I live pretty close to this place but don't go that often. Â We went recently because one of our party loves seafood. Â Most seafood places are expensive, so I get that (although there's a lobster population over-explosion due to warm seas so prices of lobster should be lower than they are). Â It was extremely crowded the night we were there, which is okay except that there's no sound-dampening (it's like a dirty old warehouse, to go along with the theme of a not-fancy clam shack on the beach) so it gets loud - almost too loud to have a conversation across the table. Â Our waiter was good and had the right level of attentiveness. Â The food, as usual (I've been here about half a dozen times), was mediocre - I had the salmon ($26) but it was just meh, as usual. Â No one else was excited about his/her meal either. The worst part was that there were two little kids, maybe 4 or 5, running back and forth, over and over. Â I like children and I have a kid myself. Â However, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES have I EVER let my kid run around in a restaurant. Â It's rude, it's dangerous (what if they run into a waiter and the food falls on their heads?), and it is so freaking self-indulgent and self-centered and self-entitled of the parents (hmmm...maybe teachers at Harvard?) that I wanted to scream. Â If you can't keep your kids occupied, get them the hell out of the restaurant. Â No one but you thinks they're so adorable that they should be allowed to be rude little pigs. Â Other people want to enjoy a relaxing meal and don't want to deal with them screeching and running. Â Anyway, while it is mostly the parents' fault, someone from the waitstaff (or, ideally, the manager) should have spoken to the parents (nicely, of course) and told them to keep the little toads AT THE TABLE. Â Perhaps the restaurant didn't want to antagonize the family to ensure they'd come back. Â But instead, their failure to do anything ensured that *I* will not return. Â If I wanted the experience I had, I'd go to a playground and eat while children screamed and dashed around me.
Review Source:I made a pilgrimage to Summer Shack to try the famous pan roasted lobster. Â I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't order it again. Â I appreciate not wanting to overcook lobster, but my lobster was undercooked in places. Â The sauce was good, but it's mounted with so much butter that it's insanely rich and a bit cool.
I also tried the lobster potstickers which were nothing special.
Ugh - such a disappointment! We used to love the Summer Shack, but now it seems to have gone downhill.
First of all, I'm not sure which one of the guys was the manager, but none of them seemed too interested in us as customers. Right from the start we felt that we were somehow inconveniencing them by visiting their restaurant. I understand that it was a busy day, but that's the day that they can turn occasional patrons into regular patrons. Instead, they treated us like cattle (get them in - get them out). I'm really not kidding. The waiting took our plates before we were even finished.
We came in on Father's Day and were looking forward to our raw oysters, fried clams, and lobster. Â The raw oysters had obviously been opened days before and refrigerated. They tasted old - which is never good with raw food. I begged my wife to send them back, but she was starving from the long wait. $30 for a dozen slimy old oysters. Gross. Next came the lobster and the fried clams. The lobster was perfect and my son gobbled it up. The fried clams on the other hand tasted like uncooked mush. It was a soggy pile of mushy nastiness. After one bite, I sent it back.
Neither the waiter nor the manager made any attempts to apologize or smooth things over. They truly didn't care. They weren't even surprised.
Anyway, this will be the last time my family visits this restaurant.
Side note: we had called this restaurant a couple weeks ago and asked the host if the place was busy. The guy refused to answer that simple question and just kept asking if I'd like to make a reservation. I kept asking him if we needed one, and all he would respond with was "would you like to make a reservation?" This place is obviously under very poor management. What a shame!
Being from Phoenix, I decided to try something that was Boston but out of the touristy area. Very relaxed atmosphere, family place, full lobster dinner was very reasonable, lobster was sweet, and so tasty. Comes with corn that was also sweet. Â Good food, good prices. The location in the Back Bay Area is great also. I will go again
Review Source:A few months ago I went to Summer Shack for the last time. As usual, I had the fish and chips. Maybe they should have renamed it "batter and chips," because that is literally what I got. As another reviewer noted, there was raw batter in between the crispy and decent cooked batter and the tiny piece of fish that I will not pay $18 for.
Summer Shack used to be good, but things have really gone downhill for this tourist trap.
Never again.
I have eaten lots of different things, in places near and far...from burgers to foie gras, but I had never had an oyster until we went here (please keep in mind I do not like fish, shellfish etc..). I think I am now hooked on Oysters, loved the Ripetide and Duxbury the best; more elongated shell as opposed to a more cup like shell. We sat at in bar areas both nights we went, it wasn't very busy and the bartender was helpful and friendly.
Review Source:This place is definitely expensive and its not like its the BEST seafood around...but we had a really good experience. Â
We went on a Sunday night, kind of lateish (around 8) and were sat right away in a booth. Â Our server came over and welcomed us and was very professional and came back with two waters and some bread pronto. Â
We ordered the buffalo shrimp and a half dozen oysters to start and then we got an order of the steamed crab legs to share, an order of shells and cheese and an order of the sweet potato fries. Â The shrimp came out promptly and were finger licking good. Â The oysters were cold and fresh. Â The crab legs were juicy and succulent and there really was enough meat in those bad boys for both of us to feel relatively full. Â The shells and cheese were absolutely amazing, creamy and cheesy and just right after a shake of pepper but the sweet fries weren't memorable. Â He really liked them though and ate every single last one.
Throughout the meal we were gabbing away but we noticed that the waiter would come and walk by and take a look and be available enough that if we needed something, we would know he was there, but not too much that we felt like he was vulturing around our table. Â He really was an impeccable server, I wish I could remember his name - he made the meal all the more enjoyable by doing his job right!
The bill was high, yes indeed, and although the food wasn't quite up to par, it really was a great meal and we might treat ourselves there again this summer!
We visited this place last week and overall it was pretty good. Â We had clams, mussels, and razor clams as appetizers. Â The clams and mussels were tasty but the seasonings of the razor clams overwhelmed the natural taste of the meat.
My entree was a swordfish filet special and I thought it was cooked nicely. Â My wife had the cod special and thought that it was average as the tomatoes masked the taste of the fish. Â The friend sitting next to me had a lobster clambake and I was surprised to see a deep black mass within the head portion of the lobster as I haven't seen such a thing before.
As for the prices, the market prices of the lobster was pricey in my opinion.  This was  because I only spent about one third of the per pound price for a live lobster at a market during the weekend just prior to our visit here.
With a craving for seafood, my friend & I decided to try Summer Shack last night ignoring the mediocre reviews shown on Yelp. Â I thought, at least if it's mediocre, it won't be bad, right?
Walking into this flagship Cambridge location, I was excited there was no wait to get a seat at prime dinner time. Â I looked at this as a "good sign", rather than even having an inkling that this may be a very bad sign of things to come. Â The dining room was colorful, but also very dated-looking and reminded me of a loud, run-down school cafeteria. Â They lay down a big piece of brown waxy-type paper on your table to ease with cleaning your seafood mess, but does it really hide how dated the actual furniture is?
Excited to get my Friday night started right, my first instinct was to order a tasty alcoholic beverage to excite my taste buds...I ordered a Peach Melba for $10 - kind of high for such a cafeteria-looking restaurant, but I decided to give it a shot. Â The drink came right away & I was hoping this was a sign of continued good service to come. Â I picked up my glass and took sip #1...ONLY TO PULL OUT A GIGANTIC, THICK, COURSE HAIR OUT OF MY MOUTH!!!!! Why me???? Ugh! Â Typically, I would directly walk out of a restaurant if this happened...but, I played the "I'm too nice" card & calmly told my server what happened as he saw the long hair on the table mat in front of me. He apologized & quickly went & had my drink replaced. My new drink came, & even though my friend & I already totally lost our appetite already, we played nice & continued on with our meal. The bartender must have thought making my drink stronger would completely make me forget what just happened...ummm yeah. Â Next, we were brought out 2 rolls & 2 pieces of cornbread & 2 (dirty) bread plates. Luckily, it's tough to screw up bread so the rolls were warm & good. Â I wish I would've known at that moment that the rolls would be the last warm part of the meal we'd experience & I would've stuck with eating all rolls all night. Â As we were awaiting our $11.50 lobster pot stickers, we both starting nibbling on this weird yellowish/greyish colored cornbread. Â The cornbread literally tasted worse than cardboard & was cold & hard...so we immediately stopped. Â Ten minutes later, our lobster pot stickers arrived. Â Following the cold theme of the night, our 6 pot stickers were ice cold. Â I thought, at least these involve lobster so they must taste decent. I took my first bite & was overwhelmed with wayyyy too much soy sauce & ginger flavor, so much so that it's virtually impossible to tell what kind of crumbles of meat is in this thing. Â They grind (what they call) lobster into mush almost like tuna fish and put the smallest amount of crumbs in each lobster pot sticker...so disappointing! Â When you cut open the pot sticker, looking at these teeny tiny crumbs of meat inside, you can barely (if at all) tell it's lobster. Â To tell the truth, it truly looked more like imitation crabmeat. Â There was so much soy & ginger flavoring that nobody would be able to tell the difference. My friend immediately hated them, mainly because they were so ice cold, but also due to the odd, "non-lobster" flavor of these things. Â We were done with the app.....& waited....& waited.....& waited even more for our entrees to come. We waited almost 25-30 friggin' minutes for our entrees to finally come out. Â She ordered the $20 lobster roll & I ordered the $32 clambake. Â They arrive to our table...you guessed it, ice cold! Â Ughhhh.....can this get any worse?!?!? Â My friend's lobster roll had that ground-up, mushy (whats they call) lobster with wayyyyy too much mayo mixed in that it all looked white in color then the New England kiss of death for a lobster roll -lots of lettuce and celery. Â This was served with a pile of home made looking potato chips that were ice cold & lacked any sort of crunch due to how long they had probably been sitting out in the kitchen. Â Onto my clambake, that per the menu, was to come with 1 1lb chicken lobster, steamers, mussels, potatoes, chourico and corn - sounded good on paper - how bad can you possibly screw up steaming basic lobster and stuff. Â I have gotten a good number of clambakes in my past and warned my friend it will probably look like an obscene amount of food, but it's usually more bang for your buck. Â My plate ends up being the smallest clambake I had ever seen in my life. It all fit on an average-sized dinner plate. Â Not only was the size highly disappointing, but it was, like everything else, ice cold. Â This sad clambake was entirely overcooked & came with 5 small steamers (3 smashed, shell pieces strewn about), 5 mussels, 1 tiny red potato, 1 hard cold literal bite of chourico, 1 small lobster & corn on the cob. The steamers/mussels were rubbery & lobster so overcooked the meat came out in crumbs.
The bill came to $78 & I so wished we had used it elsewhere. Moral of the story - WALK AWAY AFTER A HAIRY DRINK!! Ugh, never again!
Very disappointed with the limited seafood choices tonight. Very little in way of heartier fish like swordfish, etc. Â
Cape Cod scallop dish was totally blah as was my wife's seafood tacos and choices of others in our party.
The service was fine. What disturbed was the menu and the preparation.
Next time we'll go to Legals for better menu with more consistent preparation. I'm done with Summer Shack for a while. Yuch!
Just ate here for the first time, and It was decidedly OK. It certainly wasn't bad, but I kind of felt like the restaurant thinks the food is better than it is, if that makes sense.
The meals are $3-$5 more expensive than they should be, given the quality and flavor. An example: I had the fisherman's platter, which consisted of breaded fried flounder, breaded fried shrimp, deep fried whole-belly clams, and fries. And it is served on a platter.
There's plenty of food, and nothing was unpalatable, but it all tasted...flat. It was almost like they didn't use salt, or it was like I was eating while I had a cold and couldn't both taste and smell my food, except that this wasn't the case. It just didn't taste like much of anything.
The textures were off, too. The breading was kind of mushy (but not overly to the point where you'd say it was bad, but just enough to make you go, 'man, this isn't as good as it could be').
It's possible that maybe I just went on an off night, and I might try again later, maybe in summer when it's more busy. But the way it is right now, I couldn't justify spending $20 a plate on food that's completely mediocre.
The food is fresh, service is good and there is plenty of parking. Â Prices are reasonable for the lunch menu but dinner can get a little pricey. Â
Fried clams are always delectable and daily fish specials are usually good choices. Â I am a little reluctant about ordering raw seafood due to the inherit risks.
All in all a positive experience.
We dine here from time to time - and every year on New Year's eve. The seafood is fantastic, fried clams appetizer was great; not to many bread crumbs and really fresh tasting clams. The oyster selection wasn't as large as some previous visits but we tried them all and were completely satisfied. For main courses, my wife had the steamed lobster and I had wood fire grilled lobster and both were really good. (Most of my lobster eating is on Cape Cod but Jasper seems to get fantastic quality in Cambridge. )
One more thing - Jasper was there. He walked around and greeted his guests and was quite friendly. When the raw bar got busy we saw him helping out opening shell fish and he was a presence in the restaurant. Celebrity chefs are not always so accessible, this is another example of why we like this place.
This place pretends to be the greatest seafood place around. Our experience was quite the opposite.
Salad: lettuce was yellow with brown edges on some pieces. ugh.
Buffalo Chicken Wings: the wings tasted bland (not like Buffalo wings should) and the sauce was downright weird and nothing like normal blue cheese sauce.
Fish & Chips: way too bready, raw batter between the exterior and the minuscule piece of fish in the middle of it.
Steamers: about a third of them were so chewy like rubber that I ended up eventually giving up and taking them out of my mouth, realizing that I could chew all day and never make a dent in the things. Seriously?! Jasper White can't produce decent steamers? That was just pathetic. And I'd like to note that although other things were removed from the bill due to my dining companion's disappointments, apparently MY issues with the steamers were not important, because THOSE stayed on the bill even though I'd told two people (the waiter and then the manager) that they were so chewy that a third of the time I gave up and removed the clam from my mouth and threw it half-chewed into the shell bucket. I literally spit out a third of it and they still left it on the bill.
Scorpion bowls: are apparently made without any alcohol other than the stuff in the middle that they set on fire. Because there didn't seem to be any liquor in them. We drank two, starting on totally empty stomachs, and never felt a thing. We weren't setting out to catch a buzz, but I'd think after I'd consumed an entire scorpion bowl, my next thought should not be, "Well, I'd like to order another drink, but I'm not going to bother, since they apparently don't put any actual alcohol into the drinks."
Service was ok. But there is no way we're going back. I don't even want to start talking about how much it cost, even with some stuff taken off the bill, because I am downright embarrassed to have spent that money there. Don't make the same mistake I did. This place is a rip-off.
I've eaten here twice over the last four years, and even though I get to Boston on a relatively regular basis, I can't say I eat here often enough. The price is right, and the lobster seems fresh year round.
The cocktails are very respectable and the wine list is adequate, if not earth-shattering. This is definitely not a fine dining experience. You'll find it a casual, scrumptious place to take a date or have a business dinner. I've eaten there alone and in a small group. The service was quite good both times, so they'd get five stars were it not for the fact that it's succeeded at a menu they know well, and can deliver consistently, without trying to be terribly innovative or adventurous in every area. I'll reserve that extra star for places that are pushing boundaries and exploring uncharted territories.
The pan-roasted lobster is hard to resist ordering. If I visited more often, I suppose, then I'd have tasted a broader selection of the menu -- I just can't say that I've ventured beyond this dish because it's that good. Chervil, chives, shallots and white wine, and cognac to give richness, are just an amazing combination with the lobster, which is split and ready to absorb the flavors of the herbs and wine. You'll find it messy, delicious, and perfect for soaking their rolls.
This review is for the Cambridge location.
For people from Chicago, this is like what would happen if you mixed a Joe's Crab Shack with a Dick's Last Resort. Â Very mediocre food, service and overall experience. Â Husband had a salad with blue cheese and the fish and chips and was not impressed. Â I had the lobster potstickers (they were yummy) and the franks (huge) and beans (too hard) plate with fried cornbread (weird) and molasses butter (gross). Â Even when trying to buy a t-shirt at the end of the night, no one really wanted to help.
Review Source:I've been to two Summer Shacks in the past year and a half... it's become something of a mini-tradition whenever we go to visit my wife's sister and her family in Boston. The first one we went to was in Dedham, so this year we switched it up and stopped at the Cambridge location. Gotta say, I like the ambiance of the Cambridge location better! It's a bit more funky, casual, whatever.
We come here for one reason, the Summer Shack Clambake. Lobster, clams, mussels, sausage, corn, potatoes, and a hard boiled (steamed?) egg. The "market" price for this platter of deliciousness this past Saturday night (October 13, 2012) was $30... pretty damn amazing if you ask me. Everything is done awesomely, and the clams were the sweetest I've ever had, they were amazing. I even gobbled down the egg this time around.
As I mentioned, we came here with my sister-in-law and her family, so all told there were 8 of us (four adults, and four kids.... our 4-year old, and their kids ranging from 6 to 10). We fit perfectly at one of their big picnic tables next to the lobster tanks. The kids were kept entertained by being able to draw on the paper table coverings, and by watching the goings-on in the lobster tanks. I'm not sure what everyone got, but my wife got the fish tacos which were really good, and my brother-in-law got the fish and chips, which were huge.
The only disappointment, and it really wasn't much of a disappointment, was the clam chowder (yes, even though I lived in the area for a while about a decade ago, I still go for the cliched food when I'm in town). It's good, but I actually had much better chowder at John Harvard's. Also, the HUGE oyster crackers they plop on top are a little bland.
I really wanted to like this place cuz it seemed like it would be a good and not-super-fancy-expensive-etc seafood standard.
The cornbread in the bread basket was pretty tasty. We got fried oysters which were very delicious. The seared scallops we got were fancy looking and pretty good (but weren't anything special). Unfortunately, the steamed clams we got made me never want to go there again. They were so full of sand and broken shell pieces that they CRUNCHED every other bite. There was no way to escape it. I've never had this happen at a restaurant before and it pretty much ruined the whole meal. I absolutely love steamed clams and it pretty much broke my heart to leave 1/2 the plate untouched.
My conclusion? Way overpriced for the (lack of) quality of food. I think only the fried stuff is worth getting there (and fried stuff is usually delicious everywhere).
(The thing that kept the night okay was that they gave us crayons so we spent all of dinner drawing pictures all over the paper tables, which was pretty fun.)
Okay, Summer Shack, now that I've been back a couple more times, it's time for a reevaluation.
The biggest thing that kept me from originally giving the Summer Shack four stars was the price point. Initially, I wasn't sure that the "down-home" feel of the restaurant and menu justified entrees that averaged $20+. But here's the thing, the restaurant might feel like an industrial-sized tourist trap, but the kitchen can cook, and sends out much better-than-shack quality fare. Whatever seafood we've ordered, it's just about always come out fresh, cooked correctly, and vibrantly flavored. This place might be called the "Summer Shack," but it goes well-beyond traditional summer shack quality, creativity levels, and execution, even if it blows shack price points out of the water a bit.
The interior is huge and open with a somewhat gimmicky New England-style. Somehow, it all works--the place can get seriously loud, but it still doesn't feel offensive. Waiters are casual and friendly, but service is always competent. The lobster tanks and pots, though full of lobsters, don't make the place smell too much like a wharf (at least in my experience). And, though they sell Summer Shack t-shirts at the front of the restaurant, eating here has never made me feel too much like a tourist. I don't get it, and that's probably a good thing.
When it comes to drinks, the Summer Shack's wine list is relatively modest, though nothing to sneer at. Options are more extensive and varied when it comes to cocktails and beers. I've been on a bit of a cocktail kick lately, so on my most recent visit ordered a glass of their red sangria, which I very much enjoyed. The beverage had a bit of an unusual sour note to it which I really liked: it wasn't traditional, but it was tasty! My sister's mango martini was also quite good and very tropical in taste, as mango martinis ought to be.
Portions at the Summer Shack vary a bit. Generally-speaking, I'd say the appetizers are on the larger side (it's definitely a good idea to split them!) while entrees are a bit more moderate in size. Appetizer-wise, the New England clam chowder is quite tasty and well-executed, if you're looking to start out with something more traditional and small.The grilled clams are definitely worth ordering for the table, as is the spicy-fried calamari. Recently, I tried a chorizo and clam stew special which was seriously tasty, if a bit too salty. Of course, there's always the raw bar for oyster and clam lovers. The prices can go up fast when you order from there, but friends who like that type of stuff have definitely enjoyed it!
A part of me feels like you could come to the Summer Shack for its sports bar/lounge room, order drinks, and split some appetizers. Of course, the problem with that plan is that you miss the entrees. As with the appetizers, there are a few ways you can go here. Sandwiches are one option: a family friend loves the fried fish sandwich. Personally, I'm a bit of a sucker for the Summer Shack lobster roll--the meat was tender, the roll buttered and warmed, the dressing not too heavy, and the chopped cucumber a clever touch. If you're thinking lobster, there are also a number of whole-beast preparations: the pan-roasted rendition is the house specialty and worth ordering once, even if it is seriously messy to eat.
A third choice are the dinner plates. Out of the options on the menu, the BBQ catfish and grilled gulf shrimp have both been greatly enjoyed by friends. Personally, I was disappointed with the fish and chips and wouldn't recommend them--put simply, I've had better. There are also four or five special fish plates of the day, which are frequently a bit more upscale as far as preparations and plating go. The specials I've had a chance to sample have ranged in quality from good to very good: the plates are kept fairly simple, and the fish cooked as it should be.
It's not the end of the world if you don't save room for dessert--options are pretty classic all-American dishes, though they are well-executed. I kind of love the fact that they have soft serve on the menu...
Yea, It's restaurant week - and more people than usual are cramming the place for seafood.
My mussels were excellent, lots of butter/wine/garlic sauce for them to swim in, and 2 nice pieces of bread for me to consume said broth.
Fried shrimp were excellent, meaty and tasty. Â Unfortunately, they had sat in the pass for a few minutes too long, and the fries that accompanied them were no longer hot, or even warm. Â Cole slaw has been reviewed before - I prefer more solid than liquid, but...
Big hit was Indian pudding dessert. Â God, why don't I make this more often? Â Oh yea, it's a pain in the a**... Â but so tasty!
I'm guessing the reason Summer Shack is underrated is that its true character is hidden beneath a veil of brown-paper table cloths and t-shirts that seem to flatly contradict the menu prices. Â Beneath the casual exterior lies a mature, upscale restaurant with a deep knowledge of seafood, service, and quality. Â The fish--it's beautifully fresh, and they keep a very large selection on the menu at all times. Â You can get it fried (and it's good), but there is almost always the option to have it gently grilled, or baked, which really lets the quality shine. Â The cooks clearly know their business as well--from what I've tasted, it's never overcooked, which is all too common with seafood. Â
Come expecting to pay for an upscale meal, because that's what you should expect. Â The service, though casually friendly, is professionally paced and delivered. Â Waiters are polite, fast, and nonintrusive. Â And the casual "shack" ambiance--it's intentional. Â Sometimes you don't want to dress up when going out for a great meal. Â Maybe SS isn't ideal for the romantic date or some other fancy occasion. Â But notice that the music isn't too loud, the restaurant isn't too warm or chilled, and the tables aren't crammed together. Â And hey, it's the best seafood around.
TLDR:
* Amazing, fresh seafood, other options very good too
* Good service
* Casual dining atmosphere (t-shirts are common, waiters wear them)
* Pricey, but quality is worth it
Tips:
* Great oysters, try ordering a sampler of one of each kind. Â Or specify that you want a sweeter or brinier variety, depending on your taste. Â They'll have both.
* Apps are large, almost entree-sized sometimes. Â Entrees aren't ridiculous though. Â You'll be full enough if you skip apps, but you'll also miss out on some tasty things. Â App followed by app would probably be plenty for most , and if not, their desserts are very good.
* Cornbread and rolls are excellent, don't skip.
* JP-Licks is near enough that it could replace dessert for ice-cream lovers that have a car.
Came here for dinner with a friend and this place is definitely kid friendly! We had no trouble getting a chair for our infant and she had no trouble getting a chair for her toddler.
Started with the spicy Bermuda fish and crab chowder and it was definitely spicy but also pretty tasty. The Cobb salad with crab was enough for 4 people to share and had a nice amount of crab meat on it.
The lobster roll was good and there was a lot of lobster in the roll although it was not cheap. The pan roasted lobster with bourbon, chervil, and chives was delicious - the lobster was not overcooked and the sauce made the dish.Also tried the fish and chips, which were OK. Overall, we enjoyed the meal here and it was worth the from Boston to try it.
Came here for RW with a friend. We both really just ordered the same things, because lobster was what we really wanted, except for our apps. I was able to sample his clam chowder, which O-M-G, is the worst clam chowder I've ever encountered in ma' lifeeee. The consistency was more like water and the flavor was not even right. My banana pepper calamari looked more like onion rings from BK, lots of batter. Nothing was right about our appertizers.
The lobster came out and OK it was fine. But tell me, how can you go wrong with STEAMED lobster dipped in lemon&butter?? It was fine, just fine. But I was still hungry.
For dessert, we got angel food cake, which was OK again. But it really just made me leave craving for a good piece of angel food cake. SAD : (
I don't like seeing reviews that are so extreme (1 and 5s), but this place really is a 2.5 - 3 stars. If 5 stars is Boston's best seafood restaurant and 1 is Long-John Silvers, then this place is a deserved 2.5 stars. I've been here close to 10 times. Every time family came in from out of town, we would take them here.
The good: Oyster menu, good service, free parking, kid-friendly, usually never too crowded  and the "be good to yourself" selection (usually Bluefish, brown rice and steamed vegetables). Â
The bad: pretty much everything else and most importantly, the cost.
The main reason we come is that it is child friendly, has a good oyster menu (which my wife loves) and is close enough to our home. We've tried some of the newer places in town that are just as good with most of the same benefits, but are not child friendly.
We just went there last night, and I don't I'll be going back again in the near future. I had the Gazpacho, which was wayyyyy too salty and had too much pepper. The bluefish was wood grilled and was properly cooked, but the rest of the plate left much to be desired.
This place is ok. It's really nothing special or better than most seafood places in town. If you like oysters and need something kid friendly, this is your place. If you want seafood in general, try somewhere else.
Summer Shack is on my short list of "do not go under any circumstances" places. After recalling a mediocre experience I had there more than 5 years ago, a few friends were in the mood for some seafood and convinced us to go.
We were able to sit down quickly and they even let us sit down with not the full table there, which was nice. The interior of the this place seems a little run down and I consider it to be an eyesore. Our waitress was just fine, the service was never an issue. It was, what I considered to be at the very best, not too good shell fish. Had one, didn't taste like it had been stored cold for a while, and did not have another. My entree was the BBQ Catfish, it was bland, almost like it was. The hush puppies that came with it was alright. I could only recommend this place for beers with baskets of their free warm buttered cornbread.
There is nothing "summer shack-y" about this place. I've been here 3 times and each time the food has been okay, but did not warrant the price or the hype. After coming here yesterday, I finally feel compelled to write a review. We had an out-of-town guest who was craving chowder. We weren't far from Alewife and I thought of the Summer Shack, but now part of me wishes we'd have gone to the nearest Legal Seafoods. The bowl of chowder had about 3 requisite clams in it and that was it. (Bowl, not cup.) I was also disappointed that the waiter spilled some of our friend's soup while making the walk from the kitchen. He apologized, but I wondered why he didn't go the extra step of actually wiping the plate off, instead of leaving soup and potato chunks splashed on the side of the bowl. (!)
Thank goodness our buddy loves cornbread. It was literally the highlight of the meal and he made quick work of the breadbasket. I'm embarrassed that we took him there for chowder and it was so lackluster. Next time I'll heat up a can of Progresso clam chowder. I'm not kidding when I say I've had canned clam chowders that were better.
I was treated to an excellent experience. Â My group ordered fried clams and shrimp and they just kept coming. Â Then, there was the lobster. Â Plain wonderful steamed lobster.
Apparently, few people ever eat the tamale. Â I figure this must be so because, when I asked our server to please make sure that my lobster NOT be cut open and rinsed before it was brought to me, he was quite shocked. Â He did not seem to understand what I was asking. Â So, I explained it to him. Â A couple of times. Â Apparently, he had never had the opportunity to watch Julia Child cook on TV and explain about the wonder of Tamale!
He finally got it. Â My lobster came to me steaming hot, and all closed up like it ought to be. Â I have always eaten the tamale. Â My mother taught me and my siblings. Â We have taught all who dine on lobster and crab with us as well. Â
The way I figure it is that it is the tamale (or whatever it is called) in Asian cuisine that the head of the shrimp are left on and eaten. Â Salt and pepper shrimp, for example. Â And in Cajun and southern cooking why the head of the mud bug is sucked. Â Tamale!
All of our side dishes were exactly as ordered. Â Our service was quite good. Â Parking in the private lot was adequate. Â Though, one or two more handicap spots would be a good idea.
I came away stuffed. Â More importantly, desirous of returning if I ever make it back that way again.
The only drawback is the seats. Â This is my pet peeve. Â I prefer cushioned seats. Â Though, I do understand that in an environment like this it is probably better to have easily cleaned surfaces. Â And I do like clean.
Some might call this "touristy". Â But, I was brought here by residents who said this is their favorite seafood place. Â They told me this was because Summer Shack food and service are reliable and have been over many years. Â I was very happy.
I personally think Jasper White is an overrated chef..and so is his restaurant.
I have had one terrible experience here (2 years ago at lunch time)...and then one pretty good dinner experience about 6 months ago. I'm not sure which one to follow...that's why I can't give the Summer Shack anything more then 3 stars.
I had heard it was a very inconsistent restaurant, and I guess what people said was right...give this place a shot at dinner...but don't expect much.
The summer shack is a Seafood Friendly's. Â The one thing you notice right away when you get to their parking lot, is that you have a good chance of your car getting broken into. Â The location is awful, in a mess of a traffic situation.
The service was actually really good. The waitress should get a job where she can make more money. There was a large party of a 100 or more people and our food was delayed coming out. Â She came to our table and explained to us the situation and offered us Clam Chowder which we decline. The rest of the staff was prompt in a casual way.
I had the lobster roll which was good size, but had no flavor at all. It was probably the worst Lobster Roll I have ever had. Their home made chips were hard and greasy. The crab cakes did have a lot of crab in it, but again lacked flavor.
If you from Topeka you might like this place, but it is not worth the trip for most people in Boston.
My friend loves this place and brought me here one night. The food tastes good, but like any other seafood restaurant, it's quite pricey!
We started off with the east coast oysters @ $2.50 each. It tasted great, but I can never remember the names of the different kinds of oysters.
My friend ordered her regular Jesper's famous pan-roasted lobster. I had a few bites of the lobster and it tasted very fresh and alfredo-like sauce was delish.
I had the baked stuffed lobster with shrimp and it was scrumptious! There were just enough bread crumbs to make it tasty. It was very juicy and the lobster was very fresh.
Our waiter was very attentive and friendly.
The location could be a little better, it was somewhat confusing to get here because of where the restaurant is situated on Rt.16. Also, the parking lot is a bit bumpy and crappy.
I'll be back on a night where I'm craving for some good seafood and feeling spendy.
Yeah, I came here. On my first frickin' night in Cambridge, no less. I figured it was worth trying since it was close to Fresh Pond, and we needed some stuff to make our apartment livable until our moving container and our stuff got here.
The decor was really kitchy. The people on the other hand were pretty cool, very nice, and didn't mind explaining the board o' fish for like the 98th time since they started their shift.
The place isn't bad, the bluefish was actually quite good, as were the fried clams. There just isn't a stand out aspect, except for the prices. You'll remember those prices. I think their "market price" for lobstah was around $58 for a 1.25# little cockroach of the sea. (I later found the same lobstahs, retail at Court House Seafood Market for $10.99 a pound.)
Woof. That's a lot there, Percy.
I won't be back, but that just because I've found a seafood market or two, and I'm all about "roll your own". (To borrow a phrase.)
So, my work decides to "celebrate" getting a new dude in the office by going here one afternoon. I got the special which was a swordfish skewer. Three other people amongst our group of eight decide to get the same thing. The waitress comes back with seven plates . Guess who doesn't get a plate?? I'll save you the trouble. It was me.
So, she sends back for another plate and a mere three minutes later, I get a swordfish skewer. I cut it and it's all pink and fleshy on the inside. So I call her over again and ask if they could cook it this time. I get it back again and it's cooked but I'm starting to feel ill by the time I get halfway done. I start suspecting foul play and wonder the possibility of a jism marinade. Nah. We drive back to work and as soon as we walk in the door, I book it to the bathroom. One painful night later, I can eat solid food again.
In Summer Shack's defense, I wrote an angry consumer letter and got a nice, personal (albeit fraught with strange grammatical errors) response back with a $25 certificate. If I ever go back, I'm bringing some Pepto and some soft TP. One star back on!
Ok. Â Listen up, Jasper. Â Paying a premium to eat in your basic, not-impressive seafood dishes is garbage. Â I'm sorry, man. Â I tried, but i wasn't feeling it.
....alright - I just erased like 3 paragraphs at unjustified bitching about Jasper and his place. Â Why did I write so much? Â Apparently, I don't like this man I have never met.
The long and short of it - overpriced, average seafood, in a weird atmosphere. Â I'm not going.
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