James Hook & Co on Atlantic Avenue has sold live lobster and lobster rolls from the harbor wharf in Boston since 1925. Boston Magazine Best Lobster Roll Casual 2025; counter service only.
Signature dishes: Lobster roll, Whole lobster
Must order: Lobster roll with mayo, $28, served cold on a buttered split-top bun.
Tip: Take-out window, eat on the waterfront bench out back. The retail counter sells live lobsters at wholesale prices.
Address: 440 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
Pauli's on Salem Street in Boston's North End has rolled lobster rolls and Italian subs since 2014. Best counter-service lobster roll in the city, 65 to 80 dollar XL roll the headline order.
Signature: Lobster roll, Italian sub
Order: Hot-buttered lobster roll, full-claw and tail, on a 12-inch bun.
Tip: Order the XL roll and split between two. Online order ahead skips the 15-minute counter wait.
Gene's on Bedford Street has hand-pulled wheat noodles and folded Xi'an flatbread in Boston's Downtown Crossing since 2013. Closed Sundays; cash only; queue forms by 11:30.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Cumin lamb flatbread
Order: Hand-pulled cumin lamb noodles, the Shaanxi house dish.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Cash only. The flatbread sandwich is the to-go order; the noodles need a seat.
Yvonne's reopened the historic Locke-Ober space on Winter Place in Downtown Boston in 2015 as a modern supper club. Late-night supper kitchen until 23:00, library and main dining rooms.
Signature: Truffle cacio e pepe, Wagyu meatballs
Order: Truffle cacio e pepe with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Tip: The unmarked door is inside a fake wig shop. The library room is the quiet seat.
Giacomo's on Hanover Street has run no-reservations Italian-American in Boston's North End since 1985. Cash only, big portions, sidewalk line by 18:00.
Signature: Lobster ravioli, Veal parmigiana
Order: Lobster ravioli with vodka sauce, the house signature.
Tip: Cash only. The line moves fast at 17:30 weekdays; weekends run 45 minutes.
Regina Pizzeria on Thacher Street has fired thin-crust brick-oven pies in Boston's North End since 1926. The original location only; walk-ins, no slices, cash and card.
Signature: Margherita, Sausage and ricotta pie
Order: The Margherita; the crust is the menu's whole point.
Tip: Avoid the chain locations citywide. Only the Thacher Street original is the historic pie.
Santarpio's on Chelsea Street has fired Boston-style thin pies in East Boston near Maverick station in Boston since 1933. Wood-charcoal grill for lamb skewers, cash only, no reservations.
Signature: Cheese pie, Lamb skewers
Order: Plain cheese pie and a side of charcoal-grilled lamb skewers with bread.
Tip: Take the Blue Line to Maverick. Skip the menu, order pies and skewers; the grill is the whole show.
