Summer Shack Reviews

A down-home seafood restaurant with very interesting decor and excellent service. The food is also outstanding. The clams, the fish, and even the fried chicken are all excellent. The location is also very good, as it is a very short walk from the T station.

Decent seafood restaurant but can't love it. The decor is confused between casual, tiki bar and fancy seafood restaurant. Prices are that of a higher end seafood place. My tuna was cooked medium after I repeatedly asked for as rare as possible.

Fresh food. Very good. Awesome. Great staff. The good choices are amazing from fried chick tp sushi. Lobster roll was phenomenal. Had the tower of power, little necks were the freshest I ever had. Had the calamari with pepper and garlic, too greasy from the butter but that is my taste. Oysters were very tasty.

The Summer shack is okay. The food was okay and the service was good. But because it was ok the cost was really was not worth it.

Great spot to hang out and have drinks with friends the food is meh though

Casual seafood joint. i went here with friends since it was the location of August's puzzled pint. They are located opposite alewife station (red line) and have a private parking lot as well. Food was reasonably priced, the restaurant was large, clean and comfortable. Service was good too.

Freshest oysters in town!
The surf n' turf is the best I've ever had, and if you go you must get the tower of power.

Very disappointed with the seafood, overcooked and somewhat tasteless.

Busy, noisy, and wild, but really fresh and delicious seafood, any way you like it.

We saw the reviews and saw lots of positive results so we gave it a shot. Unfortunately, it was a very poor experience. The quality was just not there, especially when comparing it to the quality of the other seafood places in the surrounding area. The scallops were decent, the shrimp was beyond overcooked, the fried chicken was very dry, and the fries tasted like they were left out overnight. Albeit, this is the time of Covid-19 and I'm sure it has to be a challenge. Would potentially give it another chance when everything is up and running.

I m giving three stars because I can t complain about the service. It s the food that I m disappointed in. I had the fried clams and was very disappointed. The batter they used tasted like sawdust and the clams were were tiny little things that were way over cooked. I won t recommend your place and I certainly won t return. Clams are supposed to be plump and moist and not so over cooked that you can t taste what you re eating.

The food is exelent, staff super friendly, very close by the public transportation and easy access with car. I love it perfect for to go with friends and family.

Great service and energized atmosphere. Worth a visit

Large seafood restaurant with good food and plenty of seating.

I enjoyed the food greatly. The staff was useful, approachable and friendly. I liked the atmosphere and decor. The food is great the the beer selection is nice. I will return again.

Can't wait to eat here on my next visit. Found this place while visiting family and during our 4 day stay we ate here 3 days. The food is amazing, the fish is fresh and delicious. The wait staff was so friendly and energetic. I just wish they sold the staff's Shuck This tee shirts.

Excellent food and great service. Went here for Restaurant week and was really good, not just the standard menu but the drinks, sushi, service. Location is ok but the atmosphere is very nice.

Extensive lunch menu, and a good selection of draft beer. The food is consistently good.

Crab cakes were really good - (not a crab cake connoisseur) and crab legs too. Waiter was funny and super chill. Good casual vibe and good for families

lovely time, amazing seafood and a great staff. We will be back!

Oysters are great and many varieties to choose from ... lobster are wonderful ... all fresh !!! Cozy atmosphere, friendly service great fresh seafood ... it's summer everyday here!!!

Amazing food. Wait staff was excellent. I will definitely come back.

the selection of beers is the best the tasty cocktails are divine

Sat at the bar. Had soup, fish taco, and an IPA. All were excellent.

Sunday night they have balloon art maker which is fun for the kids. Service poor.

It's amazing...
I loved theirs Brazilan "Muqueca"... Simply awsome!

Not cheap, but fresh fish very well prepared in an informal atmosphere.

scallops and class were cooked to perfection. I just wish they paid that much attention to the rest, Cole slaw was room temp (big nono) and coconut custard pie was sitting in their fridge for about a week at least, crust was stale. We may go back because the food was good but won't order dessert again. Disappointed on our first visit

Lobster plates are amazing, fried fare leaves something to be desired. Fish and chips was small and had soggy fries - almost always. I believe cod and haddock are underpopulated right now so I dont entirely blame the restaurant for the smaller portion.

Waitstaff is always friendly.
I like the atmosphere... very whaling vessel esque.

I have been here numerous times over the years as it was right next to my office.

I've noticed that when people come from out of town they always want to go to the summer shack. Maybe it fills a new england stereotype they've always had in mind. Locals know its expensive and that local fish n chip joints can be better. Not bad though

Classic New England fish joint. Steamed lobster, fried fish, etc. Prepared well and not pretentious. Good place to go with kids on a Sunday evening: $10 kids meal, including sundae bar, a wandering balloon artist, and a laid back staff who are used to the chaos of a ton of kids running around. If the kids ask nicely, they may pull a lobster out of the tanks for them to look at up closer.

Three visits = Three horrible experiences.

Not quite sure why I went back for time two and time three...I keep WANTING to like it but the service is always mediocre at best, the management completely devoid of running things well, over-priced, and small portions.

Looking for a value? Stay away.
Looking for crisp execution? Stay away.

Never having had steamers before, I decided to try them with a friend who had been trying to convince me of there greatness. So when finally they arrived greatness was not what I received, rather sand, sand and more sand with rubbery shriveled clam bodies. My friend assured me this was not what he expected either and to try them again, somewhere else.

Went for Restaurant week with a friend. The portions were pretty substantial, except for the raw bar sampler. Everything tasted pretty good.

Had Chinese style whole black bass. Excellent meal. Would have liked it better deboned.

Awesome food and service. Couldn t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend to any and all including families.

Good and quick this time, not the cheapest lunch bit good.

An excellent seafood spot. The entire menu is fresh daily, and the taste backs it up. They have delicious lobster in multiple forms and weights, along with a host of other very filling things. The inside is huge with a

Summer Shack is the preferred seafood restaurant for Bostonians and far exceeds the quality of competitors such as Legal Seafood. As a local favorite bordering on an institution, it is understandably quite busy. Despite this, the staff are generally cordial and professional. (The hostesses leave much to be desired and need retraining. Our server, Kevin, was excellent, the last time we were there.) The menu' s most prominent offerings are excellent, but some of others are wanting. The quinoa chickpea salad is good, but has hardly any quinoa or chickpeas. The bread and cornbread are mediocre and was served cold, the last time I was there. The brownie ice cream dessert was weak. I wish the french fries were vegetarian and that a clam chowder without bacon were available. The Cambridge location has a good deal of parking. Conveniently located across the street from the MBTA "red line" Alewife subway station.

I had the surf and turf with Lobster and Steak, it was great!

Great food, Amazing service. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The wait is a little long but it is totally worth it.

Food was great. We had lobster, shrimp and steak plus rhubarb pie for dessert, all were first rate. Fun casual atmosphere. The service was pretty slow though.

Delicious and fresh food, a variety of delicious drinks and awesome service. Oh, the cornbread is scrumptious, too. Worth it, if a touch pricey... but odds are you might be going in the off season!

high end yet casual seafood dining for families couples and business meetings alike

great food great staff worth every penny

Wow can't believe this was my first time here, and of course its during a pandemic. Place was awesome, way bigger than I thought. Heat lamps for outside seating. I made a reservation but I don't think it was totally necessary. Food was great. Alot of beer to chose from. Can't wait to go back

Great, fresh seafood and frequent mental changes
Comfortable and casual

Excellent service, nice atmosphere, and delicious lobster

Fun restaurant I ve been going to for years. The food is great as is the service. The restaurant is large and there is usually not a wait. Items that really were amazing for my group and I - tempura calamari and the cornbread. But honestly everything was delicious and our group had a great time.

A huge restaurant with tons of seafood options. Excellent service but could be busy during peak times.

The food is not particularly memorable however if you want the New England experience of almost all variety of seafood this place has it all. The crab cakes were as advertised, one of the best with tons of crab meat instead of just breading.

Unfortunately, I came here expecting a particular menu item that was promoted on the Dine Out Boston (restaurant week) menu. Not sure who's responsible for keeping the menu updated but I would double check with the restaurant if you're expecting a specific menu item. Could be out of season, or have been rotated out for the time.

PSA WARNING: HANG ON TO YOUR PURSE AND WALLETS HERE. Mine was stolen right off the back of my chair during what would have otherwise been a delicious dinner. Charges at a 7/11 and from a taxi cab appeared on my credit card shortly after. Very unfortunate. There is a lot of organized crime in this area thanks to the nearness to a convention center. The food here, however, was delicious -- I highly recommend the lobster potstickers and the crab cake :)

Great food, clean establishment, fast service, decent prices. I'll be back.

Been my favorite spot for over 10 years now!

Great fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways. Great bartenders

Nice Restaurant, good and friendly Service - also a good variety of lobster with , i would say not the cheapest but also not too expensive prices, i tried the grilled lobster that time - was definitely tasty, but i would prefer the standard one for next time ;)

Good raw oysters. Fried clams were disappointing, dry and bitter.. Roasted asparagus was overpoweringly smoky.

Great taps, good apps, relaxed atmosphere. Great afternoon hangout.

Great seafood selection and oyster selection. Former site of Aku-Aku Polynesian Restaurant- you ll find the original murals preserved by the restrooms and if you look close the old Easter Island like statue has been transformed into the current giant fisherman

One of my favorite places to eat good seafood with a large group. The casual atmosphere and quality shellfish gives you the feel of a New Hampshire lobster shack a ten minute walk from the Boston subway.

Great for babies and young children. Good location. Ample parking. Rapid service.

have heard of very uneven experiences here, but my own are consistently good for lunch or early dinner. but i'd rather pick a quieter, less expensive seafood place.

Exceptional food, helpful employees, always good atmosphere. They charge reasonable pricing and the food quality is excellent. Kudos.

Summer Shack Cambridge remains our favorite go-to place for special occasions! Manager Daniella and her staff are so nice and attentive! Kudos Mr. White et.al.!

Went for my 10yr anniversary. How disappointing. We have talked about going for years and finally made our way there. The mussels tasted like human feces or at least the smell of feces. They were disgusting, had ti spit them out. Got the net with lobster, mussels, clams and corn. There were 2 clams the rest were mussels and they were nasty. SS lobster next time.

On my experience in restaurant this was one of the best restaurant that i have been visited all was excelent the food was amazing specially the serves was efficient and friendly. I recommend this place is amazing.......

Tasty food and excellent service. Ken was my waiter and he kept us laughing and kept the food coming. I especially enjoyed his suggestions on the crab cakes

Overpriced for what it is. dull atmosphere. OK food.

While my wife and I have enjoyed our meals in the past two visits, this experience has left us rather shaken. Our order of crab legs arrived, looking wonderful. However, after my wife had eaten a couple legs, she said they tasted like a sanitizer or cleaning solution. I smelled them and the entire plate of crab legs smelled like cleaning solution! After speaking with our waitress, the order was replaced and we thought that all was good. Not more than 2 hours later, my wife was violently throwing up, coupled with severe abdominal pain as well as diarrhea. We contacted urgent care immediately and was advised on how to handle this and if her condition worsened, to drive to the emergency department or call 911 for immediate assistance. Four hours later, her condition improved, thank goodness. We called the restaurant and was told no manager was on duty and to call back the following day. We did. The general manager apologized and said he would look into the situation and get back with us later in the day. Two days later and we have yet to hear from him or any other individual from this establishment. We are disgruntled, disappointed and dismayed at the lack of empathy and follow through. Sadly, I cannot recommend this place to anyone if you care about your health.

Depends on what you order I guess. The fish is always good. The bar is reliable. I recommend the shell fish like oysters and such which are always awesome. Some of my friends were less then impressed with dish that was not formerly swimming.

FUN PLACE TO BRING THE KIDS, AWESOME MAC N CHEESE, TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THE LOBSTER ROLL (YUCK)

Good quality seafood. Shucker Caeser is the best. Bartenders are not that great.

Seafood but with an atmosphere that reminds me of Maine. Also brown construction paper tablecloths which little kids like to draw on (they provide little 4 crayon packs for the kids).