The most overpriced restaurant in the state of Rhode Island period. Excellent view, decent drinks, average food. But you will pay!
(2)
Matt B.
Mediocre food, mediocre service, over priced. People go there for the view & sunset, considering this, you would think they'd clean the windows every so often. Disappointing...
(2)
Toby H.
A well deserved 3 stars. Meh. The view is great, the service is friendly and attentive. The food is so average that the prices they charge are a joke. I was really looking forward to a lovely waterfront drink and light meal. Like a fool I saw this places reviews on Facebook after they checked-in there. I'm a Yelp Elite and I trusted my dining experience to Facebook?! I was so disappointed with my $18 tuna salad which looked like a salad you could get at the Stop & Shop salad bar with 5 small (very small) slices of Seared Tuna. Yet another place where I wish someone who really cared a bout putting out a quality product took over this restaurant and got this place up to the potential it has as another great spot in the Bristol/Warren area. This state is greatly lacking in good waterfront dining experiences. Darn shame Lobster Pot Eat Well Providence.....never settle for Meh!
(3)
Will R.
The lobster pot was ok. The entree was reasonable but most of the appetizers were not appealing. First the appetizers. Since I had a large party I got to try lots of appetizers. First I had the ahi ahi tuna it was cold but also really dry and the sauce they put on it was disappointing and lacking in creativity. The escargot I had was great it was garlicky which I liked and was very pleasing also it had the advantage because it wasn't lukewarm! The clam chowder I had was probably the worst of the meal it was very very thin and massively underwhelming all it had was to big chunks of potato and that was it. The calamari was good and so was the fried onion loaf. Now to the main entree it was pretty good I had a lobster roll which was very surprising considering I had a overwhelming amount of bad appetizers. It was good the fries were worm and the lobster tasted very nice and I felt stuff afterwards (which is a good thing) overall a good entree just avoid a lot of the appetizers.
(3)
Matt V.
So what is a California guy doing writing a review for The Lobster Pot in Rhode Island? In town visiting family, that's what. I had a couple of things I wanted to find while in vacation: a great lobster roll and great clam chowder. On this trip I dined in at least 4 restaurants that offer such fare that were suggested by family that lives in the area. I figure, "They live here so they ought to know." Sadly, my clam chowder was rather thin so "meh, I've had better." I had lobster rolls in other places this trip and they were better, too. For $22 bucks I suppose I would have been happier if they had put more lobster meat in it but it just was kind of plain, not much in the way of dressing it up to be "lobster salad." Maybe being from the West Coast I just don't know a damn thing about lobster rolls but I thought they traditionally have some fresh herbs, mayo, green onion and the roll is supposed to be buttered and toasted. Let's just say mine tasted like plain lobster and mayo on a cold roll.
(2)
Rob F.
My family has been going to the lobster pot forever. They have a beautiful view. In the summer they open seating on the deck right on the water. You have a pretty view of Bristol harbor. The Lobster Pot is expensive, and we go a couple times a year, mostly for nostalgia. I have a Chinese Buffet budget for going out, so I'm basically the "plus one" to a couple senior citizens when I go to the Lobster Pot. As others have said, you get the cheese and crackers and the bread and butter. There's nothing wrong with it , or special about it for that matter either! I used to get a lobster fisherman style, which is split down the middle, stuffed, and baked. They're $55 now so I watch the other people eat them. For $55 that lobster should get up off the plate and sing like the frog in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. "Hello my honey, hello my baby, hello my rag time gal." That or at least crawl across the table and pinch my brother on the kazoo! We get lobster rolls in the summer. They are good. Not particularly big for $22, but it's your ticket to ride. You can see the place and not spend the Month's rent and munch on a lobster roll. The seniors order filet of sole ($25) and scrod ($27) a lot. I've gotten fish and chips ($17) and We also split an order of steamers ($17) or calamari ($12) sometimes. Not bad for the price, also works for me. I got a wild mushroom ravioli with scallops ($30) once, that had a thin slice of a mushroom in each one. It was bland and not at all satisfying. I've also had their shrimp scampi ($27), which I thought wasn't very flavorful. Not a big portion either. Pasta is cheap, and I don't get it when restaurants don't load you up with the pasta dishes. They serve spinach as a side that I don't get. I think it's dry, flavorless, chopped up mush. It looks like canned spinach! I try to avoid it. For such a big money restaurant to serve a throw away vegetable is really too bad. It's bad enough the sides come in tiny little white bowls. The view is beautiful and they could do so much more with the place. They need to update their menu, bring in new business, and give a better value to their consumers. Some day the older crowd who remember the place during the Sinatra days is going to be gone, and they don't have much that appeals to my generation, but the view!
(3)
Adrian M.
Mistakenly walked in here thinking it was an ordinary seafood joint, and I was wrong. This place is pretty good and it's away from all the fuss in downtown.
(4)
Leia H.
Awesome ambience and a classy dinner with a casual feel. Yummy lobster mac n cheese, and clam chowder.
(4)
Nikki I.
The seafood was good all around and the views were very pretty. The prices were a bit high though... Baked scallops were perfect and the lemon blueberry cake was delicious!
I've been lucky enough to visit The Lobster Pot multiple times and have my rehearsal dinner here and the owner, Jeff Hirsch and his staff have never ever disappointed! With probably the best views of Bristol Harbor you could ask for, the views and ambiance of The Lobster Pot are unmatched! When it's come to the food options, everything I've tried here has been top notch; really fresh raw bar and lobster, delicious appetizers and even great pasta and meat dishes. Even if you're not that hungry, it's worth stopping by the bar some cocktails where you'll probably encounter Bonnie and Lee, two of the sweetest, funniest and charming barkeeps in Bristol! The Lobster Pot also turned out to be the perfect venue for our rehearsal dinner! We were able to use that private room in the back overlooking the bay and as always, Jeff and his staff were top notch with their preparations and service. The entire had a fantastic time, ate and drank well and complimented my wife and I on choosing The Lobster Pot for the dinner. If you're in this corner of the East Bay, whether you're in the mood for a formal dinner or just a few cocktails, The Lobster Pot is definitely worth checking out!
(5)
Amy D.
So my boyfriend and I went out for dinner here on a Sunday evening. The place only had 3 other tables occupied with customers. I had heard it was expensive, but I still decided to try it. Our food took a long time to come out. I asked the waitress what the scoop was and she said I'll go check again. Well comes to find out the ran out of the sauce for my ravioli so they had to make it fresh. What a disappointment! The bill came to $75. when neither one of has had an alcoholic beverage or dessert. I had the mushroom ravioli with a scallop on top of each ravioli. If there was 5 I'm not even sure. They do a fancy presentation but for the price of $29. it was (pathetic) if they thought it was a "dinner" portion. I didn't like their over sized salad which was filled with more lettuce than anything. Yes this place has a pretty view of the ocean, but I would never go back here. If I'm going to pay a lot then I want to leave satisfied. The ambiance was nice, but I didn't go there to enjoy the surroundings. I want a decent sized dish and a friendly waitress on top of her game.
(2)
Ronald G.
On the plus side, nice view and good seafood. On the minus, the worst service experience of my life. It only takes 20 minutes to broil a lobster. After waiting 40 minutes, we were told "it will be here in a few minutes." Same answer 15 minutes later. Same answer 30 minutes later. And again 45 minutes later. After pointing out that the next table had arrived after us and had already finished eating, the waitress checked with the kitchen and found out that it had never received our order. At that point, it had been 90 minutes since we placed our order. When our meal finally arrived, two of the four orders were wrong. Meanwhile, two of us were bothered by "no see 'ums". (We were on the deck.) When the bill arrived, the busboy asked whether we wanted a citronella candle to deter the insects. Why not earlier? On the plus side, the hostess comped one of our orders. On the minus side, the hostess never admitted that they had forgotten our order or that the wrong meals were brought. The waitress finally said, "I just had a bad day."
(1)
Lori M.
Went to the Lobster pot last night for my birthday. Ordered Clams Casino. When received them it looked like a clam shell filled with baby food. Absolutely gross when I told the waitress they were bad she removed them and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the meal only offering my husband a drink, dessert etc. When we received or 2 lb over priced lobsters they were ok but a very small baked potato and warm coleslaw and beets. Defiantly not worth the $55 price tag for each meal. When we brought this to the managers attention he offered 1 free drink nothing more., saying next time well make sure it better lol what next time as if Will never go back there. The waitress should be ashamed of herself and find a new profession. There are so many other restaurants in the area that have pleasant staff and much better food. Don't walk, run from this place to any other restaurant.
(1)
Lisa P.
We were at The Lobster Pot for our daughter's rehearsal dinner and had a wonderful experience. The function room seats about 50 people comfortably and has a beautiful view of Narragansett Bay and Bristol Harbor. Jeff Hirsh, the owner, was extremely helpful in suggesting a menu that appealed to everyone. He was great about checking in during the event to make sure everything was ok and to see if we needed anything else. Our servers, Lee and Sue, were fantastic: friendly, responsive, and incredibly helpful. We had made mostly seafood choices (a Friday during Lent) which pleased everyone. Passed hors d'oeuvres were delicious (mushrooms Rockefeller blew everyone away, as did the mini-crabcakes.) The lobsters were perfectly prepared, as was everything else! Guests were also raving about the seafood pasta -- a huge 'win' as many of them were originally from Italy. Everything about the event was perfect.
(5)
Davy C.
This place is a bit outdated but the seafood is fresh and most tables have a magnficent view of the bay. The service is prompt and they have a full bar. They definitely use fresh lobster in all of their salads and sandwiches. The whole steamed lobster is terrific as always. The only negative I can think of is their choice of side vegetable. They always have those damn beets.
(4)
Bob B.
the worst seafood dinner we ever had, and on our 50th anniversary to boot. should have gone to twin oaks................................the lobster pot and the waitress ..terrible....don't waste your time and money for just a good view of the bay!!!
(1)
Sean C.
I am surprised with all of the negative reviews. Aside from the price, which really isn't too outrageous, the food and service was excellent. And the view is great as well. I would definitely return for a nice meal when I don't want to deal with the crowds in Newport.
(5)
Joyce S.
Wow! Never did I expect this for an expensive restaurant in Bristol that has an excellent location. My husband and I went there on a Sunday night because we had a gift card. We'd never been there before. Let me preface by saying that my husband enjoys good food but isn't as picky as I am. He was in the military where he didn't always eat gourmet. The place looked outdated. We were quickly seated and greeted by a frumpy looking waitress. To me, a fancy restaurant should be properly represented by well put together staff. But who am I to judge. There were some cheese and crackers on our table, neither of which were good. The cheese didn't taste much like cheese. The waitress then took our order and brought out bread and butter. I've never had butter before that tasted like this.... Even my husband was grossed out and wondered if it was old butter, some type butter we'd never had, or what. The bread was cold and old also. So far not impressed. We ordered a harvest salad to share as a starter. It was actually very good. Fresh tasting, but then again the only fresh ingredients in there were some apple slices and lettuce. We then got our meals. My husband ordered the baked stuffed shrimp. The stuffing was supposed to have crabmeat but the only thing in there was bread. The shrimp was decent. He got a side of mashed potatoes and cole slaw, both of which he described as mediocre. I've never seen him so disappointed in his meal! I got a chicken sandwich with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and basil mayo. With all those ingredients you would think you'd get some taste. Nothing. I cut my sandwich in half and the bread basically fell apart. And my french fries were of the frozen kind. Overall, my husband was extremely under impressed. For the cost, you should expect fresh, high quality ingredients. It was completely overpriced for mediocre, frozen, and possibly old food. Needless to say we won't be back. Our waitress ended up giving us great service at least, but I still think if you're going to charge $25+ for plates, your place and staff should look the part.
(1)
Cathy C.
I had one of the most delicious meals of my life recently at the Lobster Pot. The scallops and mushroom ravioli were truly heavenly! The view was breath-taking. Sure, it was a little over-priced. But I'm from NYC. Believe me, I've eaten much worse for much more! Can't wait to eat at The Lobster Pot again!
(4)
Heather N.
We went to the Lobster Pot for an after funeral brunch. It was a somber occasion, but I was still looking forward to the brunch. We walked in and the hostess was very pleasant and quickly brought us into the dining area. The view of the bay was beautiful, but the restaurant itself was very dated. We had said ahead of time that we would need seating for a minimum of 50 people, but because of the occasion, it is always uncertain how many will show. Well.... they set up for EXACTLY the minimum, which required them to add another 5 or 6 tables last minute, while guests waited for seats. The Food was up and down. Being brunch, I expected there to be a combination of breakfast and lunch items. The only breakfast item on the menu was coffee. There was chicken and fish that were served, both were OK.... edible. The salad was nice and the chowder was really good. They had roasted vegatables, that had great taste, but the texture was so mushy it ruined it. The coffee and dessert trays were both yummy. The staff is where I really had to knock this restaurant down. The waitresses and Hostess were very nice and accommodating. However, the bartender and busboys were absolutely horrible. The bartender actually spoke very fresh to people ordering drinks, like she was bothered to have to serve them. Three of our family members reported her loudly sighing when anyone tried to order more than one drink at a time. And the busboys.... they were so miserable. I know they probably don't get paid a ton... but they were visually cranky to the guests. They young man came to my table while I still had half a plate of food and a fork in my hand, looked at me almost angry and asked "Are you done with that yet??" Wow!!!! I gave this 2 stars because some of the food was good, and the hostess waitresses were nice and should get credit for working in an otherwise miserable environment. I would not go back here again, nor would I recommend it to family, friends, or anyone here.
(2)
Erin B.
Come only for the view and maybe a drink! Way overpriced! Ordered a sandwich (a $23 sandwich) and they would not substitute the Cole slaw and fries for a regular salad. Really? When it came out the bread was so drenched in butter I sent it back and shared what my mom ordered. Ordered lobster bisque and it came out cold. Mushrooms were supposed to be stuffed with crab. Not so much. I think there might have been one sliver; it was mostly over-buttered bread crumbs. Service was mediocre. And to top it all off, our waitress had a cold!!! Really really disappointing!!!
(1)
Jeff T.
Yes, could use some updating of the menu, especially in RI with the culinary talent about. Visited during a weekday nite in March, reading these reviews prior to going gave me pause but we had deal with an in town B&B, so in we go. There was an event in the larger room, service for us was good, meals good, drinks good. My scallops Nantucket were better than expected, probably near a dozen sea scallop size, really hot, well done. Wife had the quahog bake; Nicely done cherico, potatoe, tender little necks and some cherrystones, broth was spoon it up good. I can see where in the summer this would be a mob scene. View to live for. All in all lreminded me of old George's of Gallilee before the younger Durfee's saw the light to upgrade their menu and become relevant again in the lock seafood landscape. The crock soft cheese and crackers were a throw back to my parents happy hours, the kitchen staff could use some bread skills, heat it up a bit before table, butter needed salt. Would not take much to move this place to a four/five......
(3)
Dan M.
Back when I was a Freshman (I miss those days) the rents came down for parents weekend in the fall. We all decided to go to the Lobster Pot for our dinner. It's located right on the water and has a great deck for people to sit out on that literally hangs over the ocean. It's mostly a seafood based menu which is perfect for Bristol. We all ordered different seafood dishes and as well as I can remember everything was good. They have good clams, mussels and all their fishes dishes are prepared the way you want them. Service is good and all of our meals were fresh and tasty. It was a great place to spend some time with the parents.
(4)
Ed K.
Overpriced food was fair at best. Service wasn't the best.
(1)
Susan R.
One of the best locations on the waterfront in Bristol, with about the worst food we have had in a long time, and way overpriced! But oh, how sweet was our senior server and to see canned B&M brown bread......and a little ramekin of cheese spread with crackers on every table. Yeah, we were definitely the youngest couple there - and folks, we are not that young! To their credit, when I told our server that I could not chew the clams in my clams zuppa, she swooped it away and brought me some onion soup - which was pretty good.....just not browned on top. And the bread other than the canned B&M was from a local bakery. My husband had the lobster mac n' cheese special. It consisted of very bland sauce with macaroni shells, but almost an entire 8 oz or so of lobster meat. Priced at $23.00, it was not quite worth it. You pay for the view here. The Lobster Pot could be, and should be a stellar seafood restaurant - if they wanted to be......
(2)
JoAnn H.
Last time we were here it was winter, we ate at the bar and had a great time. Last Saturday we decided to go back and were excited to take in the amazing views and cool bay breeze on the beautiful stone patio. We were seated right away. We chose a table for two, right by the water. Quickly we realized this table was available because it was not at all leveled. We were able to stop the constant tipping by stuffing napkins under the leg of the table...no big deal! We were greeted in a timely manner by our waitress and ordered drinks, which were cold and delicious. The rest of the order was placed. From that point on, the night went slowly downhill. The server was preoccupied with something and was never on or around the patio area.. She cleared appetizer plates, but failed to ask if we wanted another drink. We finally got her attention and reordered drinks. At that point, she returned with our dinners. Unfortunately, our chowders were never served. The food was good, the boullibaisse delicious but very messy. We finished and sat with dirty plates for quite some time before she returned. We were not asked if we wanted coffee, dessert or an after dinner drink. Luck of the drawer I suppose..other servers (both men coincidentally) were attentive to their patrons. Lots of on the water dining available in RI this time of year, servers should be on their toes.
(3)
Amy W.
We had out-of-town guests here on a Sunday in March, not the busiest time in Bristol, who insisted on lobster for dinner. We should have known better but came to The Lobster Pot in desperation. The view is great. That's the pro. The cons were, first, our waitress seemed a bit put out that we were there. Second, no oysters or littlenecks. Third, once we decided, okay, we'll have the cherrystones, we were informed that they were non-existent as well. This was disappointing but could have been more bearable had our server been less impatient or more willing to suggest something else. We ended up with calamari (excellent) and clams casino (a gluey mess). Then our party had lobster (looked good, and our friends were satisfied), tuna (again looked good, nicely seared), seafood casserole (bland), and the scallops with mushroom ravioli (would have been excellent had it been above room temperature). I can't honestly recommend this restaurant when there are better options in Bristol.
(2)
David D.
Some of the best seafood around .... Great place!! Server second to none, a very friendly atmosphere!
(5)
Guido S.
Had a great valentine's dinner with my wife. Drinks were strong live music was excellent and the food was off the hook. Well done
(5)
Peter C.
Ah, Lobster Pot. I went often when I was younger with my grandparents and recently they took me for my birthday. It was nothing like what I remembered. It's dingy, to say the least. It looks like it hasn't been renovated in thirty years -- and it surely hasn't. The food is ok. The atmosphere -- despite the terrific location right on the water -- is so bad it's almost uncomfortable. They need to realize it's not 1990 anymore and I won't be back until they do.
(2)
Ivanka G.
We visited The Lobster Pot in the middle of June. The view from the window was magnificent. We could not be happier with our food and service. The fried calamari were the best I've ever tried, the Grilled Lobster Salad Sandwich was great. For our entrees we ordered lobster ravioli and my boyfriend had 2-pound lobster. Both entrees were very fresh and tasty. We had a bottle of delicious white wine. The price was very reasonable. At the restaurant they have a showcase with jewelry and we purchased a pair of earrings for my sister. I will definitely go back there in December, when I visit Rhode Island again.
(5)
Ryan B.
We had a small private party here today in a nice room toward the back of the restaurant. While I'm unable to review the place as typical diner who just walked in off the street, the food and the service were impeccable for the event I attended today. I can't say enough about the service. Wonderful waitresses who really cared about our group. The view, of course, was lovely. The crown jewel of the meal was the lobster mac and cheese. It looks like it may not even be on their regular menu...which is so disappointing! It was the best lobster mac I've ever had! Either way, I'm interested in returning some night.
(4)
Meg M.
The most overpriced meal I've ever had in my life. I had a basic single lobster dinner and it cost twice as much as it should and would have elsewhere. Not a good choice if you are under the age of 70 and make less than $500,000 a year. Totally caters to older rich Bristol elite. I would not come back to eat here, but would come to enjoy the ocean view and a cocktail.
(2)
L.M D.
This is a beautiful restuarant! It may have some outdated features, older servers, and the food may have not changed in a while, but overall it's pretty good. Yes, it may be pricey, but for what your getting, mainly seafood, it's similiar pricing to any upscale seafood rest. I have to say the best part of this place is the owner. On a special birthday dinner date my husband had a problem with his dinner. We spoke to the owner, Jeff and he insisted to fix the problem and asked we speak with him the next time we wanted to dine. About 3 months later we did just that, and even brough along my mother. He was extremely attentive to our whole dining experience, ordered us appetizers, brought out our dinners, and to our surprise took care of the entire bill! We were overly amazed at the customer service. So even though this place may not have everything going for it, when you have service like that, it makes you proud to talk about it and want to go back!
(4)
cristina g.
Tried and true. One of my "staple" upscale restaurants. I prefer to sit in the bar at a table and order appetizers, salad and dessert over sitting in the dining room. I love the goat cheese and beet salad. Their shrimp coctails are huge and crisp. Whether you get fish & chips or a baked stuffed lobster, it is consistently good. Last week we sat outside and for the first time in over 10 years of going there, the service was less than excellent. However, the strawberry shortcake special dessert - made up for it.
(4)
g c.
Would give it 3.5 starts if I could - 3 for food and 4 for service. Fried calamari appetizer was soggy when it arrived, crab cakes were nice, stuffed lobster was good, fish'n chips were nice and blackened swordfish was ok. We went to dinner and so couldn't enjoy the view of the bay - but morning view from outside the restaurant was good.
(3)
Dani K.
The Lobster Pot is a great place to stop after exploring Blithewold Mansion, which is right around the corner. The ambiance is fresh and bright with incredible views of the water. Our service was very good - friendly and accommodating. The only negative about this place was the price. I agree with many other reviewers that they are overcharging just a bit, especially since lobster prices are low right now. The bread and crackers placed on the tables was fresh and good. My 8 year old son knew right away he wanted lobster and while he doesn't like baked stuffed lobster, and a steamed lobster was going to be quite labor intensive, they cooked him a lobster and removed all of the meat for him. Myself and another person in our party had the lobster salad plate and it was very quite. Generous portion of lobster, fresh greens, eggs, etc. But, it was $32 and I felt this was a bit much for the standard size plate you get. Perhaps if there had been a better variety of vegetables or fruit on the plate with the lobster, this would have been a bit more justifiable. So, aside from the price, the food wasn't bad, the ambiance was quite lovely and the service was great.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Coat Check : Yes Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
G L.
The most overpriced restaurant in the state of Rhode Island period. Excellent view, decent drinks, average food. But you will pay!
(2)Matt B.
Mediocre food, mediocre service, over priced. People go there for the view & sunset, considering this, you would think they'd clean the windows every so often. Disappointing...
(2)Toby H.
A well deserved 3 stars. Meh. The view is great, the service is friendly and attentive. The food is so average that the prices they charge are a joke. I was really looking forward to a lovely waterfront drink and light meal. Like a fool I saw this places reviews on Facebook after they checked-in there. I'm a Yelp Elite and I trusted my dining experience to Facebook?! I was so disappointed with my $18 tuna salad which looked like a salad you could get at the Stop & Shop salad bar with 5 small (very small) slices of Seared Tuna. Yet another place where I wish someone who really cared a bout putting out a quality product took over this restaurant and got this place up to the potential it has as another great spot in the Bristol/Warren area. This state is greatly lacking in good waterfront dining experiences. Darn shame Lobster Pot Eat Well Providence.....never settle for Meh!
(3)Will R.
The lobster pot was ok. The entree was reasonable but most of the appetizers were not appealing. First the appetizers. Since I had a large party I got to try lots of appetizers. First I had the ahi ahi tuna it was cold but also really dry and the sauce they put on it was disappointing and lacking in creativity. The escargot I had was great it was garlicky which I liked and was very pleasing also it had the advantage because it wasn't lukewarm! The clam chowder I had was probably the worst of the meal it was very very thin and massively underwhelming all it had was to big chunks of potato and that was it. The calamari was good and so was the fried onion loaf. Now to the main entree it was pretty good I had a lobster roll which was very surprising considering I had a overwhelming amount of bad appetizers. It was good the fries were worm and the lobster tasted very nice and I felt stuff afterwards (which is a good thing) overall a good entree just avoid a lot of the appetizers.
(3)Matt V.
So what is a California guy doing writing a review for The Lobster Pot in Rhode Island? In town visiting family, that's what. I had a couple of things I wanted to find while in vacation: a great lobster roll and great clam chowder. On this trip I dined in at least 4 restaurants that offer such fare that were suggested by family that lives in the area. I figure, "They live here so they ought to know." Sadly, my clam chowder was rather thin so "meh, I've had better." I had lobster rolls in other places this trip and they were better, too. For $22 bucks I suppose I would have been happier if they had put more lobster meat in it but it just was kind of plain, not much in the way of dressing it up to be "lobster salad." Maybe being from the West Coast I just don't know a damn thing about lobster rolls but I thought they traditionally have some fresh herbs, mayo, green onion and the roll is supposed to be buttered and toasted. Let's just say mine tasted like plain lobster and mayo on a cold roll.
(2)Rob F.
My family has been going to the lobster pot forever. They have a beautiful view. In the summer they open seating on the deck right on the water. You have a pretty view of Bristol harbor. The Lobster Pot is expensive, and we go a couple times a year, mostly for nostalgia. I have a Chinese Buffet budget for going out, so I'm basically the "plus one" to a couple senior citizens when I go to the Lobster Pot. As others have said, you get the cheese and crackers and the bread and butter. There's nothing wrong with it , or special about it for that matter either! I used to get a lobster fisherman style, which is split down the middle, stuffed, and baked. They're $55 now so I watch the other people eat them. For $55 that lobster should get up off the plate and sing like the frog in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. "Hello my honey, hello my baby, hello my rag time gal." That or at least crawl across the table and pinch my brother on the kazoo! We get lobster rolls in the summer. They are good. Not particularly big for $22, but it's your ticket to ride. You can see the place and not spend the Month's rent and munch on a lobster roll. The seniors order filet of sole ($25) and scrod ($27) a lot. I've gotten fish and chips ($17) and We also split an order of steamers ($17) or calamari ($12) sometimes. Not bad for the price, also works for me. I got a wild mushroom ravioli with scallops ($30) once, that had a thin slice of a mushroom in each one. It was bland and not at all satisfying. I've also had their shrimp scampi ($27), which I thought wasn't very flavorful. Not a big portion either. Pasta is cheap, and I don't get it when restaurants don't load you up with the pasta dishes. They serve spinach as a side that I don't get. I think it's dry, flavorless, chopped up mush. It looks like canned spinach! I try to avoid it. For such a big money restaurant to serve a throw away vegetable is really too bad. It's bad enough the sides come in tiny little white bowls. The view is beautiful and they could do so much more with the place. They need to update their menu, bring in new business, and give a better value to their consumers. Some day the older crowd who remember the place during the Sinatra days is going to be gone, and they don't have much that appeals to my generation, but the view!
(3)Adrian M.
Mistakenly walked in here thinking it was an ordinary seafood joint, and I was wrong. This place is pretty good and it's away from all the fuss in downtown.
(4)Leia H.
Awesome ambience and a classy dinner with a casual feel. Yummy lobster mac n cheese, and clam chowder.
(4)Nikki I.
The seafood was good all around and the views were very pretty. The prices were a bit high though... Baked scallops were perfect and the lemon blueberry cake was delicious!
(3)Joe M.
It is difficult to review this restaurant without being overly negative. Trust me go to Evelyn's in Tiverton or The Trafford in Warren if you must have seafood in the area of The Lobster Pot. I have been twice and am now actually upset with myself for going back the second time. It is unreasonably overpriced for extremely poor quality food. The first time my wife and I ate there we had fish and chips and a fried fisherman platter that was pedestrian to say the least. I would have preferred the likes of Chello's or the 99 at least you are expecting a certain quality there. The second time we had baked stuffed lobster and the lobster sauté. The scallops on the baked stuffed were over seared and burnt so they flipped them charred side down and burried them in the driest most tasteless breadcrumbs I have had. Both lobsters were over cooked to a level that they should have been thrown away but we paid just under 40$ each for the pair of one pounders. The are also getting 5$ for a bud light bottle and over 6$ for an import. The crowd is very old locals that don't know better or care enough to go somewhere else. The icing on the cake was the 16 or 17 year old kid in the cook's outfit smoking a cigarette and texting in the parking lot during his break. That kinda explained it all. Just skip the lobster pot.
(1)Jordan D.
I've been lucky enough to visit The Lobster Pot multiple times and have my rehearsal dinner here and the owner, Jeff Hirsch and his staff have never ever disappointed! With probably the best views of Bristol Harbor you could ask for, the views and ambiance of The Lobster Pot are unmatched! When it's come to the food options, everything I've tried here has been top notch; really fresh raw bar and lobster, delicious appetizers and even great pasta and meat dishes. Even if you're not that hungry, it's worth stopping by the bar some cocktails where you'll probably encounter Bonnie and Lee, two of the sweetest, funniest and charming barkeeps in Bristol! The Lobster Pot also turned out to be the perfect venue for our rehearsal dinner! We were able to use that private room in the back overlooking the bay and as always, Jeff and his staff were top notch with their preparations and service. The entire had a fantastic time, ate and drank well and complimented my wife and I on choosing The Lobster Pot for the dinner. If you're in this corner of the East Bay, whether you're in the mood for a formal dinner or just a few cocktails, The Lobster Pot is definitely worth checking out!
(5)Amy D.
So my boyfriend and I went out for dinner here on a Sunday evening. The place only had 3 other tables occupied with customers. I had heard it was expensive, but I still decided to try it. Our food took a long time to come out. I asked the waitress what the scoop was and she said I'll go check again. Well comes to find out the ran out of the sauce for my ravioli so they had to make it fresh. What a disappointment! The bill came to $75. when neither one of has had an alcoholic beverage or dessert. I had the mushroom ravioli with a scallop on top of each ravioli. If there was 5 I'm not even sure. They do a fancy presentation but for the price of $29. it was (pathetic) if they thought it was a "dinner" portion. I didn't like their over sized salad which was filled with more lettuce than anything. Yes this place has a pretty view of the ocean, but I would never go back here. If I'm going to pay a lot then I want to leave satisfied. The ambiance was nice, but I didn't go there to enjoy the surroundings. I want a decent sized dish and a friendly waitress on top of her game.
(2)Ronald G.
On the plus side, nice view and good seafood. On the minus, the worst service experience of my life. It only takes 20 minutes to broil a lobster. After waiting 40 minutes, we were told "it will be here in a few minutes." Same answer 15 minutes later. Same answer 30 minutes later. And again 45 minutes later. After pointing out that the next table had arrived after us and had already finished eating, the waitress checked with the kitchen and found out that it had never received our order. At that point, it had been 90 minutes since we placed our order. When our meal finally arrived, two of the four orders were wrong. Meanwhile, two of us were bothered by "no see 'ums". (We were on the deck.) When the bill arrived, the busboy asked whether we wanted a citronella candle to deter the insects. Why not earlier? On the plus side, the hostess comped one of our orders. On the minus side, the hostess never admitted that they had forgotten our order or that the wrong meals were brought. The waitress finally said, "I just had a bad day."
(1)Lori M.
Went to the Lobster pot last night for my birthday. Ordered Clams Casino. When received them it looked like a clam shell filled with baby food. Absolutely gross when I told the waitress they were bad she removed them and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the meal only offering my husband a drink, dessert etc. When we received or 2 lb over priced lobsters they were ok but a very small baked potato and warm coleslaw and beets. Defiantly not worth the $55 price tag for each meal. When we brought this to the managers attention he offered 1 free drink nothing more., saying next time well make sure it better lol what next time as if Will never go back there. The waitress should be ashamed of herself and find a new profession. There are so many other restaurants in the area that have pleasant staff and much better food. Don't walk, run from this place to any other restaurant.
(1)Lisa P.
We were at The Lobster Pot for our daughter's rehearsal dinner and had a wonderful experience. The function room seats about 50 people comfortably and has a beautiful view of Narragansett Bay and Bristol Harbor. Jeff Hirsh, the owner, was extremely helpful in suggesting a menu that appealed to everyone. He was great about checking in during the event to make sure everything was ok and to see if we needed anything else. Our servers, Lee and Sue, were fantastic: friendly, responsive, and incredibly helpful. We had made mostly seafood choices (a Friday during Lent) which pleased everyone. Passed hors d'oeuvres were delicious (mushrooms Rockefeller blew everyone away, as did the mini-crabcakes.) The lobsters were perfectly prepared, as was everything else! Guests were also raving about the seafood pasta -- a huge 'win' as many of them were originally from Italy. Everything about the event was perfect.
(5)Davy C.
This place is a bit outdated but the seafood is fresh and most tables have a magnficent view of the bay. The service is prompt and they have a full bar. They definitely use fresh lobster in all of their salads and sandwiches. The whole steamed lobster is terrific as always. The only negative I can think of is their choice of side vegetable. They always have those damn beets.
(4)Bob B.
the worst seafood dinner we ever had, and on our 50th anniversary to boot. should have gone to twin oaks................................the lobster pot and the waitress ..terrible....don't waste your time and money for just a good view of the bay!!!
(1)Sean C.
I am surprised with all of the negative reviews. Aside from the price, which really isn't too outrageous, the food and service was excellent. And the view is great as well. I would definitely return for a nice meal when I don't want to deal with the crowds in Newport.
(5)Joyce S.
Wow! Never did I expect this for an expensive restaurant in Bristol that has an excellent location. My husband and I went there on a Sunday night because we had a gift card. We'd never been there before. Let me preface by saying that my husband enjoys good food but isn't as picky as I am. He was in the military where he didn't always eat gourmet. The place looked outdated. We were quickly seated and greeted by a frumpy looking waitress. To me, a fancy restaurant should be properly represented by well put together staff. But who am I to judge. There were some cheese and crackers on our table, neither of which were good. The cheese didn't taste much like cheese. The waitress then took our order and brought out bread and butter. I've never had butter before that tasted like this.... Even my husband was grossed out and wondered if it was old butter, some type butter we'd never had, or what. The bread was cold and old also. So far not impressed. We ordered a harvest salad to share as a starter. It was actually very good. Fresh tasting, but then again the only fresh ingredients in there were some apple slices and lettuce. We then got our meals. My husband ordered the baked stuffed shrimp. The stuffing was supposed to have crabmeat but the only thing in there was bread. The shrimp was decent. He got a side of mashed potatoes and cole slaw, both of which he described as mediocre. I've never seen him so disappointed in his meal! I got a chicken sandwich with mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and basil mayo. With all those ingredients you would think you'd get some taste. Nothing. I cut my sandwich in half and the bread basically fell apart. And my french fries were of the frozen kind. Overall, my husband was extremely under impressed. For the cost, you should expect fresh, high quality ingredients. It was completely overpriced for mediocre, frozen, and possibly old food. Needless to say we won't be back. Our waitress ended up giving us great service at least, but I still think if you're going to charge $25+ for plates, your place and staff should look the part.
(1)Cathy C.
I had one of the most delicious meals of my life recently at the Lobster Pot. The scallops and mushroom ravioli were truly heavenly! The view was breath-taking. Sure, it was a little over-priced. But I'm from NYC. Believe me, I've eaten much worse for much more! Can't wait to eat at The Lobster Pot again!
(4)Heather N.
We went to the Lobster Pot for an after funeral brunch. It was a somber occasion, but I was still looking forward to the brunch. We walked in and the hostess was very pleasant and quickly brought us into the dining area. The view of the bay was beautiful, but the restaurant itself was very dated. We had said ahead of time that we would need seating for a minimum of 50 people, but because of the occasion, it is always uncertain how many will show. Well.... they set up for EXACTLY the minimum, which required them to add another 5 or 6 tables last minute, while guests waited for seats. The Food was up and down. Being brunch, I expected there to be a combination of breakfast and lunch items. The only breakfast item on the menu was coffee. There was chicken and fish that were served, both were OK.... edible. The salad was nice and the chowder was really good. They had roasted vegatables, that had great taste, but the texture was so mushy it ruined it. The coffee and dessert trays were both yummy. The staff is where I really had to knock this restaurant down. The waitresses and Hostess were very nice and accommodating. However, the bartender and busboys were absolutely horrible. The bartender actually spoke very fresh to people ordering drinks, like she was bothered to have to serve them. Three of our family members reported her loudly sighing when anyone tried to order more than one drink at a time. And the busboys.... they were so miserable. I know they probably don't get paid a ton... but they were visually cranky to the guests. They young man came to my table while I still had half a plate of food and a fork in my hand, looked at me almost angry and asked "Are you done with that yet??" Wow!!!! I gave this 2 stars because some of the food was good, and the hostess waitresses were nice and should get credit for working in an otherwise miserable environment. I would not go back here again, nor would I recommend it to family, friends, or anyone here.
(2)Erin B.
Come only for the view and maybe a drink! Way overpriced! Ordered a sandwich (a $23 sandwich) and they would not substitute the Cole slaw and fries for a regular salad. Really? When it came out the bread was so drenched in butter I sent it back and shared what my mom ordered. Ordered lobster bisque and it came out cold. Mushrooms were supposed to be stuffed with crab. Not so much. I think there might have been one sliver; it was mostly over-buttered bread crumbs. Service was mediocre. And to top it all off, our waitress had a cold!!! Really really disappointing!!!
(1)Jeff T.
Yes, could use some updating of the menu, especially in RI with the culinary talent about. Visited during a weekday nite in March, reading these reviews prior to going gave me pause but we had deal with an in town B&B, so in we go. There was an event in the larger room, service for us was good, meals good, drinks good. My scallops Nantucket were better than expected, probably near a dozen sea scallop size, really hot, well done. Wife had the quahog bake; Nicely done cherico, potatoe, tender little necks and some cherrystones, broth was spoon it up good. I can see where in the summer this would be a mob scene. View to live for. All in all lreminded me of old George's of Gallilee before the younger Durfee's saw the light to upgrade their menu and become relevant again in the lock seafood landscape. The crock soft cheese and crackers were a throw back to my parents happy hours, the kitchen staff could use some bread skills, heat it up a bit before table, butter needed salt. Would not take much to move this place to a four/five......
(3)Dan M.
Back when I was a Freshman (I miss those days) the rents came down for parents weekend in the fall. We all decided to go to the Lobster Pot for our dinner. It's located right on the water and has a great deck for people to sit out on that literally hangs over the ocean. It's mostly a seafood based menu which is perfect for Bristol. We all ordered different seafood dishes and as well as I can remember everything was good. They have good clams, mussels and all their fishes dishes are prepared the way you want them. Service is good and all of our meals were fresh and tasty. It was a great place to spend some time with the parents.
(4)Ed K.
Overpriced food was fair at best. Service wasn't the best.
(1)Susan R.
One of the best locations on the waterfront in Bristol, with about the worst food we have had in a long time, and way overpriced! But oh, how sweet was our senior server and to see canned B&M brown bread......and a little ramekin of cheese spread with crackers on every table. Yeah, we were definitely the youngest couple there - and folks, we are not that young! To their credit, when I told our server that I could not chew the clams in my clams zuppa, she swooped it away and brought me some onion soup - which was pretty good.....just not browned on top. And the bread other than the canned B&M was from a local bakery. My husband had the lobster mac n' cheese special. It consisted of very bland sauce with macaroni shells, but almost an entire 8 oz or so of lobster meat. Priced at $23.00, it was not quite worth it. You pay for the view here. The Lobster Pot could be, and should be a stellar seafood restaurant - if they wanted to be......
(2)JoAnn H.
Last time we were here it was winter, we ate at the bar and had a great time. Last Saturday we decided to go back and were excited to take in the amazing views and cool bay breeze on the beautiful stone patio. We were seated right away. We chose a table for two, right by the water. Quickly we realized this table was available because it was not at all leveled. We were able to stop the constant tipping by stuffing napkins under the leg of the table...no big deal! We were greeted in a timely manner by our waitress and ordered drinks, which were cold and delicious. The rest of the order was placed. From that point on, the night went slowly downhill. The server was preoccupied with something and was never on or around the patio area.. She cleared appetizer plates, but failed to ask if we wanted another drink. We finally got her attention and reordered drinks. At that point, she returned with our dinners. Unfortunately, our chowders were never served. The food was good, the boullibaisse delicious but very messy. We finished and sat with dirty plates for quite some time before she returned. We were not asked if we wanted coffee, dessert or an after dinner drink. Luck of the drawer I suppose..other servers (both men coincidentally) were attentive to their patrons. Lots of on the water dining available in RI this time of year, servers should be on their toes.
(3)Amy W.
We had out-of-town guests here on a Sunday in March, not the busiest time in Bristol, who insisted on lobster for dinner. We should have known better but came to The Lobster Pot in desperation. The view is great. That's the pro. The cons were, first, our waitress seemed a bit put out that we were there. Second, no oysters or littlenecks. Third, once we decided, okay, we'll have the cherrystones, we were informed that they were non-existent as well. This was disappointing but could have been more bearable had our server been less impatient or more willing to suggest something else. We ended up with calamari (excellent) and clams casino (a gluey mess). Then our party had lobster (looked good, and our friends were satisfied), tuna (again looked good, nicely seared), seafood casserole (bland), and the scallops with mushroom ravioli (would have been excellent had it been above room temperature). I can't honestly recommend this restaurant when there are better options in Bristol.
(2)David D.
Some of the best seafood around .... Great place!! Server second to none, a very friendly atmosphere!
(5)Guido S.
Had a great valentine's dinner with my wife. Drinks were strong live music was excellent and the food was off the hook. Well done
(5)Peter C.
Ah, Lobster Pot. I went often when I was younger with my grandparents and recently they took me for my birthday. It was nothing like what I remembered. It's dingy, to say the least. It looks like it hasn't been renovated in thirty years -- and it surely hasn't. The food is ok. The atmosphere -- despite the terrific location right on the water -- is so bad it's almost uncomfortable. They need to realize it's not 1990 anymore and I won't be back until they do.
(2)Ivanka G.
We visited The Lobster Pot in the middle of June. The view from the window was magnificent. We could not be happier with our food and service. The fried calamari were the best I've ever tried, the Grilled Lobster Salad Sandwich was great. For our entrees we ordered lobster ravioli and my boyfriend had 2-pound lobster. Both entrees were very fresh and tasty. We had a bottle of delicious white wine. The price was very reasonable. At the restaurant they have a showcase with jewelry and we purchased a pair of earrings for my sister. I will definitely go back there in December, when I visit Rhode Island again.
(5)Ryan B.
We had a small private party here today in a nice room toward the back of the restaurant. While I'm unable to review the place as typical diner who just walked in off the street, the food and the service were impeccable for the event I attended today. I can't say enough about the service. Wonderful waitresses who really cared about our group. The view, of course, was lovely. The crown jewel of the meal was the lobster mac and cheese. It looks like it may not even be on their regular menu...which is so disappointing! It was the best lobster mac I've ever had! Either way, I'm interested in returning some night.
(4)Meg M.
The most overpriced meal I've ever had in my life. I had a basic single lobster dinner and it cost twice as much as it should and would have elsewhere. Not a good choice if you are under the age of 70 and make less than $500,000 a year. Totally caters to older rich Bristol elite. I would not come back to eat here, but would come to enjoy the ocean view and a cocktail.
(2)L.M D.
This is a beautiful restuarant! It may have some outdated features, older servers, and the food may have not changed in a while, but overall it's pretty good. Yes, it may be pricey, but for what your getting, mainly seafood, it's similiar pricing to any upscale seafood rest. I have to say the best part of this place is the owner. On a special birthday dinner date my husband had a problem with his dinner. We spoke to the owner, Jeff and he insisted to fix the problem and asked we speak with him the next time we wanted to dine. About 3 months later we did just that, and even brough along my mother. He was extremely attentive to our whole dining experience, ordered us appetizers, brought out our dinners, and to our surprise took care of the entire bill! We were overly amazed at the customer service. So even though this place may not have everything going for it, when you have service like that, it makes you proud to talk about it and want to go back!
(4)cristina g.
Tried and true. One of my "staple" upscale restaurants. I prefer to sit in the bar at a table and order appetizers, salad and dessert over sitting in the dining room. I love the goat cheese and beet salad. Their shrimp coctails are huge and crisp. Whether you get fish & chips or a baked stuffed lobster, it is consistently good. Last week we sat outside and for the first time in over 10 years of going there, the service was less than excellent. However, the strawberry shortcake special dessert - made up for it.
(4)g c.
Would give it 3.5 starts if I could - 3 for food and 4 for service. Fried calamari appetizer was soggy when it arrived, crab cakes were nice, stuffed lobster was good, fish'n chips were nice and blackened swordfish was ok. We went to dinner and so couldn't enjoy the view of the bay - but morning view from outside the restaurant was good.
(3)Dani K.
The Lobster Pot is a great place to stop after exploring Blithewold Mansion, which is right around the corner. The ambiance is fresh and bright with incredible views of the water. Our service was very good - friendly and accommodating. The only negative about this place was the price. I agree with many other reviewers that they are overcharging just a bit, especially since lobster prices are low right now. The bread and crackers placed on the tables was fresh and good. My 8 year old son knew right away he wanted lobster and while he doesn't like baked stuffed lobster, and a steamed lobster was going to be quite labor intensive, they cooked him a lobster and removed all of the meat for him. Myself and another person in our party had the lobster salad plate and it was very quite. Generous portion of lobster, fresh greens, eggs, etc. But, it was $32 and I felt this was a bit much for the standard size plate you get. Perhaps if there had been a better variety of vegetables or fruit on the plate with the lobster, this would have been a bit more justifiable. So, aside from the price, the food wasn't bad, the ambiance was quite lovely and the service was great.
(4)