The North End is not all about Italian food as you can see. Neptune Oyster offers one of the best seafood in the state of MA. If you want to be one of the first to get a table, fall in line as early as 10AM (Doors open at 11AM). The space is a bit tight but it just adds to the ambiance. This is my second time around and I always order their Lobster Roll. My only complaint is that I can't get half fries half salad. read more

This was on my must-try list for Boston and it didn't disappoint. We ordered way too much for 2 people but it was a good meal. My favorite was the oysters and the lobster roll. The Jonny cake was a good (and unexpected in flavor/dish) finish with a sweetness into it. Octopus was good but not the best in town, clam chowder was okay; and the Tuesday special was okay/good. Good wine selection. But the place is so HOT!! I was dripping down in sweat, sitting at 2nd table from the door, at 8:30pm. Line was not bad but we did have a late dinner so I'd say plan accordingly. read more

See all

We waited in line for an hour, and when we got close to the front, they told us the kitchen was closed. No warning, no apology--just "we're not serving you." That's not just bad service, it's straight-up disrespectful. No place is worth that kind of treatment. read more

We hopped in line a little after 11 on a Monday and waited for about 30ish minutes for a table for 4. The food was great! Easily some of the best oysters I've ever had (there's a reason for the prices). We ordered a bottle of prosecco as well as some other things to try including the octopus and crab claws. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the waitress was a bit snippy and didn't offer much of an explanation of anything before we ordered. Otherwise, it was a great experience and definitely worth a stop if the line isn't too long! read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Neptune's is the most hyped restaurant in all of Boston, and yes it 100% lives up to that hype. For a party of three we began to queue at 10:30 am for an 11am opening on a Saturday. We got seated immediately at opening. I'd recommend this if you don't want to wait for hours, as it is first come first serve. My table ordered the fried calamari (8/10) and mussels (9/10) for starters. We also shared a mix of a dozen oysters (9.5/10) from the oyster bar menu. For the main event we ordered three hot lobster rolls (two arugula salad and one with fries as side orders - 10/10). We honestly probably could've shared two rolls with the amount of food we ordered prior. Overall, great experience, solid food, and incredible service. Highly recommend for first timers. read more

See all

Our experience at Neptune Oyster was wonderful. We were a bit skeptical at first because we heard there may be a long line. We went on a Friday around 3 pm, and were pleased to see the line was very short. We were sat quickly at the bar, where we ended up very close with other patrons because the place is so small. We ordered two dozen oysters, which were amazing! They had various options to choose from and we selected a few of each type. They were big too, I had a great time trying the different flavors of each type. My bf got a lobster roll and clam chowder. The chowder was less traditional, more watery and buttery. I was impressed by the flavor, it was rich and creamy despite not having the typical chowder consistency. I would recommend trying this if you love chowder! The lobster roll was loaded with meat and was delicious as well. However, the side salad that came with it was just a pile of arugula, which was kind of random. I picked the squid ink risotto for my entree, and it was good as well. It was thick and tasted totally different than it looked! It looked strange, since it was a black and green dish with squid pieces. It tasted creamy and cheesy, and the squid was perfectly chewy. It was so filling, that I didn't finish and took a lot of leftovers home. By the time we paid and left, there was a VERY long line by the door. So it seemed like we came at the perfect time! The overall vibe of this place was very vintage and cute. We will be back someday for another great seafood dinner or lunch! TL;DR: good seafood, great oysters. Place is small, be mindful of how busy it gets. Great spot in the north end for dinner or lunch. read more

See all

This is simply the best restaurant in Boston, the food, the service the ambiance, everything was worth the one hour wait to get a table. They do not take reservations and do not hold a waiting list. If you want to dine in you need to wait in line outside. Probably one of the best meals I've had in the entire year was worth every minute of wait. They offer daily specials and we were lucky enough to go on a Friday night where risotto is offered. We tried multiple types of oysters, the hot lobster roll, risotto, and a bottle of white wine. It was our first time in the city and from all the places we tried this was our favorite. Prices are typical for lobster products in Boston, but the quality and quantity much superior than any other place we tried in the city. I would dare to say this is the best lobster roll I've ever eaten. Oysters were the freshest and most delicious we tried in the city as well. Some locals told us that in order to avoid lines is best to come at odd hours. It's usually very packed as in only seats around 35 people at the time. So if you don't want to wait maybe try going at hours where people don't usually have dinner or lunch. read more

See all

The lobster roll was phenomenal. The lobster pieces were large and fresh and plentiful. The fries were crispy and hot and not overly salted. The wait was a little long but 100% worth it! Our server was also very kind and quick. Gave us very good recommendations for the raw bar. The restaurant was a bit small, but had a cozy vibe. Will definitely come again! read more

Neptune Oyster - Maine Lobster Roll Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Neptune Oyster serves one of my favorite lobster rolls in Boston. The oysters were always tasty. This time, I also tried the North End Cioppino, which was absolutely delicious with rice infused with the flavorful seafood broth. This might become my go-to menu item from now on! Food was served relatively fast after ordering. The restaurant is quite small. There are some bar seatings and a row of table seatings. Expect a wait unless you come before they open. There was already a line formed when my friend and I got here right when they opened on Saturday. We were seated at a table combined with a table seating a party of 4, which was a little awkward. However, the food was worth it! read more

See all

I got the neptune johnnycake, clam chowder and white wine as my meal by the bar on a weekday. It's a bit of a cramped place but I was there to be in and out for dinner. The server was nice to tell me that what I chose wasn't too much and good enough for 1 person and I agree. The johnnycake was good although I don't know if I would get it again. Could be the particular fish that is used? The clam chowder was watery and barely had any clams. I also wish it was thicker soup. It was a big bowl though. The guy next to me did say I should get the fried clams and dang it, I wish I did because he ordered it and it looked so good!! I'll have to give this place another try because I didn't see the hype on this 1st time here. read more

See all

This Friday morning, I had a mission - get to Neptune Oyster at opening to beat the worst of the lines. I arrived at 11:15 to what seemed like a short line of a dozen people, but I failed to realize that everyone in the restaurant had just received seating at opening, so I ended up getting a seat with my friend at 12. Once inside, I ordered the seafood crudo special (mkt, $17 today), a dozen oysters (split with my friend, ~$40 total), and the Friday special's cuttlefish Ink risotto ($38). The crudo arrived first. The first seemed fresh and firm, but not hard. The olive oil possessed a velvety texture, coating the fish but never once seeming greasy or overly oily. The garnishes provided immaculate texture contrasts, from the crunchy nuts to crisp of vegetables. The strawberries provided acidity without unbalancing the palate with too much sugar. The raw oysters, priced at ~$3/ea, tasted immaculately fresh. I appreciated the tasting notes, mentioning not just origin, but also brine and finishing taste. The raw oysters came accompanied with cocktail sauce, mignonette, and lemon wedges. The risotto, which arrived 20 minutes after the crudo and raw oysters, also impressed. The green cream sauce cut the savoriness of the risotto and added a hint of earthiness. The cuttlefish, cooked to perfection, remained tender, with not a single overcooked piece. It also included a bit of lobster, a welcome surprise. Overall, I left satisfied and impressed. I can understand the hour long wait even on Friday at 11:15. read more

See all

Neptune Oyster is THE seafood stop in Boston's North End or some say even the city. Neptune is always crowded as it is a very small resto. It is loaded with hungry, patrons (that wait in line upwards of one hour to 90 minutes) to eat here, and it's very popular on social too. They do not take reservations which is a drag during winter when I visited. One day, I happen to walk by and there were only 5 people in line so in I went, got a bar seat in 20. The 3 plates I tried were good to very good. The Uni toast was good if a bit too gooey with Mayo. The Rockport mackerel was verrry good. Sautéed in a nicely made Basque pipperada, the tomato layer really married well with the fish-- a nice change from the usual New England inspired preparation. The oysters were excellent and fresh too. So, the menu has not changed in over 2 years, not by much. The mackerel was its newest addition from last year. The lobster roll here is excellent, at least the warm version. Tho social lives to taut NO for their lobster roll, there are better lobster rolls in Boston, some also in Maine and NH. Two other issues: It is frightfully tight in here, so tight that if you aimed to pick up a fallen utensil you are domino knocking over your neighbors. I'm a short person and I felt cramped. There is no coat check. So in winter, it's even tighter. I know not to visit when it's cold. The waits can exceed one hour and beyond. People line up even during extreme weather. And honestly the plates here are not unique or exceptional enough to warrant this kind of punishment....unless of course you wanna post on social. It will be tougher for me to visit NO in the future. It's definitely a no-NO in winter. I get the sense proprietor is living off lines forming as street marketing and of having hordes, (freezing in winter) queue up for his/her restaurant. Not a good vibe. There is No option for a reservation. While the plates are very good, it's not worth the wait in winter or drippy summer. End of Yelp. read more

See all

I have wanted to get in and have some local seafood. It's not a big place and to be honest if you want room to relax this is not really the place . The best time to come here is a weekday after 1pm. The line was only a few of us and I went myself and got a seat at the bar. My server gave me a menu and a list of the oysters and on said list she put hearts next to her favorites. I got six they were just right. Not too briny but full of flavor. They make there own mignonette and cocktail sauce. I started my meal with a glass of Rose' and later just because I guess she was in the mood I got a glass of bubbly from my server it was very kind. Oddly enough I made a comment on the Champagne as I have had it before and yes I have it in my at home cellar. Yes I know you are saying why did you not order a lobster roll. I'm kind of particular about those and we make them at home. Don't worry I'll try one.. I got the Lobster Caprese (it was a special) which was delicious! Lots of lobster the tail, claws and etc. Fresh burrata cheese, beautiful cherry tomatoes and fresh basil with a light olive basil oil dressing. I figured I'd take some to go.. dear reader I ate it all! It was scrumptious. What's nice about this place even though it's tight quarters I had a great conversation with a few of the people at the bar while we were dining. The inside is painted white and has some mirrors to make the space larger. Chairs are the color or deep woods. The bar area where I sat was was it marble or quartz it was lovely. The vibe is casual but as I said it's tight quarters. I will be back and I'll bring my husband or anyone else who wants to go. You must visit.. I give it 4.5/5 Parking is at a premium but if you are able Uber/walk over... read more

See all

I think there is a lot of hype and the food is very good but not the best I've ever had. Waited about 90 minutes and luckily got a good table on the corner. It's very small inside and some seats are shared at one long table. There wasn't calamari on the menu but we asked if they made it and they do! It's delicious. Chowder is not traditional at all - very thin and diluted with little to no heavy cream. Not what you expect when you order New England clam chowder. The lobster roll gets extra points for the portions! Nice warm and buttery but not the best I've ever had. I'd go back if the line wasn't too long read more

See all

The first stop of my brief Boston trip! I went to Neptune oyster with my dad and sister before her graduation. We arrived around 12pm and it was pretty busy with most tables filled and lots of people seated at the bar. I ordered the fish & chips, my sister ordered the lobster roll, and we also shared two types of oysters. The oysters were very good, and I enjoyed the sauce that came with it. I think they were my favorite part of the meal. I considered changing my review to 4 stars because of the oysters but I'm not sure that would be accurate. For my fish & chips, I was pretty disappointed in the portion size. As you can see in the image, the fish strips were quite thin and I only got three of them. It was mostly fries, with a bit of fish on top. I later saw them bring out another plate of fish & chips were the person got like 3x the fish because the fish filets they got were bigger, which I obviously wasn't happy about. The fish was alright -- I liked the nice, crispy fry -- but overall they were a bit bland/unbalanced with the seasoning, so some parts tasted good and other parts were a bit flavorless. I left still feeling kind of hungry. I also tried a bit of my sister's lobster roll, which I felt was a bit too buttery. I think she enjoyed it though, so it may just be my personal preference. read more

See all

***not a food review, an establishment review**** You're never, ever getting in this place. Ever! So forget about it. I've been trying since 2015, no dice. NO RESERVATIONS either. Forget about it! read more

Amazing HUGE LOBSTAH ROLLS! Highly recommend this place fish is fresh always as well !

The line was more than one hour wait. I expected spectacular. I got average. The line and hype did not do it for me. There are much better local places that have fresh tasty seafood without an hour long wait. The server was rude until we started to ignore her. We gave her a 20% tip but she did not earn it. The chowder was watery and average flavor. The French fries were excellent. The lobster rolls were good. But again not worth the one hour wait. read more

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

See all

A must try when in Boston. Neptune Oyster is one of the oldest raw bars in New England. You will find s long line no matter the day or time that you go. I only had an hour so I got in line with a dozen people in front of me. I wondered why it seemed that the Neptune always slipped my reach each time I was in the north end. Everyone in line chatting and getting to know eachother. I explained my dilemma and wondered outloud if the take to go orders. A kind woman in front of me did call them at this number. I did and within five minutes I was walking away with a Neptune lobster roll and an amazimg salad. I found a park bench, there are many throughout the north end. The Lobster was sweet. Fresh and flavorful. So many times I get frozen meat or all claw meat at other places. I didn't even need lemon to bring out the flavor. The roll was not buttered not toasted this leaving a speck of disappointment. The salad I and for my flight back to Ft. Lauderdale. When they stayed passing out cheese- it's and pretzels, I pulled out the salad. It was carefully packed in a white plastic container with a lid do tight. It was like prying an oyster open. The delicate greens were excellent and the vinegarette dressing was perfect. I will order this salad energy time. Hopefully next time I won't be in a rush and I can enjoy take service at the Neptune.i can't wait to try their oysters. The whole experirnce was a blast. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Trust me, you must go to this place if you are looking for lobster roll and Oysters in Boston!!! You won't regret! The lobster roll is MUCH bigger almost double size of the other locations.!!!a read more

Neptune Oyster - This is only half of it! See how big it is! - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Worth the hype! Nice meaty oysters and great, quick service. It's tight seating and some tables, you will be sat with other people not in your party so just an FYI. Creates a nice community to ask what others are having and make new friends though. Waited about 30mins in line for us (2 people) to get in Biggest tip though: don't get the clam chowder; it's like eating clam water. Just stick to the oysters. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love this place so much! Good and service are great! It's small but the wait is worth it. So many oysters to pick from and their regular menu is good too! read more

Very happy to visit a famous restaurant here. Food was expensive and place was crowded but well worth it. Amazing experience on a vacation, great decoration and workers were very nice. Food was very fresh and tasted great read more

Am I the only person who finds Neptune overrated? We came one weekend at around 1:30pm and the wait wasn't too bad, about 20 minutes. Something to be aware of is that they won't seat your group unless you're all there. Sorry to the group in front of us who's friend went to grab a slice of pizza while waiting haha If you haven't been here before the place is TINY and cramped - don't roll up here with a backpack or shopping bags, there isn't any space. We sat at the second and third tables of the booth, near the door, which they constantly have wide open every time was coming in or out. Our friends who sat on the chairs were frequently disturbed by other patrons squeezing between them and the bar seats. Especially with heavy coats brushing up against the back of their heads. On to the food, oysters, tuna tartare, Johnnycake, lobster rolls and scallops. - tuna tartare: with pistachio pesto, it was a weird combo. Also, there were 4 of us and they charged us an extra $0.50 each for 2 extra pieces of crostini we didn't ask for. The dish was $21, seems greedy. - oysters: I didn't partake but they preferred one over another - johnnycake: I'm not a fan of smoked fish but the cake itself was actually good, albeit drenched in syrup or something sweet. - scallops: probably the best dish I had, but weird combo served with Brussel sprouts and duck, which was very food - aka, not vegetarian/pescatarian friendly - lobster roll: it was good, not amazing. Had a few pieces that were tough and stringy, I've never left lobster behind before. The fries were very good read more

See all

Classic go to seafood spot in Boston. Get there early because there will be a line- even in the snow! It's well worth the wait. The oysters were so fresh, the tuna special was amazing and the lobster roll is just a staple. The Johnny Cake was SO crazy! If you're in Boston, Neptune Oyster is definitely worth a read more

See all

Amazing oysters and lobster! Always a line out front but definitely worth the wait. I suggest getting in line around 10:30-10:45am as they open at 11am. A vast selection of seafood, with daily specials. A quaint and cute space but lots of patrons squeezed in. Not too loud but definitely not the most intimate setting. A must stop if you are in Boston!! read more

See all

Amazing food!! We flew into town, checked in to hotel, and then headed to north end to eat at Neptune's ocean. It was HOT and super humid but we were determined. We waited an hour on a Friday evening about 6pm. Rained little bit. My teenagers and husband and I were offered the bar because it would have been 15 minutes more for a table. I am gluten free and there was a lot of choices. We ordered a dozen oysters, Cioppino, lobster caprese salad, and my son had the lobster roll and fries. My son absolutely loved the lobster roll! Best ever. The waitress let me know the Cioppino was gluten free so of course I ordered it! Yummm. The broth was more like a light lobster bisque and the best I've ever had. Rich and flavorful. The oysters-best I have ever had. Champagne was a nice pairing. Lobster caprese was good but not the star of the night. Totally worth the visit and the wait. Staff was very nice and attentive. Amazing! read more

See all

We had dinner here recently and waited over an hour for a table. The wait wasn't a problem--we understood the place was busy. What bothered us was what happened after we were finally seated. While we were still eating, the staff asked us to pay the bill. It felt rushed and out of place. Then, after finishing our meal, we waited less than five minutes for our Uber when a staff member asked us to leave so they could seat the next party. We wouldn't have thought much of it if everyone was treated the same way, but we noticed several nearby tables--occupied by Caucasian diners--were allowed to linger, chat, and relax for a good half hour without being asked to pay early or leave. The difference in treatment left our group feeling singled out and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it gave us the impression that we were treated differently because we are Asian. The food itself shows promise, but the service needs real improvement in fairness and basic hospitality. Sadly, we won't be returning. read more

Worth the wait! Thought we were here for the oysters and the lobster roll, but the standout was the lobster spaghettini. It's loaded with lobster! The oysters were all super fresh too. My daughter had the fish and chips, which were also pretty good. The fries are . read more

See all

Food is amazing so please visit. Attitude of one server or bus person was abominable. We asked if we could move over on the bar by 2 seats (too cold near the door) and they said yes. While we were saying thank you to the woman who allowed us to move she started getting angry and aggressively saying you need to move back so I can clean. We were just saying thank you. Then when I told the bartender to tell her sorry she chimed in and said we were in the wrong and were not giving her room to clean. If you been in the place it is TINY!!! We were standing in the only place we could fit. Food is good so definitely visit but the service that day was terribly disappointing. Be ready for rudeness. First time that I have only tipped 15% in Boston. read more

Not as great as it used to be. The fried Ipswich clams and scallop crudo were just ok. Clam chowder was too watery. Ciopinno was fishy. Would only recommend ordering the lobster roll and Kumamoto oysters. read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Food- $29 scallops dinner, only 3 Small scallops ! Tasty bed of corn. Wellfleet clam chowder , tasty broth with 5 clam bits and 6 small cubes of potatoes! What a joke!! If you're hungry go elsewhere. Service -Excellent, Ambiance - hustle-like and fun. read more

My all time favorite place whenever friends and family visit me!! Best lobster roll in town (def get the warm one) should skip the uni toast as it's just uni butter on toast and you could barely taste it. read more

See all

We saw a lot of great reviews for this place so we had to stop by while visiting Boston. There were only 2-3 parties in line so we walked in line too, around 4:30pm on a Friday. We got seated in 30 mins. Starting off, the Fried Ipswich clams are a must. If you're hungry like we were, it'll stave off the hunger pains until the main dishes come out. They're delicious with the tartar sauce, which is unusually thicker but has to be the best tartar sauce I've had yet. We ordered 7 types of oysters, in pairs. I forgot the exact names but the most memorable for me was Summer Love and Unicorn. Those two are more mild in salt and have a crisp/smooth finish. Absolutely delicious! We got the lobster roll to share since we heard many a good thing about it. Sadly, this was the most underwhelming lobster roll I've eaten. My 5 star rating is for the oysters since this is an oyster bar, they are true to their name. The bread was toasted and barely buttered, lobster was slightly warm. Just not the best lobster roll. We tried other lobster rolls in the area and this was our last pick. However! Please go for the oysters. There's a variety to sample and savor! Also to note: the place is small so if you're a pair, you will get seated next to a pair. We got a lil cozy with our table mates! read more

See all

This was by far the best restaurant in town! It was a lengthy wait but every second was worth it! Do yourselves a favor and get a small group together. Have a couple of people wait while the others take a stroll around the block. I wouldn't go with more than 4 people. It's a tight spot. Small and intimate. Service is on point. The menu consist of a wide variety of good food and drinks. The photo I posted is the crudo. Amazing! Bursting with flavors. We plan to return on our next visit! read more

Neptune Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Almost always a wait, but everyone says it's worth it. I agree. Only had to wait about a half hour. Very tiny place, and had to sit at the 'bar'. Interesting menu. We started with Scallop Crudo. Very nicely seasoned with tomatoes and corn. And Razor clams casino, which were served chopped and served with linguica. It was delish but too much linguica, which I left behind. for Mains we had Fried Redfish, which was nice and crispy; and the Black Sea Bass which came with clams and cooked kale. Cooked to perfection. A bit of a hustle and bustle, so dont expect world class service, but the food...! Worth it. read more

Neptune Oyster - Black Sea Bass with clams and kale - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

The food was mediocre. I didn't want complain because server seemed to have an attitude with me sitting at the bar. Server was rude, and unaccomadating. It took 15 mins for her to acknowledge me, not welcoming - just do you know what you would like. I asked about champagne taste profiles and she just said it's just like a normal champagne nothing special. I asked for hot sauce, a box and another glass of champagne and each time I asked for something it was like I was bothering/annoying her. While I was finishing up, a couple sat next to me at the bar and her entire attitude changed. They asked about the menu and wine, she greeted them warmly, introduced herself, gave flavor profiles of the wines, gave them water right away vs me having to ask as she was walking away and took up time with them. I couldn't believe this was the same server! This server was either racist or didn't feel like wasting her time on serving a single person which is unacceptable. Either way, she treated me poorly and the couple next to me was given great service! Finally, I asked her for some butter to go for my lobster roll and she gave me this long explanation to basically say no. Won't be coming back here again. She also would have gotten a 20% tip vs a 15% tip if she was nicer. Her name The food is ok, not worth the wait and hype. Lobster roll isn't seasoned and dry. The scallops were good, fries were cold. read more

See all

Tiny place that was packed for lunch at 1130 am! Tables are shared which was fine but some people may not want to sit with strangers. The fish is so fresh and the variety of oysters from the east coast was enough to make me want to return. Fast friendly service as well. read more

Neptune Oyster - Oysters! - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stopped in here over the weekend around 4pm. There was no wait and we were immediately seated in the back. Our server went over some specials then came back to take our order. 4/5 lobster pasta - big boy chunks of lobster. Pasta sauce was flavorful and creamy. 4/5 clam chowder - runnier than i expected but still good. Chunky pieces of clam and cubed potatoes. Some spice in the soup, easy to drink. 4.5/5 lobster roll - fav of the meal. Looots of lobster on a mid size roll. Arguably more lobster than roll. We had the option of spreading mayo or butter. We chose butter. So pleased with this choice. It was so buttery and flavorful! Comes with an arugula salad or fries on the side, we opted for salad. Small spot to dine in, the inside was cozy with warm lighting. Food came out quickly and servers were attentive. There was one tv in the corner with the game on low volume. More people came in as we dined and I got blocked into my seat since I was at a corner table. My friend wanted to use the bathroom but it was occupied for much of the time we were there. Overall good experience. read more

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

See all

Long lines. Even if I suspected Neptune Oyster was a tourist trap, I still wanted to try it. Seating can be cramped, but service was quick and the food was great. read more