The Lobster Shanty
The Lobster Shanty things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, during a girl's trip, we planned to eat at The Lobster Shanty after our hometown fave, Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" had recommended it. We had been anticipating this day and were excited to give this hidden gem a try after a "Bewitched" walking tour that heightened our appetites. We had our dogs with us, so opted for the patio - if the weather is nice, choose this, the people watching is fabulous and the wait that some reviewers mention might not be so long as for an inside table. We had about a ten minute wait, but it was so worth it. And the people...SO friendly!! From the locals setting up for a farm market across the street, to the wait staff at The Shanty to the local-ish couple sitting next to us enjoying their own meal, everyone was welcoming and informative. We learned about favorite hotels to stay at (Hawthorne was one name continuously shared...) and nearby walking interests (nearby Lighthouse, Art Walk...) to The Shanty's menu items. This couple, seated next to us, shared that when they visit Salem for the farm market, they "always" come to The Lobster Shanty for the lobster mac and cheese. Then this sweet couple proceeded to surprise us with a cast iron skillet of our own lobster mac and cheese they wanted us to try after we couldn't contain our delight when seeing the skillet of stringy cheesiness they were relishing!!! If you love lobster "and" mac and cheese...try this...the ooey, gooey warm cheesey yumminess and the sweet, tender deliciousness of the lobster was pure perfection!!! But that wasn't the only mouthwatering menu item we ate. At the recommendation of Guy Fieri, we also enjoyed the tender and flavorful morsels of Guinness Tips (leaves you wanting more!!) and a traditional Lobster Roll that was on a crusty, yet fluffy bun - why are the really good lobster rolls never big enough?! As far as price, these items were around $24 each and worth every penny. We had a leisurely dinner and enjoyed everything - the friendly and funny wait staff were thoughtful in their menu and local sight seeing suggestions, the patio was relaxing, and the other diners seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were. Maybe we were lucky and just had a beautiful day that had everyone in good "spirits" or it was the spirits and delectable food being consumed that had so many thoroughly enjoying themselves. Whatever the reason or season - if you're in Salem, be certain to stop by The Lobster Shanty, and enjoy all it has to offer for yourself...you'll be glad you did!
Cindy CarltonCindy Carlton
00
The Lobster Shanty is a seasonal dive bar in Salem, MA. We were invited there last night as an impromptu get-together. I loved the wide-open porch with fans going to help the summer air move. We all started with some cocktails and lots of catching up; our server was great to let us go at our own pace. Later, we chose nachos, calamari, and a chicken tender basket with fries as appetizers to share. Nachos were dive bar worthy, hot and ok amount of toppings. The calamari was, eh, slightly overcooked, and the aioli was like a sweet honey mustard that was a huge turn-off. The chicken tenders and fries were surprisingly the hit! The chicken was juicy and well coated, and the fries were crispy and really well seasoned. For mains there were three different burger choices, all a hit. And the crab cake app was chosen as a main; this was an utter fail, salty, like burn your tongue salty, and again served with that weird honey mustard. This entree was not finished. But it appears burgers were downed, and the crispy tots served with them were another huge hit. For all the drinks and food we ordered, we thought the price was very good. However, they added an automatic gratuity, which was a bit of a slap in the face; we are a group of just five and all over 40 years old. We might have tipped more than they charged if we were given the chance. But without mentioning it, it seemed a bit odd. Another bonus was live music on the patio, which started around 6 and went until 9. The performer was amazing and very engaged with the crowd! I am torn between a 3 and 4 as a rating, but given that it is a dive bar and, we all had a really fun time, which is the whole point! I am going with a 4. I think we would definitely give the Lobster Shanty another try; maybe we should actually try something with lobster in it next time. :)
Tricia WebbTricia Webb
00
We only had about a five minute wait and this was during the day and three days before Halloween in Salem at a restaurant š¤Æ The service was amazing. I never needed to ask for more water and water was brought to the table before she even took our drink orders. I love that they offer non alcoholic drinks for those of us that don't like to drink to anymore or can't, but want something different. They have some really nice sounding drink specials according to the Fall season. I went with Baked Scallops which came with french fries that had a light seasoned coating to them. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Not overcooked, nor under. The crumb coating on the top was a perfect blend of Ritz crackers, butter, lemon juice, (I added more lemon š to it though) and some parsley. Not too salty or buttery. It was absolutely delicious. I couldn't eat too much, I had to leave more than half behind (weight loss surgery) but the waitress never made assumptions that I didn't like the food or anything. Which is awesome. In addition, I didn't realize you can bring your dog with you and sit outside. Pretty cool. My girlfriend had the grilled shrimp and french fries. And she ate it all. Loved every bit of it. Said the shrimp was nice and juicy not elastic like due to being overcooked. And the seasoning was perfect. We opted for lemonades as a side drink to our water. It was too sugary for me. But my taste buds in terms of sugar (sugar free and low fat diet) are not the same anymore so don't quote me on the lemonade š
Amy BlanchetteAmy Blanchette
00
If I could give this restaurant 10 stars, I absolutely would. It was PERFECT in every way, shape, and form. This goes down as one of my favorite restaurants EVER. After a fun and busy day exploring Salem, my friend and I came here to eat. I started off with a cup of clam chowder. It really hit the spot, especially in the cold weather. It was truly high quality clam chowder. For the main meal, I got the lobster mac and cheese. Yāall. Please listen. This is the best mac and cheese Iāve ever had in my entire life, and no Iām not exaggerating. It was SO cheesy and SO creamy, I kept eating it until I was beyond full. Iāve never had mac and cheese this incredible before in my life. I went straight to the mac and cheese heavens nonstop. It did something to me I canāt explain. Literally the perfect mac and cheese. Iāll be thinking about it for the rest of my life. My friend ordered the lobster grilled cheese, and she was in love as well. She went straight to the grilled cheese heavens. We were both the most satisfied we have ever been at any restaurant. The lobster pieces in our mac and cheese and grilled cheese were very fresh and tasty. Also, the servers were all incredibly sweet and friendly. Truly wonderful service. If you are in Salem at any point, you must try this place. You need to. No exceptions. I canāt wait to come back in the future and try everything else!!
Raha MehrkishRaha Mehrkish
00
My fave local place! I could have but decided not to give a star less for waiting about 25 min to be seated... when it's busy just be prepared to wait - it's worth! They have a little ground floor terrace when the weather is nice that's what you are going to wait for. I initially was not going to wait as I was not even noticed but then started to chat and everything was fine. Food came in good time my first choice of the Millionaire Burger (asked without bun) you can see how great it looked and it tasted just as well. The sweet potato fries was crispy and just as I like it. So I decided to do another visit and went for the Guiness Marinated Steak Tips again with sweet potatoes fries. Wow! Loved it and they made it how I like it - so please don't judge the restaurant for the crispy outside of the steak: that's on me! š The restroom is in ground level: no stairs but the hallway is a bit narrow therefore unsure if wheelchair can easily make it, but potentially good. The waiters and waitresses are friendly and remember the details of your order. Will be back for some salad and lobster roll; hardly can wait! š
S BS B
00
Saw some bad reviews and comments about the service and we did have to wait a TAD too long during an un-busy time butā¦ youāre basically warned about the āpoorā service because it is ALL OVER the restaurantās marketing materials. With that said, our server was sweet and kind. SETTING: The space is pretty cool. Youāre across the street from where the Halloween party on Hocus Pocus was shot. Youāre blocks away from where Bette Midler āput a spell on youā. ICONIC. Great patio seating and vibes. 9/10 place to sip on some cider. FOOD: Steamed mussels - had the buttery wine option! Great way to start the meal. Perfect for sharing. Clam Chowder - honestly didnāt see that many clams but the flavor was SO GOOD. Exactly what I wanted from a small cup of clam chowder. Comforting and gooey. Lobster casserole and Tater tots - the tots are worthy to save in your pocket for later a la Napoleon Dynamite. Theyāre perfectly crisp, salty, crunchy, and fried! The casserole was SO FRICKIN GOOD. Big chunks of lobster seeped in butter and topped with a layer of ritz crackers. 10/10 meal.
Lezeth AlfaroLezeth Alfaro
00
Nearby Attractions Of The Lobster Shanty
Salem Witch Museum
The House of the Seven Gables
Peabody Essex Museum
The Witch House at Salem
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
Salem Ghosts: Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls
Salem Common
Witch Dungeon Museum
Real Pirates Salem
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem Witch Museum
3.7
(4.6K)Click for details
The House of the Seven Gables
4.6
(2K)Click for details
Peabody Essex Museum
4.6
(1.8K)Click for details
The Witch House at Salem
4.3
(1.8K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The Lobster Shanty
Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem
Finz Salem
Sea Level Oyster Bar
Howling Wolf Taqueria
Village Tavern | Bar & grill
Gulu-Gulu Cafe
Rockafellas Restaurant
Ugly Mug Diner
Red's Sandwich Shop
Bit Bar Salem
Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem
4.6
(1.8K)Click for details
Finz Salem
4.5
(1.5K)$$$
Click for details
Sea Level Oyster Bar
4.4
(1.4K)$$
Click for details
Howling Wolf Taqueria
4.4
(1.3K)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
25 Front St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
Map
Phone
+1 978-745-5449
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Website
lobstershantysalem.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.3
(883 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Bustling, informal eatery & bar with classic seafood & outdoor tables, plus live music on weekends.
attractions: Salem Witch Museum, The House of the Seven Gables, Peabody Essex Museum, The Witch House at Salem, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Salem Ghosts: Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls, Salem Common, Witch Dungeon Museum, Real Pirates Salem, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, restaurants: Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall -Salem, Finz Salem, Sea Level Oyster Bar, Howling Wolf Taqueria, Village Tavern | Bar & grill, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, Rockafellas Restaurant, Ugly Mug Diner, Red's Sandwich Shop, Bit Bar Salem
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