Neptune Oyster
New England Lobster Roll from Neptune Oyste
Neptune Oyster is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. It’s this tiny yet upscale little oyster bar in the North End, just a few blocks from where I used to live. They offer the freshest seafood, and some unusual flavor pairings.
Take notes, here’s what we tried:
Raw Oysters with mignonette and cocktail sauce - They offered 12 different varieties on the menu and they showcase their profiles beside each, including size, salinity, and flavor. This makes it really easy to order what you think you’ll like or what you’re curious about! We ordered the Kusshi, Eros, Kumamoto, and East Beach Blonde. Sadly, they were out of my favorite, Beausoleil; however, it forced me to try some others I hadn’t, before. I LOVED the Kusshi and Eros! The provided notes were perfectly accurate, and they were expertly shucked and phenomenal.
Kusshi: From Deep Bay, BC. Small, low salt, sweet, cucumber finish.
Eros: From Georgetown, ME. Medium, medium salt, citrus finish.
Kumamoto: From Bay Shore, WA. Small, medium salt, creamy, hints of honeydew melon.
East Beach Blonde: From Ninigret, RI. Medium, medium salt, crisp brine finish.
Uni – Sourced from ME, which I’ve never had before. They are much smaller and a bit firmer than Santa Barbara Uni. Very mild in flavor, with a slight brine. They are creamy, but not as much as Santa Barbara Uni. I enjoyed them a lot!
Shrimp - Standard. Very fresh, but not unique. Nothing to write home about.
Blue Crab Salad - Excellent! Made with a light Dijon and Mayo dressing. Very flavorful and would make a seriously GREAT sandwich.
Crudos - Super fresh! The bluefin was my favorite - very interesting with the combination of olives, pistachio, salt, and a pop of citrus. The scallop crudo was made with buttery, silky diver scallops, seasoned to have a spicy finish that sneaks up on you.
Clam Chowder - Fantastic! It’s thin, and I normally love a thick chowder; however, the flavor is seriously excellent! It’s quite rich, and the salted pork gives it a whole other dimension. The clams are super tender and flavorful as well.
Lobster Rolls – We got one hit with butter, and one chilled with mayo. Both were perfectly seasoned and FILLED with lobster. So much meat, and a PERFECT mix of it (mostly tail). I also loved that the chilled roll only had a light coating of mayo. While the grilled buns were a little dry, these are still my favorite lobster rolls in Boston, no contest!
A tiny slice of perfection!
Probably no surprise by now, but Neptune Oyster gets a 10/10 for me. It’s super small and they don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait. But if you’re a seafood fiend and looking for a perfect spot in Boston, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Neptune!
