We took time out for a pre-holiday food errand to Gloucester this week, so that we could gather a few supplies. My husband and I have made the drive to Cape Ann Lobstermen a few times this past year for fresh seafood and have been very happy.
Cape Ann Lobstermen operates a retail pickup location on their outdoor loading dock for both online orders and walk-ups. Gotta emphasize that the pickup location is a legit, no-frills loading dock. Price list only, no display case. Ask for what you want, then the person in charge of pickups goes inside the dockside warehouse to retrieve your order. I’d suggest checking out their website on the day of your visit for what’s in stock and current market prices. While fresh seafood has become pricey anywhere, of course, the quality here has been super. The person helping us mentioned the holidays are their busiest time of year, so plan accordingly.
Just for fun, here’s a view of their lobster Christmas tree on display for the season.
This visit we also tried their neighboring restaurant, The Lobster of Gloucester. Very late lunch/early dinner situation allowed us a view of the working part of Gloucester harbor and the fishing boats.
We shared an appetizer of Rhode Island style calamari, which I thought needed more hot peppers and oil. The standouts were our seafood mains: a crabcake sandwich made with Jonah crab for me, and a lazyman lobster casserole packed with buttery, tender lobster for my husband. Sides were just okay, but oh, that crabcake and that lobster.
Servers were also very kind. A few neighborhood families stopped in for a meal before the dinner hour kicked in. I want to return for another treat of more fresh seafood, simply prepared.
Will relay your kind compliment to my husband, who snapped the photo at my request. The astute observer will notice how the photo focuses on that lobster entree because he enjoyed it so much.
An indulgence, to be sure. Yep, we were having a special treat day. The lazyman dish was $48 with the sides. Everything was very generously portioned including, crucially, the lobster.
I also started looking at the Facebook posts for Cape Ann Lobstermen next door and for the restaurant, The Lobster of Gloucester, and noticed they do run specials. Lobster pricing has been especially volatile this year, whew.
There’s a long-standing joke around Greater Boston that you’re either a South Shore person or a North Shore one, never both. I think it’s rooted in truth! Every time I suggest a South Shore activity, there are audible groans, emanating from B’s mouth.
Thanks for the report @tomatotomato . Definitely putting this one on the 2025 to-do list.
Story: We went to meet NJ family members who were visiting Plymouth, MA a few years ago. My SIL looked surprised to hear that most people stay either north or south. So I asked a random person standing next to us, who turned out to be from the South Shore. He confirmed this without skipping a beat.
I wish I had time to swing in (and if it was just a little easier to access from 95), heading up to Maine today and just reading this. Will have to work it into the plans another time.
I wish fresh, local seafood was easier to get around Boston. Ever since I moved here I’ve been surprised there aren’t more true local fishmongers around.
Lucky you. Maine is where I first experienced being able to purchase lobster as it’s coming in from the boats, if you are near a such a business in a lobstering community. Harpswell and Round Pond are places where I have done this so far. Never knew that the quality is so much better the closer you get to when the lobster is pulled from the sea.
I wanted to find a source like that in MA, and that’s what led me to Cape Ann Lobstermen. Lots more offerings and a much bigger operation than I have visited in Maine, for sure. This year we have tried their cooked lobster meat, halibut, and now we have a batch of dayboat scallops that I froze for a holiday dinner.
Here we vastly prefer North Shore. It’s closer and historically traffic is easier for us going North from Somerville rather than South. I remember very extensive traffic jams South Shore, but that was years ago. We have made excursions to Hull a few times, however.
If you do, please remember that this was our first visit to the restaurant so mine is a first impression. I’ll bet you could call The Lobster ahead to find out about market prices. Staff seemed super nice, with a hometown Gloucester vibe.
Also GPS comes in handy in finding the place when you are visitors like we are. We don’t know all the twisty streets.
I just checked Mercato to see what prices are from fresh lobster meat out of the shell.
$66/pound at Red’s Best, Boston Public Market
$85/pound at James Hook Fish (knuckle meat specified)
$87.99/pound at Eataly Boston (wild meat specified)
$74.99/pound at Wilson Farm (Gloucester specified)
And at Legal Seafood Market, $80/pound for knuckle and claw meat, frozen.
We’ve generally had good luck at independent, local seafood restaurants on the coast. Not full-out gourmet, which the best local seafood doesn’t need, anyway! Simple preparation is the best and my arthritic hands can’t deal with lobster in the shell.
Price variations are interesting. FWIW earlier this week, the price was somewhere in the $60s for pickup at Cape Ann Lobstermen (can’t recall exactly) and today it’s $70 per lb. Mix of tail, knuckle, and claw, cooked and picked daily. I bought a container to prepare lobster rolls for a dear friend this past spring and it was good stuff.
Never really thought about it @digga but I grew up in Braintree and the most northernly MA I ever lived (before I left for Scotland) is Inman Square. I love the South Shore and the Cape, and I’ve never really felt the need to spend much time on the North Shore. Feels like a foreign land to me. So yeah I guess I agree!
Thanks for the report! Sounds delicious. We have enjoyed the interestingly named Lobsta Land when in that area - consistently good food with a great view - but will add CAL to the list to try!
