Go early like we did!!! Incredible service and lobster roll! We went hot and butter and it was eternally memorable! The oysters and clams are also top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
B G
Fresh, tasty, hyped.
Andy Cheng
Excellent restaurant where most of the time you will need to wait. Recommend come in twos so you have more chance to getting seated, large party will normally need to wait longer. Loved the Johnnycake , hot lobster rolls and Naptune pearl oysters
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zi-Ling Ho
Long line, which was fine with me. I am a solo traveler. It was the third lobster roll that I tried during this trip. This is the most pricey and supposed to be the best lobster roll of all and I wanted to try it before I left. However, somehow I felt the cold lobster roll with mayo was okay. It was big and filling, but quite chewy sometimes. Because the cold one was only okay. Maybe the warm one should be better? The fries were not good like some other places either, I was disappointed expecting better quality fries. It was busy. While I was eating, the lady cleaning the table area next to me sprayed some cleaner on my hand and I wasn't sure if it also went into my food cuz my hand was just next to my food... I ate it anyways cuz it was a pricey meal. And while I was still eating, I was asked to move to the seat next to me. I understand it was busy, but it wasn't the best experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
A C
Other reviews were spot on:
Mediocre but still good lobster roll Great oysters + wine Good squid ink risotto
Anton Ego
Neptune Oyster remains a benchmark—not just for seafood in Boston, but for how a restaurant earns longevity through discipline.
The food is direct, confident, and exact. Raw bar selections are impeccably handled, pristine without adornment. The lobster roll—both hot with brown butter and cold with mayo—continues to justify its reputation through balance rather than excess. Nothing is overwrought, nothing padded. Seasoning is precise, textures are right, and plates arrive with a clarity of purpose that many larger, newer rooms never achieve.
Service is part of the institution’s strength. The room moves with urgency but not chaos, and the staff operate with deep familiarity and control. Interactions are efficient, knowledgeable, and quietly hospitable. There’s no pretense—just execution and accountability.
The space itself is tight, energetic, and unapologetically focused. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, there’s a wait. Both feel earned. The atmosphere reinforces the sense that you’re somewhere that knows exactly what it’s doing and has for a long time.
Verdict: Neptune Oyster earns five stars through consistency, restraint, and authority. It doesn’t chase relevance or reinvent itself—it simply executes at a high level, every day. A true reference point and one of Boston’s most complete dining experiences.
A. P
I come every year for the oysters and lobster roll! Never fails, only downfall is the wait in line but it is always worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Lobster, Oyster Bar
Ilya Hrytsuk
Fries are super good and perfect pairing for lobster
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adibah S
Whatever you do, make sure you order the Neptune Johnnycake and add lobster! Oysters were so fresh, juicy and perfectly briny. Lobster roll was a huge portion, and we've had our fill of lobster rolls on this trip but this one was the best. It can get a little noisy, depending on who you ger seated next to since it's a tight space. Overall, would def come just for the johnnycake next time we are in Boston.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alisa Jeffries
Food was good but nothing I’d have to have again. I won’t be back even in summer. I felt like our party wasn’t wanted there.
Showed up on a Wednesday night and there was no line, so we waited a few minutes outside for the next table. No problem. Although the food and drinks were good, I don't see why anyone would wait in an hour long line for this place when there are plenty of other good seafood spots in Boston, where the staff is probably friendlier than here. I understand that they run a tight ship in there due to the lack of space and set up, but the way that some of the staff spoke to some folks in and outside of the restaurant about wait times/ waiting outside until their table was reading was such a turn off. There's a way to be firm, but also kind and respectful which I didn't see much of. The oysters were great, but the rest of the food was pretty unremarkable (lobster roll & fish and chips).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
G K
Seafood tower for lunch really made me feel good about life. Top quality food! Service was great and friendly. Took our kids too and they loved everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan WEEKS
Great service is only the start! Great staff and not to mention the food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tommy To
Ordered 4 oysters - all different varieties, and two lobster rolls - hot and cold.
Food was very good and probably the best lobster rolls we’ve ever had (granted we’ve had a limited number of lobster rolls).
Highly recommend but make sure to try to come in before peak times to have little to no wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster, Oyster Bar
William Asher
too many potatoes in the chowder compared to clams and the former did not taste good. also not enough urchin in the (very decent) carbonara considering you're paying $37 for it and it's supposed to be the star of the dish. service was very good but the food I had was not good enough to justify the prices, the cramped interior, and the line I saw outside leaving the restaurant.
Go early like we did!!! Incredible service and lobster roll! We went hot and butter and it was eternally memorable! The oysters and clams are also top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fresh, tasty, hyped.
Excellent restaurant where most of the time you will need to wait. Recommend come in twos so you have more chance to getting seated, large party will normally need to wait longer. Loved the Johnnycake , hot lobster rolls and Naptune pearl oysters
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Long line, which was fine with me. I am a solo traveler. It was the third lobster roll that I tried during this trip. This is the most pricey and supposed to be the best lobster roll of all and I wanted to try it before I left. However, somehow I felt the cold lobster roll with mayo was okay. It was big and filling, but quite chewy sometimes. Because the cold one was only okay. Maybe the warm one should be better? The fries were not good like some other places either, I was disappointed expecting better quality fries. It was busy. While I was eating, the lady cleaning the table area next to me sprayed some cleaner on my hand and I wasn't sure if it also went into my food cuz my hand was just next to my food... I ate it anyways cuz it was a pricey meal. And while I was still eating, I was asked to move to the seat next to me. I understand it was busy, but it wasn't the best experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Other reviews were spot on:
Mediocre but still good lobster roll
Great oysters + wine
Good squid ink risotto
Neptune Oyster remains a benchmark—not just for seafood in Boston, but for how a restaurant earns longevity through discipline.
The food is direct, confident, and exact. Raw bar selections are impeccably handled, pristine without adornment. The lobster roll—both hot with brown butter and cold with mayo—continues to justify its reputation through balance rather than excess. Nothing is overwrought, nothing padded. Seasoning is precise, textures are right, and plates arrive with a clarity of purpose that many larger, newer rooms never achieve.
Service is part of the institution’s strength. The room moves with urgency but not chaos, and the staff operate with deep familiarity and control. Interactions are efficient, knowledgeable, and quietly hospitable. There’s no pretense—just execution and accountability.
The space itself is tight, energetic, and unapologetically focused. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, there’s a wait. Both feel earned. The atmosphere reinforces the sense that you’re somewhere that knows exactly what it’s doing and has for a long time.
Verdict:
Neptune Oyster earns five stars through consistency, restraint, and authority. It doesn’t chase relevance or reinvent itself—it simply executes at a high level, every day. A true reference point and one of Boston’s most complete dining experiences.
I come every year for the oysters and lobster roll! Never fails, only downfall is the wait in line but it is always worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Lobster, Oyster Bar
Fries are super good and perfect pairing for lobster
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Whatever you do, make sure you order the Neptune Johnnycake and add lobster! Oysters were so fresh, juicy and perfectly briny. Lobster roll was a huge portion, and we've had our fill of lobster rolls on this trip but this one was the best. It can get a little noisy, depending on who you ger seated next to since it's a tight space. Overall, would def come just for the johnnycake next time we are in Boston.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was good but nothing I’d have to have again. I won’t be back even in summer. I felt like our party wasn’t wanted there.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Showed up on a Wednesday night and there was no line, so we waited a few minutes outside for the next table. No problem. Although the food and drinks were good, I don't see why anyone would wait in an hour long line for this place when there are plenty of other good seafood spots in Boston, where the staff is probably friendlier than here. I understand that they run a tight ship in there due to the lack of space and set up, but the way that some of the staff spoke to some folks in and outside of the restaurant about wait times/ waiting outside until their table was reading was such a turn off. There's a way to be firm, but also kind and respectful which I didn't see much of. The oysters were great, but the rest of the food was pretty unremarkable (lobster roll & fish and chips).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Seafood tower for lunch really made me feel good about life. Top quality food! Service was great and friendly. Took our kids too and they loved everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service is only the start! Great staff and not to mention the food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered 4 oysters - all different varieties, and two lobster rolls - hot and cold.
Food was very good and probably the best lobster rolls we’ve ever had (granted we’ve had a limited number of lobster rolls).
Highly recommend but make sure to try to come in before peak times to have little to no wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster, Oyster Bar
too many potatoes in the chowder compared to clams and the former did not taste good. also not enough urchin in the (very decent) carbonara considering you're paying $37 for it and it's supposed to be the star of the dish. service was very good but the food I had was not good enough to justify the prices, the cramped interior, and the line I saw outside leaving the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
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