Best Seafood Shacks in New England

This waterfront eatery along a rocky coastline with sailboats moored in the distance is the epitome of quaint New England charm. Abbott’s specializes in steamed bivalves, shrimp, and lobsters, and has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Come for the fantastic seaside view, stay for the hot buttered lobster roll.

For 90 years, this local favorite has been a year-round fish and lobster pier. Customers can pick their own lobster and enjoy the harbor view from the airy dining room or the covered deck. Try a lobster grilled cheese or a shrimp basket with a cold beer or cocktail from the full service bar.

This fish and chips shack has a simple menu of perfectly fried haddock, french fries, and fish sandwiches. The quick service and generous portions make Bet’s a trusted local standby. Note that there is no indoor seating, but a nearby park has a few uncovered picnic tables that are sufficient when the weather is nice.

A window-service eatery with indoor and outdoor seating, Bob’s specializes in fried clams, but also serves burgers and fries, chowders, lobster rolls, haddock sandwiches, fried shrimp, and more. The seafood is delivered fresh daily, the homemade tartar sauce is a step up from average, and a small beer and wine selection is available.

With a covered waterfront deck and plenty of picnic tables, this iconic cash-only BYOB establishment is a great spot to roll up your sleeves and get messy with the family or a group of friends. Whether you order lobster, steamers, fried clams, or haddock nuggets, everything is fresh and the portions are large.

A classic counter service joint with an outdoor patio, the Clam Box is known for serving up heaping plates of fried clams, oysters, haddock, and calamari. Customers rave about the fried scallops, onion rings, and coleslaw. Pro tip: the fisherman’s platter is enough fried food for two.

Known for their famous clam chowder and perfectly fried whole belly clams, this seasonal eatery has indoor and outdoor seating, and offers burgers, fries, and tacos as well. Customers love the clam fritters, the lobster grilled cheese, and the smooth, efficient service.

This seasonal, window-service fry shack has covered picnic table seating and all the classics including lobster rolls, fried fish sandwiches, and clam strips. Clam Haven doubles as an ice cream stand, so save room for dessert.

With views of Beverly Harbor and plenty of outdoor seating, this waterside eatery is the perfect place to enjoy lunch on the ocean. The menu features fried platters, boiled lobsters, clam bakes, salads, subs, and more.

This bustling dockside seafood market and eatery has quaint harbor views and indoor and outdoor seating. While customers love the clam cakes, steamers, and haddock, many claim that the lobster roll is the best they’ve ever had.

Serving ice cream, burgers, heaping fried platters, and all manner of seafood rolls, Cobie’s Clam Shack is a popular spot for cyclists and families. Customers come back for the flavored soft serve, and there’s even a nice beer selection.

A tiny shack that dishes out big flavor, Dune Brothers is committed to supporting local farmers and fishermen. This hip eatery takes their food a step beyond average with house-made sauces, cilantro-and-pickled-onion slaw, and potato chip-crusted fish filets.

This BYOB wharfside eatery with scenic views serves up the freshest boiled lobsters available – pulled straight from the surrounding waters rather than from a tank. The freshly dug steamers, fried clams, and lobster rolls are also fantastic.

This sprawling, nautical-themed counter service restaurant has been serving fresh seafood since 1936. The huge menu includes baked dinners, fried platters, burgers and dogs, seafood rolls, and raw bar fare. There’s a full bar upstairs and the clam cakes are a must-have.

A laid-back BYOB lobster eatery with patio seating, Ford’s Lobster uses local ingredients and has a full dinner menu of appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, and steak and seafood entrees. Try the brown butter scallops over risotto with braised vegetables, or the lobster thermidor with asparagus and tomatoes in tarragon cream sauce.

Known for their quick, friendly service and great prices, this rustic dockside eatery features a scant menu of hot, buttery lobster rolls, delectable chowder and bisque, and a few extras. The shore view is a bonus, and there’s ice cream for dessert.

Near the northern tip of Cape Ann, this outdoor oceanside eatery offers spectacular sunset views along with fresh boiled lobsters, fried fish and scallop sandwiches, salads, steamers, and chowder. Customers love the no-nonsense, no-celery Maine-style lobster rolls.

A casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, the Lobster Shack at Two Lights offers a range of fried seafood plates, rolls and sandwiches, lobster stew, and delectable house-made desserts including Maine blueberry pie and whoopie pies. With views of two lighthouses and the open ocean, the scenery nearly steals the show.

This Sprucehead Island outpost offers freshly caught lobsters, friendly service, and a picturesque view. Customers rave about the overflowing lobster rolls, crab cakes, lobster stew, and corn chowder. Be sure to save room for a slice of blueberry pie.

This window service joint with outdoor seating and long ocean views has an extensive menu, with appetizers like local Point Judith calamari and coconut shrimp, sandwiches, salads, fried baskets, tacos, burgers, and seafood rolls. Guests love the clam cakes, clam chowder, and swordfish tacos.

A quick service dockside snack bar, Overton’s is a great place to bring the kids. The affordable menu features ice cream sundaes, chili dogs, and chicken nuggets, as well as fried fish, clams, shrimp, scallops, and of course lobster rolls. Some favorite menu items include the onion rings, clam strips, and milkshakes. Boat slips are available for dock and dine service.

With harbor views, outdoor seating, live music, and a full menu including wine and draft beers, this seasonal dockside eatery draws large crowds. The menu offers everything from scallop rolls to steamed mussels to crab and avocado salads; but lobster is, of course, the main attraction. Customers return for the lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, and lobster stew.

Specializing in hot, boiled lobsters, this BYOB outdoor eatery and market also serves raw oysters, stuffed clams, fish cakes, shrimp cocktail, and clam chowder. Enjoy cracking into a whole lobster while watching fishermen bring in their daily haul on the wharf.

This lobster market offers great prices on live lobsters and will cook them for an additional fee. So bring your own picnic setup and enjoy fresh, professionally cooked whole lobsters and steamers at one of the dockside picnic tables. The market also carries sushi-grade tuna, rainbow trout, scallops, and more.

This cash-only, family-owned snack shack serves ice cream, burgers, and local New England seafood, most of which is delivered daily. The little details go a long way, with house made tartar sauce and family recipe coleslaw accenting an array of fried seafood and some of the biggest lobster rolls around.

Whole belly fried clams and soft serve are the go-tos at this popular, quick service eatery. The fry is perfect, whether you try the clam fritters, the fresh cod sandwich, or a scallop roll. Outdoor picnic table seating is available.

A family-owned seasonal lobster pound, Sprague’s serves whole lobster dinners, fried haddock sandwiches, and seafood baskets, along with seafood rolls, burgers, and milkshakes. The line can get long but the waterfront view, friendly service, and meaty lobster rolls more than make up for the wait.

Serving locally harvested seafood in a large outdoor dining area, Tommy’s is known for its friendly service, large portions, and weekend DJ. Customers can’t get enough of the lobster bisque, clam fritters, huge lobster rolls, and clam chowder.

A hop away from the Point Judith Block Island ferry, this oyster distributor delivers fresh local oysters to restaurants and recently opened their own oyster bar, serving Rhode Island oysters from Charlestown and Jamestown. Check their website for a list of summer pop-ups at local breweries as well.

Open year round with indoor seating, this historic counter service restaurant serves large fried dinner plates with fries and onion rings, an array of seafood sandwiches, boiled lobsters, and steamed clams. Many of their menu items are gluten-free, including the fried clams and fried fish.