Willie T’s Lobster Shack

Willie T’s Lobster Shack has such a limited menu and high prices, I’m surprised it’s still open. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, the food is very tasty.
To me, this place is more of a curiosity than anything. I didn’t really think that the DC food scene was clamoring for a lobster shack, especially considering that Maryland crabs are so close and fresh.
This location is pretty small, and I believe this is where the former Marvelous Market was located. There’s no tables to sit down in, which is kind of annoying when you’re waiting for your food, since it takes a while.
Menu is limited, but maybe that’s to be expected? I think they’re going for the vibe of one of those roadside stops in Maine, and those kind of places can limit themselves to one or two types of food, but we are in the middle of Dupont Circle and I think there needs to be more variety on the menu.
The prices are steep, and a quick meal for two people is easily $ 40 or $ 50. The food itself is very good, and I love the lobster roll, but this isn’t the kind of place you can go to very frequently.

the best lobster rolls i’ve ever had. I wish we had one in Reston, VA

I had been wanting to try this place for a while now but never got a chance to so when I had the time I went last week. The location seems like it’s mostly for carry out and was pretty quiet. I ordered the lobster roll and added the clam chowder as well since I was hungry. I wanted to get a fountain drink too but was told that it was flat and I should get a bottled drink instead… ok. Sure.
I got the roll warm and after getting it looked like other lobster rolls I’ve had before. I bit into it and it was… pretty bland. Tabasco to the rescue. I opened up the chowder and tried a spoonful, watery and plain, like it was mixed, like it was from a can. Tabasco to the rescue again. So, now that I’ve had it and was less than impressed by it I’m not sure I’ll go again.

Went here for some clam chowder and unfortunately they gave me the bottom of the pot which included ton of burnt pieces making the soup very unpleasant and uneatable. I would have much rather preferred them telling me that they were all out and/​or that they didn’t want to serve me scraps rather than give me the burnt bottom of a soup. Waste of money.

I’ve only been there once, as a tourist. You pay tourist prices. Still, the clam chowder and lobster roll were well above average from a hole-​in-​the-​wall place. No tables, just stools and a counter. They do a lot of take-​out business, I think. Nice décor, friendly people, menu I’d explore if I lived nearby.

Great food + awesome customer service + affordable prices!
1. Crab roll
2. Lobster roll
3. Shrimp roll
I SUGGEST THE TRIO!!!

This place was extremely delicious the first time I came here. The lobster roll was so tasty and flavorful. My second visit was not as impressive and my roll tasted bland.

Lobster rolls and clam chowder are a must on the east coast! I like to walk around when I go to DC and not use public transportation so lucky for me this place was a few blocks from my hotel.
My food was soooo good! Authentic indeed. I can’t remember the pricing but it was not too bad from what I can recall. The employee was really friendly.
Four stars instead of five because the place is pretty small so it got packed in there and it was really hot. There was also only one person taking orders and making them so it took a little while to get your food. I want to say it was about 30 minutes from me ordering to me getting my food.
I’d definitely still come back though!

I don’t even like lobster rolls, and I have to give Willie T’s five stars! I have tried lobster rolls many times in my travels, including Luke’s Lobster in NYC, and I have never been a fan. HOWEVER, Willie T’s has changed my mind. The secret of their success – letting the lobster meat take center stage and the butter-​soft bread. My boyfriend and I got split one lobster roll, one crab roll, and a large lobster bisque during a late afternoon visit to Willie T’s. We got the lobster roll warm. The lobster meat and crab meat pieces were big; they do not skimp on the seafood. The mixings were light and allowed the crab/​lobster taste to shine. Most importantly, the bread was airy, which did not overshadow the lobster and crab. I feel like other places that serve lobster rolls don’t pay attention to the bread, so the seafood just gets lost. The lobster bisque was creamy and was not too sweet (which lobster bisque many times is).
The place is small and doesn’t have much in way of atmosphere. You come to eat lobster and crab, and that’s it. They have a narrow barstool lining a wall and a few barstools for those that want to dine in. We went during off hours so we didn’t have any trouble claiming a spot. The staff was nice and the food was served quickly. It was a little pricey ($ 16 for the lobster roll and like $ 13 – 14 for the crab roll), but it’s lobster, you know?
I’m sad that there isn’t a Willie T’s near me. I’ll just have to remember it in my dreams.

New to the area and came across this place, Willy T’s Lobster Shack @ DuPont Circle. Unfortunately, the day we came, they ran out of lobster (for larger rolls). The young lady at the register suggested that we should try the Maine Trio which were 3 small rolls (shrimp, crab, and lobster). It was $ 15.00 but to add a drink and chips, came up to $ 20, which isn’t bad. My husband and I shared the rolls and they were kind enough to cut the small rolls in half. Out of the three rolls, the crab roll was actually my fav! Three of the rolls were already filling and very flavorful which gives it a plus!
Overall this place is clean, small (not suitable for large crowds). Prices are reasonable… well you are paying for a roll that has lobster or seafood in general. The employees were kind and greeted each customer that came in.
I would give it a 3 star because sadly they ran out of a larger portion of lobster in stock and they had to inform each customer that came in that they had ran out of lobster… and that will draw away the customers. But, of course, we certainly wanted to try this place out (I mean I did bookmark this spot for a reason).

Okay, I don’t particularly remember if Willie T’s is better than Luke’s Lobster. but I’ll just say they are pretty darn comparable. Especially with Willie T’s «if you spend $ 25, you get $ 5» with a check-​in on Unilocal discount it makes the deal here even sweeter!
I opted for the Lobster roll ($ 16) cause ya know, gotta try it out and see how it is! I like that they have the option for warm or cold. Options are always great. I made it a combo with the chips + soda ($ 3 something) and then added on a Mini Shrimp Roll ($ 5), which in my opinion was not mini lol it was medium sized!
*Lobster Roll — great, yummy and real meat. I was worried it was going to be a ton of mayo with the lobster meat shredded so I was happy to find big chunks of sweet lobster meat in my roll. They have their ‘special’ Willie T’s mayo on the bottom which was a touch spicy and a little too much for me. I would’ve preferred a lighter slathering.
*Mini Shrimp Roll — in my opinion it wasn’t that great, for $ 5 dollars not bad, but also not something I would spend money on again. The shrimp did not taste that fresh to me, kind of like old frozen shrimp
The people working there were very courteous and respectful, which in DC I appreciate immensely. I would most definitely stop back again the next time I have a seafood craving!

So I will say that the Lobster Roll was phenomenal, really tasty, with a nice buttery roll. But I will also say that, after spending $ 17 on a sandwich, it’s really disappointing to not be close to full. The portions are tiny, but those three bites you get are great

For a place with 4 menu items that involve basically the same preparation, they are incredibly slow. It’s also pretty gross how they prepare the food upstairs where the customers wait in an open environment — I didn’t really need to see the huge vat of butter they use to douse the lobster in.
Overall, the lobster roll itself didnt taste bad, but it also didn’t leave me wanting more.

$ 16 for a lobster roll that is busting with huge chunks of lobster is a steal in this neighborhood. Getting two for $ 25 with a Groupon (and chips and drinks) is even better!
Their traditional [cold] roll is so good, but the bun was a bit thicker than most places. Lucky for you they stuff it to the max. I usually order the warm, Connecticut-​style with butter, but I am glad I tried something different.
And, unlike a reviewer from a month ago, I found Darnell super friendly. Service was super fast, and there were plenty of seats along the wall on a Monday night.

I have been dying to go to eat lobster roll for months & my friend got a Groupon deal for this spot for $ 25 for two rolls, two drinks, and two chips. It was great for the deal but would I go again? Probably not.
The service was pretty shitty. The employee helping us was on her phone complaining for a bit before she agreed to help the customer in front of us & then when she finally got to us, she explained that they were extremely understaffed– so I get it. It just sucked for our first time experience.

Unilocalers never let a girl down! Stopped by for lunch before heading to the National Geographic Museum, and it was worth it.
I got the lobster roll (served cold) and a whoopie pie, both of which I’ve never had before. The lobster roll was a little bland, but the counter tops have Old Bay shakers, so I think it’s done this way so that patrons can add however amount of salt or flavor needed. Once I did that, it was soooo good! They don’t skimp out on the lobster meat, so the roll was overflowing with lobster goodness!
The whoopie pie was much smaller than I was expecting, but it was super tasty and not overly sweet. You can choose from a variety of fillings for your pie, but I went with the vanilla to keep it classic. I’m glad I worked out and skipped breakfast for this meal cause it was a lot of food, but worth every dime!
The service was also really good! Everyone was nice and very helpful when I went back after eating my meal to get a receipt (gotta expense this for the J-​O-​B). I got one of their punch cards cause my ass is definitely coming back!

I think Willie T’s is a great concept and really appreciate all the innovative and fun specials they put together and proudly promote on chalkboards outside. Unfortunately I’m not the biggest fan of their food.
I bought a Groupon (awesome deal! also check in on Unilocal for $ 5 off $ 25) which afforded me three visits to Willie T’s. In that time I’ve tried three different combos (they come with an assortment of fun items, from whoopie pies to soups to salads, all with a drink) and each time I’ve left feeling a little unsatisfied. My first combo, half a lobster roll and lobster bisque, was waaaay too rich and made me kind of sick for a few hours. Because I was so stuffed I gave my chocolate whoopie pie to a co-​worker.
On my second trip I decided to keep things heath (ier) with a side salad and lobster grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was fine but kind of boring and it seemed a waste of the lobster to put it in such bland white bread and yellow cheese. The salad was fine.
Third visit (today!) I splurged and got the full lobster roll with clam chowder. The lobster roll was full of lovely claw meat but disappointingly salty. Learning from past mistakes I’m saving the chowder for snack.
Overall I really want Willie T’s to succeed. Friendly staff, great specials, open and inviting space. However the food could use just a bit more love.

This place is great! I was very impressed with my lobster roll, which was bursting with big chunks of fresh lobster. I had a Groupon deal, but I definitely think that the lobster roll is worth the full price that they charge. There isn’t a lot of seating — just stools along one wall — so it seems they’re mostly set up for take-​out. The woman who helped us said that they’re usually busy at lunch time, but not usually at dinner time. So if you’d like to go and eat in the restaurant, try going for dinner. But whenever you go, I think you’ll be pleased!

BEST LOBSTER ROLL ON PLANET EARTH!
It has twice as much lobster than any lobster roll you’ll get in California. Very light on the mayo and very meaty! Its so… PURE! $ 16 isn’t cheap, but neither is lobster in general.
Truthfully, I had a groupon, so I got a really awesome deal, but I’d say this place is worth full price. They ran out of chips, but the friendly staff offered soup instead… um, hell yes! Crab soup is delicious!

Willie T’s lobster rolls continue to be my favorite in the DC region. But there is an explanation for the 3 stars: the crappy experience.
Observation 1: the storefront needs a complete makeover, since you can’t really tell it’s a lobster place until you stop walking, look at the crab sign with puzzlement, realize it’s a seafood place, then find a small menu sign hanging on the door knob. Take a page out of Luke’s Lobster, which is easily seen from across the street what it’s about.
2: Trash can (only 1 in the front sitting area) was overfilled, and no one cleaned people’s leftover trash on the table the entire time we were there (~25 minutes). I can understand if there was a large crowd of people. But we came on a quiet Friday night with 2 customers in the 25 minutes we were there.
3: I asked for no butter on the roll twice and both times the response was there is just a little bit on it. Not that I’m allergic but not the friendliest response.
It’ll take me a while to get over these basic items that are obviously mismanaged. And it’s a sham that they shoot themselves in the foot with such delicious lobster rolls.