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While the food was good, the place is incredibly up itself. 1) Not allowed to sit at the bar while waiting for people to arrive despite the fact it was empty?. 2) They feel the need to expressly state on the menu that cell phones are not permitted - seriously? get over yourselves - this is not fine dining. 3) very expensive for what it is - $30+ entrees and extra sides required; 4) small tables tightly packed; 5) while our waitress was knowledgeable, it was clear that she would rather be doing something else and serving is all rather an effort. Bottom line - while the food is good, it does not come close to outweighing the shoddy attitude - not only will i never return, but i recommend others to avoid it (hence writing this review...) - particularly as there are so many high class alternatives nearby without the pretense

i'm from new england and i will say that nyc has the poorest seafood. I am shocked to see the positive reviews here. the lobster roll was the poorest i had in my life and was probably the most expensive at $28. it was flavorless and had way too much mayo. the fried oysters were all batter. the oyster was barely there and dry and flavorless. i've had much better at japanese restaurants. i've also had better lobsterrolls from trucks around the city. this place is all atmosphere - not quality food.

Went for the first time on a Saturday. Heard about the lines so we arrived 5:30 for the 6PM opening. Only four in front of us. By 5:50 there were about 20 in line. Sat at the counter, all service people were very friendly and welcoming. Had the famous Lobster Roll (Fantastic!), oysters (small but tasty), clam chowder (very good and only $8!) and mussels (also very good and plenty served for $11). We enjoyed everything and would return sooner than later. The owner and staff were great. We never felt rushed or pushed even though there were people waiting for our seats.

I have been going to Pearl for years and have always loved the food and service, but I just spent $150 to be rushed out the door in 45 minutes. Am sorry to say this has become standard at Pearl. Too many other fish in the sea!

They rushed us out the door and it was our most expensive meal in NYC but the place had a good vibe. It is pricey so go with a guy who will pay or with work.

I like the vibe but was not really impressed by the food for the price. A lot of the items have striking similarities to other expensive lobster roll spots. Overall just OK.

Was asked "Are you done" when I still had steamers in the bowl and was reaching in to grab one, mind you this question was asked when the waitress had her hand on my plate trying to take it away. I loved Pearl when it had the one side and I felt the people had a connection to the place. Now the food arrives so fast it is a farce, the oysters were bland and the best part of the lobster roll was the bun, no lobster taste in sight. It's a shame really, they used to have great food but now it's bland and uninteresting. It's pretty clear they are buying cheap ingredients and hustling in and out as many people as possible. Why have a business like Pearl if you clearly don't love what you do?