One of my favorite places in SF for Boston clam chowder. As for the lobster roll I enjoy the Maine style. There's quite a bit of mayo in the sauce, so it makes it more like a lobster salad sandwich, and the mayo can overpower the lobster.
Mike C.
I first noticed this business in mid 2023 as I drive by daily weekdays as part of my work. When I saw the name, memories flashed in my mind of the old-time seafood chain restaurant Scott's Seafood and its flagship location on Lombard Street when I just got out of college. As with most SF places, parking is a big reason why it took me this long to dine here. Having a business meeting a few blocks away on a Friday around noon, I made a point to dine here afterwards. My friend who tried it numerous times gave me his thumbs up so I was looking forward to this. Walking up to the counter, I decided to try the soup and sandwich combo ( for $25, upgrading the soup to a bowl size (+$4.00). I ordered the Manhattan clam chowder ( which was tangy and served hot and came with a slice of bread; there was a good mix of carrots, potatoes, and chopped clams. For my sandwich, I tried the Scott's Connecticut style lobster roll ( described in the menu as being served warm, fresh lobster tossed with lemon and pepper melted butter and topped with fresh herbs and Special House spices. I enjoyed this especially because there is no mayonnaise and that there seemed to pieces of lobster tails and not just claw and knuckle pieces. The sandwich came with potato chips and a small container of cole slaw (sweet in flavor), both of which paired well with the roll. I finished everything except the bread that came with the soup. When I arrived, I was the only customer just before 1 pm. Maricella took my order and was very courteous and efficient in showing me the water station near the entrance. There were condiments and utensils next to it. Being more of a take and go operation at this time, please temper your expectations. I will be back and likely have the same.
Amy Somers
Expensive and minimal menu. Crab cake sandwich and new England clam chowder was good.
I don't often write review other than for surprisingly good or bad experiences. Unfortunately this was the latter. I went here for lunch while attending a conference in San Francisco. Soup and salad sounded just right. The food isn't even mediocre. The Soup tasted like Campbell's from a can at $18 a bowl and the salad was something I could've got from a kiosk at the airport. They had almost no beverage options other than self serve water in a dispenser like in a hotel lobby. The self serve plastic utensils just added the cherry on top of a pretty underwhelming experience!! Would NOT, ever go back to this place or recommend it. Don't know who writes these 4 star reviews.
Alex W.
This is a great place to get your craving of a good lobster roll. I visited this place on 2/10/24. I must say this place was kind of dead when I came. I ordered the Connecticut roll with chips and soup. Fantastic! The only downside was that the menu was too pricey overall. The bartender from across the street said customers complained of how expensive this place was. WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO. I will come back.
Maria M.
This place is perfect for those rainy cold days. We stopped in for clam chowder in a warm bread bowl and it was just the ticket to warm the soul on a windy, otherwise miserable day. We'll definitely be back!
Briana B.
This restaurant should focus on their lobster rolls instead of chowder. I went with a friend and we both got the New England clam chowder which neither of us finished. The broth was watered down and had no flavor(even with bacon in it). My lobster roll on the other hand was flavorful.
Vanessa V.
Cool and spacious spot right next (or in) Chinatown! We found it as we walked SF. We stayed in SOMA and it was a quick walk in a nice area! The employees were very nice! Pointed us to the lunch specials and that's what we went with (any sandwich and any soup for $25). The regular clam chowder was yummy (the one in the tomato sauce was okay -- different). The crab cake sandwich was delicious -- wish it was larger, but the flavor was great -- the aioli was perfect and we also added Tabasco! This would be my order next time -- with the regular chowder. The lobster roll was mediocre though (the reason for the 4 stars). It tasted more like a homemade lobster sandwich with a bunch of slaw. Just not what I was expecting -- and it really lacked the butter taste. The restaurant was very inviting overall and we would check it out again in the future!
Matt M.
This place is so underrated! $25 lunch special for a lobster (or crab) sandwich, clam chowder, coleslaw and chips. Great service and great food. I couldn't believe there were only a couple other tables occupied when we went for lunch. Such a great lunch option!
Keith Edwards
Super friendly people and great food. Clean facility with plenty of seating. 4 sizes of chowder with the $14 version full meal. Clean bathroom and tables.Parking: Near Union Square parking.
We meant to try this place for most of this year. It was chilly last week, and we decided to venture in for a cup of chowder. The chowder was thin and watery, a few potato skins floated around along with very few of the smallest clam pieces I could detect. And I had to try hard to find any clam morsels or solid potato morsels. There was no one in the restaurant, and it was lunch hour. The furniture was quite worn looking, which didn't bother me too much. But it was just part of the sad, tired look of the place--and it hasn't even been in this location that long. The staff was acceptable. They toasted two small pierces of bread in a toaster to go with the soup. They tried. But nothing could make the watery, lackluster, and almost tasteless chowder okay. It wasn't okay, and the empty restaurant should have been a tip-off. If you want a cup of decent chowder, try some place else.
Peter D.
Food:Baked crab dip - 8/10Scott's Boston style clam chowder - 7/10Scott's manhattan style clam chowder - 6/10Daily special risotto - 5/10Right before we left SF we decided to stop by this chowder house and it was a good call. The weather was getting cold and the bowl of hot clam chowder definitely hit the spot. Out of the two styles, we preferred the Boston style better but definitely try both if you have the chance. The baked crab dip was super yummy! Restaurant was nice and clean, very nicely decorated.
Ian Agustin
Great food. The clam Chowder could've been a big more creamy and thick but could not complain at all about flavor. Had clam in every bite. The lobster roll also was amazing. Best I've tried thus far.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Scott
Angelique Turner
Good restaurant in a great location right by chinatown. A good value for 25 dollars for a cup of soup and a lobster roll. You also got chips and a pickle with it. It was a slow day and not hardly anyone there so not much noise and waitress was pretty attentive. Definitely worth a try if in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Scott
Ivan Martinez
A satisfying meal at an incredible price. Scott’s Connecticut Style Lobster Roll was the perfect treat. Crunchy chips, coleslaw and a side of creamy Boston Style Clam Chowder was part of their award-winning recipe. Great dine-in experience.
One of my favorite places in SF for Boston clam chowder. As for the lobster roll I enjoy the Maine style. There's quite a bit of mayo in the sauce, so it makes it more like a lobster salad sandwich, and the mayo can overpower the lobster.
I first noticed this business in mid 2023 as I drive by daily weekdays as part of my work. When I saw the name, memories flashed in my mind of the old-time seafood chain restaurant Scott's Seafood and its flagship location on Lombard Street when I just got out of college. As with most SF places, parking is a big reason why it took me this long to dine here. Having a business meeting a few blocks away on a Friday around noon, I made a point to dine here afterwards. My friend who tried it numerous times gave me his thumbs up so I was looking forward to this. Walking up to the counter, I decided to try the soup and sandwich combo ( for $25, upgrading the soup to a bowl size (+$4.00). I ordered the Manhattan clam chowder ( which was tangy and served hot and came with a slice of bread; there was a good mix of carrots, potatoes, and chopped clams. For my sandwich, I tried the Scott's Connecticut style lobster roll ( described in the menu as being served warm, fresh lobster tossed with lemon and pepper melted butter and topped with fresh herbs and Special House spices. I enjoyed this especially because there is no mayonnaise and that there seemed to pieces of lobster tails and not just claw and knuckle pieces. The sandwich came with potato chips and a small container of cole slaw (sweet in flavor), both of which paired well with the roll. I finished everything except the bread that came with the soup. When I arrived, I was the only customer just before 1 pm. Maricella took my order and was very courteous and efficient in showing me the water station near the entrance. There were condiments and utensils next to it. Being more of a take and go operation at this time, please temper your expectations. I will be back and likely have the same.
Expensive and minimal menu. Crab cake sandwich and new England clam chowder was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Scott's Crab Cake Sandwich
I don't often write review other than for surprisingly good or bad experiences. Unfortunately this was the latter. I went here for lunch while attending a conference in San Francisco. Soup and salad sounded just right. The food isn't even mediocre. The Soup tasted like Campbell's from a can at $18 a bowl and the salad was something I could've got from a kiosk at the airport. They had almost no beverage options other than self serve water in a dispenser like in a hotel lobby. The self serve plastic utensils just added the cherry on top of a pretty underwhelming experience!! Would NOT, ever go back to this place or recommend it. Don't know who writes these 4 star reviews.
This is a great place to get your craving of a good lobster roll. I visited this place on 2/10/24. I must say this place was kind of dead when I came. I ordered the Connecticut roll with chips and soup. Fantastic! The only downside was that the menu was too pricey overall. The bartender from across the street said customers complained of how expensive this place was. WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO. I will come back.
This place is perfect for those rainy cold days. We stopped in for clam chowder in a warm bread bowl and it was just the ticket to warm the soul on a windy, otherwise miserable day. We'll definitely be back!
This restaurant should focus on their lobster rolls instead of chowder. I went with a friend and we both got the New England clam chowder which neither of us finished. The broth was watered down and had no flavor(even with bacon in it). My lobster roll on the other hand was flavorful.
Cool and spacious spot right next (or in) Chinatown! We found it as we walked SF. We stayed in SOMA and it was a quick walk in a nice area! The employees were very nice! Pointed us to the lunch specials and that's what we went with (any sandwich and any soup for $25). The regular clam chowder was yummy (the one in the tomato sauce was okay -- different). The crab cake sandwich was delicious -- wish it was larger, but the flavor was great -- the aioli was perfect and we also added Tabasco! This would be my order next time -- with the regular chowder. The lobster roll was mediocre though (the reason for the 4 stars). It tasted more like a homemade lobster sandwich with a bunch of slaw. Just not what I was expecting -- and it really lacked the butter taste. The restaurant was very inviting overall and we would check it out again in the future!
This place is so underrated! $25 lunch special for a lobster (or crab) sandwich, clam chowder, coleslaw and chips. Great service and great food. I couldn't believe there were only a couple other tables occupied when we went for lunch. Such a great lunch option!
Super friendly people and great food. Clean facility with plenty of seating. 4 sizes of chowder with the $14 version full meal. Clean bathroom and tables.Parking: Near Union Square parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chowder
Restaurantji Recommends
We meant to try this place for most of this year. It was chilly last week, and we decided to venture in for a cup of chowder. The chowder was thin and watery, a few potato skins floated around along with very few of the smallest clam pieces I could detect. And I had to try hard to find any clam morsels or solid potato morsels. There was no one in the restaurant, and it was lunch hour. The furniture was quite worn looking, which didn't bother me too much. But it was just part of the sad, tired look of the place--and it hasn't even been in this location that long. The staff was acceptable. They toasted two small pierces of bread in a toaster to go with the soup. They tried. But nothing could make the watery, lackluster, and almost tasteless chowder okay. It wasn't okay, and the empty restaurant should have been a tip-off. If you want a cup of decent chowder, try some place else.
Food:Baked crab dip - 8/10Scott's Boston style clam chowder - 7/10Scott's manhattan style clam chowder - 6/10Daily special risotto - 5/10Right before we left SF we decided to stop by this chowder house and it was a good call. The weather was getting cold and the bowl of hot clam chowder definitely hit the spot. Out of the two styles, we preferred the Boston style better but definitely try both if you have the chance. The baked crab dip was super yummy! Restaurant was nice and clean, very nicely decorated.
Great food. The clam Chowder could've been a big more creamy and thick but could not complain at all about flavor. Had clam in every bite. The lobster roll also was amazing. Best I've tried thus far.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Scott
Good restaurant in a great location right by chinatown. A good value for 25 dollars for a cup of soup and a lobster roll. You also got chips and a pickle with it. It was a slow day and not hardly anyone there so not much noise and waitress was pretty attentive. Definitely worth a try if in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Scott
A satisfying meal at an incredible price. Scott’s Connecticut Style Lobster Roll was the perfect treat. Crunchy chips, coleslaw and a side of creamy Boston Style Clam Chowder was part of their award-winning recipe. Great dine-in experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5