Stopped by here while I was in the area hoping to get a good lobster and I surely did! While I'm not too experienced with New England's seafood, I am a huge seafood fan and found this place to be great! I was a little confused as to what to do with the tannish water and lemon with the cheesecloth over it that came on the side.
(4)
Stefanie G.
I went here for lunch today......you'll run into the old senior citizen crowd and tourists/family in the summer........however I need to repress my need to curse because the food was so damn good!!!! THE MOST EXTENSIVE MENU OF GLUTEN-FREE FRIED SEAFOOD IS HERE! Clams, mussels, scallops, haddock, shrimp, calamari....anything and everything a gluten-free dieter can imagine. I recommend the fried calamari portuguese style with marinara, feta cheese, olives, and artichokes. The seafood platter is amazing for fried scallops and haddock. Don't just settle for this sandwich or a salad....take advantage of a healthier alternative to fried food....without all the heavy flour.
(5)
Kasey P.
Great service, love the food, and the view/location is beautiful. A little bit pricey for what it is, which is why I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. I would recommend the oysters and steamers. The fried flounder was also delicious. Onion rings are also very good. Classic New England seafood, with great view. Love sitting next to the big screen windows. Expect a wait, but worth it! Outdoor seating only for appetizers and drinks is kind of lame =/
(4)
Jean S.
I celebrated my belated birthday there. It was a party of 8 that turned into 6. We had the most incredible food.The Cedar Planked Salmon was cooked to perfection the sides of white bean salad and brussel sprouts just made my meal fabulous! My husband and friends meals were perfect too! Thanks to Jimmy and his wonderful staff for such a wonderful dinner and Birthday!
(5)
Ross C.
I'm not sure why we were kept waiting outside for 1.5 hours with no explanation despite several attempts. As we walked away, after seeing other parties that arrived after us get seated, we saw several empty tables. On a Sunday evening. Inexcusable.
(1)
Eric G.
Another busy Sunday night. We were told a table for 2 would be 25 min. It took an hour. We understand that they are estimating, but we watched a party of 3, wait 10 min. Order, Eat and get there check, while we waited. Food was good once we sat down, but we were frustrated so it wasn't as enjoyable.
(3)
Deb S.
Have had a great meal here every time we've visited. Service has been good and even when crowded we get seated quickly. This is our go-to-place for seafood.
(5)
Russell P.
Jake's was great! We were seated right away next to the screened window on a beautiful Tuesday night. Once we had the server explain the 6 menus in front of us ordering drinks and meals was a breeze. At first I questioned our $10 beverages, but they hit the spot and were healthy with the spirits (although I wish the glass were a little bigger). We ordered the buffalo shrimp appetizer (best part of the meal!). Perfectly breaded and spicy!!! First time having a lobster roll so didn't know what to expect, but I couldn't finish all the lobster meat (sorry). My friend had the seafood sampler and said it was broiled and fried so perfectly and lightly. Not a heavy greasy fried you find at most places. The key lime pie wasn't very tart like I usually expect. And the brownie sundae was amazing. Left very full with a $100 ticket and I would certainly come back to try more. Service was great and friendly. Made me feel at home almost with the family portraits hanging all around. Nice view of the water. Enjoy!
(5)
Deb J.
Stopped in for a nice meal after spending the day in Hull. SO glad we did! Great choices on the menu, very nice atmosphere, excellent drinks and outstanding waitstaff! Sure, any place can boil a lobster or broil some fish, but few places season it right and cook it without OVER cooking it! Our party had the cedar plank salmon and the sauteed flounder. Both dishes were perfect. Loved the baby baked potatoes and those roasted brussel sprouts served room temp were wonderful!! And about those adult-style beverages.... YUM! That was the good booze... not the cheap stuff! Prices were in line with what you should expect to pay at a nice restaurant. This ain't a clam shack or a beach hut. It's a "shake the sand off your feet outside, put on your shirt and act like a grown up" kind of place. Already planning a return trip to Hull, and Jakes will be a definite destination.
(4)
Joe C.
Went here with the wife and two kids after the tide chased us off the beach. Sat on the patio, no service. Walk all the way to the other end of the crowded restaurant to order, then they tell me to go back to the patio, then check back and the food might be ready. Bartender hassling about one drink for every person, so now my wife and I have to walk up to get our drinks separately. Food is overpriced and ill prepared. Trash unemptied on the patio, so no place to put it. Buyer beware at this joint. I dropped 200.00 in about 30 min. And was made to feel bad about it.
(2)
Amy M.
I'd only heard good things about Jake's, so I decided to try it. The experience was definitely sub-par. Bad parts: Service was... lacking. Our waitress told us, from the start, "Sorry, I'm out of it today." Then commenced forgetting our drinks, forgetting to bring us our sides, and messing up the order. Then I found a hair in my food. Great. The fried shrimp was bland, and the haddock was flavorless -- despite being fried. And the salmon was flavorless and watery, as if it was cooked too long or old. Good parts: the view and the french fries. I loved the atmosphere -- it was beachy but classy, and I loved seeing the water. But really, if I had wanted good fries, I could've gone somewhere else for cheaper. If you're looking for good seafood, try somewhere else and save the money.
(2)
Kyle D.
The food is great, the drinks are great, but two lobsters and a glass of wine between two people for 115 dollars?! I think not! It'll be nice when the weather gets warmer and you can sit outside on the deck as ill only be coming back for the odd drink out on the patio.
(3)
Lydia L.
There are few things more wonderful than eating fresh seafood in an upscale fish shack on a cool evening with the water lapping outside and the clinky clanky of boat things tinkling in the night. I experienced Jake's not once but twice on the same day. For lunch my friend made me a lobstah roll which we took to pic-a-nic at The Tip. She bought the cooked lobster meat from Jake's market. For dinner we went for a sit down where I had a small Caesar Salad and a half dozen ($2 a pop) Pemaquid Oysters. The ambiance as I mentioned was nice, casual and unstuffy. The dining room overlooked the water and was adorned with lots of memorabilia related to the fishing industry and to local milestones, personages and events. My oysters, while not local (they are from "the deepest holes of the Damariscotta River" in Maine) were small, tasty and briney. I would have easily had more but I am no Adam Richman. The Caesar Salad was crisp and provided a nice crunch to offset the texture of the oysters. I had wanted a half order of their Calamari (as if I did not learn my lesson with the CT kraken!) Marinara but they do not do half orders. Oh well. Next time. There are lots of options available for such meals but since Jake's has been around for 60+ years, it was a great choice for experiencing Hull's restaurants and eating among the people who keep them in business in the off season. 2.75 stars rounded up due to their wicked fish mahket. jakesseafoods.com youtube.com/watch?v=X6pU…
(3)
Rich G.
Anybody who's lived on the South Shore for a while will agree, there are two Jake's, the original the 2nd after they rebuilt. The old one was a little dark and dated, but it was superb. It was the best seafood on the south shore from Quincy to Plymouth. For a full menu of seafood, you could not beat it for quality, service and price. It was very family friendly and loved the relaxed welcome feeling. Since the rebuild, They went way upscale. The place is very nice. I think the food is still quite good, but no longer exceptional. Regarding prices, they should check their address, they are in Hull not the Back Bay. It's like it went from Beer to Chardonnay they are now looking for an upscale clientele instead of a great restaurant for locals to enjoy. A bigger pet pieve, there is no reason why you should have to pay more for local fresh fish. They charge it because they can. Yes, we like chardonnay and yes will eat there again, but boy do we miss the old Jake's.
(3)
Paul S.
7/16/2012 We ordered lobster and clam chowder to go. The food was a little delayed due to a high volume order. Management compensated with extras, thank you!!! Lobster was delicious, clam chowder as well. Next time we will dine in and do the full experience.
(4)
Laura M.
I really expected this to be not so great. I loved it though! Good service. Day boat fish. Reasonable prices. Best seafood I've found in the area. Can't believe it's taken me this long to find out about it! I'd definitely go back and easily recommend for that area.
(4)
Carrie P.
Every time we have come the service is awesome and the food is amazing!!!!
(5)
Allison O.
Walked in on a busy Sunday night after spending the day on the beach. We only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated, and took advantage of their outdoor deck where you can get drinks and appetizers. The staff was very friendly. The food was good- the calamari was delicious, and the lobster roll was good and very filling! (Plus it contained a very generous serving of lobster!). The prices were bit more than I expected, but everything was great!
(4)
Keith W.
My daughter and I stopped by for dinner on Friday night. The restaurant was packed as it is one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Massachusetts. Once we were seated we had great service and great food. I recommend the Jumbo Shrimp. It was cooked just right. We finished dinner with coffee and dessert. The deserts were excellent and the coffee was freshly brewed. The family that runs the restaurant seems to be very involved in supporting the town. This place has a real friendly feel. We will be back to Jakes!
(5)
Brianne K.
First time back in over three years - this place still is terrible. The calamari was greasy and tough, fish bland and service forgettable. Save yourself $50 and head to your local grocery store and trust your Gorton's fisherman will get you better value and flavor than Jake's does.
(1)
John S.
My family used to go to Jakes for 3 generations, ever since my grandparents built our 2 beach houses here in Hull.We've gone up until 10 years ago. It took a real dive as the owner got older. The last time I went there we got the double lobster dinner. They were so overcooked I said something to the owner ( older guy). Because my husband had eaten a bite of it before I told him not to eat it, the owner gave us a hard time. I have grown up eating seafood and making my own chowda from cuahogs from the beach at low tide! I know how to cook a lobster ( actually 8 at a time!) as well.So, my family walked out and never came back. Evidently, from the recent reviews, they still haven't gotten the hint. If you want good seafood, go down the street to Hingham lobster pound. You don't get to sit inside ( take out only) but the fried clam strips , bellies, shrimp, and lobster are to DIE for. Tony's clam shack in wollaston is also famous and pretty good with outdoor seating.
(2)
Jon G.
Jake's is the perfect waterfront seafood restaurant -- somewhere in between a beachside clam shack and Legal Seafoods. I've been twice, and ordered the cajun swordfish sandwich both times... it just melts in your mouth. It's one of those meals you keep thinking about days later! Everyone else I dined with enjoyed their meals too. The staff were friendly, and very accommodating when we brought 2 kids with us the second time. It's right up against the harbor, with seats outside and a breezy, seaside feel inside. And the house dark ale was terrific, too. Can't say enough good stuff about this place!
(5)
Jacqueline C.
Will not likely ever go back here... I'm ok with loud and touristy as long as the food is good. We were looking for a place to bring the kids and get fresh food. This seemed like a good idea so we checked it out. They told us there was a ten minute wait....but we ended up waiting nearly forty minutes. It was a hot day today and the restaurant provided no reprieve. It must have been 85 degrees inside. I immediately ordered two drinks for myself! The server was nice and the food came out quick. But it was so loud and chaotic inside that we ended up having to practically yell to be heard. If I didn't want to hear what my kids were saying I'd hand them an iPad. The food was only ok. It was definitely a rip off, which you kind of expect from a seafood restaurant on the water, but it wasn't good enough to mark you not feel that bad about it. The kids dinners were properly portioned, which you don't find many places, but totally tasteless. They al had the Mac and cheese and it was pretty bland. We had the lazy mans lobster and the shrimp and scallops in cream sauce. The food came out hot, which was nice. The lobster was supposed to be a half pound of meat but it seemed very small. For $30 it totally wasn't worth it. I guess that's what you get for being lazy though! The pasta was ok. Not great, not awful. There just wasn't anything nice or good enough about this place to make me ever want to go back. I think a much better bet on the south shore is Polcari's Bridgeway in Marshfield. (what I would really like to find is the equivalent of Woodmans on the South Shore!)
(2)
Katie V.
In guess in comparison to other options in Hull, Jake's is not too bad. Overpriced - yes. The food is fresh but not too original. It's fine, standard New England fare. Clam chowder was probably the best thing we ordered. There was some confusion with the order -- for instance, I wanted the softshell crab sandwich and the waitress seemed unaware of its existence on the menu until I pointed it out to her. My BF wanted a fried fish sandwich and instead got a bread-less entree version. Cajun popcorn shrimp were too mild/flavorless. Wine list was decent; pretty views of the bay.
(2)
Paul M.
I have been here a few times, will not go back unless forced, the food is bland and over priced and the wait staff is slow and messes up the order every time, yes, it is a haven for the senior set so be ready for blue tips and perfume, it is overwhelming.
(1)
Evonne S.
Found this restaurant on google, just surfing the net. I was pleasantly surprised by it all together. The atmosphere made me feel like I was on vacation. haha. Our service was fine, she was attentive and polite and refilled our drinks appropriately. Food was really good and the price was reasonable. We had already eaten at Tony's and Clambox and they were just OK but i would rather drive 25 mins to eat here instead. We had the crabcakes and Jakes seafood platter. The fried clam bellies, fish, scallops and shrimp were cooked perfectly. I will be taking my family when they visit from out of town. Cute town too!!
(4)
lori p.
Spent our last night of our vacation at Jakes. Food was excellent, seafood fresh, atmosphere casual and fun. Our waitress Jamie excellent and friendly.
(4)
Judith P. G.
If seafood is your pleasure and you want a sunset view, very nice wait staff and reasonable prices for what you get, then you really have to try Jake's. It is located on the water next to the marina and across from the carousel in Hull. They are open seasonably so eat up while you can. (Jake's will close Sunday Nov 17 with the on-site seafood market open for Thanksgiving and Christmas orders.) It has a casual nautical motif with many real artifacts and memorabilia and either booths or tables/chairs. In the warm weather, you can eat on the deck. Our fav appetizer to share is the naked calamari( kalamata olives, artichokes and roasted peppers in a slightly spicy marinara sauce with perfectly tender calamari) The sauce can also be purchased from the kitchen., along with other yummies like crab cakes that are thick with crab and much lighter on breading, dips, soups, etc. Every single fish dish is cooked perfectly, esp. the swordfish, prepared several different way (note, recipes say cook until flaky...NO, NO because by the time it is flaky, it is overdone)...this is mouthwatering. The fried seafood is not greasy, simply a palate-pleasing guilty pleasure. There is a bar as well, with the TV tuned to sports, with seasonal drinks as well as standards and a wine list. Earlier in the afternoon is quieter with a more crowded scene at dinner on summer weekends. Others have commented that they thought the prices were high...not as high as Legal Sea Foods, and reasonable for the obviously high quality of the product...seafood is no longer cheap. We have been dining there 2-4 times a month for the last year and have never encountered a "surly" person. In the evenings, Mr. O'Brien himself is usually at the host station. Put it on your must-try list for next Spring.
(5)
Kerri O.
There have been complaints noted by others about service, but ours was fantastic. We were a large walk in party, too.The waitress handled our large party with ease, and checked on ingredients for my sister, and suggested good alternatives. The food was all really marvelous. In our party, we all got different things. My sister got the Mediterranean Salad with Buffalo shrimp (I know, a weird combo, but she loved it). Mom got a heaping helping of sweet gorgeous steamers for cheap. My other sister got a fried halibut sandwich, which she was kvelling over. Bro in law got the fried clams which he demolished. He didn't comment on them, but he looked very happy. He doesn't talk much, anyways. The kids were all happy with their menu options. Gracie loved her Fluffenutter sandwich. Anneke gobbled her Fried shrimp up. Sarah loved her Mac and Cheese. As usual, we had to force feed Emma her grilled cheese, but she said it was good. I had the Endive salad, which was great. I know, no seafood? I wanted a light and crispy salad, which I got. If nothing else, go by my Mom. She knows seafood. She and Dad get theirs all the time, here, from the counter. It's all really fresh stuff. By the way, EVERYONE was really nice to us. Just saying it.
(5)
Elaine H.
Lobster roll was perfect. Mayo was on the side...yea. Lots of lobster. Loved it.
(4)
DonPaul N.
Jake's is a decent place that serves fresh fish, though when ever I leave there, I feel a little let down. I can say I have never had a bad meal there, though I can't say I've ever had a great meal there, as their menu items are served with inconsistent success. On my last visit, we started with raw oysters, which were completely bereft of "liquor". This is where most of the flavor comes from and it was if whoever shucked them purposely drained them! Next we had the excellent crabcakes which were all meat and served with a chipotle sauce and mango salsa. For main course, i went simple with baked haddock. It was a beautiful looking piece of fish, but was not very flavorful and was just on the edge of being warm, but not hot. I doused it with a couple of wedges of lemon to give it some pizzazz. My wife had the mussels marina with ample mussels and a watery and weak marina sauce. Save for the garlic, it was flavorless. The service was very good, except when the waitress came to clear the table of our plates, she didn't even question why my wife only ate a third of her dinner. On the brighter side, it can be a nice place to eat at sunset as the water views are nice and the sea shanty decor is charming. The recently expanded bar can be a fun place to sit and chat with strangers.
(3)
Jessica S.
I've been to Jake's a few times and have always had a great experience. It is the perfect place to catch a meal at the end of the day - especially if you can get a table near the windows with a view of the marina. I am not the biggest seafood fan in the world, so I can't attest to the quality of the lobster etc. but I've had backed haddock and scrod here multiples times and each time it was fantastic. Most recently I had it prepared blackened and it was spicy and delicious. The fish and chips here are tasty as well. One thing I can really compliment Jake's on is their Sauteed Fried Calamari. I have never really been a fan of the stuff because I hate the texture but my dad ordered some and I gave it a whirl. The garlic sauce was excellent and the texture was not nearly as rubbery as what I've had in the past - I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. The fish market here is great as well. A little more expensive usually than the one next door at the Steamboat Marina, but the quality is definitely there.
(4)
Lorelle C.
Visited Jake's last Saturday at noon with my aunt and grandmother. Service was prompt and friendly and the food was delicious. I got the cajun swordfish sandwich ($12) while my aunt and grandmother got the lobster salad roll ($18). All three sandwichs were generous and served with a heaping pile of french fries and coleslaw. The lobster salad rolls had large pieces of meat with little to no mayonaise served on a hot dog roll. My cajun swordfish sandwich was served dry on a roll with lettuce and tomato and had some spicy mayonaise on the side- seems like a straightforward sandwich, but it was amazing. I will go back and probably get the swordfish sandwich again! :)
(4)
Jess L.
Fresh casual seafood at competetive prices. Lobster roll was good, fish and chips were kinda blah, fried clams were excellent, oysters were fresh albeit pricey. One warning: if the patio doors are shut, don't let them seat you out there...it's too darn noisy!
Two stars ONLY because they have decent seafood. You can absolutely get better service anywhere else! My husband and I went there last night and long story short, we waited over an hour for a table, while parties who arrived later than us were seated quickly, If you go there you must either wait inside or tell the host exactly where you'll be waiting, if you wait out on the deck, which they run separately for drinks and apps, they only call for you out there if you specifically tell them you'll be out back. The hostess, whom I later found out is one of the owners, is very rude and argued with me when I asked about the wait. Decent food, decent servers, but you can get that elsewhere. Based on my experience with one of the owners, most likely will not be going back.
(2)
Nicole O.
Location is great, but cannot give you much color on the quality of food since the bartender shut us off after 3 beers... Apparently there's a 3 beer max even though we were sitting on the outdoor patio for a couple hours. i'm persuing the yelp feedback... seems many think Jakes is way overpriced-- could have been a nice tip lady!
(2)
Katie C.
Wow, this place was unfortunately pretty darn disappointing. I live on the West Coast now so when I come home I want lobster! Went here with my family because they have choices other than seafood. To keep this short and sweet... My $44 2lb lobster was pretty overlooked:( for sides I had rice pilaf and Brussels sprouts and the rice was fine but the veggies were really over cooked, dry and cold. Our 2 year old ordered the chicken fingers which were processed meat. The baked seafood casserole was, well, we are not sure what fish it was but had a very odd texture; not what you'd expect with cod, scrod or haddock. The salad was on the soggy side. That being said. Great great popcorn shrimp and chowder. Not the worst seafood place in the world but just wanted to warn anyone who needs a good seafood fix.
(2)
Amanda B.
Perfect place to stop for dinner after an afternoon walk at End of the World. The location was awesome and we got the best table in the place without asking. *bonus points* We were both in fish n' chips moods (although the lobsters brought to the table next to us created some food-envy). They were fine. Pretty generous portions. Good fresh fish. Could have used a tad more flavor. I was a little shocked by the prices...I mean this is a flip-flop friendly restaurant and our two fish n'chips entrees with cups of chowder to start left us with a $45 meal.... Stil. the location makes up for a lot TIP: make sure to bring a sweater. A pretty stiff breeze can blow through the covered porch part of the restaurant.
(3)
Darline J.
Me and my fiance went there this past Friday night, May 17, 2013. Not only did we wait along time because the gentleman who took our name crossed out so many names that he didn't see our name. We sat at the bar and listened to him screem names for the next seaters. The bartenders were very nice. We ended up ordering a bottle of house red wine for $27 because for a glass of house red wine was $10 each. We finally got seated because my fiance said something about people going a head of us. The waitress Jenna was awesome. She couldn't do enough for us. I ordered the Halibut, which was juicey but had no taste at all and don't recommend it. My fiance has seared Tuna, which was delicious. Because we were there so long, we watched the waitstaff packing up the tables, which I find rude. I would not recommend this restuarant. On Saturday night, we went to the Paragon Grill in Hull and I had a Salmon that was the best I ever tasted. If you want seafood, I would go there.
(1)
Spencer D.
Lobster bisque is absolutely top notch. Only matched by Wood's on the harbor in Plymouth. All others pale in comparison. Order the very fresh and thick swordfish as a chaser. You will not be disappointed. Too many kids can make it pretty noisy but it is a family place.
(4)
Alison P.
Do you have someone coming to visit from out of town? Perhaps they want good seafood with a pretty drive by the ocean to get there? And afterward a trip to a carousel? Oh, yup, Jakes. This place does it well. Don't order the grilled chicken, there is a lot of it, and its really bland. Everything else though is seafood heaven. They have a good fried up platter, of course. I had their seared tuna with wasabi sauce - well above average. My cousin had the cheesy pasta with lobster, and that was richness, really good stuff. They also do good bluefish, but order the sauce on the side. I liked it, but everyone else said it was too much. The service was slow, but it wasn't terrible for a weekend night, and after an embarrassing "I don't have my ID" at the bar, they served me at the table like reasonable folk. There is nothing as embarrassing as your mom taking your drink away from you at 26. Seriously? Um, yeah. Good place, good food, ignore the silly decor, and sit with a view of the ocean.
(4)
Jeannie J.
This place is pretty standard seafood by the sea fare. The fish and chips/salmon entree/clam chowder were all okay. The one standout was the swordfish tips in the cajun sauce. Pretty oily, but loved the tenderness of the fish combined with the cajun spice! We ordered 9 raw oysters and out of 5 of us, my husband got a bad one. Hit him about 30 minutes later :(
(3)
martina d.
I have been going to Jake's for years- known for delicious seafood, beautiful views, casual dining. Unfortunately the quality of the food has deteriorated and the prices have increased, based on my last few visits. No longer has personal feel- O'Brien family would check to insure that you had a good meal...this no longer happens. Now feels more like a tourist restaurant, instead of a local haunt. Last visit had fish and chips. Little flavor, service was harried at best, high priced. Think it's time to move on to another restaurant...unfortunately.
(2)
Raquel S.
Lobster bisque is delicious. You have to try the cajun grilled salmon with tomato and lime sauce. Plus great service.
(4)
Alexandra S.
This first visit for this season was not good. We were surprised, unhappily so. Service was sloppy and inattentive. Everything we asked for got mixed up. The waiter asked all the right questions but then goofed everything up. Then my husband asked for rolls for the table, the waiter brought one hard, aged roll even though there were two of us at the table. It was a stale roll too. Our appetizer came out with the meal instead of beforehand and aside from that it was unappetizingly greasy and not hot. My meal was not what I asked for. When I finally got my food it was cold. We asked for a second round of beers. We never got them. It was beyond annoying during what hubby and I hoped would be a relaxing lunch sitting in a great spot next to the water on a gorgeous and very beautiful and sultry day. The good news is that when I complained to the hostess Maria, she couldn't have been nicer. Maria, you were great. She clearly knows customer service is important and comped us the meal...well at that point just my husband's meal since I had returned my plate for the second time and ended up just sharing some of his food. Jake's needs to step it up with the wait staff. The prices seem to have gone up this year too. I don't go looking for things to complain about and I know this is a casual, beachy place, but I do believe that excellent wait service is an absolute must. They did do a nice renovation of the bar area. We'll likely give Jake's another try at some point in the summer as we have always liked going there in the past . Stay tuned.
(2)
Dave C.
Really, Really good Clam chowder. Fried clams were very good also. I saw the Lobster Sandwich (not the roll).I Didn't try it but the sandwich looked really good too. New outdoor seating was nice with a view of a small marina.
(5)
Jeff B.
While on vacation in the Boston area a couple of years ago, my wife and I stopped into Jake's for dinner. It was superb! It is located right on the water in a very quaint area. For the appetizer, we ordered some raw oysters and the spicy calamari. The plate of calamari was enormous. Easily enough to feed four people for an appetizer. The oysters were fresh and delicious, as was the calamari. For the entree, my wife ordered lobster served on a bed of clams and I ordered the seafood pasta. Once again, everything was absolutely delicious. The decor in the restaurant was very nicely done and the wait staff were some of the nicest people I have ever come across. There is also a small seafood market attached to the restaurant where you can purchase fresh seafood to cook at home. I have uploaded some drool worthy photos of our food for your enjoyment. Give this place a try!
(5)
Caroline F.
I've been going to Jake's every summer for my entire life, and it's still probably my favorite restaurant in the world. While I've expanded my palate beyond the fish & chips, they remain the best I've ever had. I've moved on (barely) to ordering the Pastariffic Swordfish, which is cajun grilled swordfish over pasta in a scampi sauce. Jake's can be pricey, but what *fresh* seafood restaurant isn't? Plus, almost everything is big enough to be able to have leftovers to take home
(5)
Amy R.
It makes me sad that it closes down for part of the year, just like my beloved JJs the dairy stand. I could eat at Jakes every week for the rest of my life, seriously. Very straight forward simple seafood. Mostly locally caught and very reasonably priced. One of our favs is the tilapia picatta. They now do single or double portions and the single is more than enough for one sitting. Do the Double for take home. They have a buffalo fish fingers starter that is AWESOME. I try a lot of their seasonal specials, I had a littlenecks with leeks and pasta dish that was faboo. I think their best deal is the clambake for 30.00 where you get a 1 1/4lb lobster, chowder or bisque, corn, clams, mussles and a veggie side! The thing I'll be dreaming of until next fall however is the pumpkin cheesecake. It will dance around in my mind and taunt me all year as it's absolutely amazing-fluffy with a little spice. HEAVEN.
(5)
Alissa M.
Hands down my favorite restaurant on the south shore! The food is as fresh as you can get. I have never had a bad meal here. I love the tuna steak, and the white bean salad is amaizing! You can't get a better location than this either. Right on the water, next to the marina. I heard they are building a bigger bar close to the water side for next summer. Can't wait for that! The only downfall to this place is that it closes from November to April. They also have a fish market inside, which i believe stays open year round.
(5)
Krista S.
Gave it one star because I never got to try the food... arrived an hour and a half before closing time and put our names in. Immediately followed by a woman I take to be the manager or owner yelling that's it!! That's it don't take anymore names were done!! Shutting off the open light and rolling her eyes when another couple behind us tried putting their names in. I've been in the restaurant business for 8 yrs and have never in my life seen someone so upset to have business in the restaurant....we are in a recession...many places would kill for the business!! We felt very uncomfortable and left...its sad too because I've heard great things about the food...
(1)
Dottie P.
We had the fried whole clams. They were fresh and large but quite bready. The fries were undercooked and not good. I've had better clams and fries at outdoor clam shacks (like the Clambox in Ipswich). The place is appropriate for families, but don't choose Jake's for a quiet evening out. Service was harried and spotty. Due to its price / quality ratio, we probably won't return anytime soon. And when we finally do, we'd ask for extra-crispy on anything that comes fried.
(2)
Bill Y.
I agree with everything that the positive reviewers have to say about Jake's. It is the perfect seafood place to which to repair after a day beside on on the sea. Walls are maple as are the benches. Ocean-related items all over the walls. The place was jammed the Sunday at 7:00 when we arrived. I'd called earlier to confirm that they do not take reservations for parties of 2 (may not take reservations at all - didn't ask). I was told that "..things move along fast and you won't have to wait long". What I didn't hear him say was "ha-ha". We waited an hour but watching people is always entertaining but the delay took the edge off my appetite. My fault. The menu is great with a full array of seafood (red meat eaters look elsewhere). The service was quite good. I order light and had six shrimp in a shrimp cocktail. (One may order them by the shrimp for $2.50 apiece.) My wife ordered a caesar salad with lobster meat on the salad. Her salad was magnificent and utterly loaded with lobster. She ate almost all of the really large salad and she is not a b eater. She pronounced it "delicious!" The shrimp cocktail was prepared to perfection. Sometimes one gets a shrimp cocktail in which one can almost see through the shrimp and they are almost slimy. Gad, I hate shrimp like that. On the other hand, one sometimes get shrimp that are badly over cooked. There is a fine line in shrimp preparation and good places always get it right and Jake's got it right. The fries and onion rings looked great. Now to the problem: For reasons that I cannot understand they served the shrimp with cocktail sauce made by "Kens" and served in those little peel-off-the-top aluminum containers. God, the stuff was utterly horrible. I used as little as I could and even at that it detracted from the flavor of the shrimp. Why oh why would a fine old place like Jake's use a sauce like that???Very disappointing indeed. They also use "Ken's" tarter sauce which I suspect is equally nasty. Next time I go I am taking my own cocktail and tarter sauce. I'd immediately give them another star if they made their own sauces which are remarkably easy to do. Using a pre-made product of dubious quality causes the loss of a star because it seems so careless and thoughtless. They can do better.
(3)
Tara M.
Went to jakes last night. View is beautiful but when the weather is perfect with a great breeze, why would they not have a window open? The room wAs so uncomfortably warm my husband and I had sweat dripping down our necks. Worst part was nothing was done to fix the problem after we complained. Waitress just said "oh things were blowing earlier, I know it's really hot". Husbands seafood casserole was just a small casserole dish with some hot lobster meat. Not even a single breadcrumbs, Let alone seafood stuffing. He sent it back and it came back with about a teaspoon of breadcrumbs that were not even toasted . The rice was flavorless. We ended up not finishing our meal. It was a bad idea to go to this tourist trap in the first place. Over rated and over priced.
(1)
Stacy M.
Jake, I know we started off on the wrong foot, and I'm sorry for doubting you. Our calamari appetizer wasn't fried up enough, leaving it sadly bland. My iced tea tasted like vaguely flavored tea water. Wah. Then I dug into a fat plate of fried clams n' fries. Fried hot mess done just right. My fellow pescatarian shared a bite of his lobster roll. Deliciously cooked sweet and tender meat. All is forgiven, Jake. I'll be back.
(4)
Sheri H.
I tried Jake's for the first time last summer, during the last week of August (right in the middle of that miserable, rotten heat wave that seemed like it would never end). I would love to give it 5 stars because of the food, but since the service was only 2-star, I am compromising with 4 stars. The hostess was an older woman who wasn't exactly pleasant, but she wasn't rude, either, so that was a wash. (My waitress was a different story entirely, but I'll get to her later). At any rate, I got the window seat that I asked for (which had a beautiful view overlooking the water, although it was not the ocean) and I ordered their New England Clam Bake. And it was orgasmic. There is simply no other way to describe it. The salad had beautiful, crisp (romaine) lettuce, along with other (very) fresh salad vegetables, and a nice, tangy dressing. The clam chowder was in the top 5 of all the clam chowders that I have ever eaten, the corn was fresh and delicious, the steamers had big bellies, and the lobster was perfection (plenty of meat--especially tail meat). In fact, the entire meal was perfection--real, serious perfection. The problem I had with them (and this was why they didn't get the 5 stars that I would really love to give them) was that because they didn't have the AC cranked up very high (and this was a 98 degree day), halfway through the meal, between the heat and the sun beating on my face through the window, I started to feel a little sick. I put up with it for as long as I could, but, finally, I told my waitress (a very lackadaisical and uninterested teeny-bopper) that I wanted to move to another table. Her response was to tell me that she didn't think that the hostess would allow me to move (!) and although I politely tried to explain to her that I would have to cancel the rest of my order if I was forced to continue to sit there, she continued to argue with me. Finally, I got a little irate and told her that I seriously doubted that the hostess would want one of her patrons passing out in front of the rest of the diners and basically ordered her to bring the hostess to me. (Which she did, and the hostess, of course, moved me immediately, at which point I proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the rest of my meal.) I also left that twirpy little waitress a 20% tip, which seemed to surprise her (and it should have, considering that what I really should have done was stiff her. But the food made doing something like that impossible). Also, I went back the following week and got the Seafood Platter to go, and it really was the best I ever had. Perfect light batter, with the seafood melting in my mouth and I can't even think of an adjective to describle how amazing the fish tasted. (My only complaint is that the portions were small for the price charged, but when the food tastes as great as this food tasted, it becomes worth it and I would definitely get it again)
(4)
Will M.
After a day on the Nantasket beach we were looking for some good seafood nearby. We looked up Jake's on Yelp and it did not disappoint. The wait was not too long the staff were nice and the food delicious. I had the seafood casserole. I highly recommend it. My wife had the King Crab Roll, it wad okay. The crab was good and it came with mayo on the side, but nothing special really. The price was right there too though. The entrees were normal for a good local seafood place and it included a 2 sides (or a side salad and one side). The Fresh Brownie Sunday was the perfect desert for the day too.
(4)
Heather B.
I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews. Aside from the beach, Jakes is the best thing about living in Hull. Their fish is high quality and super fresh. I love the cedar plank salmon as a healthy choice, but the fried scallops are my favorite when I really want to indulge. Their Portuguese style calamari app is huge and delicious- all their fried food is only lightly breaded. The lobster bisque is to die for. We have a bit of an "in", so always get a great window seat. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is the cost, but then again, you get what you pay for. Oh, also very kid-friendly.
(4)
Glenice R.
very rude and unhappy bar staff. last night was 95 degrees and the owner was too cheap to turn on a.c. 2 gin and tonics at bat was $19.00 after sitting down at a table the waitress was very good and the food was o.k but very over priced. would not go back again.
(2)
Sherry P.
Been going to Jake's for 30 years and it has never disappointed. After that much time without a bad meal, they rate a 5+++. My current favorite is the Salmon Plank, a Salmon filet roasted on a cedar plank of wood and served on the plank. It is the best Salmon I've ever tasted and I've eaten Salmon around the world including in Alaska, the home of the freshest Salmon ever. The fried clams and bisques and chowders are also the best ever. Don't miss the fisherman's platter and onion rings.
(5)
Mike O.
Aside from our 20 minute wait turning into over an hour...... Service was ok....Not good, not horrible. Food: Great!. Great selection. Seafood quality was great.
(3)
Townie H.
Everything taste the same . Would not go back
(2)
Karen N.
We had a great dinner at Jake's on Friday night. My husband's seafood scampi had tons of seafood, more seafood than pasta! And my shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked. Quite reasonable for the quality of the seafood. Excellent service as well.
(5)
Allison C.
Great view, great service, yummy food. Try their onion rings and fried clams, although their strips are good, their whole bellies are to die for. They've also got plenty of broiled fish and rice so its a nice combination of frieds and non-frieds in case someone's tryin' to be healthy.
(3)
Jane T.
Great, family-style seafood. Nothing pretentious about this place. Go and get the clam chowder and some clam strips and hang out with your family or friends.
(5)
Mary P.
Spent 40.00 on a clam plate and chowder to go and did not get my sides! Expensive and felt ripped off
(3)
Heather G.
Sitting here outside waiting to find out if someone will serve us appetizers and drinks. Was told by hostess she doesn't know if someone will work outside. Several waitstaff has walked right by us.
(2)
Sara C.
The saving grace is the view and the reasonable prices. Service is decent. The food is okay. We tried the chowda and baker scrod.
(2)
Thomas K.
If you love potatoes, get the chowda. The buffalo shrimp is consistently great. The Mako was cooked perfectly. They ran out key lime pie before 5 pm...so don't count on it if you have a sweet tooth. Drinks are light handed, so something to consider based on personal preference. Mixed bag.
(3)
RoseAnne D.
First star is because they are on the water and second star is because the staff is friendly. If it wasn't for those 2 things, it would be 0 stars. I wish I had read the reviews for the lobster rolls before I went there today. $25 lobster roll and you have to put your own mayo in? Shame on them. It was about 5 oz of lobster on a hot dog roll. What's that come to, $80 bucks a pound? Guys, we're in New England, do a lobster roll you can be proud of! And by the way, who asks if you want your bun toasted? Of course you do! Oh yeah, the fried clams and oysters were over cooked. They tasted leftover before we even got back to the boat. Cole Slaw was horrible. Seafood restaurant, and tartar sauce from Ken's, c'mon! If you're going by boat, stay on the water and go to Belle Isle in Winthrop. Lobster roll there is already prepared, has twice the lobster, and is prob about $5-6 bucks cheaper.
(2)
Gina B.
I live in Alaska, and come to Massachusetts about once a year to visit my family. One of my top priorities (besides visiting my mom, brothers, sister's-in-law and nieces and nephews) when I'm in Mass. is to get LOBSTAH!. Jake's saved what could have been a vacation in Massachusetts with only lobster rolls...... Jake's has taken over as my favorite place to go when I am visiting. For the past 20+ years, the Red Parrot in Hull has been our Weymouth family's 'go to' for Sunday brunch and LOBSTAH, because of the service, the beautiful view of Nantasket and, yes, LOBSTAH! However, my mom had gotten numerous reports that RP's food had gone down hill. Mom had asked a friend who lives in Hull for other recommendations, and she had Jake's in first place, but mentioned that they were 'expensive'. RP, despite it's prominent building and years in residence, was not mentioned. We had checked Jake's website, and lobster was not on their online menu. A lot of other seafood restaurants that we were sure had lobster didn't have them on their menu, either and when we called to see if they had lobster as a special, none of them did (we hadn't called Jake's). RP had lobster on their regular menu, so we headed to our 'go to'. Except ---- after our drinks came, the waitress,sporting the super mini shorts (not a prude - just feel that in the customer service world they should be reserved for life guards or Hooters/Tilted Kilt) and the "Got Lobster" T-shirt..... they did not have lobster! Two beautiful glasses of Pino Grigio gone to the kitchen staff! We called Jake's from the parking lot: "Of course we have lobster! Steamed, stuffed, rolls, however you want it!" (That was Captain Ed). At Jake's, Mom and I were seated immediately, despite some other larger (3 people) groups waiting for tables, and our table was in (this is the best part) what I would call the screen porch. The outer wall was fully screened, (with glass windows that fold over the screens in cooler weather), and our table was angled for an optimal view of the inlet and the sunset. The wind picked up, and yes, it was a little breezy, but it was so refreshing! I anchored my lobster bib under my plate (which really helped keep the lobster bits off of my pants as I destructed my dinner). There were no complaints from anyone sitting by the windows....... This is New England! Our waitress (Ashley) greeted us with a genuine smile, introduced herself (with a lot more enthusiasm than at RP), and checked on us regularly. When we asked for extra lobster forks or napkins, they arrived with no delay. Excellent service! Oh, and Ashley (and every other server) was wearing mid-thigh length or longer shorts and an apron, with a Jake's T-shirt. Okay. I only get fresh lobster once a year, so I went for the 2 pounder, but after I destroyed the legs, every ounce of knuckle meat, every once of meat left on the torso and one claw, I decided to leave the tail and the other claw for lunch the next day. Our bill, drinks and salad upgrade included, was ~97.00 (without tax - no tax in Alaska). In Alaska, our lobster meal would have been well over $150. Jake's has become my new "go to"!
(5)
Mark D.
We did not feel like cooking at our vacation rental, so we tried Jake's for their take out food. Everything on the menu is available for take out. They have an extensive seafood selection. We had the seafood casserole, Jake's fried seafood platter, and our landlubber daughters had roasted herb chicken and broccoli. The chicken was savory, the casserole had a nice layer of Monterrey Jack cheese baked in. And the platter was generous and satisfying. The food was prepared and readied for take out promptly, the staff was courteous and friendly. I would patronize this establishment in the future.
(4)
Vinny N.
I don't live here, I don't live around here, I came to Nantasket for the beach in and I fully understand how places like this can get expressive but I go in and order anyway, my order was 3 lobster roll and there's no Price tag next to the lobster roll. not to my surprise the bill come up to $75, my thought process is I'm about to engage in a $25 lobster roll but to my surprise the food came out incredibly simple is is no doubt better than McDonald's lobster roll but 3 time more disappointed, just plan old lobster on a hot dog bun in a box that cost 25$......meahh
(2)
Shannon K.
I often go to Jakes but was very disappointed last night. I walked in and sat at the bar and the bartender Kathy snapped at me and asked me how many were in my party. I said three. My friend who I came in with had stopped to chat with someone she knew and my other friend had not arrived yet. There were 5 other available seats at the bar at that point. I was by no means trying to save a seat for the friend who hadn't arrived because I know better than that. I had to ask Kathy for a glass of wine. She gave it to me and I thanked her and she didn't even look at me. Long story short, she continued with the rudest treatment that I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I am very disappointed because I did have a nice piece of baked haddock but I'm seriously thinking that I don't even want to go there anymore.
(3)
J P.
What a terrible experience. We called in to get two lobster rolls to go. What a surprise when we opened it! There were two majonnaise packages, which made me wonder...then I take a look at the lobster rolls. The lobster meat did not have anything on it! No celery, no mayonnaise, no seasonings. The total was $54, what a rip-off. Never again.
(1)
Chris M.
My wife introduced me to Jake's, she is a big fan of the Lobstah Roll here and I could see why. The host and wait staff were very friendly and our server Susan B. was very attentive without being obtrusive. The Baked Sea Scallops were delicious and cooked properly and do yourself a favor and try the fried clams! Delicious! Portions were generous and reasonably priced, especially considering how close it was to the beach. I didn't get to try the lobster roll but our server assured us it was something to return for which I will!
(5)
Phil C.
Pretty good one time and just so-so the second time we went. The calamari was disappointing. As if it melted away in the fryer. Fish was good but it's pretty pricy. Good place to come when the grandparents are in town.
(4)
Mark A.
Visited with my wife and our two boys ( 5 and 7 years old) on a busy Saturday night. The food was excellent and fresh. The boys loved the popcorn shrimp. Our server Christine was great and made us feel right at home. It was busy, but you could tell they are used to it and had everything running like clockwork. Look forward to our next visit.
(5)
Mario C.
Heard great things about Jakes and wanted to get out of the city to just see some coastline. The service was ok the waitresses and hostess while friendly seemed like the whole atmosphere was very clumsy or disorganized. I can't put my finger on it, maybe it was the good weather or maybe just a busy day... it all just felt " meh". Anyway... to the food. The lobster roll is great! They do the whole purist variety with just juicy fresh lobster on a roll and nothing else but lemon on the side. There may have been a tiny drop of mayo in there but couldn't taste it. The lobster was delicious! Very very fresh. The clam strip platter with sweet potato fries came out rather too crispy. I mean it was ok and not oily at all it seems that perhaps the oil temperature was too high. I just didn't enjoy it - it didn't taste like sweet fries or sweet clam strips - it just tasted burnt and overdone. The raw bar was awesome! Oysters and little necks were fresh, clean, and delicious. So with such a mix of events and flavors I dunno - I would definitely come back and maybe even give them a second chance for a "Fried Adventure" but for someone who drove an hour out of his way the sequence of events doesn't have me running through my calendar to find an empty Saturday to pencil it in.
(3)
Will M.
This place is a staple. If you're on the south shore and want seafood- head here. It always has a good atmosphere. My favorite dish is the Pastariffic with wheat pasta. My friends and I will sometimes head down from Boston in the summer just to get it.
(4)
Amy H.
The food was delicious and the service was great too. They were able to accommodate a group of 11 around 7pm on a Tuesday night with only a short wait. 6 of our group were kids and they were all able to find something that they liked to eat. I think our server's name was Staci, she was very patient with all the kids and made us feel right at home. I would definitely go back when I'm in Hull again.
(5)
Jay K.
I'm just laughing reading some of the other yelp reviews on here. A lot of jaded people out there! My family is from Virginia, and we spend our summer near here. As soon as we unpack our bags we head to Jake's. The food is great, service is friendly, and beers are cold. My wife orders a variety of things from the menu. Swordfish, lobster rolls, different seafood platters, clam chowder. She has never complained about any of them. For me personally, I just always order the fried clams and the onion rings, both of which are delicious. I'm sure some of you native New Englanders have your own favorites, but I'll just assure you we don't have anything like these in Virginia. We look forward all year to eating here. We have three kids under ten who enjoy Jake's as well. There is a good kids menu, and I can pretty much guarantee you will have leftovers from that. Jake's is going to be a more expensive meal. If you're there on the weekends or later in the evening, I'm sure there will be a wait. There aren't a lot of options around this beach, so people will line up for a place as good as Jake's. That just is what it is.
(5)
Kevin C.
New for me after many visits...the Potato Salad in the retail case is perfect. The scallops are the best.
(5)
Jackie C.
We were in Hull for the weekend and our friend recommended this place.The food was amazing!! It was such an amazing family place and environment and atmosphere was so welcoming. We will definitely be back when we are in the area.
(5)
Andrew R.
This has been a terrific lunch and dinner spot for our family for more years than I'd like to admit. My wife and I were driving back toward Boston from Cape Cod during our summer trip ( The Notorious MD family live in San Diego). We diverted to Jakes rather than face Fri evening rush hour(s) into Boston. We arrived at Jakes around 5:30 PM. Lot was crowded but ample parking on adjacent pier. About a 15 minute wait ( which is not bad). We scored a table next to a screened in window overlooking the beautiful bay. A little wait time for our waitress to show up. After that, it was all smooth sailing. We each had traditional steamed lobster dinners. Lobster taste and texture were perfect. Lobster size seemed appropriate to price. Choice of 2 side dishes. I chose ( as I always do here) onion rings as one of my sides. I have not had better onion rings anywhere. They are crispy and taste like a tempura batter. Pass the ketchup please... Really love them. Family and local dining spot. We really like it. The doctor ( Notorious MD) prescribes Jakes for lobster or fried clam Withdrawal Syndrome. It's a sure bet cure.
(4)
Roger W.
Really torn on where to come down on Jakes. Rate it as a clam shack? If so it's very expensive, with fried clams so small they were overwhelmed by the "fried" but with great service, a fabulous view and a wide range of pretty good non-fried alternatives. Rate it as "fine dining"? then the food would be just OK, relatively unexciting preparations compared to Island Creek or Atlantic Fish, but relatively cheap. Rate it as a tourist trap seaside restaurant? Then five stars for serving very nice fresh, well prepared fish in a pretty setting. I'm coming out at four, because I will probably eat there every time I go to Hull, and it's been a good experience every time I've gone.
(4)
Peter F.
Food was very good. Ordered fried clam platter, lobster roll. Delicious. Service was also very good once we were seated. Only experience there that was not pleasant was dealing with the host while waiting to be seated. Went on a Saturday night during the summer and the place was slamming. Waited for over 90 minutes for a table, which was more than the hour estimate time they gave us. Understand, that happens, but when we inquired about the status of a table, the gentleman at the host station snapped at us, stating we would be sat when there was an open table. Guess he was overwhelmed and took it out on us. Glad we didn't let him deter us though because overall it was a good dinner.
(4)
Susan M.
After waiting 45 minutes to be seated, we finally watched as the owner passed us by one more time to seat a couple who had just walked in. This after I had been told that we were next.."they eat here all the time..he said..Well not cool Mr Jake..If you want mediocre fried food and to be treated like second class citizens..this is the place for you..if not, drive down the road to the Sea Dog for equally mediocre food but with a beautiful view and a friendly manager
(1)
Michael C.
A Jake's exists in almost every sea side resort town on New England. When you walk in the door you should know what to expect: 1. Slight surly hostess. 2. The basic nautical theme 3. Waitresses that vary in quality from indifferent to competent. ( our was the latter) 4. An extensive slightly overpriced menu with heavy emphasis on the fried foods. (Here they do themselves proud with many non-fried alternatives) 5. Large portions 6. Decent but average drinks 7. Great views to make up some of the other deficiencies. In all cases Jake's does not disappoint or surpass expectations. It is precisely what would expect of a restaurant located in place like Nanstasket, Hyannis, Dennis or 50 other locations from RI to ME. Go easy on the ordering especially the appetizers which are gigantic. If you are there during the off season and are under 65 you will feel like a kid. You will be at least 10 years younger than the average person in the place.
(3)
Douglas F.
It is opened for the season. Great small bar area and excellent seafood. It is a hull survivor
(4)
Damien S.
An institution round these parts, especially with the elderly who bussed in from a nearby home to partake in mediocre seafood. It's nautical, photo-loaded and "Jake" is a champion to the town, sponsoring kids' soccer teams and chucking fish from behind the to-go counter attached to the main restaurant. I get it. And the food itself isn't bad at all. Hard to muck up a basic fish&chip plate, even more so for her clam strips. Both okay, if needing a heavy dash of salt. The two looming facets of this journey that leave Jake's in the well of low-mediocrity are the completely inattentive staff and the outrageous prices. It's a wafer thin fillet of local whitefish, pre-packaged fries and a plastic tub of Ken's tartar sauce, and you wanna charge $14? Not that we were able to pay the bill or anything, what with our server pulling a Punxatawney Phil and disappearing for 15 minutes at a time. This was after he forgot our twice-requested rolls (which were stale). There are two distinct paths to choose when running the destination restaurant in an area devoid of long-standing classics: keep up with your regulars' expectations and surpass them, or rely on a haunting absence of competition and laugh all the way to the bank at the customers who come because they feel like they should. Unfortunately, Jake's chose the latter. On the upside, the urinal has a door that closes you in while you pee (see pic). House of Horrors included with your meal!
(2)
Phill B.
Like others have mentioned Jake is a blurry line between a lobster shack and a fine seafood dining establishment. I had the dijon salmon and my wife had the baked scrod: Both fish were well prepared but the scrod was a little bland, granted that's how scrod tastes. Food was overall good but the pricing combined with the drinks filled mostly with ice made the meal pretty expensive.
(4)
Karen H.
My friends and I had dinner at Jake's on Saturday, May 30. There were 9 in our party. We enjoyed our dinner, and had a great time...until the end. It was a very windy night, and as we were walking out, the metal sign displaying the specials blew over and hit my shin and ankle. It doesn't sound like much, but it is very heavy and left me with a swollen and bruised ankle, and a bruised shin. I am 67 years old. I am not looking for anything, but I was appalled with how the management handled the situation. Maria, the dining room manager, never asked me if I was ok, but asked me several times if I needed an ambulance. I declined, because I didn't. She spoke with the owner, Jim O'Brien,,and then gave me his card. She crosse out his number. Apparently they thought I was going to call him. I did leave my contact information. It has now been a week and a half and I have not heard a word. He should have called to see how I was doing. I don't want a free gift card, or anything of the sort. I just wanted some human compassion. It is a disgrace that he wouldn't follow up an injury at his establishment. We will not be going back.
(1)
Debra L.
So, maybe it's a bit of a tourist trap, set out to lure in Nantasket beach goers who have little else to choose from, but it's a decent option, especially if you have kids. Service at the hostess stand is typical New England surly for a busy place like this, but wait staff is much more pleasant. The vibe is loud, crowded and chaotic but if you know that and you are up for that, it works. The bar area is packed. The food is your typical fired seafood but if you look, you can find some more creative, and better tasting options, like the Portugese style calamari, which was surprisingly good. Also, the roasted littlenecks in spicy broth with chorizo is also pretty tasty. For something atypical of a seafood restaurant, I got the endive salad last time and really enjoyed it. I like it here but don't really go often because it's just too crowded.
(3)
Jessica B.
We love Jake's! Everything is so fresh and such good quality. We have been going here for years(the restaurant and the fish market side!), and have not had one bad experience. If you haven't tried it yet, get the Cajun seared tuna! It's my new fav!
(5)
Tom S.
This place is INCREDIBLE!! The seafood was fresh and delicious. We were seated right next to the window overlooking the bay. The staff was fun and attentive. They also have a seafood store, for those who live or stay in the area and want to purchase fresh seafood.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Tomorrow, we are going to Jake's for lunch. We cannot wait. Usually, go with my husband, daughters' families, and my 96 year old mother (who has eaten a lot of seafood and claims this is the best. She should know) This summer we have been trying to go at least once a week or every other week. Our favorites: Cajun swordfish chunk appetizer, garlic mussels, feta calamari, crab cakes, steamers, fried clams. Their sides are very good too...need to ask. My husband has stomach problems and loves their new kale salad and shrimp. Ok....we all took a few bites and agree that it is great...no bitterness. Their seafood food market is excellent too. Never bought anything that has fishy smell. Believe me... I am very fussy.
(5)
Reid F.
This is a solid, 4-star restaurant. Everything is very good, although nothing is outstanding. It is what you'd expect it to be.
(4)
Georgia G.
Jake's seafood gets 5 stars for service... Although the food was good too! Michael the bartender (you can call him Batman) was hilarious and made great recommendations for food and drinks. Although he was busy, he was there to ask us if we needed anything before our drinks were even empty. He even taught us the difference between a Fluffernutter and a Peanut Butter and Fluff! We have never been to Jakes before but will definitely look for Michael on our next visit... thanks for a great experience!!!
(5)
Gina W.
We were trying to eat at Lobster express up the street but they were closed for the off season and sent us here while informing us "Jakes is good but pricey" The clam chowder was the best out of all the places we ate at. The other food was ok but very expensive compared to other seafood places in the area. The lobster roll was disappointing. Just plain lobster on a hot dog roll with a package of mayo on the side for 25$. The clams again were good but almost 6$ more than the place up the street. Made it feel like a tourist trap.
(2)
Emily R.
Meh. Ive had better. Sums it up pretty well. My friend and I stopped into here on a saturday night. We expected a wait, so that was fine..BUT...we began to notice that the employees were seating their friends before us. A few families and couples came in that knew the Host..and they were seated right away..while the rest of us watched in awe. This is not cool. I mean if you are going to do that, at least keep it on the downlow. One guy got really mad and called the host out on it, and the host just told him to go, I guess they weren't worried about losing business... We finally are about to be seated, the host shows us to this table that looks like a bunch of 5 year olds had destroyed it minutes earlier...um no thanks? I don't mean to be a snob, but after seating your friends and making us wait 20 minutes longer than quoted, pleasee give us a clean table... The food was alright. I got the tilapia piccata...It was a little slimy, but hey my fault for ordering it. My friend got the shrimp scampi and really enjoyed it. We really wanted some bread and butter like all the other tables around us had. I finally broke down and asked for it. Overall, service could be greatly improved, the food was good though...maybe if I become friends with the host I will get seated quickly..and by the window with the great view?? (hopeful)
(2)
Dave K.
Went for lunch with the kids, everyone loved their meal, shrimp tacos fish and chips and the kids baked scrod. One of best seafood lunches have had in the area.
(5)
robert f.
Not sure how this gets more than three stars. Most expensive under tasting lobster roll i have ever had. I live in Boston, so i know overpriced when I see it. Fried clams, same story. Been here twice. Outside seating on public walk was great bonus. Decent food, just pricey, especially considering it's twenty miles from Boston rents. Spotlessly clean. Good parking n location.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Came here on a busy Sunday night. They seated us right away at a table for two right on the waterview glass windows. Doesn't get much better than that. Food: Clam chowder was delicious. Got a bottle of their most affordable chardonnay, which was just fine. Fish and chips were average with small but crispy fries. The Crab salad roll was really tasty, and just right. Definitely the highlight of our visit here. Key Lime pie was great. Cons: Wish they'd bring you some bread or rolls, considering you're paying $18 for basic fish and chips. The cheapest house salad starts at $7, and there's no option to add a salad onto your dinner entree for a lower price. If it was even $5 to add one, then I would have. Dessert = any slice of pie/cake you want is minimum $7. Again, a bit overpriced. And if you ordered the chocolate cake slice, you have to pay another $1 or $2 for ice cream. I mean, really? $9 for a chocolate slice with a scoop of ice cream? What's in it, gold? haha. I'll probably try other places in the area before I return. I thought prices were a little steep for what we received. However, food quality was good, which is important.
(4)
Mike C.
Stopped in on a Thursday night. Sat at the bar. GREAT bartender! Ordered the Asian Salmon, which the bartender concurred with. Fine meal, good ambience, friendly locals. What else do you need?
(4)
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Address :50 George Washington Blvd
Hull, MA, 02045
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Stacie B.
Stopped by here while I was in the area hoping to get a good lobster and I surely did! While I'm not too experienced with New England's seafood, I am a huge seafood fan and found this place to be great! I was a little confused as to what to do with the tannish water and lemon with the cheesecloth over it that came on the side.
(4)Stefanie G.
I went here for lunch today......you'll run into the old senior citizen crowd and tourists/family in the summer........however I need to repress my need to curse because the food was so damn good!!!! THE MOST EXTENSIVE MENU OF GLUTEN-FREE FRIED SEAFOOD IS HERE! Clams, mussels, scallops, haddock, shrimp, calamari....anything and everything a gluten-free dieter can imagine. I recommend the fried calamari portuguese style with marinara, feta cheese, olives, and artichokes. The seafood platter is amazing for fried scallops and haddock. Don't just settle for this sandwich or a salad....take advantage of a healthier alternative to fried food....without all the heavy flour.
(5)Kasey P.
Great service, love the food, and the view/location is beautiful. A little bit pricey for what it is, which is why I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. I would recommend the oysters and steamers. The fried flounder was also delicious. Onion rings are also very good. Classic New England seafood, with great view. Love sitting next to the big screen windows. Expect a wait, but worth it! Outdoor seating only for appetizers and drinks is kind of lame =/
(4)Jean S.
I celebrated my belated birthday there. It was a party of 8 that turned into 6. We had the most incredible food.The Cedar Planked Salmon was cooked to perfection the sides of white bean salad and brussel sprouts just made my meal fabulous! My husband and friends meals were perfect too! Thanks to Jimmy and his wonderful staff for such a wonderful dinner and Birthday!
(5)Ross C.
I'm not sure why we were kept waiting outside for 1.5 hours with no explanation despite several attempts. As we walked away, after seeing other parties that arrived after us get seated, we saw several empty tables. On a Sunday evening. Inexcusable.
(1)Eric G.
Another busy Sunday night. We were told a table for 2 would be 25 min. It took an hour. We understand that they are estimating, but we watched a party of 3, wait 10 min. Order, Eat and get there check, while we waited. Food was good once we sat down, but we were frustrated so it wasn't as enjoyable.
(3)Deb S.
Have had a great meal here every time we've visited. Service has been good and even when crowded we get seated quickly. This is our go-to-place for seafood.
(5)Russell P.
Jake's was great! We were seated right away next to the screened window on a beautiful Tuesday night. Once we had the server explain the 6 menus in front of us ordering drinks and meals was a breeze. At first I questioned our $10 beverages, but they hit the spot and were healthy with the spirits (although I wish the glass were a little bigger). We ordered the buffalo shrimp appetizer (best part of the meal!). Perfectly breaded and spicy!!! First time having a lobster roll so didn't know what to expect, but I couldn't finish all the lobster meat (sorry). My friend had the seafood sampler and said it was broiled and fried so perfectly and lightly. Not a heavy greasy fried you find at most places. The key lime pie wasn't very tart like I usually expect. And the brownie sundae was amazing. Left very full with a $100 ticket and I would certainly come back to try more. Service was great and friendly. Made me feel at home almost with the family portraits hanging all around. Nice view of the water. Enjoy!
(5)Deb J.
Stopped in for a nice meal after spending the day in Hull. SO glad we did! Great choices on the menu, very nice atmosphere, excellent drinks and outstanding waitstaff! Sure, any place can boil a lobster or broil some fish, but few places season it right and cook it without OVER cooking it! Our party had the cedar plank salmon and the sauteed flounder. Both dishes were perfect. Loved the baby baked potatoes and those roasted brussel sprouts served room temp were wonderful!! And about those adult-style beverages.... YUM! That was the good booze... not the cheap stuff! Prices were in line with what you should expect to pay at a nice restaurant. This ain't a clam shack or a beach hut. It's a "shake the sand off your feet outside, put on your shirt and act like a grown up" kind of place. Already planning a return trip to Hull, and Jakes will be a definite destination.
(4)Joe C.
Went here with the wife and two kids after the tide chased us off the beach. Sat on the patio, no service. Walk all the way to the other end of the crowded restaurant to order, then they tell me to go back to the patio, then check back and the food might be ready. Bartender hassling about one drink for every person, so now my wife and I have to walk up to get our drinks separately. Food is overpriced and ill prepared. Trash unemptied on the patio, so no place to put it. Buyer beware at this joint. I dropped 200.00 in about 30 min. And was made to feel bad about it.
(2)Amy M.
I'd only heard good things about Jake's, so I decided to try it. The experience was definitely sub-par. Bad parts: Service was... lacking. Our waitress told us, from the start, "Sorry, I'm out of it today." Then commenced forgetting our drinks, forgetting to bring us our sides, and messing up the order. Then I found a hair in my food. Great. The fried shrimp was bland, and the haddock was flavorless -- despite being fried. And the salmon was flavorless and watery, as if it was cooked too long or old. Good parts: the view and the french fries. I loved the atmosphere -- it was beachy but classy, and I loved seeing the water. But really, if I had wanted good fries, I could've gone somewhere else for cheaper. If you're looking for good seafood, try somewhere else and save the money.
(2)Kyle D.
The food is great, the drinks are great, but two lobsters and a glass of wine between two people for 115 dollars?! I think not! It'll be nice when the weather gets warmer and you can sit outside on the deck as ill only be coming back for the odd drink out on the patio.
(3)Lydia L.
There are few things more wonderful than eating fresh seafood in an upscale fish shack on a cool evening with the water lapping outside and the clinky clanky of boat things tinkling in the night. I experienced Jake's not once but twice on the same day. For lunch my friend made me a lobstah roll which we took to pic-a-nic at The Tip. She bought the cooked lobster meat from Jake's market. For dinner we went for a sit down where I had a small Caesar Salad and a half dozen ($2 a pop) Pemaquid Oysters. The ambiance as I mentioned was nice, casual and unstuffy. The dining room overlooked the water and was adorned with lots of memorabilia related to the fishing industry and to local milestones, personages and events. My oysters, while not local (they are from "the deepest holes of the Damariscotta River" in Maine) were small, tasty and briney. I would have easily had more but I am no Adam Richman. The Caesar Salad was crisp and provided a nice crunch to offset the texture of the oysters. I had wanted a half order of their Calamari (as if I did not learn my lesson with the CT kraken!) Marinara but they do not do half orders. Oh well. Next time. There are lots of options available for such meals but since Jake's has been around for 60+ years, it was a great choice for experiencing Hull's restaurants and eating among the people who keep them in business in the off season. 2.75 stars rounded up due to their wicked fish mahket. jakesseafoods.com youtube.com/watch?v=X6pU…
(3)Rich G.
Anybody who's lived on the South Shore for a while will agree, there are two Jake's, the original the 2nd after they rebuilt. The old one was a little dark and dated, but it was superb. It was the best seafood on the south shore from Quincy to Plymouth. For a full menu of seafood, you could not beat it for quality, service and price. It was very family friendly and loved the relaxed welcome feeling. Since the rebuild, They went way upscale. The place is very nice. I think the food is still quite good, but no longer exceptional. Regarding prices, they should check their address, they are in Hull not the Back Bay. It's like it went from Beer to Chardonnay they are now looking for an upscale clientele instead of a great restaurant for locals to enjoy. A bigger pet pieve, there is no reason why you should have to pay more for local fresh fish. They charge it because they can. Yes, we like chardonnay and yes will eat there again, but boy do we miss the old Jake's.
(3)Paul S.
7/16/2012 We ordered lobster and clam chowder to go. The food was a little delayed due to a high volume order. Management compensated with extras, thank you!!! Lobster was delicious, clam chowder as well. Next time we will dine in and do the full experience.
(4)Laura M.
I really expected this to be not so great. I loved it though! Good service. Day boat fish. Reasonable prices. Best seafood I've found in the area. Can't believe it's taken me this long to find out about it! I'd definitely go back and easily recommend for that area.
(4)Carrie P.
Every time we have come the service is awesome and the food is amazing!!!!
(5)Allison O.
Walked in on a busy Sunday night after spending the day on the beach. We only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated, and took advantage of their outdoor deck where you can get drinks and appetizers. The staff was very friendly. The food was good- the calamari was delicious, and the lobster roll was good and very filling! (Plus it contained a very generous serving of lobster!). The prices were bit more than I expected, but everything was great!
(4)Keith W.
My daughter and I stopped by for dinner on Friday night. The restaurant was packed as it is one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Massachusetts. Once we were seated we had great service and great food. I recommend the Jumbo Shrimp. It was cooked just right. We finished dinner with coffee and dessert. The deserts were excellent and the coffee was freshly brewed. The family that runs the restaurant seems to be very involved in supporting the town. This place has a real friendly feel. We will be back to Jakes!
(5)Brianne K.
First time back in over three years - this place still is terrible. The calamari was greasy and tough, fish bland and service forgettable. Save yourself $50 and head to your local grocery store and trust your Gorton's fisherman will get you better value and flavor than Jake's does.
(1)John S.
My family used to go to Jakes for 3 generations, ever since my grandparents built our 2 beach houses here in Hull.We've gone up until 10 years ago. It took a real dive as the owner got older. The last time I went there we got the double lobster dinner. They were so overcooked I said something to the owner ( older guy). Because my husband had eaten a bite of it before I told him not to eat it, the owner gave us a hard time. I have grown up eating seafood and making my own chowda from cuahogs from the beach at low tide! I know how to cook a lobster ( actually 8 at a time!) as well.So, my family walked out and never came back. Evidently, from the recent reviews, they still haven't gotten the hint. If you want good seafood, go down the street to Hingham lobster pound. You don't get to sit inside ( take out only) but the fried clam strips , bellies, shrimp, and lobster are to DIE for. Tony's clam shack in wollaston is also famous and pretty good with outdoor seating.
(2)Jon G.
Jake's is the perfect waterfront seafood restaurant -- somewhere in between a beachside clam shack and Legal Seafoods. I've been twice, and ordered the cajun swordfish sandwich both times... it just melts in your mouth. It's one of those meals you keep thinking about days later! Everyone else I dined with enjoyed their meals too. The staff were friendly, and very accommodating when we brought 2 kids with us the second time. It's right up against the harbor, with seats outside and a breezy, seaside feel inside. And the house dark ale was terrific, too. Can't say enough good stuff about this place!
(5)Jacqueline C.
Will not likely ever go back here... I'm ok with loud and touristy as long as the food is good. We were looking for a place to bring the kids and get fresh food. This seemed like a good idea so we checked it out. They told us there was a ten minute wait....but we ended up waiting nearly forty minutes. It was a hot day today and the restaurant provided no reprieve. It must have been 85 degrees inside. I immediately ordered two drinks for myself! The server was nice and the food came out quick. But it was so loud and chaotic inside that we ended up having to practically yell to be heard. If I didn't want to hear what my kids were saying I'd hand them an iPad. The food was only ok. It was definitely a rip off, which you kind of expect from a seafood restaurant on the water, but it wasn't good enough to mark you not feel that bad about it. The kids dinners were properly portioned, which you don't find many places, but totally tasteless. They al had the Mac and cheese and it was pretty bland. We had the lazy mans lobster and the shrimp and scallops in cream sauce. The food came out hot, which was nice. The lobster was supposed to be a half pound of meat but it seemed very small. For $30 it totally wasn't worth it. I guess that's what you get for being lazy though! The pasta was ok. Not great, not awful. There just wasn't anything nice or good enough about this place to make me ever want to go back. I think a much better bet on the south shore is Polcari's Bridgeway in Marshfield. (what I would really like to find is the equivalent of Woodmans on the South Shore!)
(2)Katie V.
In guess in comparison to other options in Hull, Jake's is not too bad. Overpriced - yes. The food is fresh but not too original. It's fine, standard New England fare. Clam chowder was probably the best thing we ordered. There was some confusion with the order -- for instance, I wanted the softshell crab sandwich and the waitress seemed unaware of its existence on the menu until I pointed it out to her. My BF wanted a fried fish sandwich and instead got a bread-less entree version. Cajun popcorn shrimp were too mild/flavorless. Wine list was decent; pretty views of the bay.
(2)Paul M.
I have been here a few times, will not go back unless forced, the food is bland and over priced and the wait staff is slow and messes up the order every time, yes, it is a haven for the senior set so be ready for blue tips and perfume, it is overwhelming.
(1)Evonne S.
Found this restaurant on google, just surfing the net. I was pleasantly surprised by it all together. The atmosphere made me feel like I was on vacation. haha. Our service was fine, she was attentive and polite and refilled our drinks appropriately. Food was really good and the price was reasonable. We had already eaten at Tony's and Clambox and they were just OK but i would rather drive 25 mins to eat here instead. We had the crabcakes and Jakes seafood platter. The fried clam bellies, fish, scallops and shrimp were cooked perfectly. I will be taking my family when they visit from out of town. Cute town too!!
(4)lori p.
Spent our last night of our vacation at Jakes. Food was excellent, seafood fresh, atmosphere casual and fun. Our waitress Jamie excellent and friendly.
(4)Judith P. G.
If seafood is your pleasure and you want a sunset view, very nice wait staff and reasonable prices for what you get, then you really have to try Jake's. It is located on the water next to the marina and across from the carousel in Hull. They are open seasonably so eat up while you can. (Jake's will close Sunday Nov 17 with the on-site seafood market open for Thanksgiving and Christmas orders.) It has a casual nautical motif with many real artifacts and memorabilia and either booths or tables/chairs. In the warm weather, you can eat on the deck. Our fav appetizer to share is the naked calamari( kalamata olives, artichokes and roasted peppers in a slightly spicy marinara sauce with perfectly tender calamari) The sauce can also be purchased from the kitchen., along with other yummies like crab cakes that are thick with crab and much lighter on breading, dips, soups, etc. Every single fish dish is cooked perfectly, esp. the swordfish, prepared several different way (note, recipes say cook until flaky...NO, NO because by the time it is flaky, it is overdone)...this is mouthwatering. The fried seafood is not greasy, simply a palate-pleasing guilty pleasure. There is a bar as well, with the TV tuned to sports, with seasonal drinks as well as standards and a wine list. Earlier in the afternoon is quieter with a more crowded scene at dinner on summer weekends. Others have commented that they thought the prices were high...not as high as Legal Sea Foods, and reasonable for the obviously high quality of the product...seafood is no longer cheap. We have been dining there 2-4 times a month for the last year and have never encountered a "surly" person. In the evenings, Mr. O'Brien himself is usually at the host station. Put it on your must-try list for next Spring.
(5)Kerri O.
There have been complaints noted by others about service, but ours was fantastic. We were a large walk in party, too.The waitress handled our large party with ease, and checked on ingredients for my sister, and suggested good alternatives. The food was all really marvelous. In our party, we all got different things. My sister got the Mediterranean Salad with Buffalo shrimp (I know, a weird combo, but she loved it). Mom got a heaping helping of sweet gorgeous steamers for cheap. My other sister got a fried halibut sandwich, which she was kvelling over. Bro in law got the fried clams which he demolished. He didn't comment on them, but he looked very happy. He doesn't talk much, anyways. The kids were all happy with their menu options. Gracie loved her Fluffenutter sandwich. Anneke gobbled her Fried shrimp up. Sarah loved her Mac and Cheese. As usual, we had to force feed Emma her grilled cheese, but she said it was good. I had the Endive salad, which was great. I know, no seafood? I wanted a light and crispy salad, which I got. If nothing else, go by my Mom. She knows seafood. She and Dad get theirs all the time, here, from the counter. It's all really fresh stuff. By the way, EVERYONE was really nice to us. Just saying it.
(5)Elaine H.
Lobster roll was perfect. Mayo was on the side...yea. Lots of lobster. Loved it.
(4)DonPaul N.
Jake's is a decent place that serves fresh fish, though when ever I leave there, I feel a little let down. I can say I have never had a bad meal there, though I can't say I've ever had a great meal there, as their menu items are served with inconsistent success. On my last visit, we started with raw oysters, which were completely bereft of "liquor". This is where most of the flavor comes from and it was if whoever shucked them purposely drained them! Next we had the excellent crabcakes which were all meat and served with a chipotle sauce and mango salsa. For main course, i went simple with baked haddock. It was a beautiful looking piece of fish, but was not very flavorful and was just on the edge of being warm, but not hot. I doused it with a couple of wedges of lemon to give it some pizzazz. My wife had the mussels marina with ample mussels and a watery and weak marina sauce. Save for the garlic, it was flavorless. The service was very good, except when the waitress came to clear the table of our plates, she didn't even question why my wife only ate a third of her dinner. On the brighter side, it can be a nice place to eat at sunset as the water views are nice and the sea shanty decor is charming. The recently expanded bar can be a fun place to sit and chat with strangers.
(3)Jessica S.
I've been to Jake's a few times and have always had a great experience. It is the perfect place to catch a meal at the end of the day - especially if you can get a table near the windows with a view of the marina. I am not the biggest seafood fan in the world, so I can't attest to the quality of the lobster etc. but I've had backed haddock and scrod here multiples times and each time it was fantastic. Most recently I had it prepared blackened and it was spicy and delicious. The fish and chips here are tasty as well. One thing I can really compliment Jake's on is their Sauteed Fried Calamari. I have never really been a fan of the stuff because I hate the texture but my dad ordered some and I gave it a whirl. The garlic sauce was excellent and the texture was not nearly as rubbery as what I've had in the past - I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. The fish market here is great as well. A little more expensive usually than the one next door at the Steamboat Marina, but the quality is definitely there.
(4)Lorelle C.
Visited Jake's last Saturday at noon with my aunt and grandmother. Service was prompt and friendly and the food was delicious. I got the cajun swordfish sandwich ($12) while my aunt and grandmother got the lobster salad roll ($18). All three sandwichs were generous and served with a heaping pile of french fries and coleslaw. The lobster salad rolls had large pieces of meat with little to no mayonaise served on a hot dog roll. My cajun swordfish sandwich was served dry on a roll with lettuce and tomato and had some spicy mayonaise on the side- seems like a straightforward sandwich, but it was amazing. I will go back and probably get the swordfish sandwich again! :)
(4)Jess L.
Fresh casual seafood at competetive prices. Lobster roll was good, fish and chips were kinda blah, fried clams were excellent, oysters were fresh albeit pricey. One warning: if the patio doors are shut, don't let them seat you out there...it's too darn noisy!
(4)Domenico B.
Jake's was a last-minute choice, picked from Yelp as we were storm-cruising with the kids on a rainy Tuesday vacation day. It was just the right place at the right time. The atmosphere is fun and nautical, the place looks newly redone and clean. I was especially happy that they don't cram as many tables as possible into the dining room,so you have room to push back from the table and not run into other diners. The view was beautiful too, looking out on the marina. The table was practically hanging over the water! Jake's is also kid-friendly with crayons and paper and a decent kid's menu. And it was just loud enough that normal happy kid noise didn't bother anyone. As for the food, it was very good. I got steamers, which were not at all gritty. It was a good-size portion too, I'd say about 2 pounds. I also got the fried calamari platter. Not greasy and I was happy to get cocktail sauce along with tartar sauce without asking. My wife got the lobster bisque and salad combo from the lunch menu. The bisque was served in a boulé bread loaf, which was good, but they could have made the cavity in the bread a little bigger to hold more of the bisque. The service was also very good, with very friendly and competent servers, both for our table and, I noticed, the other tables around us. Next time we're in Hull looking for lunch, I think we'll be back at Jake's.
(4)Katie W.
Two stars ONLY because they have decent seafood. You can absolutely get better service anywhere else! My husband and I went there last night and long story short, we waited over an hour for a table, while parties who arrived later than us were seated quickly, If you go there you must either wait inside or tell the host exactly where you'll be waiting, if you wait out on the deck, which they run separately for drinks and apps, they only call for you out there if you specifically tell them you'll be out back. The hostess, whom I later found out is one of the owners, is very rude and argued with me when I asked about the wait. Decent food, decent servers, but you can get that elsewhere. Based on my experience with one of the owners, most likely will not be going back.
(2)Nicole O.
Location is great, but cannot give you much color on the quality of food since the bartender shut us off after 3 beers... Apparently there's a 3 beer max even though we were sitting on the outdoor patio for a couple hours. i'm persuing the yelp feedback... seems many think Jakes is way overpriced-- could have been a nice tip lady!
(2)Katie C.
Wow, this place was unfortunately pretty darn disappointing. I live on the West Coast now so when I come home I want lobster! Went here with my family because they have choices other than seafood. To keep this short and sweet... My $44 2lb lobster was pretty overlooked:( for sides I had rice pilaf and Brussels sprouts and the rice was fine but the veggies were really over cooked, dry and cold. Our 2 year old ordered the chicken fingers which were processed meat. The baked seafood casserole was, well, we are not sure what fish it was but had a very odd texture; not what you'd expect with cod, scrod or haddock. The salad was on the soggy side. That being said. Great great popcorn shrimp and chowder. Not the worst seafood place in the world but just wanted to warn anyone who needs a good seafood fix.
(2)Amanda B.
Perfect place to stop for dinner after an afternoon walk at End of the World. The location was awesome and we got the best table in the place without asking. *bonus points* We were both in fish n' chips moods (although the lobsters brought to the table next to us created some food-envy). They were fine. Pretty generous portions. Good fresh fish. Could have used a tad more flavor. I was a little shocked by the prices...I mean this is a flip-flop friendly restaurant and our two fish n'chips entrees with cups of chowder to start left us with a $45 meal.... Stil. the location makes up for a lot TIP: make sure to bring a sweater. A pretty stiff breeze can blow through the covered porch part of the restaurant.
(3)Darline J.
Me and my fiance went there this past Friday night, May 17, 2013. Not only did we wait along time because the gentleman who took our name crossed out so many names that he didn't see our name. We sat at the bar and listened to him screem names for the next seaters. The bartenders were very nice. We ended up ordering a bottle of house red wine for $27 because for a glass of house red wine was $10 each. We finally got seated because my fiance said something about people going a head of us. The waitress Jenna was awesome. She couldn't do enough for us. I ordered the Halibut, which was juicey but had no taste at all and don't recommend it. My fiance has seared Tuna, which was delicious. Because we were there so long, we watched the waitstaff packing up the tables, which I find rude. I would not recommend this restuarant. On Saturday night, we went to the Paragon Grill in Hull and I had a Salmon that was the best I ever tasted. If you want seafood, I would go there.
(1)Spencer D.
Lobster bisque is absolutely top notch. Only matched by Wood's on the harbor in Plymouth. All others pale in comparison. Order the very fresh and thick swordfish as a chaser. You will not be disappointed. Too many kids can make it pretty noisy but it is a family place.
(4)Alison P.
Do you have someone coming to visit from out of town? Perhaps they want good seafood with a pretty drive by the ocean to get there? And afterward a trip to a carousel? Oh, yup, Jakes. This place does it well. Don't order the grilled chicken, there is a lot of it, and its really bland. Everything else though is seafood heaven. They have a good fried up platter, of course. I had their seared tuna with wasabi sauce - well above average. My cousin had the cheesy pasta with lobster, and that was richness, really good stuff. They also do good bluefish, but order the sauce on the side. I liked it, but everyone else said it was too much. The service was slow, but it wasn't terrible for a weekend night, and after an embarrassing "I don't have my ID" at the bar, they served me at the table like reasonable folk. There is nothing as embarrassing as your mom taking your drink away from you at 26. Seriously? Um, yeah. Good place, good food, ignore the silly decor, and sit with a view of the ocean.
(4)Jeannie J.
This place is pretty standard seafood by the sea fare. The fish and chips/salmon entree/clam chowder were all okay. The one standout was the swordfish tips in the cajun sauce. Pretty oily, but loved the tenderness of the fish combined with the cajun spice! We ordered 9 raw oysters and out of 5 of us, my husband got a bad one. Hit him about 30 minutes later :(
(3)martina d.
I have been going to Jake's for years- known for delicious seafood, beautiful views, casual dining. Unfortunately the quality of the food has deteriorated and the prices have increased, based on my last few visits. No longer has personal feel- O'Brien family would check to insure that you had a good meal...this no longer happens. Now feels more like a tourist restaurant, instead of a local haunt. Last visit had fish and chips. Little flavor, service was harried at best, high priced. Think it's time to move on to another restaurant...unfortunately.
(2)Raquel S.
Lobster bisque is delicious. You have to try the cajun grilled salmon with tomato and lime sauce. Plus great service.
(4)Alexandra S.
This first visit for this season was not good. We were surprised, unhappily so. Service was sloppy and inattentive. Everything we asked for got mixed up. The waiter asked all the right questions but then goofed everything up. Then my husband asked for rolls for the table, the waiter brought one hard, aged roll even though there were two of us at the table. It was a stale roll too. Our appetizer came out with the meal instead of beforehand and aside from that it was unappetizingly greasy and not hot. My meal was not what I asked for. When I finally got my food it was cold. We asked for a second round of beers. We never got them. It was beyond annoying during what hubby and I hoped would be a relaxing lunch sitting in a great spot next to the water on a gorgeous and very beautiful and sultry day. The good news is that when I complained to the hostess Maria, she couldn't have been nicer. Maria, you were great. She clearly knows customer service is important and comped us the meal...well at that point just my husband's meal since I had returned my plate for the second time and ended up just sharing some of his food. Jake's needs to step it up with the wait staff. The prices seem to have gone up this year too. I don't go looking for things to complain about and I know this is a casual, beachy place, but I do believe that excellent wait service is an absolute must. They did do a nice renovation of the bar area. We'll likely give Jake's another try at some point in the summer as we have always liked going there in the past . Stay tuned.
(2)Dave C.
Really, Really good Clam chowder. Fried clams were very good also. I saw the Lobster Sandwich (not the roll).I Didn't try it but the sandwich looked really good too. New outdoor seating was nice with a view of a small marina.
(5)Jeff B.
While on vacation in the Boston area a couple of years ago, my wife and I stopped into Jake's for dinner. It was superb! It is located right on the water in a very quaint area. For the appetizer, we ordered some raw oysters and the spicy calamari. The plate of calamari was enormous. Easily enough to feed four people for an appetizer. The oysters were fresh and delicious, as was the calamari. For the entree, my wife ordered lobster served on a bed of clams and I ordered the seafood pasta. Once again, everything was absolutely delicious. The decor in the restaurant was very nicely done and the wait staff were some of the nicest people I have ever come across. There is also a small seafood market attached to the restaurant where you can purchase fresh seafood to cook at home. I have uploaded some drool worthy photos of our food for your enjoyment. Give this place a try!
(5)Caroline F.
I've been going to Jake's every summer for my entire life, and it's still probably my favorite restaurant in the world. While I've expanded my palate beyond the fish & chips, they remain the best I've ever had. I've moved on (barely) to ordering the Pastariffic Swordfish, which is cajun grilled swordfish over pasta in a scampi sauce. Jake's can be pricey, but what *fresh* seafood restaurant isn't? Plus, almost everything is big enough to be able to have leftovers to take home
(5)Amy R.
It makes me sad that it closes down for part of the year, just like my beloved JJs the dairy stand. I could eat at Jakes every week for the rest of my life, seriously. Very straight forward simple seafood. Mostly locally caught and very reasonably priced. One of our favs is the tilapia picatta. They now do single or double portions and the single is more than enough for one sitting. Do the Double for take home. They have a buffalo fish fingers starter that is AWESOME. I try a lot of their seasonal specials, I had a littlenecks with leeks and pasta dish that was faboo. I think their best deal is the clambake for 30.00 where you get a 1 1/4lb lobster, chowder or bisque, corn, clams, mussles and a veggie side! The thing I'll be dreaming of until next fall however is the pumpkin cheesecake. It will dance around in my mind and taunt me all year as it's absolutely amazing-fluffy with a little spice. HEAVEN.
(5)Alissa M.
Hands down my favorite restaurant on the south shore! The food is as fresh as you can get. I have never had a bad meal here. I love the tuna steak, and the white bean salad is amaizing! You can't get a better location than this either. Right on the water, next to the marina. I heard they are building a bigger bar close to the water side for next summer. Can't wait for that! The only downfall to this place is that it closes from November to April. They also have a fish market inside, which i believe stays open year round.
(5)Krista S.
Gave it one star because I never got to try the food... arrived an hour and a half before closing time and put our names in. Immediately followed by a woman I take to be the manager or owner yelling that's it!! That's it don't take anymore names were done!! Shutting off the open light and rolling her eyes when another couple behind us tried putting their names in. I've been in the restaurant business for 8 yrs and have never in my life seen someone so upset to have business in the restaurant....we are in a recession...many places would kill for the business!! We felt very uncomfortable and left...its sad too because I've heard great things about the food...
(1)Dottie P.
We had the fried whole clams. They were fresh and large but quite bready. The fries were undercooked and not good. I've had better clams and fries at outdoor clam shacks (like the Clambox in Ipswich). The place is appropriate for families, but don't choose Jake's for a quiet evening out. Service was harried and spotty. Due to its price / quality ratio, we probably won't return anytime soon. And when we finally do, we'd ask for extra-crispy on anything that comes fried.
(2)Bill Y.
I agree with everything that the positive reviewers have to say about Jake's. It is the perfect seafood place to which to repair after a day beside on on the sea. Walls are maple as are the benches. Ocean-related items all over the walls. The place was jammed the Sunday at 7:00 when we arrived. I'd called earlier to confirm that they do not take reservations for parties of 2 (may not take reservations at all - didn't ask). I was told that "..things move along fast and you won't have to wait long". What I didn't hear him say was "ha-ha". We waited an hour but watching people is always entertaining but the delay took the edge off my appetite. My fault. The menu is great with a full array of seafood (red meat eaters look elsewhere). The service was quite good. I order light and had six shrimp in a shrimp cocktail. (One may order them by the shrimp for $2.50 apiece.) My wife ordered a caesar salad with lobster meat on the salad. Her salad was magnificent and utterly loaded with lobster. She ate almost all of the really large salad and she is not a b eater. She pronounced it "delicious!" The shrimp cocktail was prepared to perfection. Sometimes one gets a shrimp cocktail in which one can almost see through the shrimp and they are almost slimy. Gad, I hate shrimp like that. On the other hand, one sometimes get shrimp that are badly over cooked. There is a fine line in shrimp preparation and good places always get it right and Jake's got it right. The fries and onion rings looked great. Now to the problem: For reasons that I cannot understand they served the shrimp with cocktail sauce made by "Kens" and served in those little peel-off-the-top aluminum containers. God, the stuff was utterly horrible. I used as little as I could and even at that it detracted from the flavor of the shrimp. Why oh why would a fine old place like Jake's use a sauce like that???Very disappointing indeed. They also use "Ken's" tarter sauce which I suspect is equally nasty. Next time I go I am taking my own cocktail and tarter sauce. I'd immediately give them another star if they made their own sauces which are remarkably easy to do. Using a pre-made product of dubious quality causes the loss of a star because it seems so careless and thoughtless. They can do better.
(3)Tara M.
Went to jakes last night. View is beautiful but when the weather is perfect with a great breeze, why would they not have a window open? The room wAs so uncomfortably warm my husband and I had sweat dripping down our necks. Worst part was nothing was done to fix the problem after we complained. Waitress just said "oh things were blowing earlier, I know it's really hot". Husbands seafood casserole was just a small casserole dish with some hot lobster meat. Not even a single breadcrumbs, Let alone seafood stuffing. He sent it back and it came back with about a teaspoon of breadcrumbs that were not even toasted . The rice was flavorless. We ended up not finishing our meal. It was a bad idea to go to this tourist trap in the first place. Over rated and over priced.
(1)Stacy M.
Jake, I know we started off on the wrong foot, and I'm sorry for doubting you. Our calamari appetizer wasn't fried up enough, leaving it sadly bland. My iced tea tasted like vaguely flavored tea water. Wah. Then I dug into a fat plate of fried clams n' fries. Fried hot mess done just right. My fellow pescatarian shared a bite of his lobster roll. Deliciously cooked sweet and tender meat. All is forgiven, Jake. I'll be back.
(4)Sheri H.
I tried Jake's for the first time last summer, during the last week of August (right in the middle of that miserable, rotten heat wave that seemed like it would never end). I would love to give it 5 stars because of the food, but since the service was only 2-star, I am compromising with 4 stars. The hostess was an older woman who wasn't exactly pleasant, but she wasn't rude, either, so that was a wash. (My waitress was a different story entirely, but I'll get to her later). At any rate, I got the window seat that I asked for (which had a beautiful view overlooking the water, although it was not the ocean) and I ordered their New England Clam Bake. And it was orgasmic. There is simply no other way to describe it. The salad had beautiful, crisp (romaine) lettuce, along with other (very) fresh salad vegetables, and a nice, tangy dressing. The clam chowder was in the top 5 of all the clam chowders that I have ever eaten, the corn was fresh and delicious, the steamers had big bellies, and the lobster was perfection (plenty of meat--especially tail meat). In fact, the entire meal was perfection--real, serious perfection. The problem I had with them (and this was why they didn't get the 5 stars that I would really love to give them) was that because they didn't have the AC cranked up very high (and this was a 98 degree day), halfway through the meal, between the heat and the sun beating on my face through the window, I started to feel a little sick. I put up with it for as long as I could, but, finally, I told my waitress (a very lackadaisical and uninterested teeny-bopper) that I wanted to move to another table. Her response was to tell me that she didn't think that the hostess would allow me to move (!) and although I politely tried to explain to her that I would have to cancel the rest of my order if I was forced to continue to sit there, she continued to argue with me. Finally, I got a little irate and told her that I seriously doubted that the hostess would want one of her patrons passing out in front of the rest of the diners and basically ordered her to bring the hostess to me. (Which she did, and the hostess, of course, moved me immediately, at which point I proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the rest of my meal.) I also left that twirpy little waitress a 20% tip, which seemed to surprise her (and it should have, considering that what I really should have done was stiff her. But the food made doing something like that impossible). Also, I went back the following week and got the Seafood Platter to go, and it really was the best I ever had. Perfect light batter, with the seafood melting in my mouth and I can't even think of an adjective to describle how amazing the fish tasted. (My only complaint is that the portions were small for the price charged, but when the food tastes as great as this food tasted, it becomes worth it and I would definitely get it again)
(4)Will M.
After a day on the Nantasket beach we were looking for some good seafood nearby. We looked up Jake's on Yelp and it did not disappoint. The wait was not too long the staff were nice and the food delicious. I had the seafood casserole. I highly recommend it. My wife had the King Crab Roll, it wad okay. The crab was good and it came with mayo on the side, but nothing special really. The price was right there too though. The entrees were normal for a good local seafood place and it included a 2 sides (or a side salad and one side). The Fresh Brownie Sunday was the perfect desert for the day too.
(4)Heather B.
I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews. Aside from the beach, Jakes is the best thing about living in Hull. Their fish is high quality and super fresh. I love the cedar plank salmon as a healthy choice, but the fried scallops are my favorite when I really want to indulge. Their Portuguese style calamari app is huge and delicious- all their fried food is only lightly breaded. The lobster bisque is to die for. We have a bit of an "in", so always get a great window seat. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is the cost, but then again, you get what you pay for. Oh, also very kid-friendly.
(4)Glenice R.
very rude and unhappy bar staff. last night was 95 degrees and the owner was too cheap to turn on a.c. 2 gin and tonics at bat was $19.00 after sitting down at a table the waitress was very good and the food was o.k but very over priced. would not go back again.
(2)Sherry P.
Been going to Jake's for 30 years and it has never disappointed. After that much time without a bad meal, they rate a 5+++. My current favorite is the Salmon Plank, a Salmon filet roasted on a cedar plank of wood and served on the plank. It is the best Salmon I've ever tasted and I've eaten Salmon around the world including in Alaska, the home of the freshest Salmon ever. The fried clams and bisques and chowders are also the best ever. Don't miss the fisherman's platter and onion rings.
(5)Mike O.
Aside from our 20 minute wait turning into over an hour...... Service was ok....Not good, not horrible. Food: Great!. Great selection. Seafood quality was great.
(3)Townie H.
Everything taste the same . Would not go back
(2)Karen N.
We had a great dinner at Jake's on Friday night. My husband's seafood scampi had tons of seafood, more seafood than pasta! And my shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked. Quite reasonable for the quality of the seafood. Excellent service as well.
(5)Allison C.
Great view, great service, yummy food. Try their onion rings and fried clams, although their strips are good, their whole bellies are to die for. They've also got plenty of broiled fish and rice so its a nice combination of frieds and non-frieds in case someone's tryin' to be healthy.
(3)Jane T.
Great, family-style seafood. Nothing pretentious about this place. Go and get the clam chowder and some clam strips and hang out with your family or friends.
(5)Mary P.
Spent 40.00 on a clam plate and chowder to go and did not get my sides! Expensive and felt ripped off
(3)Heather G.
Sitting here outside waiting to find out if someone will serve us appetizers and drinks. Was told by hostess she doesn't know if someone will work outside. Several waitstaff has walked right by us.
(2)Sara C.
The saving grace is the view and the reasonable prices. Service is decent. The food is okay. We tried the chowda and baker scrod.
(2)Thomas K.
If you love potatoes, get the chowda. The buffalo shrimp is consistently great. The Mako was cooked perfectly. They ran out key lime pie before 5 pm...so don't count on it if you have a sweet tooth. Drinks are light handed, so something to consider based on personal preference. Mixed bag.
(3)RoseAnne D.
First star is because they are on the water and second star is because the staff is friendly. If it wasn't for those 2 things, it would be 0 stars. I wish I had read the reviews for the lobster rolls before I went there today. $25 lobster roll and you have to put your own mayo in? Shame on them. It was about 5 oz of lobster on a hot dog roll. What's that come to, $80 bucks a pound? Guys, we're in New England, do a lobster roll you can be proud of! And by the way, who asks if you want your bun toasted? Of course you do! Oh yeah, the fried clams and oysters were over cooked. They tasted leftover before we even got back to the boat. Cole Slaw was horrible. Seafood restaurant, and tartar sauce from Ken's, c'mon! If you're going by boat, stay on the water and go to Belle Isle in Winthrop. Lobster roll there is already prepared, has twice the lobster, and is prob about $5-6 bucks cheaper.
(2)Gina B.
I live in Alaska, and come to Massachusetts about once a year to visit my family. One of my top priorities (besides visiting my mom, brothers, sister's-in-law and nieces and nephews) when I'm in Mass. is to get LOBSTAH!. Jake's saved what could have been a vacation in Massachusetts with only lobster rolls...... Jake's has taken over as my favorite place to go when I am visiting. For the past 20+ years, the Red Parrot in Hull has been our Weymouth family's 'go to' for Sunday brunch and LOBSTAH, because of the service, the beautiful view of Nantasket and, yes, LOBSTAH! However, my mom had gotten numerous reports that RP's food had gone down hill. Mom had asked a friend who lives in Hull for other recommendations, and she had Jake's in first place, but mentioned that they were 'expensive'. RP, despite it's prominent building and years in residence, was not mentioned. We had checked Jake's website, and lobster was not on their online menu. A lot of other seafood restaurants that we were sure had lobster didn't have them on their menu, either and when we called to see if they had lobster as a special, none of them did (we hadn't called Jake's). RP had lobster on their regular menu, so we headed to our 'go to'. Except ---- after our drinks came, the waitress,sporting the super mini shorts (not a prude - just feel that in the customer service world they should be reserved for life guards or Hooters/Tilted Kilt) and the "Got Lobster" T-shirt..... they did not have lobster! Two beautiful glasses of Pino Grigio gone to the kitchen staff! We called Jake's from the parking lot: "Of course we have lobster! Steamed, stuffed, rolls, however you want it!" (That was Captain Ed). At Jake's, Mom and I were seated immediately, despite some other larger (3 people) groups waiting for tables, and our table was in (this is the best part) what I would call the screen porch. The outer wall was fully screened, (with glass windows that fold over the screens in cooler weather), and our table was angled for an optimal view of the inlet and the sunset. The wind picked up, and yes, it was a little breezy, but it was so refreshing! I anchored my lobster bib under my plate (which really helped keep the lobster bits off of my pants as I destructed my dinner). There were no complaints from anyone sitting by the windows....... This is New England! Our waitress (Ashley) greeted us with a genuine smile, introduced herself (with a lot more enthusiasm than at RP), and checked on us regularly. When we asked for extra lobster forks or napkins, they arrived with no delay. Excellent service! Oh, and Ashley (and every other server) was wearing mid-thigh length or longer shorts and an apron, with a Jake's T-shirt. Okay. I only get fresh lobster once a year, so I went for the 2 pounder, but after I destroyed the legs, every ounce of knuckle meat, every once of meat left on the torso and one claw, I decided to leave the tail and the other claw for lunch the next day. Our bill, drinks and salad upgrade included, was ~97.00 (without tax - no tax in Alaska). In Alaska, our lobster meal would have been well over $150. Jake's has become my new "go to"!
(5)Mark D.
We did not feel like cooking at our vacation rental, so we tried Jake's for their take out food. Everything on the menu is available for take out. They have an extensive seafood selection. We had the seafood casserole, Jake's fried seafood platter, and our landlubber daughters had roasted herb chicken and broccoli. The chicken was savory, the casserole had a nice layer of Monterrey Jack cheese baked in. And the platter was generous and satisfying. The food was prepared and readied for take out promptly, the staff was courteous and friendly. I would patronize this establishment in the future.
(4)Vinny N.
I don't live here, I don't live around here, I came to Nantasket for the beach in and I fully understand how places like this can get expressive but I go in and order anyway, my order was 3 lobster roll and there's no Price tag next to the lobster roll. not to my surprise the bill come up to $75, my thought process is I'm about to engage in a $25 lobster roll but to my surprise the food came out incredibly simple is is no doubt better than McDonald's lobster roll but 3 time more disappointed, just plan old lobster on a hot dog bun in a box that cost 25$......meahh
(2)Shannon K.
I often go to Jakes but was very disappointed last night. I walked in and sat at the bar and the bartender Kathy snapped at me and asked me how many were in my party. I said three. My friend who I came in with had stopped to chat with someone she knew and my other friend had not arrived yet. There were 5 other available seats at the bar at that point. I was by no means trying to save a seat for the friend who hadn't arrived because I know better than that. I had to ask Kathy for a glass of wine. She gave it to me and I thanked her and she didn't even look at me. Long story short, she continued with the rudest treatment that I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I am very disappointed because I did have a nice piece of baked haddock but I'm seriously thinking that I don't even want to go there anymore.
(3)J P.
What a terrible experience. We called in to get two lobster rolls to go. What a surprise when we opened it! There were two majonnaise packages, which made me wonder...then I take a look at the lobster rolls. The lobster meat did not have anything on it! No celery, no mayonnaise, no seasonings. The total was $54, what a rip-off. Never again.
(1)Chris M.
My wife introduced me to Jake's, she is a big fan of the Lobstah Roll here and I could see why. The host and wait staff were very friendly and our server Susan B. was very attentive without being obtrusive. The Baked Sea Scallops were delicious and cooked properly and do yourself a favor and try the fried clams! Delicious! Portions were generous and reasonably priced, especially considering how close it was to the beach. I didn't get to try the lobster roll but our server assured us it was something to return for which I will!
(5)Phil C.
Pretty good one time and just so-so the second time we went. The calamari was disappointing. As if it melted away in the fryer. Fish was good but it's pretty pricy. Good place to come when the grandparents are in town.
(4)Mark A.
Visited with my wife and our two boys ( 5 and 7 years old) on a busy Saturday night. The food was excellent and fresh. The boys loved the popcorn shrimp. Our server Christine was great and made us feel right at home. It was busy, but you could tell they are used to it and had everything running like clockwork. Look forward to our next visit.
(5)Mario C.
Heard great things about Jakes and wanted to get out of the city to just see some coastline. The service was ok the waitresses and hostess while friendly seemed like the whole atmosphere was very clumsy or disorganized. I can't put my finger on it, maybe it was the good weather or maybe just a busy day... it all just felt " meh". Anyway... to the food. The lobster roll is great! They do the whole purist variety with just juicy fresh lobster on a roll and nothing else but lemon on the side. There may have been a tiny drop of mayo in there but couldn't taste it. The lobster was delicious! Very very fresh. The clam strip platter with sweet potato fries came out rather too crispy. I mean it was ok and not oily at all it seems that perhaps the oil temperature was too high. I just didn't enjoy it - it didn't taste like sweet fries or sweet clam strips - it just tasted burnt and overdone. The raw bar was awesome! Oysters and little necks were fresh, clean, and delicious. So with such a mix of events and flavors I dunno - I would definitely come back and maybe even give them a second chance for a "Fried Adventure" but for someone who drove an hour out of his way the sequence of events doesn't have me running through my calendar to find an empty Saturday to pencil it in.
(3)Will M.
This place is a staple. If you're on the south shore and want seafood- head here. It always has a good atmosphere. My favorite dish is the Pastariffic with wheat pasta. My friends and I will sometimes head down from Boston in the summer just to get it.
(4)Amy H.
The food was delicious and the service was great too. They were able to accommodate a group of 11 around 7pm on a Tuesday night with only a short wait. 6 of our group were kids and they were all able to find something that they liked to eat. I think our server's name was Staci, she was very patient with all the kids and made us feel right at home. I would definitely go back when I'm in Hull again.
(5)Jay K.
I'm just laughing reading some of the other yelp reviews on here. A lot of jaded people out there! My family is from Virginia, and we spend our summer near here. As soon as we unpack our bags we head to Jake's. The food is great, service is friendly, and beers are cold. My wife orders a variety of things from the menu. Swordfish, lobster rolls, different seafood platters, clam chowder. She has never complained about any of them. For me personally, I just always order the fried clams and the onion rings, both of which are delicious. I'm sure some of you native New Englanders have your own favorites, but I'll just assure you we don't have anything like these in Virginia. We look forward all year to eating here. We have three kids under ten who enjoy Jake's as well. There is a good kids menu, and I can pretty much guarantee you will have leftovers from that. Jake's is going to be a more expensive meal. If you're there on the weekends or later in the evening, I'm sure there will be a wait. There aren't a lot of options around this beach, so people will line up for a place as good as Jake's. That just is what it is.
(5)Kevin C.
New for me after many visits...the Potato Salad in the retail case is perfect. The scallops are the best.
(5)Jackie C.
We were in Hull for the weekend and our friend recommended this place.The food was amazing!! It was such an amazing family place and environment and atmosphere was so welcoming. We will definitely be back when we are in the area.
(5)Andrew R.
This has been a terrific lunch and dinner spot for our family for more years than I'd like to admit. My wife and I were driving back toward Boston from Cape Cod during our summer trip ( The Notorious MD family live in San Diego). We diverted to Jakes rather than face Fri evening rush hour(s) into Boston. We arrived at Jakes around 5:30 PM. Lot was crowded but ample parking on adjacent pier. About a 15 minute wait ( which is not bad). We scored a table next to a screened in window overlooking the beautiful bay. A little wait time for our waitress to show up. After that, it was all smooth sailing. We each had traditional steamed lobster dinners. Lobster taste and texture were perfect. Lobster size seemed appropriate to price. Choice of 2 side dishes. I chose ( as I always do here) onion rings as one of my sides. I have not had better onion rings anywhere. They are crispy and taste like a tempura batter. Pass the ketchup please... Really love them. Family and local dining spot. We really like it. The doctor ( Notorious MD) prescribes Jakes for lobster or fried clam Withdrawal Syndrome. It's a sure bet cure.
(4)Roger W.
Really torn on where to come down on Jakes. Rate it as a clam shack? If so it's very expensive, with fried clams so small they were overwhelmed by the "fried" but with great service, a fabulous view and a wide range of pretty good non-fried alternatives. Rate it as "fine dining"? then the food would be just OK, relatively unexciting preparations compared to Island Creek or Atlantic Fish, but relatively cheap. Rate it as a tourist trap seaside restaurant? Then five stars for serving very nice fresh, well prepared fish in a pretty setting. I'm coming out at four, because I will probably eat there every time I go to Hull, and it's been a good experience every time I've gone.
(4)Peter F.
Food was very good. Ordered fried clam platter, lobster roll. Delicious. Service was also very good once we were seated. Only experience there that was not pleasant was dealing with the host while waiting to be seated. Went on a Saturday night during the summer and the place was slamming. Waited for over 90 minutes for a table, which was more than the hour estimate time they gave us. Understand, that happens, but when we inquired about the status of a table, the gentleman at the host station snapped at us, stating we would be sat when there was an open table. Guess he was overwhelmed and took it out on us. Glad we didn't let him deter us though because overall it was a good dinner.
(4)Susan M.
After waiting 45 minutes to be seated, we finally watched as the owner passed us by one more time to seat a couple who had just walked in. This after I had been told that we were next.."they eat here all the time..he said..Well not cool Mr Jake..If you want mediocre fried food and to be treated like second class citizens..this is the place for you..if not, drive down the road to the Sea Dog for equally mediocre food but with a beautiful view and a friendly manager
(1)Michael C.
A Jake's exists in almost every sea side resort town on New England. When you walk in the door you should know what to expect: 1. Slight surly hostess. 2. The basic nautical theme 3. Waitresses that vary in quality from indifferent to competent. ( our was the latter) 4. An extensive slightly overpriced menu with heavy emphasis on the fried foods. (Here they do themselves proud with many non-fried alternatives) 5. Large portions 6. Decent but average drinks 7. Great views to make up some of the other deficiencies. In all cases Jake's does not disappoint or surpass expectations. It is precisely what would expect of a restaurant located in place like Nanstasket, Hyannis, Dennis or 50 other locations from RI to ME. Go easy on the ordering especially the appetizers which are gigantic. If you are there during the off season and are under 65 you will feel like a kid. You will be at least 10 years younger than the average person in the place.
(3)Douglas F.
It is opened for the season. Great small bar area and excellent seafood. It is a hull survivor
(4)Damien S.
An institution round these parts, especially with the elderly who bussed in from a nearby home to partake in mediocre seafood. It's nautical, photo-loaded and "Jake" is a champion to the town, sponsoring kids' soccer teams and chucking fish from behind the to-go counter attached to the main restaurant. I get it. And the food itself isn't bad at all. Hard to muck up a basic fish&chip plate, even more so for her clam strips. Both okay, if needing a heavy dash of salt. The two looming facets of this journey that leave Jake's in the well of low-mediocrity are the completely inattentive staff and the outrageous prices. It's a wafer thin fillet of local whitefish, pre-packaged fries and a plastic tub of Ken's tartar sauce, and you wanna charge $14? Not that we were able to pay the bill or anything, what with our server pulling a Punxatawney Phil and disappearing for 15 minutes at a time. This was after he forgot our twice-requested rolls (which were stale). There are two distinct paths to choose when running the destination restaurant in an area devoid of long-standing classics: keep up with your regulars' expectations and surpass them, or rely on a haunting absence of competition and laugh all the way to the bank at the customers who come because they feel like they should. Unfortunately, Jake's chose the latter. On the upside, the urinal has a door that closes you in while you pee (see pic). House of Horrors included with your meal!
(2)Phill B.
Like others have mentioned Jake is a blurry line between a lobster shack and a fine seafood dining establishment. I had the dijon salmon and my wife had the baked scrod: Both fish were well prepared but the scrod was a little bland, granted that's how scrod tastes. Food was overall good but the pricing combined with the drinks filled mostly with ice made the meal pretty expensive.
(4)Karen H.
My friends and I had dinner at Jake's on Saturday, May 30. There were 9 in our party. We enjoyed our dinner, and had a great time...until the end. It was a very windy night, and as we were walking out, the metal sign displaying the specials blew over and hit my shin and ankle. It doesn't sound like much, but it is very heavy and left me with a swollen and bruised ankle, and a bruised shin. I am 67 years old. I am not looking for anything, but I was appalled with how the management handled the situation. Maria, the dining room manager, never asked me if I was ok, but asked me several times if I needed an ambulance. I declined, because I didn't. She spoke with the owner, Jim O'Brien,,and then gave me his card. She crosse out his number. Apparently they thought I was going to call him. I did leave my contact information. It has now been a week and a half and I have not heard a word. He should have called to see how I was doing. I don't want a free gift card, or anything of the sort. I just wanted some human compassion. It is a disgrace that he wouldn't follow up an injury at his establishment. We will not be going back.
(1)Debra L.
So, maybe it's a bit of a tourist trap, set out to lure in Nantasket beach goers who have little else to choose from, but it's a decent option, especially if you have kids. Service at the hostess stand is typical New England surly for a busy place like this, but wait staff is much more pleasant. The vibe is loud, crowded and chaotic but if you know that and you are up for that, it works. The bar area is packed. The food is your typical fired seafood but if you look, you can find some more creative, and better tasting options, like the Portugese style calamari, which was surprisingly good. Also, the roasted littlenecks in spicy broth with chorizo is also pretty tasty. For something atypical of a seafood restaurant, I got the endive salad last time and really enjoyed it. I like it here but don't really go often because it's just too crowded.
(3)Jessica B.
We love Jake's! Everything is so fresh and such good quality. We have been going here for years(the restaurant and the fish market side!), and have not had one bad experience. If you haven't tried it yet, get the Cajun seared tuna! It's my new fav!
(5)Tom S.
This place is INCREDIBLE!! The seafood was fresh and delicious. We were seated right next to the window overlooking the bay. The staff was fun and attentive. They also have a seafood store, for those who live or stay in the area and want to purchase fresh seafood.
(5)Stephanie W.
Tomorrow, we are going to Jake's for lunch. We cannot wait. Usually, go with my husband, daughters' families, and my 96 year old mother (who has eaten a lot of seafood and claims this is the best. She should know) This summer we have been trying to go at least once a week or every other week. Our favorites: Cajun swordfish chunk appetizer, garlic mussels, feta calamari, crab cakes, steamers, fried clams. Their sides are very good too...need to ask. My husband has stomach problems and loves their new kale salad and shrimp. Ok....we all took a few bites and agree that it is great...no bitterness. Their seafood food market is excellent too. Never bought anything that has fishy smell. Believe me... I am very fussy.
(5)Reid F.
This is a solid, 4-star restaurant. Everything is very good, although nothing is outstanding. It is what you'd expect it to be.
(4)Georgia G.
Jake's seafood gets 5 stars for service... Although the food was good too! Michael the bartender (you can call him Batman) was hilarious and made great recommendations for food and drinks. Although he was busy, he was there to ask us if we needed anything before our drinks were even empty. He even taught us the difference between a Fluffernutter and a Peanut Butter and Fluff! We have never been to Jakes before but will definitely look for Michael on our next visit... thanks for a great experience!!!
(5)Gina W.
We were trying to eat at Lobster express up the street but they were closed for the off season and sent us here while informing us "Jakes is good but pricey" The clam chowder was the best out of all the places we ate at. The other food was ok but very expensive compared to other seafood places in the area. The lobster roll was disappointing. Just plain lobster on a hot dog roll with a package of mayo on the side for 25$. The clams again were good but almost 6$ more than the place up the street. Made it feel like a tourist trap.
(2)Emily R.
Meh. Ive had better. Sums it up pretty well. My friend and I stopped into here on a saturday night. We expected a wait, so that was fine..BUT...we began to notice that the employees were seating their friends before us. A few families and couples came in that knew the Host..and they were seated right away..while the rest of us watched in awe. This is not cool. I mean if you are going to do that, at least keep it on the downlow. One guy got really mad and called the host out on it, and the host just told him to go, I guess they weren't worried about losing business... We finally are about to be seated, the host shows us to this table that looks like a bunch of 5 year olds had destroyed it minutes earlier...um no thanks? I don't mean to be a snob, but after seating your friends and making us wait 20 minutes longer than quoted, pleasee give us a clean table... The food was alright. I got the tilapia piccata...It was a little slimy, but hey my fault for ordering it. My friend got the shrimp scampi and really enjoyed it. We really wanted some bread and butter like all the other tables around us had. I finally broke down and asked for it. Overall, service could be greatly improved, the food was good though...maybe if I become friends with the host I will get seated quickly..and by the window with the great view?? (hopeful)
(2)Dave K.
Went for lunch with the kids, everyone loved their meal, shrimp tacos fish and chips and the kids baked scrod. One of best seafood lunches have had in the area.
(5)robert f.
Not sure how this gets more than three stars. Most expensive under tasting lobster roll i have ever had. I live in Boston, so i know overpriced when I see it. Fried clams, same story. Been here twice. Outside seating on public walk was great bonus. Decent food, just pricey, especially considering it's twenty miles from Boston rents. Spotlessly clean. Good parking n location.
(3)Stephanie S.
Came here on a busy Sunday night. They seated us right away at a table for two right on the waterview glass windows. Doesn't get much better than that. Food: Clam chowder was delicious. Got a bottle of their most affordable chardonnay, which was just fine. Fish and chips were average with small but crispy fries. The Crab salad roll was really tasty, and just right. Definitely the highlight of our visit here. Key Lime pie was great. Cons: Wish they'd bring you some bread or rolls, considering you're paying $18 for basic fish and chips. The cheapest house salad starts at $7, and there's no option to add a salad onto your dinner entree for a lower price. If it was even $5 to add one, then I would have. Dessert = any slice of pie/cake you want is minimum $7. Again, a bit overpriced. And if you ordered the chocolate cake slice, you have to pay another $1 or $2 for ice cream. I mean, really? $9 for a chocolate slice with a scoop of ice cream? What's in it, gold? haha. I'll probably try other places in the area before I return. I thought prices were a little steep for what we received. However, food quality was good, which is important.
(4)Mike C.
Stopped in on a Thursday night. Sat at the bar. GREAT bartender! Ordered the Asian Salmon, which the bartender concurred with. Fine meal, good ambience, friendly locals. What else do you need?
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