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Hours
Sun
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Mon
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tue
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Sat
11:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Reserve a table
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Seafood, Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
About
Our History Although named for the boats used to catch lobster, Smack Shack was launched as a food truck in 2010 serving lobster rolls from a land-locked downtown Minneapolis parking lot. Owner Josh Thoma had a great recipe and a belief that appetite for fresh lobster in the Twin Cities was as strong as any coastal city. Food Truck As the truck menu evolved, so did the relationship between the City of Minneapolis and food trucks. In 2011, new legislation was passed allowing trucks to park at city meters on designated streets, allowing the truck to get out and gain new fans. It could be often found on Marquette Avenue and 7th. With a commercial kitchen within the City of Minneapolis, and the want to continue serving Lobster rolls through the winter months, Smack Shack developed a fortuitous and legendary partnership with The 1029 Bar in Northeast Minneapolis where they still serve today. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives In December 2010, Smack Shack began cooking out of the kitchen at the 1029 Bar, kicking everything off with a traditional lobster boil in January 2011. The relationship grew and lobster fans as well as local and national media flocked to the 1029 Bar. In November 2011, Guy Fieri and the crew from The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" showed up to tape a segment about the truck and the 1029. 603 Washington Avenue As the "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives episode aired in April 2012, plans for the brick and mortar restaurant in a historic building in Minneapolis' North Loop were announced and construction began shortly thereafter. Smack Shack opened on a snowy night in February 2013 and continues to be heralded by fans and food critics as one of Minneapolis' best.
PRICE RANGE
₱290.00 – ₱1,740.00
CUISINES
Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.0
685 reviews
Excellent
350
Very good
209
Average
74
Poor
37
Terrible
15
okiecruiser4331
Yukon245 contributions
Feb 2020 • business
Great service and atmosphere. I ordered shrimp and grits which had andouille sausage and was a bit too spicy for my tastes. The service was fabulous, were seated right away and there is valet car service available which was handy for February in Minneapolis.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave K
Salt Lake City129 contributions
Aug 2022 • family
Their lobsters start at 1 1/2 pounds and go up, I settled on a two pounder and wasn’t disappointed. It came with a full corn cob, sausage link, boiled potatoes and cole slaw (not so good). I started with their clam chowder which was recommended by our server and it was delicious.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kay k
Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul1311 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
Restaurant is still at partial capacity due to Covid and staff was well masked. Menus were laminated, so hopefully they were disinfected between customers. Lobster Cobb salad sounded great, lots of lobster, but it was stringy and no flavor. They forgot the blue cheese crumbles and server never came back to ask how food was, so I was not able to get them. More cucumbers than lettuce. Chicken and waffles were better, crispy delicious waffle, huge portion of fairly good fried chicken.
Written May 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WanderingHokie
Charlotte113 contributions
May 2021 • couples
First time visitor to Minneapolis looking for great food and atmosphere. Smack Shack did not disappoint! We started with the peel-and-eat shrimp and then shared the shrimp tacos and stuffed salmon. Everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. Our server was attentive and helpful. Perfect experience and will definitely be back!
Written May 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen S
Maplewood3 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
The food is great. We eat in or take it to go at least once a week all through Covid. Parking is atrocious if you’re eating in, so we typically order to go. Unfortunately, I won’t return after our last visit. We arrived and didn’t have a reservation but we’re fine with waiting for an outdoor (covered) table. They seated us and we were being rained on. We asked if they could move us to a table further back, one had just opened, we were told no. I asked inside if there was anywhere else to move and the manager Dave on 10/1/21 at 9:15 was extremely rude and his comment was “Sorry I can’t control Mother Nature.” I literally only wanted a seat that wasn’t wet. I said as I know you cannot control the rain (sarcasm was not necessary on his part) you can control where you put tables and customers when it’s raining or even have a plastic barrier to shield customers from the rain. He said “I have other reservations to worry about tonight!” Then he proceeded to tell me that it’s a historic building that plastic cannot be done. Meanwhile, multiple open tables were available and the entire upstairs was open. There was no apology or any other solution offered, even waiting longer. We saw multiple other people just leave. He only said “I can’t control the rain.” After waiting 40 minutes to get a wet seat, and no other options presented, I find this appalling. I wasn’t even looking for a spot inside, just something dry. When things were shut down, I was still frequenting your business weekly, Mr. Josh Thoma and spent thousands of dollars there. I even placed a to go order that night because I was starving and still spent $100, even after being treated that poorly. Never again, not with that kind of treatment by your staff.
Written October 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
libra612
Minnesota53 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Came down from Duluth to eat at Smack Shack for my birthday lunch and ordered the Lobster Boil. The lobster was about an ounce not even kidding. It was chewy and tasted terrible. The whole meal tasted like it had been sitting for a while. So disappointed. Then the couple next to us, he returned his food item too! How do you even serve a lobster tail that small. It was just gross and so small and for 54 bucks I could have bought two 1 pound tails in the store! Won't be back.
Written October 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mac w
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • none
My wife and I had supper October 31, 2022 at the Bloomington location. I ordered the lobster roll sandwich and my wife fish and chips. The poor communication: I checked the price online for the lobster roll price. At the restaurant the price listed in the menu was 5 to 6 dollars more expensive. To avoid an unpleasant discussion I paid the price listed in the menu for the dinner option I reviewed online. The Bland Food: The lobster tasted as it was over cooked no real seasoning at all for the 30 something price, not good at all. My wife fish dish was mediocre at best she thought. For the 70 dollars we paid very disappointed! Will not return!!
Written November 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dustythoughts
Manchester2235 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
It's hard for me to find a good seafood restaurant in Minnesota, even in a larger city like Minneapolis, but this place really hit the spot. We had made a reservation (a good thing, seeing how busy this place was) and were seated promptly, and a friendly waiter came to take our orders. Our table was comfortable, and even though this place was super busy, we weren't overwhelmed by the noise. Their fish dishes are prepared in some really unique ways (the blackened Atlantic salmon was prepared with beets and blackberries), and everything was really quite good! In addition to the salmon, we also ordered the fish & chips to share, which was a good thing, as the portions are really large. Also, we took a braised lamb po'boy home, and it was delicious! It took the food a while to come out, though, and a bit of a long while to get our waiter once we wanted the check. However, the waiter was super apologetic and brought out our check promptly when asked.
Written December 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GuyAndGalOnTheMove
Chicago1131 contributions
Aug 2022 • business
Awesome! Walking through the airport I had a hard time finding a place that was open and staffed for breakfast and happened upon this location. Holy smokes was the service incredible! The man working in the front and working with the kitchen staff was incredible. So engaging and welcoming and got my day off to a great start. Highly recommend at the airport it’s a great feeling of customer service.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda N
24 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
They have the best infused, on tap, gin and tonics. It comes with a sprig of rosemary, lime and a grapefruit slice. Happy hour is from 2-6, wowza! They have great, reasonably priced drinks and food during this time. The best were the crab cake sliders. Also had fish taco, shrimp avocado toast and lobster bisque (not on the happy hour menu). Service was very friendly too.
Written August 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kay k
Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul1311 contributions
Jun 2023 • friends
We went for an early dinner before a Twins game. Server was very good and took our food and drink orders quickly. Over an hour later, still no food. Manager came out to apologize, saying that the fried chicken takes longer to cook ????? When the food finally arrived, the chicken was piping hot, but the other 3 meals were lukewarm or cold. Still tasty, but not up to par. No adjustment was made to bill . We missed the first 4 innings of the ball game. Fun spot, but plan on a leisurely experience.
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric W.
Yonkers699 contributions
Dec 2022 • solo
(Last visited 11/28/2022.) In town on business and it's dinnertime! I hopped on the Yelp app and did some poking around looking for something good, something different. "Smack Shack" intrigued me with its name so here's where I ended up on this Monday evening. Here's how it went...
Atmosphere/Appearance: The word "shack" will certainly throw you off. It's not small in here at all. Granted, the building doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the taller ones around it, but it has its own character. It looks like a one-story brick "barn" of sorts. It's very elongated with a raised platform for it's large outdoor seating section. Once inside you're greeted by a very open floor plan with high ceilings, red/white checkered tablecloths, yet some modern amenities and brick walls. In the middle of the room you have several tanks containing live lobsters and a big bar rail off to the side.
Service: I sat at the bar and service was great. I didn't have to worry about anything. The bartender was friendly, kind, made great conversation and made sure that I had everything I needed!
Food: They offer the infamous seafood boil here, but I wanted to get something I don't usually get at restaurants so I opted for the Stuffed Salmon. It is described as salmon filled with shrimp and lobster, then served alongside Minnesota wild rice, pistachios, asparagus, golden raisins and drizzled with a lemon beurre blanc. It was DELIGHTFUL. It was a good portion, buttery, smooth, tender salmon cooked a little more than I prefer, but I wasn’t offered a choice of cooking temperature. The medley was crunchy, savory, warm, comforting and an excellent complement. The lemon butter blanc was FANTASTIC. It reminded me of a hollandaise sauce, but not as thick and lighter. It was very well balanced. This place also had a wide variety of on-tap craft beers as well in which I indulged in.
Value: $33.95 for my salmon back then and about $7.00 per beer. It's a seafood spot so just use common sense when coming here. It's not going to be cheap.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed myself here and can 100% see a return visit in my future!
Written November 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura
Duluth40 contributions
May 2021 • none
I was overwhelmed by how amazing this place was! Some bad reviews on here had me hesitant. It's easily five stars! We love, love, love seafood. Had a very hard time selecting just two things off the menu. The menu isn't huge, but there were so many good looking options. Settled on the original lobster roll (the warm one) it was the most amazing lobster roll I've ever had! There was at least an entire lobster's worth of meat on it. It weighed a ton. The creamy clam chowder was fantastic-one of the best I've had. The lobster mac and cheese was equally delicious. We plan to return until we've finally eaten every seafood option on the menu. We sat in the bar area and it was a great space!
Written May 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doug B
644 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
We’ve loved this place for years, and had looked forward to returning after COVID absence. The lobster poutine was SO oversalted it was inedible! And, the original lobster sandwich bore little resemblance to the many we’ve had before. Very doubtful we’ll return.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim2344
Atlanta385 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
This was one of the best meals the 4 of us ever had! First our server Taylor was friendly and professional and made great suggestions! We started with the lobster guacamole snd lobster corn dogs. The we went to the main event. Two original lobster rolls, large bowl of lobster bisque, a large lobster mac n cheese, and a halibut bowl. Everything was perfect!! For dessert we had the key lime pie and butterscotch cookies. Again two winners…
Honestly we cannot figure out why this restaurant is ranked #35 on Trip Advisor. It should definitely be in the top three and our first stop whenever we come back to Minneapolis!
Written August 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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