Updated Oct. 29, 2026. Menus and prices change, so check with each restaurant before you go. We review this list every spring before lobster roll season.
Boston has two lobster roll camps: warm with butter and cold with mayo. This guide lists 12 restaurants and shops in Boston and right next door that are known for their rolls, with addresses and the style each one serves. We also explain why a lobster roll costs so much and what the latest Maine catch data says about prices.
Quick explainer: Hot or cold? A “Connecticut-style” roll is warm lobster in melted butter. A “Maine-style” roll is cold lobster salad with mayo. Most places on this list serve both.
Where to get a lobster roll in Boston
| Restaurant | Address | Style | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neptune Oyster | 63 Salem St., North End | Hot with butter or cold with mayo, on griddled brioche | No reservations; expect a line. Boston Magazine Best of Boston 2025 (Classy). |
| James Hook & Co. | 440 Atlantic Ave., Downtown waterfront | Hot or cold, regular or large, on a hot dog bun | Waterfront seafood shop run by the Hook family since 1925. Best of Boston 2025 (Casual). |
| Row 34 | 383 Congress St., Fort Point | Warm and buttered, or cold and creamy | Lobster comes from the chef’s cousin, a York, Maine lobsterman. |
| Saltie Girl | 279 Dartmouth St., Back Bay | Hot or cold, with Gloucester lobster | Also an off-menu fried lobster roll. |
| Yankee Lobster Co. | 300 Northern Ave., Seaport | Cold, light herb mayo, split-top roll | Counter service, no frills. |
| Eventide Fenway | 1321 Boylston St., Fenway | Brown butter, on a steamed bao-style bun | From the team behind Portland, Maine’s Eventide Oyster Co. |
| Luke’s Lobster | 75 Exeter St., Back Bay; 290 Washington St., Downtown Crossing; Fenway Park | Chilled, with mayo and lemon butter | Fast-casual chain; gluten-free buns available. |
| Little Whale Oyster Bar | 314 Newbury St., Back Bay | Cold with mayo or warm with butter, on Iggy’s brioche | Served with fries. |
| The Banks Seafood and Steak | 406 Stuart St., Back Bay | Hot or cold, on a brown butter bun | From the Grill 23 team; also on the brunch menu. |
| Pauli’s | 65 Salem St., North End | Classic roll on a griddled hot dog bun | Known for a 28-ounce “Lobstitution” roll. |
| Cusser’s Roast Beef & Seafood | 401 Park Dr. (Time Out Market), Fenway | Warm with butter and chives, or cold with mayo and celery | Food hall counter. |
| Belle Isle Seafood | 1 Main St., Winthrop | Hot dog bun packed with tail, knuckle and claw | Just over the East Boston line. Cash only. |
If you only have time for one
For a sit-down meal, Neptune Oyster in the North End is the classic choice, though the line can be long. For something quick near the Aquarium, James Hook & Co. is a walk-up shop on the water. In the Seaport, Yankee Lobster Co. is the low-key option, and Row 34 in Fort Point is good for groups.
Why lobster rolls cost so much
Most lobster in Boston rolls comes from the Gulf of Maine. Maine’s Department of Marine Resources says lobstermen were paid an average of $5.85 a pound in 2025 (preliminary), down from $6.15 in 2024 but well above the $3.97 low of 2022. The catch is shrinking: Maine landed 78.8 million pounds in 2025, down from a peak of 132.6 million in 2016. Only about a quarter of a lobster’s weight is meat, so restaurants pay several times the boat price per pound of meat, before labor and rent. That’s why lobster rolls are among the priciest sandwiches in town, and why some menus list them at “market price.”
| Year | Boat price per lb | Landings (million lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $4.10 | 122.7 |
| 2016 | $4.08 | 132.6 |
| 2017 | $3.92 | 112.1 |
| 2018 | $4.05 | 121.0 |
| 2019 | $4.82 | 102.3 |
| 2020 | $4.21 | 98.0 |
| 2021 | $6.71 | 110.7 |
| 2022 | $3.97 | 99.0 |
| 2023 | $4.97 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | $6.15 | 87.3 |
| 2025 | $5.85 | 78.8 |
Is the “about a quarter is meat” figure exact?
No. It’s a common rule of thumb for hard-shell lobsters, and yields vary with shell and size. Treat it as an estimate.
More Boston food guides
- Boston restaurants hub
- Best pizza in Boston 2026
- Boston neighborhoods guide
- Things to do this weekend
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best lobster roll in Boston?
Neptune Oyster in the North End and James Hook & Co. on the downtown waterfront are the most-awarded. Both won Boston Magazine Best of Boston lobster roll awards in 2025.
What is the difference between a Maine and a Connecticut lobster roll?
A Maine-style roll is cold lobster with mayo. A Connecticut-style roll is warm lobster tossed in butter.
How much is a lobster roll in Boston?
Prices change often, and some restaurants charge market price, so check the current menu before you go. We don’t list prices because they shift with the catch.
Can I get a lobster roll in Boston in winter?
Usually. Most spots on this list are year-round restaurants, but menus and hours change with the season, so check before you go.
Why are lobster prices so high?
Maine boat prices were $6.15 a pound in 2024 and $5.85 in 2025, while landings fell. Only part of each lobster is meat, which raises the cost.
Sources
- Maine Department of Marine Resources: Historical Maine lobster landings (PDF)
- Boston Magazine: Where to eat lobster rolls in Greater Boston
Additional sources
Featured image: Photo: istolethetv, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.