The Lobster Shack

Don’t make me call 911 on you???
What do you mean you ran out? lmao.
Eviction, my my my… too bad.

The Lobster Shack in North Beach San Francisco, closed on February 7, 2009, was a dear member of the San Francisco North Beach community. It has served me unforgettable lunches (with BYOB!) and kept me company when I was forced to work weekends in an office building nearby. The Lobster Shack, 2 weeks from turning two years old, is survived by its original branch in Redwood City which still serves up the most amazing lobster rolls on the left coast.
Your lobster rolls were always made to order and created with the freshest ingredients. Each roll overflowed with luscious sweet lobster meat mixed with the perfect amount of mayo to keep it sticking together. The bread was a treat in itself. I’m not sure what type of bread they used but it was definitely a cross between sourdough and white bread. Cut to the perfect thickness, the chewy, slightly sweet bread shined while showcasing the lobster.
Farewell my lobster. May you rest in peace,

So it was my second time at The Lobster Shack (I’m a RWC Old Port Lobster Shack faithful), and I’m giving it another star. I’m glad that people are loving it but, to me, the RWC locale is superior. I always get the Naked Roll then pour on the drawn butter. Delicious…
I think the difference is in how the bread is toasted. It’s probably on the same type of flat grill but, to me, the bread is toasted differently/​more evenly/​just better at the OPLS. Sometimes I drive from SF to RWC bc I like it better but I’ll give it another try.

Dear little baby Jesus…
Bless these Unilocalers for leading me to the Lobster Shack and their orgasmic Lobster rolls. Parking is a b*tch though… Could you do something about that?
Amen.
I got the Naked Lobster roll & Clam Chowder combo.
I’m speechless.
Go down and get one and you will be too. Except for the kinky moaning sounds that may escape from your mouth.

Unilocal needs to update the business hours. Prompted by a sudden craving for lobster rolls, went there 2 weeks ago.
The place is now only open Fri and Sat (!). Sun, can’t recall, but it was definitely only the weekend…
I’ve only been there once before. Good lobster roll (as far as I can tell). Decent clam chowder. Decent fish and chips.
What kind of hours are those? Are they still a business???

THIS PLACE IS AMAZINGLY GOOD!
I went to the east coast several times and have always looked forward to getting their famous lobster rolls. Let’s just say that ever since then, i’ve been on a hunt for these delicious rolls. Then I Unilocaled and found this place.
I was a bit reluctant to go after reading a couple reviews and especially the price but I decided to just try it out. The first time I went, they were closed. so make sure you check store hours before heading out there because it can be headache driving all the way there, finding parking, and then finding out they’re freakin’ closed.
Anyway, I get to the shack and Im a little annoyed because the hostess is on her phone and just looks at us as if we’re disturbing her. From there, I decided to expect the worst. I decided to get the Naked Lobster Roll because of all the good reviews on it and the Clam Chowder (the freakin hostess «failed» to mention that you can get this as a combo for a cheaper price instead of ordering a roll and a clam chowder separately. WATCH OUT FOR THAT!)
Our clam chowder is served right away and it was… heaven. It was so rich and creamy, I couldn’t believe it. I devoured the whole thing within minutes… but before I could do so, my lobster roll came.
I don’t think any amount of words could describe just how amazingly wonderful this roll was. I mean, it’s a little small but every bite was filled with buttery goodness. My friend got the crab roll and she didn’t seem as in love as I was. She asked if I wanted to try hers and I knew she wanted to try mine. My selfish inner monster wanted to hiss at her so bad but i reluctantly forked over my lobster roll and watched her take the biggest bite I’ve EVER seen in my life.
Although the roll seemed small and I got only a cup of chowder, I was completely stuffed.
Needless to say. the service sucked, the price is a little high, but in the end… it was worth it.

Mmm Lobster Roll Combo…
A bit pricey for an averaged sized sandwich but its fillllled with lobster. Very good. I thoroughly enjoyed the clam chowder more than I expected though. Must try. Its better than most of the ones I have had at the wharf.
Also they have some sort of special root beer too I forget. It was ok, but the guy was chill and gave me free refills. I dont know if it actually comes with it or not.

I really wanted to like this place. Instead, I was actually angry by the time I left.
I studied the menu from their website prior to walking over. Price was a big factor in my decision on what to order. At the time, I was freelancing and didn’t have much extra money.
I decided on the half Shack Louie for $ 13.75. When I ordered, I discovered that the on-​line menu was off by more that $ 4. Annoyed, I went ahead with my order.
As my salad was being prepared I surveyed the establishment and watched the «chef» prepare my salad.
Alarm bells rang loudly enough to save even the daftest of the daft. Me… I had already paid my money and didn’t have the balls to ask for it back.
ALARM BELL #1: A dead lobster in the lobster tank. Lobsters piled 6 deep with the saddest little lobster faces I have ever seen.
ALARM BELL #2: My lunch was assembled from seafood pulled out of prep containers stored on the counter top… like the way burrito places have all the ingredients out all the time and just assemble your meal when you order. This is fine and good if the place is busy, but if the food is sitting for any length of time… FORGETTAAABOUTIT!
ALARM BELL #3 The place was DEAD at lunch time. Never good. (see #2)
ALARM BELL #4: The lobster had the mealy texture that a previously frozen lobster does. The crab was fishy and the shrimp was only OK.
Save yourself the grief and go to Swan’s for your Louie.

It seems that half the times I’ve visited North Beach I’ve eaten at the Lobster Shack. I just love their lobster roll and I almost always order the naked roll /​cup of chowder combination.
Last week I finally decided to open up the menu and try something different. I decided to try the Fresh Crabmeat Roll instead. I even asked Margie B. whether it was good; although, honestly I anticipated she would say yes because she works there. I ordered the roll with fries because I love the Lobster Shack’s fries, and I’ll tell you why in a bit.
Impeccable service! When Margie brings me my food a short time later and tells me to enjoy it I definitely do. Look at my Crabmeat Roll (
). Piled high into the soft buttery roll with sweet crab meat mixed with just a bit of green onion and salt this was yet another outstanding menu selection. Lobster Shack makes possibly my favorite wedge cut fries in the City because they are fried up golden brown and crispy on all of the edges, and because they are wedges they’re always meaty in the center. I only like creamy coleslaws, and I’ve accepted the Lobster Shack version; I even discovered something different on this visit when I bit into some dry berries in the slaw.
I’ll probably end up ordering another lobster roll on my next visit, but if I’m ever not in the mood for lobster it’s great to know I can turn to the crab roll for an equally pleasurable meal.

The lobster shack is not what you would expect to find in Oh-​So-​Italian North Beach. And a shack it is. Plain, Unadorned. SImple.
What about the food? Well most people seem to like the place. Me less so. Why? Well, there is only one thing to order here. The lobster roll. A split bun filled with lobster. To me the lobster seemed tasteless. Who cares if lobster is expensive, has to be shipped from Maine, if it’s still tasteless?
I have toned my review down somewhat as one of the owners, Russell, contacted me and enumerated the costs involved in serving lobster and the fact that this place is a shack. OK. I, in a minority, don’t especially care for the lobster. But at least Russell cares enough to politely argue on behalf of his place. There is an ego behind the lobster shack. Hooray for Russell.

In high school history classes, we often learned about migrations of large populations to the United States or within the United States, whether it was the Chinese Migration, European Migration, or Great Migration. One less talked about migration in high school history classes but certainly more or as important is the Boston migration currently going on San Francisco.
Have you been looking around recently? There seems to be a huge influx of people with Red Sox hats, Patriots sweatshirts, and Celtic jackets in San Francisco. I even saw a woman selling «Kiss me, I’m from Boston» and «I Love Boston» T-​shirts right on Fisherman’s Wharf the other day so I bought one of each shirt. Also, If one walked by the «Boston bar» the Buccaneer recently during the NBA finals, once might have been confused why in the middle of San Francisco, hundreds of people were celebrating the Celtics Championship like it was 1986. There is only one explanation: The Boston Migration.
There are plenty of options for Bostonians in the city to drink and be merry but where can one go to eat? The answer: Lobster Shack.
Lobster Shack fills the craving for New England seafood, and you can even grab a micro-​brew beer or two on tap from Maine. I ordered the meal with the lobster roll and clam chowder. Our table split some fried clams and onion rings.
I thought the Maine Lobster Roll was delicious, filled with lobster and served in a toasted hot dog bun. The clam chowder was also very good with a nice creaminess to it. The fried clams appetizer could have been my favorite part of the meal if they were served a little crispier. I would recommend ordering them extra crispy. The onion rings were also very solid.
Just as it took a few years for sections such as North Beach, Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon to develop, I would imagine in a year and a half or so, it’s inevitable that a Bostontown will happen, where there will be many casual New England seafood places scattered about a section of the city. Until then, I would especially recommend Lobster Shack as a place to get New England seafood in a casual environment.

If you have an inkling for a lot of fried goodness and walking away having regretted eating those last oh… twenty bites of deliciousness that you couldn’t say no to because it was so damn good, this is the place.
Yes, the lobster roll is the shit.

I’m from the east coast and this is the best lobster roll I’ve had. It had fresh lobster in a roll that tastes similar to a grill-​cheese sandwich’s bread. So good it makes my mouth water thinking about it. I prefer to have simple butter poured on it rather than the mayo-​based sauce and it blew my mind.
I’m sure they got the lobster sent over from the east and that’s why it was pricey but hey… it’s fresh seafood and I’m willing to shell out some bucks for the good stuff every so often. i tried the clam chowder as well and it was less spectacular but it was creamy and delicious. (They have a a variety of menu combos and etc so you can save as well as try different types of things they serve.)
People are nice, it’s more like a self-​serve place and I noticed lots of families and locals there. Pleasant experience overall with a shining star in the lobster roll.

BYOB — W #2*
The Lobster Shack has some damn fine clam chowder, served up in a rustic and casual setting of wood picnic tables with your napkins and condiments on the table. They also let you bring your own booze, which is what attracted us to this place. However, this may change soon so enjoy it while you can.
You order at the counter, though on the slow evening we went they actually did come to our table, then almost forgot we had failed not to pre-​pay, and had we not said anything, would have let us walk right out.
This is where the charm stops. For a rather average sized sandwich you will pay close to $ 20. Yes, the lobster comes in good sized chunks, but $ 20? To serve yourself? Just seems wrong. Some of their fried foods were a bit on the greasy side as well, so stick to the chowder, you wont be disappointed.
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*Bum wine consumed;
Cisco Black Cherry — carbonated and more like a black widow. Nearly unpalatable, but gets you crunk
Cisco Peach — probably tasted like ass but seemed okay after the Black Cherry flavor. This too will get you crunk!
Wild Irish Rose — A less syrupy version of Night Train but with a slightly more toxic aftertaste.

The North Beach Lobster Shack found itself the unwitting host to a trio of fortified wine imbibers. We sat, talked, ate, and each consumed roughly 650mL of chemically enhanced fermented grape product with such illustrious names as Cisco, MD 20/​20, and Wild Irish Rose. Yes, the Lobster Shack, with its wood benches and overall motif and antiqued maps on the walls, is a BYOB establishment.
We requested some ice water, some empty glasses for our own beverages, a root beer (on tap!), and our appetizer. Unfortunately, there was only about a shot of the root beer left, and the cheerful and friendly waitress forgot our empty glasses.
The calamari was the highlight of my meal, even if the order was a little short on the delightful tentacle bits. The calamari was nicely breaded and not at all rubbery, which makes for a great appetizer.
Unfortunately, my main course, the Fish & Chips, was less than spectacular. They do their fish in a beer batter, which I really don’t care for. You end up with this gooey, puffy coat over the fish that’s simultaneously overly filling and just not interesting. The fish itself was good, but I ended up peeling off the breading, which makes for messy eating. The chips, however, were nicely spiced and tasty. My dinner also came with a surprisingly creamy and hearty cup of clam «chowdah».
After a while, we noticed that they had taken their sandwich board in from the street, and had closed the door to any more customers. The chef was cleaning up in the kitchen. But our bill hadn’t arrived. We went up to the counter, and the waitress had forgotten that we hadn’t paid.
And as it went, the food was about four to five times the cost of the beverages. I know these fruit-​flavored concoctions are deliberately cheap, but I still felt like the dinner was on the expensive side, around sixty dollars for the three of us. The food was good, but not that good.
In the end, it’s a good thing that Lobster Shack is BYOB. If we hadn’t gotten nicely schnockered on those fruity adult beverages, I would have been disappointed with my meal and frustrated with the service. Instead, we were thoroughly distracted by tales of our own poor taste, inappropriate antics, and lack of discretion. Thanks for a great evening, oh devilish distillers, and we will welcome you back another time. As for the North Beach Lobster Shack, I think I can find better elsewhere.

I woke up Sunday morning craving a lobster roll. It was all I could think about; it must’ve been the warm weather that made me think of Maine, summer and lobster shacks.
Lots of Californians (and other Americans) aren’t familiar with lobster rolls (except for those that are found at sushi restaurants), and most people think it sounds gross. Um, amazing. Lobster rolls are amazing, and people from New England didn’t think I could find a decent one out here. I think not! At the North Beach Lobster Shack, tasty lobster rolls there are.
I convinced my two roommates to join me for the first lobster rolls. First, we were initially a little put off by the lack of happy hour specials (advertised on the website) and by the BYOB sign outside. Not to fear, there is a convenience store up the street at the corner, but it did throw us for a loop temporarily. The cashier said that he thinks they’ll have their license back in the next couple of weeks.
I considered getting the cheese fries appetizers (or «Shacketizers» as they call them on the menu), but I got the lobster roll combo (lobster roll and mug of clam chowder). The clam chowder was rich and tasty, though a bit skimpy on the clams; not as dense or filled with as many solids (clams or potatoes) as I expected. As mentioned in other reviews, the lobster roll looks kind of small; the bread doesn’t look much bigger than a piece of Texas toast folded in half (length-​wise). But the roll is overflowing with juicy, succulent lobstah. The lobster/​mayo/​onion mix was great — not too much mayo but just enough to have it all stick together. And while I was surprised that the lobster roll wasn’t on, well, a roll, the toasted garlic-​y bread was quite good.
Lobster rolls don’t come cheap — $ 17 for just the roll $ 21 for the combo. But it is filled with lobster.
Service was nice and fast (though the place was empty).

Oh sweet lord, this is how God would have intended a lobster roll to be served. They keep things simple at the shack: tender and «naked» lobster meat, let you season to your liking with plenty of sauces at the table, and the pieces are fairly large versus minced like tuna fish. And that bread, grilled just right. Butter on the side to drizzle or drown to your liking. Get some fries on the side, and you are transported back to New England for just a little while.
Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but lobster is not something you want to pay less for, in my opinion. You order at the counter, nothing fancy, just like it should be.

Super cute glasses for your root beer all branded with red lobster with big claws! Décor is great and so is the food. $ 20 can get you a lobster roll and clam chowder soup combo. I got my lobster naked (butter and goo on the side) but you can also get it «maine» (green onions and mayo mixed in for you). I’m sure «maine» is delicious (it looked delicious) but sometimes you want your lobster NAKED.
They apparently also butter and toast the bread/​roll that the lobster comes in. Great lobster, nice fatty bread, good solid cuppa clam chowda for a $ 20 lunch. Not too shabby.

So glad to have these guys in my hood as my answer to «where can I get good clam chowder within walkin’ distance??» now if i can just find some decent mac and cheese i’d be set!
Anyway! The guys working here are super nice, and while the prices are steep (what do you expect?) the food is pretty darn tasty.
I had a delicious crab, lobster, and shrimp louie and my fiancé had one of the famous lobster rolls of which he shared none with me. The clam chowder was good, but they were out of bisque so i’ll have to go back for that one!

Great lobster roll ($ 18), got the Maine version (with mayo, green onions, salt and pepper). The roll came with some thick and crispy chips, cole slaw, and (unfortunately) some sweet pickles. Also tried a half-​dozen oysters which were decent (served with cocktail sauce instead of mignonette). I’ll be back for another roll for sure, but the other items on the menu are very tempting (clam chowder, lobster bisque, lobster salad, crab salad, etc). The real wood planks for the walls are a nice touch, but the fluorescent lights are unfortunate in addition to the mind-​numbing 96.5 soft rock killing my buzz. Speaking of, its BYOB for another week or so…
Update: Still no liquor license, but thats understandable. It’s hard not to compare some of the items on the menu to Swan. Specifically the clam chowder here is actually better (the «cup» is tall mug containing potatoes, lots of clams, lobster, and crab). The (shredded) crab salad, however, definitely doesn’t stack up to Swan’s amazing large chunks of crab. Also, the music seems to have changed a little bit for the better…
Update: Spoke too soon, music is stil bad. Chowder this time wasn’t as good (too thick and bland) and too much mayo on the Maine roll. Maybe the Naked Roll is the way to go…
Update (⁴⁄₅): Naked isn’t the way to go. The roll has somehow been reduced to ¾ bread and ¼ lobster. Pretty pathetic…