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    Holdfast Specialty Seafood

    4.6 (20 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Holdfast Specialty Seafood Takeout or Delivery

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    HOLDFAST SPECIALTY SEAFOOD ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Cold Lobster Roll
    Joy G.

    Love Holdfast, hope they thrive in this neighborhood! They put their own spin on the fast/casual seafood model that Luke's Lobster popularized and, though the menu is relatively limited, the options are excellent enough that make it worth a trip. The cold lobster roll was the highlight for me. Generous chunks of fresh lobster, lightly dressed with mayo; roll provided good structural integrity. For $45, it's definitely more of an occasional indulgence for me but this was one of the better lobster rolls in the city. Definitely get an order of the fries (sea salt, salt and vinegar, and crab) on the side, the aioli they serve with it is divine. The smoked fish toast special was also memorable - fish on top of bread is obviously a simple enough concept but this was extremely well executed. The only miss in our order was the clam chowder, which had a strange medicinal aftertaste and needed a lot of salt and hot sauce to remedy. Btw, if you order over $40 on Toast (which should be easy enough to do for two people), they throw in a free item. If you choose to dine in, there's some bar seating along the window for some good people-watching. Really friendly people working the counter, they did a careful job packing everything separately (using eco-conscious containers!) so the bun didn't get soggy with the hot lobster (which comes in a soupy bisque). You're in Allston/Brighton so the parking options are meager. There's a municipal lot one street down on Harvard Ave past the liquor store on your right.

    Deborah C.

    Had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of food at such reasonable prices. Four of us came by around 5pm on a Sunday night and it was pretty quiet, with some people coming in to pick up their takeout orders. There's one table that can seat about 6 people, otherwise there's counter seating along the walls. I ordered a crunchy shrimp roll and shared the yellowtail crudo and crab seasoned fries with the table. The roll was delicious and had a nice blend of flavors. The crudo was refreshing, and the fries were seasoned to perfection. I enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back to try out more of the menu!

    Menu
    Emi H.

    A welcome addition of a different cuisine in the neighborhood! This is a small fast casual spot that serves New England style seafood rolls with their own spin. There is one large table by the window with booth seating and 2 bar seating on either side of the walls. I got the Crunchy Shrimp Roll ($17) and it was unique with the ponzu aioli, Thai basil, and green herb butter roll. The combination of flavors work well together and I liked the kick from the Serrano chile. The shrimps were crispy as well. I only wish there were more shrimps in it so it would be more filling! Overall, the food was good and the staff was friendly. The rolls are on the pricier side and the portion size is smaller compared to other places in Boston (ie. the cold lobster roll is $45 and the hot lobster roll is $48 for 6oz of lobster). However, I think this place is still worth checking out if you're in the area. Their take on traditional New England style seafood rolls is not something I've seen anywhere else.

    Shrimp roll and crab fries
    Natalie H.

    New restaurant in Allston that's not only tasty but also a refreshing update to the cuisine scene in the area. The staff was excited to welcome costumers and one could see how much care they put into their craft. I can predict that it'll be a hot spot soon so the small store front could get busy but no worries take out is always available!

    Crudo
    Anne P.

    Incredible fresh and fried seafood from former Oya and Sarma chefs in a casual, unassuming counter-service spot. Get any sandwich and a side of oysters and crudo.

    Falafel roll in the front, shrimp roll in the back. And yummy pickles!

    DELICIOUS food!! there are not many really high quality restaurants in Allston. The falafel roll was very tasty, which I was surprised by as a seafood restaurant. The fries were also excellent. Overall, all of the flavors were very nicely balanced and proportions were the perfect size. The ambiance was also nice and clean inside. Will definitely be going back! The employees were also very nice :)

    Oyster Roll (left) and Shrimp Roll (right) with French Fries - Crab Style

    Wandered in by chance and found delicious rolls and friendly staff. We had the oyster roll and the shrimp roll, both perfectly balanced. The Crab Style french fries were amazing, especially with their special hot sauce. The interior was clean and cute with nautical decor.

    Hot butter lobster roll

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    6 months ago

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    Hi Natalie! It was a pleasure having you!

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    7 months ago

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    Jesse K.

    Thank you, Anne! Hope you'll come by again soon!

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    Jesse K.

    Thank you so much, Emma! It was a pleasure to have you! See you soon!

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    5 months ago

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    Jesse K.

    Thank you for dropping in, Audrey! Come back soon!

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    Thank you, David! See you soon!

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    4 months ago

    I've lived in New England a number of decades, and this was the best clam roll I've ever had

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    Jesse K.

    Thank you, Richard! Hope to see you again soon!

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    Jesse K.

    Thank you for the kind words, Dan!

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    Holdfast Specialty Seafood - seafood - Updated May 2026

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