G Spot <3 - Crossing

In this case, believe the hype..the Lobster Roe Noodles with Beef Short Rib are a must. However at this restaurant there are many great menu options to choose. But before we talk food, here are details on the restaurant and service. The atmosphere is lively and fun within a large open space. The restaurant has mellow feel with soft lighting in the dining area, which is offset with a more vibrant and lively feel at the bar. On many visits our service has been nothing short of exceptional. With a server focus not only on helpfulness but also on their friendliness and menu suggestions. The food is inventive and unique, especially when it comes to their Lobster Roe Noodles with Short Rib (photo). The noodles are cooked to perfection with larger embedded pieces of Lobster and beef Short Rib. The sauce with Lobster Roe is velvety and smooth, which compliments the noodles and assorted vegetables within the dish. The other menu options are equally inventive and fabulous; such as the tuna tartare, buttermilk biscuits and fried clams/oysters. For added convenience and comfort stay at the attached Commonwealth hotel. Don't miss out on this remarkable Boston restaurant.

I have a mixed opinion about ICOB based off feedback that I had gotten from several people. There were some things they knocked out of the park and others that just made me scratch my head. First off, let's deal with the good. The bar, both raw and booze were both spectacular. Whether you prefer oysters, shrimp, crab, or anything else that you could envision being served cold you will not be disappointed here. The bar offers a great variety of value from their cocktail, wine, and beer menus. These are not your run-of-the-mill offerings either. They are creative and unique, offering most people a little taste of something they may not have had recently (or ever before). We had a dozen oysters that came with thoughtful toppings that didn't destroy the flavor of the meat, but rather just brightened everything up for us. The server even did the selection for us as we are not very educated in the oyster world and trusted him to guide us based on our preferences. He did spectacularly and even chose based on what we had ordered to drink as well. Truly a gifted young man, as we enjoyed this thoroughly! Now, at this point you're probably wondering why 3 stars for a rating based off my previous portion of the review. It comes down to the lobster roll to be honest. I was told this was one (if not THE best) in the city. With high hopes (and a deep wallet), I ordered the roll and was prepared to be amazed. Unfortunately, this was one of the more disappointing rolls I have had in the city. The lobster meat itself had bits of shell throughout the meat and was a bit overdressed than I prefer (and with celery). The slaw was also a bit disappointing as it did not have very much flavor compared to some of the other places that were near half the cost. The best part of the $35 plate was honestly the fries. THOSE were some delicious, peppery fries! When you are let down by the reason you visited a place, I can't just help but feel a little let down. When you couple that with the price, I think that justifies my overall rating. However, if I were to eliminate the roll from my experience then I would probably have given this a 4 or 5 star rating. I would never coax people away from ICOB, as they have a lot of great things to offer people. Their raw bar is out of this world, the service is amazing, and their drink menus will hit all the notes for all the right people. However, if you are looking for a great (and traditional) lobster roll experience, you'll be better serviced elsewhere in the city.

Omg. I don't know what else to say. This was one of the greatest Meals I've ever eaten. I was referred here by super foodies, so my expectations were high. I wasn't let down. The space was beautiful and airy, just off the hotel lobby. We ordered the massive raw platter with 12 clams and 12 oysters on the half shell, a lobster and six shrimp cocktail. The biscuits were also insane. Add on a bottle of cremant and a mezcal cocktail. I can't wait to return.

Delicious food, fabulous ambiance. I stopped in here for dinner and instantly fell in the love with the decor and ambiance of this lovely oyster bar. This restaurant is HUGE inside; it's much bigger than it appears from the outside. FOOD: The bread basket with honey cayenne butter was simply perfect. I had to eventually push the butter away because it was so good. Very unique. CLAM CHOWDER 5/5 STARS. Get this. The chunks of clam and bacon give it a perfect amount of flavor. The homemade oyster crackers on top were so delicious that I asked for more. YUM! Unless you are super hungry, the clam chowder can easily be split between 2 people. ETHEL'S LOBSTER ROLL 5/5 STARS. I'm sure there are a ton of restaurants serving lobster rolls, but I can't imagine most of them are THIS good! HUGE chunks of lobster with excellent flavor packed into a buttery, soft roll? Yes, please! Try it with the Old Bay Fries and you'll be super happy. Service was quick and friendly everyone employee we interacted with was super nice! We were stuffed after the clam chowder and lobster roll. I really wanted to try to dessert but couldn't make room, so I think I'll go back tonight! Highly recommend Island Creek, especially if you are staying next door at Hotel Commonwealth.

My last night in Boston over Labor Day weekend, and I was able to snag reservations at 8PM that Sunday night. The recommendations were rather strong about this place, so I felt good about making this my 'night cap ', and I was not disappointed! The establishment itself is pretty large with several seating areas, looks pretty modern, with has ample bar seating as well as numerous booth styled tables. I was promptly served with fresh, crisp bread with a soften pad of butter while given a chance to order a beverage. As I 've come to pleasantly realize in Boston, the great restaurant in the areas aren 't above carrying very respectable tap list, so I treated myself to a Winter Hill (local Somerville) Mosaica, a delicious IPA. After perusing the dinner menu a bit, I just couldn 't bring myself to deviate from the much lauded Lobster Roe Noodles with grilled lobster, braised short rib, oyster mushroom, and Pecorino. And it was phenomenal. The pasta was perfectly cooked, al dente with a nice chew, and there was generous amount of the prized lobster and short rib. The dish...was just a pleasure to eat, savoring it with my IPA as I people watched and took in my last night of an incredible, albeit short trip to Boston. My outing at Island Creek has only reinforced my plans to return soon.