The Lobster Shanty

25 Front Street, Salem, MA 01970

"Amazing place to visit and eat. Staff was friendly and attentive. Haddock sammich was exceptional. Tater tots were awesome as well. Portions are amazing and huge. You will not leave hungry. Prices are decent. Had the most beautiful views from the outdoor seating area. Try this place for sure."

"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 experience was disappointing because we went for the seafood and it was not good. The lobster roll was pretty bad and the fish and chip was just ok maybe it was the oil they were using to fry. The burger was good and we really liked the clam chowder poutines, that was very unique and it tasted good."

"A cute chill place for a quick snack and drink while wandering around Salem! The fish and chips were very good. It was nice to be able to get out of the sprinkling rain for a bit. Not busy at all but we were there between lunch and dinner during the off season."

"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!!"