Tell us: What’s your favorite no-frills seafood shack in New England?

May 9, 2025


Tell Us

From fried clams to lobster rolls, help us find the best no-frills seafood shacks along the coast this summer.

Lobster
A lobster is served waterfront at McLoon’s Lobster Shack in Spruce Head, Maine. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

When you think of the quintessential summer in New England, something like this may come to mind: A sea breeze blows through your hair, sounds of seagulls squawking and waves smashing against rocks can be heard in the distance, all while you wait in a line for fried clams at one of New England’s many road and oceanside seafood shacks

There’s nothing frilly about it, and there may not even be seating inside. It has a simple menu of fried seafood and sides. But the New England seafood shack, many of them decades old and family-run, feeds crowds of people who travel near and far for lobster rolls and onion rings. 

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Boston.com is diving into seafood coverage now that the weather is warming, and we want to know readers’ favorite seafood shacks. 

It can have oceanfront property or sit off of Main Street. If it’s bigger and does have outdoor seating, that’s fine, too. But we are looking for mostly counter-service operations that serve food like fried seafood (clams, scallops, oysters), chowder, lobster, and maybe even whoopie pie. 

Some favorites from readers in the past have included Woodman’s of Essex, J.T. Farnham’s, the Clam Box of Ipswich, and Bob’s Clam Hut. It can be any seafood shack near Boston and along the New England coast. 

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You can fill out our form below with your recommendation, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Tell us why the location is your favorite and your go-to order. 

What’s your favorite seafood shack in New England in 2025?

Profile image for Katelyn Umholtz

Katelyn Umholtz

Food and Restaurant Reporter

Katelyn Umholtz covers food and restaurants for Boston.com. Katelyn is also the author of The Dish, a weekly food newsletter.

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