The Side Salad
Old Port Lobster Shack

Old Port Lobster Shack

3130 Alpine Road, 94028, Ladera Shopping Center, United States

Fish • Casual • Seafood • American


"As Boston area transplants, my wife and I recognize authentic New England seafood when we see (and taste) it. In our opinion, the Old Port Lobster Shack delivers. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her fresh Maine lobster roll, prepared with real Hellman’s mayo just like they do back East. At first we thought it was a little pricey at $34, but a neighbor who just returned from Maine said that the going rate there is $30. Considering transportation costs for live lobster, this seems like a good deal. (FYI: The price fluctuates based on the market so you may pay more or less than we did Her mug of lobster bisque was flavorful but a bit too thick for her taste, although some people might prefer it that way. My fish and chips were terrific. There were three large pieces of perfectly cooked haddock, crunchy on the outside and moist and flaky inside, served with equally crispy and delicious fries. My meal was reasonably priced at $15.75. The Portola Valley location is small and very casual. Place your order at the counter, take your drink with you, and choose a table or picnic bench outside. There’s no indoor seating. They’ll deliver your food when it’s ready. The restaurant is conveniently located less than a mile from I-280 in the charming little Ladera shopping center. (Take the Alpine Road exit Westbound It’s hard to find a good casual fish restaurant on this side of the hill, especially one with a fresh authentic lobster roll, so we’ll definitely return when we’re in the area. As a footnote, we were surprised to see BBQ Brisket on the menu so we took home an order to give it a try. Big mistake! The meat was dry and flavorless and the sticky sweet sauce didn’t help. Barbecue is hard to get right. Instead of trying to please everyone, the “Lobster Shack” should stick to what it does best."

Old Port Lobster Shack

Old Port Lobster Shack

20 Woodside Rd, 94061, Redwood City, US, United States

Bbq • Tea • Soup • Fish


"Haven't eaten here since their move from the off hwy. 101 initially only location a few yrs. ago (now they have two locations in RDWC). Wow, much has changed. I show up a few minutes before opening and walk thru the door. A guy in shorts and a Boston Bruins cap (assume he is the owner), looks at me like I'm a martian (which was a bit rude I know I'm early sir, so wise up? I tell him I'll wait outside/seating to give my order. He says no problem.Fifteen minutes goes by and no one comes out to take my order. I walk in again, someone/another customer is in front of me. You have to pay at the register 1st (apparently)? So, I order and pay for my food and patiently wait for it to be delivered. Which it was about 15-minutes later (which is OK, actually the best thing about my visit here).The waitress comes out to deliver my food. I ordered the appetizer fried clams (Boston-style clams), clam chowder and an iced tea. I specifically ordered non-sweet iced tea, which it wasn't. The fried clams were awful and it was a very small order (maybe 10 pieces? for $25? Don't come here for New England style fried clams. These were extremely greasy and fishy-smelling/tasting. I though they might make me sick but didn't. The clam chowder/white was OK but it was in a very small container/cup (maybe 3.5oz. at the most). For this meal, I paid just over $37 plus a tip.This place has changed for the worse. I will not return. Food was terrible, portions very small and price was off the charts. Service was just OK."

Kiefs Reef

Kiefs Reef

3505 S Wright Rd, 60050, McHenry, United States

Full • Pizza • Casual • Seafood


"After a 10-minute wait, the hostess attempted to seat us at one of the high tables. I explained that due to a nerve injury in my back, sitting there would cause my legs to go numb. She was incredibly accommodating and quickly found us another table. Although she didn’t have to apologize, she did, which was very thoughtful of her. Our waitress was excellent; she swiftly took our drink order and brought us warm bread right away. I ordered the fish fry, while my husband chose a burger. She also promptly gave me a plate for the salad bar. We didn’t have to wait long for our food—it arrived in about 30 minutes. The fish was perfectly cooked, and my husband praised his cheeseburger. Throughout our meal, the hostess frequently checked on us and even offered me more fish, even though I was already full. The level of customer service was outstanding, the food was delicious, and the hostess was exceptional. Usually, when I mention a seating preference, I might get an eye roll or told that the only available table is a high one, forcing me to stand during my meal. However, that was not the case here. I truly appreciated how polite and accommodating the hostess was; she made me feel comfortable, allowing me to thoroughly enjoy my dinner. The bartender was attentive too, and both the hostess and the waitress were wonderful. I can confidently say that Kief's Reef will be my go-to spot for fish on Friday nights from now on!"