Lobster Shack, Portola Valley

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Old Port Lobster Shack 3130 Alpine Rd Portola Valley, CA 94028 650-561-9500 Old Port Lobster Shack Website

Lobster Shack

Lobster Shack focuses on bringing the New England lobster experience to the San Francisco Bay Area.. They opened a location in Portola Valley in the middle of 2011. We noticed a change of ownership banner.

Their Redwood City location closed.

Lobster Shack flies in the lobsters from the East Coast several times a week. Our last visit was in Fall 2023 where we dined outside.

Lobster Shack has much more than lobster on the menu, seafood appetizers, BBQ, sandwiches, burgers, and seafood platters. They have BBQ’s all the time now.

Decor, Vibe – Lobster Shack has fun decor with birch picnic tables a la New England with bouys, fishing nets. During lunch, workers from nearby were eating. Outdoor seating for warmer days.

Lobster Shack Menu

You order at the counter, receive a number, and wait for your order at a table.

Lobster Shack Image Picture Set

Lobster Shack Picks:

Maine Lobster Roll

The Naked Lobster Roll ($30 Market price) was lobster meat on an excellent toasted roll with sides of fries, mayo, cole slaw, and drawn butter. It has massive amounts of tender but cold lobster on their specially baked nicely toasted and buttered buns. Perfect lobster flavor. Wish the Lobster Roll had a bigger bun as there was so much lobster. No need to slather mayo on this beast, as it dilutes the flavor too much. 9/10

You can order the Maine Lobster Roll ($30) with the mayo mixed in. They do not drench the lobster in heavy mayo. Yes it is better with the mayo, but artery clogging.

$4 upcharge during lunch adds a cup or mug of New England Clam Chowdah and a soda. The chowder was creamy and full of potatoes and clams. Pretty large mug. By itself, it costs a hefty $6.

Steamed Mussels ($14.75) in white wine and garlic herb butter was a large platter full of fresh mussels in a very nice broth. The included bread was on the greasy side, but proved to be essential in maximizing use of the awesome broth.

Steamed Maine Lobstah Dinner ($26.75) for 1 1/4 lb lobster, fries, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. Looked great and tasted even better. Messy but worth the effort. It is pretty easy getting the tail and claws off. They include a bib and instructions on how to rip it apart. Simple cooking style but why mess with a good thing? Be sure to eat the ugly guts inside the head..!

Beer Battered Fish (Haddock) and Chips ($12.75) had 3 massive freshly fried pieces of fish along with some decent fries.

Tri Tip Plate ($21) has gone downhill. No more smokers going in the back. It looks like it was pan fried. 5/10

 

Lobster Shack serves up its namesake lobster extremely well. If you have a hankering for New England style seafood, head here.

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