I took my girlfriend here to celebrate our anniversary. We had crab cakes as an appetizer and those golden brown cakes may have been the best part of the meal. I got the warm lobster roll and it was delicious, it was buttery and had fresh, sweet chunks of lobster meat that were the right size. The wine was great and the dessert was almost as sweet as my girlfriend. The only constructive criticism was the service being a bit slow (ran out of water a few times) and the fries to lobster roll ratio could improve if I'm paying $35 for it. Overall a great experience! read more

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A danger to human safety. When this restaurant turns into a nightclub the amount of people packed in and with such narrow spaces to exit, if there is is ever an emergency the risk of loss to human life will be very high as people will be bottlenecked into very tight spaces to exit. I think the way this business is letting so many people in on weekends they are absolutely playing with fire and it's us the people who frequent this bar that will pay the price... I think it's definitely worth reporting to the Minneapolis fire Marshall as they absolutely are over capacity on weekend nights. A massive lawsuit is surely on the horizon for any victims of a human stampede in case of emergency. read more

This place is always easy to go to and get a table at. It is close to our office and hotels so we come here for a quick bite or a cocktail. I ordered the fish and chips and the portions are very generous. Along with the snow crab because hey, why not! The menu has a ton of items to choose from. so everyone will be happy! the restaurant itself is very spacious and has a nautical feel to it so bringing groups is ok. They also have a great outdoor patio and it is heated in the off season but in the summer is a great place to hang out! The service is also good, although one time we did get a cocktail server in the bar that was having a really bad day and wanted to share all his problems with us. It started from a compliment on his nail polish and the floodgates opened. The prices aren't on the inexpensive end so be prepared to spend at least 50-60 dollars a person. Overall, you will enjoy yourself, this place is solid. read more

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People seem to be divided about this place, saying it's overrated, but having had lobster rolls both in Boston and in Dallas, I think this place scratches that itch. Especially during the cooler weather with a breeze and eating out on the patio bring about a sort of quasi coastal feeling. The lobster Mac is also tasty as well. Parking is on the street and it's somewhat off a main road so you may have to practice some patience getting a spot. read more

Lobster rolls are tough. They're small and expensive. So if it's not A+ 10/10 it's disappointing. The warm Connecticut roll is a 10/10 even if you're from the east coast. Cajun fries also delicious. Minneapolis it's like Phoenix except with good food and worse weather read more

Smack Shack - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amazing lobster rolls! My favorite was the classic but the warm one was also delicious! The brussels sprouts were also one of the best brussels sprouts I've had in my life (and I have had many). Outdoor seating options were great and the service was good- no complaints. read more

Smack Shack - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Smack Shack is a North Loop staple. It can get busy, so allow time for parking in the busy city. Portions here are large. I shared everything with a friend. 10/10 for food and service. The cool thing about this spot is that it turns into a club at night. Definitely check it out if you're in the mood for seafood and good vibes. read more

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Good food and atmosphere with a great selection. Can be somewhat pricey but that's to be expected for fresh seafood.

(Last visited 11/28/2022.) In town on business and it's dinnertime! I hopped on the Yelp app and did some poking around looking for something good, something different. "Smack Shack" intrigued me with its name so here's where I ended up on this Monday evening. Here's how it went... Atmosphere/Appearance: The word "shack" will certainly throw you off. It's not small in here at all. Granted, the building doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the taller ones around it, but it has its own character. It looks like a one-story brick "barn" of sorts. It's very elongated with a raised platform for it's large outdoor seating section. Once inside you're greeted by a very open floor plan with high ceilings, red/white checkered tablecloths, yet some modern amenities and brick walls. In the middle of the room you have several tanks containing live lobsters and a big bar rail off to the side. Service: I sat at the bar and service was great. I didn't have to worry about anything. The bartender was friendly, kind, made great conversation and made sure that I had everything I needed! Food: They offer the infamous seafood boil here, but I wanted to get something I don't usually get at restaurants so I opted for the Stuffed Salmon. It is described as salmon filled with shrimp and lobster, then served alongside Minnesota wild rice, pistachios, asparagus, golden raisins and drizzled with a lemon beurre blanc. It was DELIGHTFUL. It was a good portion, buttery, smooth, tender salmon cooked a little more than I prefer, but I wasn't offered a choice of cooking temperature. The medley was crunchy, savory, warm, comforting and an excellent complement. The lemon butter blanc was FANTASTIC. It reminded me of a hollandaise sauce, but not as thick and lighter. It was very well balanced. This place also had a wide variety of on-tap craft beers as well in which I indulged in. Value: $33.95 for my salmon back then and about $7.00 per beer. It's a seafood spot so just use common sense when coming here. It's not going to be cheap. In conclusion, I really enjoyed myself here and can 100% see a return visit in my future! read more

Smack Shack - Stuffed Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Located in the North Loop area off Washington parking can be scarce however plenty of side street options. Patio is lovely weather permitting and inside decor is large space Food/service 3/5 Service has always been good, food is overpriced and underwhelming in my opinion but the drinks are great. Overall 3/5 I don't necessarily care for it however the drinks are good. read more

Walking in this ample space has a fun, industrial seashack feel. The mix of weathered elements with metal adds a thoughtful touch. There are two big rooms and a big bar area. The food was delicious! The standout was the lobster guacamole. It was creamy, had light salt, and big chunks of avocado. Our waiter generously gave us a second round of chips. I had the Connecticut lobster roll, which was warm and delicious. Our server was very helpful and even helped box up the lunch of one of our party who had to dash unexpectedly. I'd recommend stopping in for lunch when it's busy but still has plenty of room. read more

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Best, best, best food ever! My bf and I have only ever eaten here for special occasions and it was always memorable. Servers are great and food comes out fast. Happy hour oysters are my favorite!! read more

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Yummy yummy in my tummy! Raise your hand if you love lobster!! Let's start with the drinks: 1. Go for the "Hurricane." If you are someone that doesn't eat a ton like my boyfriend, you'll know that this drink will make you feel like you've just been hit by a hurricane. Lol. Seriously make sure to eat something with this because this drink comes in a pretty big glass. 2. If you're into small, strong drinks... like a manly drink, try the "Vinter old fashioned" for $12. It comes with a cinnamon stick... so I told my boyfriend he better eat it lol. (If you're wondering... he didn't eat the cinnamon stick) Entrees: 1. Try the original lobster sandwich. The Is comes with French fries that are perfectly seasoned, not greasy at all, and crispy just the way I like em!! The lobster sandwich was good! Honestly, I thought the lobster was going to be warm... but it's cold. So the bread is toasted and warm, but the lobster inside is cold. 2. Try the lobster mac and cheese. Why is this $14? I have no idea but it was actually pretty good. We messed around with the seasonings they gave us but it was fine as is. Overall... the cost for this was $75 (with tip) Hot dang! Recommend? Yes Maybe try coming during happy hour times. :) Cheers & enjoy!!! read more

Thank you Yelpers for the reviews and for calling out the mussels. This place isn't far at all from the center of town and in a hopping area. Parking is challenging but we got lucky with a spot across the street. Parking though is expensive at $3 per hour. Our waiter Lauren took great care of us. She is engaging and has a warm persona about her. Our water came quickly and after some thought, I ordered a non alcoholic drink and decided on the mussels appetizer and the wedge while hubby settled in the bouillabaise. We could not have been happier with our choices. Hubby was humming all throughout his meal. Not a single complaint! Each element of the dish was cooked perfectly (shrimp, mussels, salmon and scallop). The sauce was a perfect compliment. My mussels were perfectly cooked and tossed in the delicious sauce that I could have eaten alone with a grilled cheese sandwich. It was very good with just a hint of heat from the sliced peppers. My dressing and chunks of bacon for the wedge were so light but tasty. The lettuce wedge itself left a little to be desired because it looked precut from earlier in the day but it was generous and didn't detract from the taste. We sat outside and asked for the heater to be turned on. The staff took such care of us. The host kept an eye on us and asked if the heater was on high enough. I love Minnesotans! This is an amazing place so please support this local business. read more

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Visiting town for business and wanted to check out this place since it was close to my hotel. Did a look ahead of the menu and saw they had a dish with hangar steak, one of my favorite cuts of beef but rarely offered in restaurants. I sat down and ordered the summer truffle surf and turf , which was $47. The description said "lobster risotto, and when I asked if it came with any lobster, the waitress said no. I asked how much more to add and it was $12 for 2 oz. So I ordered it . Took almost 30 mins for it to come out despite the restaurant being very slow. I asked for it medium rare and it came rare borderline blue with little to no crust on the steak. The risotto was bland and overall the dish did not have much flavor to it. Was pretty disappointed especially since this cost $65. Needless to say probably won't be coming back here when I have to visit again read more

Smack Shack - Looked appetizing but lacked flavor - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We were here on a busy Saturday night. Service was excellent. Loved the farmhouses salad with salmon. Nice wine and beer selection. Hubby enjoyed his stuffed salmon entree. Highly recommend! read more

Stopped by here as we were doing a brewery hop in the are. Sat at the bar for a couple beers and some food. It was busy for a Wednesday night. Bartender was friendly and the service was good. Ordered a Connecticut style lobster roll. Came with fries and a good amount of lobster. Not a bad lobster roll but lacked seasoning. Could have been more well seasoned and would have been a knockout. The roll itself was well buttered and toasted. Not a bad option if you are looking for something decent in the area. read more

Smack Shack - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Heard so much about this place and drive by frequently when going to nearby NE businesses so decided to try it during Restaurant Week. Service was good; our waiter was attentive and changed/removed plates and silverware as needed. The patio was beautiful and I enjoyed sitting outside. All the tables of the patio were full and every other table had ordered drinks and cocktails. Here's the meal breakdown (Restaurant Week + more): - Crab cakes -- have great potential! I like that they're a little soft, not too much breading holding its shape. One noticeable note is the imbalance between sweetness and spiciness. The spicy, southern corn sauce underneath along with the 2 types of pepper slices on top was spice overkill to pair with such a sweet crab cake. I think if the corn sauce was prepared without the Cajun flavors this would be a better compliment -- sweet corn with sweet crab. - Lobster Mac & cheese -- very rich and cheesy with 2 claw chunks on top. Not sure what the corn was doing in there but was not unpleasant. - Ahi tuna lettuce wraps -- very, very salty. Unfortunately, all I could taste was saltiness and crunch. - Steak Frites -- steak was done very well! The mushroom sauce was deep and rich in flavor. Fries were cut nice and thin. Didn't see potato skin so I wonder if they're freshly cut? - Linguine with clams -- while they cooked the pasta to a good al dente, it's not homemade pasta. The best part of this dish was the sauce -- it was nice and lemony. - Key lime pie -- excellent! Better than the KLP eaten in the FL Keys! I'm glad the Restaurant Week size was smaller than the menu size -- it would be too rich if I had any more. Overall, dinner was good but not great. I found it surprising that tonight's best item at a seafood restaurant was the steak. Note: I cook plenty of steak, seafood, and pasta at home, so for me, this meal could be replicated at home without the need of going out to a restaurant. read more

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We LOVED Smack Shack! Best lobster in all of our travels. Lovely outdoor heated patio, lively and fun indoor ambiance. Excellent customer service, outstanding food, great atmosphere. What more can you ask for! Highly recommend the Lobster Bisque, Connecticut Style Roll and Lobster Mac & Cheese. Totally worth going downtown for. read more

Smack Shack - Connecticut Style Lobster Roll and Lobster Mac & Cheese - Small - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Excellent food, great atmosphere, the service was great as well. Really enjoyed my guest dinner here. Looking forward to going back. We had the lobster roll cold, lobster bisque, oysters, Fish and chips, Clam Chowder and a wedge salad. My 18 month old granddaughter loved her Mac n cheese. Every dish was excellent. read more

The restaurant is super cute. I love the interior. The mixed textures. And the artwork. It's located in a beautiful area, right in the edge of downtown. This place is definitely a vibe. They also have outdoor seating which I can see would be ideal for when the weather permits. The service is top tier. Both bartenders were amazing. It's obvious they like their job. The engage with the customers and pretty much smiled the entire time I was there. They make legit some of the best drinks I've ever had, and the have somewhat of a heavy pour the food came out super quick I wasn't expecting that. I got the doggy punch but subbed the gin for tequila. FIREEEE The lobster roll is out of this world. I'm probably going to eat here everyday! It was delicious! No lie in the top 5 and I've eaten lobster rolls all over the country. The lobster was fresh. The bread was perfectly toasted and the bread itself was good. This was a first that I had lettuce on a roll but it gave the crispy texture that tied in perfectly. I didn't love the crab cakes not enough crab. And extremely bland. Parking is along the street and cost about $1 per hour, there's also a public parking garage nearby. read more

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We come here often for a late lunch. The happy hour menu starts at 2. I love all the open windows and how bright it is in there. The service is always on point and everyone seems very happy to work there. The avocado toast is probably the best I've ever had. It's seriously amazing. I can't say anything bad about anything I've ordered from here. The lobster guac, not pictured, is also a favorite. Happy hour wine is a really good and a good price either the cab or the Chardonnay. I don't know what brand it is. The shrimp basket was also great, the shrimp isn't too heavily breaded. It's nice and light. I have also had oysters here on a different visit and those are also very good. All around, if you're looking for a great atmosphere and great seafood. This is it. I've also never had a problem finding parking close by on the street. read more

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I like the happy hour here, the tuna lettuce wraps are really delicious. I do think this place is overhyped and overpriced compared to other spots in the area, but it is consistently busy on weekends. read more

Tried some new brunch items at smack shack a bit ago and it was awesome. The food was so yummy. I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes with the awesome remoulade. The boil was also delicious. My friend got some sort of French toast that I didn't get a photo of but it was always scrumptious. Service was a bit slow that day, seemed like only a couple servers were working but they did what they could and were friendly as usual. It was definitely a great brunch out with the girls. read more

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Ordered lobster boil for take out. I have never tasted lobster so chewwwwwy! Maybe cooked from frozen or a microwave???? Very disappointing. read more

Bloomington Location Crab cake starter - decent portion, tasted okay. Summer surf and turf - absolutely a joke to call this a "surf" dish. LESS than a hard boiled egg sized portion of lobster in the poorly prepared risotto. Hanger steak was properly cooked to MR but played poorly. Not cut cross grain resulting in an extremely tough piece of meat. Shrimp etouffe - solid presentation and preparation. Would recommend. Service - uneven table service. Server never checked back on how things were. Food runner was terrific. Buser attentive. Ambiance - comfortable and surprisingly quiet. No intention of coming back. read more

Just fantastic. Perfectly grilled bread and not too much mayo in the sauce on the classic lobster roll. This was as good as advertised. read more

Smack Shack - Classic lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Smack shack is consistently one of the most hyped restaurants in the north loop- this was my 3rd time there and I still haven't been blown away. Got the boil with crab and shrimp, felt it was over priced. Solid service. Do enjoy the vibe and bar area but feel it is an overrated restaurant. read more

Smack Shack - Boil - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The food was surprisingly delicious given the casual ambiance. Love the scallops, wish there were more, but totally worthy. The outdoor seating with heater on top was super nice. Definitely a great place to visit often. read more

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Nice spot for seafood in the Midwest! The place is huge and the service is great. I love the fact they offer seafood boil, sandwiches and more. I def recommend trying everything on the menu! The appetizers were delicious, the soup is bomb, and the sandwiches are goooood. Only downside for me would be the pricing. A little too steep for the amount you are getting. This would be wayyy cheaper outside the Midwest. :( Def recommend going during happy hour tho!! read more

Smack Shack - Lobster Bisque - Cup Fried Shrimp Po' Boy - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Stopped by Smack Shack for a quick work lunch, and this place is so underrated for a quick daytime lunch! We walked in around 11:30 and we were the only guests there. We grabbed a quick seat outside to hang out in the fall weather. Service was obviously very timely since we were the only ones there, so can't really judge if there was a lunch rush later. We started with some N/A drinks - the SEASONAL SWITCHEL. This was deliciously bubbly and spiced to feel like fall. I will definitely be back to try some more N/A drinks with lunch! For lunch you can order from Smack Shack's normal menu, or their smaller lunch menu. I went with HAWAIIAN SPICY AHI TUNA POKE* - this was absolutely delicious. Beware it's not really a rice bowl poke, but more of a chips and dip poke. It was sweet and had a kick, and the fish seemed very fresh. I will definitely be back here for lunch, and I also want to try their new happy hour menu! read more

Disclaimer, review is for their restaurant week deal! For $43 (usually $35 but the lobster roll was an upcharge), you get an app entre and dessert. Compared to the regular prices here, that is a killer deal! Everything we got was delicious, especially the lobster mac (my fav). The lobster roll was yummy and we all loved the fries with bay seasoning. I haven't gone to smack shack for their regular dinner due to the high prices, but the restaurant week deal is affordable with good sized portions and a great way to try a new restaurant! Service was great, took a minute to be seated but once we got a table our server was super friendly and helpful and food came out quickly. read more

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We had an insane craving for lobster bisque so searched for it, this place came up and did NOT disappoint. Firstly our server Dillon was a rock star and boosted the whole experience. Bisque was awesome, oysters were super fresh and delicious, crab cake was transcendent with an amazing tangy creamy sauce. I got the blue crab encrusted salmon with grits and collard greens, perfect southern dish with complex flavors and incredibly satisfying, and Zach got the Mediterranean scallops which stole the show for both of us. Awesome atmosphere and can't stress the quality of service enough, thanks brother!! read more

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I was irritated and confused on the service but after really paying attention it's a well oiled machine. Food came out quickly which also was a surprise before I figured out their system. The crab cakes were 22$ very small and thin for it to be just two which a cream corn etc mix under that was not tasty at all. My stomach was tore up after...Like running lights lol. Burgers were yummers but fries were too salty...Wish I would've gotten the fried green tomatoes.. It was a tad dark but manageable. read more

We got a spot on the patio for Father's Day and it was a beautiful day in the Twin Cities! The oysters were amazing and they had a nice selection. We also ordered the Smack Shack Original and a pound of Snow Crab Legs. Some of the food came out too quickly, but the server was happy to take it back and bring it out later - nice and hot. I think the snow crab legs are probably some of the best I've ever had at a restaurant! My boyfriend was excited to try the Smack Shack original, however, this was his first lobster roll and I don't know that he would try that again. We had a lovely time and our server was amazing! read more

Smack Shack - Four kinds of oysters. Yum! - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I truly wanted to love this place as I was so excited and spent many minutes going through all the options of where to eat! I ordered to-go (easy and on time). I ordered the lobster bisque, the lobster guacamole, and the chicken wings. The lobster chunks are always a win (and they are pretty solid chunks in the guac and fairly good in the bisque). So, I'll start by saying, yes everything was pretty good but nothing I was like 'wow, I want another bite'... which, surprisingly, if I did pick one of my food items to be the best, it would be the wings! Nice sauce flavor. The lobster guac just wasn't all there.... the guac was too limey and I couldn't finish it. Chips were pretty salty too. The lobster bisque... the 'bisque/soup' portion of this meal just wasn't there... I think I prefer a different kind of flavor... possibly more creamy? Either way, go ahead and try if you're in the area. read more

Smack Shack - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I went some time ago but what I had was the putine dish with the cheese curds and gravy. My husband had the Mac and cheese. We both enjoyed our meals. We didn't drive we Uber'd. Which was good since it was downtown. Parking and the scene in general was crazy busy. We have also had the clam chowder which was to die for in my opinion. I love clam showder! So thick, rich and full of flavor! read more

If you're looking for a creamy to die for mac and cheese... look no further! While I come here purely for drinks and some Mac, others rave about their soups, sandwiches and lobster dishes. Reservation recommended for dinner as there's typically a wait but went for lunch and it was no problem! The vibe is bustling and it truly doesn't feel like you're in Minneapolis. The patio is huge and awesome which is great for summer time! Back to the mac... 10/10. The pasta is perfectly done, cheese is rich and creamy it coats your mouth and there are huge chunks of lobster included. You can get it with sweet corn which is okay but not needed. I always get the larger portion as it's generous and then you can have leftovers (warms up really well) but they have a lunch size if preferred. Awesome spot in north loop if you're looking to hangout or enjoy some good food! read more

Smack Shack - Lobster Mac entree - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Smack Shack was hoppin' on a Friday night at 9p. I brought my pup to sit on the patio, and took longer to find the hosts to figure out how to be sat than it took my food to come out (it's an odd setup and nothing is labeled). Once I did finally get a seat after walking back and forth a few times, I received good service. I ordered a local draft beer, as well as the lobster roll, which came with fries and coleslaw. Didn't take too long to come out given how busy it was. Considering the prices, I would expect a heaping portion of lobster, but sadly there were only a couple pieces inside lettuce?? inside the toasted split top bun. They give you a ton of fries to compensate but doesn't cut it. The bun was fresh and toasted nicely, but the lettuce bed inside the bun was odd and added no flavor, just odd texture. The lobster was buttery and good quality but definitely not worth the price. The fries were solid but standard, and the Cole slaw (add-on) was fresh but forgettable. It's a good spot to hit with a lively atmosphere and close to other downtown joints and attractions, plus a very dog-friendly patio. There's plenty to choose from on the robust menu to satisfy everyone, but the lobster roll meal was certainly a let down given the portion and the price. It wouldn't deter me from trying something else if I was in the area again, but the filthy patio just might. read more

Smack Shack - Seafood Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The ambiance was beautiful combined with their amazing service, this was a great place for a date night. I ordered the lobster burger it was very good! read more