Lobster Roll and More at Neptune Oyster (Boston, MA)

Neptune Oyster is a small seafood restaurant in the North End, and one of the most popular in town. If you don't get there early enough, waits can go up to over an hour! Luckily, we came pretty early and got seated before too long.

Since the place is called Neptune Oyster, we obviously had to start with some oysters. They have one of the bigger selections in town. This time, we tried 4 different oysters from the area: Katama Bay (Edgartown, MA), Thatch Island (Barnstable, MA), Browne's Point (Damariscotta, ME), and Summerside (Bedeque Bay, PEI)

Everything was extremely fresh - I think I liked the Summerside the best from this batch.

Neptune is famous for their lobster roll: Maine Lobster roll, hot with butter ($27)

It's one of the most expensive in the city, but also one of the best. It's served on a buttery brioche bun, and the lobster is soaked in hot butter. It's so rich, the bread gets drenched and the roll becomes messy, but you won't care as you devour it.


This doesn't mean Neptune cannot do more delicately flavored dishes, as evidenced by the Razor clams in leche de tigre dressing ($15)

Look out for the daily specials, like the Lobster Spaghettini (a Monday special)

This was a great pasta. Al dente spaghettini, succulent lobster meat that doesn't get overwhelmed by the strong tomato flavors.

North End Cioppino (spicy stew of mixed grilled fish and shellfish, saffron rice, $29)

We also liked this. The stew was only lightly spicy, the fish was moist and flaky.

I was tempted and tried the sea urchin from Maine. It was only $7, but it's not nearly as creamy or sweet as the Santa Barbara ones. Oh, well ...

Most of the cooked seafood dishes here tended on the stronger flavors of Italian cooking (it is in the North End after all). Want to get your North End Italian food along with fresh New England seafood in one go? Then you should come here.



Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St
Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
http://www.neptuneoyster.com/