Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar

Our party of four came at the tail end of happy hour (5:30pm). We didn’t have a reservation and the place was very crowded. The hostess kindly sat us at a table with the understanding that they needed it at 6:45pm for a reservation—we jumped on it! We ordered $2 oysters, fish tacos (fried/battered fish by the way), and popcorn shrimp from the happy hour menu. They had orange wine from Slovenia which was delicious! We then ordered the fish and chips from the regular menu. Overall, everything was fantastic and the service was quick. The homemade hot sauce was yummy. If we had more time we’d stay for a full dinner, a reason to go back! Highly recommend!

I had an incredible experience at Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar! Situated on the bustling Massachusetts Street, this gem offers limited parking but don't let that deter you – nearby streets have options. The outdoor seating area provided a lovely atmosphere. The service was top-notch – swift, cordial, and attentive. The menu is a fusion of seafood, Italian, and Mexican flavors. We tried the Ahi tuna nachos, though I wished for more tuna, the taste was delightful. The crab cakes were a highlight, and the fish and chips were perfectly crispy. While the presentation of dishes was average, the flavors more than made up for it. Their Bloody Mary was a standout, easily one of the best I've ever savored. However, the dry martini was a letdown due to its small size and steep price. The price range of $30-50 (excluding drinks) felt reasonable, considering the quality. The portion sizes were just right – not too much, not too little. Overall, Mass St. Fish House & Raw Bar is a must-visit for seafood enthusiasts and those seeking a flavorful dining experience!

Awesome and delicious food! Great selection! Highly recommended!

Every time we've eaten here, we have completely enjoyed our experience. But our most recent visit was exceptional. We ate at the bar ... ordered oysters, the potato crusted trout and the shrimp bucatini. Everything was top-notch. And the service put everything over the edge. Daniel was our bartender/waiter and an absolute rock star. Go support this restaurant, you'll be glad you did!

At first glance, it’s easy to get lost in the endless dining choices on Mass St., yet there’s one spot that keeps drawing us back time and time again. And trust me, I come with credentials—being the daughter and granddaughter of chefs, I know my way around a kitchen. But here’s the scoop: If you haven’t tried their Salmon BLT, you’re missing out. The secret? They’ve got a smoker tucked away in the back, infusing the dish with a flavor that’s a cut above the rest. And let’s talk service. It’s not just polite smiles and quick refills—they truly care. It's that rare combination of exceptional food and heartfelt hospitality that keeps me coming back for more.

Surprisingly I think the atmosphere and service is better than the food here. I got the charbroiled oysters, the mussels, and salmon. The oysters were okay. Not bad in any way, but when compared to charbroiled oysters from New Orleans or equivalent, it wasn’t even close. I don’t think it was charred at all. Mussels were also okay. Broth tasted more of like a garlic butter than a complex white wine mixed broth. Maybe it’s just a preference on taste, but I prefer a broth where you can still taste the wine. The salmon dish was very good. I thought the salmon itself could have been seasoned a little more, but when paired with the risotto and squash sauce it made for a very nice taste. The texture of the salmon was also excellent, being extremely crispy on the outside yet very moist on the inside. I probably would give the food 4 stars, as you are paying a pretty penny to dine here. I think I paid around $60 for this meal, and with the smaller portion sizes I don’t think it necessarily reached my expectations for that price point. The service was great though. The waiters were very helpful and even brought out extra bread for my mussels at no extra cost and without me even asking. Overall I think this is a pretty good spot for a date night. Service bumps this up to 5 stars, but the food wasn’t the most impressive for the price point.

Fantastic little Raw Bar serving excellent oysters and a wide selection of Sparkling, Vodka, Gin, Amaro, wine and specialty liquors. Great staff, location, price and quality and generally a very stylish and pleasant place to have a snack and a shot or more.

First time and it was great along with the food. Waitress was great checked with us time after time. Even though full you could talk to each other, no problem. Parking was great as Someone leaving that was parked right in front and that was prefect. Free parking after 6pm.

Killer food and service The ahi nachos were huge and excellent Broccolini excellent Fish and chips - killer

We got the ahi tuna nachos, shrimp cocktail, fish taco, fish and chips, and lobster roll. Everything was good and tasted fresh, but nothing really wowed me. The lobster roll was a little bland for my taste. Definitely don't skip the dessert! The service was great. We weren't expecting them to give us a free birthday dessert! I LOVE the ambience. It has a fresh, dark wood feel with outdoor seating. Great place for a date night or special occasion.

We returned in May 2024 after not having been there since before the pandemic in January 2017. We were very impressed by the changes. There now is a large outdoor dining area extending out onto the street in the area that previously was on-street parking in front of the restaurant. We had reservations for indoor dining, but next time during good weather we will try the outdoor dining. We were there during happy hour, and the food was outstanding. We got two Happy Hour Chef's Choice Oysters and the Happy Hour Fish Tacos. They were excellent. We also got glasses of house wine from the happy hour menu, and we were happy with both the white and the red house wines. From the regular menu, we got the Smoked Salmon Cubano Sandwich, the Shrimp Bucatini pasta, and the Butterflied Rainbow Trout. All were excellent. The trout was served opened up ("butterflied") on the skin, but the chef will remove the skin if you prefer. For fine dining, we usually prefer restaurants in Kansas City, but the Mass. St. Fish House is a match for the best in Kansas City for seafood. In short, we were surprised and impressed. We were slightly annoyed by one of the restaurant's policies. There seems to be an upcharge for all substitutions, as is common in some of the other downtown restaurants. For example, if you ask to substitute a vegetable for potatoes on an entree, there always will be an upcharge, regardless of the vegetables or the potatoes. To avoid that irritating policy, we will not request any substitutions next time. Alternatively, we can continue to prefer restaurants in west Lawrence, where substitutions are not a problem and where parking is easier.

There is so much I love about this place. The ambiance is thoughtful and just right. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The food is seasonal and reasonably priced. My favorite "nicer" place to eat in town.

Went to LFK to visit the old stomping grounds - oh how I have missed Mass st Fish House. When you look at the restaurant from the outside it looks so small but when you walk in it's actually so HUGE! They have 3 floors and every table was occupied! We sat at the bar cause we just wanted to get happy hour and a few drinks. I tried the fish taco and oysters and holy moly EVERY BITE WAS TO DIE FOR. We also got the crab dip and that was licked clean. The owner/bartender was so kind to my boyfriend and I and let us try an amaro shot and talked to us about the different types of amaro they carry. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left - the service was exceptional. The kindness that everyone showed us just made our night so much better. Loved being back and can't wait to visit again.

I've been wanting to try the HH Champagne & Oyster Special for $30.00. It did not disappoint. Isis our server bartender greeted us when we arrived and guided us through our eating experience. She was fantastic. We started with the Oysters and Champs. The oysters tasted fresh and a little salty which I really enjoyed. I can't remember the name but they were from Maine. Then my husband ordered the chowder and nachos which we shared. The nachos were great. I love the Ahi tuna combo with crispy won tons, you can't beat that. My husband enjoyed his chowder as well. For the end of our evening we ordered the chocolate flourless torte which Isis recommended with an after dinner drink. That torte was also delicious it had a nice chocolate shell with the best tasting center... like a dense pudding dream. I highly recommend. This is a nice upscale kinda trendy restaurant. We will definitely be back and you should give it a try too!!!

Fish was not good. I couldn't even finish it. I walk with a cane & have difficulty with stairs. They seated us down stairs. We said we wait for a main floor table, but were ignored. We should've left then. Never again

I can't believe I didn't leave a review the first time my wife and I tried this place (she left one haha pics are from the most recent trip) This place is a must in Lawrence if you're into seafood. Yes, we're in a landlocked state. Yes, we're from Florida and Yes, this place has great seafood! First, the staff we met 2 years ago was still there and that should really tell you how this place is being run. Second, we started with the amazing deal, they still have it, of a bottle of bubbles and 12 oysters for $30 ( it's not Andre or cooks either) The oysters were from Prince Edwards Island and you can never go wrong with those. They have a good balance of minerals and brine to them. We then moved on to the fish tacos and I believe those were black cod.. they got devoured, so no pictures sorry. The main dish was a butterflied grilled rainbow trout with potatoes and a really nice fennel salad. The trout was grilled to perfection and tastes just like I caught it myself that day and cooked it. The potatoes were well placed with the salad bringing out a nice bright acidity to the dish. They also have an elevated fish house/raw bar vibe which we totally dig!

Absolutely beautiful venue on Mass St in Lawrence, KS with a menu to match. Fish House easily accommodated seven of us on a Monday night, outdoors. Our server was absolutely delightful and provided the best recommendations. The crowd favorite of the night were the ahi nachos. The main courses were a bit inconsistent for us - some over seasoned and others under seasoned. All the drinks were spectacular and funky too.

For the Midwest, in a college town, this is a gem. Whether you sit inside or outside, upstairs or down... the happy hour & main menu are all a treat. Drink options are aplenty, & I cannot wait to come back in the weeks ahead!

Came here for HH with a co worker, great choice! Food, drink and service was great! Everyone was attentive! There was servers who weren't assigned to my table, checking on us , clearing tables and refilling our glasses of water. I've never experienced that before and I must say it sat the bar high for me now lol! They had outdoor seating! And it was just lovely! It was cafe style, very cute, intimate and social setting. The oysters were VERY good and fresh! I had East and West coast oysters. If you never had either one try one of each so that you can taste the difference. Thank me later. The calamari was very tasty, the Paella was ok I expected more flavor. Cocktails were great! The War of Roses and Herbal Press is a must! Light and refreshing. I will definitely be back for HH again as well as dinner, looking forward to trying other things on the menu.

Treat yourself and order the calamari and crab cakes. Best crab cakes I've ever had in the Midwest! I ended up ordering the shrimp bucatini pasta...SO good. Very cozy and intimate restaurant setting. Perfect place for a date night.

We were so excited to try this place, and we were celebrating a birthday. Unfortunately, we had a terrible server, "Copper". She was rude and condescending. The food was so-so. I'm sure we won't go back.

This place was great! We don't live in Lawrence, but had to run an errand out here so we decided to make a day of it. This place was delicious. Making a reservation was easy, and we were seated right away. The entire dinner took 40 min max, which is great because it's a long drive back for us. We ordered almost entirely off of the happy hour menu, which is served from 4-6pm. They also had a good selection of beers. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back.

Had to wait over 30 minutes past my reservation for a table of three. Service was horrible. Entree was cold and missing vegetables. Server never came back to ask about meal only came back with big check for poorly prepared food. Don't have expectations of a fine dining experience.

This place is located in Downtown Lawrence. The restaurant is beautiful. On the lowest level, they have a private area for events. This is a nice place to take your date for dinner. Food was very good. In general the fish and seafood were fresh. I highly recommend trying happy hour. They have specials that are worth it. Oyster were ok. Fish and chips were nice Clam chowder was so so. It had too much potato. Clam flavor was diluted. Overall this is a nice place to have dinner with your significant other, if you are adventurous enough to go to a fish restaurant in the middle of the country

I had the Swordfish Special and the 14 Oz Ribeye while I was passing through for work. Easily one of the most delicious meals I've had in a long time. The ribeye was absolutely perfect. The swordfish special they had was extremely unique. The pineapple mixed with the green chili peppers and verde sauce might be the most delightfully unexpected combination l have tasted over the last few years.

The food was amazing, the waitress was so nice and friendly. We got there right before happy hour ended which was good because we got the oysters on the half shell for happy hour price. My only complaint is that it was so loud in the restaurant from people talking but started to quiet down a little bit later on.

Our food was so salty we had to complain. The server said "yeah, the smoked fish is really salty" and we were not charged for the meal. The crab cakes were delicious. The mayo was just a standard chipotle type mayo and the picked celery was great!! They will get a second try.

We sat outside, on a lovely evening, for dinner. The service was great - friendly and helpful. I had the seared Walleye and my son had the Lobster Roll, both were great. I would definitely recommend this restaurant, best seafood in Lawrence.

We have not been here in a long time and so glad we came! It was packed but we had a reservation! Lot of things going on downtown w xmas and the lights on mass which are so beautiful! I love how they have real candles everywhere as 715 used to do this but now switched to battery operated tea lights. Nothing better than a real candle. Anyway lets talk food and service. Service was excellent! Food was good but could improve on a few things. Great- crab dip w barker bread, shrimp cocktail, turkish olive bread dessert Ok- special app of hamachi sashimi. Not much sashimi Special of the night - walleye pan fried served over some risotto maybe? Tasty but very spicy for my wife which was not described in menu. Well i don't think it was anyway. She only ate some as she couldn't handle the heat. It was spicy for me as well but finished it off course! Fish portion was small for the price but the vibe of the place made up for it. We didn't order the salmon but did see it served to a table and wow was the piece small. Maybe this is a common theme of portions? Anyway we still had a great time and will be coming back!

We liked their tuna nachos so much we plan to stop here the next time we drive out west! They were so good. Large platter of them too. Love that the chips are actually wontons. The fish and chips were also very good. My husband got the black cod and he pronounced it good but not great. He loves black cod so he has a high bar set! Service was good and the place is really cute.

Love the outdoor seating in the summer- such a vibe. The seafood tastes so fresh and not fishy, it's really good. The staff were friendly and attentive. I would come here again in a heart beat!

Fun, intimate spot for happy hour or dinner! My best friend and I dropped in before a show in Lawrence and I left wanting more! Short on time, we ordered from the happy hour menu but I'll definitely be back some time for dinner. We shared a farmers salad and roasted Brussel sprouts (both standard but good), oysters and crab cakes (yum!), and a crispy trout plate, although I can't remember the name and I don't see it on the menu now so I wonder if it was a happy hour special. I cannot begin to tell you how perfectly crispy on the outside and soft the meat was or how amazing the flavor was. I only wish it came with more rice or as an entree because I could've eaten two of those. Highly recommend!

Neat ambience, very good service, excellent food and creative cocktails to boot. What else could you want?

While our service, the atmosphere and the prices were good, we were a bit disappointed this trip with the food. We had been before and this trip was for Happy Hour. We enjoyed the tuna nachos. These were good but lacking enough tuna to be satisfying. The fish and chips was very average. The chips were good but the fish itself was soggy. We will look for a new place the next time we are in Lawrence.

Possibly the worst food I've eaten in the last 20 years. So bad, it defies description. I think there is an old Star Trek episode where the crew finds what looks like an earth banquet on some far flung planet and they greedily dive in only to find that the food doesn't really taste like anything. Imagine crab cakes out of a can, drowned in a flavorless soupy matrix of mayo and bread crumbs, seared with a curling iron. If you closed your eyes, you might reasonably mistake the crab for a wad of hair left in the bathtub drain. Imagine four undersized sea scallops thrown into a pan and forgotten, then found again and hidden in the slimy folds of a cold, limp side of "grilled" romaine. Imagine a ceviche that isn't a ceviche at all, and so tasteless that even Oliver Sachs would feel compelled to coin the term 'Shrimpthesia' were he alive to tell the tale. I don't even know where to start on the ahi tuna thing... The one star? We didn't have to travel light years to get here, and we didn't get sick! (Yet.)

Service, cocktails and food were awesome!! Loved the Daytime Emmy! Enjoyed everything

My first experience... exceptional service. Laura, the owner, was attentive and engaging with our table and many others. It was obvious they love what they do. Food was prepared with care...fresh and delicious. Presentation excellent. We will definitely return. The shrimp ceviche was special. Ahi Tuna Nachos too. Delicious pan fried blackened cod. Also must try desserts as well. We had the olive cakes and creme brulee. Super!! It was a great celebration of food.

Surprisingly good seafood-I'm from Florida, so I'm pretty picky about a fresh catch. Great ambiance Amazing service Elevated menu: seafood forward but something for any palate. Happy hour 7 days a week! We started with a dozen oysters and a bottle of champagne. Oysters we're fresh and tasty. 2nd course was a half order of fish and chips. The fish is lightly battered and the fries and the tarter sauce were housemade. I'm pretty positive everything they serve here is made in-house. We went back the very next week and enjoyed another stellar dinner. We had the most unique homemade ice cream for dessert -I can't remember what the flavor was called, but it had black pepper and edible flowers in it. It was strangely delicious. I highly recommend this place!

The food was absolutely delicious. You must get the ahi tuna nachos and sit outside. Can't be skipped over. Enjoy!

Excellent food, service, ambience. Unexpectedly fresh oysters. Vegetable dishes were the highlight though. And the cocktails.

I have been here several times and it is one of our go to places for a good dinner. We also love that you can eat outside. I have never had anything bad here. They always have interesting daily specials along with a great regular menu. They also have a great happy hour with reduced prices. We always get oysters and they are the best in town. Services has always been very good and prices are reasonable for seafood.

Solid choice in Lawrence. In our frequent rotation when we're in town. Great location, food, and service!

Amazing service, food, atmosphere, everything was great. Prices are slightly high and there could have been more protein considering this, but that seems to be the case everywhere these days. Would 100% recommend and would go back for sure. Our server was so great and everything we ordered tasted amazing!

Very tasty and great service! I went with my husband and my mother. I ordered the salmon; my husband got the lobster roll; and my mom got the salad with grilled shrimp. Both my husband's food and my mother's food were excellent. Mine was pretty good, but really, really salty! I would definitely go back and try something different.

Outdoor seating on the former street. Had clam chowder, the Vera rita, and shrimp bucatini pasta with the peach mint cobbler for desert. Service was a little slow. Waited for about 15 mins after being seated for the waiter to come to the table. Food was quite good though.

The service at the restaurant, which we visited on a weeknight was good. Our server arrived promptly took our orders got our drinks to us, and our entrées arrived quickly after that. So no complaints at all about the service. The restaurant itself is nice looking we had a seat at a booth along the wall and while it was not super quiet, it was not so noisy that we couldn't talk. My mother had the fish and chips which she liked. I had the Cuban/salmon sandwich, and it was really good. When I got home, I realized that the sandwich was excessively salty. I spent the whole rest of the evening terribly thirsty. I would not order that sandwich the salmon Cuban with pickles again.

A girlfriend brought me here for happy hour. The atmosphere and ambience of this spot gave me all kinds of excitement to take pictures. I couldn't have been more in love. I love that it's a smaller venue with exposed brick, and three different levels. It feels so intimate. We set up top where we could oversee the bar and out onto the patio. They also have the option of sitting down on a lower sub-level which would be even more intimate for a date. The food and service was phenomenal. We hade the ahi tuna wonton appetizer. You MUST get this. So much food for an appetizer, to say you get bang for the buck is an understatement. Absolutely delicious, I will have cravings for the later. I also have the fish taco and my friend had the clam chowder. Her soup was hearty and filling. My taco was huge. I actually had to move a strip of fish to be able to fit it in my mouth. EVERY dish we ordered was filled with flavor. Important to note that Lawrence has a lot of outdoor seating right now on Mass Street, the Fish House by far has one of the best spots. You can kind of see in the background of a picture but I wish I would've stopped to take a picture of it. Highly recommend the happy hour or the spot for an intimate date.

Loved it! Came just for the happy hour and stayed for dinner and drinks because it was so tasty and comfortable. Staff: really kind and helpful and suggestive when asked about the menu. Took great care of what we needed and offered help without cajoling. Food: if you like raw things, they have those! And the fried small fish appetizer was a treat of a different sort. Try the mussels and by all that is good, get some bread to dip in the sauce! Atmosphere: The inside is so cozy and fun and inviting the outside is a good job with what they have.

We were underwhelmed. Service was good. Food was kinda average. We hoped for so much more.

No complaints here! We tried happy hour drinks - which were yummy and not light on the liquor. Calamari! It was the best we have had - very thick pieces, not chewy and breaded so lightly - great! Fish and chips were wonderful ! Very light breading and fries were good too! Husband got salmon on orzo pasta and it was perfectly cooked. Great flavors! Not a place to go if you don't like seafood - but they do have a ribeye. Not huge portions, which we like. The flourless chocolate torte is divine but soooo rich! Share it!

a little pricey, but really good quality. Never been unsatisfied with anything i've ordered. Doesn't take a long time for them to come out either. The happy hour deals are SOLID.

Wow! We came for happy Hour and everything was amazing. We got fish tacos and the ahi tuna nachos. I could eat those nachos everyday! Our server Nicole was also fabulous. We will be back.

The best service! Our waitress was one of the best we've had in a very long time he. We did the pre fix menu and ordered the best calamari we've ever had. Looking forward to returning

The not so good: We were "greeted" by the hostess who was leaning her elbows on the stand and with chin in hand. The tiny corner to step inside was extremely cramped and the waitress wanted to get through it to serve outside seating. The atmosphere was okay, but all hard surfaces with loud music. Nonetheless, I couldn't hear what she softly said. The good: we had oysters, ahi nachos and the muscles. All we're very good! There were many other things we wanted to try, but ran out of space.

Went to get something to eat after being on a plane most of the afternoon on a Sunday evening at around 8:25 PM. Although the hours of operation were clearly posted as the place being open until 10, I was informed that their kitchen was closed. As I was leaving, one of the servers rudely told me that there were plenty of fast food restaurants still open. Guess I will never be going here again.

The best atmosphere in Lawrence. The building is so cool, the staff is amazing, and the food is delicious. The fish and chips were AMAZING!

Amazing place!! Highly recommended! The food and service were excellent! A new place for us in Kansas.