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    Shaking Crab - Boston Common

    3.6 (199 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Shaking Crab - Boston Common Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    SHAKING CRAB - BOSTON COMMON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Dee C.

    I went and got crab legs, Shiggy my server let me to think that a half isn't good enough so I bought two. If you can't eat that much that's definitely a mistake. It came with potatoes and corn, I really love corn so I got a side of their fried corn. I don't regret that at all, though I could eat less cuz it was so much food. I also got muscles and shrimp, the sauce I got was really good. I love this location because you get to look out at downtown while you're eating, and you can find parking actually. The servers are great and friendly. This was on a Super Bowl Sunday so there wasn't much people there but they did have the game on. I like that they cater to their customers.

    Kelly Z.

    This place is soo underrated! Their seafood boil is so affordable, so delicious and so juicy! We got 2 pounds of the shrimp head on, 1/2 pound of mussels, 1 pound of snow crab and a side order of the sausage. Plus a side of the garlic noodles. It came all in one bag with 1 corn and 1 potato. We got the SHAKING sauce medium level spicy and it was so flavorful and it has a good balance of flavor and spice. It comes with a lot of garlic and seasoning as you can see in the photo, they were piled right on top of the seafood! The shrimp and mussel were super big and juicy! It goes so well with the sauce!! The snow crab came in a big cluster of 5 and the meat was cooked just right. We shared all of this among 3 people and I think it was just the right amount for $22 per person. However, there was a big table of drunk people behind us and they were so loud and disturbing. The place is not that big, so they really took up lots of room and were really load. We sat right next to them and they really gave us a headache and it was hard for us to even talk to each other without yelling. I wish the employees could have handled them better or at all, but I understand how difficult it would be to control a big group of drunk people. That was our only issue but I hope this is just a one time instance and it doesn't happen often.

    Menu
    Emma M.

    Haven't been to another place with a Cajun boil near Boston and was impressed by the size of the crawfish. For two people we got the boil with snow crab (full), crawfish (full), and shrimp (full) with the shaking sauce and hot spice plus sausage add-on. The food was all delicious. We are used to spice and it wasn't too hot, could try the next level. This seemed like the right amount of food for both of us. The server was great and helped us navigate the menu.

    Erika Chloe R.

    It was my boyfriend's first time trying seafood boil and he totally enjoyed! I think they were a bit understaffed the night I went, but the people working were still so nice and accommodating. At first we were sorta confused walking in because you have to go upstairs to get a table, and we weren't sure what to do since no one was downstairs to help us out for a bit. But once we got sat, they were very friendly and helpful. The place wasn't too busy when we went, besides one big party. So it was pretty chill and didn't feel crowded at all. The seafood seemed good quality to me and I really liked the sauce. Overall, I like the place a lot and I hope to come again the next time I'm in Boston!

    Shaking Specials
    RA J.

    Good food. Good service. The ambiance was just blah like most places in Boston. I think it's a Boston thing. But I was able to watch the Celtics vs Heat on tv while I ate a late dinner after seeing Tracy Morgan comedy show that was being taped for HBO. The taste is different than similar restaurants in other parts of the country. I will admit that I like I had a choice of spiciness for my food.

    Grier F.

    Overall rating: 5 stars, a hidden gem in Boston and my absolute favorite for seafood boil Food: seafood boil, calamari, noodles, we got the combo bag which could either be purchased in 1/2 pound bags or 1 pound bags. Our combo bag had shrimp, king crab legs, mussels, potatoes, and corn. Texture: the house Cajun sauce is gooey and delicious, it coats the seafood and sides beautifully Pricing: $35 for a half pound bag (you get a half pound of chosen seafood) Ambiance: There isn't much for ambiance, a few nautical inspired decor. The windows face Boston Common and lets a good amount of light in Seating & Parking: lots of seating, it's located above a cafe, no parking spaces Service: straight forward! Music: pop and country Bathrooms: men and women bathrooms Final comments: move favorite seafood boil spot, they empty your seafood boil into trays for easiest access

    Fried corn

    Came back here again. I got the half lobster, which is one lobster tail, half mussels, which are around 8-9 mussels and I added noodles. The mussels are fresh and big and the lobster is good too. The only problem is that the sauce is outside and the seafood doesn't have much sauce flavor when we eat them. The corn and potatoes are worse because they just taste like steamed ones and then flavor is really not in it. Unless we have to eat together with the garlic which has the sauce flavor. The noodle is good though as it's the most flavorful. They just don't give you a fork by default. So it's weird to eat noodles with hand. Service is slow on the first floor. The lighting is dim at night as well.

    Roach  cooked in sauce/crawfish batch.

    I was disgusted after receiving my crawfish and crab legs only to find a roach in the bag of crawfish. I couldn't believe it. Makes me wonder about the sanitary conditions of this restaurant. I will never eat here or order from this place. I am beyond disgusted. I called to inform them and someone told me to email Simon, and they provided the email address. I emailed and sent pictures. No response. I have written a rating on Yelp in years, but I refuse to not share to prevent others from having a similar experience. I wish I could leave a 0 rating.

    Walking distance to Boch Center

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    1 year ago

    Good EXCELLENT and Service, Riken, also EXCELLENT 5 Stars! We had the lobster roll, kid's catfish and clam chowder- all sooooo good!

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    Ask the Community - Shaking Crab - Boston Common

    Can we do reservations?

    Yes! Check on Opentable

    How much is your cheapest dish?

    It is less than ten.

    Is there decent amount of seating in the restaurant? I was hoping to come with a group of 5.

    Hi Ruby! We’ve got just over 100 seats (including the bar) at the Boston Common location. Please give us a call at 617-936-3162 for current availability or to make a reservation.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Neptune Oyster

    4.2(6.8k reviews)
    0.9 miNorth End
    $$$

    A Boston must-try, Neptune's is a tiny restaurant (like, 20-25 people max seating) that will very…read morelikely have a line when you arrive. Unless you wanna wait an hour or so, it's best to arrive 30min before they open to beat the rush. It's incredibly cramped and rushed inside, and you may need to share a table with others if you're a smaller party. Food is quite pricey but well worth it. We ordered the oysters (they've got a variety so you can choose), clam chowder, lobster roll, cioppino, and johnnycake. Oysters were fine, but the clam chowder was absolutely dismal. Not sure what happened, especially since it's so highly rated, but it was extremely watery and almost completely unseasoned. It could've definitely used salt at the very least. If I didn't know it was from Neptune, I'd have given it a 2/10. To my relief, the lobster roll was the total opposite. Succulent, juicy, heavenly. It was like being in Maine. The cioppino was also very good. The Johnnycake was an interesting but fun way to end the meal. It's a sweet pancake-like cornmeal covered in a syrupy glaze and topped with smoked bluefish paste, crème fraiche and caviar. I've never had anything like it. Nothing was super overpriced, but I personally prefer next door (Paulini's), which is much cheaper and while it isn't as good, it also doesn't require waiting in an hour in line. However, I think Neptune's is definitely worth a try as long as you're willing to wait in line.

    Ambiance: good ambiance pretty spacious they can fit bigger parties like 5. I would expect bar…read moretable if you are a small table. Service: the service was good and fast Food $$: they are known for the oysters and lobster rolls. There was a long line for it but worth Audience: Solo Trip [X] Family Friendly [ X] Friends [X] Date Spot [X] Recommendations/tips: go right when it opens

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    Saltie Girl - The World Is Your Oyster

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    4.2(2.7k reviews)
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    This place was recommended by the concierge at our hotel. We even asked a few other people in town…read more They all said this place was good. So we had to try it. We walked from trolly stop 7. Nice easy walk. We arrived and the place was packed. No reservation. We came to the street entrance, which we thought was the main entrance. The person there took us to a seat at the oyster bar downstairs. The vibe was awesome. A mostly young crowd. Looked like a great place for after work meet up. Our waitress took our order. Clean chowda, Oysters, Lobsta Frites, and a Lobsta Roll (my first). Everything was better than expected. I even got a little education on the oysters from the shuckers. BTW, the red sauce in the dropper bottle is Hella Hot, but really good. The place was rocking and then we found out that there was an upstairs also. This place was very nice for a date and for some out of downers like us. I recommend it.

    Wanted to love this place, but the food arrived cold and the service was dismissive…read more We ordered the clam chowder, a burger, and the warm lobster roll (they offer both warm and cold versions). When we mentioned that the lobster roll was cold, the server looked at me like I was dumb, pointed at the lobster roll, and said, "That is warm babe." The response came across so rude and unprofessional. There were also issues with our order being forgotten. We had to place the lobster roll order a second time because it wasn't entered the first time around. During that second order, the server asked whether we wanted fries or chips with the lobster roll, and we chose fries. We later found out we were charged an additional $4 for the fries, which was never mentioned.

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    Atlantic Fish - Seafood Fra Diavolo

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    4.2(3.3k reviews)
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    Visiting from Seattle, we wanted to have some lobster while on the east coast. We ordered the…read morelobster roll and the lobster scallop ravioli. Both were delicious. The lobster was well cooked. Ravioli was in a delicious sauce and had chunks of lobster on top which was a pleasant surprise. More food than I expected, but my home city is famous for the price of eating out so maybe my perception is skewed. Burrata and asparagus appetizer was simple and good as well. The asparagus was firm but not stringy and wasn't the star of the show, but paired well with the burrata, tangy cured tomato, and spread. For drinks we had the mango margarita and a first light. The margarita was a bit strong for my taste but better as the ice melted. First light was yummy. Nothing memorable for the price range. Bread was nothing to write home about, but warm and a good vehicle for tasty butter. Service was attentive without being overbearing. We had a very polite, thoughtful waiter. Being seated behind the host stand/entrance there was quite a bit of back and forth from staff and customers but we didn't mind much. Great soft pop rock music playing, like listening to my own playlist!

    Returned after almost four years--and it was even better than we remembered…read more The restaurant has an elegant, upscale seafood and steakhouse vibe, and everything felt seamless from the moment we walked in. We arrived early for our 5:30 reservation and were seated right away. Service was outstanding. Roque was attentive, polished, and genuinely five-star throughout the evening. Complimentary warm bread with delicious butter arrived right away--always appreciated. We started with an espresso martini--smooth, well-balanced, and expertly executed, with rich espresso flavor, a subtle touch of sweetness, and a velvety, creamy foam. The roasted beet and goat cheese salad was fresh and nicely dressed, and the Jr. Captain (crispy shrimp, calamari, and haddock) was perfectly prepared. For mains, I had the crab custard haddock with mushrooms on the side--rich, flavorful, and cooked just right. My husband ordered the Faroe Island salmon with mashed potatoes and garlic sticky rice, and everything on his plate was equally well prepared. Every dish was thoughtfully executed--you can truly taste the quality. We left completely satisfied--great food, exceptional service, and a beautiful setting. It's the kind of place that reminds you why you love dining out--we'll definitely be back.

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    James Hook & Co - @stayeatinbruh approved!

    James Hook & Co

    4.2(1.9k reviews)
    0.8 miWaterfront, South Boston
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    Family-owned & operated
    101 years in business

    When I tell you I have been trying to make it to this restaurant for three years now, I mean it…read more Every single year we come to Boston, and every year our flights somehow get delayed on the exact day we planned to go here. This year, I finally made it -- and it absolutely did not disappoint. I had a phenomenal time trying their lobster roll. The lobster chunks inside were thick, juicy, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The butter was so good, and since the roll was served warm, it was honestly perfect for the chilly Boston weather that day. It warmed me right up. I will say, it is definitely a little pricey, especially coming from out of town where I'm not used to spending that kind of money on what is technically "just a sandwich," but honestly, it was 100% worth it. It was a phenomenal lobster roll, and I would absolutely go back and order another one. The only small downside was that we got there about 15 minutes before closing, and the staff did seem to rush us out a little bit, even though we were sitting outside on the patio while they cleaned up. Coming from the South, that felt a little strange to me because that's probably not something we would do back home, but honestly, it still would not stop me from coming back. At the end of the day, they know what they've got -- an incredible lobster roll with soft, buttery bread and fresh lobster that truly lives up to the hype.

    While visiting Boston, we found ourselves craving an authentic lobster roll and were pointed toward…read moreJames Hook & Co. After one visit, it became very clear why this place has remained a waterfront institution since 1925. Don't let the long line scare you away -- that line is part of the proof that you are in the right place. James Hook has a classic no-frills New England seafood atmosphere focused on one thing above all else: exceptionally fresh lobster. There's plenty of outdoor seating available, and on a beautiful afternoon with temperatures in the low 80s, sitting outside under the umbrellas overlooking the city made for a perfect lunch setting. We split a large lobster roll since we had eaten a big breakfast earlier in the day, and it was more than enough for two people looking for a lighter meal. The lobster itself was incredibly fresh, sweet, tender, and generously portioned on a perfectly toasted split-top roll with drawn butter served on the side. Simple ingredients executed correctly -- exactly what a proper Boston lobster roll should be. We also tried the stuffed clam, which had a rich, savory stuffing with plenty of flavor and paired perfectly with a squeeze of fresh lemon. There's nothing overly polished or tourist-trapped about James Hook & Co. This is simply authentic Boston seafood done right. If you find yourself anywhere near the waterfront and want the real lobster roll experience, this place is absolutely worth the visit.

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    Row 34 - Seaport - Oysters

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    Row 34 in Seaport seriously blew me away. I've had oysters in a lot of places but this one is on…read moreanother level. We tried 4 different types and every single one tasted super fresh, clean, and just really high quality. You can tell they know what they're doing here, even the way they shuck it is nice and clean, no shell pieces or anything. Their menu actually has like 10+ kinds of oysters, highly selective and premium. I really wish we had more time (and stomach space) to try more. But we already had like 3 dinners planned that night lol so this was more like a "stop by and eat as much oysters as possible" situation. Honestly I'm pretty sure the other food here is just as good, based on what I saw on other tables. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Boston.

    First time here. We got the lobster roll. And while, sure, the menu said the pricing was 'MP'…read more(meaning Market Price, or...based upon current market conditions)...and while, sure, we didn't ASK what the price would be, on that day, I still think it would have been nice if the waitstaff voluntarily offered up that detail. (I'm certain the staff are aware that many of their diners express shock, once the price is disclosed...) Many folks simply make an assumption or a guesstimate, as to the price, when they see 'MP' on a menu, and this is usually based upon their prior experiences, ordering such a menu item. So, for example, I was thinking the lobster roll might be in the $40-45 range. So imagine my utter shock, when we received the bill, to see a charge for $69?? I have never in my life had such an expensive lobster roll. Yes, it was delicious, and the housemade potato chips were also great. The slaw was also good (though it was a very tiny amount...I would have liked more). But boy, did that price shock me. I would normally never have voluntarily ordered a $69 lobster roll. It simply never would have occurred to me, that a place would ever charge that much....

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    Shaking Crab - Boston Common - cajun - Updated June 2026

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