The Lobster Shanty (Salem, MA)

On a cool, crisp, fall evening on October 2nd, we (my boyfriend and I) headed up to Salem, MA to visit an establishment called The Lobster Shanty. We had seen it featured on Food TV's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" earlier in the week and were eager to try their Guinness marinated steak tips, the lobster pie and the mac and cheese.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a bouncer who checked our IDs and asked us if we wanted to sit inside or on the patio (please keep in mind that the temperature was in the low 60's and the time, around 8 at night, in October). We opted for indoor seating, where we promptly chose the only available table, tightly abutting a group of obnxious elderly couples. (The reason for their obnoxiousness would become abundantly clear, as my own would be on the rise).

After an inordinate period of time, a waitress brushed by and we indicated that we needed menus. She questioned, "Menus?" Yes, M-E-N-U-S. She dropped them off at the table and took our drink order (a water with lemon for me, The Perfect Storm rum cocktail, for my bf).

As we waited for our drinks, I surveyed the dining area. Small. Dimly lit. Walls covered with nostalgic tin signs. Probably the size of your average bedroom, only with a bar at one end and a large plexiglass live lobster tank at the other. (not too mention a stack of boxes, indicating maybe someone had either just moved in or was planning on moving out).

When our drinks finally arrived (in plastic Solo cups), we also received some bad news simultaneously. Our waitress informed us that they are "all out of the steaks tips" and "there's no more lobster left for the lobster pie." With a confused expression, my glance moved from our waitresses' face, to the tank of one hundred ready and willing crustaceans, back down to the menu. "Those dishes are why we came up here in the first place!" I exclaimed heatedly. Our waitress mumbled "Sorry" and hurried away. Apparently, I scared her. We sat their listening to all the tables around us ordering the Guinness steak tips and being denied (obviously we had all been teased by the same episode of DDD).

We ended up ordering a fried cheese with marina and basil appetizer to start and a cup of (lukewarm) clam chowder. (Just a side note on the use of fresh basil leaves in hot dishes. They are supposed to be added at the last second the avoid any burning or over-wilting, not cooked as long as the main food item. This was not the case here.These basil leaves had seen much better days.) I guess the kitchen managed to wrangle up some lobster (a waitress actually rolled up her sleeves, pulled two out of the tank and carried them dripping and wriggling, over the patrons in the diningroom) because it suddenly became available. I ordered the lobster mac and cheese with a side of sweet potatoe fries and my bf ordered the pulled-pork platter with cole slaw and sweet potato fries. He also received another bowl of the lukewarm clam chowder and was told it was "taken care of" because he hadn't received his original bowl (which he had). Most of the food was mediocre and needed to be heavily salted and peppered. The pulled-pork was cold and the mac and cheese was about as flavorful as Kraft. The sweet potato fries, however, were delicious. Cut like potato chips, soft in the center, crispy on the edges and a perfect combination of sweet and savory. They saved the meal.

I would probably go back again, but ONLY to try those damn steak tips and maybe have another nibble of the sweet potato fries. Also, the Lobster Shantys' location is within walking distance to all the quirky shops in Salem, so that would be the only other reason to ever go near that "dive" again.