10 Must-Visit Restaurants for the Best Lobster Rolls in Boston

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When visiting New England, you absolutely must try the seafood, especially the lobster rolls – it’s what the area is known for! Luckily, this post is filled with all of the best lobster rolls in Boston.

Whether you want to visit a lesser-known restaurant or one that’s popularly visited with a line around the corner, this post has got you covered. Each restaurant was hand-picked because of their incredibly tasty lobster rolls, perfect for someone who has had lobster rolls before or someone who is trying a lobster roll for the first time.

Keep reading to learn all about the best lobster rolls in Boston.

Table of Contents

The Barking Crab

Location: 88 Sleeper St, Boston, MA 02210

First up is one of the top spots to grab the best lobster rolls in Boston, The Barking Crab. From the outside, it’s impossible to miss this restaurant. It almost looks like a circus tent in the middle of the city with its bright yellow and red canopy roof. Plus, it’s right by the Boston Children’s Museum!

Located in Seaport, The Barking Crab has been serving up fantastic lobster rolls since 1994. They first opened as a summer-only restaurant but have since wholly transformed.

Luckily, the menu features a few different types of lobster rolls. They have a traditional lobster roll with mayo, lemon, celery, and chilled lobster meat. However, they also have a naked lobster roll, which is just lobster meat on a bun!

Pauli’s

Location: 65 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Situated in the North End of Boston, Pauli’s is one of the top spots to go for lobster rolls in the city of Boston. This is also one of the most popular places to get a sandwich in general, especially for those who love Italian sandwiches.

The restaurant is relatively classic as far as sandwich shops go. There’s a walk-up counter with a chalkboard menu and a casual, laid-back vibe. There are also quite a few places to sit both indoors and outdoors.

Similar to The Barking Crab, Pauli’s has a few different types of lobster sandwiches on its menu. They have a classic “Lobsta Roll” with lemon, mayo, and lobster meat on a hot dog roll. They also have a full “Lobsta Sub,” which is the same thing but on a longer, grilled sub roll.

Lastly, they even have an option called the “USS Lobstitution,” which features 28 ounces of lobster meat on a long sub roll!

James Hook & Co.

Location: 440 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210

For a classic hole-in-the-wall seafood restaurant that serves up the best lobster rolls in Boston, stop by James Hook & Co. It’s located in the Financial District right along the waterfront and offers excellent sandwiches and live lobsters.

This restaurant has been open since the 1920s and has a wide variety of dishes available. They even have a food truck which you may see around the city! The menu features a few different types of lobster rolls, including a regular lobster roll with mayo or butter and a large lobster roll with mayo or butter. They even have a lobster salad!

From the outside, James Hook & Co looks a bit like a shack, unlike anything else that you’ll see in the city. The interior has a unique nautical theme, and there are quite a few places where you can sit and eat your food.

Yankee Lobster

Location: 300 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Yankee Lobster is a classic seafood restaurant in Boston that has excellent views of the water. From the outside, it looks like a traditional New England restaurant, with its white paneled walls and dark green and red accents.

The interior, though, is pretty edgy, with dark wood accents and black and red pops to add a bit of depth. The red accents help to accentuate the fun lobster art that can be found on the walls near all of the indoor seating.

One of the most popular dishes on the menu is their fried lobster roll which features butter and old bay seasoning, served on top of a brioche roll. They also have more unique dishes like lobster melt which is served with chipotle mayo and cheese on top of sourdough!

Select Oyster Bar

Location: 50 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115

While it’s a bit more expensive than some other restaurants on this list, Select Oyster Bar is perfect for those looking for the best lobster rolls in Boston. They also serve a lot of Mediterranean dishes on their menu.

The restaurant is very upscale and swanky in the interior. There are light wood accents, exposed brick walls, and an abundance of seating. Plus, the walls are covered in unique colorful artwork to add to the ambiance.

Their warm lobster roll is absolutely incredible. However, other seafood dishes are also on the menu, like Spanish octopus, Maine mussels, and even Maine lobster salad. It just depends on what you’re in the mood for!

Neptune Oyster

Location: 63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

Another of the more elegant restaurants for the best lobster rolls in Boston is Neptune Oyster. It’s perfect for any type of celebration or even a romantic evening out in the city. This seafood restaurant sometimes even has a line out the door.

They have a classic Maine Lobster Roll that they serve with sea salt fries. It’s served on top of a toasted brioche roll and also comes with either mayonnaise (cold) or butter (hot), so it’s made to whatever you prefer.

Despite being reasonably elegant, the interior is upscale yet laidback. There’s a casual atmosphere, despite the beautiful lighting and decor on the walls! Marble textures throughout the restaurant help to add to the ambiance.

B&G Oysters

Location: 550 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

B&G Oysters easily has some of Boston’s best lobster rolls. This restaurant is fairly popular and trendy and features a great hidden patio with mood lighting in the back that looks beautiful in the evenings.

The restaurant is very minimalistic, with silver accents on the interior. There’s quite a bit of seating both indoors and outdoors, and there’s also a fun bar area where restaurant-goers can sit if they are visiting solo.

Of course, one of their primary entrees is their signature B&G Lobster Roll. This is a traditional version of a lobster roll that’s served cold with mayonnaise. It’s also served with pickles, fries, and coleslaw. For a treat, try their lobster BLT too, which comes with lemon aioli!

Legal Sea Foods – Harborside

Location: 270 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

For one of the top views of the Boston Harbor (in addition to tasty lobster rolls), then head over to Legal Sea Foods – Harborside. This restaurant is very upscale and is the perfect place to go for a romantic evening out.

Inside, there are fun tables that light up in the evenings, and the ceiling features all glass windows, which adds tons of natural light throughout. There are also quite a few spots to sit outside too if the weather in Boston is nice.

They serve a classic Half Pound Maine Lobster Roll! It comes with coleslaw and french fries and is served with lemon mayo or butter, depending on the way that it’s ordered by the guest. They also have tons of other dishes on their menu, as well.

Saltie Girl

Location: 279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

With a restaurant name like Saltie Girl, you can’t go wrong! This seafood restaurant has tons of great dishes, including their lobster roll. They’re also located in Back Bay, one of the top places to visit in Boston.

The inside of the restaurant is completely unique, featuring fun, colorful mosaics on the walls in bright teals and orange colors. There are also ample wooden furniture pieces that help to add a bit of warmth to the interior.

At Saltie Girl, they call their lobster roll a Gloucester lobster roll. This sandwich can be sold either warm or cold, and it’s served with their traditional Saltie Girl salt and vinegar chips on the side. They also have many other seafood dishes if you want to try other types.

Row 34

Location: 383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

Last but certainly not least is Row 34, one of the most modern restaurants for the best lobster rolls in Boston. The interior is very industrial yet simplistic, with high vaulted ceilings and bar seats. There’s also a patio section with more seating for those who want a more laidback atmosphere.

They have two different types of lobster rolls on their menu, which are available at both lunch and dinner. There’s Ethel’s creamy lobster and warm buttered lobster. These are served with coleslaw and chips! They also have crispy shrimp lobster rolls with avocado and spicy aioli.

Now you know all about where to get the best lobster rolls in Boston. Each of these places is incredible, so no matter where you choose to eat, you’re in for a treat!

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Amy Hartle

Amy is the founder of New England with love. A proud Vermonter, she hopes to share her love of New England and help you find the best adventures in the region. Amy is also blogger/founder at Two Drifters, where she writes alongside her husband about romantic and couples travel, relationships, honeymoons, and more. When not working on websites, Amy is probably reading, cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.