I think there is a lot of hype and the food is very good but not the best I've ever had. Waited about 90 minutes and luckily got a good table on the corner. It's very small inside and some seats are shared at one long table. There wasn't calamari on the menu but we asked if they made it and they do! It's delicious. Chowder is not traditional at all - very thin and diluted with little to no heavy cream. Not what you expect when you order New England clam chowder. The lobster roll gets extra points for the portions! Nice warm and buttery but not the best I've ever had. I'd go back if the line wasn't too long

Neptune was a bit of a last minute decision for my friend and I during our short stay in Boston. On this particular evening I had no intention of going out after a long day. In fact we were not that hungry, but it came highly recommended to me by my cousin and I seized the opportunity. Neptune is an oyster bar at its core with other menu items to satisfy your seafood cravings if that's not your thing. When we arrived we noticed the line outside the door (which obviously bodes well for the quality of the establishment). The place is quite small/limited seating which further exacerbated the wait time. My friend and I stood for approximately 45 minutes, which was lucky because the party that got seated after us were the last people to be allowed in for the rest of the evening before closing. I do enjoy oysters from time to time even if I am not an expert on them. It's worth mentioning that when I gave my oyster card back to the waitress she gave me a little attitude about the way I selected my oysters. Instead of writing a number next to my choices I simply inserted a check mark. I admit it was probably not the smartest way to make my selection, but I never had a problem ordering like this in previous oyster bars and her tone came off a tad condescending to me. Moving on from that exchange the food we ate was excellent. Would I say these were the best oysters I've had? Maybe. Like I said, I'm not an expert on them and they all taste the same to me after a little cocktail sauce and lemon juice. Personally I do feel the place is a lot of hype, but if you manage to come when it's less busy and can overlook the hefty price tag you will have a great time.

7/10 feels like a more accurate score for our experience here. We were expecting a possibly long wait but got lucky -- We came at a weird hour (4 pm on a Friday) as a group of two and got in within ten minutes (apparently 12 people gave up waiting right before we arrived; shortly after us, the line got long again). Service is of the "just the facts ma'am" variety -- not unfriendly but not gonna do more than you ask (if you even have time to ask, ha. Watched the guy next to me try three times to order wine before the waitress ran away). We ordered the Jonah crab claws from the raw bar (fine but fairly tiny so maybe not worth the $7 each). The tuna crudo was a real standout -- really fresh tuna and interesting mix of flavors w castelvetrano olives, sunflower seeds and a dab of spicy sauce and olive oil. Would have eaten two orders no problem! Also got the redfish and chips -- a generous portion definitely enough for two people if sharing something else small, with a nice change of pace in fish choice and generally less greasy than usual fish and chips. Overall, would say for a late lunch we were pleased. Would we have felt the same had we had an hour wait? Not sure, but for what we experienced, good stuff. A couple logistical pointers: -Good place to come as a solo diner or as a two -- larger groups wait much longer as there is very little table seating -Most seating is bar stools -- longer wait if you want one of the few tables

Yeah u will more than likely have 2 wait in line 2 get in...but once u get in, it's worth the wait (in line abt :20 & this was b4 11 am). I was hesitant 2 sit @ the bar w/a party of 3 but we were 2 hungry it pass. Turned out 2 b best meal experience. Server was very attentive & brought out a superb wine by the glass that was not on the menu & was exactly what I wanted. Every time she walked across the bar, checked how we were doing & filled out wine/water glasses. Now the food...I ordered the special of the day, lobster spaghettini (out of this world!!!), my daughter got crab salad (lots of shredded crab & huge portion of fresh veggies) & my mom was dying to try New England clam chowder (too much white pepper for our taste). The oysters...WOW, there was a list of abt 12 different varieties. We tried 4 different ones & all were SO fresh, sweet & needed no toppings. @ the end of our meal, she comp'd us a "Johnny cake" which was a 1st for us & was not what we expected (for a "cake") but turned out 2 b surprisingly delicious! Def returning the next time I'm in Boston!

There's always a line for this restaurant, but it moves fairly quickly especially if you're a smaller party. We tried a few oysters and all were very fresh and shucked properly. Their fried calamari appetizer was delicious and a fairly large portion. We tried the bluefin Coyne crostini and the pistachio pesto was too salty for our taste, but the tuna tartare on top was fresh and tasted great. The inside can feel super cramped when all the tables are occupied and winter jackets are on the chairs, but the ambience is lively and cozy. The service was attentive and prompt.

Delicious seafood apps and entrees for an impromptu lunch in the north end. Low key shared table situation with attentive service. Chill vibe, great music and cozy dining. Not kid friendly with the tight dining quarters but great for some adult quality time.

May be the best lunch we have had anywhere! Oysters were great but Southcoast Striped Bass and North End Cioppino (added lobster) were fantastic. Food was more than worth the tight seating accommodations....

TL;DR: line gets long, good variety of menu items, and various types of oysters/raw seafood Came here before opening time on a Friday morning and there was already a line. The space inside is pretty small, so expect to have another table literally right next to you. Service was nice and relatively attentive. FOOD: ~Spanish Octopus (3.8/5): Octopus was cooked perfectly and seasoned well (although salty in spots). Sauce on the bottom flavor was okay but didn't go with the octopus, in my opinion ~Clam Chowder (1/5): this clam chowder was not it. It was thin and when asked about it, they said it's more of a broth than a chowder. Even then, the flavor was terrible ~Raw items (4/5): items were shucked well and had a good variety. Wish it was a bit colder ~Johnny Cake (4/5): the cake itself was SO GOOD. The topping was good but definitely has a strong fishy taste, in case that's not your preference. I would prefer eating the cake by itself and then the topping smoked fish with crackers, but overall good ~Cold lobster roll (3.8/5): very mayo heavy, but you get a lot of lobster in it ~Hot lobster roll (5/5): Ask for a side of melted butter! Add that on top and omg this lobster roll was so good ~Fries (5/5): they look like simple fries, but I could not stop eating them. They are like Five Guys fries but better and not soggy Overall, if you come here, get here early! Or just expect to wait a while to get a table.

There is ALWAYS a line here, but for good reason. One, the restaurant is small and only seats maybe 20-30 people maximum. Even so, you're likely sitting within arm's length to the table next to you or even sharing a single table (which we did, but we met some nice company). Two, the seafood here is superb and everyone is eager to see the hype (including myself and you if you're reading this). Three, they don't have reservations so you must wait patiently in line; sometimes even for hours, which makes this place seem more popular than it already is. With that said, it's a delicious seafood spot in Boston and I'd be sure to come by if you time it correctly and the line isn't too long. We came here with a party of 3 on a Sunday at 6pm. There was 4 parties in front of me, but within minutes the line doubled behind me (so definitely got lucky). We also managed to get seated in about 10-15 minutes sharing a table with another party of 3 next to us. They have specials everyday along with their regular menu. I came here for one thing and it's the Triton Plateau ($85). It's a good starter to share with the table or make it your main meal like I did. It's a huge platter of oysters, clams, mussels, lobster, crab, and shrimp over ice. This thing is definitely impressive. I loved everything in this as the shellfish were all fresh, shrimp were plump, and there's lots of meaty lobster and crab. My favorite was definitely the crab though. I also tried some of the 16oz Bone-In Ribeye Steak ($68) and Spanish Octopus ($22), which were both solid. The steak is the only non-seafood option here and it's not bad at all. I found the octopus dish a bit small and unmemorable though. The lobster roll also looks yummy. Overall, great seafood spot that's popular for good reason. If I had to wait a long time, I probably wouldn't find it worth it though so come early or odd hours.