Sandwiches and more, Pauli's is your gateway to Boston's North End flavors. Surrounded by swanky eateries, Pauli's is your quintessential neighborhood sandwich shop and more. No fancy frills, just quality sandwiches, some unique combinations, and authentic flavors. Super Mario, what can I say? A combination like no other, meatballs with a side of mozzarella sticks. The meatballs are more like softballs, the sauce is savory and the hoagie roll was as fluffy as it gets. Excellent baby! My only ask would've been for a toasted roll adding some crunch to the bite. Phenomenal grub spot, no insane wait and definitely a worthy visit in Boston! This place screams Boston! read more

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A local spot for sandwiches but they're known for their lobster. We got a huge spread of both hot and cold Lobster Rolls which came with chips and freshly fried fries. We also got the Lobster Avocado Salad which was very generous and refreshing. They're very generous with their lobster in the rolls as well. Their Clam Chowder was a must, honestly my favorite thing. So many clams! So hearty and comforting. I can see why they're a favorite. Service was fast, friendly, and casual. There's not a lot of space for seatings though so probably best for takeout. read more

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We wanted lobster (specifically a lobster roll) and this place came up with high stars near us. The offer a cold or hot lobster roll option. For this visit we went with hot. They give you a lot of meat for the roll (25ish bucks). I do think it could have been a little more buttery but it wasn't bad. I saw a few people ordering chowder but we didn't get any on this visit. This place is easily passable in the mist of all the places on the block but a good one to drop by. Not a lot of space inside so you may have to dine elsewhere or wait for a spot. read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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So, so good. 100% worth a visit if you're in the area and/or visiting. Pro tip - we saw a HUGE line where we thought Pauli's was and it turns out it was for Neptune Oyster, the restaurant next door. We spent ~10 minutes waiting in the wrong line only to realize that Pauli's was next door. Once we got in, we were able to order relatively quickly and our order came out piping hot. We walked over to the nearby park (Rose Kennedy Greenway) to enjoy our meal and take advantage of the amazing weather that day. We got the hot buttered lobster roll with fries, as well as clam chowder. The hot buttered lobster roll was jam packed with succulent fresh lobster meat. Fries were good, nothing super special. However, the clam chowder...one of the best (if not THE best) clam chowder I've ever tasted. It was creamy, rich, and had just the right amount of seafood flavor. If I ever get a chance to go back, I would love to try some of their other sandwiches as well! read more

Pauli's - Hot buttered lobster roll, fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came in for the lobster roll which was mid. Small, family run business in the north end. Staff was great just didn't think the lobster roll was worth a visit. Pro Tip: stick with the Italian specialties at this place and you will be very happy. Afterwards check out the pastry shops in the neighborhood read more

Pauli's - Lobster roll - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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It's phenomenal... that simple. I thought it was going to be three bites but I was surprisingly full at the end. I got a warm one and a cold one and I actually much preferred the warm one! This place was pretty damn busy and yet the staff were absolutely incredible and friendly! Downfall: it's tiny so don't expect to sit and eat.... Very limited seating.... But we made it work and he even moved boxes around just so I could sit down. Great experience read more

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It's a cute small sandwich shop with the best lobster rolls. Quick walk up and either dine in or take out. Staff were fast and efficient. Would definitely go back. read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The chef making this lobster roll in the back was locked in the day I had this. Barely any seats in the place, but I would respectfully stand if it meant eating the roll again read more

Pauli's - Lobsta Roll (7oz) - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Probably the best lobster roll in town. They even gave me a massive side of butter when I asked for extra. There is not a ton of seating and being in a popular area, you could have a wait. However, it is absolutely worth it! If you aren't looking for lo ster, the sandwiches are delicious too and large! Very friendly and good food for sure. read more

First stop for food in Boston. Lobster rolls buttered and cold were a bit disappointing. Clam chowder was also very watery and bland. James Cook has the best lobster roll and clam chowder in my opinion. Neptune's lobster rolls buttered was good, but also their clam chowder was very disappointing. read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Delicious food and quick service at a more reasonable price than at Quincy Market. Limited seating, but we were still able to have our 6 person group sit for our meals read more

Pauli's - Hot buttered lobster rolls - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Like pretty much all the restaurants in NorthEnd, Pauli's is another overhyped eatery IMO. Got the cold Lobsta roll. It was tiny though packed with lobster. My biggest gripe is the roll. It was stale w no mayo or butter. Since they don't seem to add any mayo to the lobster the stale roll rubs the whole thing of flavor making it bland and too dry read more

Pauli's - Tiny roll though stuffed to the brim w lobster. The roll itself is stale and flavorless making the whole sandwich dry and bland - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Excellent lobster roll! Locals told me to have it the Classic way (served cold). They did not steer me wrong. The Utz chips weren't great, but hey - that's not Pauli's fault! read more

Pauli's - Classic lobster roll with a bag of UTZ chips - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

3.50 stars. If you are looking for a convenient space to enjoy a lobster roll not too far from the heart of the city, Pauli's is a good choice. You can eat inside the restaurant or just take a stroll down the block to the Rose Kennedy Greenway. There are two main types of lobster rolls you can order here: 1) cold lobster or 2) hot and buttered lobster. I tend to go with any seafood combination that uses copious amounts of butter so it was the latter option for me. I would note that they definitely do not skimp on butter! Mine was so present that the roll itself broke down and I was left with a mass of lobster. I believe the lobster rolls are seven ounces each, and they will probably not make you feel full. If you're looking for a lobster roll, there are probably a few better ones in the city. That said, this is fine if you want a quick lobster roll on the go. read more

For a renown Italian sandwich shop in Boston's historic north end, their gravy (red sauce) has much left to be desired. The sauce was tart/sour which ruined their delicious chicken cutlet to make a bad chicken parm. You can tell the chicken cutlet is homemade, not the frozen commercial kind. The skinny Vinny was fine, the pesto and mozzarella were solid, but nothing amazing. The star was the chicken Caesar wrap, the grilled chicken was moist and quite delicious. read more

Okay, kind of disappointed but still leaving a good rating since I knew what we were missing. Food -lobster roll. It was good, the bread was bad though. The lobster didn't have the sweetness I was looking for and wasn't as buttery even tho I ordered a hot butter. We needed to add salt to it to carry the flavor. Aside from the bread, the lobster was really good! It was packed full of claw meats and was tender, just really missing the butter Service -service was fast and nice. Ambiance -I like the darkness and the bar seating. It felt like a comfy grab and go with seating I want to come back during lobster season cause I know it'll be way better! read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

There is nothing in BOSTON like it! These are some of the best lobster rolls on this side of heave. And YES, you will find that they carry the classic bag of Utz Chips to accompany! Anytime I'm in Boston, I have to stop by. read more

Love the cool dive sandwich shop vibe of Pauli's. While they have a few seats it is more of an order to go place. We ordered one lobster roll with fries, one Pollo Pazzo, one Killer B, and one Paulitician. Cool place but thought the sandwiches were just good not great. Liked the Paulitician the best. Thought the lobster roll was pricey for what you got. We did like the fries and I am a Pepsi drinker so was happy to see they serve Pepsi. I will try this place again and try something different next time. read more

Place seemed hoppin' Stopped in because i saw the sign for some clam chowda! The lady enjoy some chowder occasionally and so i popped in. I think it was about $11 for a half quart plastic container. Came out in about 5-10 minutes, and was piping hot. The chowder base was a tad more watery than i like, I'm more a fan of the thicker chowder. However, it has plenty of clams, potatoes and it was enjoyable. Add some salt pepper and crackers and you good to go. Would return. Staff was quick and nice with it. Place had plenty of people eating lunch. Their menu is pretty extensive and is written on all the walls. They have lobster rolls cold / toasted with butter and also some custom styles. read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been getting food from Pauli's basically since they opened. It's interesting that most of their yelp photos are of lobster rolls. Their lobster rolls definitely aren't bad but there are better options out there in the same price range. I also had one bad experience with one of their rolls where there was a ton of shell in it. Where Pauli's really excels is in things that are not lobster-focused. They make some excellent subs/sandwiches. Their soups are pretty good. I haven't tried it in a few years but they used to roll out a good 'greasy spoon' style breakfast. And, they make a good cookie. I love this place, but I'll still be getting my lobster items elsewhere. That said, try it out yourself. read more

Delicious and likely the most affordable lobster roll in Boston at $26. The service is fast. Pauli's is a small and efficient place with nice ambiance. Their onion rings are incredible read more

Pauli's - Diet Pepsi lobster roll - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

One of my favorite lobster places in Boston! I like it because they add a lot of lobster and the lobster is in pretty big chunks. Of course, I still think it could be a bit bigger for a full meal. I added the clam chowder and it was amazing. The tables inside are pretty limited and more " bar " style, rather than sit-down. read more

Pauli's - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is my 4th time in Boston and I wanted to try lobster roll from this touristy spot. It's wasn't too crowded luckily. I ordered the warm butter lobster roll and it came with a bag of chips. You have to order at the counter and they call your number when the order is ready. It took them 5 mins to prepare my order. My first reaction wasn't as exciting as I would expect it to be. I wasn't like "oh, it's a mind blowing roll". It was good. Nothing too fancy about it. I felt it was slight over priced compared to the one you get at James Hook & Co. You get slightly better lobster roll at James Hook for $35 compared to Pauli's for $30. Next time, I am definitely going to James Hook if I was in the area. 4 stars mostly for the beef sub my friend had. He was raving about it. Huge sub and stuffed with flavorful beef and mushrooms. I had a bite and I absolutely loved it. Maybe it's better to order chicken or beef sandwiches here. read more

Pauli's - Lobster roll warm buttered - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Late post - visited in October 2024 We came around 6 pm, it wasn't too busy for dine in. However, I did notice they get a lot of to go orders. The cashier seemed unfriendly and didn't greet us when we came in, which is fine, just an observation. The food was made hot and fresh. It was good and we enjoyed our meal. I just wouldn't go out of my way to visit again. Nothing negative about this place, it just didn't stand out to me. read more

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TL;DR: Lobster Roll Review! Was waiting in line at Neptune Oyster and ducked in here real quick to grab some lobster rolls to eat in line. Interior is very homey and small, but have decent seating. FOOD: ~Hot Lobster Roll (4/5): Solid lobster roll that was nice and buttery. Could use a hit of salt or pepper to enhance the flavor ~Cold Lobster Roll (3.5/5): Very lightly dressed with mayo. I personally preferred this type of cold roll, but if, like my husband and friends, prefer more mayo flavor, then it may not be for you. Each of the rolls came with chips or sub fries at upcharge. Definitely a solid spot to grab a bite! read more

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Words cannot express how fresh the lobster was. The guy doing the desk was so friendly, even though it was hectic. read more

Pauli's - Lobster roll cold - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The shop is a small, hole-in-the-wall type of place, without a lot of seating. But if you are ok with getting take-out, this is a must-try. The lobster rolls are incredibly fresh and delicious (with ample lobster!) -- some of the best that I have had in Boston. Friendly staff as well. read more

Yummy lobster roll. Busy and fast service. Seemed the place to be. Can't wait to try the clam chowder we saved for the room. read more

Pauli's - Lobster roll - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Old Stinky P. Is always in search of a wicked groovy sub near his plush, but not overly ostentatious condo. Have punched up this place a few times with wicked pissah results. Last sub pictured here is a Chicken Salad. It was very good with a generous portion of Chick. Nice bread. He has also gotten an Italian sub before and that was groovy tasting as well. The salads he had gotten have also been large, tasty and fine. The old dude is glad he tried this place and will continue to order different things in the future as well. read more

Pauli's - Salad of Chickens. - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great "Lobstah" rolls hot or cold, made to order, and FAST. Not much room to sit so be advised you may have to get it to go. Tasty fries too! Must do in Boston! read more

Pauli's - Cold lobster roll and fries. - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Best lobstah roll we had during our ten day- six lobster roll trip to NE. Tasted more like a Maine lobster roll;no dill, not $50. This is a great little joint, about 10 seats. Warm and friendly. Felt like a neighborhood spot, but everyone in the world visits. Look forward to the next trip to Boston so we can go to Pauli's. read more

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I had a hot lobster roll and chips for $32.09, and there was a generous amount of lobster meat. I didn't realize it was featured by Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives until a fellow patron mentioned it. That's pretty cool! read more

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Think I showed up at the perfect time because there was a line to the door when I finished my meal! After my lobster roll, can definitely see why. Pauli's gives you so. much. lobster. And the lobster is beyond tender. I ordered the hot lobster roll and the butter / mayo combo was perfect. Would love to try the cold version someday too. read more

Stopped by Pauli's in Boston with high hopes and a hunger for lobster rolls. Left with buyer's remorse and a side of dental danger. Let's talk about the "lobster roll" - a sad little budget hotdog bun trying to cosplay as fine seafood cuisine. It looked like someone said, "Let's save money by skipping everything but the disappointment." And just when I thought things couldn't get worse--surprise! A chunk of lobster shell in the middle. Because nothing says "treat yourself" like the sudden fear of needing emergency dental work. At this point, the only thing buttery about the roll was my fingers slipping off the disappointment. Boston has a lot of great food. This? Not it. Unless you enjoy low-grade buns and unexpected crunch from non-edible sea minerals--hard pass. read more

Wonderful place to grab food in the North End. I got the Italian sub. Delicious. I actually ate half and gave the other to an older man that was in the Boston Commons. He was so appreciative. My husband got the chicken Parmesan sub and loved it. Very friendly service small dining area but highly recommend. read more

Pauli's - Half of my Italian sub. So good. - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Pauli's is mostly a grab-and-go spot, however it has limited seating inside if you wanted to eat-in. The prices were incredibly reasonable with a wide variety of options to pick from as well as their sister Pizza location two doors down (Emmett's; also very good). The cold lobster roll was a reasonable size, and the lobster was fresh and falling out of the roll. Service was fast and attentive making sure everyone received their food in a quick manner. read more

The place was small and packed! They were helpful and didn't hesitate to answer any questions we had. I got the lobster roll and clam chowder. The lobster tasted really fresh and the bread was so buttery! It was smaller than other lobster rolls I've had but it came with a bag of chips so that was a plus. I love clam chowder so of course I had to get some. It was just as delicious as the lobster roll! Overall a really great place to try! read more

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Dry, chewy chicken cutlets. Second time ordering, tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but honestly - both times the texture of the chicken was like rubber. Clearly not fresh/quality product. Far too many great places in this area to go back. read more

This review does not include the famous lobster rolls so likely underrates the experience a little bit, but we found the other food to be good or not great and the seating to be slightly crammed. I had the clam chowder which was very good and something I'd come back for ; generous ratio of fresh clams to soup and good balance between not too thick and not too watery. Kids shared Mac n Cheese which was very hearty and rich but lacked a little bit of cheesiness. Final verdict - a reasonably priced spot in a great location with wonderful service , but would definitely go for the top items on their menu that made them famous ... read more

Pauli's - Clam chowder - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

When I went to Polly's, I got the clam chowder. The clam chowder was really watery and to be honest, not my favorite. The service was a little slow, but otherwise good. And the atmosphere was friendly, fishy and overall just fun to be in. read more