Little Whale Oyster Bar is a charming spot on Newbury Street, serving up fresh New England seafood classics like perfectly buttery lobster rolls and creamy clam chowder in a cozy, casual setting.
"Little Whale, owned by 2025 James Beard semifinalist chef Michael Serpa — who also owns Select Oyster Bar around the corner — is one of the most charming restaurants in Boston. The restaurant serves an impressive array of seafood, including a hearty plate of fish and chips made with beer-battered hake, served with malt vinegar coleslaw and a cone of fries." - Tanya Edwards
"Little Whale Oyster Bar is a newer addition to the Newbury Street seafood scene. Chef-Owner Michael Serpa of Serpa Hospitality (Select Oyster Bar, Atlántico) opened Little Whale in 2022 in the space that previously housed Grand Tour, a French bistro also owned by Serpa. The menu retained some Grand Tour hits, such as steak frites and mussels, but is mostly focused on New England seafood classics: clam chowder, fried Ipswich clams, Maine lobster rolls, Gloucester swordfish, and an impressive raw bar." - Anna Darrow
"This Newbury Street spot is basically a love letter to the seaside shacks of New England, but make it a little bit fancy and drop it in a Back Bay brownstone. The roll is available cold with mayo, or hot with butter, but what lands this bad boy on our list is the buttery brioche roll from Iggy’s Bread over in Cambridge. The super dense roll isn’t heavy, but still manages to keep its structural integrity in the face of melted butter and mayo while soaking up all the lobster juice, which your mouth is going to be super happy about." - tanya edwards, team infatuation
"You’ve spent the day sauntering around Newbury Street buying things (or just window shopping) and a fried clam craving hits. Little Whale has you covered with all the New England seafood classics, including a plate of buttermilk fried whole belly Ipswich clams with housemade tartar sauce for a fancy take on the classic — and an excellent beer and wine list to complement the crunchy crustaceans. Open year-round." - Tanya Edwards, Terrence Doyle
"At Little Whale Oyster Bar, each roll comes with 8.5 to 9 ounces of meat, expertly prepared in either hot or cold fashion, piled into a sturdy Iggy’s brioche bun, and served with a generous pile of fries on the side. When it comes to traditional lobster rolls, this one is absolutely delicious." - Erika Adams, Terrence Doyle
