North River Lobster Company

I’m on a boat! It’s going fast and… I’m sippin on cocktails and chowing down on lobster tacos. Why the hell not!
Yes the food is pricey and it’s not that amazing, but you basically get a free boat tour of NYC. Plus there’s a happy hour so yeahhh.
Great date place on a quieter weeknight towards the end of summer… maybe September when there’s maybe 25 or so people on board.
And you can stay as long as you want to. What up!

Way too much of a tourist trap. Massively expensive drinks. Their lobster roll is apparently the bomb. I think I would’ve been happier w/​a burger though. Cool part is that the boat takes off every 45 minutes or so. If you show up, and this boat is a rockin, don’t come a knockin! (unless it’s docked)

It’s hard when you have super touristy friends come in town, not any more! With lobster company, they can enjoy the manhattan view while I can enjoy my lobster.
I feel like I just wrote an ad for ya north river.

To be clear, you’re really here for the view, the weather and the experience. You’re not here for fantastic food or drinks. You’re also going to pay quite a bit for both. But hey, the ride itself is free and you can pretty much hang for as long as you want.
We came early, but we still waited a ride or two before we could snag a seat up top. If you’re not willing to wait, there’s always the lower level or even the (super open) indoor area. The key to the indoor area? They have a raw bar and a shorter wait line to order food. The raw bar! Now I wish I had started (and ended) there for food, because the quality is worth the price tag.
Lobster was decent, the burger was just ok. The calamari was soggy. Stick to the raw bar (on the lower floor), I say.
We stayed from 6pm to their last ride, and had WAY too much to drink. But had a blast.
My chief complaint is the wait for the bathroom, because you can come around from either end to get to said bathroom, it’s nearly impossible to decipher who came first or second, unless there’s a line already going — and even then, you’ll run into incredibly rude patrons who insist they came first (I think not!). Made going to the loo tiresome and oddly argumentative. But I’ll chalk that up to the people and not the organizers.
Truthfully though, if the food quality improved (a lot), this could be a much higher rated place to go in the Summer.

Must try one of the Maine sodas! The Blueberry one was delicious. If sitting on the top deck, hold on to your items so they don’t fly away in the breeze. Have your cameras ready for quick selfies. The boat doesn’t go very far at all, so there’s not a lot to see, but still pretty nice views. Can’t beat delicious lobster rolls and good soda on a relaxing boat ride when the weather is nice.

What more do you need in life on an evening over the summer besides a boat, some brews, and a lobster roll? Luckily North River Lobster Company provides all of this!
This restaurant is located on a boat where you can go on whenever but they have sailing times at various times throughout the day. Listen to music, eat lobster, and drink beer while taking a 45 minute cruise down the Hudson.
The best part of this place is the secret deal they have that you can’t find on the menu. For only $ 40, you can get a Caesar salad, a lobster roll or lobster tacos, chips, and either one signature cocktail or 2 beers. The only downside if you get the 2 beers is that they give them to you at the same time so the second one is relatively warm when you get to it. But, it’s such a good deal and the food is pretty decent so it’s worth it.
I can’t wait til next summer to go back!

So we decided to finally check this place out on Labor Day. It was 90+ degrees out but it was still worthwhile. It’s a free boat ride all you have to do is purchase a drink (happy hour is offered) or food (average priced)
The boat has three floors and you have an option of being indoors or outdoor. We sat outdoor because there weren’t any available seats indoor. We ordered fish tacos (3 come in an order) lobster tacos (3 tacos) Calamari, nautical margarita (nice and strong) and a patron margarita all totaling up to $ 80 so it wasn’t bad at all. We didn’t play in the happy hour drinks because we wanted a signature drink in a mason jar which are $ 15.
The food was great but we preferred the fish tacos over the lobster. Drinks were good, the crowd was good. We had a great time. The boat ride was about 45 mins and we were lucky enough to catch the beautiful sunset. Definitely a place I will visit again.

It was just ok. Not horrible but just ok. My boyfriend got the lobster tacos which were good. It came with a Cesar salad which was NOT good. SO not good. I got the calamari with the spicy sauce which was fine. I ordered the sangria which wasn’t so wonderful. I found the general cleanliness of the tables to be lacking. Everything was slightly sticky as if it hadn’t been properly cleaned in a while.
I might go back, the atmosphre was nice. City backdrop and all that. It just wasn’t as good as I would have hoped.

Trust me people. You are not going here for quality food although they are very good in my opinion. It’s the boat ride, bucket of beer or mason jar cocktails, seating or standing on the dock crowded with people, listening to good music, partying it on the river and getting slowly but surely buzzed as the time progresses.
There’s no entrance fee, you don’t have to dress up and be all uptight, food is relatively cheap and beer selection is decent. I like to go all the way to the top on the 3^rd deck, sipping on beer, peeling shrimp or just eating them whole and meeting new people & selfies after selfies.
Party people! Shack it out!

It would easily be a perfect 5 stars if the price wasn’t so damn expensive! With that said, everything else about this place was just perfect. Free boat ride, good beers, great scenery, good food, amazing place for lunch.
We came just a little before the lunch rush on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and everything was perfect. We had a pitcher of beer, which was cheaper than buying individual beers. Then we had two lobster rolls which came with chips and an order of the shrimp po-​boy.
The lobster roll was decent but there are definitely bigger rolls and better bread at other specialty lobster roll locations. The po-​boy was delicious with crispy shrimp, good bread, nice salad and good fries. Sadly, this bill came out more than 100, but I guess you’re paying for the view as well as the food.
The boat left on time at 1230 and took us out for about 45 minutes up the Hudson. You get to see the intrepid and a lot of the west side before they turn back around. Find a good weather day, come early, check the boat schedule, and stay as long as you want!
Great weather and good food, couldn’t ask for much more.

Came here moreso for the boat ride which you don’t have to pay for!
We came on Monday night and it wasn’t very busy.
Staff very pleasant. The boat itself isn’t fancy. Less fancy than I expected but the upper deck had some ambiance to it at night with the city lights.
We ordred 2 meals to be shared (Lobster roll and calamari). I am «over» calamari as a meal item in general so i won’t comment on that.
But I really liked the lobster roll.
Drinks were on the pricier side so we just bought bottle of wine and shared it.
The boat does travel around for a bit and it’s nice to just seat, gaze up and chat. I think it rides for ~45mins then returns to dock and goes out again in xyz minutes.
I will like to come back if i have chance

Overall, I will give this place 4 stars for location, fast and efficient service, great tasting food and value. Yes, the lobster roll and lobster tacos were $ 22.50 each– a bit steep but it comes with a 45 minute cruise around the Hudson River (which we didn’t get to enjoy because we didn’t have time). The staff were ok, but not attentive. Besides giving us our food, we didn’t see them again neither were we asked if we needed anything else. But our food came out pretty fast. Very important for us since we had a flight to catch.
We will most definitely come back when we have more time to enjoy the cruise and scenery.
Below is my lil guy’s review:
I would give it a 4 stars because of service, but before that, the pros. The price was pretty decent for food and a cruise. The food was served to us very quickly. The food was amazing, the lobster was fresh. I chose the buffalo wings which was also amazing. The problem is that the buffalo wings were spicy and I needed a refill of coke, but when I asked the employee, she said there was no refills. So after that I stayed there with no drink.

For all of its faults, I’ve made North River Lobster Company a destination for walking on a summer afternoon from the west 80s twice, so it must ultimately rate 5 stars. The food is a little pricey, the wine’s a fair deal (sauvignon blanc for the GF, 10), beer’s a little steep (Pacifico, 8) and not draft, but the whole package is unbeatable on a nice day. Get there at a reasonable hour, find some seats in the sun, and enjoy the occasional cruise to 72^nd or 79^th Street, eat a fair meal, enjoy some bottles of beer and wine, and you’ll probably be happier than you expect. Here’s some tips and bonuses.
BONUS — great outdoor seating
TIP — counter service — you order at the bar, pay, and you get a flag for the table so the server can bring you your food; you carry your own drinks

Here we go with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
First time at the establishment. Met with my party around 1915hrs. There was a line but I was allowed in because my table had been seated. The first star in my rating goes to the security staff in the front and on the boat. They were all friendly and accommodating.
We embark and find a table, and go to the bar to order (no table service). The bar is rectangular and in the middle of the room, and without knowing the awkward system that they have, we just stood at the bar waiting for the bartender. Bartender #1 wasn’t wearing a name badge, so I missed his name, but after helping the customers he was with, he looks right at us, says «whoever is ready, form a line here,» and pointed to the front of his register. Ok, whatever, so we move 3 feet, and then he proceeds to help the person ahead of us in the line he shifted us to, that there was no one in! Absolute jackass. Overall he was short and rude and IN THE WEEDS!
The overall system that the place uses is awful, but even so, all the bartenders have to do are take orders, make drinks, take payment, and give the number. Yes, it is a horrible design to have people form a line with only 3 bartenders on, but despite that the service was sloth-​like.
Our food arrives, the food runner drops off the food, says all the dish names, then says «thank you» and abruptly walks off. If you’re going to auction off the food, at least do it before you drop it. A big zero for the runner.
The food was good but since there’s no table service, every time you need anything, you have to go back up to the bar. Someone in my party walked up to the bar to ask for a lobster cracker. After waiting for the bartender for about 5 minutes, he finally said they would be sent over, which they never did.
Judging by the people from multiple parties complaining to the manager throughout the evening, I assume our bad service wasnn’t an isolated event. I’m sure these types of venues make money hand over fist and my review is superfluous, but hey, this is NYC and I saw a ton of other boats to choose from for next time.
The boat and views are great, but the service is really bad and it looks like the operation could use some work. It’s a shame because a few simple changes could really fix it, but hey, it’s not my store. One star is for the security staff, and one for the kitchen. Zero for service. My recommendation, go elsewhere!

If you’re looking for fun, trendy, good food, and a good time, this is the best place to go. What a great concept for tourists and a nice change for Manhattanites.
Hypes:
— If you’re worried about not being able to get a seat — don’t be. We got prime time outdoor seating with a stroller in tow (yes, baby friendly!).
— Customer service is friendly, fast, and efficient. Loved the efficiency of people coming on and off, turnover, and fast service. When you initially get there — there is a line but we were at the end and didn’t have to wait for any more than 10 minutes.
— Food comes out pretty fast as well and is pretty good for seafood in the city.
— Lobster roll was flavorful,
— oysters had variety and were fresh,
— truffle blue cheese fries were amazing
— chicken wings were GOOD (hard to find good ones in the city).
–You also get to stay on as long as you like
Gripes:
— People may complain about the pricing, but you get beautiful views and a boat ride included.
Definitely coming back.

My younger daughter and I grabbed some lunch on this boat after riding The Beast next door. As a tourist, this is a pretty good deal — eat some lunch, get a free cruise.
I hear people complaining about the cost. I thought it was fairly reasonable. We shared a seafood platter with oysters, clams, shrimp and lobster. It was no more than what you’d pay at an oyster bar elsewhere. Even the drinks were fair — $ 9 for Ketel One I believe.
We went on a Saturday, but we caught the first cruise out so there was no line and we had a great table. When we got back, there was a short line. After talking to the manager, he said that it does get crowded later in the day and especially on the weekends. This is obviously understandable.
I guess the moral of the story is, if you don’t like lines, go early or on an off day. Otherwise, I guess you can pay for another harbor cruise. If the lobster and drinks are too expensive, grab a hot dog and soda.

Love the idea of sailing on a boat while eating delicious seafood! And you don’t have to pay extra to get on the boat. It’s essentially first come first serve so be sure to line up early if you want to get a decent table on the top deck of the boat. There’s no table service so you have to order your stuff at the bar. I ordered the lobster roll, which was surprisingly pretty good. I mean, not as good as Luke’s Lobster but decent enough for me to pay $ 21 a pop. The sail duration is about 45 minutes and they do a small loop along the Hudson. The views are fantastic and of course, the Manhattan side is better.
The best part is you don’t need to get off the boat once the sail duration is over. You can stay on and keep sailing to your heart’s content.

The concept is great. I would definitely return and recommend this experience to others, but at the same time would warn them of slight mistakes that could potentially be avoided.
All your issues are solved if you get there at least 30 – 45 min early! On a nice day the outdoor deck will be crowded and overall finding a seat anywhere will be a pain if you don’t arrive early. Food lines are ridiculously long! My friend spend the majority of the boat ride (I’d say about 35 min in line) trying to order our food. Due to the overwhelming amount of orders, many people waited a looong time to receive their food or their orders were confused or forgotten. By arriving early you are able to find a comfortable seating spot, order food and enjoy your food and the boat ride once it has sailed.
I’d say food items are moderately priced, considering the fact that you don’t need to purchase a ticket to board the boat. I had fish tacos for $ 15 and they were filling but not the tastiest I’ve had. Also, you can stay on the boat as long as you desire. We were there for a 3pm sailing but since we missed the entire experience bc we were inside ordering/​waiting for our food, we stayed for the 5pm sail on the boat and were able to snatch outdoor seating after people had cleared out. The boat rides along the Hudson River uptown, so you aren’t really seeing the main attractions but it’s still very relaxing! And if you don;t want to sail, that’s fine as well! You can just go and enjoy some food, it’s just a plus.
There is a hh hour available! As I said I would definitely come back for a nice boat ride, enjoy a drink and some grub but will be better prepared.

YAS LOBSTER BOAT!!! That’s what my friends and I affectionately call North River Lobster co. Essentially that is what it is: a boat on which you can, if you really want to, consume some lobster rolls (which are pretty pricey). But North River Lobster Co is so much more than just their rolls. In fact, how dare you talk about her like that?!
Where else in NYC can you cruise around Manhattan on a boat FOR FREE, without having to fight through a crowd of finance bros or bridge and tunnelers?
NOWHERE, SON. North River lobster co is where it’s at.
The boat takes off every 30 minutes for about a half hour, while you sip on some drinks and enjoy the view. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, their beer bucket bottle will make you pretty happy.
My four stars is due to the food — it’s fine really, just not outstanding. But if you’re looking for a boat with a view and some reasonably priced brews, North River Lobster Co is the answer to your prayers.

I have been wanting to try this concept of a restaurant since I’ve moved here. I came this Sunday with a group of friends and we had an amazing time, the lobster roll was delicious!
Boarding: starts at 11:30 but get there early as they maybe lines. The first departure is at 12:30 and 2^nd depart is at 3;00.
Food: order and tip bartender at the bar. They give you receipt and table # to bring the food to you once you find your seat/​table on boat. On a nice day, I recommend going to the top floor. I got the special combo meal for $ 40 (lobster roll, ceaser salad, chips and choice of 2 beers or cocktail).
They do have other choices on menu besides seafood such as burgers, buffalo fingers.
Music: they play a variety of 80s, 90s to today’s top hits. Fun music!
Service: was very fast. We got our food within 10 min of ordering. Nice staff!
Price: you don’t have to pay to board the boat. But you make up for it in the food and drinks avg $ 10 – 12 a drink. Pitcher sangria $ 40. The prices are not too crazy.
How it works: you can stay on boat for each departure .We stayed for 2 departures from 12:30 — 4:00. Each departure 45 minutes. Once it docks you can stay on until next departure. Just order drinks and more food.
I loved the idea! So much fun and a must try event for the summer! They do have indoor seating as well in case it rains. There’s also a bar area near the dock do you can watch and wait for boat.