Holdfast Specialty Seafood Co.

Holdfast Specialty Seafood Co. is a fast-casual seafood counter in Allston that brings fine-dining technique to New England classics. The menu centers on lobster rolls served hot or cold, along with clam, oyster and shrimp rolls on a signature brown-buttered, locally sourced bun. A raw bar, seasonal crudo and caviar service with kettle chips round things out, so diners can grab a quick roll or settle in for a fuller spread.

Chefs Nathan Gould and Tyler Paolini founded Holdfast with their longtime friend and business partner Jesse Kim. The chefs bring experience from acclaimed kitchens including O Ya and Sarma, plus restaurants in Rhode Island and on Martha’s Vineyard. Orders arrive on trays within minutes, but the speed rests on hours of prep. Communal tables and counter service keep the atmosphere casual and inclusive.

What to Know

• Seafood is sustainably sourced, with a focus on local catch.
• Catering and private parties can be requested through the restaurant.
• It has been covered by the Boston Globe, WBUR, Boston Magazine and Eater.
• The founders are Boston natives.