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    Shaking Crab - Boston Common

    3.6 (202 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    SHAKING CRAB - BOSTON COMMON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Dee C.

    I went and got crab legs, Shiggy my server let me to think that a half isn't good enough so I bought two. If you can't eat that much that's definitely a mistake. It came with potatoes and corn, I really love corn so I got a side of their fried corn. I don't regret that at all, though I could eat less cuz it was so much food. I also got muscles and shrimp, the sauce I got was really good. I love this location because you get to look out at downtown while you're eating, and you can find parking actually. The servers are great and friendly. This was on a Super Bowl Sunday so there wasn't much people there but they did have the game on. I like that they cater to their customers.

    Kelly Z.

    This place is soo underrated! Their seafood boil is so affordable, so delicious and so juicy! We got 2 pounds of the shrimp head on, 1/2 pound of mussels, 1 pound of snow crab and a side order of the sausage. Plus a side of the garlic noodles. It came all in one bag with 1 corn and 1 potato. We got the SHAKING sauce medium level spicy and it was so flavorful and it has a good balance of flavor and spice. It comes with a lot of garlic and seasoning as you can see in the photo, they were piled right on top of the seafood! The shrimp and mussel were super big and juicy! It goes so well with the sauce!! The snow crab came in a big cluster of 5 and the meat was cooked just right. We shared all of this among 3 people and I think it was just the right amount for $22 per person. However, there was a big table of drunk people behind us and they were so loud and disturbing. The place is not that big, so they really took up lots of room and were really load. We sat right next to them and they really gave us a headache and it was hard for us to even talk to each other without yelling. I wish the employees could have handled them better or at all, but I understand how difficult it would be to control a big group of drunk people. That was our only issue but I hope this is just a one time instance and it doesn't happen often.

    Menu
    Emma M.

    Haven't been to another place with a Cajun boil near Boston and was impressed by the size of the crawfish. For two people we got the boil with snow crab (full), crawfish (full), and shrimp (full) with the shaking sauce and hot spice plus sausage add-on. The food was all delicious. We are used to spice and it wasn't too hot, could try the next level. This seemed like the right amount of food for both of us. The server was great and helped us navigate the menu.

    Erika Chloe R.

    It was my boyfriend's first time trying seafood boil and he totally enjoyed! I think they were a bit understaffed the night I went, but the people working were still so nice and accommodating. At first we were sorta confused walking in because you have to go upstairs to get a table, and we weren't sure what to do since no one was downstairs to help us out for a bit. But once we got sat, they were very friendly and helpful. The place wasn't too busy when we went, besides one big party. So it was pretty chill and didn't feel crowded at all. The seafood seemed good quality to me and I really liked the sauce. Overall, I like the place a lot and I hope to come again the next time I'm in Boston!

    Shaking Specials
    RA J.

    Good food. Good service. The ambiance was just blah like most places in Boston. I think it's a Boston thing. But I was able to watch the Celtics vs Heat on tv while I ate a late dinner after seeing Tracy Morgan comedy show that was being taped for HBO. The taste is different than similar restaurants in other parts of the country. I will admit that I like I had a choice of spiciness for my food.

    Crawfish roll
    Gladys C.

    The food was great! Especially, the boiled bag with king crab, shrimp, lobster tail, potatoes and corn ( add on). The crawfish roll...not a fan but it was great because I had lobster roll and crab roll today to another restaurant. Service was good he obliged to request that we sat in the first floor because of medical reason. The shack was cool . Lighting was good too.

    Grier F.

    Overall rating: 5 stars, a hidden gem in Boston and my absolute favorite for seafood boil Food: seafood boil, calamari, noodles, we got the combo bag which could either be purchased in 1/2 pound bags or 1 pound bags. Our combo bag had shrimp, king crab legs, mussels, potatoes, and corn. Texture: the house Cajun sauce is gooey and delicious, it coats the seafood and sides beautifully Pricing: $35 for a half pound bag (you get a half pound of chosen seafood) Ambiance: There isn't much for ambiance, a few nautical inspired decor. The windows face Boston Common and lets a good amount of light in Seating & Parking: lots of seating, it's located above a cafe, no parking spaces Service: straight forward! Music: pop and country Bathrooms: men and women bathrooms Final comments: move favorite seafood boil spot, they empty your seafood boil into trays for easiest access

    Fried corn

    Came back here again. I got the half lobster, which is one lobster tail, half mussels, which are around 8-9 mussels and I added noodles. The mussels are fresh and big and the lobster is good too. The only problem is that the sauce is outside and the seafood doesn't have much sauce flavor when we eat them. The corn and potatoes are worse because they just taste like steamed ones and then flavor is really not in it. Unless we have to eat together with the garlic which has the sauce flavor. The noodle is good though as it's the most flavorful. They just don't give you a fork by default. So it's weird to eat noodles with hand. Service is slow on the first floor. The lighting is dim at night as well.

    Roach  cooked in sauce/crawfish batch.

    I was disgusted after receiving my crawfish and crab legs only to find a roach in the bag of crawfish. I couldn't believe it. Makes me wonder about the sanitary conditions of this restaurant. I will never eat here or order from this place. I am beyond disgusted. I called to inform them and someone told me to email Simon, and they provided the email address. I emailed and sent pictures. No response. I have written a rating on Yelp in years, but I refuse to not share to prevent others from having a similar experience. I wish I could leave a 0 rating.

    FRIED CATFISH BASKET, SEAFOOD GALORE with Cajun seasoning

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    2 years ago

    Good EXCELLENT and Service, Riken, also EXCELLENT 5 Stars! We had the lobster roll, kid's catfish and clam chowder- all sooooo good!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Shaking Crab - Boston Common

    Can we do reservations?

    Yes! Check on Opentable

    How much is your cheapest dish?

    It is less than ten.

    Is there decent amount of seating in the restaurant? I was hoping to come with a group of 5.

    Hi Ruby! We’ve got just over 100 seats (including the bar) at the Boston Common location. Please give us a call at 617-936-3162 for current availability or to make a reservation.

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    Cap't Loui

    Cap't Loui

    4.3
    (365 reviews)
    9.3 mi
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    I've tried a number of seafood boils around MA and Cap't Loui is definitely one of the better ones…read more We had shrimp and mussels with medium Cap't Loui sauce and lemon pepper and added garlic noodles and sausage. They sell by the half pound or pound with their prices listed on the walls in the restaurant based on their current market prices. The portions felt like a lot for what we ordered as we split about three pounds of seafood between three people and were all stuffed. The mussels were big and shrimp were very fresh and clean. The medium sauce was not too spicy and it also came with a potato and small corn on the cob. I thought their garlic noodles were not as good as I've had at other seafood boils, but they do not skimp on the garlic! The restaurant has a spacious front dining area where you enter from the mall with tables for larger parties and the back area where there are a lot of tables for smaller groups. All tables are lined with paper as you'd expect from a seafood boil restaurant and they use all plastic ware and cups. The service was relatively quick and attentive and they also give you gloves, bib, and a bucket for the shells as you eat. I recommend ordering combos as a group if you are hungry as you get free sides depending on how many pounds you order.

    Cap't Loui is a Cajun seafood boil spot that delivers on the core promise of the format. I walked…read moreinto a lively space and knew immediately that the meal was going to get messy by design, so I came prepared for that. The boil bags came out hot, saucy, and loaded with flavor, and the cajun sauce was the backbone of the whole experience. I started with the shrimp, mussel, and sausage combination, a strong starting point for a first bag. The corn and potatoes that came along for the ride soaked up the sauce well and were worth finishing before I moved on. I added the garlic noodles to my order, and they held up as a side that actually contributed to the meal rather than just filling space on the table. The lemon pepper fries were another solid addition, well seasoned and crispy in a way that made them easy to keep picking at throughout the meal. Snow crab and lobster are on the menu for when you want to push the order into higher territory, and the king crab legs are a standout if you are willing to spend for them. Service was attentive and the staff were patient about walking me through the menu and the process, which made the experience comfortable even though it was my first time doing a seafood boil. A fun, satisfying meal that earns its following.

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    Buttermilk & Bourbon

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    4.0
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    Would highly recommend B&B for brunch! Their biscuits are TO DIE FOR - definitely a must get when…read moreyou visit. We also had the chicken sliders and pulled pork Benedict, which were good but nothing to write home about tbh (the chicken slider was a little fishy weirdly). Drinks here are also fun! They have such a great variety but we really enjoyed the margs and hurricane

    This was an amazing find of a restaurant on our little trip to Boston. As of many of the other…read morereviews state, the biscuits are a must. They were the dark horse that I never would have thought about ordering normally. Biscuits for dinner? Eh. But they were delicious and lighter than expected and the pimento cheese I could have ate by the spoonfuls. The oysters were clean and delicious. Everything you hope to have from Northeast oysters especially being from Texas where most of the places here serve Gulf oysters that don't even come close to comparing. I could have drank the mignonette. The pimento mac n cheese was on point and flavorful (and again that pimento cheese, yum). The wagyu burgers were so good. The burger was tender and flavorful, the bread was soft and light and slightly sweet, and the onion ring added a great texture to the mix. Think of a amped up western burger. The ambiance was a cool vibe yet a home feel. We were seated quickly but it took awhile for anyone to acknowledge us. Service was good once it started and the food came out quickly. If we ever make it back to Boston, it will definitely be on our list to revisit. Great late dinner spot. Simple foods done right. (Oh, and the drinks were delicious. I wanted to try them all. Mine tasted exactly like an apple pie.)

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    Shaking Crab - Newton

    Shaking Crab - Newton

    4.0
    (503 reviews)
    6.8 mi
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    A hidden gem! The food is absolutely phenomenal. We got two different seafood boils, one with their…read moreShaking (cajun) sauce and the other with their barlic (butter and garlic) sauce. The Shaking sauce was absolute perfection. The barlic was probably delicious but didn't even compare with the amount of flavor in the shaking sauce. All of the seafood was cooked beautifully and tasted fresh. The quality of the meal was incredible. We also ordered a lobster roll and their garlic noodles. I think the lobster roll was a lobster salad and I really really enjoyed it. I don't think I'd order the noodles again but only because everything else blew me away and I was so full by the time I got to them. They have a full bar which allows for a ton of drink choices. 10/10 will frequent the Shaking Crab.

    Shaking Crab has tons of locations and this location in Newton is great! The interior is also so…read morecute hahaha. For food, we ordered the jumbo seafood boil which came with snow crab, crawfish, shrimp, mussels, potatoes, corn, and we added sausage! We got it with the regular cajun sauce and it was delishhh. The sauce is a classic you can't go wrong with! My only wish is that the snow crab was bigger / meatier but everything else was in the boil great. We also ordered garlic noodles, mac and cheese, and fried pickles. The garlic noodles are fine but not great. It tastes like cheap takeout noodles and I wouldn't get it again. Similarly, the mac and cheese is also just fine. I actually liked the fried pickles though because batter was seasoned well but just a little salty. If you come here, get ready to eat messy! Thankfully they give you bibs and gloves so you can eat comfortably. Next time I want to try the Tom Yum sauce.

    Photos
    The photos of the wall that you can sign
    The photos of the wall that you can sign
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    Shaking Crab - Boston Common - cajun - Updated July 2026

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