Unearth The Voyage
Central Florida has no shortage of theme parks and tourist traps, but there’s one place that draws a different kind of crowd. Seafood lovers from across the state make the pilgrimage to Orlando’s International Drive for a meal that turns dinner into an all-out feast.
This isn’t your typical buffet with mystery meats and wilted lettuce. The star of the show comes with a shell, claws, and enough butter to make your cardiologist nervous.
Families celebrate birthdays here, couples mark anniversaries, and solo diners challenge themselves to see just how many crustaceans one person can consume. The parking lot tells the story best, with license plates from Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, and beyond.
What makes people drive an hour or more for dinner? The answer is swimming in tanks and steaming on platters throughout the dining room.
The Main Attraction at 8731 International Drive
Boston Lobster Feast sits right on International Drive in Orlando, Florida, at 8731 International Drive to be exact. The restaurant opens its doors at 4 PM, and by the time the dinner rush hits, the place fills with guests ready to tackle plate after plate of seafood.
What sets this spot apart from every other buffet in town is the unlimited lobster. Not tiny tails, but whole Maine lobsters that arrive at your table fresh and hot.
The staff brings them out constantly, so you never wait long for your next one.
Most guests focus entirely on the lobster, and it’s easy to see why. The meat pulls cleanly from the shell, sweet and tender, without any of the rubbery texture you sometimes get at lesser establishments.
Servers provide crackers, bibs, and bowls for the shells, turning your table into a proper lobster shack experience.
Some visitors have been known to put away ten, fifteen, even twenty lobsters in a single sitting, treating it like a personal challenge rather than just dinner.
Snow Crab Legs Piled High
Right next to the lobster station, you’ll find mountains of snow crab legs waiting to be cracked open. These aren’t the thin, disappointing legs you might find at cheaper buffets.
The crab legs here come pre-steamed and ready to eat, with meat that slides out easily when you know the right technique.
Melted butter stations sit conveniently near the crab area, so you can dip to your heart’s content. The sweet, delicate flavor of the crab pairs perfectly with a quick butter bath, though the meat tastes fantastic on its own too.
Many guests alternate between lobster and crab legs, giving their hands a break from the heavier cracking work that lobster requires. The crab legs refill quickly, so you never face empty trays even during peak hours.
Some reviewers mentioned wishing for king crab alongside the snow crab, but the quality and quantity of what’s available keeps people coming back regardless.
Prime Rib and Land Options
Not everyone who walks through the door lives and breathes seafood. The restaurant understands this and offers prime rib as a substantial alternative for those who prefer beef.
The prime rib gets carved fresh at a dedicated station, with slices ranging from thin to thick depending on your preference. The meat stays tender and flavorful, with a nice pink center that meat lovers appreciate.
Au jus accompanies each serving, adding moisture and depth without overwhelming the natural beef flavor.
Several reviews specifically praised the prime rib, with some guests choosing to focus on it rather than the seafood. The ribs also get mentioned frequently as another strong land-based option.
These protein choices ensure that even if you bring along a friend or family member who doesn’t enjoy seafood, they won’t leave hungry or disappointed.
The variety means everyone at your table can find something they genuinely want to eat, making group dining much easier.
The Sushi Selection
A sushi station adds another dimension to the seafood spread, offering rolls and nigiri for guests who want something lighter or different. The selection includes various types of rolls, with options ranging from simple California rolls to more elaborate specialty combinations.
One reviewer specifically called out the ahi tuna with its sweet teriyaki-style glaze as particularly tasty. The sushi won’t blow away anyone who regularly visits high-end Japanese restaurants, but it serves as a nice palate cleanser between rounds of hot seafood.
Some guests found the sushi just okay, describing it as “meh” in their reviews. Quality seems consistent rather than exceptional, which makes sense given the buffet format and price point.
The sushi works best when viewed as a complement to the main attractions rather than a reason to visit on its own.
Having it available adds variety to your meal and gives you options if you need a break from butter-drenched crustaceans.
Shrimp Prepared Multiple Ways
Shrimp appears throughout the buffet in multiple forms, giving you plenty of ways to enjoy this versatile seafood. You’ll find fried shrimp with crispy breading, steamed shrimp that’s perfect for dipping, and shrimp as part of the Cajun boil section.
The fried version gets consistent praise for its quality, with a coating that stays crunchy without being greasy. Cocktail shrimp sits on ice, ready for dunking in tangy sauce.
The Cajun boil brings together shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes with spicy seasoning that packs real flavor.
Several reviewers mentioned focusing on shrimp alongside lobster and crab, treating it as a main component of their meal rather than a side thought. The variety means you can sample different preparations and figure out which style you prefer.
Whether you like your shrimp simple and steamed or heavily seasoned and spicy, you’ll find options that deliver exactly what you’re craving without having to leave the building.
Miniature Desserts Worth Saving Room For
After consuming your body weight in seafood, you might think dessert sounds impossible. The restaurant solves this problem by offering tiny, bite-sized versions of classic desserts that let you sample without committing to a full slice.
The pecan tart gets special mention for being perfectly sweet without crossing into cloying territory. Flan wins over even people who normally dislike it, with a smooth texture and caramel that doesn’t overpower.
The brownie hits a sweet spot between cake and fudge, with a hint of espresso adding depth.
Key lime pie brings bright, tangy flavor that cuts through all the butter and richness you just consumed. Carrot cake arrives moist and spiced just right, with cream cheese frosting in perfect proportion.
The small size means you can try three or four different desserts without feeling stuffed.
Many guests appreciate this approach, since it lets them end on a sweet note without wasting food or forcing down a dessert they can’t finish.
Service That Makes the Experience
Great food only tells half the story at any restaurant. The service staff here consistently earns praise in reviews, with specific servers getting called out by name for exceptional work.
Servers like Fredy, Patrick, Adrianna, Danielle, and Barb receive glowing mentions for their attentiveness, timing, and genuine warmth. They clear shell piles quickly, refill drinks without being asked, and check in at moments when you’re not mid-bite.
Several servers take time to show first-time visitors how to properly crack open a lobster and extract all the meat.
The busboys also contribute to the smooth operation, jumping in to replace dropped silverware and keep tables clean despite the messy nature of shell-cracking. Management stays visible and approachable, even allowing guests to purchase extra desserts to take home.
This level of service transforms what could be a chaotic buffet experience into something that feels more refined and personal, making the higher price point easier to justify for many visitors.
The Salad Bar and Lighter Options
Before diving into the heavy seafood, many guests start with the salad bar to pace themselves. The selection includes standard lettuce and vegetables, but also features various seafood salads that tie into the restaurant’s theme.
Toppings range from basic to creative, letting you build something simple or more elaborate depending on your mood. The seafood salads incorporate ingredients like crab, shrimp, and other ocean fare into creamy or vinegar-based preparations.
Most people don’t come here for the salad, but having these lighter options available helps balance out a meal that can quickly become overwhelmingly rich. Starting with greens and vegetables gives your stomach something to work with before the butter-soaked main event begins.
One reviewer mentioned being too full to even try the seafood salads, which they regretted and cited as a reason to return.
The variety ensures that even health-conscious diners or those with lighter appetites can find suitable options alongside the indulgent seafood that draws the crowds.
Value and Pricing Considerations
At around seventy dollars per adult, this isn’t a casual weeknight dinner for most families. The price point reflects the unlimited lobster and premium seafood, but it does give some guests pause.
Children ages four to eleven pay a reduced rate of about twenty-six dollars, making family visits more manageable. The restaurant offers military discounts, which several reviewers appreciated and mentioned specifically.
Birthday discounts also exist, though only one discount applies per table regardless of party size.
Whether you find it worth the cost depends entirely on how much lobster you eat. Guests who consume ten or more lobsters feel they got incredible value.
Those who stick to just a few and fill up on other items sometimes leave feeling the price was steep. One reviewer noted that their wallet was empty after the meal, though they acknowledged leaving full and satisfied.
If lobster and crab rank among your favorite foods and you arrive genuinely hungry, most people agree the experience justifies the expense.
Making Reservations and Planning Your Visit
The restaurant opens at 4 PM Thursday through Sunday, with hours running until 10 PM. Making a reservation ahead of time is easy and highly recommended, especially for weekend visits when the dining room fills quickly.
You can call ahead or book through their website at bostonlobsterfeast.com. Arriving hungry is essential if you want to maximize the experience and get your money’s worth from the unlimited seafood.
The restaurant provides complimentary dining photos for your table, giving you a souvenir beyond just the food memories. They also supply bibs and crackers, though some guests mentioned needing to request these items rather than receiving them automatically.
Parking is available on International Drive, though the lot can get crowded during peak hours. Many visitors report driving forty minutes or more to reach the restaurant, viewing the journey as part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.
Planning ahead and arriving with realistic expectations about the buffet format helps ensure you’ll leave happy and satisfied.
