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Captain Jack's Roadside Shack

4.0 (267 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

CAPTAIN JACK'S ROADSIDE SHACK · YELP ASSISTANT

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CAPTAIN JACK'S ROADSIDE SHACK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Captain Jack's Roadside Shack

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Clam roll!
Heather W.

For a roadside shack, the seafood served was not shabby. Lots of choices, and I went with the whole clams. You can tell a restaurant cares for its quality when the breading is crispy and flavorful without the bitter taste of bad oil. You know what I mean, the food smells and tastes like fried garbage. That is not the case here. It almost appears that these delicious morsels were air fried and you could savor the freshness of the clam itself. The hand-cut shoestring fries were perfect, without those annoying burnt bitlets that tend to infiltrate other lesser "shacks". They have canned sodas available, or snag a shake, smoothie or coffee inside the co-op.

Dana T.

A cute seafood shack! I really enjoy the fries here because they are perfectly crispy and they give a generous amount. The lobster roll was the star of the show and they definitely loaded it up. The lobster could have used a bit more flavor and the roll could have been buttered better/a bit more because it didn't really add to the experience. Overall, solid spot with options for everyone.

Nick S.

Captain Jack's Roadside Shack is the kind of seasonal seafood spot that attracts attention the moment the food starts coming out of the kitchen. We walked up to a casual outdoor seating area with picnic tables set alongside the road, giving it the laid back atmosphere of a New England seafood shack where the focus is entirely on generous portions and classic seafood favorites rather than anything overly polished. The setup is simple and relaxed, making it an easy stop for a casual lunch or dinner during the warmer months. The lobster roll is the clear highlight here. The portion was surprisingly large for the price, packed generously and substantial enough to feel like a full meal on its own. The lobster was the star of the sandwich, and the overall value stood out given how expensive lobster rolls have become across Massachusetts. We also ordered the fish and chips, which came with an equally generous portion size, though the fish was a little drier than expected. While it was still satisfying, it lacked some of the moisture and flakiness that would have made it more memorable. What stands out most is the portion to price ratio. Nearly everything coming out of the kitchen is oversized, which helps explain why the restaurant has built such a strong reputation as a destination for seafood in the area. The food leans toward hearty and filling rather than refined, and the experience works best when you arrive hungry and ready for a substantial meal. Service moved efficiently despite the steady crowds, and the casual outdoor setting kept the experience relaxed. For anyone looking for a classic roadside seafood stop in Western Massachusetts, Captain Jack's delivers generous portions, solid seafood, and a lobster roll that easily justifies the visit.

Giant lobster roll!

I'm was here for work & my colleague was craving a lobster roll. So I googled and found y'all. And I just have to say how good the fish & chips were! & the onion rings are amazing as well! My co-worker finished her lobster roll & wanted to go back for another one the next day. But sadly we didn't have time before we had to go to the airport. All the food was seasoned perfectly! Thanks so much!

Location of River Valley Co*Op market and Captain Jack's
Tina C.

Ahoy Matey! If you're looking for one of the best whole belly clams or fish tacos then welcome to Captain Jack's Roadside shack. I've coming here for a few years already and finally decided to officially review it. Whole belly clams are plump and juicy and the fish tacos are delicious. Plus you get two tacos per order. What a deal! I love the contrast between the cold crunchy cabbage/cilantro and hot crispy fish. The belly platter comes with a small side of coleslaw and fries but you can substitute the fries for the onion rings for only $.50 more. It's worth it! Their haystack style onion rings are super skinny and tasty. Portions are generous too! Lobster rolls are great with nice large lump and claw meat. However, I would recommend to go when the lobsters are in season between June and December so the meat is sweeter. Outdoor seatings are plentiful but in the winter, you can sit inside the river valley co*op market next door. Service is friendly, quick, and simple. One window for ordering and one to pick up. I always come here once or twice a year when I visit my Northampton friend. Highly recommend this place for comfort and casual dining!

Chicago Dogs
Joe M.

I'm intrigued by getting a full belly clam roll here, but I've been spoiled by eating at Bob's up in Kittery, ME. So rating on the Chicago dogs - hit the spot. Great find in Northampton. I'll be back for the kraut - and maybe a clam roll.

The lobster roll is absolutely amazing! There's so much lobster in it that we got an extra roll and my husband and I split it. The onion strings are to die for!

a lobster sandwich and fries
Cara E.

We were looking for a spot to get a lobster roll while we were traveling through the area, and we chose Captain Jack's. It was DELICIOUS! So good and so glad we stopped. The roll was packed with lobster, and the fries were great too. You order at the window, and all the tables and seating are outside. They call your name when your order is ready. We didn't have to wait too long, and it was a beautiful day so it was nice to sit outside. Definitely stop here for a lobster roll!

Shelli H.

One of my requests during my visit to Massachusetts was to visit this place. We lucked out and it was empty. Plenty of outdoor seating and no line. I knew I wanted the lobster roll. My husband went a little crazy and ordered fish tacos and fish and chips as well. Daughter in law had the clam sandwich. So much food! Expensive but I feel like it was worth it. Quality seafood. Delicious! Perfect visit. So glad we came.

A feast
Enit S.

There's a certain romanticism behind the idea of being in New England, stopping by a roadside seafood shack, ordering a Lobster Roll and sitting outside while enjoying the Summer breeze. Actually, that's probably on a lot of people's bucket list. I only recently found out about this place thanks to Yelp, but it was a little confusing because even though there was a sign for Captain Jacks, we couldn't visibly see it from the roadside. All you could see was the River Valley Co-Op, and even while driving around the parking lot, we had to ask someone to find out that it was located behind the building. An additional sign in the parking lot would've been helpful. You form a line and order at the window and wait for your number to be called. Depending on what you order, it could be a good deal or very expensive. On this visit a lobster roll was $30 and it came with hand cut fries. I never finished the roll even though I ate from it and both my mom and dad ate from it too. The scallops were good but being a Floridian and having had many scallops in my lifetime, this wasn't the best I've had but again, it was good. We also had the fish and chips and those were just ok. I wish the fish had been a little bit more crispy, or maybe that's the NE way? I think the little onion rings were better than the fries. Overall the food to me was just ok. The ambience and setup they have is very nice, especially on a cool summer day. I could see myself coming back here sometime if I were in the area.

Lobster roll with salad

They didn't have clams at Captain Jack's Roadside shack because prices had gone up 70% last week, so I settled for the best lobster roll I've ever had, anywhere. The onion rings also were the best, thin, sweet, crispy. My lemonade too! I have had lobster rolls from Maine to Rhode Island, but this beat them all. Why? Generosity. The sweet lobster meat was loaded onto a buttery roll then placed on top of a pile of the most delicate onion rings imaginable. The guys inside the shack deserve applause.

An amazing lobster roll!

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5 months ago

I ordered fried clam dinner. The fries were cold, the clams were gross. 35.00 paid for a meal that truly was gross

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Yummy food with outside tables to eat at. Great view of the sunset. Not gluten free friendly.

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2 years ago

The best lobster rolls in Western Massachusetts. Nobody else comes close. Not inexpensive, but worth every penny.

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2 years ago

These guys are crushing it. Huge lobster roll piled to the lid with lobster. Love it, thank you!

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Ask the Community - Captain Jack's Roadside Shack

Is the food fried?

Some is and some is not- you could probably call them and they could be more specific about non-fried choices

Do they have fried shrimp?

I don't think so, but, why would you want shrimp in Mass? Get the the lobster, it is local, fresh and...amazing!

Does this restaurant have alcohol?

No! Soda, Lemonade and Iced Tea.

View All 5 Questions

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Homestead - Beets and peas

Homestead

4.1(168 reviews)
2.8 mi
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I'm being generous with three stars because I want them to succeed in this spot where Ibiza and 7…read moreStrong have failed. Our experience here recently, was however, not up to snuff. The three of us were seated an uncomfortably narrow small table. The restaurant means to sit 4 at these tables but they are really meant for two people. The folly of this size table was evident as soon as the food arrived. Homestead's menu is heavy on small plates and we ordered one starter, 5 small plates and one pasta between the three of us. The larger plate menu (meant for 2) has only four items..a chicken, a fish, a meat, a vegetarian. They were out of the fish. All of the dishes basically arrived simultaneously. There was no room on the small table for all of the dishes. Kind of ridiculous to try and maneuver. So we hurriedly finished off a couple of dishes so the server could make room for the dishes in her hand. I can't imagine if we had four people at the table and they tried to fit 8 dishes on the table. They really need to time the arrival of the dishes so that we can enjoy and leisurely eat..not rush through them to make room for the more on the server and chef's schedule. The food? The ratatouille was delicious as was the Caesar salad. The arugula salad was fresh and satisfying. The salmon crudo was small, expensive and kinda weird. The butternut cavatelli with lemon and chicken was a wee tiny portion for $17 that was gloppy and without the advertised crispy skin. The $15 octopus was one tentacle in a spicy mush mosh. The charred shisito pepper starter was undercooked and came without the advertised sea salt. No bread offered. The wine list was really nice and fairly priced. The house wine was tasty at $5.50 a glass. All in all, disappointing but promising. The small plate emphasis will cause bigger than anticipated tabs. They really have to think about the size, comfort, and utility of those narrow rustic tables. And they need to stagger the arrival of the food so that customers are not rushed through their meals with all the dishes crammed on the table at once. Some nice traditional plates of food for one person (not everyone loves the sharing schtick) priced from $18-26 would be great. Homestead has promise but right now the attitude, and narrative outweigh the product and experience.

Our first time in Northampton and our server Sammie gave excellent recommendations. We had a window…read moreseat so we could people watch which made for a great evening and the food was amazing. I can't remember which pasta I had but don't let the green color fool you. The rigatoni and focaccia with drinks were also excellent.

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House Salad

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Classic old fashioned with the one big ice cube, delightful

Captain Jack's Roadside Shack - seafood - Updated November 2026

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