- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Belle Isle Lobster & Seafood
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
1267 Saratoga St(between Benner St & Main St)
Boston, MA 02128
Neighborhood: East Boston
(617) 567-1619
- Nearest Transit:
-
Walley St @ Gladstone St (120)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sat 10 am - 7 pm
Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sun 11 am - 7 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
112 reviews for Belle Isle Lobster & Seafood
Review Highlights
"Best Lobster Roll in New England, hands down."
(in 18 reviews)
"I would definately recommend this place for take out."
(in 15 reviews)
"Baked Haddock ($14) - Very impressive."
(in 6 reviews)
Loading...
112 reviews in English
-
Review from Lisa D.
Malden, MA
2/1/2012 1 photo
HANDS DOWN THE BEST SEAFOOD IN BOSTON!!
GREAT PRICES - GREAT SERVICE- GREAT QUALITY - GREAT GREAT GREAT PORTIONS FOR THE PRICE!!!!
Don't forget they are Cash ONLY!!! -
Review from Sina E.
11/22/2011 1 photo
We had heard all the buzz about this place, and during my trip earlier to Boston, we knew we had to come here. From the outside, you wonder if this is the place that everyone is raving about. It's really run down, and old. For parking, there is a dirt round on the back. There is really nothing around it, but a gas station to the side of it.
Now to the food....naturally I had to order the lobster roll ($18-$20), and I just have to say, this was the best lobster roll I had ever had. There is about 1/2 lb of fresh lobster meat on a sour dough bread. The lobster meat is so tender, I coulda ate two of these babies. I suggest getting the cole slaw side, and just put it on the lobster meat. It gives it that creamy taste, and adds to what's already amazing. I also tasted the Haddock. It was flaky, creamy, and very rich. You can't go wrong with this choice either.
As far as the interior goes, this place is small. We came early, and were the first people there, but I'd imagine if this place gets really packed, you wouldn't be able to eat inside, and have to just get it to go.
Let's just say, if I ever move to Boston, I'd go here once a week....at least. -
Review from Jon P.
East Cambridge, Boston, MA
11/13/2011 1 photo
Best Lobster Roll in New England, hands down. I had the lobster roll at the Raw Bar in Mashpee which is a close 2nd but almost double the price. Seafood platter, Clam Chowder, and the Fish Sandwich are also delicious.
Definitely worth the ride for quality seafood with no frills. -
Review from Dan Y.
Brooklyn, NY
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
My new favorite spot for cold lobster rolls! Yes there isn't much mayo or celery salt on the thing and to some it may be under seasoned, but its a LOBSTER roll, and boy was there allot of that! The Lobster cold have been a bit fresher from the boiler, this tasted like it was boiled the day before and chopped and stored in a fridge. The clam chowder had the perfect balance between broth and creme with a healthy amount of chopped clam meat. Fried clam roll had the freshest clams I ever tasted in fried form. The butter texture of the clam was not lost in the frying process.
-
Review from Janet S.
Newton, MA
1/24/2012
Drove - stopped in, ate lunch. Loved it.
-
Review from Karen M.
North Falmouth, MA
1/28/2012
Best. Lobster roll. Ever. People get all crazy about Red's in Wiscasset, ME and Neptune Oyster Bar in the North End. If you love traditional lobster rolls, this is it. (Neptune does a lobster roll with butter, which is good, but not what I think of as the lobster roll of my youth and neither of its rolls are stuffed like the one at BIS) . Great place to buy fresh fish too. Prices are good and the fish is incredibly fresh. Know what is truly amazing? It is a fish market. It sells fresh fish and has lobster tanks. It doesn't smell like a fish market - just the fresh salt tang I associate with beaches.
-
Review from Mason L.
Cambridge, MA
9/13/2011
Straightforward place, no extravagant decor and just some chairs. But what the location lacks in aesthetic, it makes up with its very simple but great lobster roll.
Costly lunch but the value was really fantastic. Many full claws, merely accentuated with mayo and celery (not drenched)...
onion rings crispy, hot, plus a small bit of fried goodness. -
Review from Robert C.
10/17/2011 2 photos
Alright, 1st off, don't be intimidated of the outer appearance of this place. Yes, it looks really ghetto and run-down. The place looks like it's gonna collapse any minute. All my friends wanted to leave as soon as they saw how run-down it was lol... However, little did they know that they're about to experience the BEST lobster roll in this universe.
Lobster roll ($18) - 1/2 lb lobster meat comes with 1 side - fries, onion rings, cole slaw or rice with butter. The lobster roll's very meaty; they're not skimpy with the meat! I have no idea how they made it, but it's so creamy and delicious!!! I guess Anthony Bordain's right on this one; it's bloody good! By the end of the day, I ended up eating 2 of these suckers lol... However, the sides are just ok; I definitely suggest getting their fries over their onion rings. Their cole slaw's also 1 of the better sides.
Baked Haddock ($14) - Very impressive. The worker recommended the baked haddock over the fried one. The fish tasted very fresh and were cooked wonderfully. The condiments they put in there complement the fish very well. Definitely 1 of the best fish dish I've ever had. This dish also comes with 1 side.
The only downside is that this place's really small; there're probably enough seats for like 12 people. They also only have like 2 workers, so it will take awhile to cook (20 mins for us). However, it's worth the wait. Heck, I'll even wait 1+ hr for these babies!!! -
Review from Ari B.
Valley Stream, NY
10/30/2011
BEST LOBSTER ROLL EVER!!!! If words could describe how I felt when I placed this delicious sandwich into my mouth, I would be a magician!!
It's located in a not to pretty rundown looking shack, but boy is that a cover for the BEST damn lobster roll that I have ever tasted!! I could have eaten five of those bad buys in a row without thinking twice, and the dent in the wallet would have been more than well worth it! And their other seafood choices are just as scrumptious!!!
I wonder if they speed ship to NY??? -
Review from Jeff L.
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another "As Seen on Bourdain" joint off the map.
Belle Isle was the our last meal in Boston (literally before going to the airport) before returning to Cali.
The place is just as I remembered on TV. Nothing fancy, a little shack by the river next to an old run-down bridge. The people inside were polite but not overly friendly. Its strictly business up in here. They even charged us an extra $.50 for a cup to split the chowder for our kids.
But I was okay with all that.
Most amazing lobster roll. $19 for a monster of a roll. On this week long vacation in New England, I had many a lobster rolls. This by far was the most expensive but the cheapest by volume roll I had. I mean the G damn thing was 1/2 a pound!!!
Served with choice of generous portioned side of rice, fries, or slaw.
The best roll on this trip period. -
Review from Shells C.
Peabody, MA
12/18/2011
I love Oysters.....so anyplace that serves them is always high on my list. This place has a great Oyster Plate. I am hoping that Anthony Bourdain didn't ruin it for us local yokels, but I am sure Bell Isle appreciates the shout out. This place is small, we often go (summertime) and take ours and sit on Revere Beach and eat. Great Date Place. Cash only, ATM is inside, expect a wait for the food its fresh and takes awhile but is well worth it.
-
Review from Dixi S.
Long Beach, CA
11/4/2011
It took us forever to get this food because Boston was just full of construction zones which resulted to one lane roads. When we got there, the kitchen wasn't open, yet. We walked to an area and watched air planes line up and take off from Logan airport. That was actually really nice.
I really don't know how else I'm gonna have lobster roll because this was the first lobster roll I've ever had, and it was just awesome! I just know they don't make it like this anywhere else. The lobster was so fresh and a little sweet. It wasn't drowned in seasoning or mayo or anything like that. This lobster roll was all about the lobster. Check out the picture!
I heard of this place from tv with Anthony Bourdain. The place is smaller than it looked with just a few bar stool seats. I believe it was cash only. But, the food far exceeds any expectations. it's all that matters. -
Review from Pete J.
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's good - but it's not Neptune Oyster good.
It's true that the lobster roll is packed full of a half pound of good quality lobster meat with light mayo and I'm guessing celery salt is a secret ingredient, (but I may be wrong), and $18 is a decent price, but I had an issue with the small size of the roll. Three quarters of if had to be eaten outside of the roll.
It literally is a shack, but has plenty of street parking outside, although there is a sign which says not to park on the bridge - I don't know how strictly that rule is enforced. Maybe 10 or 12 stools against a counter which runs across two walls of the joint.
Lost a star due to the counter girl being a bit crabby, must be all that seafood she's working with.
**CASH ONLY**Listed in: Cash Only!
-
Review from M-Dot W.
Hackensack, NJ
7/9/2011
This places rocks !
It kills me when I'm in Boston proper and see tourist eating over-priced lobster rolls in tourist traps , this is the real deal.
The lobster rolls here always keep me coming back ( don't know about the other stuff).
If you have a car , this is absolutely worth the drive , there is a reason Anthony Bourdain came here !! -
Review from Thompson L.
New York, NY
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cash Only. Limited seating.
The lobster roll is about $20 a pop so it's not cheap. I thought there was too much mayo and the lobster meat was more shredded than I would have liked. The crab roll is cheaper, tastier, and felt like the better deal. Also tried the fried clams, fried shrimp, fried haddock and fried oysters. All of which I felt was just average. Baked clams were good.
If you're looking for knock out lobster roll and fresh seafood, I recommend paying a little more and wait for a table at Neptune Oyster. -
Review from Tony E.
Seattle, WA
7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Executive Summary:
$20 1/2 lb. Lobster roll.
Bourdain went here.
It was awesome.
So yea, Bourdain went to this place and we were in town for a wedding. A few friends recommended we all go there so we stopped in. The parking is pretty much non-existant, so don't hop in the Escalade and roll on up. They have plenty of fresh seafood (deep-fried or all natural). You gotta try the lobster roll which served as 2 meals throughout the day.
I would do it again, but I'm not sure when I would ever go back to Bah-ston. -
Review from Anthony A.
Marblehead, MA
7/16/2011
Best lobster roll...ever...huge. and reasonable.
dont expect any ambiance or a table for that matter. Sit outside and watch the planes take off from Logan. -
Review from Jonathan B.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/31/2011
Way out on the edge of Eastie poking into Winthrop is Belle Isle Lobster & Seafood. I hadn't seen the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Boston episode yet but I'd heard enough people talking about him talking about this place that I had to stop over. Its worth the trek. Everything here is heavily portioned and justifies the price you pay for fresh seafood. You will leave stuffed.
The lobster roll is less of a sandwich and more of a raised eyebrow culinary dare. The lobster meat is lightly dressed and judging by the size of the claw meat is most likely from some big ass lobsters. It is spilling out of the roll and try as you might you simply cannot eat this with your bare hands. The meat is not as fresh as James Hook but its quite good and its easily the most under-dressed, most LOBSTER tasting lobster roll in Boston. A lobster roll with a side of onion rings will set you back 18 bucks but its worth it. Clam chowder is also spot on and hard to avoid at a mere 2 bucks a cup. Everyone around me was eating something different: fried fish here, crab cake there-it all looked great.
Atmosphere wise, its not the most welcoming as the seating is very very limited. The turnaround time for your meal takes a bit and sometimes you luck out if people finish up eating before you are served. There's not really any outdoor seating but if you drove yourself down, you can doggie bag this stuff over to a Winthrop beach or one of the many parks in the area. For the car-less its a good 10 minute walk from the Orient Heights blue line T stop down Saratoga Street and be of the utmost care if you need to cross it on foot as the two-lane blacktop into Winthrop is home to some maniac drivers. -
Review from Christina Z.
Winthrop, MA
5/9/2011
Belle Isle is an institution. Situated in between Eastie and Winthrop, it is literally on the water, and the catch of the day is honest and fresh. Avoid it at all costs on Fridays during Lent and Christmas Eve (Italian 7 fishes dinner).
The lobster roll? Jam packed with lobster and lightly dusted with mayonnaise. The lobster is SPILLING over the roll, and try as you might, you cannot consume it gracefully. The best part is what they add to it, as Anthony Bourdain fondly said of our lovely Belle Isle: nothing! The lobster shines. Believe me, I love lobster soaked in butter, but here you can truly appreciate the light tender lobster meat.
I adore the clam chowder. It doesn't pack on the cream and there is a brilliant clam-to-spoonful ratio.
The stuffed clams and baked stuff shrimp... there is absolutely too much stuffing on them! Yet the stuffing is good, and the fish are tender and meaty, so you really can't complain.
BI is a lovely local little joint with New England charm. Locals fish on the pier right next to the sailboats. You can also get fresh fish daily. No deliveries. -
Review from Jared O.
Boston, MA
6/17/2011
Pros: Lobster roll, fried clams, great daily specials and fresh seafood!
Cons: Cash only, chicken items can be hit or miss. -
Review from Samantha G.
Boston, MA
5/26/2011
Went here today for the first time after learning about it on No Reservations. My friend and I got clam chowder, fried clams (thought they would be strips but were whole clams), and fried calamari. The chowder especially was very good, classic and exactly what you want/expect. The calamari and clams were really good too. We neglected to order a lobster roll, which I realized half way through the meal. We'll have to go back for that. The only thing that wasn't awesome was the cole slaw (oh well, no big deal).
Also, be aware, they are CASH ONLY! They do have an ATM but I always like to avoid paying the fee if I can. -
Review from Julia H.
7/17/2011
great for take-out seafood! Really small place, so not ideal for groups. The deep fried platter was delicious and a good representation of the different seafood served. Everything seemed really fresh - but with the amount of food the seafood in the platter, too full to try the lobster roll which sound really good!
will be back to try the lobster roll! -
Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
10/26/2011
This place lived up to all the hype (thanks, Bourdain), and I had easily one of the best lobster rolls of my life here. So yummy!
-
Review from Reina W.
Antioch, CA
5/6/2011
Belle Isle is the first place I've ever tried a lobster roll. It's the place that makes me want them on a regular basis now, but since I was just vacationing in Boston, that's not possible.
It's amazing how much lobster they can squeeze onto one little piece of bread. The lobster isn't just little bits of unidentifiable chunks...I was able to bite into a whole claw!!! It was so delicious! Half a pound of lobster meat is a great way to start my day.
I'll definitely return to Belle Isle when I decide to visit the Boston area again. -
Review from Nikki N.
Portland, OR
7/29/2011
Pros: great lobster roll, fresh ingredients, correct bun, quick, close to airport
Cons: not much atmosphere, very little seating -
Review from Gerry H.
9/18/2011
Tasy and huge lobster rolls, but the tiny "dining room" smells of bleach, so it'd be better to take yours to go. Pretty cool that Bourdain would feature a little hole in the wall like this. They have a parking lot behind the gas station, too, which is nice.
-
Review from Katherine R.
Boston, MA
7/12/2011
This lobster roll is amazing- and VERY generous. 19 bucks for the meat of 1-2 lobsters, and a real deal side (aka- not potato chips) is amazing in my book.
The boy had the baked haddock which was delicious, and came with plenty of sides. Also a great deal price-wise.
Would definitely go again. I'd avoid going before closing- when they run out for the day, that's it. They like to keep it fresh, which I think is great.
Highly recommended! A GREAT deal for the money you spend. -
Review from Chad C.
9/13/2011
This place is LEGIT. I went here because I saw Bourdain eating a lobster from this establishment and I had to eat it too. I was not disappointed. Big hunks of lobster on a nice soft roll. I wanted another one as soon as I was done. Go here.
-
Review from Valerie H.
San Diego, CA
9/12/2011
I get that Bourdain raved about his lobster roll at this hole-in-the-wall joint on the water. While my $20 lobster roll was good, I wouldn't go back. It was just dirty in there... and I'm not sure how fresh my lobster was.
-
Review from Rob B.
1/5/2011
Opens at 10 but kitchen opens at 11!
Wow, can there really be too much lobster. i didn't think so, but I found it. Belle's lobster roll is 1/2 pound of lobster meat. 3-4 ounces satisfied me, but I was not going to leave 3-4 ounces in the trash! So I over did it! Very little mayo so probably way healthier than 5 guys.
The Onion Rings were good, but a quick dash of salt on them out of the fryer would have made them shine. I might add the salt packet added much to the lobsta roll too.
It's 2 miles from logan, but I suggest ordering carryout and have the cab wait. It took us over an hour to get a cab to pick us up. Chowder was nice, though at 11, the potatoes were still hard.
It's a dive and it's awesome and generous, share a roll, cause it's more than one belly can do. -
Review from Neeters B.
Glen Burnie, MD
9/28/2011
DisAppointing taste just watered down mayO with lobster. No flavor. Wasted fifteen bucks to take a cab ride to this hole in the wall
-
Review from Keith K.
Charlestown, MA
7/12/2011
Get a lobster roll here only if you want to ruin your perspective on every other lobster roll you will have in the future at other locales.
-
Review from William B.
Palo Alto, CA
11/14/2010
A reliable source told us that this was the best lobster roll within 20 miles of Boston, so we made the trip on a chilly Sunday. I would call it a "hidden treasure" but the wealth of other reviews suggests it must not be that hidden after all.
Now as for the lobster roll: lobster rolls belong to two different groups-- hot, no-mayo lobster rolls filled only with lobster and butter (and sometimes garlic or herbs); and cold lobster rolls filled with lobster dressed in light mayonnaise. I definitely prefer the first kind and Belle Isle serves the second. So it wasn't the best lobster roll I've ever had. But if I preferred that kind of lobster roll, it might well be the best of its kind.
By the way, the rolls are HUGE (half a pound of lobster each) and the onion rolls are crispy (but a little bland). And while you're here, you'll feel like one of the coolest people for having discovered the place-- until you log on to Yelp and discover how many other people discovered it before you. -
Review from Dan L.
Burlington, MA
1/8/2012
decent lobster roll for the $$$
-
Review from Chad S.
Mohnton, PA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great little seafood shack. A little out of the way but worth the trip. The lobster roll is fantastic. $19 and worth every penny. Bring cash because they don't accept cards.
-
Review from Susanne H.
Boston, MA
5/2/2011
Finest location to purchase fresh fish to cook at home, or to get a dinner made to my preferences. Only downside is that I wish they provided some vegetables with dinners. Wait staff at the counter is amazing with customers and seems to remember everyone's names!
-
Review from Jon C.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
saw this place on anthony bourdain's show and my gf and i made sure we made the trek here to try the lobster rolls. we got off the plane, got on the 22 bus, bought a charlie, hopped on the blue line and walked from orient heights with the rain coming down on our heads. luckily, our friend was going to meet us at belle isle and picked us up mid-walk. we arrived and it was exactly what we envisioned. a small shack by the bay and a welcoming home-cooked atmosphere.
i'm not even a big seafood fan but when i took a bite of the lobster roll i had to give it the ol' "mmmmmmmmmm so good." the chunks of lobster were so fresh and sweet that i devoured my entire sandwich.
a great welcome to boston for this chicagoan. -
Review from Jeannette S.
Sugar Land, TX
6/26/2011
Lobster Roll is HUGE! Crab Roll is HUGE! I am droolin' now just thinking about the chunky pieces of fresh goodness in my mouth. I wanted to take a few back with me but they told me the rolls probably wouldn't taste as good after a plane ride. I think they lied to me, I think what they REALLY wanted to say to me is that they know I'll be eating all of them and they wouldn't last through the plane ride. Hahhaa
-
Review from Christina G.
Boston, MA
8/2/2010
I'm a big fan of lobster, so after a day of sailing around the Boston harbor I decided to finally stop over at Belle Isle to try one of their famous lobster rolls.
I wasn't necessarily disappointed. The lobster roll was good, small but overflowing with generous hunks of lobster meat that were lightly tossed in mayo. I agree that the lobster meat was not the most flavorful and I can definitely say I've had better.
In addition to the roll we also got an order of fried clams, which were very good. Personally I prefer Neptune's lobster roll that comes hot with butter. If I'm going to spend this much( $40 for both) on a small no frills meal, I'd rather it be somewhere a little more upscale. -
Review from bob m.
Cambridge, MA
4/29/2011
Took the T all the way over from Copley, hoofed it an additional half mile to kill some calories and work up an appetite....
I shoulda stayed where I wuz.
Fried clam dinner. A handful (six?) of large clams of indeterminate freshness. Doughy, clingy batter. Gummy, undercooked (fryolator off by 20 degrees maybe?). Tossed on mediocre rings and fries. Tiny tartar sauce. Flavorless chopped cabbage masquerading as cole slaw. No hot sauce. Tiny ketchup packages with a "friendly" note to take only what you need.
Hey guys, your reputation has now officially gotten ahead of you. You need to put some effort into catching up with it.
