Massachusetts Clam Shacks

Alive & Kicking Lobsters

If you’ve turned down driveway that looks like your aunt’s hosting a summer BBQ in front of her powder blue single family home, you may have come to the right place. If you leave with fresh, plump lobster meat between two slices of buttered, toasted scali bread, you’ve definitely made it. Alive & Kicking Lobsters welcomes you, grab that bag of Utz potato chips and enjoy. 

 269 Putnam Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Belle Isle Seafood

In the portion-size olympics, Belle Isle places every time. Part market, part restaurant, Belle Isle Seafood sits right on the border between East Boston and the beach town of Winthrop. 

1 Main St, Winthrop, MA 02152

The Doghouse

Located on the always busy Lower County Road in Dennis, one of Cape Cod’s most accessible destinations, the Dog House Restaurant turns heads with its busy patio and fun aesthetic. 

189 Lower County Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639

Days Market & Deli

Days Market & Deli is located in Truro, right where 6A pours into Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. If you’ve made it this far down route 6A to land in front of Days, you’ve earned yourself a lobster roll — and that’s exactly what you should order. 

271 MA-6A, North Truro, MA 02652

The Knack

The Knack takes its whole menu and makes sure whatever you’re craving is met with a meal that is as delicious as it is beautiful. Their online ordering menu makes it easy to order ahead and pick-up (which is recommended during busy summer months). Since parking can be tough, you might want to head there with two per car and drop-off a designated food-grabber while the driver circles. 

5 MA-6A, Orleans, MA 02653

North End Fish & Sushi

This garden-level spot requires a quick step down to get inside, but follow the low, rustic-tiled ceiling to the counter and choose from a menu of specialty sushi or their popular lobster roll. It’s a solid takeout spot offering something different in the neighborhood and an easy stop just up the road from some of the North End’s more popular dining destinations. 

99 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Pauli’s

Pauli’s, a sandwich shop in Boston’s North End, has loyalists across the city thanks to its sizable portions, eye-popping social media posts, and enigmatic owner.

65 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Seafood Sam’s

The Sandwich Seafood Sam’s location is perfectly situated just before the Sagamore Bridge, offering a nice oasis from daily Cape traffic during summer months and an easy destination for the rest of eastern Massachusetts during any other season.

6 Coast Guard Rd, Sandwich, MA 02563

Sesuit Harbor Cafe

Overlooking Dennis’ Northside Marina, Sesuit Harbor Cafe is a Cape Cod institution. Known for its lobster rolls, incredible sunsets, and fresh raw bar, it’s a New England Clam Shack in all its glory. 

357 Sesuit Neck Rd, Dennis, MA 02638

Sullivan’s Castle Island

A South Boston staple since 1951, Sullivan’s Castle Island’s annual spring opening allows the whole city of Boston to take a collective (and cautious) sigh of relief, as it’s typically our first sign of warmer weather and good eats to come. 

2080 William J Day Blvd, South Boston, MA 02127