lobster dinner for guests - where to buy them?

[jeanew]

Am having European guests for a lobster dinner. So, should I save money and buy at the 88 or go to Whole Foods or Wulf's?

Thanks.

[jajjguy]

New Deal! Seriously, I know they don't have a tank, but I've bought live lobsters from them several times and they are fresh, live and kickin, and tender and succulent. Second choice James Hook.

[tdaaa]

I believe that whole foods no longer carries live lobster (evidently they consider it cruel to boil a bug, but still carry live oysters - If I may anthropomorphize, I would rather be boiled and eaten than eaten alive... not that it stops me from enjoying both)

I got lobsters from a fish market/restaurant in Burlington last summer and they were great.

[lycheefloat]

If you want to save some money, I would buy from Market Basket. They have a live lobster tank and from what I remember, it was cheaper than 88. I think the quality of the lobster you get depends more on the season than the vendor.

[mcel215]

I second the MB recommendation, they are the cheapest around usually.

[rmperry]

I bought lobsters last month at Market Basket and they were $6.99/lb and very tasty. MB definitely has the best price.

[ghostcat]

You need a place with a fresh lobster tank. Wulf's doesn't have one as far as I know, althought I haven't been there in a while. I walked past Morse's on Washingting St. in the So. End and they have very good prices. Several Stop & Shops have eliminated their fresh lobster tanks. Hook's is a great recommendation

[chowfamily]

Hook's Lobster at the intersection of Commercial Street and Northern Ave. has very good lobsters if you are shopping in the Boston area, and might be worth a detour depending on where you are coming from.

I really like Hook's quality, and, since lobster is their focus, they know how to buy and maintain them. Prices are usually in the same range as the grocery stores, but IMHO you get much more flavor and texture for your money.

South of Boston I really like the lobster at the Rockyneck Fish Co. in East Milton, and recently their prices for lobster have been consistently better than area grocery stores.

[wilbanks]

Yankee Lobster by the Bank of America Pavilion in South Boston is great as well. You can get a great deal by ordering the "culls" - lobsters that have lost an arm along the way, frequently regrowing a short one in its place - you get a much bigger tail and primary claw and the price can be as low as $6 a pound. For my money, it's easily the best way to buy lobster for home cooking.

[Ralphie_in_Boston]

I second Hooks. IN fact I (thought I) posted a recommendation for them last night. Also recommend any other distributor with a retail outlet. You're getting the same lobsters that restaurants and grocery stores will get ,but they're even more recently plucked from the sea.

[cambridgeMike]

if you're near cambridge i like getting lobsters at Louie's Alive and Kicking Lobsters on putnam st. inbetween western ave and river st.

[Allstonian]

I would not go to Wulf's for lobster. Super 88 or Shaw's or Stop & Shop should all be fine - anyplace with a live tank.