Holdfast Specialty Seafood Co.

Holdfast Specialty Seafood Co. Is the Place to Go in Allston for Lobster Rolls, Caviar, and Crudo | Eater Boston

"A newly minted Allston seafood shop from local chefs Nathan Gould and Tyler Paolini (formerly of O Ya omakase), this spot blends refined flavors with casual ambiance. I order lobster rolls and fries or caviar and crudo, then dig in at a communal table or grab quick eats at the counter; it’s open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, great for lunch, dinner, and going-out crowds. To settle the eternal New England debate, I go hot with a lobster roll doused in lobster bisque butter with a spritz of lime or cold with a salad described as “lobster bisque-style”—ideally both, budget allowing. No meal here feels complete without $5 fries in the tangy, house-made Otter sauce, with a choice of sea salt, salt and vinegar, or crab seasoning; for something fancier, the $14 yellowtail crudo comes with smoked olive oil, grapefruit ponzu, nori, and shiso. For now, it’s in the process of obtaining a beer and wine license, so it’s soft drinks only, but soon I should be able to order a local brew or a glass of white with lobster rolls. With just 20 seats in this tiny restaurant, I’m ready to split a table with strangers or stand at a counter and munch—and when the weather warms, a lobster roll to go makes for a bougie picnic." - Celina Colby