Neptune Oyster

Neptune Oyster on Salem Street is a small North End seafood restaurant where lobster rolls share the menu with oysters, fried Ipswich clams, and a whole-lobster clambake. The roll comes on toasted brioche, hot with butter or cold with mayonnaise, so you can settle that argument when you order. For something beyond the usual seafood standards, the Neptune Johnnycake pairs Maine lobster with honey butter and sturgeon caviar. There’s also cioppino with local fish and shellfish in a spicy broth, and even the burger comes topped with fried oysters. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, but it doesn’t take reservations. Everyone walks in, so leave yourself some flexibility rather than planning a meal around a tightly timed appointment.