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B & G Oysters
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Italian Seafood, Italian [Edit]
550 Tremont St(between Hanson St & Waltham St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: South End
(617) 423-0550
- Nearest Transit:
-
Tremont St @ Waltham St (43)
Tremont St @ Union Pk (43)
Tremont St @ E Berkeley St (43)
- Hours:
Mon 11:30 am - 10 pm
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
376 reviews for B & G Oysters
Review Highlights
-
"Lobster Roll + BLT = Match Made in Heaven." In 124 reviews -
"This is a Barbara Lynch restaurant, period." In 11 reviews -
"As at the Butcher Shop, the wine list is top-notch." In 30 reviews
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376 reviews in English
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Review from Catherine G.
Chantilly, VA
5/15/2012
What do you do when you've got your parents and uncle with you in a town that you're just dying to leave after a rough wedding?
You go to B&G Oysters! Just kidding. I don't know how we got there. I love, love, love oysters. And after dragging the family around, I figured we had to go in. It was Sunday, warm for the time and everyone and their pet dog was out walking.
It was about 230pm this last Sunday - had to drop off hubby since he had a flight to catch for a business trip- but since my uncle was with us, it was again 4. We sat at a table outside. A bit snug than I like, but we managed. We ordered mussels, and a few different types of oysters. Mussels were unusually spicy, but my mom seemed to like it. And there was lots of hard bread to soak up the broth.
(I assumed that the bread was supposed to be hard. Was it supposed to be hard or soft? I dont know...)
For our entrees I ordered us a bunch of whole clams, with and without fries, etc. I think it was a foreign concept to my parents - eating fried seafood - but they seemed to enjoy it. I didnt think the batter was quite as good as what I had the day before. It was just a tad soggier, but still it was yummy.
The service was good, and for the most part attentive. Just not so good with details as she had made my $100 tab, $150 by adding extra stuff on it. I used to work in the food and bev industry years ago, so I'm always tabulating stuff as I order it - bad habit. So I knew what to expect and right away I knew it was wrong. She corrected it and asked me to make sure it was right.
The oysters were fresh, but the ones we ordered were a bit on the small side. My mom said there wasn't much to eat... but I thought it was good. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because they didnt seem to take care of the chairs and stuff as they should. If you're going to seat people out of doors, make sure the chairs and tables are neat and clean. I didnt quite get that feeling as I kept wiping at each chair before the person sat down. Little things matter when you're talking about the whole dining experience!!! But go and enjoy some oysters folks!! It is a little pricier than some places, but worth it in my opinion. -
Review from Michael H.
Boston, MA
5/1/2012
The food was very disappointing. I went as part of a group of 4 and we had a large platter of oysters which were decent, if oysters are fresh there really isn't too much you can do wrong here. Prior to eating anything, when we arrived, there was a couple sitting next to us (at the same table) which we didn't mind because they were very nice. We discussed dishes and both had different specials as their entrees which they recommended to us. We asked our waiter about the specials and unfortunately they were out of both so we had to choose from the menu which was also out of two items.
As best I can remember the choice came down to fried claims, salmon, lobster roll or cod. How does that menu sound to you as all the options for entrees? To me it was disappointing, and looked more like the menu from a shack by the sea then a nice restaurant in the south end. We moved forward and I ordered a lobster roll which I wouldn't normally get but I figured, why not. It was nothing special just lobster in a roll as expected with a side of fries. Everyone in our group had the same basic experience. The service was good, the food was decent but lacked selection.
They may have some good food but it unfortunately wasn't available when I was there... -
Review from Sammi N.
Boston, MA
5/1/2012
This place already gets wayyyyy too many reviews, so what's my extra one got to do with it. Well...
#1: I like to think I have followers who trust my reviews
#2: I am bored at work and I need something productive to do
I love oysters! And B&G is my fave in the city. I haven't been to Neptune so please don't email me and argue that Neptune is better.
If you go here, make a reservation; if not, bar seats open up fairly easily on a weekday night. On a nice night, ask to sit outside on the patio (they also have heat on a cooler day). Most romantic outdoor dining in the city!
Plan of attack:
#1 order champagne. I like a glass of Simonet. (hey, if you're going oysters, might as well go like a baller)
#2 order oysters and get a sample of everything! You can never go wrong, especially if you love oysters
#3 skip the entrees, and order apps for your main course - I love the calamari (so fresh!), mussels, and split the lobster roll (that's if you're dining for 2 people - share everything).
Service here is stellar! Not pretentious whatsoever as you would expect from a high-end seafood restaurant. They are attentive, laid-back, young and professional. I'm always impressed when you read off a whole list of the kinds of oysters you want, and they never have to write it down!
It is pricey, so go on special occasions... unless you're a baller, then splurge my friend... you won't be disappointed! Barbara Lynch knows what she's doing. -
Review from Tessa D.
Seattle, WA
5/23/2012
The good:
fresh oysters, yummy and good variety.
great wine recommendation from the server.
yummy shrimp salad.
nice atmosphere.
The bad:
lobster roll. chewy, dry, and frankly bland. I hate it when people cover good seafood in mayo, but in this case i would have preferred at least some mayo to deal with the chewy lobster. for 28 bucks, i was certainly not wowed. top that off with soggy fries and a poor excuse for coleslaw, it was not impressive. this place is supposedly known for their lobster roll, but i would pass and get something else instead.
Overall, i'd go back. but avoid the lobster roll. -
Review from Joe B.
Chandler, AZ
3/30/2012
Quite good for everything...There are some small issues.
It is a little pricier compared to the value.
The bread served is hard and uninteresting.
The cooks are quite unprofessional...I sat at the bar area near the grilling station and the 2 cooks spend time gossiping or complaining. This is not a good thing to have to be watched while eating.
I definitely would not go for a main meal after watching those cooks!!! -
Review from Marie A.
San Diego, CA
5/16/2012
it hurt to leave this place. the patio was so lovely, like someone's backyard. the staff so friendly and kind... from host to the cook i ran into as i walked down the spiral staircase to the restroom. our server knew her menu and showed no annoyance as we asked question after question. she described a dish as "sunshine" and i just knew to order it. the presentation was beautiful, flavors fresh, wine list impeccable. my only complaint and it seems silly, is the lobster roll was a little bland. but, really, that's an inconsequential detail. i live on an opposite coastline, but i will be recommending B & G to all.
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Review from Tyson F.
Boston, MA
4/7/2012
You can't go wrong with a Barbara Lynch restaurant, and B&G Oysters is probably the best place to grab oysters and fresh seafood in the South End.
As a matter of fact, I popped my oyster cherry here, and have stopped back quite a few times ever since.
My only 2 gripes would be prices and a very small draft beer selection (2 draft beer choices, to be exact). But you definitely get what you pay for.
The oyster selection is fantastic, and the freshness couldn't get any better. Absolutely delicious. I usually order the lobster roll, which is insanely priced considering it's size, but the flavor is so unbelievably good that I simply can't resist.
If you find yourself craving seafood or oysters in the South End, this is the place to be. -
Review from Rosemary C.
Boston, MA
4/28/2012
B&G Oysters is truly "as good as it gets" for oysters and South End ambience. The atmosphere is urban casual. During warmer months, the outdoor space is perfect for sampling great fish, oysters and chowders. Indoors, sit at the counter to observe the plethora of oyster choices and the work at hand. Nice wine list and good service; friendly atmosphere, as well. All good, though I agree that for the overall experience it is a rather pricey meal. Make a reservation for dinnertime - they are usually booked.
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Review from Julie B.
1/26/2012 4 photos
If I had to pay for this I probably would've given it 4 stars but I was lucky enough to be wined and dined, so 5 stars it is!
My date made us a reservation for 7:30 on a Thursday night and it was totally packed when we got there. We were immediately sat at a cute corner table with a view overlooking the kitchen. Perfect for watching the oyster-shucking action. I loved the set up at B & G. It's pretty small (with the kitchen taking up almost half the restaurant) but cozy and intimate. Diners can sit at the wraparound bar or at tables. One thing I did find interesting was that the music playing was definitely "kitchen music" -- I think we even heard a couple of old school Eminem songs. Not complaining, but definitely something I noticed.
We came for the oysters and oysters is what we got. We ordered a variety which were all SO delicious. They did forget to include one type of oyster but it was no biggie. Besides that little mishap our service was excellent -- the waiter was patient and attentive from start to finish.
For my entree I ordered fried clams (because I can't resist a plate of fried food even in the classiest of atmospheres) and my date ordered the hake. The clams were fried to perfection and served with heaping portions of french fries, coleslaw and a big pile of pickles (!!) -- these people know how to woo me. I think my date liked his meal because I caught him licking his plate when he thought I wasn't looking. We're not going out again...
I wanted to get dessert but was too full to move. Will have to wait until next time!Listed in: Finding Nemo
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Review from Jeffrey K.
Boston, MA
4/24/2012
Tough not to give this place 4 stars. The choice of oysters was amazing, so having that very word in the name of the restaurant is deemed appropriate. I took my girl here for her birthday and we sat next to the open kitchen. This was a real cool spot as we got to see the kitchen staff shuck shells and fry clams. My girl and I ordered fried Ipswich whole belly clams which came with fries, b&b pickles and slaw. Everything on the plate was delicious and prepared flawlessly. The clams had an epic crunch and the slaw balanced out the decadent batter. We also shared the BLT w/ lobster. The meat was over proportionate to the sandwich so I had to get a fork involved - I didn't mind this one bit! The sandwich was awesome, the sweetness and richness of the lobster meat was countered by the saltiness of the bacon. I would order this again in a heart beat. This dish also came with fries,
pickles and slaw. The beer selection was a little odd but the canned IPA brew I had from Boulder, CO was one of the best pale ales Ive had in awhile. I would recommend this place to anyone trying to impress a date!!!! Enjoy! -
Review from Eursley D.
Suffolk, MA
5/14/2012
Good fresh food. Sit at the bar and watch the cute lunch chef as he passionately prepares your meal. Yummy.
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Review from Samantha C.
Mountain View, CA
2/23/2012
I've come here three times while visiting Boston and it has been consistently amazing. The restaurant is narrow and cozy, tucked away down a flight of stairs off the street. If we weren't looking for it, I would never have known it was there!
What you should get:
- fresh oysters! Obviously.
- fried oysters topped with tartar sauce. hot, flavorful, and delicious!
- steamed mussels. the broth is the winner here. so good that it's worth drinking as a soup!
- lobster roll. their most popular dish. huge chunks of fresh lobster. they don't skimp at all!
- hake. perfectly crispy on the outside and flaky tender on the inside. comes with brussel sprouts topped with bacon bits. love bacon - how could you lose?! :)
- wine!
Skip:
- the cinnamon pavlova poached pear. this was just meh.
I'm sure to be back in four weeks on my next Boston trip. :) -
Review from Chris B.
4/2/2012
Super clean, fresh flavors. Some of the better seafood I've had. They even accommodated us with no reservations. Friendly staff that went out of there way while we waited.
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Review from Emily G.
Allston, MA
4/2/2012
I have to say my 2 star review is rated primarily on speed of service. I went to B and G on Friday of restaurant week with my girl friend for a lunch. Since this was during working hours, I was hoping to do a quick gab-session/delicious lunch and then head back to work. We got to the restaurant at 12:30 and at that point it wasn't too busy. We placed our entire 3 course restaurant week order and also the Chef's selection of 6 oysters. When the oysters came out at around 1:15 (it had already been about 45 minutes) I asked what kind of oysters they were. We were told they were 6 Blue Point, which was a little disappointing because this isn't really a "selection" of oysters - it's just 6 of the cheapest oysters they have. Still, I love oysters, and we gladly ate them. At around 1:30 our appetizer came out. I began getting fidgety because I had put an hour and a half worth of quarters into the meter, thinking an hour and a half for lunch would be plenty of time. It was now an hour in and no sign of our entree. We didn't get our lunch sandwich until a few minutes before 2 o'clock. I was already panicking because it was time to go back to work, my meter was expiring, and I was starving. I had the Salmon BLT which was meh. The salmon salad was decent, but they lobbed it onto two really buttery rolls, and soggy soggy bacon. I ended up removing the bacon and attempting to eat parts of the bread - but mainly focusing on the salmon. They served this with fries which were beautiful - but not too crisp. I kind of just wanted to leave already. We finished up our lunch a little after 2 o'clock and I didn't have time to stay for the dessert we ordered. It seemed like only one waiter was working, and at this point it was quite a bit busier. The hostess noticed that my girl friend and I were itching to leave - and I asked for the check. She offered to bring our desserts over to-go, and while my girl friend turned this down, I said - sure. We finished up and paid, I got the dessert to go - and we left.
I was most surprised that they hadn't pre-prepped some of the items for restaurant week. You know everyone's going to be ordering certain items repetitively all week, so be prepared! Also since it is restaurant week, maybe more than one server? I was letdown by this. Better planning.
When I returned to my car - of course - there was a ticket on my car. I guess an hour and a half was not quite enough for lunch. This added to my disappointment.
The final kicker was later that night, I opened the dessert to share with my husband, and it wasn't even prepared. It was a deconstructed, uncooked dessert. Are you kidding? I would have rather they didn't give us this container of sauce, container of nuts - and blob of uncooked dessert. Pitiful.
This place has real potential, I'm sure - which is why I gave it 2 stars - but ANY time I'm looking for an awesome seafood experience/oyster experience - I think I'll just head on down to Island Creek Oyster House instead... -
Review from Kelvin N.
Cambridge, MA
4/12/2012
12 varieties of oyster - carefully chosen - you're bound to like at least one. Served quick and fresh. The rest of the menu is comparable to the quality at most seafood specialty restaurants in Boston; but the oysters are a notch higher. Listen out for the specials - sometimes they are surprisingly good - and they don't repeat their specials.
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Review from Jennifer L.
Atlanta, GA
1/6/2012
LOBSTER ROLL. get it. eat it. thank me later.
$27 for a sandwich sounded a bit intimidating, but the B&G LOBSTER ROLL is the best. We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. It was the most amazing lobster I'd ever had.
The Back Bay neighborhood itself is a must see, but the B&G LOBSTER ROLL is a MUST EAT! -
Review from Raymond W.
Cambridge, MA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to like B&G Oysters more, but the restaurant week menu disappointed. We both got shrimp croquettes, which ended up being the best part of the meal. It was hot and crispy, with nice soft interior of potatoes and shrimp. The trout and lentils were good texture wise and the broccoli rabe was nicely seasoned, but nothing really wowed us. The dessert could have used the most work as my banana torte was more like a banana nut muffin that was on the dry side like it had been pre-plated over 1 hour in advance. The chocolate on the plate was pretty much stuck to the plate. The interior is a little cramped so don't plan on bringing a group. I would suggest ordering off the regular menu and trying out the signature dishes. That's what I'll be doing next time.
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Review from Ahmad A.
Medford, MA
2/14/2012
First of all the fried oysters are to die for, their tartar sauce is yummy! I had the salmon ( which I ordered well done) it was delicious with a lovely crispy skin. My wife had the lobster tail which she loved.
The chocolate torte with mascarpone was amazing , perfection portion for two .
The service was amazing, our waiter was very helpful and professional. All in all it was an amazing valentine with great food ! -
Review from Inna W.
Back Bay, Boston, MA
4/12/2012
Good oysters but pasta tasted like canned Mac and cheese . Overall pretty good place for lunch but the food sometimes does not deliver. The service is good though and I would go back (but I would not get pasta again!). Overall if you want oysters and your in the area B&G is a great place to get your fix.
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Review from Rachael B.
San Jose, CA
3/16/2012
we came here twice during our four day trip to boston over President's day weekend. that alone says something, as FH and I always try new places.
the oysters here are killer. (duh).
you pretty much can't go wrong in your selection from the raw oysters of the day.
on our first evening here, we had just flown in from san jose, were tired, hungry, and it was raining. we got seated right by the oyster shucking bar, which we loved. we started by ordering a dozen mixed raw oysters and basically split a bunch of appetizers from there (never made it to the entrees on that trip!) the fried oysters are amazing, the lobster beignets are unusual but light and well seasoned. we also LOVED the clam chowder - definitely clam-heavy and much lighter than many cream-intense versions. i think we made it to dessert and I had the chocolate torte with marscapone. mmm.
oh and the olive oil they serve with the bread? so delicious.
describing our other visit will mostly be redundant except that we tried some of the entrees - fish and lobster - and were definitely not disappointed. definitely a must-go to while in boston. -
Review from D T.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/5/2012
Make sure you get the BLT with Lobster. It's the best!
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Review from Suzanne C.
Santa Monica, CA
Love this place. Our service was incredible - lovely and nice. It's a casual spot that I would definitely go back to!
We had:
Variety of oysters
Shrimp cocktail (they were giant!)
Fried oysters
Fried calamari
Fish & Chips
BLT Lobster roll
Lobster roll
Red leaf salad
Everything was fab! The batter on the fried foods was light and not greasy. The fish was all very fresh. The consensus was that the BLT lobster roll was better than the regular lobster roll. The regular was great, but the BLT was extra special.
They only do regular coffee - but it was very good. -
Review from Jon D.
Boston, MA
3/18/2012
If you go on a nice spring or summer day and can get a seat outside for lunch this place is tough to beat in Boston. We loved the asparagus salad and mushroom gnocchi (vegitarian style). However I had a BLT with lobster that was to die for. This is a Boston must try!
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Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
12/18/2011 5 photos
Definitely worth the price tag on the restaurant week lunch.(http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Here's what I got:
Steamed Mussels (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Subtly salty, light wine broth.. went very well with the mussels.
BLT with fried oysters, served with a HUGE side of fries, sweet pickles, and coleslaw (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Not the best BLT ever, but my first with fried oysters in em. And anything with fried oysters is better. Just like bacon. I don't think I saw this option on their menu, but I feel like if ya ask em nicely, they'll make it for you anytime!
For dessert, we got the chocolate pie, but I unfortunately had to head back to class (service was a little slow), so I wasn't able to try it.
Overall, I'd come here for restaurant week, but the prices are a tad bit too high for me to come any other time.. -
Review from Jack L.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
My first 2-star!
The interior is beautiful with the marble countertops and I loved sitting at the bar; however, the lobster roll is 1) served cold (yuck) and 2) nowhere on par with Neptune Oyster.
Delicious, fresh selection of oysters from around the nation and great service.
I really wish I could give it a 4 but I've been spoiled by Neptune and it can never compare. -
Review from M J.
Boston, MA
11/20/2011 4 photos
I'm taking off two stars because it's crazy expensive AND though high prices don't throw me off IF everything is perfect, they don't hit the perfect mark here. there needs to be perceived value at these prices. here's why i was not feeling that value,in no order:
1. the serving size for the $27 lobster roll should be consistent. on my last visit, it was borderline puny AND smaller than on several other visits. certainly not the sized you see in photo's on here.
2. $12 for a glass of wine -- at lunch? you might want to consider expanding the list to include some lower priced items. also, tripling the cost is NOT ok unless you're in the fine dining category.
3. bar seats - i love bar seating, but knew immediately that my hair and clothes were going to reek after lunch. the exhaust system ought to be cleaned.
4. service - it was just ok. water not refilled and i was looking for our server several times, though they were only 60% full and fully staffed.
5. overall, the food has been fantastic, but on my last visit, it was not perfect, and something left a funny taste in my mouth. i was left with the feeling that something, slaw, salad dressing, was less than perfectly fresh. yuck.
the BL empire has grown and i'm wondering if things are slipping. -
Review from Colleen H.
South End, Boston, MA
10/31/2011
Certain things I have to be in the mood for, sure. Oysters at B&G? I will date you anytime. Just call me.
This place has THE BEST sunken patio in Boston. It's so charming and romantic. Inside the decor is a bit...hard, but it all just evaporates around you as you slurp down those heavenly oysters. I honestly can say that I have tried oysters just about everywhere they are served in this city, and B&G by far has had the most knowledgeable staff and variety I have found. They'll help you contrast your selection, or recommend vessels based on your preferences (you know...east coast/west coast...meaty, delicate, all that good stuff) Also, because this is part of the lovely Barbara Lynch endeavors, the wine list is spectacular.
And yes, of course they have options other than oysters. And yes, of course they're delicious. Barbara Lynch will never fail you. I promise.Listed in: Date You., Top Restaurants
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Review from Amy M.
11/16/2011 8 photos
I came to B&G Oysters back in May during Memorial Day weekend when I came to Boston on a weekend trip. The place was a bit cozy and on the small side with some seating outside in the patio. We waited a little bit for seats since we didn't make any reservations. It was about a 10 minute wait during the weekend for dinner. Also, the restaurant has an open kitchen so you can see the madness that goes on behind the scenes. That was an interesting experience.
For appetizers, we had the fried oysters with home made tartar sauce! That was to die for! The fried oysters with the tartar sauce was soooo amazing. It melts in your mouth! Since we thought that wasn't enough for us, we decided to also try the raw oysters and selected different types of oysters from different places. They tasted interesting. I've never really had raw oysters before this so it was a nice experience.
For entrees, I ordered the Lobster BLT Roll and he ordered the Lobster Roll. Both of them came with french fries. Both the lobster rolls were amazing! I never knew anything could taste so good. Again, this is the first time I've had a lobster roll and I'm glad this was the first place I have tried it at. Now, I just have to try the lobster rolls from different places.
I didn't know what to expect before coming to this place, but I enjoyed my time here and especially, the food! :)
If you're in Boston, definitely check out B&G Oysters and don't forget to make a reservation. -
Review from Chantelle A.
Woodbridge, VA
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I AM A FANNNNN! B&G Oysters was amazing. During a trip to Boston, we realized it was Boston Restaurant Week! Lucky us! We are huge fans of DC Restaurant Week so we decided to take advantage of the deal while on vacation! We made lunch reservations about a week prior to our trip...but, when I arrived the restaurant exceeded my expectations!
We walked to B&G, through Blackstone Square....so by the time we arrived, I was hungryyyy! When we arrived, I expected a little hole in the wall oyster bar but, noooooo this place was like The Secret Garden! The outdoor stonewalled patio was GORGEOUS....you had all the perks of being outdoors but, it was so...intimate.
Our waitress was an amazing woman...who was very patient as we drooled over the limited but lovely menu. We stated off with a couple of beers and bread with olive oil....NICE right??
Of course, we couldn't resist the raw oyster menu. The oyster menu offered oysters from all over New England and Canada...and they were fresh and tasty...of course. Since it was restaurant week, we each had 3 courses...
Me-Lobster Beignets
Him-Steamed Mussels in this amazing broth
Me-Massachusetts Blue Cod with mushrooms
Him-Fried Oyster Sandwich with French Fries
Me-Yogurt Ice Cream with melon and black pepper syrup
Him-Chocolate Tart with Cherry Compote
Each course was amazing...but, the yogurt ice cream with melon and black pepper syrup was out of this world! I've never tasted anything like it....and I want more :( Psssst...anyway I can get that recipe???
Everything about B&G Oysters was perfect...except for the spiral stairs leading to the bathroom...1 more beer and I would have tumbled down :)Listed in: Skinny Girls Love to Eat too!
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Review from Ngoc F.
Brooklyn, NY
4/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I have read so many reviews on the lobster roll, so obviously I ordered the lobster roll. It ended up being really flavorless and overpriced. Why did I make that 4 hour drive?? I should have made a detour and went to the Cape!! Oysters were good and the fries were crispy to perfection. This restaurant is checked off and on to the next lobster roll.
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Review from Jimmy N.
Chicago, IL
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Firstly, let me just preface this by saying this place is really pricey. Seafood in general is pricey, and oyster bars in general are pricey, but this place is a fancy oyster bar and extra pricey.
That said, cheap ol' me is still giving this 4 stars. Normally I would be raging and deducting stars, but for some reason B&G's outrageous prices don't make me angry. It's a simple unpretentious pricey oyster bar, and it's patrons are probably by and large simple unpretentious people with money who love oysters. I would like to think I'm simple and unpretentious and love oysters and still working on the money part. When I have more money (obviously much later on in life), I will come back to B&G with a nice girl and treat her to some nice oysters at this simple and unpretentious place. And then I will give it 5 stars instead of 4 stars if it keeps the quality of food up.
Oh, I had a lobster roll. It was good. LOTS of lobster and minimal amount of mayo, which is how it's supposed to be. Both my friend and I, both cheap poor simple souls, had no complaints forking over the 27$ or so for the treat.
Go if you have money. Go if you don't have money if you want, but plan to spend money. Take it for what it is, and what it is is sorta pricey. -
Review from Debora L.
10/17/2011
Came here on a busy Saturday night when the two hour wait at Neptune deterred us. Trendy seafood restaurant with romantic lighting inside, and lovely heated wooden patio outside decorated with twinkle lights.
We felt the clam chowder was a pass : it had a strange vinegar aftertaste. The lobster roll was decent but nothing remarkable. What we loved most, though, was the massive amount of fries! Perfectly seasoned and lightly fried. Not too salty, crunchy, starchy, cold, soggy, or oily. So many places get fries wrong, but they do it right.
So, yes, 4 stars for the fries! -
Review from Stephen T.
Cambridge, MA
My first experience at this place was an amazing one.
First off, try to make a reservation. We got there at about 6 on a Saturday, and it was fully booked. We were able to get bar seats after about 15 minutes though. That being said, bar seats are the way to go. Watching the professionals in action is a great show with the dinner.
Oysters - Cold, Clean, Fresh. They were fantastic. Couldn't ask for anything more from them.
Clam Chowder - Not bad. It wasn't very thick, but had a great deal of clams.
Fried Oysters - Very yummy. Normally I enjoy raw oysters way more than cooked ones, but these were cooked quite well. Very lightly breaded with a good sauce.
Scallop Carpaccio - Also very good. I couldn't get a good taste for the scallops though. There was too much sauce involved. Pickled mushrooms on top were also tasty.
Spottail Bass - These people know how to cook fish. Crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. Just the right amount of salt to make the flavors pop.
Service at the bar was excellent. Our server showed up at all the right times and kept our wine glasses full without being intrusive. Ambiance feels cozy with a touch of industrial. Noise level is a little bit high due to the size of the place.
Overall, the food and experience was excellent. As other reviews have stated, the prices are high, but definitely worth my experience there. -
Review from Michael K.
Plano, TX
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the lack of attentive service.
Food was excellent and presentation was wonderful.
Waiter and bus-girl only came by sporadically to refill drinks. -
Review from Bill Y.
Cohasset, MA
4/11/2012
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. There may be nobody on the planet who is more picky about fried clams than I am and, brother, I've come a long way. Once upon a time I thought that Howard Johnson had the best fried clams extant...please one and all, forgive me. I was just a kid from the Midwest..what did I know? Many years have passed since my immature tastes crowned HoJo. After many visits to Boston over the years and finally moving here in retirement three years ago I've had occasion to eat a lot of clams and I now must tell your all, that nobody, but NOBODY executes this fussy dish (so many ways to go wrong) than our friends at B&G Oysters. Given all the reviews and the proven excellence of Ms. Lynch my comments don't mean much and rightly so. I did just want to express the hope that they will continue to produce such magic from the Fryalator. On first bite one's senses are filled with the smackdown delicious blend of light crust, unbelievably tender, sweet crustacean and piquant sauce. The combination is flatout bliss. One never gets the dreaded "gob" as each morsel stands in magnificent isolation. The serving is just right so that by the end the clams are still nicely warm. I don't know how B&G has achieved this triumph but they've done it and they never let one down.
Since the only seafoods I enjoy are clams, shrimp, oysters, and the sainted "lobsta", (Yep, I'm a heretic) and must rely on the exclamations of joy from my fellow diners who do enjoy "swimming" seafood. The kitchen is capped off by a first rate wait staff. My only reservations is that it is quite small. -
Review from Gina M.
Malden, MA
2/7/2012
We went in for the first time last week and had a pleasant, but not mind-blowing meal. The lobster roll is pretty boring compared with Neptune. Lobster beignets were just okay (I wouldn't have guessed there was lobster in there if the menu didn't say so). However, the tuna bruschetta appetizer was quite good. We also had a wonderful server and a nice bottle of wine. The oysters were also good. Cute space. I will go back if I'm in the neighborhood and in the right mood, but honestly for what we spent, it should have been a lot more impressive.
-
Review from Jeff F.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's impossible to rate B&G without comparing it to Neptune. Here's how I'll break it down:
- Lobster Roll: 2 star at B&G. Shocked people are raving about this. Neptune blows it away (small, barely toasted bun - for the same price as Neptune's Lobster roll.)
- Fried Clams - B&G takes the edge with 5 star to Neptune 4 star
- Scottish Salmon - awesome, recommended
- Roasted Lobster was good, but at $38, I think it was a little overpriced given what was served
- Oysters - 5 star quality and presentation like Neptune, but Neptune has a wider selection
- B&G corn on the cob as a side - solid
Neptune is 5 star, while B&G is 4 star, but you have to consider that B&G both takes reservations and has outdoor seating. -
Review from Qasim R.
Boston, MA
8/2/2011
A cozy little place, with a great oyster selection as the name suggests.
The lobster roll as evidenced by the many other reviews is simply amazing, although I felt it was a bit overpriced. The clam chowder and beet salads were pretty good as well.
Oysters were probably the star of the meal. We left the selection of them to the waitress and I must say she selected very well. They were simple amazing and the only reason why I went back there few times.
The service is excellent and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The tables are placed pretty close together so you chat up the ppl at the next table, an affair I always enjoy in certain places.
Considering the service, environment and the oysters, I would be definitely heading back there soon. -
Review from Jake L.
Santa Monica, CA
10/14/2011
An old favorite of mine when I used to live in the S End. Simply put, you will not regret the decision to dine here. Get a seat in the back patio if possible.
The oysters are always the finest available, and the preparation of all of the items is always top rate. Lunch today was no exception! -
Review from Kevin W.
Boston, MA
2/6/2012
not sure this place needs another glowing review. i just wanted to say that i loved this place, best clam chowder i've ever had.
i wanted to take that olive oil straight to the face.
they do all the little things right.
