They also offer gluten free rolls. The rolls come with a quarter pound of Lobster meat but you can upgrade to a half pound. Hubby went for clam strips and steamers and he said both dishes were great. Everything is super casual, plastic containers and lids that you usually get for take out. But it's all good. The service was great and attentive. The restaurant was clean and they are social distancing and sanitizing. We really need to get here more. read more

On this cool fall Thursday evening Samira and I was riding along Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair in route to dine. Upon seeing Jack's Seafood Shack I was instructed to turn around, change of plans. After parking as we walked into Jack's Seafood Shack we were warmly greeted and pleasantly seated. Instantly we were met with a wonderfully charming hostess/server named Soji. Soji delightfully gave us a great introduction to Jack's Seafood Shack. For starters we had the Jack's Peach Ice Tea, the sumptuous Lobster Fritters, and the delightfully creamy Lobster Bisque and Clam Chowder Soup. Samira choose to have the LOBSTER ROLL PLATTER and I decided on the LOBSTER DINNER FRESHLY PICKED MAINE LOBSTER. We were absolutely satisfied by our selections as recommended. While the food met and exceeded my expectations, I must additionally add that the service and atmosphere was that much and some. I am extremely happy to say that Soji' "SERVICE WITH A SMILE" was warmly felt and appreciated by Samira and I. Soji's demeanor, knowledge, and professionalism created a wonderful dining experience in which was satisfying to the point of a return to Jack's Seafood Shack. What a pleasant jewel. Thank you Jack's Seafood Shack for putting a smile on my face and making my stomach happy! read more

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I've been curious about Jack's since the "coming soon" sign hit the window. Today was my opportunity!!! As I walked in I was greeted by the hostess " Stacy" very nice, good smile and got us to our seats rather quickly. Let me say the decor transports you into another place Nantucket, Fire Island or even down the shore lol... Our waitress was quick on her feet, polite, and kept a smile... It was her first day and she seemed to have a mastery of the menu selections... Now to the part you care about... The FOOD!!! We ordered the fried shrimp appetizer, lobster bisque, New England clam chowder, the mussels in wine sauce, the Connecticut lobster roll and the seafood combo. The New England clam chowder was flavorful and tasty. However, the lobster bisque felt off. The hint of sherry that all good lobster bisque should have was missing. The lobsters texture made me wonder if was maine lobster or langostino . The mussels were delicious for sure.... Tasty ... The fried shrimp were tender and not over seasoned... The main courses were awesome. The seafood combo made me happy.. The calamari, clams and shrimp were well cooked, well seasoned, served warm and full of flavor. The lobster roll was very tasty but could have been beefier. I think all restaurants who serve lobster rolls should visit Eds Lobster in NYC at least once.. Nothings better... Also there seemed to be a pooling of waiters during down time , there was no place for them to be. I would assume that could be an issue in the long run.. Overall I like Jacks. Great food and service!!! I'll be back for sure. Overall Jack's was a good experience. read more

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Great seafood, fresh and perfectly cooked. Always remember "you get what you pay for" pricing is expensive.

The food is amazing, there was no wait, and the staff was spectacular. Shoutout to our server Nishant who was kind, patient, and extremely helpful. read more

We had been dying to try this spot and were going to go on Friday but opted for Saturday since it's Lent and figured it would be ridiculously busy. I was able to get a reservation on the OT app and we came over. I was beyond ready to try this spot since it's hard to find lobster rolls. I've seen many mouth watering posts on IG and had to come. Parking is available on the street or in the Art museum lot just before the building on the right. It's BYOB so that's always a bonus for me. We were seated immediately and our server Kia was great, she explained the specials, handled our wine and got us settled. This app has a free Iced tea available on every visit, nice small touch. The food was amazing and very fresh. Everything they served was great. The steamers were the best I've ever had anywhere from New England area to Jersey shore or the Northfork of LI, unbelievable and no sand. I had originally came here for a Connecticut lobster roll but was side tracked to try a crab pot and glad I did. the Dungeness and Snow Crab was fantastic. Plus now I have to return soon for the lobster roll. Kia served our courses unrushed and vas very attentive. We can't wait to go back. I asked and they also have high top tables in one of the rooms as well as a few tables outside in warmer weather. I highly recommend it. No other spots like this in the area. The closest place for a lobster roll that looks similar is Ridgewood. They also have brunch and we will check that out as well. The tables are close so it's an intimate spot but was well worth it! read more

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This dinning experience was much needed with the craziness going on today. From Lizah hooking us up with the awesome service and food recommendations....to the very appetizing, toungue satisfying food. There were too many delicious food choices which means will will just have to come back and try them all. Thank you for being open! Thank you for being here! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! From Kwisi, Khetsa and the soon to be baby Rezaani read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Shrimp Po' Boy and Crab Cake Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

A small, unassuming place done up inside with all sorts of lobster traps and seaside decorations. But the high point of the menu is always the spectacular full Maine lobster dinner. Pick your size, it comes with all the necessary tools, corn on the cob and cole slaw, with many side options and a wide seafood-oriented menu. Had the whole lobster probably a dozen times, the lobster rolls are also great. Service is always great, but tonight was especially friendly and helpful - thanks, Maria V! Generally pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday at peak dinner time, but if you get there a little earlier you should sit right down. And the desserts, on the rare occasion there's still room left, they have amazing pies from the Little Pie company in New York, one of my favorites from my days living and working in Manhattan Apple Sour Cream Walnut and Southern Pecan are my favorites. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Southern Pecan Pie by Little Pie Company at Jack's Seafood in Montclair. - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

If you love seafood especially lobster you have to come here. The place is a good size and the decor is so cute and welcoming. I got seated right away and the hostess/waitress was very friendly. I order the lobster roll, Connecticut style. One word=amazing. The bread the soft and the lobster was fresh and plentiful. I also ate half of my friends lobster Mac and cheese. The lobster Mac and cheese gave a lot of lobster. I mean chunks of lobster. They don't skimp you at all. They offered us dessert but we were filled at that point. I will have to come back here to explore more off their menu. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Great seafood pots with generous portion and fresh catch! Will definitely recommend this restaurant to shellfish lovers. Our waitress Soji was extremely friendly and accommodating. read more

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Always delicious and is the perfect place when you're craving a lobster roll. Service was great - thanks Nishant (who was especially playful with our 3 year old and even let him see some live lobsters) - and music is always fun and upbeat. read more

This is the second time I've been to Jacks & won't be my last. First time we had the crab cake sandwich and the slider sampler with a wedge salad. Everything was great. Flavorful and the portions were a good value. The second time we had the fritters appetizer and lobster rolls. Connecticut style. And it was excellent! I've seen the reviews stating it's small, etc. yes the roll is small, but PACKED with lobster. And it was enough. Actually more than enough. I think people are just so used to extra large portions in general. The home made chips were great as well. Good flavor and again, more than enough. Can't wait to go back. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Lobster Roll Connecticut style. - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Wow! There is so much to say about this place! The food was so delicious! The establishment was busy and the service was outstanding. Our server Maria was constantly coming by and making sure we had everything we needed. The food came out quickly and nice and hot! From all the apps and meals we had, we all extremely enjoyed our dinner! Thank you Maria and the Jack's staff! We will definitely be back for more fun and laughters. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - A Happy Customer! - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Very good, i've never had a lobster roll before but as my first lobster roll ever it was a great meal that i would get again. Choice was the worker who helped me order my meal for lunch . I have a gluten intolerance so I ordered the Connecticut lobster roll on a gluten free roll! read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Very clean. Excellent waiter. Terrific menu. Lobster tails were prepared perfectly and very delicious. The fish and chips was tasty. The fries were okay. The crab cake appetizer was very meaty and had a unique sauce? The onion rings were crispy and real. Enough room to feel comfortable. Outside dining is available. Free parking. Our new favorite place! read more

Enjoy truly delicious food, with a friendly, very knowledgeable, and accommodating staff. (Speaking of which, here's a shoutout to Sam: Thank you for the suggestions!) You can't go wrong with any item in the menu, but my favorites are the fried shrimp, the lobster fritter (I, too, am sensing a theme here), and the lobster roll, which they offer both in Maine and Connecticut styles --I opt for the latter. The salmon is also at the top of my list, and the lobster mac and cheese, and the lobster grilled cheese... You get the point. Go and have fun! If you're planning on going on busy nights, I'd recommend making a reservation. Parking is not an issue, as patrons are welcome to use the MAM parking lot. Boun appetito! read more

Best Food EVER very good I got the Lobster macaroni an cheese it was Devine the salmon was awesome and the linguine was life CHANGING the dessert was off the Chain That Pecan Pie INSANE that Cheese Cake hit the spot BUT I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT WILD RICE NOT MY THING I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL IT WAS MY FAVORITE MEAL EVER. And the best thing was that they aren't skimpy with lobster and the lobster roles were giant unlike other places in Montclair like lobster roll co. read more

...nice location nearby, but waited a half hour for a shack grouper fish sandwich burnt over blackened tasteless; I was told the man with the grouper was late...? I joked that they went out to catch the grouper; I may have been right. I'm a foodie fish expert, the fish was frozen. Pan sautéed blackened has a certain texture, taste and you need not kill the fish again. Service was good, lovely lady with a smile! Oops no mask, I just realized! Oh boy...The JOE TEA was awesome! I just made a killer fried cod sandwich, with the works and Thai mayo, spinach, arugula, red onions, and homemade cabbage slaw... hmmm...I'll give you one more try; business recommendation. Lobster roll will be the defining factor. Seafood is my thing. Whole Foods frozen fish is not acceptable, at those prices expectations are high. I can't eat cute table cloths and cute decor. FEED ME...LMAOOO! read more

The Lobster Bomb is literally the bomb! It's best of all worlds -claw& tail lobster meat and lobster bisque in a crispy, toasted sourdough bread bowl. Lemonade Is totally yummy! Our server, Kia, was amazing - so sweet and super efficient. Nothing was a bother -even splitting the check! Yay Kia!! read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - The Lobster Bomb - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Great local find. The clam strips were amazing. Pleasantly surprised by steak and lobster. Food could have come out a tad warmer but all in all it was really great. Excellent service. Will return without a doubt. read more

The only item I've ever gotten here is it the shack fish sandwich and it is something special! Their fries are also better than average. Can't wait to try other menu items! read more

Fabulous Seafood! Eating their fried clams reminds me of those New England summers by the ocean:)

Good hot food and quick service. I order takeout and it was smooth without any hiccups. The staff was helpful and pleasant.

Tonight was my 3rd dinner there in about a month. Brought a different friend each time. It's BYOB which I prefer. Food is beyond delicious. Have had/tasted lobster roll Maine style, lobster bisque, lobster fettuccine, lobster gnocchi (fresh beyond light homemade), fried shrimp, fried calamari, shrimp in garlic sauce and king crab legs. Everything was fresh made. Definitely will be back over and over and suggest if you like fresh seafood this will quickly become one of your favorites! read more