The Lobster Shanty

I was excited to finally try The Lobster Shanty after hearing so much about it, but the experience just didn’t deliver. We were seated quickly, and I really enjoyed the local pumpkin beer — that was a highlight. Unfortunately, service was quite slow despite the restaurant not being busy, and the food was disappointing. The $40 Connecticut lobster roll was completely overwhelmed by oil, which hid the natural flavor of the lobster. The chicken wings were also dry and lacked any real sauce. For a lunch that came to over $100, I left feeling let down rather than satisfied. Hopefully this was just an off day, because the setting and menu have real potential.

Nice chill spot for drinks and food! We had the perfect storm cocktail and it was tasty. The poutine delicious, we shared a fried platter for 4 and the best was the lobster roll, so good, the best lobster I’ve had probably!

What a great place, Mike P our server was amazing with our kids, we had a great time, was a really cool place and the lobster pie was amazing. I would absolutely recommend this if you’re in Salem dealing with witches and goblins. The lobster casserole will not disappoint you. The kids enjoyed the mac & cheese as well as the hotdog. A great visit and end to our day. I have to say that the onion rings were probably the best that I have ever had. Great service, great food and a cool place.

When I say I was excited to try this place, that’s an understatement—I really wanted it to be my new go-to. My partner and I ordered the hot lobster rolls, but unfortunately they weren’t great. The lobster was overcooked to the point of being chewy and rubbery, and I couldn’t finish mine. The seasoning was underwhelming as well, so I requested lemon wedges in hopes of adding some brightness. The tater tots were over-fried and extremely crunchy, which was disappointing. On the bright side, our waiter was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and the highlight of the experience. I’d love to come back and give it another shot, but I was disappointed to spend about $100 (drinks included) on a meal that didn’t quite deliver. Hoping this was just an off night, because I had high hopes for this place.

This was a great stop on our tour of Salem. The prices were reasonable, the atmosphere relaxed and the service on point. Had lobster roll, chowder and lobster Mac & cheese

It's a decent place. I had the steak tips in Guinness. I'm not sure if the server was having an off day but service was lacking. After dropping off the food, she didnt stop by until it was time to clear the table and drop off the check.

The Lobster roll was PHENOMENAL! I got the hot Connecticut style and it was 1000/10. $42 with a side of tots. Worth every penny though. Good fast service

Rebecca & Mike made our first visit to Lobster Shanty extraordinary, & a 100% delight! The food, both traditional & Connecticut were YUMMY. Oh, & the Chowder was scrumptious, too. We had a ton of food, with every single thing satisfying, yet increased our appetites to want more! I'm a very disabled , handicapped person, but was never treated like an inconvenience...actually.I was treated so much cooler! Becca made me feel like her dearest friend...or my favorite sister, from the moment she began helping us. And, Mike was a wonderfully charming server, who kindly showed me the bathroom, which was clean & handicap accessible. Lol, my guess several times was that Mike must own the place, or live there 24/7. Lol, both were witty, helpful and kind. Lol, they will definitely have my hubby & me bragging for days when we return home. Oh, & other staff there were legit too! Definitely recommend the service , food & experience at Lobster Shanty!! See you again soon, guys!

In short: a local dive bar that is said to "secretly have class". I was in Salem with two friends the weekend before Halloween and since this is peak season for Salem the wait was insane! Long story short we came back at 9pm and were able to walk right in!!! Ambiance: it's a loud dive bar... nothing fancy but I'm here for the food, I can get fancy when I'm home in South Florida . This spot has been a casual staple in Salem for over 40 years ... and The patio is dog friendly! Food: I'm no New England food connoisseur but I had the New Clam chowder and it warmed my soul. They have classic New England Lobster rolls (cold with mayo based) and Connecticut Style (warmed with a butter base). I had the Connecticut style and it was delicious . It was my first lobster roll but won't be my last . Service: Our server was attentive and had a quirky personality. He was a good time and we had some fun banter. Overall if you can get a decent waiting time I would check it out !

A cozy and lively place in Salem. There was a long line but the hostess was very polite and accommodating. If you go on a weekend in October, prepare to wait for at least 40 minutes. We ordered the baked Haddock, baked Shrimp, and the wild crab cake. The baked seafood dishes were well cooked, but too buttery and oily for our taste. The same goes to the tater tots. My favorite was the crab cake and the well seasoned side salad it comes with. We also ordered a few drinks which were okay, nothing too fancy. Go for the service and ambience. The food was mid and the price was high, hence the 3 stars.

Ok, where in Massachusetts can you get a Lobstertini? Well, according to Food Network, it's at the Lobster Shanty in Salem! It's one of those things that you gotta get because chances are you're not gonna find another place offering such a unique cocktail, and to be honest it wasn't half bad! We also had mussels cooked in beer and garlic with huge cloves of garlic and delicious broth at the bottom, which is why we didn't get a picture until we were all done Lol. Inside is much more local feeling than outside where the tourists sit, but we like local so that's where we prefer. We definitely will give it another try for something else on the menu next time we're in Salem. Give it a try!

Love the staff and commend them for having to deal with Salem in October. The food is always delicious but my most recent visit we went for drinks as a group! The outdoor patio is awesome and we hung out there and I ordered the infamous lobster martini. Would I get it again? Probably not. But it's a touristy drink that was featured on diners drives and dives that I had to try!

Went in on a rainy weekday in October and didn't have to wait at all. Inside is dimly lit and eclectic and the wait staff all seemed to be friends which was nice to see. We ordered the pulled pork and the baked seafood - scallops. The food came out pretty quickly and was reasonably priced, especially for the area. The fries that came with both meals were delicious and my partner enjoyed his pulled pork. The butter and Ritz crumb topping on the scallops was good but a bit too rich for me...I think less would have been better. Our server was not very attentive either. All in all not a bad experience, but not the best we've had either. I'd give them another try though!

We experienced this on Halloween, and managed to get in line right as they opened. This turned out to be a great move because later it was hours to wait all over town. The service here was wonderful. The guy who took our order was a real help in navigating our first lobster rolls. We ended up getting one of each (traditional and Connecticut styles) in my mind, I thought I would love the hot one better, but I was surprised at how fantastic the traditional cold was. So much flavor! I will say, I saw them for between 25 and 35 a couple times through the day elsewhere and prices here were around 42 I think. But I was willing to pay that for such good service and amazing food.

When we arrived in Salem Massachusetts I had Noël Teel look up a place that Guy Fieri featured on Diners Drive-In & Dives and she discovered "Lobster Shanty" on Klope Alley. We found free parking and had to wait 10 minutes to be seated. We ate outside under the covered porch area! Calliope got a Corn Dog but not a fan! Tony Vanoy got the Connecticut Style Lobster Roll *$45 which we found out after the fact with slaw & fries! I ordered the Haddock Fish sandwich with fries and Noki went with a 4 cheese grilled sandwich with a side of fries and Clam Chowder. She had Root Beer, Tony and beer and I got a Iced Tea to share with the baby Food was great! Atmosphere amazing and staff friendly! Loved being on the street and the weather was amazing! The check was $124 with tips and taxes! Crazy amount!! That's a hotel room amount!! Never again order seafood at market value without asking!

I didn't get any lobster here because I was in a bit of a rush but I did get the clam chowder and it didn't disappoint. The staff was super friendly and surprisingly without my knowledge they were featured in Diners Drive-Ins and Dives so you know it was worth the stop. I went in OCT and there was a line but because I was by myself I was able to get seated at the bar. If I ever make my way back to Salem I will definitely try more of the menu.

Small joint but food is good. I wasn't to pleased with the claim chowder because it was mostly broth and nothing else. I got the lobsterini and if yoy do not like seafood do not get that ( is even says so on the menu) it was good to me. I took so.e of the meat from the claw from my lobster claw and added it to my claw chowder since it didn't have anything in it. The crab cake was big and nice and spicy. Very yummy! The fish n chips was amazing it was haddock. It was so good I would come back for that for sure!!!!!

Great atmosphere! Went during Halloween, good vibes and the fish and chips was absolutely amazing! Great service! So glad we went there!

The food was excellent--my whole family enjoyed their meals! The warm lobster roll was especially delicious, and the grilled bread gave it the perfect toasty crunch, almost like a grilled cheese. Highly recommend 100%!

OH WOW!! What a spot! By far the best Rangoon's I have ever had! My husband said it was the best lobster roll he had ever had in his life! We loved the quirky signs all over the establishment and we enjoyed the quick service. I would recommend heat lamps in the outdoor area because it was super cold. Everything is fresh and you have to appreciate honest service! Lobster is a little pricey right now at the moment due to storm circumstances I believe, but it was worth it. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My friend and I went to Boston to attend the Boston Calling Festival and decided it would be fun to take a tour of Salem in the morning before the festival. After the tour, we were starving--we hadn't had breakfast, and we skipped lunch too (lol). Since we were in Massachusetts, we figured it would be a crime not to eat lobster, so we decided to try The Lobster Shanty. First off, the waitress seemed upset that we didn't wait outside to be seated. To be fair, it was raining, super windy, and cold that day. There were no outdoor heaters, and honestly, we just didn't see the sign asking guests to wait outside. We were just happy to be indoors and out of the rain. I apologized to the server once my friend explained the situation to me (I had just come out of the restroom at the time). I've had lobster rolls before, and quite frankly, this one didn't compare to the one I had in mind. The lobster tasted bland--I expected it to be a bit sweeter, especially since it's supposed to be fresh from the Gulf. And when I saw the price, I couldn't help but wish I had my money back. For one mac and cheese, a lobster roll, two soft drinks, and two clam chowders, we paid $145. I wouldn't recommend this place. Rude staff, overpriced, and just overall service was slow and unsatisfactory. There are other spots nearby that serve lobster--try those first.

When in New England..you gotta have a lobster roll! Since I have never had the Connecticut Style roll before that is what I ordered. Connecticut Style rolls are served warm drizzled in butter. I opted for the super-size at market price which was a lot of lobster meat..worth it! Very sad that I couldn't eat the toasted roll because it was soaked in butter and became soggy! Boo :( Ran out of fries too so my hubby and I choose tots. For those that were wondering about the line..it was about a 15 minutes wait. We saw a few small tables inside the restaurant empty as well as outdoors seating but was told only bar seating only so that's what we did. Service was quick, lobster was fresh, overall good dinner.

We stopped by on a rainy Sunday in October. The area was super busy. We waited in a line in the rain for like 40 minutes. We came with a dog so we sat in the covered outoutdoor area. The manager or person sitting asked if the dog had rabies shots which she does, but I've never been asked this when dining anywhere dog friendly. We were seated. The dog was given a water bowl. The wait staff was friendly and efficient even though it was busy. I ordered a well done burger which still had some pink, but I did not complain. My boyfriend ordered a chicken tenders basket which included fries. The chicken tenders were super dry/overcooked. He did complain and they took it off the bill. He selected the fish and chips meal and was pleased. The fish was moist inside and nice and crisp on the outside. We also ordered a cup of the spicy chili which did not come out with the food. I told the waiter to just take it off the bill. He did take it off but still brought it out for us to try. This was truly spicy too much for me to handle. The food we did eat was tasty and enjoyable. The most impressive part of my experience was the great customer service from the wait staff even though they were very busy. It's a good place to eat with or without pets when hanging out in Salem, MA.

Not sure about bathrooms. No parking in October. Not a long wait. Our server forgot about us, so we ended up being there forever. We got the lobster meal (market price was 30$ with a side was 33$) good lobster, my sister had a Caesar salad with chicken. Very good Caesar dressing. It was fine not out of this world but a decent meal amongst the craziness you are right on artists row so the location is great. Servers were nice she just completely forgot us. She said she saw us as closed our tab so thought we had left? So probably just some confusion but we were so tired by the time we got there so we were like please come back lol. Cool vibe, small little restaurant. Inside and patio. I recommend the patio to look at everyone. I wanted to give 3.5 but can't do that on here. Overall not bad decent food. No gluten free bread NO ABILITY TO OFFER CONTACT FREE FOOD. So allergies beware. It's a small kitchen. It's very good but if you have food allergies perhaps consider a different location.

We ordered the Hypernova Scotia and that was so delicious! The scallops were huge and cooked to perfection. The service was great and food came out quick.

Lobster shanty is a "must eat at" on any trip to Salem. Today was no exception. The scallops and fried fish sandwich were both spot on. Generous portion and the price is right. See you next visit!

One of my favorite food spots in all the places I tried in MA. I ordered a spicy crab cake sandwich and my friend got a lobster roll and we got tons of fries and pickles, and local crispy beer! Everything was just so good!! I specifically appreciated the no nonsense, fast, yet kind service from the crew. A nice place to stop by after a busy day in Salem.

Lobster roll was good!!!! Ambience was okay as well and friendly workers!! Highly recommend!!!!!!!

You cannot go wrong with a visit to Salem's best dive bar. Yes the staff can be 'surly' but they take good care of all who are well behaved LOL. Live music tonight, the unmistakable talents of Vein. Cold drinks and a warm welcome go along way. Pulled pork sandwich was accompanied by the special appetizer, fried green beans - without a doubt the best green beans I've ever had. Get your Shanty on peeps!

Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing. We waited far too long to be seated despite several clean, available tables. Once seated, there was another long and frustrating wait just for someone to take our order. The food didn't make up for the delays, the lobster mac and cheese lacked creaminess and had barely any lobster, while the steak tips had an overpowering flavor that became tiring after a few bites. To top it off, we asked for BBQ sauce that didn't arrive until we had already finished eating. Definitely expected more.

Just showed up for party of one. In Boston for business and drove one hour to get here. Guy with glasses walks up and I say hello table for one. He responds by telling me they can't seat me because they are too busy and kitchen is overwhelmed??? WTF? Half the tables on the patio are empty and bar inside and open tables inside. I showed up professionally dressed and friendly. This is so weird. Never happened before. There is something wrong with this restaurant. Stay away.

Way over priced for the amount of food you get and the wait staff was rude will not be coming back

Food was phenomenal, easily the best hot butter lobster roll in New England! The service was great, however you do have to wait outside rain or shine to get a table. Thankfully we showed up when they opened at noon on a Saturday. The places decor definitely lives up to its "shanty" name but still very fun! It definitely gave local seafood shack vibes! As out of towners with a plethora of options, we will definitely be back!

Great people. Awesome food. A local favorite. You can't go wrong with lobster shanty but k ow it's small.

Waited in line briefly, hostess was constantly moving and seating people. Weather was great. People watching fun. Cute neighborhood bar, decorated for Halloween. Ordered spicy crab cake, cheese curds, Connecticut-warm lobster roll and chowder. Split everything. Everything was fabulous. Waitress with the right level of attentiveness. Festive atmosphere. Definitely go find this place.

If you want a good, classic lobster roll, this is the place for you! They have the KINDEST wait staff, and you can't beat the view of the middle of Salem, Massachusetts. Excited to return from Alabama!

Everything. Health authorities need to come by. Mouse running amok and the employees thought that was okay. Food was overcooked and bad. Drinks were awful. Service was mid af. Needs improvement everywhere. Dirty af.

Slow but friendly service. Food was pretty good. Great location and fun outdoor atmosphere.

Pretty good lobster roll, buttered brioche, seasoned lobster. Do t expect tail only claws and knuckles at 42.00. Worth it coming from the west coast.

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. :)

The food was not great at all. The calamari was not terribly hot and the clam chowder was highly over seasoned. One entree had a hair in it and when we told the waitress she flat out denied it came from the staff. The waitress was rude and the bartender was openly discussing how she hates tourists and tourist season. It was so awkward and uncomfortable. The place was also gross and unclean.

We were here during summer time for lunch. Our waiter were friendly and polite. The nova scotia poutine were pretty good. It's not really a poutine. It's just cheese fries with New England clam chowder. The lobster roll were just decent. The bread were really soggy. We've had better.

Lobster roll was rubbery and 42 dollars. Don't try it! Everything else was great! Wife liked mac and cheese.

We really enjoyed the food, staff was super friendly. While there was a bit of a wait, it was fine. We had an order of poutine fries and BF had clam chowder which I thought was a bit watery for chowder but he said it was good. BF and I had Connecticut lobster roll with homemade chips. Both were delicious! My daughter had the Mac and cheese which was very good as well. The staff were great. My daughter got something in her eye when we were walking to the place and the staff brought over a little cup for her to rinse her eye. When we were leaving they asked if she was ok. That was very thoughtful. The place was not overly loud. Small and quaint but would definitely recommend

Don't know if it was a good reason but we had to try this place since it was on DDD, and if you're going to a place called The Lobster Shanty, then you have to have the lobster roll. It was loaded with lobster. I wouldn't say it was the best lobster roll I've had but it was good. The roll comes with a choice of sides so I had the onion rings. The waiter called them onion strips because he said they are sliced thinly compared to standard rings. The batter was light, but overall, they were a little too greasy. The clam chowder also was loaded with clams but lacked clam flavor. The soup was heavily seasoned with thyme. The best part of the meal was the calamari. It was lightly battered and fried well. Once you order, service is fairly quick. There's an inside dining area and a larger outside covered patio.

Rip Off. fisherman's platter. There was barely any seafood in it. Just loaded with fries waitress was horrible. Waitress Had an attitude watered down my drink and then lied about said the bartender made it when she did. Never going back

Extremely rude bar tender (duchess k) was allegedly her name. Was only nice to people that she knew, clearly only caters to the locals. Food is EXTREMELY overpriced, $50 for a tiny lobster roll not worth it at all. Plenty of better options with better customer service all around Salem. I visit Salem at least 6 times a year. Will definitely not be eating here ever again.

It's a very busy place so the service is slow but it's good service. Dont be in a rush and just enjoy the positive atmosphere . The food is a solid 2. Similar to hospital or cafeteria food where you have to spice it up to your liking which obviously if you go out to eat you don't want to do. I literally ate a piece and took the rest home so I can fix it myself. Seasoning guys.. seasoning . It didn't even have black pepper or salt on it to start .

We decided to come in to try the lobster roll and we're highly disappointed in the service. The food was average and the waitress was terrible.

$45 for a very bland lobster roll and grumpy service. Wish we'd never gone. Must be better places than this in Salem surely. Uncomfortable seats and general dirty feeling. Hard pass.

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. Y'all. Please listen. This is the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my entire life, and no I'm not exaggerating. It was SO cheesy and SO creamy, I kept eating it until I was beyond full. I've 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 can't explain. Literally the perfect mac and cheese. I'll 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 can't wait to come back in the future and try everything else!!

Their menu is straight to the point, without any fluff. I decided to get their namesake, the lobster roll. It was so big that the weight couldn't be held by the bread! The sweet butter made the lobster delectable. The fries were crispy and seasoned excellently. Huge amount of lobster, and the staff were attentive and friendly. Ambiance was chill. Would recommend absolutely to everyone!

The lobster roll was ok but I felt like the bun itself was hard. Tots were tots nothing special to bite. We did get a little out of our comfort zone and had a lobstertini and it was nasty lol. Nothing dirty about it except for the vodka from the claw! Needed something briney added to it. All in all it was ok.

I enjoyed the atmosphere while having a bite and a drink. We tried the lobster rolls, one of each- a warm one and cold one and a appetizer of calamari. The lobster rolls were just ok, they came with a side. I got onion rings, they were the best part, besides my beer. The lobster lacked flavor. Maybe some lemon would have helped. The calamari was good. Prob wouldn't come again unless it was just for a beer. Over priced priced for the lack of flavor.

Amazing warm lobster roll! We sat outside and it was perfect! Also, when we arrived there was a line to be seated and we managed to get in line, get seated, order, and eat in less than an hour. Great service!!

Clearly, the #1 reason I want to visit Salem again is because of this spot's Connecticut Style Lobster Roll. Then went to Boston straight after to have a couple more lobster rolls, same style, and no bueno. Man-o-man Lobster Shanty, my cholesterol is coming back for you! So good in a cute spot with wonderful service from some gal. Thanks to Sarah from Bewitched After Dark tour for the recommendation mention during the tour the night before. Maybe I will have the courage to try the Lobstertini. Next time I'm bringing Tupperware and making this spot my last stop on my visit so I can bring some home to family.

Delicious food!! Great location! First time for me, and I will definitely be back! Best lobster grilled cheese