Welcome to the USA East Coast Series! 🇺🇸
Over the next few posts, I'm taking you through the spots I ate my way around in NYC and Boston. First up is Boston, and when in Boston, it has to be lobster.
A Very Short History of the Boston Lobster 🦞
These days lobster is a luxury, but in colonial New England it was so common that it washed up on the shore in piles. It got used as fish bait and fertiliser, and it was fed to servants and prisoners. Local legend says some of them complained about eating it too often. Imagine that.
That changed in the 1800s. Railways and canning took New England lobster to cities across the country, demand shot up, and the "poor man's protein" became a luxury. The lobster roll came along in the early 20th century and is usually credited to Perry's in Milford, Connecticut, in the late 1920s. Today it's New England's most famous sandwich, and Boston takes it very seriously.
So Many Choices, So Little Time ⏰
Boston has seafood restaurants everywhere, from the old-school James Hook & Co to the famous (and famously long-queued) Neptune Oyster. On a tourist schedule, though, you can't spend an hour in a queue. My tip is to go for places you can book ahead.
With limited time and a limited bank balance, I managed to fit in two lobster roll stops. Here's the honest verdict as always.
1. Row 34 🏭
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| Spacious industrial decor |
🍽️ Food & Drinks
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| Can't leave Boston without trying lobster |
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| Quality oyster, my bank account doesn't allow me to order more |
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| Generous portion and great flavour |
👋 Service
Friendly and helpful from start to finish. No complaints here.
✨ Decor & Ambience
An industrial-style space that's large and spacious, so you're not elbow to elbow with the next table. It's relaxed and easy to settle into.
💰 Value
It was the pricier of the two, but you can taste the quality.
2. Saltie Girl 💅
🍽️ Food & Drinks
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| Again fresh oyster, taste good |
The lobster roll is very close to Row 34's, but for me it comes in just behind: the lobster flavour isn't as strong or rich. The chips were a letdown. They come in a Saltie Girl-branded bag, but they're still factory-made crisps. A nice bag doesn't make them homemade.
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| Presentation is not as good as Row34, quality as well overall |
👋 Service
Helpful and professional, even though the place was packed.
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| Lobster Benedict is OK again |
✨ Decor & Ambience
Saltie Girl is in busy Back Bay, and the vibe is completely different from Row 34's. It's chic and polished and reminded me a lot of The Ivy back home in the UK. It was much busier too, so expect a buzz.
💰 Value
The surprise: despite the fancier setting and the Back Bay address, it was cheaper than Row 34 ($42 vs $49). You get a chic setting without paying extra for it.
🏁Verdict- Both are solid, easy to book and fairly priced for Boston. Are they life-changing, never-forget lobster rolls? Not really. But if you're short on time and want a reliable lobster roll without queuing, either one does the job.
Ratings ⭐
Row 34
- Food: 4/5 – High-quality lobster roll and excellent oysters, let down only by slightly overdone chips.
- Service: 4/5 – Friendly, helpful staff throughout.
- Decor: 4/5 – Spacious industrial space with a relaxed feel.
- Value: 4/5 – The pricier of the two, but the quality justifies it.
- Overall: 4/5 – The better lobster roll of the pair.
Saltie Girl
- Food: 3.75/5 – Tasty oysters and a decent roll, but less lobster flavour and factory-made crisps.
- Service: 4/5 – Professional and helpful despite the crowds.
- Decor: 4.25/5 – Chic, buzzy, very The Ivy.
- Value: 4/5 – A stylish Back Bay setting for less than Row 34.
- Overall: 4/5 – A good-looking, good-value choice that's slightly behind on the roll.
💰 Estimated cost per person: £40–£60 (a lobster roll, a few oysters and a drink, with the US tip included)
Address: 383 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
Address: 279 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
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