We went perhaps 45 minutes before the restaurant opened, and there was already a pretty long line. Fortunately, we were able to get in shortly after opening, and after eating the famous lobster roll, I could understand why. Their lobster roll can be served either cold with mayonnaise or hot with butter. We both went with hot and did not regret it! The roll is nicely toasted, and the butter goes so well with the lobster, which has a lightly sweet flavor to it. There's different parts of the lobster in the roll, which is nice. We opted for salad on the side rather than fries, and the salad was on point! It was a green salad with vinaigrette dressing, and we were both glad we ordered it! I hear the fries are great as well. read more

We were expecting a huge wait based on the reviews, but we planned a late lunch on a November weekday and walked right in to two beautiful seats at the bar facing the window. Our service was prompt, helpful and professional, and we felt well-attended. The bar and restaurant is simply beautiful, though small, with a wrap-around marble countertop as the focal point of the restaurant. For food, we split a dozen different MA oysters (keep it local, right?), and they were all distinctly flavorful. Some mineral, some buttery, some sweet. I found myself missing the oysters in WA, but these were much larger and still good. At the recommendation of half of these reviews, we couldn't help but order a hot buttered lobster roll to share. It was just enough for two without being overbearing. The lobster felt a bit chewy and overcooked, but the flavor was definitely there. The fries were hot, fresh and crispy. I would've rather had a larger roll and fewer fries, but we finished them all the same! It came to $75 for 12 oysters, a lobster roll, and a pilsner, which felt about right for a classy seafood lunch. I would definitely return for the oyster burger, or clam chowder, perhaps on another equally calm wintery day. I find it hard to believe that the food would be just as tasty after a 3 hour wait! read more

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We went there at 5pm and only waited for 45 minutes on a Sunday night, which was a really lucky day for us. Their oysters are amazing and all the dishes are fantastic and definitely worth the wait. The bar tenders are really friendly and you can see the chef handling the oysters on the other side. Their hot lobster roll with salad is the best of the best lobster roll I've ever had. The restaurant itself is tiny and can only take about 20 people at a time so that's why the line is always so long. read more

I just might be the last person in Boston to get to this place but the problem for me has been the typically long line to get in. Patience is not one of the virtues I am naturally blessed with. I have to work it...but a long line is not one of the places where I usually practice. Given how tiny this place is, the waits can be annoyingly long. But on this past Friday afternoon around 3:30, I was actually able to saunter right in with a dear friend and we bellied right up to the marble topped bar where two seats seemed to invite us to sit right down. Hallelujah, such good fortune, perhaps divine intervention: hallelujah; we were actually in! I do believe my jaw was hanging agape. I love the look of this little shoebox of a place from the black and white tile floor which must be original...and if it isn't someone did a seriously great repro job and I want their name, to the tin ceiling to every old world charm detail. We ordered two of probably every oyster they had on the menu and had fun comparing our impressions to the ones written on oyster description card...nutty, creamy, pea-like, etc. I have yet to meet an oyster I don't love and enjoy experiencing the nuanced differences amongst the different kinds. We were savoring these oysters with a lush bottle of prosecco when a feeling of well-being came over me and it occured to me that I was happy and in a gustatory heaven. Such is the power of oysters and prosecco. In fact these two items are on my "Last Meal" Yelp profile list. I hoped I wasn't jinxing myself because I had an otherwise busy weekend planned and was not quite ready to kick the bucket despite how delicious the food and drink were. We followed the oysters with one of the now famed and much Yelped about hot buttered toasted lobster rolls which we split. Don't get me wrong, I could have very easily eaten the entire fabulous dripping with deliciousness whole thing. I bet I could have eaten two of them. It is in fact as superb as everyone raves. But it is incredibly rich and so it was probably best for our arteries that we split one. It comes with a side of fries but they were really beside the point. The minus one star is for the less than friendly, indifferent service we received. Would it have killed one of the gaggle of gals behind the bar to smile, or to utter something remotely inviting or even to just fake a look if they had to, of being even vaguely interested in us? Sadly, this is what sometimes happens to places that go "viral" in popularity. They don't feel like they need to do much because regardless, people will still flock to stand in line outside the door forever and a day just try those dang lobster rolls and oysters. But this kind of service mars the overall experience. The 3 young woman behind the bar on this past Friday afternoon bummed me out. The food, prosecco and the decor luckily did not. read more

I feel like Neptune Oyster is the Franklin BBQ of Austin,TX except they are seafood and in Boston, MA. If you don't know Austin or Franklin let me explain. Both places are one the top places to eat their respective genre of food according to many food bloggers and yelp. At both places you will wait in line for about 3-4 hours. Ok so now you get it a little better hopefully. I do think good things are worth waiting for and in the case of Neptune it definitely paid off! We arrived a little after 7:00 pm. Here is how it works - you stand outside in a short line to talk to the lady that sticks her head out the door every now and then. She asks you how many are in your party and then takes your phone number. They will call you when it is about 15-10 minutes before you are going to get seated. I love this method personally because you are required to just stand in one spot for a long period of time! During this process we got to know the people in front of and behind us in line. My husband and I then made our way down the street strolling for a bit. We stopped in the pub across the way to burn some time and have some drinks. Finally slightly after 10pm we were called. When we arrived it was interesting to see the people who lasted and the ones that did not. We were all super excited to indulge in a dining experience we have been anticipating for some time. We were seated by our friends from line and some people that were at the end of their meal. All the seating in the restaurant is super close and tight, so you can talk to the table next to you easily. We ordered a round of rose wine for the two of us and then the big order. If you come here you must try the Lobster roll - it is a must for sure! We got it warm and it was so buttery and delicious. The lobster literally melted in my mouth! We also go the North End Cioppino, which was a fish stew. It was so creamy. We also ordered the Neptune Plateau, which is was a nice sample of oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster and crab. Everything was super fresh! I loved the crab salad that came with it too. We even ended up sharing some things with the table next to us - our line friends. So if you are going to come to Neptune and really do it up - then do it up! Order everything you would want. Make the best of the line and enjoy every minute of the culinary experience that it is. Yes - to me it was worth the money and the wait to dine here and I would absolutely do it again! read more

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I thought I knew everything there was to know about Neptune Oyster - get the lobster roll warm with butter, substitute out the fries for salad - but a recent Sunday lunch there proved me so very, very wrong. Sunday's special is fish tacos: griddled tortillas overflowing with thick pieces of lightly battered fish, drizzled in a slightly spicy aioli with a piquant pickled slaw on the side. These fish tacos are the best I've had on the East Coast and, in fact, I think they could stand up to fish tacos in San Diego! A new reason for worship on Sunday: Neptune Oyster's fish tacos. read more

-Lobster Roll Review- I was asked recently why I didn't give Neptune Oyster a 5-star review and it made me contemplate the core reason. Although the Lobster Roll was delicious, it was lacking. To be fair, I went there for the second time to truly enjoy the Lobster Roll on it's own with nothing on the side. The chunks of lobster were plentiful on the buttered bun with each of the pieces lightly buttered. What was lacking was the heat (temperature) of the lobster itself. If the lobster chunks were even slightly more heated, it would have been a home run! Besides the temperature, the lobster was also not de-veined with little 'poop' strings in my roll, ew ew ew. Delicious fries also comes along with this dish that seemed to be double fried for your tasting pleasure. Overall, do get the lobster roll and enjoy. Can it be better where it's a slam out of the park? Yes! Until then, I would still recommend this place and get your $25 Lobster Roll! read more

This was a major change. My usual bring the bratty "GIMMIE SEAFOOD I'M IN BOSTON! WHINE WHINE LOBSTER ROLL. C'MON LET ME GET SOME CHOW-DA IN A BREAD BOWL" out of town guests place has always been Union Oyster House or some dingy place like No Name Restaurant/Summer Shack.. or pasta seafood places like The Daily Catch. Those places aren't bad.. they just don't do it for me personally. In fact.. I don;t really hear running excitement of the mouth from the tourists either. They just turn silent and kind of let me take them to neighborhood hole in wall's after that.. which is good for me.. but sort of saddening. Neptune Oysters gon' dit it and killed it... in a living sense way. I've got to tell you.. Yelp did a good job placing this as one of the top Seafood in Boston places. I've also got to tell you how pissed off I was when we sat in this tiny place and looked at the prices. I felt uncomfortable for bringing two other people with me here.. but blah blah blah.. as soon as we started eating and the glasses of wine followed..it was all monopoly money and Rich Millionaire was back in business. The mood in there made me feel like cash too. Jazz, that white tile against the dim yellow brown-ish sexy lighting in large leather booth night time clean 40's diner ---oh baby. Liked the easy to order check off oyster list with simple descriptions. I recommend going hobo style and splitting half's of the oyster burger and HOT lobster roll's with another.. try both. SOOOOOOO GOOOOODDDD. So stuffed. So going back with every single one of the losers who come to visit. read more

Neptune Oyster - Half of the Oyster Burger/Half of the Lobster Roll with the Fries - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

HOT BUTTER LOBSTER ROLL!! I think I died and went to lobster roll heaven! It was soooooo delicious and all that I hoped it would be! (Thanks Leighann F. for the rec) But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's rewind. It was a dark, stormy Sunday night in Boston. The last thing I wanted to do was to go outside but since I was leaving Boston the next day, I knew Sunday dinner was my last chance to eat at Neptune Oyster. In a struggle between my mind and my stomach, my stomach won as it nearly always does. Hence the reason why I find it so hard to diet... but that's another topic for another time. My friend and I braved the heavy downpour and schedule changes in the T, and journeyed to the "best seafood restaurant in Boston." The horrid weather turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the restaurant wasn't busy at dinnertime and there was almost no wait to be seated. Neptune Oyster could probably thrive by serving just their famous lobster rolls, but they also have an awesome, extensive raw bar. I love how the raw bar menu comes as a paper checklist with descriptions of the size, salt content, and finish of each type of oyster - descriptive enough to make anyone feel like an oyster pro. I was tempted to order one of each type of oyster but I restrained myself so that I would have tummy space for the coming lobster roll. We decided on an oyster each of the Wellfleet (MA), Summerside (PEI), and Kumamoto (WA) oysters. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/y2w6rFaO0XEiG5mFfOsiFA?select=Be1zv40u4RUzcUU1TbCY6A They were all really fresh and a great appetizer before the Maine event... ... the Maine Lobster Roll! I had it hot with butter instead of cold with mayo. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/y2w6rFaO0XEiG5mFfOsiFA?select=SMtGg2WGYK8fXgvfJQWblw The giant lobster roll was absolute perfection; the lobster meat was buttery, fresh, plump, juicy, drool-worthy... need I go on? The bread roll was toasty warm and somehow managed to hold in the mountain of lobster meat. It also comes with a side of tasty battered fries in case you still have room in your tummy after the lobster roll. Next time I visit Boston I want to give the cold mayo lobster roll at Neptune a try. But in the meantime, the hot butter lobster roll at Neptune is a serious contender for the "Last Meal on Earth" slot in my Yelp profile. read more

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Are you looking for a quintessential and tasty New England seafood dish? Are you willing to wait a really long time to sit inside so you can order it? Are you willing to splurge a lot of money for it? If you said yes to all three questions, this place may have your answer. This place has been high on my list of restaurants to eat at in Boston and I finally found the right timing and opportunity to eat here. I took a friend to this place and here is what happened. We arrived at the restaurant at around 7:45 PM on a Saturday night, hoping that there would be less people, since they do not take reservations. The server said to me that it is going to be a two hour wait. This place has broke the record for the longest time I had to wait to eat in a restaurant. My expectations for the food made a significant jump from really low, to extremely high as my friend and I thought of ways to kill time while waiting as I gave the waitress my cell phone number. At around 9:55 PM we came back and a feeling of relief came when the waitress yelled out "AMBROSE?!" indicating that my friend and I got a spot to sit, even though it was at the bar. We quickly ordered the Maine Lobster Roll (both cooked with butter). Since I knew that I was not going to come back here for a long while, I also decided to order a piece of clam and a piece of oyster on the list and marked it. The clam and oyster I ordered were the Cherrystone Clam and Island Creek Oyster. They were served in a tray covered in ice and came with some sort of cocktail sauce. The Cherrystone Clam was decently good. The meat in this clam was tasty due to the sauce and also had a nice juicy taste to it. I am not much of an oyster connoisseur, but I did not detect much of the fruity finish according to the description of the Island Creek Oyster. Although I had meatier and tastier oysters compared to eating the Island Creek Oyster, it was not disappointing at all. It was decently good, very soft and refined in terms of tastiness. I felt like a high class wealthy person as I held up the oyster and began to eat it. Finally, the Maine Lobster Roll. It arrived within a very short time frame, and it came with a huge pile of French Fries. As for the size of the Lobster Roll I would say that it is approximately 16 cm in length, but definitely under 30 cm using rough estimates. I took a piece of lobster from the roll and put it into my mouth. I closed my eyes and began to chew. My taste buds and palate communicated with me... "YUM YUM YUM! Buttery, tender and meaty deliciousness! MMMMM... MMMMM.... MMMMMM!!!!" Yeah, my taste buds and palate experienced a feeling of jubilant rapture from the buttery flavor and the meaty tenderness of the lobster. It was probably the best cooked and most delicious lobster I have eaten. The bread was okay, tasted almost like a hot dog roll that you would get from a supermarket, but the tasty butter just made the bread five times tastier. As for the French Fries, they were pretty tasty with the right amount of softness and saltiness that made fries typically addicting to eat. They were not memorable fries, but definitely several steps above fries that you would get from Wendy's. Ketchup was also tasty as well. My friend really loved the Lobster Roll here, and thought he had some of the best seafood here. However, he said that he would not have the lobster in a roll because he did not like the bread that much. As for service, it was okay, somewhat effective. I could see that my server was trying to be nice but he also seemed to be under a lot of pressure because he was handling so many people and orders. It does not appear to be easy working in one of the busiest restaurants in Boston so I was extremely nice to the people who work there. The WC (means "Water Closet", another term for a lavatory) was small but decently clean. There is a quote on a giant mirror above the toilet by prominent American author Ernest Hemingway, so you can get a dosage of some Hemingway to read if that interests you while using the lavatory. Overall, this is one representation of Boston's food at its finest. If you are going to be in Boston for a short period of time, and you are looking for a very worthy restaurant to splurge, this is a strong candidate. Just be prepared to have a lot of time to kill if the wait is going to be really long. Despite the long wait, I believe that I have eaten some of the best lobster in Boston so far and I'll never look at lobster rolls the same way again. read more

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What can I add that hasn't already been said, other that THIS PLACE IS FUCKING AWESOME (don't think anyone's said that on Yelp yet). That's right I said FUCKING AWESOME so go ahead and flag me cause IDGAF! The Lobster Roll was absolutely delicious and stuffed with an insane amount of succulent perfectly dressed lobster meat. At $30 bucks it ain't cheap, but its well worth the spend. The clam chowder is another highlight and was perfect in every way. Each order is made from scratch and I might even go so far as to say it's the BEST I've ever had. Now if you're looking to go over the top like me, go ahead and order the Triton sampler, and you'll be presented with wonderful array of oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster, and crab all on a ice cold silver platter. And if that ain't livin large then I don't know what is Monica LOL read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I was in Boston for only 1 night for work, so of course, had to explore the city and get my lobster fix! Found Neptune Oyster on Yelp but was still skeptical, so I Googled and found it as #3 on the bucket list of foods to eat in Boston-- sold! My coworker and I underestimated the wait here because it was a Monday night and not a weekend. We were told the wait was 1 hour, but it ended up being 1.5-2 hours. No biggy though because we walked around some more and visited some boutique stores nearby as well as grabbing drinks at a nearby Japanese restaurant bar. We were starting to get hangry but did not want to give up since we waited over an hour already (worth the wait by the way). Anyway... the only lobster rolls I have comparison to are those I've had at the pier in San Francisco and let me tell ya'-- I am not having lobster rolls again in San Francisco because I will hold my cravings until I can fly to Boston. The hot butter lobster roll was delicious and thanks to a very nice local gentleman who recommended the lobster spaghettini (which is the Monday special), we ordered both and had wayyyy too much lobster but enjoyed every bite of them. We also shared clam chowder which was a huge bowl and homemade with lots of clams in it! All 3 things ordered were delicious but the portions were too big. Definitely stopping by again when I'm in Boston.... next time, with more people! read more

Neptune Oyster - Top: Lobster Roll (hot butter), came with fries Bottom: Lobster Spaghettini Order both--delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Love this place. Great oysters, amazing Lobstah roll, great ambiance, great location for a nice walk after.

This place is amazing! We arrive around 8:30 on a Friday and had to wait for an hour. Waiting to eat was the best decision I've ever made. Every single thing we ordered was exceptional. I'd highly recommend the oysters, HOT lobster roll, and the JOHNNYCAKE!! I can't say enough about the Johnny cake. The sweet Johnny cake and honey butter with the salty fish and caviar paired perfectly together. Our server Hailey was super nice and helpful when it came to deciding what to order. We love this place! read more

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As a native Bostonian Neptune Oyster is wicked awesome. If you're going to be in Boston and your craving a lobster roll there is no other place unless you plan on driving to Maine. Now be prepare for a long wait during any hour. When I'm back in town, I try to arrive 10 minutes prior to the 11:30 opening and there is usually a line. Oh FYI, if you put your name in and you have over an hour wait, head south and around the corner there's a Boston public library. There is no admission fee to look around and read a book while you're waiting. Now the secret to a great lobster roll (lots of sweet tail and crawl meat stuffed into a New England style toasted bun and soaked in HOT butter). Besides lobster rolls, I have sampled the oysters, clam chowder, mussels and fish tacos and everything is absolutely phenomenal!! Again, the only downside about this place is the long lines so get there early. read more

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Hemingway was a foodie. So it was no surprise for me to see a Hemingway quote written on on the bathroom mirror of Neptune Oyster. He "ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea" and "drank their cold liquid from each shell." I too did this today. I ordered the Island Creek Oysters. They were definitely the most fresh-tasting and perfectly textured oysters I have encountered. The "sea taste and the succulent texture," as Hemingway describes, is a very enjoyable experience. They were delightfully salty, and came with a delicious horse-radish sauce. I washed it all down with Harpoon IPA. I cannot imagine a Boston oyster experience as perfect as this. For my entree, I ordered the Lobster Roll, cold. The plate: a large, fresh, moist, toasted bun topped with a heaping pile of expertly mayo-ed and seasoned lobster pieces. On the side are some of the best fries one can imagine. The toasted bread topped with lobster is the perfect bite, and seems to be endless with the large satisfying amount you are given. If you are lucky enough to have eaten at Neptune Oyster as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Neptune Oyster is a Moveable Feast. read more

Neptune Oyster - Hemingway quote on the bathroom mirror. - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lobster rolls are always the best - warm or cold - either way. We had the side salad instead of fries which made it a little lighter. The one place I always have to go to in Boston. read more

The food is very good and the oysters are great however there are plenty of restaurants in Boston that have great seafood. The place is way to small and the staff seem very frustrated and aggravated by the customers. I have been there more then once and each time is exactly the same. The owners need to work on the customer experience with staff and they need to find a larger location. It's great that they are the new, trendy hip place to go however that will not last forever. I would. Of recommend going to the restaurant until they fix customer service and size of the location. read more

Order the hot lobster rolls, clam bake and OYSTERS!!! Lines move fairly quickly but come early so you won't be disappointed.

This is a place I've been going to since I was living in Boston during my college years. I'm a Boston girl through and through so I love anything seafood. This place will satisfy any seafood craving you have. My favorites here are: -of course oysters -lobstah roll -anything crab!! -and the chowdah! Come with an appetite and also early! The wait can be long most nights. read more

I come here all the time and will probably continue to do so because the food is good. Problem is that I've had a few bad staff/service experiences - being rude, asking us to leave the minute we finish our last bite, not acknowledging us for more than 30 min at the door, etc. It's also overrun with confused and aggressive tourists, which reflects in part it's overwhelming popularity and in part the staff's inability/refusal to communicate with the patrons. In addition to the great food the wine list is good and very well priced given the quality. read more

As someone who loves oysters, i would say hands down this is one of the top oyster places in town. the shellfish was very fresh when i went, and service was pretty good. The lobster roll is very generous in size and the fries are amazing. If you want to eat here I'd advise going at off hours as they're usually pretty packed! read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Neptune Oyster was the highlight of the road trip that my roommate and I took to Boston. After almost 5 hours of zigzag driving (we're awful drivers with no sense of direction), we made it to Neptune around 3pm -- our first destination. We made our way through the mass of people standing outside only to wait inside for about 20 minutes before the hostess acknowledged us. She was doubling as waitress so whatever. We were quoted a 2.5 hour wait which I had anticipated, based on the reviews that I had read. Soo, we went on a little lobster roll sampling run in the area (Pauly's, North End Fish Market, Boston Chowda Co) to wait it out. The host called us exactly 2.5 hours later! Even after devouring 3 lobster rolls, we were determined to sample a good portion of the menu. We ended up splitting some oysters, a lobster roll, and their scallops entree. The oysters were AMAZING. You're given a little paper oyster menu and pencil to check off the ones that you want. We decided on the Beausoleil (hints of champagne), Kumamoto (hints of honeydew melon), and Kusshi(sweet, cucumber finish) based on the interesting descriptions. I'm not sure why I was so surprised when they all tasted exactly as they were described hahahha but that was indeed the case. So fresh. Soo good. My favorite was the Kumamoto! Since all the lobster rolls we sampled before Neptune were cold, we decided to get the warm lobster roll with fries. Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed. It wasn't even that we were lobstered out or maybe we were? There was definitely a lot of huge, fresh lobster chunks but not any more so than on the ones we had tried at the other spots. Meanwhile, this roll was practically double the price! I also think the lobster could have used a pinch of salt. The roll was also a tad soggy. The fries were solid, though! The scallops that we ordered here are THE BEST THAT I'VE EVER HAD. These babies were monstrous -- plump, seared and seasoned to perfection. This dish comes with d'anjou pear butter, duck confit, brussel sprouts and Maytag blue. Seemingly an odd combination of rather complex ingredients but everything worked perfectly! It was the ultimate flavor explosion. The brussel sprouts were roasted perfectly. The pear butter was very mild but welcome -- I soaked the brussel sprouts and scallops in it. The duck confit was salty, rich and flavorful. We didn't get the blue cheese on our dish that it was supposed to come with, but it was fine nonetheless. I actually think the flavor of it would have been too sharp if there was more than a sprinkling. The meal was definitely not cheap but I can't get over the amazing oysters and scallops. I most definitely will be back to Neptune the next time that I am back in Boston -- probably go on an oyster run while waiting it out! read more

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Prior to visiting town, I had read that Neptune Oyster had one of the best lobster rolls in Boston. I also read that it cost $29. Not only could I eat the best lobster roll in Boston, but I could also tell people that I spent $29 on a lobster roll. It's a win-win. Needless to say, the launch sequence had been activated. I got to Boston with six others in my group. I might have encouraged them all to hoof it from the harbor to the North End to try this place I had heard about. When we arrived--surprise!--it would have been impossible to seat all seven of us in such a small place. I didn't want to give up and leave, but group dynamic being what it is, we set out for another place to eat. After realizing that all of these North End places are literal holes-in-walls that would not easily fit seven, I made my move. I informed the group that we'd be best off splitting up and reconvening after we all ate. Then I high-tailed my Uranus back to Neptune Oyster. As a single diner I was seated immediately while groups were told that it would be a two hour wait. Generally I do not care to read people's personal stories on Yelp, I want to know if the food is good or not. I tell my story this time to impress upon you this fact: the lobster roll is as good as advertised and you should break up your group to get it. They'll probably forgive you, but you'll definitely love your meal. I chose the hot buttered lobster roll, because hot butter is great and mayo is disgusting. There was a ton of meat stuffed into the bun, so you're not solely paying for the name on the building, you are getting a substantial sandwich. The lobster meat was tender and juicy and did I mention slathered in butter. Butter! The bun was soft but still held up well to the heavy load it was subjected to. In a moment of weakness, I asked for salad on the side instead of fries. I guess I was lobster-drunk. It was fine, but looking at the other diners in the place I kind of wish I had their fries. I am cheap. So cheap. But I would pay $29 for this meal every day of the week. Such a good meal. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We ordered the Monday special which was lobster spaghettini, a very generous serving of lobster. Highly recommend it. Raw oysters were great. Wonderful service at the bar. read more

Amazingggg, this is the highest rated restaurant in Boston for a reason. For anyone who likes oysters this place is a must, for anyone who likes lobster rolls this place is a must (get the hot one), and for anyone who just loves delicious food especially seafood this place is a must. Although it doesn't have all the glitz and glamour of other establishments this no nonsense locally owned restaurant serves some of the best food you'll ever eat. If you want razzle and dazzle go somewhere else but if you're a true foodie come here and spend big trying as much as you can because its worth every penny and then some. read more

Great food, mostly good service. However, the clam chowder was absolutely horrendous. Watery, devoid of any flavor, literally 2 clam bits inside, and the waitress claimed it was just "their style" of clam chowder, which was an obvious blatant lie. read more

I didn't read reviews until the minute I stepped foot in the restaurant; I know, how non-Yelp of me. However the numerous recommendations were word enough to get me aboard this place. Keep in mind it's a bit pricy, but if you don't frequent Boston often then I'd say this place is definitely worth shoveling the cash out for. Atmosphere: people warned me about the wait. I was expecting to get there, put a name down, and roam around for an hour. We got there just a little before 6 and the counter had only 2 open seats left, and lo and behold we snagged them with no wait whatsoever #blessed. But shortly after the people coming in were told it would be 45 minute-1.5 hour wait. So plan accordingly! Food: at the recommendation of my best friend, we ordered the Johnnycake. Cornmeal pancake, doused in honey butter and topped with truffled trout and caviar. This has to be by far in the top ten of tastiest things I have ever eaten. The mix of salt and sugar was a perfect harmony and the blended texture of the pancake and the trout worked so well together. It was warm, soft, and all sorts of flavors that cater to the taste buds. Well, WELL worth the $17. I kind of wish they made this as an entree and had like three stacks of the cornmeal pancakes and truffled trout galore. Lobster roll and fries for main, warm butter. They are not stingy with the lobster meat here, which explains why it's $30. The warm butter was great and not too overpowering, and the lobster meat was fresh. The roll was also very soft and easy to break apart, and at some points I had to use a knife and fork. The fries were good as well, but nothing better than what I've had before. Service: friendly and quick. Would recommend if you're visiting Boston and wanna drop some cash for an awesome meal. One star off because I'm poooooooor and I can't always afford this. read more

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TLDR: Wait ridiculous, rude bartender, mediocre food. I waited half an hour at 7pm just to put my name on a list. I was told it would be an hour, so that didn't seem too bad. After an hour and a half I thought maybe I should check that they had my phone number down correctly. Even getting through the front door was a challenge. People were crowded on either side of the staircase, I had to say excuse me to even squeeze by - surely a fire hazard. There was no hostess, no one to check in with. I waited for a long time, finally had to give up. Before I did, I saw some people walk in to sit at the bar, and I asked a barmaid if they had been called. Mind you, it was a madhouse with seemingly no one in charge. She said very rudely, "Yes they were, do you have a problem with that?" I was called at 9:17. When I could squeeze in, again there was no one to check in with, no information. Many other people were waiting, crowded in the entrance, and everyone had been called. Finally I was shown my seat at the bar. I ordered two items, and both were unbelievably salty - and I say that as someone who loves salt. Salt should bring out the flavors, not BE the dominant flavor. The raw fluke and watermelon did not compliment each other at all. The clams were fresh, but not cleaned of all the grit. Before I was done eating, I was told the kitchen would be closing. Seriously, I was seated an hour late, without apology, and they can't extend the kitchen hours? The seafood was fresh, that's the best I can say. I didn't order a drink, because frankly I the restaurant had pretty much ruined my evening and I wasn't in the mood. read more

Fantastic seafood bar, cozy and unforgettable. Delicious oysters. Though I'm spoiled by kusshis and kumamotos in Seattle, the Island Creek oysters were delicious, liked these better than the beau soleils. Didn't care for the littlenecks, had a very strong sea taste. Georges Bank scallops: Luscious and fresh - some of the best scallops I've ever had, beautifully presented. Served with pear butter, a delicious duck confit, and perfectly roasted brussel sprouts. Requested this w/o the maytag blue. Whole-roasted branzino: Outstanding. Love branzino, have had it in Vegas and Seattle. This was perfectly roasted, a handsome dish. Lobster roll (hot) lives up to the hype. Definitely 1-1.5 lobsters in the roll, made with minimal filler. A bite you'll never forget. Pro-tip: Explore North End while you're waiting for a seat at Neptune. Plenty of cute shops in the neighborhood, pick up a snack at Modern Pastry. We put our name down around 5 (party of 3), were told the wait would be 1.5 hrs (not bad), got lucky and were seated by 5:50. read more

Had a recent trip to Boston and had a night to kill so what better way than to walk around North End and Little Italy? Being from the Pacific Southwest, lobster rolls aren't something that I get to eat very often but Neptune Oyster's warm, buttery lobster roll was unequivocally the best lobster roll I have ever eaten. They pile on the lobster and the bread is warm, soft, and flavored so well from the butter. Came in at about 6:30pm, left my name down for a party of 2 and waited 2-hours for a seat. There's so much to do in that area so 2-hours passed pretty quickly. read more

Neptune Oyster - Amazing lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Really rude manager. Yelled across the restaurant in sassy tone to her co workers. Vibe ruiner in such a small restaurant. Oysters were great but all they had to do was shuck them. read more

Is been over ten years since I've been visiting Neptune Oysters, and I think is about time for me to leave a review of my experiences. The establishment has not changed over the years, delivering consistent seafood in a laid back atmosphere. The platter delivers good value and variety for out of town guests, the lobster roll always a solid go to, and the daily specials gets changed up once in awhile to keep things new. I usually like to sit at the bar chatting with staff and guests, keep things interesting. The space is really tight, and the wait can be long especially during blistering cold evenings when all you want is a couple oysters and a chowder. The food is, like I said before, consistent, fresh, and always hit the spot. the prices have gone up steadily up over the years but is only natural. I recommend this place to take guests from out of town for Boston seafood experience when you don't want to sit in a formal setting. The perk is also located within North End so always stop by for Modern or Maria's (for locals) or Mike's (for tourists). Normally spend about $80 for two people, and $150 for a first time experience, with tax and tip is $100 to $200. read more

Here on Thursday night around 7ish and the wait was already 1.5 hour long... the place is pretty compact and the hostess asked everyone on the wait list to come back when it's their time. So we did... walked around the blocks several times, and eventually waited outside... time went by super slow as I stood by the door-front freezing my butt off while everyone inside was enjoying warm delicious seafood. Thought to myself, this better be worth the hype! As it turned out... it was! We were seated and served with the utmost friendly service. Really enjoyed a good selection of fresh oysters and jumbo shrimp cocktails. As for the lobster roll, the sweet buttery flavors soaked at the bottom of a soft fluffy toasted roll and combined with fresh chunks of lobster meat... it's was so heavenly tasty! I will definitely come back again, except in a warmer season. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Wow, this place is so incredibly overrated and overpriced. Came here for lunch with my boyfriend on our visit to Boston, luckily it was a Wednesday and there was no waiting time! Between the two of us, we shared a clam chowder and a lobster roll. These two items ended up costing us a whopping $45....that's crazy. I could have had a really nice steak for that price. Anyways.....onwards to the food: Clam chowder: There were pieces of shells from the clams in the chowder.......are you kidding? The potatoes were also undercooked. And while it was more watery than the traditional clam chowders that I'm used to in California, it was light and not bad. Just not great. Lobster Roll: So not worth the price. The roll's pretty small, and yeah, it's filled with lobster, but guess what? You can taste that the lobster isn't exactly high grade and super fresh. Very disappointing. I've had better lobster rolls off of food trucks. Point is, this place isn't worth the wait or your money. Go somewhere else for your Boston goodies! read more

Came in on a rainy day at 530pm but already needed to wait for 15min! Loved the oysters and the lobster roll with roasted bread! I don't think I can go back to Luke's or legal seafood after this. read more

mmmm.... mmmmMMMM .... MMMMMM !!!! Several orgasmic food things can be found on Neptune's menu, including (explanations below): + Clam Chowder 11.00 + Oysters 2.30 to 2.80 ea + Sweet Potato Puree part of a 31.00 entree + Warm Buttered Lobster Roll 25.00 CLAM CHOWDER Milky, not over-creamed, clean crisp taste if you ever thought that was possible of a chowder, definitely not your traditional version, but had all the classic ingredients (clam chunks, potatoes, cream). Something about the underlying flavor of this dish ROCKED my world. Perhaps an extra concentrated lobster broth? Salsify? What is it?? OYSTERS Flying Point, ME - HUGE shell, big and meaty with an earthy mushroom finish; Pemaquid, ME - medium in size with a citrus finish (definitely accurately described by Neptune staff); Sunnyside, PEI - medium in size, mild flavor with a rush of sake at the end (boo-yah!). My fave was definitely Flying Point. In my mind, the bigger the better! And at $2.3 ea, it was a great deal, too! Pricing the individual oyster is the way to go. Neptune is king at that. SWEET POTATO PUREE This special item came with Saturday's special of pork 'n clams. It was prepared this time with two thick pork chops served over a dollop of the puree and all of this topped with fried clams and julienned apple slaw. This whole dish was divine, might I add, but the puree was something to behold. Sweet potato, you think, sweet. But not this time. It's sweet was cut with some mystery savory thing and it was light and umami-licious! A bowl of that stuff aside my lobster roll would put me over the edge! Speaking of which ... WARM BUTTERED LOBSTER ROLL If you love lobster, you must get this dish! Don't be swayed to trying other thingers, because this dish will get your libido rolling! It's not an impressive size but when has size mattered in life...? *shrug* The warm version must be opted for over cold, since, where else can you get a warm lobster roll except in CT?? It's served with thick cut fries (hardly worthwhile). Ah, but the meat of the lobster is nice and cut into mouthful sized pieces where you can tell which piece is from the tail, knuckle, and claw. It's drizzled with warm butter which soaks right into the roll. And all together: salt, butter, meat, and soft roll with a slight char ... WOW I was in heaven! I consider myself a picky lobster eater but I will return over and over for this treasure. Other things to consider: + The restaurant is small. The bar is reserved for diners not waiters. Expect to wait. There are no reservations. + Some of the other entree options weren't up to par with the flavors of the dishes described above. + The Vitello Tonnato was bland and difficult to eat. + The mussels, though very well prepared, were over-dilled. I'd say stick with the fronds and root, but forget about the seeds. + The salmon was unimpressive in size and cooked quality. Perhaps slightly over-cooked. + TRY the special for the night. This isn't your restaurants leftovers. Think: fresh catch/in season. I SHALL RETURN All in all, I can't wait to return to try all of the offerings and/or gorge myself in beautifully shucked oysters all day and paired with a Whale's Tale or Geary's Pale Ale. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I did this Neptune right. Neptune did me right. I want some more Neptune in my life right now. Basically, I went at 5:30, gave my phone number and name with the goal to be seated before 8 p.m. Good Start, Good Idea. After being told 2 hours...I waited at a nearby bar, drank one glass of wine and waited for my Father from out of town to come later. (good idea if you have company to go before them) We were seated at 7:45 after an arduous wait outside, drooling at the little man in the window shucking oysters. We chatted it up with tourists, it was totally cute and added to the experience. And then we were seated, obviously closely to the group next to us. Which was quite fun because they were all foodies and totally excited to be there as well. It was such a family little experience I loved sitting nearby people. It was charming, not annoying. Did I mention our HILARIOUS and freaking awesome waiter?! So cool. He had a fun nickname too....I forget what is was, he was fast, sharp, funny and engaging. I started off with five different oysters. All fresh and delicious. All East Coast ones, they came out quickly after ordering. We thought it was bad karma to not order two hot, buttered, dripping with pleasure-inducing sensation, lobster rolls. So we did. And my mouth is drooling onto my computer as we speak, remembering it's toasty, lump, plump lobstery, buttery, briochy goodness. It's 25 dollars. It's a food orgasm. Who is complaining?! Also, the fries were delish, crisp and bomb. Very good to hold up to the quality of the roll. My father also tried a bowl of the clam chowder, which was in a thin broth (not thick and chunk) with tons of plump little clams floating around and fresh veggies that were still magically al dente, but divine and all topped with a fresh crack of pepper to add some real pep. We saw tons of delicious fish and clams and oysters and tuna and tartare all come out during our magical, foodgasm family experience at Neptune...and I must say. I want to go back. Do it right. Get it tonight and get you're Neptune going. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Absolutely delicious! Worth the two hour wait. We tried the seared scallops (best scallops I have ever had), the lobster roll, several East coast oysters and the tuna crudo. All were delicious but if you like scallops, those are a must try. read more

Neptune Oyster - Storefront - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Recently had dinner here. The seafood is definitely fresh and tastes good. I had the JohnnyCake and it was great, also had the Lobster Roll hot, it tasted very fresh. I personally like more flavor on lobster rolls like Tarragon, but thats a personal preference. Lobster itself doesn't have alot of flavor, and their hot lobster rolls are just butter and bread. The service was great but very busy, constantly rushing. I waited (standing) over 2hrs for a 1 person seat, which seemed ridiculous. Overall, if you really want fresh seafood, and you dont mind waiting, you may enjoy it. read more