Highly over priced and portions are what I refer to as 'tweezer food' meaning such small portions the only eating utensil that makes sense is a pair of tweezers, . Seriously folks, I don't get it but I move on when there is nothing memorable about a meal. To make matters worse I live in Montclair near this restaurant. They actually have a dumpster on the sidewalk (although they have plenty room in back). It's disgusting and smells and there are sketchy little vermin roaming around. It has been there since they opened many moons ago. Health Department please take note. By the dumpster, employees stand outside and chain smoke on break. Not sure if I'll develop asthma or rabies if I return so I just won't. Buyers Beware! ***So owners response is defensive. Trust me drive around Montclair and there are NO dumpsters on sidewalks except this joint. Helping them solve a space issue for their dumpster? Not my problem. Plus the smoking denial is truly hysterical, have pics of that too, be glad to post those as well. Clean up your space Jacks, too much competition in Montclair. read more

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

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seafood always fresh , wonderful staff , love the indoor ambience . A little pricey but worth it

Jack's seafood was absolutely delicious!! The lobster roll was perfectly cooked with a very generous portion of succulent lobster, and a slightly toasted buttery roll. My friend ordered the seafood linguine with garlic. He absolutely loved it! It had just the right amount of garlic, and a good variety of seafood. He also liked that the shrimp came without the tail. The linguine was a perfect al dente. Service was fast, attentive, and well mannered. The servers stood far from the table and wore masks. I will be back! read more

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

Great service! The food was also AMAZING! tasted good and fresh. The style of the place was really good. Very relaxing restraunt.

Delicious food, good service and nice atmosphere. A great spot to have a Sunday lunch when in Montclair. read more

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Food was great. Service was great and Maria was really nice :) Everything tasted very homemade and there's a nice view

The servers were very friendly and cordial the food was great but had slightly a bit too much grease. Don't get me wrong the food wasn't greasy but I don't eat a lot of fried food. The food was great overall. The restaurant was clean and if you ever want to know if you should eat somewhere look in the corners. Their corners were clean. Overall 8.4 out of 10 read more

I had the food to go from the Millburn location & everything was so amazing & fresh!! The owner & staff are very hands on to detail & very gracious!!! Can't wait to have dinner soon in either Millburn or Montclair very soon!!!! Highly recommend & the food is fire!!! read more

When I want a great "lobster roll" I drive an hour and a half down to point pleasant and go to the Atlantic Offshore Fishery....easily the best lobster rolls on earth......until now, that is Last night my wife and I thought we'd give this local place "a shot".... 9 minutes later, with plentiful parking (you can park in the museum parking lot - - just 30 feet away), we were there and the place is EASYYYY. Not crazy-hectic, spacious tables, pleasant waiter and staff, clean and attentive. The lobster roll, although a tad smaller than point pleasants, was just as good or perhaps even a tad better than ol'reliable Atlantic Offshore Fishery The local convenience factor is immense (9 minutes vs 90 minutes)....the parking is ridiculously easy.... the STEAMERS are delicious and large (ok - -they could give you a little more broth - - which i will ask for next time). The chowder is TREMENDOUS My only hesitation in leaving this beautiful review that i hope it doesnt get too TOO crowded now, because this IS my "pearl in the sand" which i just found! read more

I've been here a few times and have been quite happy with the quality and value of the food...hence why I've been here a few times. I've had the lobster roll, lobster grilled cheese, and clam chowder, all of which were very tasty. To some other reviewers' points, the price point may seem high, but it's pretty in-line with the rest of Bloomfield Ave restaurants. And at Jack's you get lobster rather than $15 noodle soup. read more

Pandemic Review: I can't say enough good things about this place. I was passing by Jacks after dropping my daughter off at her cousins' house not too far from there. I pulled up in front and placed an order from my phone. Placing an order from my phone was quick, painless and extremely easy. I even paid on my phone also. It was a third party site called Chow Now - again very quick and easy! The order said it would be done in 30 minutes so I went inside after that time. I noticed the establishment was conveniently set up for COVID protection. I appreciated the setup and that the employees were all wearing masks. When I walked up to the counter, the AA woman there (I don't know her name) immediately remembered me from dining in prior to the pandemic and said she was very happy to have me back. She was wearing a mask but I could see her smile genuinely with her eyes and heard the warmth in her voice. What a beautiful ending to a long, tiresome day! The food was still warm once I got home. I must say Jacks did it again! The food was sooooooo good!!! Their coleslaw was perfect, as were their homemade potato chips and Omg! The lobster roll was total perfection! If you like seafood, you will love Jacks! I recommend this place to everyone who enjoys good food, great service and reasonable prices. Thank you so much Jacks! read more

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So I had very high expectations for this place due to their Instagram images. I must say that most of my food was good but kinda of disappointing was the size of the lobster roll. The roll was good but I've had hot dog buns bigger than the buns they use. I paid $22 for a roll in Connecticut and it was at least twice the size if not bigger. I wish there was a different rating for service but it's the reason I'm not giving 4 stars. You wait on line and no one checks on you. I was waiting for 20 min when I finally spoke up and asked who was checking to see if the orders of the people on the line was at the table. After I spoke up people were mad but my order was the first one there and people in front of me were even more upset because they thought I skipped them but I had made an online order hours before. Highlight of every thing was the lobster mac and cheese. A bite of lobster in every single bite. This is a 5 star seafood dish. You won't regret it!!!! read more

I thought it's just one of those franchised lobster place. My husband and I were craving for some lobsters and boy we were in for a treat! We had lobster bisque, lobster roll and calamari! All amazing and divine! It's byob and Nishant our server was on the dot opening the bottle and serving us our bubbly! Nishant was a very attentive and courteous server! I wish there's more of him in every restaurant we go to. You can never go wrong with place and you will be given extra care if Nishantnia your server! read more

Their Lobster Bisque is the Number 1 reason to go!!! If you're a Lobster Bisque fan you owe it to yourself to try theirs. And if you wanna upgrade it....get their Lobster Bomb: comes with a 1/2lb of buttered Lobster meat to put into your bisque, which is served in a bread bowl. read more

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

food is sh*t. it is honestly microwave seafood. Avoid. Delivery is worse. Do not use Grubhub.

My Brother and I came to try this restaurant that popped up on my explore page on Instagram. We're seafood lovers and that advertised showings were enough to make us want to try this place and so we did. We came in, instantly greeted and seated. Our waiter was nice. I noticed how clean the place was which is a major plus. We put our orders in. It took a while for us to receive our food. We ordered clams and their steamed shrimp. The clams were AMAZING to say the least; so was the sides tarter sauce. The steamed shrimp lacked flavor; as well as the lobster roll. I asked for Old Bay seasoning to spice the shrimp up. That did the trick. The lobster roll was entirely way too buttery; with no flavor. I was disappointed. The lobster tail didn't look like how it was advertised; however, still tasty. My brother was disappointed with his crab legs and how dry they were. I was not impressed by this establishment; but solely because of how great the clams were I'd give this place another try so I can order the clams and try the Shrimp Po Boy next. read more

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Prices are way too high in relation to the portion sizes. Regardless of the fact that it has lobster, the grilled cheese was definitely not worth $15. When I opened the container, it was mostly just chips and then a tiny sandwich. The lobster rolls are good but quite small for a $22 meal. The only thing I really would recommend are the soups. You can choose from 3 different sizes and they are more reasonably priced in my option. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Maine Lobster Roll Maine Style Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Was craving seafood so gave this place a try. Been here a few times. They have really good lobster rolls. I get the Connecticut style. I'm not a fan of the crab cake but think th lobster roll is a good safe bet. read more

Delicious. Great meal. Cute place. It was wheelchair accessible which is important to us for our son

My parents and I have dined here twice so far, both times for their birthdays. I had been looking into this place for a while and it worked perfectly when my dad mentioned that he wanted a lobster dinner for his birthday. And then my mom enjoyed the food so much that she wanted to return for her own birthday. During our first visit, we started with the fried clam strips and calamari, I received a free freshly brewed tea from my Yelp check in, peach and raspberry teas for my parents, and I ordered a blueberry soda. The clam strips were probably some of the best I've ever eaten in the state. They had the perfect crispiness to them as well as being tender. The calamari was solid and tasty but, I've definitely had better. Both appetizer options were extremely fresh tasting though. I'm not the biggest fan of freshly brewed tea, especially when it isn't already sweetened but, this one was tasty. My drink highlight was definitely the blueberry soda, such an amazing berry soda. I wish I had a pack of them. For our entrees, my mom ordered the fish and chips, my dad ordered the steam pot, and I ordered the crab pot. Across the board we all enjoyed our meals. A lot better than 'seafood' places (Joe's Crab Shack and Red Lobster) my parents and I have been to together. My one issue with the pot was that it wasn't hot when it arrived to the table. I can do with lukewarm crab legs but, potatoes and shrimp are a no for me. Regardless, I just ate them first. After we finished our meals we sat waiting for a bit. I was surprised to see our lovely waitress, Sima, coming towards the table with a chocolate whoopie pie and candle. We sang happy birthday to my dad and enjoyed the crunchy cookie cake (?). It was a sweet gesture and it was delicious. I was also happy to see that it was free. During our second visit, we started with the same appetizers of fried calamari and clam strips. They were excellent as always; hot and crispy yet tender. My dad ordered the steam pot again and was pleased. My mom ordered the seafood combo, she enjoyed it and ended up bring leftovers home. I opted for the Connecticut style lobster roll platter with homemade chips. The lobster roll was smaller than I would have preferred however, it was delicious. The small roll was loaded with large, sweet lobster meat. I loved the roll but, I wish it was just a bit larger. However, after eating a lot of the delicious homemade chips I noticed that I was starting to fill up. I would totally order the lobster roll again when I return. I'm trying to make it a thing to try a new entree each time that I visit so I look forward to the next dish. Overall, I loved the sea theme decor, the amazingly friendly staff, and can't wait to come back! I'm a little upset that I haven't visited sooner, especially since I'm always in the area. I look forward to coming back and maybe bringing some wine too. read more

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The service is exceptional. And the food didn't make me sick which is really important when it comes to seafood. However I found the seafood batter to be bland and lacking flavor which was a pity because the ambience was overall quite good. read more

Had bad experiences with New England clam chowder.in the past at other places...thought I give it a try here. And it was absolutely delicious..wish I had gotten a bigger bowl. Lol read more

I wanted to provide an updated review since I tried Jack's a second time and I was very satisfied. I dined in this time around and I tried the crab cake sandwich and lobster Mac and cheese and both were delicious. The crab cake sandwich was flavorful, cooked perfectly and filling, and the lobster Mac n cheese contained a good amount of lobster which was nice. The location itself is great. there's plenty of seating inside, and parking was easy. I'll keep this place in mind for future lunches. read more

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Food and drinks are good. We had lobster roll, lobster fettuccine Alfredo, corn on the cod b, onion rings, sweet potato fries, arugula salad, and mocktails. The server was friendly and efficient. Ambiance was quiet with music that wasn't too loud. We were the only ones here (which scared us at first, then puzzled us after we received our food). We'll be back! read more

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3.5 stars. I'll keep it short and sweet. The service was very friendly. The lobster rolls (both kinds) are delicious and reasonably priced for the size. The clam chowder was pretty good and I would get it again. The fried oysters left something to be desired. I will say this, next time I am in the mood for a good lobster roll, I know I can count on Jack's and not have to cross the Hudson to get a decent roll. Go in and have both kinds of lobster roll, you won't be disappointed. ENJOY!!! read more

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

I'd say 3 to 3 1/2 stars for my first experience at Jack's. When you enter the restaurant, the decor is strongly into the seafood theme, very cute, cape-cod style seafood shack look/feel. Kudos to the hostess, who was pleasant, accommodating, and worked non-stop to fill in any gaps when the waitstaff got busy, she was excellent. I felt a tad invisible at my table for a while, but did eventually get the attention of the waitress, who was very good thereafter. I kept it simple, ordering a blackened fish sandwich (grouper was the fish of the day). The sandwich was delicious, just be prepared for an aftertaste from the blackened seasoning. It comes with homemade potato chips (very good), and cole slaw (not that impressed). I ordered a side of corn of the cob; it was not a good piece of corn. The sandwich, soda, and side order of corn came to $19 approx, which I thought was fair. I would return, not sure if it's the environment to spend the big bucks, I think I'd stick with the sandwich menu. read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Blackened fish sandwich (grouper) - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I've been eating at this place for a while. Always order, never been, finally showed up lol but still got take out. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything you pick. If you want something traditional, never eaten here and have a couple coins to spend, I would say the lobster bread bowl is worth it. It's $40 but you get a lot of lobster meat, lobster bisque which already has lobster meat, then the bread bowl. Or choose a po'boy and or lobster roll. You won't be disappointed! read more

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

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Omgd! Straight yummieness Reasonable price points ...Attentive polite service..yeah I gave them a 5 for a cheap eats spot...this is RARE for me. My girl (Maria,)server rockedd it!!! read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - No sweetener needed with this unsweetened ice - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Tried this joint for the first time today, since I was in the area. They had multiple lobster dishes that I wanted to try but I thought, you can never go wrong with a lobster roll. I walked in and was greeted with a friendly smile from the waiter, unfortunately, I forgot her name. She was very nice. If it's anything I like from a restaurant, it's good service. I ordered the lobster roll, Connecticut style, which is warmed with housemade potato chips and she threw in some coleslaw for me since they ran out of pickles. Luckily for me, I'm not a huge fan of pickles anyway. While I waited for my order, she brought over a sample of lobster bisque and clam chowder for me to try. I thought that was very nice of her. These soups were amazing! It was the best lobster bisque I ever had. It was also my first time even having clam and I thought it was a pleasant way to introduce myself to clams. I took my lobster roll to go. It was definitely the smallest lobster roll I ever had. I've also had better lobster rolls before. I thought the lobster was a bit dry and flavorless. It was disappointing that I couldn't finish it Hopefully, if I'm in the area again, I'll stop by to try other items on their menu! read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Lobster Roll Platter with home made potato chips and coleslaw - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Went here for lunch and at around 12:30 the restaurant was pretty empty and was seated right away. The service was pleasant and attentive and the decor was really nice. Especially liked the ceiling and lighting. As for the food I ordered the Maine lobster roll with a side of corn on the cob. The sandwich was good.....not the best or worst lobster roll I ever had. The house made potato chips were great. Corn on the cob is hard to screw up....it was good too. The thing that makes the restaurant 3 stars is the price. I don't mind paying for good food....I even expect to, but the sandwich was over priced for the size of it. If I try Jacks again I would probably try other items on the menu. It's worth a try if you like seafood, just expect to be lighter in the wallet when you leave. read more

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I wanted to include this update, because I was contacted by the owner of Jacks Seafood Shack. He was extremely concerned to hear about our dining experience. We spoke at length and he detailed the efforts he was undertaking to correct the problems. I give him high marks for not mentioning my Yelp review or score, and he made no effort to persuade me to change it. He genuinely seemed to be primarily concerned that we did not enjoy ourselves. He asked that we give them another chance, and that I contact him prior to coming. I agreed that we would do that since he made the effort to reach out to me in such a professional manner. He was a true gentlemen. I did explain that until I had a new experience at Jacks Seafood Shack I wouldn't be changing my score, but I would update the score and the review after dining there again. I have high hopes that I will be able to add more stars soon. read more

The food used to be great until it raised its price and shrank the portions. Seafood changed over the years as well - mussels/clams are not always fresh. read more

After searching for seafood restaurants near me on a Lenten Friday, I'm glad we saw the positive reviews for Jack's and decided to follow up. First off, shout out to Nishant for the great service. Other reviews raved about the lobster rolls and they were spot on. Two of us had the Connecticut style and loved them. Nishant convinced them to go for the larger size and it was worth it. Another had the seafood sliders and loved them, and I can vouch for the special truffle lobster Mac and cheese made with orecchiette pasta and very decadent. Appetizers were delicious mini crab cake balls and clams in white wine (my only slight complaint there were a few too many onions for my personal preference). Dessert was a very enjoyable rice pudding made with amaretto and cognac. Restaurant is BYO and a very casual welcoming atmosphere. read more

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Used to LOVE this place! Many special occasions held there and even ordered take out for parties at home. Was there last night and disappointed the Crab Cake was mush, "Grilled" seafood platter, would not order again. My wife's Lobster roll was very good and the lemonade(s) were excellent. Not worth the $80 per person with no alcohol. Unfortunately prices went up and quality went down. Doubt we will return. Must be under new management, they should rethink the changes. read more

Came here yesterday with my sister for some good ol seafood and thats what we got. The lobster roll warm was yummy along with their mac n cheese! My sisters crab cake was also on point. Our waiters were super polite and attentive. We definitely will be back read more

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The BEST lobster rolls in NJ! Also if you haven't tried their lobster bisque, it's delicious

Love this place. Lobster melt and lobster mac-n-cheese are delicious! The fish sandwich is also very good. Great portions and everything is so tasty. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Jacks Seafood Shack! As usual the service was impeccable. Our server was Nichan and he really took care of us. For appetizers we had the Manhattan Clam chowder and homemade chips. For dinner, two of us had the lobster special. Absolutely delicious and at a fair price. Tender and sweet! One of us got the fried shrimp and they were terrific!! If you feel like fish an absolute must! read more

We had the steamers and fried oysters to start. Excellent. Main course whole lobster that they partially Crack for you and the lobster roll. Both were very tasty and prepared correctly to our taste. The service was incredible. Will definitely go there again. read more

Great service. Delicious! We ordered a cup of the New England Clam Chowda which was creamy and full of flavor. We also had the Crab Pot which was also very filling! We asked for Old Bay seasoning on the side and that added a great kick to the crab. The legs were not dry and full of meat. We will definitely be coming back! Also, the service was fabulous! read more

Jack's Surf & Turf - Seafood & Steak - Cup of New England Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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