Great place for lobster rolls. Clam chowder is good too. The crab toast was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew Kominsky
Wonderful service, good food. Oysters were lovely. However, I'm not sure you can justify $55 for a basic lobster
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jennie Hedlund
Beet salad was missing the “cranberry yogurt” and tasted like it was marinated in cider vinegar. Flavor profile was not congruent. Atmosphere was great. Steak frites and lobster roll delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
wilson ch
2 ppl came here 10 minutes after we arrived and they got seats before us without reservation...food is way too overpriced...they forced 3% operation fee and 20% tips without letting you know...hand wash sink is dumb...never come back again thanks.
B Z
I was here trying out this restaurant the first time for Dine Out Boston Menu with my friend. Both of us got our worst dining experience ever in Boston.1. The server got unhappy right after we decided to not have a drink. We can tell the huge difference between the service she gave us versus the other diners.2. It took us a few rounds to have the food and oysters ordered.3. Someone took our oyster forks and oyster lineup list away and didn’t bring back until another gentleman helped us.4. My friend’s water glass was empty for at least 10 minutes while the waitress helped pouring water and wine for the other tables. We had to ask help from the gentleman again.5. She walked besides our table many times with poker face and zero service, and was so annoyed when she found out we were unhappy about her service.There was almost a mandatory 20% gratuity fee and a 3% operation fee. We wanted to modify the rate as we’ve been thinking about how much we should pay as tips for the poor service the whole night. The waitress refused to do so and wanted to give us a card of their manager so we could contact later. However, as we saw “If you would like this gratuity removed, please ask and we will kindly remove” we had to insist.Another lady came over later. We shared our experience with her. She finally gave the option for us to remove the gratuity. We were at first willing to pay some, but the waitress came back and said“wish you good night and never come back.”That’s rude and disrespectful enough!!!The waitress just failed to realize her problem and gave no apology at all. We would skip any comments on the food, but the dining experience was definitely the worst. It’s such a pity for the location, chef, and the team’s effort.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
icucmeuc
Food was great. Service was minimal. Take order, bring food, bring check. Auto inclusion of tip is fine but should be explained at start before ordering. 3% "admin fee" is ridiculous and unfortunately earns a 1 star and a loss of a potential repeat customer.
Juan Santana
The best Lobstah pasta ever! ? Delicious food, amazing staff, and lovely atmosphere.Parking: Parking is free after 8pm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Semra Beric
Why is it required to put your card down to make a reservation? There is also a 3% operation fee, what for? And to make things even more worst…why there is 20% mandatory tip?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Arzu Metin
Good food, good service other than we had to sit on bar seats, as we were 2 person only. Its not quite nice to seat with somebody with feeling shoulder to shoulder!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Todd Levy
We had an outstanding experience. Food and service were amazing. For example I always thought shrimp cocktail was shrimp cocktail but somehow these shrimp were fresher and tastier. The oysters were ridiculously good and my lobster roll was perfect. This will be my go to place for seafood in back bay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Branzino and Lobster Roll, Assortment of Oysters, Lobster Spaghettini
Best restaurant we have been to in years in Boston. Relaxed, cozy place with very attentive staff. Ceviche as good as Gaston Acurio's in Peru (which until now I did not think could be matched). My husband, the oyster lover in the family, loved the Damiscotta and New Brunwick oysters. Halibut and Bronzino were both inventively prepared. Altogther enjoyable evening.
Summer Wang
Ventured into this oyster bar nestled on Newbury Street, amidst a sea of seafood eateries, with modest expectations given the abundance of similar offerings in the area. To our pleasant surprise, this establishment elevated the seafood dining experience to a whole new level.We kicked things off with half a dozen oysters each, followed by a selection of starters including ceviche Atlantico, salmon curado, and tuna tartare. Each dish was a delightful exploration of flavors, setting a high bar for what was to come. The Greek branzino, my main course, was a standout, perfectly roasted to enhance its natural flavors. My dining companion opted for the halibut, paired exquisitely with honshimeji mushrooms, making for another exceptional dish.Despite the culinary excellence, our experience was marred by disappointingly poor service. It seemed as though the automatic inclusion of a service charge on our bill might have diminished our server's motivation to provide a welcoming and attentive experience. Her demeanor was off-putting from the start, giving us the unwelcome impression of being a burden rather than valued patrons.While the food was undoubtedly exceptional, warranting a return visit to explore more of the menu, the service left much to be desired. It's disheartening when the warmth of the hospitality doesn't match the quality of the cuisine, and one can't help but wonder if the experience could have been more enjoyable on a different day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Assortment of Oysters
Hyewon Lim
Our server was very accommodating to our orders and requests, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our lunch here. Although the restaurant isn't particularly large, during busier days, they may open the second floor to accommodate more customers. We were informed of a 20% gratuity charge and a 3% service fee, totaling 23% in tips. We were pleased with this, given the attentive and courteous service we received. I will certainly revisit this establishment; it's a fantastic spot for oysters. I highly recommend the "Island Creek" oysters, which have become my top choice based on my extensive oyster experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DMP0x000000
What an excellent if somewhat hidden gem tucked away on Newbury Street. Charming doesn't even come close to describing the vibe here. Service was friendly and professional, the food top notch. There will be many repeat visits.
Little Whale is a gem! The food and wines by the glass were fantastic. The flavors from the seafood apps to the mains were really fresh and delicious. Both my husband and I loved everything we ate and the vibe was casual and friendly. The decor is great too. We can't wait to go back!
Great place for lobster rolls. Clam chowder is good too. The crab toast was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful service, good food. Oysters were lovely. However, I'm not sure you can justify $55 for a basic lobster
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Beet salad was missing the “cranberry yogurt” and tasted like it was marinated in cider vinegar. Flavor profile was not congruent. Atmosphere was great. Steak frites and lobster roll delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
2 ppl came here 10 minutes after we arrived and they got seats before us without reservation...food is way too overpriced...they forced 3% operation fee and 20% tips without letting you know...hand wash sink is dumb...never come back again thanks.
I was here trying out this restaurant the first time for Dine Out Boston Menu with my friend. Both of us got our worst dining experience ever in Boston.1. The server got unhappy right after we decided to not have a drink. We can tell the huge difference between the service she gave us versus the other diners.2. It took us a few rounds to have the food and oysters ordered.3. Someone took our oyster forks and oyster lineup list away and didn’t bring back until another gentleman helped us.4. My friend’s water glass was empty for at least 10 minutes while the waitress helped pouring water and wine for the other tables. We had to ask help from the gentleman again.5. She walked besides our table many times with poker face and zero service, and was so annoyed when she found out we were unhappy about her service.There was almost a mandatory 20% gratuity fee and a 3% operation fee. We wanted to modify the rate as we’ve been thinking about how much we should pay as tips for the poor service the whole night. The waitress refused to do so and wanted to give us a card of their manager so we could contact later. However, as we saw “If you would like this gratuity removed, please ask and we will kindly remove” we had to insist.Another lady came over later. We shared our experience with her. She finally gave the option for us to remove the gratuity. We were at first willing to pay some, but the waitress came back and said“wish you good night and never come back.”That’s rude and disrespectful enough!!!The waitress just failed to realize her problem and gave no apology at all. We would skip any comments on the food, but the dining experience was definitely the worst. It’s such a pity for the location, chef, and the team’s effort.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Food was great. Service was minimal. Take order, bring food, bring check. Auto inclusion of tip is fine but should be explained at start before ordering. 3% "admin fee" is ridiculous and unfortunately earns a 1 star and a loss of a potential repeat customer.
The best Lobstah pasta ever! ? Delicious food, amazing staff, and lovely atmosphere.Parking: Parking is free after 8pm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Why is it required to put your card down to make a reservation? There is also a 3% operation fee, what for? And to make things even more worst…why there is 20% mandatory tip?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Good food, good service other than we had to sit on bar seats, as we were 2 person only. Its not quite nice to seat with somebody with feeling shoulder to shoulder!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We had an outstanding experience. Food and service were amazing. For example I always thought shrimp cocktail was shrimp cocktail but somehow these shrimp were fresher and tastier. The oysters were ridiculously good and my lobster roll was perfect. This will be my go to place for seafood in back bay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Branzino and Lobster Roll, Assortment of Oysters, Lobster Spaghettini
Restaurantji Recommends
Best restaurant we have been to in years in Boston. Relaxed, cozy place with very attentive staff. Ceviche as good as Gaston Acurio's in Peru (which until now I did not think could be matched). My husband, the oyster lover in the family, loved the Damiscotta and New Brunwick oysters. Halibut and Bronzino were both inventively prepared. Altogther enjoyable evening.
Ventured into this oyster bar nestled on Newbury Street, amidst a sea of seafood eateries, with modest expectations given the abundance of similar offerings in the area. To our pleasant surprise, this establishment elevated the seafood dining experience to a whole new level.We kicked things off with half a dozen oysters each, followed by a selection of starters including ceviche Atlantico, salmon curado, and tuna tartare. Each dish was a delightful exploration of flavors, setting a high bar for what was to come. The Greek branzino, my main course, was a standout, perfectly roasted to enhance its natural flavors. My dining companion opted for the halibut, paired exquisitely with honshimeji mushrooms, making for another exceptional dish.Despite the culinary excellence, our experience was marred by disappointingly poor service. It seemed as though the automatic inclusion of a service charge on our bill might have diminished our server's motivation to provide a welcoming and attentive experience. Her demeanor was off-putting from the start, giving us the unwelcome impression of being a burden rather than valued patrons.While the food was undoubtedly exceptional, warranting a return visit to explore more of the menu, the service left much to be desired. It's disheartening when the warmth of the hospitality doesn't match the quality of the cuisine, and one can't help but wonder if the experience could have been more enjoyable on a different day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Assortment of Oysters
Our server was very accommodating to our orders and requests, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our lunch here. Although the restaurant isn't particularly large, during busier days, they may open the second floor to accommodate more customers. We were informed of a 20% gratuity charge and a 3% service fee, totaling 23% in tips. We were pleased with this, given the attentive and courteous service we received. I will certainly revisit this establishment; it's a fantastic spot for oysters. I highly recommend the "Island Creek" oysters, which have become my top choice based on my extensive oyster experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What an excellent if somewhat hidden gem tucked away on Newbury Street. Charming doesn't even come close to describing the vibe here. Service was friendly and professional, the food top notch. There will be many repeat visits.
Little Whale is a gem! The food and wines by the glass were fantastic. The flavors from the seafood apps to the mains were really fresh and delicious. Both my husband and I loved everything we ate and the vibe was casual and friendly. The decor is great too. We can't wait to go back!