We are pretty close to many Legal Seafood restaurants but we choose to come to this one because of its ocean view. Not only that, this place is spacial with tall ceiling, you don't get the fishy smell in the dining area. Service is not consistent, especially on maintaining our table with clean plates.
(4)
Jamie G.
So I'm giving the: Downstairs- 5 stars Roofdeck -1.5-2ish stars for an average of 3 stars. Here's why: We started downstairs, waiting for a place to open up for us on the roofdeck. We sat at the bar and has a great view of the harbor through the open windows. There was a cute fishing pond for kids to catch and release fish inside. We ordered martinis and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. He said they didnt have any more made, and we asked if someone could make them for us. He seemed slightly hesitant, which bothered me, so someone did make them for us, and they and the martinis were delicious (mine hendricks and hers ketel one). Our buzzer finally buzzed so we headed upstairs with our drinks. The roofdeck was gorgeous and spacious and with a wonderful view. But they dont have ANY food upstairs, just spreads with pita, and drinks. Very disappointing, as I wanted to try the fried calamari. We did order two spreads: Hummus, za'atar spice and olive oil - which was delicious, and the Kalamata and fig- which was more like a paste and had a nasty flavor. Both came with good spiced pita chips. I ordered water and it took FOREVER to come- ugh-- seriously, how long does it take to pour a glass of water? And my friend ordered another martini, but they did not have blue cheese stuffed olives and couldnt make them for us, and the martini tasted funny, so she ordered a different, and it still tasted funny. So we loved the ambiance of the roofdeck, but we were very disappointed in the lack of food, bad service, and low quality drinks. If I were to go back again, I might order a drink downstairs, bring it up to roofdeck, enjoy it for awhile and then head back downstairs for dinner. Which is complicated and unfortunate. Hope they shape up that roofdeck!!
(3)
Beverly M.
I dined on Floor 2 on a recent Saturday evening. Must make reservations well in advance. especially if you prefer outdoor dining. Dining on Floor 2 is an absolutely amazing experience. I was fortunate to snag an outdoor table. There are only a few outdoor tables overlooking the harbor which makes you feel like you are at a private dining event. The menu as well as the wine list is totally different than the other Legal menus. There is a clear focus on creativity with the entrees. Service was impeccable and never rushed. It is expensive but for a special occasion it is worth the splurge. I would also recommend a pre-dinner cocktail in the Floor 2 bar. Very quiet and intimate compared to the bars on floor 1 and roof top. Spectacular view.
(5)
Sheila T.
Location, decor and view are excellent. It is very loud. Oysters were very good. Service was excellent. I had the linguine and clams it was okay. I would go back again for oysters and drinks.
(3)
Maryanne S.
If the check wasn't so high, I'd be amused by our dinner. One of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. (2nd floor) . Wrong drink orders, undercooked food and the rudest staff I've ever seen anywhere.
(1)
Jason B.
Best overall spot in The bean.... Service, food, bar, fellow customers... The real Deal in Every Sense of The Word!!! Burkie you've outdone yourself bud!!
(5)
Jon R.
I went on a Monday expecting a subtle crowd. I was wrongly informed. This playrd was pretty crowded but yet enjoyable. I sat by the raw bar and the service was good. I had clam chowder and a crab roll. They were both satisfying and tasty.
(4)
Kate H.
No,no. We were looking forward and expecting something good and what a disappointment ! First we waited for over 90 minutes for our farmed,fresh salmon and when it arrived it was stone cold. On the second round it was hot but mostly raw. What a waste of time. If you value your time and have other options don't go here.
(1)
Alan O.
Ate on the first floor. For a brand-new building in 2011 below acceptable on the handicap accessible front. Get in the front door and immediately have to take an elevator to get up less than 3 feet. What about a ramp? Or no need for an elevator or a ramp?!!! OK - now up to level - take a ramp down to the dining area - but have to ask other patrons to move in their chairs to get by. Fish choice: narrow. Service standards lacking: The one entre special is $8 more than anything else - but the server does not give the price unless asked. Multiple attempts to clear a plate when another person at the table is still eating. Clearly a policy to turn the table at the expense of hospitality.
(1)
Keri D.
This was my second visit to Legal Harborside (my first visit being to Floor 2 a few weeks back). We were seated at an outdoor table and, as rain was in the forecast, we asked what would happen if it rained. The hostess told us to hope it didn't. Sangrias were well liked but multiple other drinks, including the cucumber cooler, had to be sent back for being overly sweet. We ordered the gorgonzola and fig bruschette as an app for a party of 5 and the server failed to mention it is two small crostinis and better meant for sharing between 2. Steamers were a bit gritty and half of our calamari was dumped on one of our guests with no apology and no assistance with cleanup. Entrees were OK. Selection of side dishes is strange with no plain steamed veggies available. "Sauteed spinach with pine nuts" included an abundance of raisins. Finally, we were disappointed that spending $300 plus on Floor 1 didn't even warrant placement near the front of the line to enjoy the roof deck. With regard to my experience on Floor 2 - it was very "stuffy". Despite an early reservation and empty dining room, our table was only made available to us after we ordered a drink at the bar. Food was delicious but the waiter's poor attitude was a put-off.
(2)
Kerry H.
They get an A+ for ambiance! My new favorite! I love the location - right on the harbor - and I love how they have divided the venue into three different levels. The first floor is like a typical Legal and the food is just as delicious. The second floor is fine dining. The third floor is very cool! The third floor is a bar area with sushi and a limited menu. It is set up with couches and high top tables. There is a copper fireplace adding to the ambiance. The best part is the roof is retractable! I can't wait to return in the summer, especially when there is a concert going on! The views from all three levels is spectacular. Take the stairs up instead of the elevator. It gives you the feel for all three levels. it's a great place for out-of-towners as well. It's located in the Seaport District amongst many other great establishments. It makes me want to move down there!
(5)
Mitchell P.
Went here yesterday for lunch, the building/view is awesome looking, unfortunately i cannot say the same for the food. I started with an appetizer the stuffed squid, it was disgusting, the sausage and squid and red sauce combo just didnt work, i could see this at the TEST kitchen, but not on someones real menu, oh and the best part it came with a 2 inch piece of plastic in the stuffed squid, must of been part of the special sauce or something. Any who main course Yellowfin tuna, it was decent, comes with some plain ole white rice like you would get at your local chinese food take out place, or from Shaw's lol.....just nothing really to wow about, a decent piece of tuna, but def not the best...I think they should go back to the normal legal seafoods menu, but even that is just ok
(1)
Joseph C.
Male host blonde ...... DUMB! But other than that great food and atmosphere. A tad crowded but thats the name of the game I think.
(3)
Zheng L.
the steamed lobster here is fantastic...never seen such a big lobster (1-1.5lb) costs less than 30 bucks! and it tastes great
(5)
Jacqueline C.
We had dinner with some friends from out of town here last night. We were looking for a place to get good fish but would also be kind of cool. We were worried about it being touristy but the location seemed to help ward off that typical obnoxious crowd. The view is amazing. I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. I thought the bench-seating would be weird but it was totally fine and we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious!! Definitely perfect and delicious all around. We started off with a few appetizers and Legal turned some of your traditional seafood apps into upscale treats. The bbq shrimp was scrumptious and the braised pork tostada was fabulous. For dinner we all chose fish off of the grilled menu and everyones was cooked perfectly. The only downside was that our server was kind of weird. She wasn't exactly on her game and was a little awkward. Despite that, dinner was delicious, the location is amazing and we would definitely do dinner here again.
(4)
Bob C.
I have to admit that i was extremely disappointed with my visit to Legal Harborside last night. I had two coworkers in from out of town who were craving seafood. Of course the first thing that came to mind was Legal Seafoods. I mean how miss out... Well known brand with great seafood, a beautiful facility with Big Ass Fans located right on the Boston Harbor. Well needless to say i was wrong. It all started when i walked in the door and was told that it was a 15 minute wait. I could care less about the wait but i did ask what tables we were waiting for whether it was downstairs or upstairs. She sad " you are waiting for the tables downstairs" I followed up that statement with "what about upstairs. Her reponse was "that's the finer diner" Of course I said what we don't fit in with the fine dining? She kind of laughed and said well if you want to but its really expensive. Anyway i kind of laughed and just went to the bar to grab a drink. When we got seated we waited for about 10 minutes, no joke, before someone even came up to our table. I mean if the waiter said guys I'll be right with you that would have been totally fine but he just walked right by without even making eye contact. Finally he came and we orderd a few appetizers, shrimp cocktail and calamari. Well the shrimp cocktail came in this little Jar and were mini shrimp marinated in some sauce. I have to admit they were pretty good but not what i was expecting at all. As for the calamari they came in this little basket. Multiple times i took what i thought was either a fried calamari or pepper but no it was a fried lemon! I mean it's not a big deal that they breaded a lemon but to me those are the little details that matter especially in a reputable place like Legals. When the meal came it was pretty good but the size, presentation was to be desired especially for the price. The service ended up being pretty good once we finally got waited on but overall i was very very disappointed. For a company to spend as much money as they did to build this great place the quality of food and service did not live up to my expectations. Tonight i was at the Prudential Mall and walked by a Legal Seafood and actually walked inside to look at the menu. I did realize the menu at Legal Harborside was different but as a first time customer it was not expecting that to be the case. I have to admit that i hardly ever write a review but i did tonight because i was really that disappointed. Knowing the kind of care and quality Mr Burkowitz puts into his company i just feel he should know because he'd be the first to admit that the experience i had last night is unexectable. Please realize.....if this was a normal local seafood shop i'd have a totally different view.... but this is Legal Seafood and my expectations were so much higher. Oh well I'll probably be back when the weather is nice out but feel that i should express my thoughts.
(2)
Robin L.
We had lunch on the first floor and thought it was very good. There's nothing fancy here, but Legal really knows how to do seafood. My husband said his clam chowder was excellent. Not too floury. We each had a fried plate, mine scallops his shrimp. Great light breading fried just right. Fries and Cole slaw also good. Legal has awesome rolls, so be sure to ask for some. I had a great Bloody Mary, but it's not for the faint of heart! Nice view of the harbor.
(4)
Tom H.
Way to noisy. Went to dine saturday evening -1st & 3rd floor constant booming disco music- too loud for conversation what is the reason for that? I left with a head ache
(2)
Lindsay G.
new&sexy scene in Boston. the nightlife of the 3rd floor had a beautiful view& chill atmosphere. RReeaallyy well made drinks, superior table and BAR service!! reasonably priced drinks from $11 mixed $5 beer. loved the vibe of the 3rd floor. very chic and modern. definitely an A-list place to hit in Boston!
(5)
Robyn R.
I was actually on the second floor...
(4)
Renita K.
Haven't had dinner here but I did get in a fight with a cougar the other night while getting a drink at the bar. The drinks were good and took the edge off the overly pretentious crowd... lots of cougars chasing after it. The rooftop bar had an amazing view though and was worth the wait!
(3)
Joan M.
Stopped in Legal after a show last night. Beautiful night for a drink at Legals rooftop lounge. My friend went to the bar and order two drinks and one soda. We waited at the table for her for 20 min. Then I see her talking to a manager. Turns out she gave the bartender a $100 bill, the only bill she had on her and the bartender never came back with her change. Bartender gave her the 3 drinks, took the $100 and said he would be right back, then he ignored her as she stood at the bar waiting for him. She told the manager what happened and he said that was not possible, it must have been her mistake. No mistake about this. The bartender stole her $80.00. Absolutely no question about it. He stole her money and the manager sided with his bartender and told her to write to corporate if she wanted to complain. I give this a rating on one for the view. Careful of your money when ordering from the 3rd floor bar. I will never be back.
(1)
Martina S.
Amazing food and amazing service. Oysters were to die for, great recommendations by our server Lisa on which oysters to choose. We will be returning!
(5)
Christopher G.
We showed up there on wednesday night and they had a 2 hour wait. We were told to call in today and make reservation for tonight. Called today and I was told they have nothing for 2 adults and a highchair until 10pm. Ummmmmm my kid will be fast asleep by then. Not sure if they like kids or not but this place is a joke
(1)
Cory G.
I would have given the restaurant a 5 star review but we were seated 35mins after our reservation. This was our 1st wedding anniversary which I had noted when making the reservation. There was about a 20 min break between our apps and entrees which wasn't that bad but we were wondering what was going on. Overall, the food really shined except ironically the amuse-bouche. It was some weird eggplant thing on a crustini. I got the trio of tartare special which was amazing and my husband got the bacon wrapped scallop. Both were exceptionally delicious. For entrees we ordered the cod and the filet. They were both excellent and beautifully prepared. For dessert we got the tort and the chocolate banana cup, which were a perfect finish. The view from our table was amazing. I would definitely go back.
(4)
J P.
This review is for the first floor. The view was very good and service was OK. Table was small for the 5 of us. We ordered some oysters, they were fresh, but unfortunately some of them had some debris from shucking. Calamari appetizer was good. Kids meals were good. Clam chowder was good. Our entrees look so "blah"..they did nothing to make it presentable. The food itself is fresh, so you know the ingredients were good. But the presentation was bad, just a pile of veggie, piece of fish and pile of starch. Not even a spring of parsley! One would expect more when dining out. We were not able to find "free" street parking so we had to park in their lot, which was $5 with validation. After dinner we walked up to the different floors to check things out. People were friendly and the views were fantastic from each level. But I don't think it's a place we would revisit.
(3)
Holly N.
Been many times and no complaints about the food. We dined last evening on the first floor and once again we felt rushed with spending over $170. We also wanted to have an after dinner drink on the third floor and were told to go outside and wait in line - really? And yes, management supported this ridiculous process. On our first outing to dining on the second floor, the valet could not locate my car. Well folks, it is not only about the food!
(2)
Michelle T.
Huge fan of the curry mussels! Packed with flavor, however, I thought the mussels were a little over cooked causing them to become smaller/dried up and a little tougher. Maybe better luck next time. Tried two different oysters, ordered 3 of each. I'm forgetting which ones exactly, our waiter recommended them. Always fun to try something new. Really fresh and tasty. Tried to clam "chowda," hearty and generous with the clams.
(4)
J P.
Was going to a concert next door so decided to eat here before the concert. First time at this location. Made reservations and was a half hour early, they sat us right away. Had a great view of the waterfront. Waiter was Sean he was the best. Very attentive and friendly. Also liked he was not the Phony type very sincere. . Food was very good both my husband and I got the Lobster Bake. This has everything Chowder, steamers , mussles, lobster and corn on the cob. Glass of wine is a good serving. Was hoping to see a manager to comment on the great service we had by Sean, but sadly there was none in sight.
(5)
Wendy F.
This is by FAR my favorite Legal Sea Foods. It is not like any of the others. The space and view are amazing at the seaport. Three different floors for dining and cocktails. The white sangria is amazing. Also i had a tuna special that was great. I do not recommend the shrimp that come in a mason jar. Not very good and too small. Great for groups!!!
(4)
Robert C.
Was at Harborside on the upper deck Sunday July 26th at around 10:30 pm and witnessed a young restaurant manager and a bouncer loudly screaming and cursing at a table of patrons. The table seemed to have been quietly enjoying themselves prior. It was the most disgraceful display of unprofessional behavior I have ever witnessed by restaurant staff. Both should be immediately fired. I will never go back and will certainly share my experience.
(1)
Carrie L.
5 stars for the view and location. I was lucky enough to find a table for my party within 5 minutes on the 3rd floor rooftop deck. The wait downstairs was 2 hours. This review is solely based on the 3rd floor. Friday early evening, noise level was off the roof. Although the waterfront view was gorgeous, I can not hear any of my friends across from me. At all. Ordered the strawberry sangria, A-OK. For food, we decided to split 2 lobster rolls, a crab roll, and 3 sushi rolls between five girls. The chips that came on the side of the lobster & crab rolls were pretty good. Lobster roll is typical. Crab roll was not popular with us. The crab meat tasted fake. The 3 sushi rolls were orange dragon (spicy salmon with salmon), red dragon (spicy tuna with tuna) , and caterpillar (eel with avocado on top). The food was very average at best. Environment was too lively to enjoy the average food. I will be making reservations next time I come in.
(3)
Tina B.
Great rooftop view. Great sushi. They don't normally take reservations but if you have a big enough group and call ahead they may be able to accommodate you :)
(4)
S R.
I would like to give this place a worse review for being overcrowded and slow and expensive but the food is too good. Lots of healthy options. They will make certain items gluten free for you as marked on the menu. Seafood is prepared well without excess sauces and seasonings. Staff is generally friendly and doing their best to manage the volume of clients. The drinks are pretty bad though so stick with wine or beer.
(4)
Theresa A.
I have always had a great experience here! My standby is the wood grilled swordfish and the clam chowder is amazing! Consistently have had good service here weather I have a table inside,outside or sitting at the bar. I love that while Legals is becoming more of a chain restaurant they are not losing any of their excellent service or quality of food. I always take out of town guest here for seafood, can't go wrong!
(5)
Ryan R.
Great food & service other than the downstairs hostesses. Upon checking in for a reservation, they couldn't find it & we almost left - they offered nothing but a sorry. We looked up the reservation on opentable app, showed it to them, and they pointed out it was for the second floor (same restaurant, but different reservation system). Never suggested that might be the case - again, we almost left & they said nothing!!!
(3)
Katie S.
I'm upgrading. Had a couple of really great meals here lately. The fish is sooo fresh, the service is great and I love the wine list.
(4)
Michelle S.
Yes, I know. Everyone knows about Legals' in New England, and I think everyone has either been there a million times or purposely avoiding it due to it's mainstream reputation. I guess I have fit into the second of those categories as I always strive to try something new. I also have a bad taste in my mouth based on my VERY sub-par experiences at the renovation-ready location in Chestnut Hill. However, my friend and I had a great dinner night out here on Friday worth reviewing. I'm also officially ready for summer... We came in around 7 and put our name in for a table for two. Then we headed to the first floor bar for a drink. Great wine selection - I got the Cabernet Franc for $9. I guess it's worth mentioning I had a second glass with my meal, so I was impressed. Bartender was super friendly, and so was our waiter once we did sit down, about 25 minutes later. For dinner, we were seated at a cozy (bit cramped) table on the first floor. It's so cool how they use brown paper with the Legal stamped logo for a table cloth! Our server was friendly, patient, and unpretentious. We were at no point rushed, but always attentively helped. My girlfriend and I had a bit of trouble deciding what to order since everything looked so good - but we both ended up settling on the fish tacos. And for $12, I ended up spending a lot less money than I expected. I also ordered the $6 seasonal salad for a starter. The salad was phenomenal - walnuts, goat cheese, and cranberries over baby greens with a balsamic, glazey dressing. Our food came out promptly after I finished my salad, and we were served two, overstuffed, fresh fish tacos. They were outrageously good! After dinner, we headed up to the third floor bar to finish our drinks and look out on the harbor. I can't wait to come back come May for a late, festive dinner with my girlfriends and a couple drinks out on the roof deck!
(4)
Alex C.
Awesome place! Met Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots!!!!!! def come. It's a fun place and great drinks. Great aura.
(5)
Sara E.
Legal harborside was amazing at hosting our 10-guest function. Everyone is very kind and helpful and hospitable! Love this place!
(5)
Tom J.
Good food and nice environment. Got the fish in foil (halibut) and wife got the lobster pot pie. If I had rice or a starch it would have made my meal complete. Was kind of expensive for what you got left kind of hungry still. However what was served was delicious.
(3)
Salena M.
This is a review for the nicer, gourmet dining section. View is gorgeous with the high vast windows and elegant dining area. Food was okay... had abalone with lemon risotto that tasted mediocre even though the description sounds amazing. My husband got the grilled cobia (a type of white fish) with pomegranate bbq sauce and that was delicious. For kids - they are able to cook something simple like grilled chicken or salmon and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes were a hit with the kids served in "cute" little stainless steel pots If you're up to try another Legal Seafood restaurant, go for it, at least you can enjoy the view from the 2nd floor and drink some wine.
(3)
Mikaela H.
I dined at a window table on Floor 1. The view was incredible. I had never been to a Legal Seafood before and I appreciated our server telling us about the company history. I was very happy with the gluten free rolls and the crabmeat salad was simple and dleicious. If we left then I would have given Legal Harborside 5 stars. But then the entrees arrived... I ordered the fish in foil with no bacon, which unfortunately meant they had to leave off the mushrooms too because the bacon and mushrooms are apparently cooked together. This was disappointing because I love mushroms but don't eat pork. Anyway, when the fish came I opened the foil to find that the fish was literally SWIMMING IN BUTTER. To be fair, some people probably enjoy this but in my opinion, being served what must have been an entire stick of butter is REVOLTING and on the menu it just said "steamed haddock" so there was no warning. I literally could not eat it. My mom was willing to switch plates with me but her scallops were also far too heavy. Just thinking about the butter smell right now is making me nauseous. In summary, Legal Harborside has a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff but butter and salt are completely overused in an attempt to make rich dishes. Don't get be wrong, I enjoy flavorful food. But I do not enjoy food that is so intense I want to vomit because I can actually feel my arteries clogging. If you care at all about healthy food, do not eat here.
(2)
Michelle P.
Usually I'm not into chain seafood restaurants but Legal is actually quite good and their seafood doesn't leave me screaming for the hills. Baked stuffed artichokes with scallops and shrimp. You must get this. I for one typically enjoy cheese and seafood together...if you don't, you probably should skip it. Their softshell crab BLT was good and my dining companions fish was delicious. I believe it was bass of some type. Overall service was good though prices are pretty high, but hey, the view was worth it....almost.
(4)
Ira H.
I've been here twice in the past week. Last Wed on the roof deck at night. Awesome view and breeze. Good quick drink service. Went again this past Sunday for a family lunch. We tried for the roof deck but found out they only serve sushi and bar food up there. No problem. The host was very kind. We headed down to the 1st floor. Still had a great water view and breeze. It was a little more crowded. Service and food were great. Believe it or not, prices were reasonable for the 4 of us. Fish Tacos ($11), 2 kids lunches ($7 each,) small salad ($8) Fish tacos were excellent. I'll be back again.
(5)
Daniel W.
The one star reviews of this restaurant are about as petty as petty gets. Downright laughable. The chowder is great and the Fisherman's stew is awesome. Yes, it will cost more than Red Lobster. Yes, it's busy and noisy. Yes, it's in a busy part of town near the convention center so there will trouble parking and parking fees.
(5)
MyBroken J.
Wonderful service! Fantastic food! Beautiful ambience. The lobster soup is the best! The seafood was prepared to perfection! The filet was outstanding!
(5)
Jill G.
gorgeous roofdeck view- one of my favorite spots for a "sunday funday". always packed with somewhat of a yuppy crowd, but a great place to go with friends. its actually different from the typical legal chain- they even have beers that Sams and Harpoon brew for them uniquely. Really great food- fresh fish!
(4)
Steve W.
This was a recommendation from my concierge. The wait was about 10 minutes before anyone came over to say hello. I was incorrectly placed in the wrong section by the hostess so I needed to move up 3 floors. The food offering was very limited and the service was not attentive. I was at the bar and needed to flag down the bartender on a few occasions to get anything, and he forgot to bring me my drink. The food was nothing special although the prices were on the high end. Definitely not worth the trip. Bad service, Bad food. Don't waste your time and money!
(1)
Karl F.
A nice place for seafood in Boston, good view, good food, lively & fun. I came here with a group for a business dinner. We first went to the bar upstairs, I had a virgin bloody Mary, no complaints, the others enjoys the variety of beers. There is a nice view of the Boston harbor up here. Then when our table was ready downstairs in the dinning area we went back down and ordered dinner. There is a good selection of dishes from casual mid priced items to more $$$ priced dishes, I had some steamers and oysters, they we delicious, then a lobster roll for main course. It was good. The staff was great, my associate thoroughly enjoyed their food. The main thing about Legal Harborside is the atmosphere, Trendy night life place with a great view and good place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Amy S.
Best Service. Best Food. Best View! We came for dinner, so we couldn't enjoy the view as much as the people who come during the day or for the sunset, but even with it being dark outside, this was an impeccable view of the harbor! I immediately felt like I was in good hands. We started off with a variety of oysters - mainly East Coast. These were the best oysters I've ever had in my life, literally. I know the polar vortex helped contribute to the meatiness of the oysters, but these were incredibly fresh and well taken care of. Next, I got the Arctic Char special with a side of saffron wild rice/mushrooms. So incredibly delicious and fresh! The char was paired with grapefruit for that hint of acidity. The saffron wild rice and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to this entree. Ordered a Allagash White, which tasted pretty fresh. They have a solid beer and wine list, which is always appreciated. The service was beyond amazing and everyone was super friendly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Gloria F.
Beautiful views with very decent food. Ya. I'm spoiled and live in New York. So food is nothing particularly special but I'd definitely come here for drinks and dinner again. I highly recommend drinks on the third floor. The water and city scape views are stunning. We went to the formal restaurant and split oysters and the swordfish special. If seAfood is not your thing it's probably best to skip this joint. Otherwise dig in to light and tasty fare. It's best to come here on expense account as I'm not sure id want to pay on my own dime, but expense account is a definite yes!
(4)
Dalya N.
This place is Great. We have reservations for the 2nd floor, but we decided to go to the 3rd floor because of the Sushi Menu. They don't take reservations for the 3rd unless you take to the manager. We told the manager is was our anniversary and he was a GEM!! Not only he made sure that we get a table next to the water but he also brought us 2 special Rolls on the house!! Amazing service wish I can remember the manager's name to give him recognition. Food was amazing and atmosphere was great! Loud for a romantic dinner but we liked it a lot.
(5)
Kaverne A J L.
Great atmosphere. Reservations should be made in advanced! Otherwise wait for the free seating! Good clam chowder and fresh oysters! Lobster was alright and the service staffs were really busy!
(4)
Kimberly L.
Came here with a party of 8! We were seated by the bar and ended up getting a table before 7:30pm which was great! I ordered the stuffed artichoke hearts and the lobster roll. Both dishes were good but nothing spectacular. The lobster roll reminds me of Luke's lobster in NYC. The stuffed artichokes were super cheesy and creamy but good. Our waiter josh was awesome! He was really attentive and got us the hookup with the rooftop. Overall, this chain is pretty consistent and I would go back!
(3)
Jay S.
I tried. Really, I tried not to visit Legal for seafood. I was trying other places in the area. I was trying to avoid what I consider a borderline chain restaurant. However, this was without a doubt the best seafood preparation I had this trip. I had a Panko crusted tuna, berry crisp and a coffee. Pricey at $50 but an excellent meal. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the cost.
(4)
M. Alan B.
I see a bunch of positive reviews here, so perhaps my experience was an anomaly (or the reviewers are "friends and family"?) but my experience was not worth the time, effort and travel. From the moment we walked in to the minute we left I was deeply underwhelmed. While the building itself is new and "well appointed" there is little interesting about it, the location (which adds to the detraction) or view. The feel of it was a giant yawn. It was July 4th weekend and the place was practically empty (our first clue?) so we decided on the first floor outdoors (because there was no full menu on the deck, really are you kidding me!? and were seated quickly.. When our waiter came I asked about the menu relative to other locations and was told that: "as our flagship location we have a different menu and are more special than the others" AND that I'd "be impressed with them" (a boastful claim not knowing who I was or what my expectations might be). My dining partner ordered a swordfish dish and I started out with a simple order of Duxbury Oysters (the Oyster menu was generally incipid). I was told the Swordfish was Excellent but when I tasted it I thought it was "ok". The Oysters were very good but with preparation consisting of shucking them and sticking them on a plate not exactly a culinary achievement. When my main dish arrive it was small tasteless and OVERPRICED. I ate it all because I was starving and being stuck in the wasteland that is convention visitor hell I didn't have the patience to "try" elsewhere. The service and attention was acceptable but in no way distinguishing for a Flagship location. Legals is a very good, typically reliable restaurant and I've eaten at most locations on numerous occasions (just had lunch at the Copley location last week). It is one of the first places I recommend to out of Townes but the Harborside is a place I would discourage people from. It was OVERPRICED AND UNDERWHELMING.
(2)
Kevin J.
Service - really good. Our waiter knew his stuff and was very friendly. I had the swordfish gyro which was great - the char on the fish and the pita balanced perfect with the cucumber sauce. Very satisfying. There was a 30 min wait, but the seats by the entrance (without the cool view) had a zero min wait so we went for that option. All food here is fresh and local. Best thing - 5 mins after leaving the building a hostess managed to track us down - we had left a bag of books and whatnot in there. I thought that was a really decent thing for them to do. Good people. Good food.
(4)
Patrick B.
1. Terrible, slow service 2. Waiters and staff act like you're bothering them by asking for food and drinks 3. Overpriced 4. Rude management staff that roll their eyes at you when you have a problem with them.
(1)
Jake C.
Really great! The food was fantastic, and service perfect. Really enjoyed the evening, and the environment, on a beautiful night.
(5)
Maureen M.
We had a small sampling of bar fare last night on the second floor at Legal Harborside. The food was good tasting and presented well. The lobster soup was amazing and calamari and seasonal salad were very good. The only thing that irked me and made we write this review is, when asked what I wanted to drink I said a glass of chardonnay, house will be fine. I knew they had an extensive wine menu and I didn't want to get into it. Just a plain ole glass of house chard please! When the bill came we quickly realized my 2 glasses of wine were $18.50 EACH. Me thinks I didn't get the house wine.......When we asked about it, the waiter went on and on about their wines and how great they are...blah blah blah. A word of warning. If you are ordering wine. Pick out a specific one and tell the waiter what you want! I won't make that mistake again. (the wine was good....but not $18.50 good)
(3)
Sylvia C.
Finally checked the roof top out. Went there on Friday right after work around 5:30pm and the place was already packed (luckily no lines yet - whew). I thought it was a bit weird that after checking your ID - they stamp you then before you get onto the stairs they use a black light to check your stamp (almost like a club). The view from the rooftop is nice - sleek and chic patio furniture. Definitely, looked like a happening place. Noticed some tables had the reserve signs (thought seating was first come first serve). Nevertheless - we lucked out seating (moving a chair and there from other tables). A bummer for the Legal Seafood regulars is that the menu for the roof deck is mainly sushi. Though many options for the sushi - can't say they were spectacular. Service was pretty good given the place was packed - bartender takes your drink order pretty quickly and servers check up quite frequently on how we're doing. The place overall is great - just a bit on the pricey side but guess that's Seaport District.
(4)
Ty W.
Interesting fun dessert with popcorn!! Filet was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his flounder!
(4)
Emily L.
Nice area for rooftop drinks and seafood towers. Good for dinner with groups. 3 levels to the restaurant. The 2nd floor is more upscale.
(4)
Frank N.
This Legal is my favorite spot when I want an impromptu lazy weekend bar-side. Never have a problem grabbing a seat at the circular bar--seems most of the tourists gravitate towards the upstairs or to the tables by the open windows. It's a busy spot, but the service attentive and the kitchen keeps up. The oysters are always local, Merry, Wianno, and Katama Bay, tasty and briny goodness! The crabmeat roll and lobster rolls always accompany our lunch meals. Also good, fresh and tasty. For drinks, there are usually some interesting cocktails but the Sam Adams crafted especially for Legal's is my favorite.
(5)
Gricel G.
Just flew in from Sunny Ft. Lauderdale, to a lovely 18 degrees. Staying at the Seaport, they recommend this restaurant. Staff was fantastic! James the bartender, extremely attentive. Very comforting when traveling alone on business. Great cosmo and he helped me pick a terrific dish. 2 thumbs up on the Lobster Bisque. Will definitely recommend.
(5)
Anita C.
*This review is for the Rooftop Deck (3rd floor)* Number of visits: 2 I am continually impressed by this venue's food and service! This is an ideal location for any special occasion, after-work drinks, or any night when you're craving real seafood! Food: I would definitely recommend trying any of their sushi and sashimi. You can taste the freshness in their fish and the portions are decent. For the quality of the food, their prices are justified. I particularly enjoyed the Avocado Salad and the Hawaiian Roll. Their sushi appetizers and specialty rolls are simple yet the ingredients compliment each other well, making each bite flavorful and refreshing. Ambiance: Just google Legal Harborside Rooftop deck and it'll speak for itself (although photos does not do it justice). The room is open and spacious so you can see the harbor from any seat. And for those semi chilly nights, their patio is warmed with heaters! Service: Their service is fantastic each time I've gone! Our most recent waitress was friendly and was always there when we needed her. Fun fact: They use REAL crab in all of their dishes, even in the California Roll, which is a rare find. So if you think you know what a California Roll tastes like, wait till you try it with real crab!
(5)
Jim D.
Bar staff and table staff was great. Front door and 2nd floor greeting staff was poor. We arrived at 5:30, wait was 45 min, no problem But no offer to just put us at bar to wait. 2nd floor was wide open but no offer for table there---we would have paid for up menu. Personally went to 2nd floor but 3 girls just standing there also looked at me like I was lost and no help, even when u asked them for help. Seemed odd, entire kitchen was standing tree perched to prepare.
(2)
Maurice P.
Wonderful setting, service and sushi. However, the menu upstairs where it's the most fun is a bit limited.
(4)
Elena E.
Had dinner on the second floor restaurant. Great place to come for seafood and enjoy the waterfront view. I didn't have such high expectations since the regular Legal Seafood restaurants are ok but nothing special. Floor 2 is a different restaurant completely. All of the table face towards the windows but unfortunately we didn't get a booth right against a window, even though I requested one on opentable. Service was very good the whole time there. When our dinners came, they accidentally brought the lobster and short rib entree, which none of us had ordered. They acknowledged the mistake and gave us the lobster on the house as they quickly brought out the correct dish. Pretty nice to get a $52 entree for free!
(4)
Laila B.
I have to give 4 stars because the oysters here changed my life. See, I'm from Louisiana and I just love our warm-water oysters from the bayou. I've tried oysters all over (Seattle, San Francisco and even the coast of France!) but I still prefer our homegrowns. So I thought I should at least give the New England oysters a try and selected 4 different kinds. I called my husband at work after I ate the first one. I took pictures of all of them. So cold. So briny. So delightful. I actually started looking at real estate in Boston and considered moving there after eating those oysters. Amazing. I also got some bruschetta with gorgonzola and fig (ok but wouldn't order again) and grilled swordfish with an orzo-grapefruit-fennel salad. The fish was very good but the salad literally tasted like nothing. That was a disappointment. Service was great. So was the view. So I probably wouldn't go back unless it was eat oyster after oyster. And at $2.25 each, they were the cheapest I paid anywhere in Boston.
(4)
Ann I.
Great restaurant with a wonderful view! The menu was vast and had lots of great foods to choose from. We ordered the Lobster roll, Calamari, and Lobster Bisque soup. All were flavorful and service was nice and accommodating. Our waiter was very patient as we looked at the menus for a while since there was so much to choose from. The manager stopped by once to ask us how the meal was and the drinks were constantly filled by various wait staff. Would for sure make reservations as this place is packed every night of the week.
(4)
Juan M.
The food and service was good! One of my favorite places in Boston! Very lively place!
(3)
Huy N.
What else can I say about Legals Harborside that hasn't already been said? The waitress service was excellent and attentive. They even moved us to a bigger table when they thought our table was too crowded on a Friday night. We ate on the 3rd floor on the roof deck. The view was excellent, I just hope I can come back again when it's warmer to stay on the deck. I solely ordered sushi and that was fantastic. I got 2 sushi boats with my friends and it was all delicious. It was quite nice of the chef to come out and talk to us, asking for feedback. The sushi tasted fresh and we got such a wide variety on the sushi boat so we were really able to try a bunch of different things. My only complaint, which is nit-picking really, is that the the waitress did take long with our drinks, but it was a crowded and packed Friday night so that was expected. Overall I would come back again, maybe not on a Friday night when its crowded because the food was great and i would love to try more items on the menu.
(5)
Anne E.
Great light lunch here before heading to Harpoon. We sat at their bar and had excellent service, drinks, and food. Definitely recommend the mussels and the stuffie. Great view of the harbor in a beautiful restaurant.
(5)
Gina B.
Had the opportunity try Legal recently after a work trip took me up to Beantown again. It's surprising large inside, 3 stories I believe and quite contemporary inside. Given the size of our group, we opted for a prix fix meal (soup/salad, entree and dessert). I'm gluten-free and asked the server if they could make an accommodation, which they did. They even had gluten-free bread, though it was hard as a rock. They offered sorbet as an alternative for a gluten-free dessert option. Unfortunately, it had terrible freezer burn. They finally brought out some fresh sorbet, but I felt this should had been caught before it was brought out. Other than that, I thought the food was good and I liked the ambience.
(4)
Emily S.
I feel like I don't give out a ton of five stars, but we had a flawless and magical night here from start to finish! Atmosphere: We sat by the tall floor to ceiling glass windows/doors leading to the outdoor deck that looked out over the harbor and it was stunning. The ceiling and bar looked industrial chic. This is a cool place to bring family, a date, or friends! Love the heavy wood table. Service: I think our Waitress's name was Liz? She had long brown hair and a flower in it! She was charismatic, charming, funny, kind and perfectly timed. She was available when needed and not intrusive either. We kicked it off with her and she made an amazing meal an awesome experience. Food: We ordered the tempura battered green beans and lobster/wild mushroom pizza for appetizers along with a few oysters (can't remember which, sorry! I'm the non-oyster eater of the party of 3). They green beans were accompanied by two delicious tangy and zesty aiolis. I dipped in both before popping those veggies as if they were fries- SO crisp and such rich flavor! The pizza was perfectly toasted and there were large, fresh chunks of lobster meat that melted in our mouths. For dinner I had the most tender cheeseburger cooked medium rare on a big soft bun that came with fries and a pickle. Others in my party enjoyed the Swordfish special with a cup of classic New England clam chowder (just the warm, creamy, traditional type you may be looking for!) and the Salmon. They were so satisfied and happy with their meals and said they were perfect! We ended with a berry crisp and unexpected chocolate creme brulee that was so well done... We were licking our spoons clean. I read many of these other reviews before we decided on this place and we came out with no regrets. This night at Legal's beat out a fancy meal from the night before spent at Grill 23 with its experimental pink, smoky, highly salted chowder they should call a bisque and it's calamari that was more onion than sea critter.
(5)
Andrew P.
I usually have a good experience here, but I think this restaurant has gotten a bit too big for it's britches. I went with two friends on a Wednesday night in hopes of getting a table. I was quoted an hour and a half wait time. Seemed long, and we were about to go elsewhere but found seats at the bar. Out of curiosity I checked OpenTable on my phone and there was a reservation for 8pm available. It was 7:30pm! Why would the hostess quote me a time 3 times as long as one available online for a customer that may or may not happen? When approached about this the hostess had no excuse and actually had no words. Definitely not good customer service. If you choose to go here, make sure you check OpenTable first as they clearly like reservations better than customers standing in front of them!
(2)
Luna D.
Best lobster ever, chowder is perfect with reasonable price, much better than daily catch ever
(5)
Guillermo M.
Nice place to come with somebody from out of town. Good food, nice view of the harbor, quick service, not cheap but not extremely expensive. This time we got fried oysters, a Harpoon seasonal beer, clam chowder, lobster roll and closed with a seasonal fruit crisp and all was really good.
(4)
Idan H.
Perfect! The food is amazing. Everything is treated with great care. The service is like nothing else.
(5)
Michael Z.
We have been fans of Legal Seafood for years and today we tried Legal Harborside First Floor. Our food overall was well prepared and the service was excellent. We particularly like the door that open to deck and you sit almost outdoor. Great place to visit
(4)
Milly R.
The roof deck bar is a fun place to watch people. Young crowds who wants to be seen!
(4)
Sarah W.
Lovely location. Amazing views and a serious crowd lined up to view them. I'm usually a bit of a snob about chain restaurants (and chain restaurants with airport locations? come ON), but I have always had good experiences at Legal. Had the lobster bisque on my last visit. In middle America, lobster bisque is usually a rich, creamy soup with a great lobster flavor from the shells they use for the stock. At Legal, lobster bisque is that same thing, only your bowl is filled about half way with honest to God lobster. It's Boston. The water is right there. You expect them to bring their A game with the seafood, but this was definitely above and beyond. The non-seafood appetizers we tried were perfectly adequate, but don't mess around. Let them do what they do best.
(4)
Ann H.
My sister & I went here for our last night of our trip to Boston. We had heard mixed reviews, such as: They are not as good as they once were. And: You will not be disappointed. We made 8:00 reservations, got seated early & had a great table by the water. Our waitress, Emily, could not have been nicer. We split a salad & she brought it in two bowls & it was plenty per person. We ordered the seafood combo but the combo had changed unbeknownst to Emily & did not contain what we wanted. We changed to an appetizer order of crab legs & two lobsters. When the crab legs came, they had a very distinct odor of ammonia. We went ahead and tasted & YUCK! They were gooey & my sister was convinced they were undercooked. They took them back & heated them up. In the meantime, they brought us a complimentary cup of chowder which was very good. When our crab legs came back, the reheating totally enhanced the AMMONIA smell & taste. I called the waitress & (I think) manager over when I could get their attention - the man said he was 'stuffed up' & couldn't smell them. Emily said she doesn't eat crab legs so she doesn't know what they are suppose to taste like. SERIOUSLY???? Even if you NEVER had crab legs before, would you serve ANYthing that smelled like AMMONIA? They, of course, took them off our order. The lobsters were pretty much ok but I think I could taste a more faint ammonia taste in the small legs so I couldn't eat them. Maybe because they were cooked in the same pot as the crab legs? I guess the most disappointing thing was what I felt was their dishonesty about not admitting they had served us in edible crab legs. I'll not go back next time I'm in Boston nor will I ever recommend this restaurant to any of my friends.
(1)
Lisa V.
Great choice of a restuarant for seafood! The only negative was the shrimp cocktail. It was served in cocktail sauce with a strong cucumber taste. I like to dip my shrimp into plain cocktail sauce. Also, the shrimp were smaller than I expected. The calamari, oysters, clam white pizza and clam chowder were to die for. Also, the lobster bisque contained the biggest piece of lobster which was a delight. Our party of four had a waitress named Lisa who was phenomenal. I would definitely request her on our next visit!
(4)
Brian H.
Two colleagues and myself had dinner here on a Wednesday evening, we ordered a bottle of wine and calamari to start. All is well in the beginning with the wine and calamari being very tasty, Sharon our server recommended the panko crusted tuna, so two of us ordered that and the other ordered the swordfish. All three fish came out overcooked, it didn't take much for our server Sharon to realize this and correct the problem immediately by putting in new orders and delivering them in short time, they came out perfect the second time. Legal owned the mistake and fairly compensated our bill, not what we were looking for but it was a nice gesture.
(4)
lindsey f.
Great Job! Our company recently sent a few young girls into the city for a special evening out as they are experiencing a recent diagnosis of cancer within their family. I called a few places and none were as accommodating as Legal Harborside. One of the managers, Sean, helped us weeks in advance, holding a special table when they do not normally do so, going out of his way to have sparkling cider from an outside vendor on the table. Sean and his team went above and beyond to help us give two teens a memorable night, feeling like royalty. Good food, better people! Thanks guys!!
(5)
J C.
Will never return. I usually like Legals, but I visited this location for my 27th birthday and got a nasty case of food poisoning. We sat on the roofdeck and had oysters and 3 rolls of sushi. Legals would be the last place I would ever imagine getting sick from, and thats why I thought they would at least respond to the e-mail I sent them about my illness. No response. My guess is they have such a low-rate of illness from the fish because they refuse to acknowledge anyone who actually does get sick.
(1)
Thomas S.
They use to be good . Very expensive and way over crowded. Small portions .i guess its more for hanging out socializing . Legal sea food was the best but i dont think so anymore .they forgot there roots .
(2)
Prinya S.
Roof top staff is horrible and service sucks. Very packed and food selection is limited.
(1)
Tina S.
Dined I the rooftop great atmosphere. They had the fireplace on so you didn't feel like you were on a rooftop in November. The sushi was fresh and tasty. Will have to come again
(4)
Michele H.
Legal's, you do some things so well. Like ahi tuna in a wasabi aoli with seaweed salad. Or lobster bisque, or buttery stuffed lobster. But sometimes the easy things escape you. Like wood plank salmon. I understand letting natural flavors shine through. But this was bland. No sauce, no herbs, no creativity, no nothing. It was rare but gummy. It was $30 of rare, gummy, blandness. Can you get a great meal here? Absolutely. But the chances of getting something just okay or worse while also shelling out $xxx is not a gamble I'd like to take anytime soon, especially when better (and cheaper) seafood places abound.
(3)
Malisa S.
Went here for Valentines Day with a couple of friends and it was great! Got there before the dinner rush at 7:30 so we were able to get a table for the six of us at the rooftop deck. Great service from both the waitress and the sushi chef. We had a sushi boat and some of the chef's selections were new rolls not on the menu yet, and talked with us to get feedback, which was sweet of him. One thing not on the menu yet was the BLT, aka bacon, lettuce, and tuna in a crispy shell and some sauce, which was crazy good. The food was delicious and the fish fresh, so overall a really good experience!
(5)
Lauretta L.
I agree with many of the previous reviewers - come here for the gorgeous view and exciting setting. We came for a late dinner and sat on the first floor patio, which provided us with a great view of the docked boats and city lights. There's a lot to take in here and if you find yourself bored, there is probably something wrong with you. Service and food alone would not urge me to return here. The service, while attentive, wasn't impressive. Our server was a bit rough around the edges and our interactions felt rushed. The Fried Whole Belly Clams were delicious, although there were small thin pieces of...fried lemon(?) included in the basket. We couldn't figure out what they were but I ate them anyway...the clams themselves were delicious. However, I would suggest not piling them into a small basket because the bottom got soggy. The Wellfleet and Kumamoto oysters were fresh and delicious - I ate them w/o any toppings :). Yum! The Portuguese Fish Stew was average. It could have used a richer broth. While you're supposed to wait in line to get to the rooftop deck, we managed to get in w/o doing so :). This was the highlight of our experience! Be sure to get up here.
(3)
julie n.
Very busy restaurant right on the water. We had a reservation for 7 but changed it to 8 last minute and there was no issue. We were seated at a table by the large open windows so had a great breeze. It was so very loud in the restaurant. Sister and I shared a lobster bake. They split the plate for us and we both had plenty of lobster. The corn was so good. It was juicy and sweet, had so much flavor. The clam chowder was also very good. The rolls were delicious. They have a 100 year old 12lb lobster available for about $250, it was massive! Enjoyed the food and experience very much.
(4)
Lauren P.
We had drinks on the rooftop and it was great! We also had the sushi and that was really good as well. You really can't beat the view of the water.
(4)
Sherrie C.
I met some friends on the first floor for lunch. It was amazing food and the oysters were sooooo FRESH! Views are spectacular but prices were a little high. Our waitress was very busy so it was difficult to flag her down the few times we needed things but the location and people watching more than made up for it! I would love to check out the roof top patio...it was too windy when we were there. Maybe later this summer...
(4)
Sarah K.
The evening started out poorly; I had made reservations and yet over 25 minutes later after our reservation time, we still weren't seated. The on shift manager (I believe her name is Megan) really turned the evening around for us. She found us a great, quiet table and ensured we got clam chowder and rolls immediately (I was starving and raving about the chowder). I didn't realize that this place has a different menu than other Legal Sea Foods, as this is Legal Sea Foods "Harborside". The chowder is the same across all LSF, so that was tasty. We also tried the gluten free muffins. Not as good as the regular roll, but good for gluten free. I got the baked haddock but was expecting the 'regular' one served at other LSF and didn't like the Harborside one as much as the regular. My bf got the Portuguese seafood stew and really liked it.
(4)
Gregory D.
I had dinner at Legal Seafoods Harborside tonight, one of my favorite restaurants! But not tonight. I know it's tough to eat out due to my dairy allergy but usually this place is great with allergies. My server told me that the dish I ordered had dairy and she couldn't have it made but it was Rosemary skewered scallops! So I told her to make it without dairy. Our dinner came out and it delicious! I ordered a burger to go and asked for Brussels sprouts and fries and got nothing! It was unacceptable. On the way out the door, neither the manager or the host said thank you or have a good night. Instead they looked at me and walked away in silence. For such a great place I didn't feel it was up to par to my standards.
(3)
Stephanie K.
Please note: this review is for the 3rd floor only. The rooftop bar at Legal Harborside is a pretty space with views to match. Unfortunately, the staff are well aware of this and take advantage of knowing they have a captive audience. The atmosphere is very loud, the drinks average, and the sushi subpar. Honestly, I expected that going in because I'd heard this lounge was more of a scene than anything else. But what really earned this one-star review was the staff's appalling unprofessionalism. From the doorman to the manager, everyone who works here has an attitude and should rethink their decision to work in the hospitality industry. What's funny is the managers give an air of professionalism and seriousness (the Secret Service called: they want their suits and earpieces back!), but it's all a façade. For all their blustering, this bar is chaotic and their waitstaff make far too many mistakes for a place that's gotten too big for their britches. Our waitress was not only abrupt and unfriendly, she made multiple errors and never apologized. It took close to an hour for our small food order to arrive. When it finally came, part of the order was incorrect and we had to send it back. The sushi was ok but nothing special, and it was obvious the rolls were made hastily because one fell apart and the other one had pieces that were uneven (some were so big it was impossible to fit them in your mouth). But the icing on the cake was that the waitress charged the wrong amount to our credit cards despite the fact that we clearly wrote it all out on the receipt (the mixup was that two people in my party had last names that start with the same letter...really?!). What's more, she then accused us of leaving $70 on our tab. We'd been a group and some people had left early, but no one left without paying. Knowing that it was a busy place, I gave the waitress the benefit of the doubt and politely asked if we could see the earlier receipts from the members of our party who had left in order to compare them to the original. She sent over the manager who said there was nothing he could do re: showing us the receipts from our table. Look, I used to work in a restaurant and I know that there are groups of dishonest people who try to skip out of places without paying the full tab. That's wrong, and I feel badly for restaurants that have to deal with bad patrons. However, this did not happen with my group. I know errors happen and we gladly would have made up the difference if we'd actually made a mistake, but the manager wasn't even willing to work with us to go through the prior receipts and check. He insisted that we had to split the remainder among us, even though we were not in the wrong. Finally, we got so tired of arguing with him that we agreed to have the difference split among our cards. The manager put the wrong amounts on two people's cards. When we pointed it out, he said it was too late and there was nothing we could do. When we asked to speak to his supervisor, he rolled his eyes and walked away.
(1)
Sam J.
Visiting from Zürich, took a taxi across town for our reservation but refused entry because we don't carry passports to get access to restaurants over there, especially not at age 35. Peter (the manager) was particularly antisocial about it, hence warning you about the service you can expect. Went to LTK across the road (apparently owned by the same company, which makes their "company policy" even more insane), where the service was fantastic. Don't bother with the harborside - duck across the road for the same product but with good service.
(1)
Julie A.
Large parties can be a huge pain in the ass, and when I'm part of a big group, I always expect something to go wrong. Not here. This was an absolutely flawless treatment of a large party. Our group of eleven arrived a few minutes late for a 6:30 reservation, and our table wasn't quite ready. Instead of making us stand around, they swept us up to the stunning roofdeck (which I can only imagine is even more spectacular in warm weather), moved a bunch of tables around to accommodate the group, and sent a complementary appetizer or two to our table to tide us over during the wait. A few minutes later, we were escorted downstairs to a lovely high-top table right by the windows. We had two waitresses, each with a handheld electronic notepad thingy, so nobody had to shout across the table and no order was misplaced. Logistics aside, the food was stellar. One of the while-you're-waiting appetizers was shrimp cocktail, served dangling on an ICE GLOBE. I can't even. Apparently it is one of the items on the middle-floor, "fancy" menu. Drinks were also impressive, both in size and content. I am always a sucker for a bleu cheese stuffed olive. Sangria (particularly the apple variety) was tasty and unique. Back downstairs, I loved the assorted oysters and lobster and mushroom pizza. The only downside was that my entree, the tuna special of the night, was a little overcooked - next time I'll specify and order it rare. Looking forward to experiencing Legal again, perhaps next time with a smaller crew and warmer weather!
(4)
Greg W.
So I heard a lot about this place. We had reservations but it took forever to get seated and the hostesses did not seem to care. Finally after getting a manager (Megan) things started to look up. She was super nice and very friendly. She deserves a raise :) Anyways the menu is different then their test kitchen across the street and from the other location but still very good. Each floor of this location is a whole differnt them (like say fancier level, normal level, sushi level). They have a real gluten free menu if that is your thing. The normal rolls are super good though (pigg pigg). I got the Portuguese stew and it was really good. I would happily come back here anytime IF the reservation thing works out as they get super busy.
(3)
Mary F.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have always enjoyed it. This time was no exception. I ordered the appetizer of fried clams and a cup of clam chowder. I also ordered a glass of Cakebread Savignon Blanc. Everything was excellent. The service started slow but ended well. I normally try not to go to large commercial restaurants when I travel but Legal Seafood Harborside is the exception. Great food and an amazing view of the harbor.
(5)
Ken C.
This location has great views of the harbor. Yes I know its a chain but its quite a good one. Def try the NE clam chauudah it has actual fresh clams in it. Food here is real good, and so is the service. I tried lobstah roll, and it was well worth it. This spot is def on the fancier side attracting a lot of visitors to city. Worth stopping by. Bit pricey but nothing crazy. its also close to Harpoon brewery which is a nice trip also
(4)
Grace M.
i'd never associated legal with sushi as it's always been a fish and chowder kinda place to me, but harborside's got really fresh, perfect sushi. the view of course is as good as it gets and the open breeze is really pleasant while dining. easily the best legal location :)
(5)
The R.
I went to the legal harborside this evening with a group of friends. The staff was very polite and did not rush you out like most restaurants. I had the fish and chips, it was light flakey and everything you could ask in a meal of fish and chips. Overall me and my friends really enjoyed the visit and will probably be back.
(4)
Morgan P.
Went here for dinner on a trip to Boston. The service was awesome and the view was unbelievable. It was very reasonably priced and I enjoyed everyone else's meal. Mine was the fried scallops which I would have liked a lot more had they not been fried - I wasn't aware of that. The oysters we had were phenomenal and the chowder was A+ - I am still craving it today. Highly recommend!
(4)
Jenni K.
We were on floor 1 of this restaurant. It was really packed and pretty loud, so I wasn't sure how much fun we'd have. Fortunately, we were seated in the back and able to have decent conversation. The waiter was great! super helpful, providing recommendations and helping us all choose things. We ended up sharing a lobster special, which was twice baked with some sort of stuff on top of it. I thought it was good, not amazing, some pieces seemed too baked and I almost would have rather gotten the plain lobster to dip in melted butter. Everyone also had a salad, which was great. The Baked Artichokes with shrimp and scallop stuffing was SOO GOOD. Order it. All in all, it was good. Nice to be near the water, but I prefer smaller restaurants that aren't as loud, nor a drinking scene on their upper floors.
(4)
Victoria S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! My staples are the Tuna burger and the Portuguese Stew! The burger is better than any tuna burger I've had before! Their large bowl salad has amazing dressing too! Its really fun to go during a concert at Bank of America Pavilion and sit outside - its like you have a free ticket to the arena next door!
(4)
Sydney G.
Warning to all. I got the oysters and I must say they do not taste any better coming back up than they do going down. Food is expensive and subpar to boot. Drinks are off the charts priced and again are not worth what you're spending. My mother who ordered a different meal ended up getting food poisoning too, long story short, sale yourself some money and time in the bathroom.
(1)
Aaron K.
World Class Seafood. Legal Harborside is the flagship of this popular NE restaurant chain and has a completely different menu then the rest of the restaurants. It also has a well known executive chef at the helm. I have been saying since this place opened that the first floor has the best seafood in Boston. It is simple, well priced and extremely fresh. They do mostly everything you could ask for and do it well. Recently we had the chance to splurge on ourselves and decided to try Floor 2 for the feast of the seven fishes tasting menu. Superb. I could go pescatarian if I could always eat like this. Every single dish was well executed, unique and delicious (excluding the monkfish, so one miss). We were brought tiny forks, spoons, and even chopsticks to eat our seven + course meal. You get everything at this restaurant that the first floor is lacking; excellent service, beautifully plated dishes, and an even better view of the harbor. There are also a couple freebies along the way. This is gourmet seafood on the second floor and the chef comes up with some exciting combinations. We loved the pickled quince mignonette and smoked foam on the oysters. All the broths and sauces complemented each dish wonderfully. We were truly in heaven and wouldn't hesitate to come back next year to see what the chef comes up with for the feast (even with the hefty price tag). If you are looking to please a seafood lover, look no further than Legal Harborside.
(5)
JeNnIfEr S.
I had the Lobster Bisque and the White Clam Pizza. Both were good (though a bit pricey). *** Legal Harborside- Floor 1 ***
(3)
Bob R.
We were very disappointed in our meal. Mussels served in s bad pineapple broth... Mussels belong in garlic, butter, white wine. My scrod was small and dry. The Portuguese. Seafood stew was so mediocre. We always look forward to Legal Seafood but no more. It gets mass produced is the feeling i got. Sorry i usually love Legal Seafood. a year ago I ate upstairs and it was much better. The service was fine, but food was not.
(1)
Nat A.
Service is so slow & kinda rude for an empty bar. food was ok & not amazing & overpriced.
(2)
Matt D.
Good service, knowledgable bartenders. The lack of 5 stars is only for the line on the summer weekends. Nobody likes to wait in line. I usually say I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member (Groucho Marx). This place is worth it for the views alone.
(4)
Maggie N.
Love the roofdeck! Sushi and white sangeria a must!
(5)
Caitlin M.
This place is well worth the money. They honored my request to sit by the window, and the view is so nice! The shrimp are giant. The scallop dish was amazing. The chef also will bring out some complimentary tasters. It is such a fun, romantic, warm environment. I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Tihomir D.
Another great night at legals roof top. Love that place and Didi took great care of us.
(5)
Alex D.
Best seafood restaurant yet. Perfect place for Caviar. Oyster fans, here is your place. Believe it or not they have Alaskan King crab. 5 stars all the way.
(5)
Michele W.
Great view, excellent service, and delicious food. A word of advice: share a mug of clam chowder. Theres no way you can have a mug of it AND eat anything else. This chowder has a 1:1 ratio of soup to stuff. i also had 2 oysters from the raw bar and they were very fresh. I also had some of the lobster roll and fried scallops. The lobster roll was so tasty. The bread was very crunchy, but not so hard that you couldn't bite into it, and the lobster was tender, fresh, and sweet. I feel they put the perfect amount of mayo (I'm anti mayo). The Scallops. Oh my gosh. Its been too long since I've had them anywhere they've been cooked properly. The breading didn't overpower delicate sweetness of it. The scallop was soo soft. It wasnt chewy and rubbery like I'm used to. Skip the wait, make reservations. Also, find street parking. Otherwise pay $16 for parking WITH validation.
(5)
Jeff F.
This review is for the 2nd level. Great spot if you want a 4 top with a water view. I think it's great that Legal developed a finer dining concept on the 2nd level, but ultimately it slightly misses the mark. They need to revamp the entrees since although Cobia and Abalone are interesting fish, they aren't that great. Also - Lobster shouldn't be smoked. If you do find yourself having dinner here, the salmon is the call since the beet emulsion is memorable. The apps were interesting, but nothing memorable enough to highly recommend. Here's a stack-ranking of best to worst: - King Crab Salad - coconut noodle was creative; fantastic w/ the King Crab - Octopus - solid - Seared Scallop over braised pork belly - ok - Tartare Trio - only the tuna was worth it - wish I could have had triple tuna instead of salmon & hiramasa Probably worth checking out once if you're a Legal fan, but if you're in from out of town, I wouldn't put this on your shortlist.
(3)
Evan S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! The best part about Legal Harborside is it's location and view! This is a great place to grab a casual dinner and cocktails!
(4)
Kalyn H.
Dined here a couple of months ago while visiting Boston from Chicago...best restaurant I have ever eaten at. Can't wait to go back! Service - A+ we were accommodated even with calling only a couple of hours ahead on a Saturday night, our view was amazing, right on the harbor! Food - A+ Ordered 6 oysters, scallops, lobster Mac and cheese and the lobster roll. The lobster roll is to die for, the bread and spread combo is so tasty. We even spent $75 to order the lobster Mac and cheese shipped in dry ice last month, delicious!!!
(5)
Elvin M.
I know that Legals aren't necessarily where Bostonians go to treat themselves but I've been to Harborside twice now and as recent implant I got to say that I've been nothing but impressed with the quality of food I've had. I'm in love with this place, really.
(5)
Kurt S.
Great view, Legals food and service always great. Always a thumbs up for Legal's. Could it be better? Add a "Captain Mary" and make a killer bloody mary with clam juice... I mean, you ARE Legal Seafood so clam juice should be a natural... maybe that's just me though.
(4)
Sarah F.
Had an awesome time there tonight. Great food, great service, very nice upscale experience. Loved it! Russell is an awesome waiter, be sure to ask for him, really knows his stuff. Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Vince F.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in over a decade. Upon arrival and attempt at getting seated, our guest host on the main floor was incompetent and unwelcoming. Once seated, our waitress on the main floor was also extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming. We realized after looking through the menu that we were not seated in the correct part of the restaurant to order sushi. We were then sent to the 3rd floor where we were greeted by another incompetent group of guest hosts. Before allowing us to be seated, we were asked for ID. I presented my Alberta driver's license (I am over 40 years old) and my companion presented her NEXUS card (she is over 30). We were told that they are unable to accept international ID cards and told that we needed to present our passports. As our passports were in our hotel room several blocks away, we politely declined and left. What a waste of a great location and well appointed decor. Recommendation: Stay away from this place as it is clear that a positive customer experience is not a priority.
(1)
Olive D.
UPDATE! guest services got in touch, spoke to a very polite professional lady. Informed her that we still had a great time despite the awful service I would return. She apologized and I just received a gift card to return! Customer service at it finest ! Everyone has an "off" night. I don't normally complain , but it's one way to improve. There's ways to handle a situation. I though about complaining that night ,after a few sangrias thought it was a bad idea, couldn't get my friends to take me seriously , let alone a manager ! So kudos to legals! See you all soon to dine outdoors one more time before snow arrives!!
(5)
Laurel W.
Amazing Meal- Legal really is the top when it comes to working with food allergic guests and this location is simply outstanding- (I have allergies to gluten, corn, tree nuts, shellfish, citrus and nightshade sensitivities) Even with these, there is quite the variety to choose from! Fish was fresh and perfectly cooked and the brussels sprouts with bacon were amazing-They even brought out warm gf dinner rolls (made locally by Something Sweet Without Wheat)- Our server was friendly, personable and very helpful- I cannot recommend Legal Harborside enough!
(5)
Erich B.
My wife and I went to the first floor dining area which is the casual dining area. We went on Tuesday abt 530. it was not that busy and we did not have to wait. The view is excellent of the harbor and the atmospher is fun and casual. We saw falies and couples there. The food as very good. My wife had the lobster which was perfectly cooked. I had the gumbo which was also tasty. Over all it was not the best food we had in Boston during our trip, but we would certainly come again if we were in boston.
(4)
Lillie A.
Came here with my close friend on her birthday, we sat outside which was an amazing view but please I advice you if it's a little windy STAY INSIDE - the food was delish. The service was great however I preordered a surprise bday cake for my friend and it was a NONO don't waste your money I'd suggest that you walk with your own cake .
(4)
vinny o.
Was here for dinner tonight, when we first walked in it was awkward, I said 2 for dinner and they both seem puzzled, hi I said it slowly and clearly. Then I was asked if I wanted to sit upstairs downstairs or-rooftop, I know the rooftop doesn't offer a full menu with only a partial of some sort so we said upstairs. Hostess upstairs seemed sweet and brought us to a table overlooking the ocean. Beautiful! Server comes over asked us for drinks and told us about the menu very extensively. Shrimp cocktail for our app was phenomenal with an amazing presentation! Onto dinner we both ordered the cod which really lacked flavor although again the presentation was nice with a seafood foam, definitely not what I expected, it was just so bland and my husband also thought so. Dessert was good pineapple upside down. I'll try again but not rushing back not with so many other options in Boston. The service was the strongest point of the night. Props to the waiter!
(3)
Joelle K.
I would have rated this closer to a 3, had it not been for the view. This Legal Sea Foods is right on the harbor and we sat at the bar facing out onto the water, which was pretty awesome. I have heard that the roof deck is awesome, but we decided against the long wait and sat right down at the bar. I would highly recommend the clam chowder. the food and chips and fish tacos were just ok.
(4)
brad h.
Flew up from Atlanta to see Boston and eat some seafood. We tried a few places, Legal was recommended and was on the Harbor next to our hotel. Great view of the water from our table both nights. Yep, we went two nights in a row, so that says a lot. The place is crowded, if you want quiet - this is not the place. Get reservations. Well organized, they got us seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly but knew how to leave us alone with each other. We had their wood fired Scallop Skewer and Clam Chowder to start. The wood smoke taste was a bit more than I would have preferred, but then, I enjoy some variety. I would order them again. We spit a skewer. The Chowder was as good as it gets. Perfection, would be my opinion. Lobsters - we had two with Swiss Chard... I had mashed potatoes, My wife Brussels Sprouts (She said they were good)... All was done to perfection. There is not much more that you can do to a good seafood dining experience. SECOND NIGHT: Their Cod and Lobster served on Spaghetti Squash was the main dish... By this time we were suffering from food overload, so we went lighter. Excellent meal with a light fish, covered in a lobster sauce. They serve about a dozen different varieties of oysters, that would have been on this list if we had another night. If you are anywhere near this place while in Boston, go.
(5)
Karsten W.
We actually wanted to go the Yankee Lobster Fish Market due to its promising rating but unfortunately it was totally crowded and we were too hungry to wait for a free table. The Legal Harborside is in the close neighbourhood and made a promising impression. We took the macaroni with lobster. It was delicious, but we missed the huge amount of lobster which the waiter had promised. So the price wasn't appropriate. I definitely wouldn't go there again for dinner with friends but I would recommend the restaurant for business occasions. The view on the waterside is great and the menu offers a wide range of upper class sea food and drinks.
(3)
NikkeyNDon C.
We ate at the bar and it was a great time. Friendly bartenders who were more than willing to help us with any tourist questions. We made to happy hour where they had $1 oysters which were very tasty "naked cowboys" is what they called them. Over all great atmosphere and good oysters.
(4)
Bill L.
We were served bad oysters. They didn't taste fresh. One actually had a bad smell. My wife was sick later that evening after dinner. Our guest was visiting from Dallas. Her comment? "Great view! But the food? Lets skip this place the next time I'm in town."Legal Seafoods? Have YOU gone tourist trap on us?
(2)
Phil O.
I'm ranking this based on Legal Harborside's night life, and not the food. You'd be hard pressed to find a better female-to-male ratio in Boston in the summer months. The place has an unenforced classy dress code, it's clean and the decor is spectacular, and it overlooks the Boston Harbor. Drinks are expensive but you'd expect that for a place like this.
(4)
Dan L.
Service is fairly good. Food is good. There was a piece of bamboo in my meal, good thing I noticed it while chewing on it. They did remove it from the bill. The young women standing near us drove me crazy, as she seemed to keeping close watch as to each bite people were taking to try to figure out when the table would be free. Very annoying Also, there were a couple of boats backed into the pier and sending noxious fumes into the restaurant.
(2)
F V.
For some reason, the crab meat sandwich I ordered did not taste like real crab. It tasted processed because it's too uniform almost like imitation crab meat. I have ordered crab meat sandwich in Maine and it tasted better. My friend ordered their special sole fish and he complained it was not seasoned properly. I have eaten in other Legal Seafood locations but this place is a bummer. Maybe it's just what we ordered.
(2)
Kris S.
Just. AMAZING!!! So I'm a fan of the Legal chain anyway, but my hubby thinks it's just above avg. Therefore, he was quite skeptical about Legal Harborside. I think, however, he has seen the light! The scallops with pork belly was phenomenal and a good-sized portion. The chicken was delish, as was the black pepper linguine. Drinks were a little light on the pours, but our charismatic waiter made up for it. Add in the amuse bouche, surprise banana choco complimentary mini-dessert, and stunning views, and we have a winner.
My husband and I took my mother in-law to Legal Harborside for her 60th birthday. I had requested a window seat for the view. We arrived to the restaurant they seated us on the deck where we had a beautiful view of the harbor, just as requested. The service was phenomenal, as well as the food. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner with a upscale atmosphere.
(5)
Rob H.
Awesome place for dinner. Three of us sat at the bar overlooking the harbor and had steamers and mussels to start with. Both dishes were fantastic. I proceeded to have swordfish and a side of scallops. As good as any fresh fish I have ever had. A must try if you are in the Boston area. Get there early as the place was packed by 6:30 with an hour wait for a table.
(5)
Abbie M.
Went to lunch with a friend and her mom to celebrate a birthday. I'm eating gluten-free for a week, so I'm always nervous at restaurants because they like to hide flour in places it doesn't belong, like chowder. I found out, after the fact, that they offer a gluten-free menu and I wish they had mentioned it before (as I said I wasn't eating wheat). Ordering here was extremely difficult off the regular menu - I could eat maybe 7 things on the menu. Most of the things that I could eat, were the most expensive things on the menu (or I don't like them). I wasn't sure about the chowder so I stayed away, and went with the caesar salad, no croutons. It arrived with croutons. Sigh, eye roll, pick them off, not that big a deal. The caesar itself was only ok, the dressing was a little bland and watery. I picked off my friend's grilled scallops with mashed potatoes and swiss chard - all of which were VERY good. They both had the chowder which they said was great. Service-wise, we had two waiters? This was confusing to me. When we didn't need them, they were constantly checking on us. Short on time, we didn't have the chance for dessert. Then when we needed the check, they had all disappeared. Despite the fact that it was a very large space, it was really loud and hard to hear inside. The people I came with made the lunch incredibly enjoyable, not so much the ambiance or food. The normal entrees and things with wheat in them all looked good. Get the gluten free menu though, or you'll be sorry... I left hungry. :(
(3)
Samantha N.
We were from out of town and some locals recommended legal harbor side 3rd floor for sushi and drinks. The lobster roll was recommended for its presentation which was nothing less than it was described to us. Our bartender Lisa was more than accommodating and very friendly and professional. I will 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves sushi!
(5)
Shelby R.
Loved the scallops (grilled and fried), and the legal sangria was amazing! Trout the lobster roll didn't have enough lobster or seasoning, but I'm not an expert at that dish. Had a great time, will definitely recommend you try it.
(4)
Tom G.
Rooftop bar review only: meat market, gorgeous views, passable but expensive appetizers, terrible service, super watered down and expensive cocktails. It's hard to get a spot outside unless you're there around 4pm. It fills up and you'll wait in line. I've been up there a few times over the summer with coworkers but, in the end, we always vow to never go back...yet apparently do.
(2)
Krista D.
Great night out with the girls! Sat on the second floor deck overlooking the harbor. Used Opentable for reservations without a hitch. Loved Katy our server. She had excellent recommendations and explanations. She was so warm and friendly. We had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked. Great wine selections and we were never rushed. A perfect night out! We'll be back!
(5)
Reagan S.
The oyster selection was amazing. I think they had 10 different oysters to pick from. I had the lobster roll that was really good.
(5)
Larry A.
I always felt the usual Legal's were overpriced. This more casual version of Legal's (downstairs) is in a reasonable range and the food is just as good. Great views of the water, fun and vibrant atmosphere even if it is a bit noisy. Spare yourself some $ and skip the old time Legal's and treat yourself to this fun place.
(4)
Bryan R.
Excellent roofdeck. Leaving this review a little sparse for now so I can add it to a list. Beautiful settings. Great drinks (Boston Strong Boy is an absolute top ten drink to drink outside anywhere). Lots of nice touches everywhere. Superb private changing room-like bathrooms. Good sushi. Only downsides are the likelihood of standing in line for a long time to get in and the lack of food options. I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to see a few non-sushi, reasonably priced items.
(4)
Matt C.
I don't think I have ever been more surprised by a 5 star experience. I have been to the waterfront many times and the view and ambiance is always 5 stars but I had never experienced Legal Seafood in that location. I assumed that due to the decent but underwhelming experience at other legal seafood's around Boston that 3 star quality in a 5 star location was going to leave me disappointed. However, this Legal Seafood is unlike the rest. The menu is unique and the restaurant feels very little like the other chain locations that bare the same name. We started with the Spread plate to share and opted for the bluefish, ham salad, and the hummus varieties. Although the container was difficult to work with the product was great. We moved on to split the seasonal salad and then the salmon entree. The best part was the fact that everything seemed to work and there were many items that looked enticing enough to guarantee a return visit. Be sure to check out the 3rd floor when you visit for the view but don't miss out on the dinning experience on the first floor, it was definitley worth it.
(5)
Damien S.
Beyond impressed at the look and feel of what could arguably be the flagship location in the Legal family. Covering three floors, most of the dining room tables have harbor views, so don't be surprised to see a humpback surface while you're mowing down on a hot&crusty roll or thirty. Alas on this, our virgin voyage to the polished and sparkly locale, we aimed to drink in the views... and the booze. So, the elliptical bar on the first floor is where we stayed. Maddening crowds did nothing to shake the nerve of our proficient bar team, whipping up a mimosa, pulled Guinness and an Old Fashioned with the quickness. Mama S wasn't crazy for the house Cava used in the mimosa; however, the replacement bubbles received the chug-a-lug treatment. What can I say, she fears scurvy. Totally dig the open kitchen and hyperactive raw bar. Papa S asked the fast and furious shucker about the total shift half-shell count. Without looking up, he laughed and said, "You've gotta be kidding me." Serious business. For drinks, it's aces. A few novelty cocktails - skinny pina coladas, cucumber vodka drinks, something called the Purple Jesus - that might be worth a sip, but nothing that screams creative superplus. And although I didn't eat this go-around, I will be back as the expected Legal menu ain't here. The food list is chock full of new stuff not present at their other locations, even going a step further to have unique menus on each floor. Boom bobba. First on the docket? Poor Man's Surf & Turf - a stuffed quahog and a 1/4lb hot dog for $12.
(4)
Lauren J.
Fine dining on the second floor was out of this world and their diver scallops with peaches was the best meal I've ever had in my life. Fine dining is pricey but is worth it! The service treats you like royalty and each meal was a seafood lover's dream come true.
(5)
Les C.
There were 10 of us who dined here on a Sunday night. We had a reservation and when we arrived our table was ready, and set in a fabulous location. We had a lovely view of the water. If you're looking to dine at Legal Seafood while in Boston, please go to this location. It's stunning. We ordered a number of food items, our absolute favourites included: lobster bake, crab salad, lobster and wild mushroom pizza, lobster Mac and cheese, oysters and clam chowder. Two items that tasted 'OK' but we probably wouldn't order again were the lobster pot pie and the white clam pizza. Our server, Lisa, was fantastic and very helpful with menu suggestions, accommodating with our requests and very friendly. The staff overall were all welcoming and helpful. Kudos to all staff at his location. We hope to be able to visit again someday.
(5)
John D.
Besides fresh seafood they actually make a great burger too. This place is simply awesome with professional service with the best location to boot. Its a must visit in the warm weather when they open the whole wall facing the water very kool indeed. Never had a bad experience here in any way. Only thing is you have to pay for valet parking but i find it totally worth it considering the location.
(5)
Israel H.
Came here one evening with a business associate. I got here via the water taxi, and has a great presence from the water. This place was jammed so we waited downstairs at the bar and had a drink till our table was ready.. The drinks took a while to be served.... and hence the only 4 stars... When we were finally called upstairs, we had to wait again, till the table was formally ready. However, once we were seated, the ambience and the food was incredible. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. It was expensive.. but well worth it.. Ask for a table by the windows upstairs.. great view!
(4)
C R.
Me: NOISY. Guest: WHAT? Me: I SAID THAT IT IS NOISY IN HERE? Guest: NOISY? Me: (Covering my ears and mouthing the word: N O I S Y) Guest: YEAH. The restaurant itself is in a nice location - very crowded and all kinds of things to navigate in order to get to a table. This is full contact eating - note: I did not say dining. Everyone screaming, eating, gulping. This is not a place to have a relaxing lunch or dinner. If you hate your spouse, partner, etc., and have long-since lost any desire to talk with them, go here and watch them eat. The food is good - which is to say creative, flavorful and presented somewhat artfully. But the ambiance detracts from anything and everything else. The staff heard you in and out - their voices hoarse from barking over the din. I'm officially launcing the quiet or din-free dining movement. No TVS, No thumping soundsystems, no phones on the table; just you, me the food and maybe a drink. Let's talk, eat, enjoy each other's company and the food. Anybody?
(2)
Lily W.
love the setting! 3 stories. bar and tables. lots of windows. very fresh seafood. great seafood roll. light on the sauce to highlight lobster flavor. service can use a little help. I stopped in in between a conference and I noticed the server didn't give me bread while the couple next to me did. And he was really slow with my check. I saw him taking the time for orders for a large group. just poor form. he was friendly though. 4 stars because of atmosphere and food!
(4)
Kelsey H.
I was visiting friends in Boston over the weekend and picked this place for dinner Saturday night. We ate on the first floor, which is nice-casual. The second floor is swanky and the top floor is the rooftop bar that specializes in cocktails, sushi and small bites. I'd say the first floor is a happy medium. First plus, right off the bat: We came in about an hour before our reservation. Our earlier activity didn't take as long as we anticipated, so we thought it was worth a shot to let them know we were there. Rather than have us wait, they went ahead and seated us. The waiter was nice and personable and didn't mind that it took us a while to sort out what we wanted. We had hot fresh rolls that arrived with our drink order (a cocktail and two beers) and kept coming. We ended up splitting a pizza as an appetizer, with cheese, arugula, pancetta and clams. I'm not big on clams but it was very good and had a nice crust. The portion was just enough to be a good starter and kept us filled up until our food came. The mains were lovely. One of my friends had classic fish and chips with big pieces of fish (cod?) and my other friend had seafood stew that had an abundance of shellfish, vegetables and large chunks of sausage. I had salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. The fish was great, almost a perfect portion. I'm finicky about cooked spinach, but it was wilted just right and had pine nuts and a nice glaze. But what really got me was dessert. Only two of us had dessert. One friend ordered frozen custard that came in a generous portion with a candle (it was her birthday). I, meanwhile, had a chocolate espresso cake that could've easily fed three people. I thought that, given that we each had drinks and basically a three-course meal, the prices were also reasonable. I really enjoyed this place and would love to try it again when I get back to Boston.
(5)
Rachel G.
It was really good! They patiently and correctly served my group of 12. Everything was delicious and there were no errors. Also, we had two allergies, peanut and tree nut, and they took every precaution to make sure that their food was safe for them. Would definitely go again when I'm in Boston next. It's also a beautiful place to eat and it was an excellent environment, on the waterfront and with the lighting.
(4)
Rachel N.
A slightly overly generous 4 star designation given that I only went for drinks, and extra nice in light of the fact that I thought that the waitresses were dressed like hookers and it felt kind of like a meat market -- but I digress -- the view of the harbor is gorgeous, and if the B-52s happen to be playing next store, you get a free concert as well (Love Shack has never sounded so good)! We stayed mostly on the patio area, which was loud, but def quieter inside, which had kind of a pumping-clurb vibe going on. Strong selection of wines by the glass (bonus points for having an Alcatian Reisling, rather than the overly sweet German ones), and I've heard that the cocktails are delicious, though flagging down a waitress can be a challenge. The sush is priced reasonably -- most rolls were btwn $4.5-10 -- they also have a lobster roll ($18) and something else not raw, for those who are more Legal traditionalists. Be prepared to wait -- we rolled in pretty early (6:30p) on a weeknight and had to sweat it out for a bit -- but once we were up there, we were golden. If you're a man looking to get laid, be attractive in that New England way. If you're a girl, throw on some eyeliner and a cute silk dress and you're golden. Wouldn't take a first date here unless I really just wanted to spend the rest of the time checking other people out and having to lip read to make conversation, but if that's your thing, then it's a perfect place to do that casual summer "I'm so trendy and I'm impressing you by taking you to the up and coming Seaport area" thing. Or just go with girlfriends, my personal choice for champions.
(4)
S P.
Second floor dining experience. Just perfect. Staff: exceptional, on the ball, friendly, knowledgeable from the minute we walked in to the moment we left. Kitchen: I'm celiac, and they did everything to accommodate and more, including serving a small complimentary item on a beet instead of a cracker :) The food was simply wonderful and worth every dime. Atmosphere: gorgeous view of the harbor. Tasteful decorations. Definitely recommend. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Sara M.
What a beautiful roof deck! We showed up around lunchtime and scored some sofas to lounge on and enjoy the view. Our server, Michelle, was very professional and took very good care of us. The sushi is good, and the bottle of wine we had was delicious. Michelle even brought us samples of two when we couldn't decide. Looking forward to more fabulous roof deck days!
(5)
Eunice E.
I've been here for many different occasions (both the second and third floors), and I've got to say, my experience with Legal Harborside has been very much like a fine wine--better with time. I've been to the third floor the most, and for good reason. It's gorgeous up there on the rooftop deck. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll hear live music from the Pavilion, and that's awesome. Not that you need very much more when you're here. There are spectacular views of the harbor, a full bar, and tons of seating options, ranging from high top bar stools to wicker chairs and round tables, to plush couches with pillows. You're free to lounge around and enjoy a drink or two (or three) while you're there. It used to be that it was only open from 4 p.m. onward, and served only drinks (last summer, when it first opened), but they wised up and started opening it at noon for lunch AND drinks this season. The menu's limited to sushi and sandwiches (crab and lobster rolls), but that's all you really need while you're enjoying the views from the roof! Highly, highly recommended. The second floor is Legal's fine dining area, and the menu here's also different from their standard Legal fare (case in point: they don't have clam chowda... nope, here they offer the more refined lobster soup, complete with oloroso sherry). It's all exceptional, though, as you'd expect... I mean, any place with "caviar service" is bound to be amazing, right? It'll set you back a pretty penny to eat here, for sure, but it's a phenomenal treat, and their cocktails are just as lovely as their cuisine. Last summer, because we ate dinner on the second floor, we were actually escorted upstairs to the third floor (skipping the enormous line outside) for drinks. Pretty swanky. I have yet to eat on the first floor, but I'm sure it'd be enjoyable, to say the least. I definitely think whoever came up with the sectional flooring (first--informal, second--fine dining, third--drinks and small bites) was brilliant. Kudos! This is definitely THE place to come for the summer, whether to grab a bite with a girlfriend, a drink with a date, or simply to enjoy the scenery.
(5)
Steph A.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in the area! The place is beautiful and the wait staff is very well trained. Had the apple sangria and loved every sip it it. The white clam pizza was amazing and I would definitely get it again. The sea scallops were very good as well. Love love love! Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(5)
Yasa E.
Every single thing i've tried here is amazing. Legals definitely goes out of their way to make every guest's experience special. This place is packed always, but there is a huge bar and some side rail seating, so it's usually not a problem to grab a seat at one of those for some drinks and dinner (unless it's a friday or saturday). Oysters are the freshest in the city, hands down. The variety changes with seasons, which is great (they also have more oyster varieties on the menu than any other restaurant in the city). The wine list is extensive and ohhh sooooo affordable! There is no way you can get a bottle of silver oak or sonoma cutrer for such a low price anywhere else. All of the food i've ever tried here has been exceptional! Try the stuffie. it will change your life.
(5)
Jenny L.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the sushi! It's a true hidden gem in the midst of a huge chain like Legals. The creativity of the rolls made our sushi experience so memorable! We had a variety of rolls and all were fresh and simply delicious. Having tried most of the sushi restaurants around the greater Boston area, I must say this might be the best one I have had! We came here on a Friday night and though it was quite busy, the server was always within reach and periodically checked in with us. Not only was the service great, the sushi absolutely delicious, the view was breath taking as well. Will definitely be one of my go to spots now for sushi!
(5)
Marc Z.
We went out for a Saturday night and wanted to go to the Legal Harborside rooftop since we had seen the enticing venue the evening before. When arriving, we were told to wait in line to enter the the rooftop. Without adding any adjectives, there was a dumb and stupid "stairman" (as opposed to doorman) waiting to make sure that only a limited number of people came upstairs. Totally unnecessary, since the upstairs was only sizzling, not buzzing and a lot more space was available. At any case, two girls showed up and laid their arms around him - yes, they went upstairs. We mentioned this to Justin Lisonbee, the manager. He rectified the situation immediately without any buts/excuses. "Not acceptable", since there were many more patrons waiting outside. He handled the situation fantastically since he really knows his trade. Legal Seafoods is a professional outfit, we have enjoyed their awesomely fresh seafood all over Boston and Justin reconfirmed that Legal Seafoods would like to stay that way - he has the experience since he told me that he managed the wharf location before. We are hopeful that we dont find the same "stairman" the next time - really, it is not a hard job: let the people wait in line equally until space is available and then send them up and while doing that get paid! Justin, because of you we are writing this, we dont know you personally but you should us again what restaurant you are working for.
(5)
Chad C.
Stopped by for happy hour on a Thursday and it was a great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the water. Drinks were delicious and food was good, we sat on the first floor of Legal Harborside. We really enjoyed the oysters and lobster roll. Legal is a chain so keep that in mind but with that said we are always happy with the food, drinks and service. This location has the best atmosphere and view of all the Legals in Boston.
(4)
Anne J.
Legal Harborside First Floor. Legal Harborside Second Floor. Legal Harborside Third Floor. How ridiculous to separate a restaurant into different parts managed separately. It creates confusion. Then disappointment on learning that you can have a conversation on the second floor but only a limited menu. OR you can have the broader Legal menu on the first floor but at a noise level where you have to shout to be heard. You have another shouting opportunity on the third floor over drinks, against a thumping background of technomusic. Travesty.
(1)
Chris And Michelle R.
My husband and I stayed in Boston recently to celebrate his birthday. The Innkeeper at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at suggested Harborside when we asked for an upscale experience that would be appropriate for the clothing we would be wearing for a day of hiking through the city. She said she would not normally recommend a "chain", but because of the location, the reviews she has heard and the fact that they have an executive chef she felt comfortable enough to recommend. Let me tell you...she was spot on! We spent more than 3 hours here, enjoying everything from the patio seating in the seafood district to the service. Our server, Pedro "Pete", was phenominal. Held to high standards by our neighboring servers, Santiago and Diego, he went above and beyond to ensure our visit was more than pleasant. His personality was fun and edgy, exactly what we appreciate =) We explained that we were in no rush and wanted to enjoy multiple different offerings at a very slow pace and he never made us feel rushed. Our food was delicious, from the appetizers to the dessert and everything in between. The service we experienced, and heard on either side of us from Diego and Santiago, was so exceptional that we were sure to call a manager over to our table and recognize the great quality we witnessed. Thank you, Harborside, for making our stay and birthday dinner everything we were hoping for!
(5)
Elisabeth F.
Came here on the last night of our trip to Boston because I was dying to try some clam chowda. We sat at a high top in the bar area because there was a 2 hour wait for anything else, but it was still totally awesome. Our waiter, John, was very nice and attentive. Plus he was local so had a pretty legit Boston accent. My boyfriend is literally deathly allergic to shellfish so we mentioned it when he first got to our table, and he was so attentive with making sure the kitchen took good care of separating all his food. Very impressive. He even tried to get us access to the incredibly popular rooftop bar without having to stand in the 1.5 hour line outside. It didn't work out, but it's the thought that counts! I tried my first oyster (the French kiss oyster I believe). Won't be eating those again but my bf's sister, who's an oyster fanatic, said it was delicious! Finally, the clam chowder I went there for definitely lived up to my expectations. I don't think I'm a big fan of the chowda, but it was pretty darn good! Overall, very wonderful way to wrap up the trip.
(4)
Bob C.
Had an excellent lunch with Melise, Pat and Beth after doing the Fenway Park tour. Ihad the traditonal chowder and lobster roll, melise had some yummy fish tacos, Beth went with fish abd chips and Pat had a knock-out artichoke/crab appetizer that stole the show. Good service, nice people, very busy on a Thu lunch, a great location for an excellent meal, a little pricey. Enjoy!
(4)
Kate O.
I wanted something on the water with this being my first time to Boston. So I literally asked a couple walking on the street for a place they would recommend and this was it. It is AWESOME inside. Each floor has a different menu. We sat on the roof top because I was dying to sit outside. Although it took quite some time to find a spot for three we ended up squishing at the outdoor bar table with three high chairs. After seeing the yummy drink next to me, I asked what she ordered and she said the strawberry sangria. 5 STARS!! Awesome!!! Although I really don't think the pitcher is the deal b/c you don't get the cute filled wine glass and there is a TON of ice in the pitcher but still good. On to the rolls. YUMMO. Surprisingly the shrimp tempura roll was the best (meaning literally order it as it was AMAZING), then the caterpillar roll, then the lobster roll, although for $26 would not order again but cute presentation. We also ordered the red dragon roll too. The service was okay. But the view and food made up for it.
(4)
Stephanie F.
Three stories of awesomeness on the water. This is my favorite in the collection of Legal restaurants. There is something for everyone here and the best part if the quality control. The restaurant benefits from having the fish pier nearby and their processing plant down the block. First floor. - casual, relaxed dining with fresh quality options. Second floor - formal dining Third floor - rooftop bar. Love the sushi there. The sushi chef Haru is one of the nicest people you'll meet. An asset to this establishment. The best part for me is the ability to bring the same fresh ingredients to your home. They have a fish / seafood display. This is my top choice for raw seafood and I don't mind the extra trip after the supermarket to get their fresh ingredients. Like the motto sites, if its not fresh, it's not legal.
(5)
April E.
Very fresh and delicious oysters. Service was good but a little slow. Had to ask for drink refills. I had the lobster roll and it was really good but sort of pricey. The menu said "market price" so I was warned!
(4)
Kristine N.
Amazing staff, amazing view, and amazing food. We shared the lobster bake which came with a variety of shellfish. Everything was fresh and delicious. The corn was surprisingly one of the best corns I've had. Corn is corn, I know, but it was good! Other people at the table tried the chicken and fish tacos and seemed to really like them. The fried shrimp appetizer was so so good. It was crispy and had a great sweet & tangy sauce.
(4)
David H.
Seafood is beyond nasty in my opinion. A beautiful upper roof deck with fantastic drinks isn't. Come just to hang out and drink, that's why I went.
(5)
Nicole B.
I was with a party of 6 and we came to the 3rd floor bar for the beautiful views, but it was not equipped to handle the crowd. We wanted food along with our drinks and had to eat on our lap in the lounge area because the tables and bar were too crowded. The sangria was delicious (I tried both the red and white) but the crab roll was just too rich for my taste. Even the chips that came with it were thick and oily, though the coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. Under different circumstances I might give this 4 stars.
(3)
Jessica L.
I dined on the 2nd floor, but if I come back I'll stick with the rooftop bar. Legal Harborside definitely has gorgeous view. I found the service a bit mixed and the dishes hit or miss. Upon arrival, the hostess impatiently asked if our entire party was present (ie, 5 people for a birthday dinner). When all of us had arrived and found one another in the bar area (where they directed us to wait), the hostess was nowhere to be found and it took awhile to get seated. While the waitress refilling our water and folding our napkins throughout the evening was excellent (prompt and almost invisible), the rest of ther service was only so-so. The corn muffins in the bread basket were cold and some of the drinks came out slightly wrong. Not a huge deal, obviously, but given the somewhat "upscale" ambience that the restaurant tries to project and that it took over a month to get the reservation one would think the service would be a bit better. In terms of the menu, I found the appetizers and desserts more of a draw than the actual main courses. The Wellfleet oysters were exquisite! One of my friends ordered the octopus and lardo, and while some of us loved the lardo, others thought the dish got a bit salty and the octopus a bit tough. The lobster gnocchi with zucchini flowers was absolutely delicious, though it seemed to be in a lot of butter (lobster in butter is delish, but I think this was in a pool of almost pure butter). The filet mignon and cod dishes looked solid. For drinks, the French 75 was one of the best I've had, and the truffle blue cheese martini was great (though not for everyone). For the margaritas, the "smoky" one was a bit too smoky, while the other (Jalisco Smash) was delicious, though it had too much ice. In terms of desserts, the Popcorn Sundae was amazing. Somehow they combined rich, creamy ice cream with savory peanut brittle and buttery, salty popcorn. The chocolate chilli mousse was also great.
(4)
Richard C.
I have been to this site 3-4 times, always had personable, attentive, interested, appropriately friendly wait staff; no exception this time. I have been eating at Legal restaurants since 1968 (college & med school); from Inman to Copley to Kendall to Chestnut Hill to Burlington to Long Wharf to Park Sq to Warwick to Crystal City, VA and beyond! I always experienced tremendous consistency in prep of fried clams and wait staff service. I always have fried clams for my dinner and sometimes appetizer and entree. Why? Because I moved to Hawaii, years ago, & Legal does not ship to Hawaii & because, for my taste, the right way to prep & cook fried clams is the Legal way (when not on the Cape)! Every trip I take to the Mainland, I look for fried clams at a Legal restaurant. BUT, this time is the only time (!) I have been disappointed in the clams; small with tiny, nearly non-existent bellies, very spotty breading (corn meal) coverage. The waitress apologized and apparently expected the manager to speak to us. The mgr never showed, but the waitress did her best to figure out what went wrong. The chowder was great as usual. This time Legal rates a 2 star because of the fried clams; 4 stars because of the waitress and servers; 0 stars for an uninterested manager!
(2)
Andrew H.
Had a wonderful evening the entree was perfect. The lobster roll was delicious had just enough mayonnaise. The fries were perfect best fries I've ever had and don't get me started on the rolls. Over all would recommend it to anyone the environment was awesome.
(5)
Alison R.
We arrived around 6:45 on a Friday night. It was packed in there and we didn't really expect to get a table but we were offered a table outside right away! score! It was somewhat rainy but there was an overhang so it was perfectly fine. We informed our server Brittney W (who was amazing!) that we were heading next door for a show so were looking for a quick dinner. She took our order for drinks, oysters and dinners at once. Two of our group are gluten free so the fact that the menu indicates what is or can be made gluten free is such a bonus for us. The service could not have been more impeccable. It was quick, efficient, everything was excellent and I think we we were out of there by 7:20. Brittney was warm, bubbly and super quick. She was the epitome of the perfect server. We would be lucky to be seated in her section next time!
(5)
Philip C.
While touring around Faneuil Hall and the North End we stopped at Legal Seafoods for lunch. The service was excellent and the seafood very enjoyable. Prices were comparable to most surrounding establishments, but the overall quality was much better. We had a window seat and had a nice view of the Harbor activities as we ate....
(4)
Jonah K.
New huge legal on the water, you know you'll get good quality food here normally. Our visit was nothing different. The striper caught off the cape was fresh and delicious, the Caesar salad is always one of my personal favorites and the eggplant side dish was also excellent. I would normally suggest to get the specials at Legal, they normally have something which stands out from the touristy menu and is very fresh and well done.
(4)
Craig S.
I have been here a few times and it has always been pretty good. The location is amazing, it is well set up but always absurdly busy. Went in this Holiday Monday and lucked out with two seats at the bar. Starving, I decided to order most of the menu as I could not decide -- always a fan of tapas style. I got Buffalo Shrimp - good and classy but tasted a little old. Short rib and tuna crudo bruscetta - both awesome. Chowda..of coarse ever better with buffalo sauce in it. Oysters always on point. and the biggest disappointment the Coconut milk mussels. They were old and deformed -- very sad as my craving for good mussels is what attracted me here in the first place. The flavors were good enough that it covered up how old they actually were - but later when I ate the leftovers I almost threw up. She got the presumptively safest thing on the menu, Fish and Chips- they were not safe. It was presented as if they had just dumped the remnants of the fry tray onto her plate - as the fish looked half eaten and there were random bits of tentacle. She was too nice to complain but I'm not. Besides a good place should know when they make a mistake so they can correct it --and not charge me for it. Drinks were very good as was the bartender - I will be back but I do expect a nice place like this to be perfect ... Step up your game Legals
(2)
Sergio M.
Loved the seafood. Swordfish gyro was awesome ! The fish was cooked perfect charred and very moist. We had mussels and oyster for an app and they were delicious, have have been here a few time and I will keep going back for food and drinks !
(4)
Sanel S.
Ugh, where to begin. I guess at the beginning... Actually I don't have time for this, I have to get going, but in short. I came here with a group of friends for my birthday on a cold winter night in early March. I was here back in November for another birthday and loved the drinks. First thing I get at the door is some pretentios little chick telling me I can't go upstairs to the third floor and that me and my company should hang out in the lobby instead. Maybe it was because I wasn't dressed head to toe in Armani suits, I don't know. Color me weird but I like wearing North Face jackets in winter when it's 20* outside. So as I'm arguing there and asking why the hell can't I go up there, and her telling me it's really busy, another server joins in the conversation, a little older and obviously knows what the hell she's doing. She goes "What's going on?" Me: "I'm just trying to get to the 3rd floor", her "Oh it's open just go right up on ahead." And I'm thinking "Wtf, she just told me I can't?" We get up there, there's literally 2 people in the corner sitting, i.e., it is the antithesis to "packed". That really rubbed me the wrong way. Then about hour and a half into hanging out, we're on our I guess 3rd round of drinks (everyone is ordering at different times since we all drink at different paces). So I order my 2nd drink, which actually turned out to be terrible. My mistake. So rather than whine about it and ask for a refund I ask for the server to order a new one and give the old one to my friend since she didn't mind the taste. The server then gets really testy and says we've already had too much and she's going to have to stop us now. When I explain to her that my drink sucks and I need a replacement she finally gives in. She spent most of the evening trying to avoid our table, and when we were finally ready to order sushi she was nowhere to be found. We weren't causing a rackus, we were not loud, we didn't look like scum in fact we were quite nicely dressed. Maybe we weren't the standard cougar clientele and that's what rubbed her the wrong way, or the fact that she's ~24 and most she's done with her life is work at Legal Harborside. Though I will say just an hour prior to this we all had an amazing dinner at LTK across the street. So I don't know what was the deal with these two girls. My friends ended up picking up the tab for me so I didn't see the final tally but I know for a fact all 5 were quite displeased and she did not get much of a tip. Too bad, such a fantastic view, some of best drinks in town, but we were treated so pi$$-poor.
(2)
Nicole S.
I would give no stars if I could- fine dining on the 2nd floor is a joke. The menu is limited, overpriced and ultimate got me ill. We had an 8:30 reservation, and everything started out fine. We ordered a cold soup and calamari app, which came out in a normal amount of time, maybe 10 min from the order...and then we waited over an hour for the entrees from the time the apps were delivered- we didn't get the entrees til after 10pm after being sat at 8:30!!! The waiter never came back to check on us, we had to flag him down to order any drinks, and when we complained about how long it was taking he seemed indifferent. We waited longer, and were pretty upset, we had to ask for a manager, who tried to make it right and ultimately comped the whole bill- thank goodness for that. The filet which was supposed to be MR, came out rare, scallops undercooked and the burger we ordered without cheese came out as a cheeseburger. I ultimately couldn't keep any of the food down.....terrible service, terrible experience. Place was a joke- wasn't even busy. Ruined our nice night out visiting Boston from NYC. Terrible.
(1)
Jeff C.
I've been to a lot of different sushi restaurants in the past 8 years, but I have to say that the sushi here is the freshest and tastiest that I've ever had. I went to this place with a few friends and we sat on the rooftop with a gorgeous view overlooking the harbor. We ordered a ton of sushi and it all came out in a very timely manner. The sushi was served in a beautiful wooden boat and the presentation was stunning. The sushi chef did an AMAZING job preparing the food - it looked just like a piece of art. As for the food itself, like I said, I've never had better sushi. The quality of the ingredients was outstanding and each roll was packed with delicious seafood - they definitely don't skimp on the portions. My group was so impressed by this place that we asked to meet the chef. He came out, introduced himself as Harold, and asked us how we enjoyed the food. He seemed so proud when we told him that this was the best sushi we've ever eaten and told us that he carefully makes every roll to perfection. The wait staff was extremely friendly and graciously accommodated our group. I will definitely be going back soon!
(5)
Mike D.
Seafood in Boston is risky business sometimes. I often try to venture out to the other great seafood spots in town but Ive been let down oh so often. I consider this place my security blanket when it comes to seafood and here's why: In the 2 dozen times that I have been here, I have never been let down. I've been up and down the menu and honestly have experienced some of the best seafood I have ever had. The service has always been great and never spotty. The food preparation is always on point and the views are to die for. What a winning combination. Now if you are reading this and saying to yourself, well Ive been to other legals and the experience has just been ehh, trust me, there is something different about this one, they take the extra step to make sure everything is perfect for you. Stop thinking and just go!
(4)
Kris E.
Great drinks and food! Definitely worth the trip, but a bit pricey. The views are really nice. The oysters were fresh and they have a nice selection. Our waiter was terrific. Giving 4 stars because the hostess was less than friendly and because it is a bit overpriced. Still a good experience.
(4)
Chris R.
Friendly place - great food and service. There's a giant variety Vibe is relaxed and friendly. Recommend scallops, chowder and lobster rolls Ill be back!
(4)
Lala I.
the dinner lasted almost 3 hours because of extremely slow service. the food is def better than your average legal seafood and the view was very enjoyable, but the it still has the average sucky chain restaurant service. very rude, chaotic, slow service. they even brought us the wrong food. wine was not so good either. it's a good place to bring a date, but i'd def explore more places in the seaport district before i return to this one.
(3)
Bethany B.
This is a great spot for enjoying the Boston summer. There's a beautiful view, and good food and drinks. I highly recommend the coconut lemonade cocktail. It sounds weird but trust me, it's delicious.
(4)
Albert B.
The food was fantastic, as were the views of the water. Staff was attentive and friendly. My friends 7 month year old baby was dining with us, and at least 6 members of the staff came to our table to say "hi" to her- it was a nice touch. Definitely recommend. Rainbow trout is phenomenal.
(4)
Jake C.
Incredible rooftop bar with the best view of Boston Harbor I've ever seen. On a sunny summer afternoon, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and ceiling of the huge bar space retract to provide long panoramic sight lines and the experience of looming above Boston Harbor. Expansive lounge environment is relaxed and peaceful with patio decks on either side of the central bar/lounge space, one overlooking the World Trade Center Boston, the other overlooking the B of A Pavilion -- consequently, can get very loud out on this deck during a live show. The line (forms outside building's first floor side entrance, early on weekends!) can appear intimidating, but don't be discouraged: this rooftop bar is THE place to be on a relaxing sunny summer afternoon or hot summer night in Boston!!
(5)
Tessa M.
I've been here three times since it opened, to mixed experiences. The positives: -The service here is really good. Every waiter I've had has been accommodating and very friendly; checking in when they need to and leaving us in peace for a good part of our meal. -The raw bar. The Cherrystones here are scrumptious!! They are huge, and I often end up eating at least five before my meal. I seriously have considered only ordering these and foregoing my meal because they are so refreshing and good! The negatives: -The location. If you are coming from north of Boston around rush hour, be prepared to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for a good forty-five minutes. There are very few ways to get into the seaport district, and Boston's asinine street plan does nothing to help matters. With the onslaught of building projects coming to this area, I cannot see matters improving unless the city creates some new measures of driving here. -The ambience. Same problem here as at Temazcal: If you sit outside, you will be surrounded by people holding loud conversations next to you, preventing you from getting up, and sticking their butts in your faces. The managers here should ban bar customers from bringing their drinks outside, as it is extremely rude to those seated outdoors. Also, it is very hard to move around in this restaurant in general. There are waiters and bars everywhere, meaning huge crowds congregate in the middle of the restaurant, making it difficult to navigate around all the people. -The menu. After two trips here, I was already bored by the menu. There was little that appealed to me on it; most of it consisted of ordinary fish dishes that I could prepare at home. I ordered the lobster roll twice here and both times it was puny and overpriced. The salmon pizza is good, and the clam chowder is too. I can't remember what I ordered the other time I came, not a good omen. I love spinach and orzo salad, but the way they are prepared here ruin the side dishes for me. The spinach has pine nuts and raisins, while the orzo salad is light and citrusy- the flavors do not really work well in either of these dishes. Bottom line: if you are looking for a good seafood meal, avoid this place unless you are desperate, have money to spend, and don't intend on driving here.
(2)
Haley C.
The place is amazing. The roof deck, is well pretty perfect... but to get in?! Plan on going super early... and really working it if you want a seat! Also, you can make a reservation downstairs, but that's limited. So far I have eaten downstairs--- not bad and on the roof deck. (limited menu on the roof deck, but good). Staff have always been fantastic and I like that they valet. Great place to bring out of town guests.
(4)
Margot L.
I never write yelp reviews but since I have had two bad experiences at the second floor fine dining at legal harborside I felt compelled. The two times I have been here I made a reservation. Each time my party and I were shuffled to the bar upon arriving and assured our table would be ready soon but have a drink at the bar while you wait. Each time I waited 45 minutes for my table to be ready. This past time I complained. The hostess was very gracious in buying us an appetizer after finally seating us at 9:15pm for a 8:30pm reservation I even called to confirm a reservation I had made on open table earlier in the week. Having this exact same thing happen twice I think they need to figure out a better reservation process. Food was good but wait was not worth it. I will never go here again.
(1)
Dan S.
I can't hear my brain! I went to Legal Harborside for the second time in a week this past Saturday. Both times, I went early enough at lunch to land a prime seat outside, under the overhang. Parking was easy, we were seated right away. BAM!!! RIGHT UNDER A SPEAKER PLAYING THE WORST MUSIC EVER! Sorry, that was jarring. So was our table location. All the outdoor tables had the same problem. In fact, we saw two other people complain. We were told that the "manager couldn't be located" to turn the music down. Apparently, the complexity of the volume knob requires that only someone trained at the management level could do anything about the problem Next problem - service. They didn't remember anything. My wife got up 3 times. 1st, to get milk for our baby. We ordered it, got everything else, but not her milk. Good policy for parents - complement the baby, even if it's butt ugly, and get it fed so everyone else can relax. Then she forgot silverware. Then she forgot a refill. It was early and our waitress was watching TV with other servers. We interrupted her doing nothing to get what we asked for. The food - typical Legal. The first visit I thought it was a cut above. This time, my scallops were bordering on raw and the portions were tiny. My wife's pasta with clams was really heavy on the wine, in fact the wine tasted uncooked, almost like someone just dumped a glass on a bowl of pasta. And she got a few broken shells in her mouth. It happens, but not as much as it did. Over all, Legal needs to TURN IT DOWN, focus on service and have this gorgeous, perfectly located restaurant live up to potential.
(2)
Scott H.
Yes, it's a chain. Yes, it's super expensive. Yes, you pay more for the location. But Legal is still some of the best, freshest seafood to be found, and in Boston that is saying a lot! We went on a weekday afternoon around lunch time and only waited about 5 minutes for a patio seat. Inside seating was available immediately. Our server was nice, but perhaps a bit overwhelmed. I chose the fried whole bellied clam roll with onion rings (of course) and seaweed salad as sides. The clams were perfectly done and just the right amount for the $17 price tag. Rings were tasty and the seaweed salad was good as well. Simple, with a drizzle of vinegarette. My wife got a cup of chowder, which she really enjoyed. and a lobster roll. She loved it, but the market price was about $25. She also got the seaweed and a side of jalapeno polenta, which was very good. Sure you can get cheaper and seafood at about the same level at some of the mom and pop shops around town but don't dismiss Legal if you are nearby because you will not be disappointed. Helpful hint to travelers. If you are flying out of terminal C at Logan airport, legal has a very nice restaurant right before you go through security so you can get a last minute fix before your flight.
(4)
Patrick M.
Great view, fun crowd & the rooftop bar with retractable roof is very cool. Food was good. Busy, busy place. $16 to valet with validation.
(3)
Angelica B.
Loved this place. Found it on yelp and it was recommended by the concierge at my hotel. Food was great! Don't wait for a table unless you want to be outside on the deck. Take a seat at the back counter overlooking the water, it's mesmerizing! Great beers on tap and lots of small plates. I shared a lobster and wild mushroom pizza, quite tasty. The fried clams and steamer were both terrific. I enjoyed so much I came back two days later for oysters on the half shell with prosecco. Perfection!
(4)
Jonathan M.
The list of some of the most anticipated births in history: 1. Jesus 2. Brangelina's first child (isn't this one the girl who looks like a boy?) 3. Brangelina's twins 4. Legal's Harborside Few restaurants in this city have been as anticipated as this restaurant. Months before it was opened, it was spoken about in hushed tones in the Boston Globe. The week before opening an entire two page article was devoted the restaurant, exploring the ins and outs of the massive preparations for this new space on the Waterfront. Needless to say this place has enormous expectations, and it really doesn't disappoint. Singlehandedly, this place has helped bring much needed foot traffic to the floundering Waterfront area, and I firmly believe it will help reshape the neighborhood into the Back Bay of the 21st century that it's been trying to be for the past 10 years. The location is pleasant. If you're a plane watcher, you won't be disappointed: Logan Airport is so close you can make out the numbers of planes landing and taking off. It's beautiful next to the water, but the area is still heavily reliant on industry. Those looking for an idyllic New England waterfront dining experience would be better off in Chatham or Marblehead than coming here. The interior is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. I felt richer just by breathing the air in there. The bar area is perfectly rounded so that if you're sitting next to someone you still feel like you're more face to face than exactly next to them, making conversation easier. The food is high quality and delicious, but didn't send me into the stratosphere. Be sure to try either the pita chips with your choice of sides (the red pepper was especially memorable) or the crostini for an appetizer (the egg salad variety was particularly tasty). The appetizers were surprisingly good as well; usually desserts are outsourced and no special attention is paid to them. However, in this case it's evident the restaurant cares about all sections of the menu. Their take on the Boston Cream Pie will forever make you rethink just buying one at Shaws and eating the whole thing with a plastic fork in the parking lot (not that I've ever done that). All in all, this is the place to see, be seen, enjoy good food, and will especially be happening in the summer when the roofdeck opens.
(4)
Ivan M.
Great location, great views, great food but getting reservation is really tough.
(4)
Lee M.
Great location, view, food. Definitely arm yourself with a reservation. But two concerns: first, this place is LOUD. Be ready to yell at other people in your party the whole time. Second, the cool piping in the ceiling looks great but the condensation drips, drips, drips on the diners. And nowhere seems to be safe. Eat outside if you can to solve both problems!
(3)
Glutenfree G.
Calling all celiacs and gluten free dieters... Legal Harborside has gluten free rolls and gluten fish and chips. It's been about 5 years since I was diagnosed and this is the first time I've been to a seafood restaurant that did it for me. They said they can turn any fried items on the menu gluten free. The taste was a bit bland but honestly it was so exciting to try gluten free fish and chips. I'll definitely go back to try calamari and other fried seafood items. Thanks Legal Harborside for letting me eat something "normal" again.
(4)
Jenifer W.
Let me start by saying I've hated seafood my whole life... I made a vow when my children were born that I'd learn to eat it because I wanted THEM to eat it. I've been working on it, begrudingly, for 4 long years. When we planned our trip to Boston, my boss said "Don't miss Legal Harborside". ATMOSPHERE: Unbeliveably busy - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the place was absolutely crammed with people, and had a wait outside the door. The atmosphere itself is very lovely. Minimalistic with decor (save for the "water wall"), and features a wide open view of the Boston Harbor which was breaktaking at sunset. We got lucky enough to sit right at the windows (outside = too cold on a May night), and the girls were enchanted watching the boats. We got up and walked along the pier while waiting for food to arrive, and it was fantastic. FOOD: Back to my story... I hate seafood :). I looked at their menu before actually going, and had no clue what I was going to order which would "look like" fish, but saved me from actually eating it. On arrival, our server made a few suggestions, and when I told her my dilemna, she recommended an OFF MENU item that chef makes for the servers. It was grilled haddock on a bed of lobster and mushroom risotto. Must have been the wine, but in a freak moment I went for the off menu dinner "balls in". My hubs had grilled sea scallops, and the girls had pizza and spaghetti. We had calamari for an appetizer, and it was fantastic. Just the right amount of breading and seasoning, and the dipping sauce was scratch made and really complimentary. When the food arrived, I woefully tried a baby bite, only to realize this dish may have been the best seafood I've ever had. The fish was perfectly cooked, very fresh, and had a great flavor. The risotto was incredible, with funky teeny weeny mushrooms mixed in and not fishy tasting at all. There were gorgeous chunks of pink lobster, but without the yuck flavor you get when a lobster is not fresh. This place made me a believer - I'd consider moving to Boston just to be close. My husband's scallops were good, and the girls had generous portions of food which they both loved (THANK YOU Legal for making flavorful kids food, where most restaurants feel it's okay to serve crap). We had Bon Bons for dessert, and they were a unique and welcome finish to an unforgettable experience. SERVICE: Our server was fantastic. She was helpful, there when we needed her, and spot on about the food. She and the server in the next section were SOOOO sweet to our girls - chatted them up, played with them for a few seconds here and there, and made them feel very special. Where normally I am tough on servers because I so rarely get a good one, our server here was really amazing. In a rare moment for me, I walked the floor to find a shift manager so I could let them know just how wonderful both girls were. VALUE: Great. We viewed the menu beforehand, so we walked in expecting to pay a higher price than most other options. The quality of the food was top notch, and couldn't have been any better than it was. We paid around $165 for an app, 2 entrees, 2 kids, and a dessert. I plan to go back again whenever I can.
(5)
Scott C.
I actually dined on the second floor but it could have been in a dungeon and still have been phenomenal. Pig head and heirloom tomato salad appetizers started off an evening of seafood nirvana. Service, wine, and entrees were equally fantastic. Very accommodating to my Aussie companion food allergies as well. A great evening out in Beantown!
(5)
Jatte B.
First off, this listing needs to be clarified. The LEGAL SEAFOODS at 270 Northern Ave is different than the LEGAL HARBORSIDE that is upstairs from LSF (correct me if I am wrong). The menus are VERY different... the ground floor is the standard LSF everyone has grown to love. The upstairs LHS is a bit more experimental and adventurous. We rolled into the joint on a Friday night and it was very apparent that the wait for a table at LSF was 2+ hours... so we thought we'd give the fancier upstairs a whirl. We were dressed in t-shirts and jeans... I am assuming that may be frowned upon once LHS is up and running a few more weeks (judging by the decor, menu, other guests' attire). The menu was mainly seafood... and lots of fun: Chutneys, spices, exotic fish/preparations, oddball/fun apps/bites that you would not find on the more "staple"-centric LSF menu. The cost for 4 of us... with was about $400 (incl tax/tip)... but we did go off the deep end with 5 apps + 2 bites for the table plus two bottles worth of wine. I highly recommend this place for any foodie who wants something delicious and different with a great view of the harbor (inside/outside seating available).
(5)
Matt G.
5 stars for location and service - our waiter sat with our 9 year old and showed him how to shell his lobster. 4 stars for food as a whole. Great local Sam Adams special beer
(4)
Shannon E.
Beautiful location. Draws big crowds. Waitresses work really hard and manage large crowds well. Food is good, if you're in the mood for what they're serving. 3rd floor menu, where the drinking crowd is, leaves a lot to be desired if you just want to drink & snack. And unfortunately big, bad, bald 3rd floor "bouncer" has an inflated ego, using aggressive and threatening tactics to intimidate patrons for no good reason. I would expect this from some of the establishments in Faneuil Hall or Back Bay or even if deserved here if people were getting rowdy, but to come up to a table of friends having a nice night and good, mellow conversation and start accusing and threatening and being aggressive is out of line. Seriously, get over yourself and find something productive to do like help the waitresses clear glasses from the tables. Probably won't go back at the risk of having to deal with this a-hole. There are plenty of other great spots on the areas.
(2)
Jess C.
SOOO I came here because I wanted a classy place to take the parentals before dragging them to watch the Redbull Cliff Diving. The menu is different from other Legal Sea Foods, which is nice, but sometimes you want a LITTLE more. For example, the grilled shrimp only comes with lemon... no lemon chive butter or cajun spices like we all know and love from all the other Legals!! The roof deck is not something I have ventured up to yet, simply because it was not open at the hour we were there. I hear it's very "Miami" and being from there, I obviously have to investigate. Food was good, and I must say.. I love the view this place offers.
(4)
David H.
I get it that this place regularly gets five stars, great location, vibey, noisey, and almost always full.....but unlike my wife, I have never been a big fan of Legal Seafoods. We were there for a bar side dinner this week, and again several weeks before....but there is a common theme with each visit...the front desk is manned by immature young ladies who really haven't grasped the concept of a well run front desk. There is no structure, or consistency....and on a recent visit by a mature British friend of ours, she was turned away from the rooftop lounge, because her British drivers license, which clearly illustrated her age, was an unacceptable form of identification. The second issue I have is the value of the food...the portions are small, yet overpriced, and no greater illustration of that fact was the bruschetta appetizers.....two tiny slices of crostini toast, spread with a small quantity of gorgonzola creamy cheese, and an even smaller dollop of fig jam. Admittedly, you cannot get much these days for $3.50, but this was a real slap in the face. Legal Seafoods you can only fool the public for so long as to the quality and caliber of your establishments....spend some money and train your staff to execute their duties professionally....and stop believing you are being so clever and overcharging for overhyped dishes, that represent no value to the average diner, for the quantities that are being served
(1)
Stacy R.
We hope the owner will read this review. We arrived at 5:00 and were told we could get a table at 5:30 at the restaurant on the 2nd floor. At 5:30 we went up to the 2nd floor and were told that all the tables were reserved and we could eat at the bar. We were at the bar for 90 minutes and most of the tables in the restaurant remained empty the entire time. The service at the bar was awful; we had to ask the bartender 3 times before he took our order. We ordered 3 appetizers. The octopus was very tough and almost inedible. The seared tuna had a stale taste. The trio of tartar was fine. We have been loyal and frequent Legal customers for decades and are very disappointed. The location is striking It's an abuse to loyal customers to assume that service and food don't matter - that people will come back despite the poor service, unappetizing food, and high prices. They won't.
(1)
Sam A.
Amazing restaurant. Dined on Floor 2 on a Sunday evening. From the friendly and courteous valet to the exceptional front and back of the house, this was a great experience and one that we'll be sure to repeat. The California abalone was such an outstanding dish and pairing a large Halibut portion with steakhouse-style spinach was an excellent touch. We were delighted with the complimentary amuse bouche and the peppermint fudge at the beginning and end of the meal. The wine list was exceptional and reasonable, and contrary to what a lot of other reviews say, the quality of the food and service definitely justifies the price.
(5)
Simi S.
delicious. delicious! really great bloody mary's.
(5)
Food G.
Disclaimer: this review is based on the top floor, lounge menu not the regular menu. Recently attended a company event up on the 4th floor of Legal Harborside where the "lounge menu" was served buffet style. I was excited to try it out as I have had good meals at the Legals near the aquarium...boy was I dissapointed. The waitstaff was good and attentive, but they were only dealing with drinks, so they get a little bit of a pass. The food on the other hand, was way, way below expectations. I started with the Clam Chowder which was ok, but really lacked seasoning. I dont find it a good sign when a seafood place cant do a good chowder. The trooper I am, I moved on to the Lobster Risotto. Sadly this was almost completely tasteless (again, where's seasoning?) and cold... not cool, cold. Strike two. Maybe the Chicken Satay skewers will be better I thought? Wrong. I could tell with the first bite I tried that it was barely on the side of properly cooked. Strike three. A normal person would stop after three strikes, but I then noticed the shrimp. I love shrimp and surely that must be good, I thought to myself. Wrong again! Its not hard to tell frozen shrimp from fresh and these were definitely previously frozen. Add to that the fact they are drowning in some "cocktail type" sauce by default and you have a recipe for sub-par. I'm an adult, give me fresh shrimp with sauce on the side and let me decide how I want to sauce them. This shouldn't be too much to ask of a famous seafood restaurant.
(2)
Terri C.
Unimpressed with the 2nd Floor, all we kept hearing about was how the 2nd floor was different from all the other Legals - this being highlighted when we asked to be sat our table that we had reserved 2 months ago. I explained our friends we running late -it was pouring rain out -and I mentioned my OpenTable acct and again was told this Legal is different. The treatment was so poor, I don't care where you are located, it's all about the treatment - get over yourselves. We dine in all in price ranges but expect firs class treatment wherever we go. If they had read our OpenTable profile "like the other Legals" they would have noticed we dine at Legal's OFTEN and don't skim on what we order. NO MORE. We were not able to get the beverages ordered on the first floor or order Fried Oysters - those were ONLY available on the first floor. I have never taken the time to write a negative review after dropping $300 between the 2 floors, I needed to air my grievances. Oh the food was good, I will give them that - in fact it was delicious but its also about the experience and for us -it was not a positive one.
(1)
Susan J.
I've been a few times to this legals and have tried the sushi and some of the other dishes on all different floors. My boyfriend and I went over the weekend and he was in the mood for fish and I was in the mood for sushi so we thought it was the perfect spot! But they really could not accomidate us because they only serve certain things on certain floors. If we wanted to get the actual dishes we wanted, my boyfriend and I would have had to sit on different floors!!! It's really like 3 different restaurants. We ended up sitting on the 2nd floor where i was able to get a rare tuna appetizer as my dinner, but left pretty hungry. Dissapointed that they cannot find a way to offer similar things throghout the restaurant.
(3)
Fred Y.
Fish tacos! That's all you need to know!
(4)
Janina T.
I've been here a few times, heading straight for the roofdeck for drinks. I generally come pretty late in the evenings on either Thursday or Saturday nights so by that time dinner has long passed and/or the kitchen has closed. They get an A++++++ for ambiance and decor. The roofdeck view is GORGEOUS beyond belief, overlooking the water. I love that they have both covered and uncovered seating so you can take your pick. Music's not bad either, from what I could hear. I heard a mixture of hip hop and classic/alternative rock. I like that they play it at a level that isn't overbearing to the point that you can't hear whoever you're speaking to but it's loud enough for your to enjoy at the same time. Drinks are pretty good (and strong) here. They're a bit pricier than they might be at the other bars down the street but I'm pretty sure it's because you're paying more to be in a swankier place. I haven't tried the food yet although I'm assuming it's equal if not the same as what's at Legal Sea Foods. I've booked my birthday dinner here so I'm hoping for the best!
(4)
Jessica P.
First the good: -The food was excellent, and we did not have to wait long. The view is also quite nice. Now the cons: -The service was inattentive. We did not get any rolls and my father had to ask our server 4 times before she finally brought him the class of water he wanted. -The atmosphere was a bit meh. It was loud enough that we could barely hear each other, and it wouldn't have killed some of the other patrons to take a bath and put on something other than ratty sweats and cut-offs. This isn't as swanky as some Boston restaurants, but it's not a dive bar either. Dress like a grown-up and observe basic hygiene or stick with McDonald's.
(3)
Neill K.
I promise if I come back and have the same experience I will give you five stars! I tell people that I'm not one to go to a legal seafood unless there is a visitor who's requesting. In my book there is better fine dining and better seafood at other locations around our fair city...with that said, I WILL be back to the Harborside location. I had lunch with a great friend on the first floor (duh, that's all that's open for lunch) I love the layout! We sat one table away from the water, although the rest of the facility looked beautiful even if we weren't staring at the water the whole time. The food was great! We started with the calamari, which was crispy and delicious. We each then had a salad, me the shrimp and my friend the crab. Both salads were of decent portion and very flavorful! My only complaint was that mine had very few shrimp? Whatever...like I said...I was busy staring at the water most the time. Service...top notch. Right when we walked in we were greeted by a team of people who were there to help us! I did first take my friend up to show him the different levels, which they were more than happy to let us explore. Our server was awesome as we took way to long and ordered everything just a little different than original. Fun, relaxing, good food...will be back.
(4)
Hilary A.
We were attending a show at the BoA Pavilion next door, so we opted to dine here due to its awesomely close proximity. Not being from the area, this was a gamble. We chose dinner on the 2nd floor, which was the only floor taking reservations. This is like 3 businesses in one: 1st floor raw bar/pub fare, 2nd floor finer dining and 3 floor is an upscale, open-air bar. When we arrived there were TONS of people and the establishment is huge; I thought I made a huge mistake. To my surprise, we were whisked up out of the chaos to a lovely, private table on the deck, overlooking the harbor. Our waiter was perfection. He paid close attention to detail, made sure to get us served in time to catch our show, polite, not overly chatty, but friendly. He even gave us a little complimentary grab-and-go dessert because we didn't have time to have one otherwise. The food was delicious. The menu wasn't enormous, but has enough offerings for everyone to find something. I had the lobster ($50) and my husband chose two appetizers (due to dietary restrictions) soft-shell crab ($14) and scallops ($14). It wasn't cheap, but I wanted a nice experience and was willing to pay. It was the perfect start to a great night.
(4)
Mitchell F.
The first floor deck is right on the water looking over the harbor with Logan in the background. Very nice setting. I had the oyster slider app and it was great. Good portions, moist and not overpowering. A good value for the price. For a main course I had the fried fisherman's trio however I requested it wood fired so I could taste the seafood. The best decision I ever made. The wood firing really brought out the flavors. The staff handled the change flawlessly from the server who said cheerfully "no problem" to the request,to the cooks who took the shrimp, sea scallops, and haddock and wood fired them instead of coating them in batter and frying them, and did so without tearing up the fish. Now for the reason I didn't give 5 stars. The side dishes were bland and small. My Ceasar salad had no flavor with 3 soggy croutons, and greens filmed with a light layer of tasteless cream sauce. My cole slaw was just cabbage and carrots coated in a tiny bit of mayo and no seasoning. Worst was my desert. I had the lemon coconut something. It was a flavorless spongy lemon cakelike substance with a hint of coconut flavor on top in a rock hard pastry shell which served as a bowl. A total disappointment. Still the seafood,service, and views were great and that's what it was all about.
(4)
Monique W.
The roof deck is amazing!! The staff and Manager are great.. They were very helpful. The drinks fabulous!! I can not wait to come back again!!
(4)
Debbie C.
This review is for Legals Harborside, Floor 2. First of all, when we entered the lobby was mobbed and a line snaked from a hostess stand to the door. We got in line behind many disappointed diners without reservations. When we got to the front and told them we had a reservation for Floor 2, the hostess said, "Go right up the stairs." Some signage or announcement would save a lot of people some time. But up we went, to a quieter and more elegant 2nd floor. We were meeting 2 other people for dinner, so we went to the bar. The host/hostess stand on Floor 2 is a bit cold and professional - no warm greeting or smile. In fact the bespectacled host never looked up at us during any of our comings and goings. His job seemed to be to tell the hostess, "They can go to 37." Chilly. The bar was warmer with friendly bartenders and the view, which is why you're there in the first place. Dinner was a mixed bag. My husband's shrimp cocktail was "the best he's ever had in his life" (He's given to exageration.) The shrimp (3 for $20) were huge. And his tuna wrapped in prosciutto was wonderful. My cod was crispy (I like that) and delicious (also nice), but perched atop a strange and bitter melange of little clamlike shells (cockles, they said) mixed with overcooked sugar snap peas which were olive green and stringy and other tasteless and murky colored things in a green sauce described as "green garlic sauce" which was not too tasty. Our out of town guests insited that the view was wonderful which I think meant that dinner was just ok. The oysters were terrific. They serve a cool, paper-thin flatbread with spices that everyone loved. I had a very hard time finding a white wine I liked. They do, fortunately, let you try the wine before making a commitment. I finally asked if they had a nice Pinot Noir (they do) and settled on red.
(3)
Cassandra S.
I wish I had a better review to give. I love this place and the food HOWEVER I made a reservation for 7:30. My party of 4 arrived at 7:05 we understood it may not be possible to be seated early but we checked in and headed to the bar. At 7:35 we asked if we could be sat as our reservation time had passed; the hostess told us that all reservations were sat within 15 mins of the actual time (odd I thought I was making a reservation to eat at the time I wanted) at 8 pm we were paged A WHOLE HALF HOUR after our reservation. The waiter was very nice and we did receive a free appetizer for our trouble but then our meal took OVER AN HOUR to get to our table. Absolutely ridiculous! It's really too bad because I love that the restaurant is on the water, and the food is great!
(1)
Geoff A.
Great seafood with a great view. Ambience: This is for Floor 2 which is not to be confused with other areas in the same restaurant which offer different menus and cater to different price levels and needs. The view up here was superb and the place is quiet and perfect for a nice date night. Service: Veru friendly waiters and barstaff. I really appreciated the fact that our waiter was attentive but never came over to interrupt with constant "How are things here then?" which you often get bugged by at other restaurants. We never had to wait for anything and the staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Food: Great wine list. The food was very well conceived and tasty. Not huge portions (which I appreciate) but the highest quality. It's often nice to have the problem of many items on the menu which you'd like to try. In this case I was with some other people who I could sample from and we found everything to be delicious. Price: Okay, so it's not cheap but as I said you get what you pay for which is high quality all round. I'll be going back.
(5)
Casie G.
My dad was visiting from out of town and wanted to "eat some form of seafood". I have never been to any Legals as I'd rather not go to a chain but I figured we could try the new one on the waterfront...we were not disappointed. It was a Friday night so we probably waited an hour for our table but we were more than happy to stand by the bar. Even though the place was packed, the bartenders did a great job getting to everyone (sure made that hour wait much better). Once we sat, we were able to get a table outside and everything was just wonderful - the view, the service & most importantly, the food. The steamers & calamari were absolutely delicious (definitely get the steamers, you will want to drink the broth) & the seafood stew was packed with seafood. There wasn't a thing that came out that was bad. I definitely recommend this location for anyone who has folks in visiting as the location is cool, the food is good and if you stay on the first floor, it's not too expensive.
(4)
Jenna H.
I have wanted to try this legal since I heard my friends chattering about what great food they had and what a great location it was. The location is beautifully set in the new and recently booming seaport district. We decided to eat on the first floor as that is what we were dressed for. Plus I had to see this fishing pond. While it is a great idea, I had a vision in my head of it being a bit bigger haha. On to the important stuff - eats! We sat at the bar while we waited for a table and found a great wine and drink list. Here we started with some Kumamoto oysters, my favorite - which were nice and fresh. Next we tried some of the small plate bruschetta's - my favorites were the tuna, and the fig and with warm gorgonzola. The last app we had at the bar was a Rhode Island Stuffie. A What?? A Stuffie. No I had never heard of this. It was Amazing! My favorite thing we had on the menu. It was basically a stuffed clam with a kick of spice - yum! I was not as impressed with the dinner however. My Salmon lacked flavor and was not memorable. For sides, I picked the Soba noodles - I don't know why but I was not expecting them to be cold, and the spinach was just ok. My husband got the mashed taters - those were great - I would go with those if I come back! For Desert we had the bon bons - yummy. How can you screw up ice cream balls dipped in chocolate though! I knew they would be a safe bet, and I was right. Service both at the bar and our table was great. While I had a good / fair dining experience, I don't think I was wowed to come back. I am glad I tried it though, and would recommend others to try it too.
(3)
Valerie V.
Wow, this place really lives up to the hype! Ate on the first floor with three other people on a Tuesday evening. It would so lively you would have thought it was Friday night! Unfortunately, that did mean that we were seating 35 minutes after our actual reservation time...But that being said, we were given an amazing table that was sort of half inside half outside. The feel of the restaurant is wonderful because it completely opens out onto the harbor, its gorgeous. The main event, at least for us, were the oysters. There were many varieties available and chefs devoted to shucking them where you can watch. We got 2 dozen of four varieties and they were all completely delectable. We also tried the steamed mussels and the clam steamers which were both plump and yummy too. By the time we reached entrees, we were fairly full so we didn't get too much. But we did try to wood planked scallops and a lobster roll that were shared. Again, YUM. The service was pretty good, not fantastic but not terrible either. What I was very impressed with was the free -large- dessert we were given to share because it was my birthday. It was a huge bowl of apple crisp with a bowl of vanilla ice cream on the side....mmmm. I'll be back as soon as physically possible.
(5)
Amy R.
I have been to Legal Harborside - Floor 1 a couple of times in the past few weeks. Both have been pretty tremendous experiences. The first time, I was able to score a last minute reservation on Open Table during an optimal dinner time (7pm). Score. The boyfriend and I arrived and we were sat immediately upon arrival. Double score. We had incredible seating on a pseudo-picnic style table right out on the dock - the view was amazing and the weather was perfection. We split some oysters (Wellfleet, Cotuit, and Kumamoto). All were extremely tasty. We also split the Gorgonzola & Fig Bruschetta which was surprisingly delicious. The last time I had Figs was in Newton form as a child. The bruschetta seemed like an odd flavor profile to me at first, but definitely worked. The boyfriend got standard seared scallops and I tried one of Inman Square's original - the Fish in Foil (steamed haddock and veggies). The fish and most of the veggies were extremely good, but I could have done without the steamed tomatoes. Dessert, we tried their summer special - strawberry & rhubard crisp *drool* No complaints here! My last outing to Floor 1 was on Friday 7/15. This time, no rezzy, but I was able to secure 2 seats within 15 minutes of arrival time. My sister and I split the Wellfleet and Cotuit oysters (couldn't resist). However, they were out of all of the Washington State oysters that night, but the bartender surprised us with his selections and were equally as good as the others I've tried from Floor 1. We also split the calamari and steamers - mouthwatering. The only complaint I would have about my last experience was the slowness of the bar. It took awhile for any of the bartenders to mosey over to our section of the bar, but in their defense, the place was bumpin' with Peter Frampton fans - no lie... Very pleased with this addition to the Seaport!
(5)
Amanda L.
Wowie zowie. I can't wait to get someone to take me on a date here so I can order the $57 lobster. :D I just stopped in for a drink with a friend, we sat in the lounge on the second floor, and after peeking at the menu we decided to order the carpaccio & the crispy crab. The carpaccio was deeeeelicious, just mouthwatering-ly perfect, spritzed with truffle oil, seasoned with sea salt and garnished with cilantro. The crispy crab things were ok, like cold spring rolls filled with crab salad. Interesting and tasty but overshadowed by our other dish. Drinks were perfect (one each) and our bill was over $50. Oh well! Fantastic view, amazing service, delicious eats. See you soon, LHS!
(5)
Dave V.
Great location. Love the smaller tapas-like portions. Scallops are always incredible as are the cherrystones and oysters. Personally I would not highly recommend the fried clams - scallops are way better IMO (and I love fried clams). Rest of the menu is really enjoyable - can't go wrong here.
(5)
Karmen W.
I was iffy on not being able to secure a reservation online (my friend said it's better to reserve via the phone but I was being lazy, heh) for 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. But the real trouble was just finding parking- not the waiting (for the table). Their restaurant's lot was full when I got there, so I had to circle around trying to fish for a meter spot ..but I was pretty unlucky in that area. After 15, 20 or so minutes, the lot was open again and the service there was pretty quick and the guy was very friendly. My friend and I were almost immediately seated by our hostess. I guess 3pm's a good time to go for lunch here if you're not willing to wait :) The atmosphere is great, and the scene you're able to get of the waterfront is a pleasure to have while dining. We got ourselves an order of their French Kiss oysters from the raw bar, which were delicious with the sauce that accompany them. Super fresh and delectable. A must try! We weren't all too hungry so we each got salads- she got the caesar salad with a custom add-on of a tuna burger on top (it's not on the menu, but if you ask nicely they can make it happen!), and I got myself a simple "Big Salad" with chicken. The salad was okay, but the chicken was good. But yeah, I'm totally reading your mind because you must be like, "Who orders a chicken salad at Legal SEAFOODS anyway?" Overall, I'd definitely go back to try out some more things on the menu while enjoying the waterfront.
(4)
Kat T.
My friends and I were at the Legal Harborside's patio the day it opened. It had a lovely view of the Harbor and an unpretentious atmosphere despite the trendy decor. The three-tiered dining concept, with the first floor being casual, the 2nd with fine dining and the 3rd floor/patio with small bites, is brilliant! Since it was the opening day, the patio didn't serve food though they did pass some free tasty apps around. The Tuna tartare was muy delicioso! We waited about an hour and a half for a table of 5 which was a bummer but our patio bar server was very attentive and kept serving us with the free apps. The manager was very apologetic for the wait, which we sort of expected would be the case on a Saturday night. Overall, the place was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out at the patio more frequently this Summer.
(4)
Ann C.
This was my first time at this location so I will say upfront that I only enjoyed a single meal here. (I used to come here back when it was Jimmy Harborside! I also still had legitimate friends from Southie back then too...) I guess I was only sort of expecting the imposing feel of this particular Legal's. But I'm not gonna lie though - I enjoyed how far they went with this one. There's like 6 floors or something. Nicely designed and laid out with a circular bar and sprawling pseudo-eating-areas (is it just a drinks seat?...or can I actually eat a meal here? omg I can eat here too!? :D) There's something about the atmosphere that is practically begging for lunch break yuppies and adorable tourists to infiltrate at high volume. I'm glad they're doing well - the waterfront is too picturesque to not set up a destination area like this. Yeah it's kinda sterile and corprate, but soon everwhere in the world will be merely shades of such. I don't mind - plus they kept the lovely aquatic mosaic wall from the Jimmy days in Legal's interior. Anyways, I ordered a lobster roll that was positively delicious (crap,now I want one). Everything was served in a most timely manner by this guy Curtis something. Omg he was soooooo cute - kinda looks like Kurt Cobain. I recommend him :D My only complaint is that many might mistake the menu entry for the tuna sandwhich as tuna SALAD sandwich - the description is kinda vague. It's actually huge pieces of mildy seared tuna. I found that out the hard way but Curtis was most gracious and patient and didn't mind taking it back so I could get a lobster roll. (omg seriously so cute) I paid for the sushi-ish tuna sandwhich anyways, mostly because of his adorableness...and because it's a classy thing to do :D btw, who remembers when there was that epic chinese food restaurant like right across the street? holy crap I'm totally dating myself now...
(4)
Jeff M.
My wife and I took a client of mine last Sunday night. We did have reservations and were seated right away. The restaurant was very busy, as it was a beautiful night and the back of the restaurant opens to the harbor. My client being from LA had to have the Chowder and some fried clams for an app. When eating one of the clams I bite down on a nice size piece of shell. When I told the waitress about it, she asked if I was OK and when I said yes, she said OK then and went about her business. I had Anna's Boston Scrod and it was as good as I remember. I'm sure we will give it another try.
(3)
Anik M.
So if you are going to go to the first two floors then I would mark this place much higher - the second floor is definitely 5 star. Now on to the review of the third floor...AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! Where do I start - here is basically how the meal turned out: 1. Asked the server which sake she would recommend - she chose the most expensive which we obliged given our experience on the second floor. Big mistake - it was a plum juice sake blend which had the feel of desert wine. The waitress had no idea what she was speaking about. To top it off our sake was served in wine glasses which just doesn't fit the drink. 2. The edamame was probably cooked by Captain Crunch - pretty much raw. 3. I didn't realize crab was served with the shell on in sushi. My wife found several pieces of crab shell in her California roll including one the size of a quarter. 4. The service: a. Our waitress was hard to track down even though there were 2 servers and a bartender and the place was 25% full. When she did come over and we informed her of the shell in the sushi she reached down to try and remove it with her HANDS from our plate which had another type of roll (which we weren't going to eat anyways - but who does that!). She then brought us the bill and charged us for the roll we had sent back - which after I pointed, she removed. There was also a complete lack of an apology for their horrendous food. b. On our way out the the door man had asked how our food was and we said not very good. He asked us to elaborate and we politely declined - he pushed a few more times and we finally described out experience. His response was "Well at least come back for drinks" to which I responded "You can get a drink anywhere." Absolutely clueless to the quality of their food. I have to say that this was a huge let down and am shocked that they had such little care for their drinks, food and service. There are may better places to go for an after work cocktail and snack in the city...actually ANY PLACE would be better.
(1)
B R.
I was fully prepared to hate it here. I've been to a lot of Legal's locations over the years. They are always delicious but overpriced. We had the luck of being out on a friends boat and docked right under the restaurant. We had reservations for the bar area. So the caveat is simple, you have to have reservations. No way I'm waiting insanely long times to eat here. Now, I really liked this place. Great people watching, the bar area menu was reasonably priced. The food was delicious and the atmosphere on a beautiful warm day was awesome. I had the wood grilled shrimp with soba noodles and orzo salad. You get to pick two small sides with certain dishes. My only complain is they do not have the sugar snap peas in oyster sauce, a fan favorite. The alcoholic raspberry lime rickey was tasty but a bit watered down and too much ice for the price. Switched to beer for the better value. I would go again. definitely. with a reservation :) but first I would explore all the other restaurants in this newly vibrant part of town.
(4)
Katrina H.
This review is particularly for Legal Harborside - Floor 2. This floor is considered more fine dining, and they even mention on the website that it is for "special occasions." After moving to the area, I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday, and I am so glad I did! The food and drinks were delicious. For our entree, we both ordered Butter Poached Lobster and it was to die for. Just melt in your mouth deliciousness. We had a beautiful seat overlooking the water. And the waitstaff was great - very accommodating. The manager even escorted us up to Floor 3 after our dinner (the line was around the block) since we wanted to have some after dinner cocktails. I can't wait to come back here. It is on the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)
Erica C.
I loved this place! Came there with family and started with the calamari lobster roll, and bloody Marys. All were great! It was my first lobster roll so I can't really say if it was the "best" but I definitely enjoyed every bite. I also had the crab salad which was amazing! A huge mound of yummy crab. Can't really beat that. My husband had the fish and chips which he loved. Go here!
(5)
Megan M.
This review is for floor 2. My dining experience was okay. The atmosphere and view was definitely the best part. The view of the harbor and the city is one of the best you can get. The decor is tasteful and modern. Our server was good, knowledgeable on the wine and also got the chef to prepare a special salad. However, there was only a need to prepare a special salad because the selection was so limited. I think every dinner menu should have some type of green salad to start with. For entrees we had the prosciutto wrapped tuna and the cod over clams. The tuna was good, I think the prosciutto would have been better if it was more rare like the tuna. I thought I would love the combo but wasn't a big fan. The cod was nothing special either. We also had the lobster gnocchi app, which was probably the best part of the food. Also the most inexpensive bottle of chardonnay was still around $50. So all in all, for the price I was not impressed. Would prefer Atlantic Fish Co or Oceanaire.
(3)
Scott C.
Sushi is mediocre. Seemed fresh, but not well made. Not much ingenuity in the menu. Just ok. Service on 3rd floor was uninterested. Legal is my favorite seafood place, but I'll be staying away from the sushi. Rec you do also.
(3)
Sara F.
Can't rate the restaurant yet, since when I tried to get in one Tuesday night a couple of weeks ago, there was a two and a half hour wait. I shouldn't have been surprised -- it's been getting a lot of attention, and then there's all the tourist traffic. So we headed up to the Roof Deck on the 3rd floor, which was absolutely packed. Unfortunately it was raining pretty hard, because the deck has an amazing view of the harbor. It would be a fantastic place to hang out on a sunny day. It got quieter after about 7:30, as the after-work crowd dispersed, so I think next time I'd try for a late arrival, to enjoy the deck or the dining room without quite so many crowds. Definitely make a reservation if you want to have dinner here without a crazy-long wait.
(3)
Gloria L.
We went to the third floor bar, and it was fun! It was a clear night but still a little chilly for a spring night, so their heat lamps were really nice to have. We tried the strawberry and white sangrias, and they were delicious! Not "authentic", but yummy drinks. We also ordered some food - the sushi was okay (didn't expect too much from Legal), and the lobster and crab rolls came with chips (chips were kind of weird). Food is decent, but expensive (but again, it's Legal). Good experience, though, because of the view, the drinks, and the service! Our server was nice and relatively attentive, even though there were a TON of other people there. Would come back for the strawberry sangria.
(4)
Wade L.
Not quite good the 1st try. So crowded on Sunday night. The service are slow.
(3)
Patricia F.
We (party party of 10) visited this establishment mid week. The atmosphere and view were beautiful. The waitstaff professional and attentive, not very engaging though, however that maybe something that is liked by some and not others. The food was very good and cooked as ordered.
(4)
Lani I.
Beautiful view. Our waitress was very personable and helpful. She suggested types of oysters for us to try since we never had any before. The food came out very quickly. The sangria was perfect.
(5)
K S.
Reviews that rate this place under 4 starts speak to fried clams and other seafood dishes (some that lacked vegetables with them) that are too basic to really be impressed by. How many times have you actually been impressed by fried clams? If you are heading to this place, you are going here to try seafood that has been prepared in a unique way. You don't rate a restaurant like this based on something simple, like French Fries (ie, fried clams). Understand where you are before judging. Do you go to McDonald's and rate their fish? Fried clams and a lack of vegetables? C'mon. For those intending to try the food here that costs more than $5, allow me to introduce the second floor. The oysters were great. The abalone entree was fantastic and one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. The fish tasted like veal - how is that even possible? The waiter helped select some really impressive Pinot Noir bottles which certainly helped make an impression as well. The after dinner ambush of sweetness was certainly a great way to end the evening. It's expensive, but what in Boston isn't? Best of luck and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
(4)
Maura G.
What a beautiful location - great on a hot and humid day. The food is also very good. The mussels were delicious and definitely need more bread to soak up the broth. The fried clams were great, not over breaded (wish they were larger belly, but as I get older it is hard to find a place that serves them). The waitstaff was attentive and overall had a great time (just a little noisy) - but that is ok because of the view
(4)
K M.
Made reservations for 7:15 for a 70th birthday for my out of town mother- in-law, requested a window seat. Was seated immediately with a window seat, all the wait staff, host staff and the Maître D greeted her with birthday wishes, Kevin the Maître D made 2 appearances at the table to make sure that everything was going well. Our waitress Meredith was more than accommodating. Order'd steaks, they were wonderful, cooked to perfection, potato's were delicious. The dessert was so/so, overall experience was great!
(4)
Jeanne T.
Would rate higher but for the price, did not expect to get a sarcastic waiter who treated us as if we were hillbillies! Whatever you do, do not ask if the seafood is fresh. I have never asked any server that in my life. I meant to ask if there was a seafood special as I saw someone eating a lovely light white fishmthat I could not seem to find on the menus. Not having memorized the Legal Seafood mission statement, he laughed and said " have you never eaten here before? In a very condescending tone." Yeah I get it, embarrassed, bla, bla, bla. Your fish is so fresh and your clams have different pedigrees with briney, kind of briney, brine less, sweet clean and buttery with no hint of brine , some were from Canadian islands, all raised with love and nurtured and Fresh! Our server made my husband feel like it was his first time eating in such a cultured establishment as he explained the varieties and their differences as if he was explaining to a child. He later asked my husband how he liked his choices, with a fake "wide eyed" look of feigned interest. My husband stated he did, was unsure if he tasted much of a difference in his two choices but that both were very good. Snide guy then laughed and said " we'll I guess it's all the same when you put Tabasco sauce all over it" ( which my husband asked for but which came with it anyway) The food? great! the prices? High! The service? passive aggressive, fake and snotty. To top it off, they deliver along with your check, a one page statement explaining their freshness policy" They are very proud of this.... Very proud. We laughed so hard. I know my question of " do you have fresh fish" is the joke of the evening there. It started us off on the wrong foot with our surely waiter. Please let me apologize for I too was in the service industry for half my life. We are not worthy to dine with you. perhaps we will see if there is a Red Lobster nearby. We were the family sitting in the bar area by fish tank, late evening, myself, son and husband., so to our waiter whose name I did not catch, thanks for making us endure a very uncomfortable experience. It did give us a lot to laugh about though!
(3)
Beth R.
My family & I went to Legal Harborside for my birthday dinner this past summer and it was just as I heard/expected. While we waited for our table, we had some drinks and apps at the bar...delicious. I had a cup of my favorite clam chowder, my mother got a fried clams app to share and my father ordered a Shellfish Platter. The crab legs were huge and the fam raved about the rest of the platter. It was a little over an hour wait, but to be expected in the middle of beautiful summer weekend in July. Our table was pretty much, right on the dock, overlooking the boats. Our waiter was very nice and gave recommendations to those of us who were indecisive about our meal choices. The bathrooms are all the way down past the kitchen to the left of the restaurant and they're all single stalls with large individual doors...if they're all taken, you wait in the hallway, for some reason, other diners were confused by this. I could hear them outside as they waited. Legal Harborside is pretty pricey and nice for a special occasion dinner or drink. The place is huge, I've heard the top floor gives great scenic views of the harbor and there's a bar up there and they serve bar food only.
(4)
Keem H.
Great place! I would go again. Food was very delicious. The view is amazing.
(5)
Ashley K.
Good location, average food. One of the worst Legals in the city, aside from the great views and venue- which is the only thing that sets this location apart from other Legals. LTK and C Bar concepts have a much better and broader menu, would have preferred those or an original Legals to this menu. Menu is VERY limited for non seafood joiners in your party. Turn and burn atmosphere with cheap food, limited options and poor quality. Decent service and cocktails but salmon (requested well done) was medium at best. Water glasses left empty while several staff sat and mingled by the bathroom. Won't be back for food, maybe to the roof deck for drinks, but that's about all this location has going for it. Save your money, eat somewhere else and go there for drinks on the third floor.
(2)
Samantha S.
Really good :-) Out of all the legals in Boston, this one is my favorite. I like the interior, the roof deck (although gets crowded so go early) and the food/staff are great. Can't go wrong.
(4)
Vanae T.
i give it to these guys...the view of the water is really great! the ambiance and service was good! but let's talk food here for a sec... the good: -the oysters (beach blondes) were very fresh and delicious. -clam chowder was ok. i've had better at SF soup company and expected more from a boston joint. the not-so-good: -all of our pasta orders (i ordered the fedilini + shrimp) came out very salty! i dont think i've ever had a pasta dish at a restaurant that was that heavy on the salt. made us drink extra glasses of water, as we were dehydrating. in fact, i had to add water to my pasta dish to dilute how salty it was. even though the view and feel was great, the salty food was bad enough that i don't think i'll return to eat here....maybe just for drinks.
(2)
Deb c.
Dined here with an out-of-town friend last night and had an unpleasant experience. We each got lobster; however, my friend's was woefully undercooked, with disgusting black matter (raw tomally or something) oozing out. This resulted in a 15 minute wait while a new lobster was prepared. Very uncomfortable, as one of us had been served already. OK, these things happen, but the floor manager came by and said "your food will be out shortly, sorry for the wait" but should have also, at the very least, offered my friend a dessert on the house. Have dined at Legal, first Inman Square, then Chestnut Hill, since the 70s, scores of times. This branch seems, sadly, more of a tourist trap. Best part of the experience: Our server, Megan, was terrific, and the location iis great.
(2)
Brittany S.
The ambience is incredible, and dinner on the patio overlooking the harbor is quite an experience, especially at sunset. I'm fortunate enough to dine at seafood restaurants in San Francisco regularly, and Seattle and Hawaii are two other amazing spots I love for local fish. That said, paying Legal's premium prices for imported seafood is disappointing at best. The one thing I'd recommend hitting Legal Seafood for is their jumbo shrimp cocktail - the shrimp are far bigger than any I've ever seen before. My recommendation: skip the seafood altogether in Boston and head to the North End for some delicious Italian food instead.
(3)
Kevin L.
I've never been disappointed with a Legal's experience and Harborside continued to support this statement. I came here on a Thusrday night at 9pm and there was still a wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. Luckily there were some empty chairs at the bar and the Pats were playing, so that was a no brainer. The bartender was friendly and knew the menu really well. I ordered the fried clams, crab roll, and crab and pepperoni pizza. Although the clams were sweet, I wasn't a fan of the batter and the clams were a little small. The batter seemed a little soggy and didn't have a nice, crisp crunch to it. The crab roll was filled with fresh crab meat and the roll was nicely buttered and toasted. Surprisingly, the biggest highlight of the night was the pizza. It was a flatbread pizza with crab, tomatoes, and pepperoni. Seems like a weird combo, but the flavors blended together so nicely. You gotta try it!
(4)
Neelam P.
Can I not rate 10 stars? We had a group of 15 and anytime you go with a large group anywhere, it tends to get complicated, but Santiago handled us well. The food at Legal was awesome, I simply ate out of everyone else's plates because I wanted to order everything on the menu. A few amazing things I tasted and left there extremely satisfied were the Lobster Bisque, Linguini & Clams, Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, Oysters, Lobster Pot Pie...I am sure anything you order will be simply satisfying. Santiago was our waiter and if you go, request him. I am sure everyone else was great, but he really made our experience awesome. PS - THE VIEW, oh it's amazing!
(5)
Sharon L.
I would like to give it a 3.5 5 for the atmosphere 5 for the crab roll on a hot dog roll 2 for the chips 2 for the non functional basket its served in
(4)
Angela L.
Rooftop review: Wow. What a VIEW. They have lots of seating around the bar area and outdoor patio seating as well. I went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty packed. They have fun music, but not much dancing going on- just drinks and hanging out. Drinks are STRONG. So you will definitely get your money's worth when getting a drink. Bartenders were nice. Overall, I'd come back! Get here early because otherwise rooftop will be full. They do make you wait for awhile before getting in if you get there later.
(4)
Patti M.
The food here is tasty but no means the best. There are other places to have a great (not to mention cheaper) seafood meal. That being said, their clam chowder is good but by far not the best I have tasted. The lobster roll was fresh, tasty, and a decent sized portion and they didn't skimp on the truffle fries in the silly basket. They were pretty tasty as well. The Boston cream pie was excellent, though not as much for its flavor as for the fact it was NOT sickening sweet. The atmosphere is pretty, with a great view of the water and the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Kelly O.
It's a Legal, with all that entails- consistently prepared fresh seafood (although I'm becoming less of a fan of their fried clams over time, they're just not as delicious as I remember them), decent beer/mediocre cocktail list (why all the vodka?), reasonable service, mid-to-highish prices. That being said, this spot in particular has lovely waterside views on all 3 floors, but you will wait for them- this place gets craaaazy packed, especially if there's a concert on next door. But don't limit this place to just summer- I had a blast at a private company holiday party, where the food/booze/service was top notch and the views coupled with the cozy fireplaces made the night quite lovely.
(4)
Khristina D.
Had tacos and fried green beans. There was a long wait but the food was great. Now...I ordered the green bloody Mary. It's not for everyone, me included. The texture of the drink was more like a badly mixed smoothy. Our waiter looks like Turtle from Entourage. ..and sounds like Matt Damon: only in Boston, right! Obviously, I love this place. Boston or Warwick. ..no matter...great calamari. ..always and ways winner.
(4)
Steven T.
Fun place to hangout. It has a great view of the water. It gets crowded fast on Saturday afternoons. Pros: -Clean and comfortable. -Fabulous view of the water. -Quick and friendly staff.
(4)
Kike M.
This restaurant is amazing in every sense: its location in the harbor, the fantastic food, fresh products, fresh seafood, lovely staff. Must to try: their lobster roll, with fries and salad. Kinda pricey but totally worth it. If you can get a table outside with the sea view, do it.
(4)
Ashley C.
*This review is for the upstairs bar. Got in line around 11 pm and waited half an hour to get up there. Surprisingly, they don't have a strict dress code - I was in shorts, tank and running shoes and they still let me in. The view was of the harbor was decent. There was a good amount of seating and tables upstairs, along with a nice breeze in the open air. Drinks were pretty expensive (cranberry vodka $15!!!), but that's expected. It was a good time, but I expected a bigger, more spacious/open rooftop bar. It was more of just a bar upstairs with no windows.
(3)
Tyrie D.
Great oysters fantastic drinks and a help full service at the bar. Loved the selection of oysters they have with the discretion of them all.
(4)
Alan C.
Just finished the Harpoon Brewery tour so crew and I wanted to have a nice Saturday lunch at Legal Harborside. It was packed but there is bar seating all around first floor and we got seats near the waterfront side. Gorgeous view. Food: Crab Roll - This was a bit pricey but well worth it. The toasted buttered bun was packed with succulent crab meat. It was well seasoned with just enough mayo to give it flavor but definitely did not drown it like other places I've been to. It tasted fresh and before I knew it, finished the whole thing. The fries on the side was really nothing special, average. The cole slaw that came in tiny cup was ok. Service: Super busy Saturday but waitress did check on us often but that's probably because we sat in a high traffic area.
(5)
Alison Y.
Legal harbor side came highly recommended and did not disappoint! Food was excellent! We ate down stairs on the patio. Wonderful views there is also a sushi and raw bar upstairs. They even have a small togo counter with pre made meals, sushi and some frozen speciality dishes ( lobster mac n cheese)... Oysters were shucked perfectly and probably the best I have ever had! Cool spot to take in Boston while enjoying a tasty lunch or dinner!
(4)
Bilal A.
We've been there three. We asked to have a table right next to sea. They made us wait for one hour. It is too long. I tried fish in foil. It was delicious. If you do not want to eat with bacon, you should tell them before placing order. Feel free to ask anything because they are quite kind and nice I put this place into my list. I prefere to go in the future.
(4)
David C.
It may be dressed up like the swanky place to be on a happening summer night, but Legal Harborside (the first floor, that is) is still Legal Seafoods at heart, which means the food is mediocre at best. The tuna burgers, lobster mac and cheese, and Portuguese stew ordered by my table all required a little extra seasoning (the mac and cheese was particularly bland, which was most disappointing of all), but the shrimp and scallop stuffed artichokes and lobster/bacon pizza were a bit better. Service is great, however, friendly and professional, and the views simply can't be beat. I'd probably suggest skipping the food, save for a few raw bivalves, and kicking back with some drinks so that you can enjoy the sunset in style.
(3)
Jowanna G.
Mediocre overpriced food in a nice setting, I think that sums up my experience at harborside legals. I am a self proclaimed foodie that loves to indulge in good foodie no matter what the cost may be. But when I received 1 piece of fish, 2 scallops, and 2 shrimps with one shrimp tail as a fishermen platter for $33.95 that is just completely unacceptable. The seafood was soggy, & I had to build my own fishermen platter because this location does not offer one, I never thought that I would have this experience with legals seafood. The highlight of my experience here was leaving! Don't waste your time or money with this restaurant, it has become a step below red lobster and just another over priced chain restaurant.
(1)
Kaveh Z.
Good for seafood. Not being so much of a seafood fan I ordered the Swordfish Gyro and have to say loved it. The white sangria was good too. In another visit I decided to have steak and although meat was good but the vegetables were not that good. I still recommend this place. Food is good and view is great.
(4)
Amir F.
By far favorite restaurant in Boston. We always take friends from our hometown in Orlando who visit. Fair but expected higher prices, great quality, and never had bad service
(5)
Stefanie A.
Such a great open air, rooftop bar with amazing views of the water & boats! Came here for some apps and drinks while we were in town visiting our Boston friends (we're from Chicago). We each had some good cocktails and for apps we shared the oysters, little necks, and three different sushi rolls. All delicious!
This review is on the third floor roof deck. We decided to stop here during our trip to Boston, but what we didn't realize was that it was graduation weekend for pretty much every university AND Harpoon was hosting a 5K race, so it was BUSY! There was a 2 hour wait for the seating on the first floor, so we opted for the roof deck. There was a line just to get up to the 3rd floor, so we waited for at least 30 minutes. Then once we got up there, it was first come first serve for tables, so we were eyeing the tables like hawks. It took over an hour to finally sit and order lunch. Once we sat and looked over the menu, we realized the menu is totally different than the menu downstairs. It was mostly sushi, rather than your typical seafood. However, it was affordable and very tasty. They had fun drinks, and accidentally gave us a large pitcher of sangria instead of a small, so we couldn't complain. Even though it was a pain to get a table, it was great food and a beautiful view. It's definitely a scene, and not somewhere i would come often, but it was fun. My recommendation is to come early, like right when they open, to beat the crowd.
(4)
Gabriela L.
When I was recently in town, I was craving Oysters and what better location than the original Legal Seafoods on the Boston Harbor. It was one of the first few weekends with nice weather, and after getting slammed with snow all winter you can imagine how packed this place was. It took us about 30 minutes, but we jumped on a group as they were leaving to snag their booth on the 3rd floor. The menu up here is limited but of course we ordered lots of oysters to start, which were fabulous. We become more hungry the more we ate... (and the more we drank) so we also ordered some sushi and an avocado salad as well. The array of sushi we got was great but the avocado salad was pretty heavy on the spicy mayo, so not great. Overall, it's a good time to get together with friends have a few drinks, share a few small plates and enjoy the view.
(4)
Karina B.
FIRST FLOOR REVIEW: Amazing service, amazing food ( highly recommend the lobster mac and cheese). I also tried the clam chowder which was DELICIOUS! the caesar salad i feel like was too expensive for what we got but still good! My family ordered the clam with linguini i tasted a bite and it was really good and there are a bunch of tiny clams in the shell which they give you a plate where you can dispose of them! The fresh oysters were delicious I recommend either the cape cod ones or the duxbury MA ones! Definitely coming back! Someone around us got the lobster rolls which looked amazing
(5)
Richard J.
Great friendly staff, amazing food. Tuna Burger is incredible Buffalo Shrimp is pure perfection
(5)
Crystal M.
Don't bother unless you are an American with an American driving license or stupid enough to carry your passport with you. At the old age of 32 we were not allowed wine with our dinner unless we had passport's which of course I would only carry around if I was silly enough. Loose your passport and spend 2 months waiting for a replacement in a country you're not from, just not worth the risk, for any lobster roll. Legal is so legal it will only accept US driving licenses, no international's allowed. In a hugely tourist plagued city this is just plain ignorant.
(1)
Elisha T.
I was introduced to this restaurant on my first travel to Boston and I'm really satisfied with the quality of food here. Portion of food is more than you can eat in one go and it was around $20/person. We were a party of 5 people visiting here on Friday for lunch. There were good number of tables available to get seated immediately. The view of lake is great over large windows on the lakeside. Interior of restaurant is also nice if you want to take some photo together with friends and families. If you have a chance to dine here, be sure to try clam chowder, mussels, and calamari as an appetizer because you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lane L.
Just spent way too much money on bad food. I love sea food. Which is why when I come to a city like Boston, I get all excited. This place was a let down. Definitely don't get the lobster. I didn't know what people were taking about when they called seafood stringy until I had their lobster. The service was all fine and the server was helpful with our party of 7 but the service can't make the food taste better, can it?
(2)
Guillem L.
The view is amazing but the food is not so good. I had tasty oysters but the salmon had nothing exceptional, after two hours waiting my friends and I were skeptical... However, the waitress was friendly and smiling all the dinner.
(3)
Yelena W.
We went to the restaurant at 12 pm on Sunday for a good meal but... As soon we got in, FOUR young people upfront looked at us and asked us if we had a reservation. The minute they heard that we didn't make a reservation , they told us that we have to wait for a table outside for 45 minutes but they were ready to give us a table inside so we can see traffic on Northern street istead of enjoying a nice view of Boston Harbor. :) It was kind of surprising because while we walked outside we saw at least five emply tables in the Patio. Believe it or not, it was our third attempt to get to this restaurant without a reservation. We learned our lesson, either make a reservation or watch traffic. My advice would be "Make a reservation" prior going to this restaurant if you want to have a nice view while you are eating your meal. Also, you will get a "special look" or actually "four special looks" if you didn't make a reservation to this elite place. Something like "Who are you? and you don't belong to be here!"
(1)
K R.
First floor review: I've eaten here many times and always enjoyed my meal and the service. Plenty to pick from and the view is amazing! Everyone who I have brought here has loved it. I went there this past weekend and was incredibly impressed. I was dining with a few people with different allergies and the staff did an excellent job at offering excellent substitutions and keeping our order straight. Everyone loved what they ordered!
(5)
Rach E.
Food and service were fantastic. We sat at the bar with Stephanie last night. Her recommendations were great. We had then lobster pizza and tuna tacos. Great portions and reasonably priced! Definitely a must see.
(5)
Zoila V.
Gorgeous view!! The location of this restaurant is perfect, right on the water by finishing pier. Boats can dock right up to the restaurant which is pretty darn cool for being right in the city! Even late on a Monday night this place was super busy...always a good sign! The restaurant itself is very modern looking, nice 360 bar on the 1st floor! We got the legal sangria...yum! For those that like a sweet sangria i would recommend this! We got grilled scallops and fried clams for entrees...market price wasn't bad! Average $23 for each plate. Portions were good size too especially for an upscale restaurant. Service was pleasant, and pretty fast. We really enjoyed our dinner here, food was great but the view and ambience really make the place!
(4)
Sonia N.
For a chain, I've always liked Legal's but this time I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and I don't have a bad thing to say. My Sapphire Gimlet was superb and having it served in a nicely chilled glass was an added bonus. For our starter, we decided to try out the wild mushroom and lobster pizza and it was definitely worth trying. Very tasty and the combo of mushroom and lobster mixed well together. Our entrees also did not disappoint. Our bartender hard sold us the swordfish calling it the "best dish in the house" so even though we weren't in the mood for it, we ordered it at her insistence and WOW, it was the softest tastiest cut of fish I've eaten in a while. The eggplant side we got with it was yummy as well. My taste buds were singing! It was offered at a hefty $30 but trust me, it is worth the splurge. The fried clams were equally delicious. The clam bellies were plump and neither the clams or the fries were overcooked as it sometimes can be at other places. Looking forward to returning at some point. Love that this location has great food and great views.
(5)
A P.
Beautiful view, fabulous food! 2nd Floor was perfect! We enjoyed a filet and the blackened sunburst trout. Also the lobster bisque... So Good! Request to sit near the windows and watch the setting sun!
(4)
Kathleen D.
The idea of eating a sea animal generally makes me cringe. In the past decade, I can probably count how many fish I've consumed on one hand. It really makes no sense, I know. I eat chicken or red meat with no problem... yet when it comes to a fish, I just picture its little eyes staring me down and can't stomach it. I made an exception at Legal Harborside this week. We headed in for lunch and were seated in the first floor dining room near one of the big glass windows peering out onto the harbor. The menu was, obviously, overwhelmingly fish-based... because, you know, it's a seafood restaurant. Still: they have some land options too, like a hamburger or turkey burger. Nonetheless, I chatted with our sweet server about my lack of adventure into seafood territory, and told her that I've been kind of wanting to try swordfish. I had it once before... in Italy four years ago, and remembered liking it. She replied that it was a great fish to try since it's the "chicken of the sea." Sold. I ordered the gyro. It came out not resembling a fish much at all! It didn't even taste all too fishy. With a squirt of lemon, mixed with the pita and the tzatziki sauce, it was the perfect gateway fish. I think I may be ready to try others! Maybe. I really enjoyed my time at Legal Harborside. It was a casual lunch, but I heard (from a trolley guide, ahem -- I was a tourist!) that the place turns classy at night.
(5)
lizzie b.
Crowded bar... Nice view if you can get a seat. Music too loud to be relaxing. Sangria is gross and way too sweet. Downstairs is unbearably loud. Service just okay. Waiter took selfies with friend's phone that she asked him to please charge. I love the scrod, but they wouldn't serve a baked potato in this location. Sides weren't good. And there's only one side included in this dinner versus two at other Legals. Left with no voice due to screaming at friend all night so she could hear me. Basically love the view and the fish itself but the rest is chaos.
(2)
Jen W.
SECOND FLOOR REVIEW: for a restaurant that rejects the idea that it's a chain, it seems highly audacious and counterintuitive to put three different restaurants (or concepts) in one building AND across the street from another Legal's (LTK). That aside, let me help you. If you want an upscale (read: pricey) dining experience, then you can get that here. If you want a truly memorable, can't-wait-to-return experience, look elsewhere. During our experience, our waiter told one half of our party (10 of us at a long table) that we ordered the seafood tower. We did not. We told him to check with him before we ordered items from the raw bar without knowing everyone's comfort level. $90 later we discovered that no one actually ordered the thing. Fast forward 90 minutes... No sign of our entrees (or the salad I ordered... Never did arrive). Nothing to hold us over. Not even an acknowledgement until the second (maybe third) time we asked what was going on with our food. They did right by us by reducing the final bill, but it wasn't enough to stop me from posting this review and it's not enough for me to go back. Whatever identity crisis this brand is going through, I hope it works out. Right now, this second floor restaurant/concept/thing isn't working. The menu feels like someone challenged Legal chefs to a game of "Chopped," and the staff doesn't have the same dedication to quality and customer service. Idk. Smh. Wtf.
(2)
Manfred S.
The food has been fantastic during the past few visits and once we were finally served it was fantastic again. Food only would be a solid five star, but there were reservation issues. --- It is supposed to be fine dining, but they only manage fine food. The request for pescataria adjustments of our order was lost in translation. To the food: Oysters --- Okay. Wellfleets are hard to mess up. They were better than the Duxbury's that were also available. (Note: only two choices of very large oysters but good) Where the kitchen shined: oxtail ravioli (on the house) - not so good for my pescatarian wife but I liked it a lot despite being on the sweet side lobster tail salad (on the house) - lovely, once it registered that honey is a pescatarian abalone - fantastic, but could do without the bacon bits (note: pescatarians don't care for bacon). tuna - hugh piece, slightly over seared (without being asked, I mentioned that I like my tuna rare) dessert (on the house) - chocolate raspberry cake and some chocolate chip ice cream (sorry, but I don't like chocolate desserts so cannot comment) wine - Sancerre rose, light crispy, reasonably priced - perfect for any food, but especially for seafood Management's screw-up: We made the wedding anniversary reservation - 8:30 PM window seat - during a previous visit. We arrived early at 8:05. We were told that the window table was not ready, but would be available closer to the booked time. We were seated around 9:10. Notably, there was a walk-in line that seemed to get seated first. No one bothered to check on us until after I checked at 8:35 and then complained around 8:50. They told us that our table was ready and they walked us to a booth in the back --- far from a window seat. We probably could have had that table an hour earlier. Recommendation to the hosts (there were many): Don't upsell bad tables. Communicate if there is a problem. Don't wait until our night is spoiled!
(4)
chanda d.
AMAZING, Grown and Sexy night out with my best girl friend! The Red Dragon Sushi was incredible! It's all about the ambiance. If you really want a great experience, call and reserve a table.
My sister loves this place, so we're here a lot lol! The seafood looks very fresh, being a non seafood eater I squally order the clam chowder light clams extra potato sit outside and enjoy a nice drink! Great view! Just wish they had more of a non seafood selection!
(4)
Brittany E.
When in Boston, gotta try the seafood! This place was recommended by my friends family member who frequents Boston for business. We put in a reservation online so we were seated right away. We even were 5 minutes late because we had gotten lost, and we were still seated immediately. We sat on the first floor. Our waitress was really sweet and helpful. She helped my friend who was new to eating a whole lobster learn how to crack parts of the shell more easily. However, she was slow to fill our water glasses, and I noticed her standing around right near our table and never notice we needed it. The food though, was outstanding. The clam chowder was some of the best I've ever had. I'd highly recommend getting it. It could serve as a meal because it is quite filling. I got a 1.5 pound lobster and that was a LOT of food. I barely touched my sides of rice and eggplant because of the lobster. However, the rice I did eat was delicious and the eggplant had some form of Asian sauce on it that tasted great. The seafood paired nicely with the bottle of champagne. It's a little pricy, but worth the visit!
(4)
Kate L.
Still not sure why there is such a long line on a Friday night. And the girls get extremely hooched for the occasion which is a shame for such a classy joint. If you're trying to get food late at night on the roof, good luck. We waited for a server for 30 min and had to leave and go to the first floor bar to eat. I will say the tuna bruschetta and corn/feta bruschetta were out of this world. Small 2 pieces each perfect size app if you order 2 kinds. Extremely flavorful and great consistency. Service at bar downstairs was also good!! Only food complaint are the pizzas. First we tried the white clam pizza and it was covered in arugula like basically more arugula than anything else. There were maybe 3 small chunks of clam and it was pretty fishy tasting. The bartender was nice enough to send it back and make us a new one. So we tried the pepperoni crab one per his recommendation. Eek. The crab was fresh but the combo was weird and there was hardly any cheese so it seemed like the dish was confused. I'll upload a pic. But keep in mind the pic is missing crust which was the only good part. Good prices and would go back for that bruschetta!!!
(3)
Amanda L.
It makes me sad that this location only has 3 stars. I LOVE this location, despite the fact that it's a real pain in the butt to get to - especially in winter! The atmosphere in the downstairs dining room is awesome. The kitchen is open and you can see flames flare every now and then. You can also smell all of the delicious food running to different tables. It's casual, but not too casual and nice enough to enjoy an elegant seafood experience for lunch or dinner. The sangria is a must. So is the calamari. I can't put my finger on what exactly it is that is so friggen' awesome for both, but they're just that, awesome. I've enjoyed the lobster roll and other seafood dishes here on various occasions and haven't recalled anything being mediocre or terrible. The roof deck is a great place to hangout in the summer (if you get out of work early). If you show up during busy times then you'll have to wait in line and although the view on top is nice, it gets super stuffy up here. The roof deck also has a separate menu from the restaurant which includes pretty delicious sushi. Summer/Winter... I'm here. All too often. And I'll continue to come back.
(4)
Mary E.
The only reason this gets 4 stars is because my dads dinner came out cold. Other than that this place was fantastic. I'm not normally a Legals fan (I'm kind of a chain snob), but the atmosphere and the food at this location was top notch. We all ordered various fish entrees and happily consumed 2 recommended bottles of white wine. The view was great and so was the food!
(4)
Aleksandra S.
In Boston with a friend visiting from NYC... Heard great things about this rooftop by the water and decided to have a couple of drinks. The ambiance is really nice, however the blond girl bartender was very rude. I was waiting to order a drink at the bar that wasn't even busy, she looked at me and kept doing her thing. Then she came in front of me and said "WHAT YOU WANT?" Excuse me!? At a place like Legal Harborside this shouldn't be happening! Then she gave me the drinks, I paid and she didn't even said thank you or you're welcome when I paid and left a tip. Very unacceptable! The drinks on the other side are okay.
(3)
Kristen D.
I love everything about this place! It's difficult to have a bad view anywhere here because everything is cool to look at. My favorite part about the view was certainly the lookout over the harbor. The huge glass windows and open-air area made it even cooler! We sat at the bar originally to wait for the rooftop to open. Instead, we ordered a raw seafood platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, etc) to share while we sipped on Bloody Mary's and beers. Now, I've had seafood before and have loved almost everything I've tried. However, I have NEVER in my life ever eaten something so fresh, delicious, and mouthwatering as what I ate at Legal Harborside. Perhaps it's because I'm a Chicagoan and haven't been exposed to "real" seafood before, but oh my GOSH. Who knew there was such a significant difference between seafood in Chi vs. seafood in Boston? I knew there would be a difference of course, but I was definitely not prepared for it to be that significant. I loved the garlic/shallot/vinegar stuff they give you to put on oysters. I was so mad that we only had a few left when I finally decided to try it! I can't wait to go back to Boston to experience this place again.
(5)
J F.
The view here is lovely and a great place to sit and stare at the harbor. The food is what you'd expect from Legal Seafood, good quality and well prepared in general. Make sure you try some of the appetizers as this way you can try more dishes. The toasts with toppings ate fun. I had the olive and fig paste which was delicious, served on crispy baked pita. Of course you can go wrong with any of the seafood. It's all good here. This isn't a date night restaurant, that's for sure. It's crowded and loud and feels like dining in a warehouse, but I guess you go for the view and the seafood not to actually have a conversation!
(3)
Moosa D.
Food: 4.5/5, Best sushi in Boston Service: 5/5, Staff was quick, attentive, and friendly. even with a large group right in the middle of the Friday evening rush Atmosphere: 5/5, One of the nicer views from the waterfront
(5)
Jordan B.
Absolutely love this place - got the upcale-ish ambiance if you're looking for it, not CRAZY expensive, beautiful view, great staff, great food, great drinks, what else am I missing? When it's warm out, the experience of looking at the beautiful waterfront while enjoying your seafood and drink is just absolutely relaxing. It's a great get away place from work during your lunch hours to just unwind and not think about anything but a good life. The Portuguese Seafood Stew was incredibly rich and filled with different seafood flavor combined into one giant seafood delight. It tastes light yet rich at the same time - if you're a health nut and wants a rich yet "light" meal (and if you love seafood), you must try it. The cool thing about this place is that the three floors got different food and themes - if you want the typical seafood, go to the first floor. Second floor's got the more upscale feel with formal dining. And the top deck is a cool sushi/apps bar area. Either way, you're surrounded by an amazing view and great service.
(5)
Tony C.
We arrived and were told a table would be over 2 hour wait!! we tried to get a seat at the bar but were unsuccessful, an assistant manager, Gabrielle Green asked if she could help and we explained we were headed to a show in Cambridge at the Oberon (that my girlfriend's son "Complete Destruction" was performing in) and Rose & I just wanted to try out a Legal Seafood location; having never been there before. Gabrielle found us a table with a water view immediately (in an area I was told by another manager was held for reservations) and I tried to tip her $10 but she wouldn't take it... She said the reservation for that table wasn't until 7pm and we would be gone by then. She "made " our nite to say the least. We enjoyed a Salmon Burger and Halibut both fantastic! But the real treat was how Gabrielle Green went out of her way to accommodate us, This is truly a valuable employee!! Thank you so much!
(5)
Emilia T.
Food was top notch and a great location. We were particularly impressed by our waitress Holly who both had a lovely personality and gave great recommendations. If you can get a seat, I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Nina S.
If you're going to go to legal seafood in Boston, might as well go to the one in the water. I mean that view. Wow. There are four floors, first is like a market place you can purchase seafood and other stuff, second floor is the formal dining area, not sure what third floor was, but i think i heard just appetizers? And the fourth floor is the amazing rooftop bar. The view of the Boston seaport from up there is pretty sweet. But I digress. Came here tonight for a work celebration and we had selections which I'm honestly not sure if they were regular menu items or special items they made just for our event. I got the beet and arugula salad with candied walnuts and vinaigrette to start. It was a thoughtful salad with nice balance of flavors. Then I got the salmon with couscous and a puree of eggplant and then topped with tzatziki sauce which I wasn't too fond of. My salmon was a bit overcooked and the skin was soggy which was a sad situation. And then the accompaniments were interesting but just the flavors didn't go with the salmon, they were all too strong and so each component of the dish was fighting to be the star. The real star was the dessert. Mascarpone cheese cake.. to die for. The top was creme bruleed so you got that crunchiness factor, and then the filling was creamy and decadent, and then the Graham cracker business on the bottom anchoring the whole dessert. I cleaned that plate. All in all, would come back for the dessert and rooftop bar! Oh and the bread! How could I forget! There was the bacon mini biscuit and then a huge cheese cracker. With a price tag of free.99 it's a win.
(3)
Jeremy S.
The 3rd floor sushi bar has a great view and had great raw oyster. It was unfortunate we couldn't get the full menu there, but I understand the logic. In the main restaurant I had the Portuguese Seafood Stew, and the flavors were great. The stew's shrimp and mussels were both overcooked, but my fiancee's Salmon and the clams in my stew were cooked to perfection. One member of our party had the lobster and throughly enjoyed it, but I can't remember what the other had. I think she enjoyed it though. Overall, it was one of the best meals we had in Boston.
(3)
Brad F.
The food is unmistakably excellent, but the service is totally where 5 stars comes from. Our waiter, Conor, was perfect. This dude is calm, collected, took care of us without being annoyingly persistent in order to make sure his tip was decent, and was overall one of the most friendly and responsive people I've ever had take care of me/us at a restaurant. Thanks for the chit-chat about Somerville and some cool spots to hit in that area.
(5)
Wafa A.
Amazing restaurant. In my 4 day stay in Boston I went to Legal 3 times! Service is great for being such a busy place & super nice/friendly waiters. They have lots of seating options( outside, inside, upper deck, bar, & upfront window seating). Food varies from bites to eat to big meals & is very worth the price. Is also kid friendly. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Steven C.
Psst, Roger... It's a chain... bwahahaha Customer dinner at the Northern Ave location. I think Roger B is a brilliant businessman and this place is an awesome location. That being said, you can't swing a dead cat in the town without hitting a Legal anymore. I think they've done a nice job with the menu considering the challenges in the local fish stocks lately. I normally would have gone with Salmon but that nasty YouTube video on the Scottish farmed stuff has turned me off. The filet looked yummy so I went in that direction. First time eating beef at a legal. Started with some Duxbury oysters which were great. My west coast colleagues freak out at the size. Filet was perfectly cooked, nice presentation and a piece of king crab on top. The other details: Second floor, great decor with vistas of the harbor. Service was outstanding and the only downside was the lights keep going up and down.
(4)
Alycia R.
Perfect place to get drunk on a Sunday! Best view of the harbor, great music, awesome drinks. Can't vouch for the food but this place is fun...
(4)
Richard G.
This is for the lunch service.... I came here because I was told they have the best clam chowder in Boston. Have in mind I heard this from several local natives. My was I was extremely disappointed. My girl and I came here with high hopes and unfortunately a national chain restaurant serves better than these guys. Service was slow. We asked for water and bread. Waited about 15 minutes and we saw our server cleaning tables. It seemed like she was more concerned filling tables than serving the ones she has. Also yes we were dressed a,little under for the occasion but that shouldn't matter. I never write reviews about service unless it's over the top or really bad and, well you can be your judge at this point.... OK back to the chowder... very runny,no flavor,not many clams or, anything for that matter. I added a ton of salt & pepper & still no bueno.i was hyping this place all week to my girl & I was right ALL HYPE! Lesson learned.
(1)
Diana L.
Great place to come on the weekend and just walk along the dock and take in the views. The venue is super spacious with lots of natural lighting and window thats open up during the warm weather. There's many levels of seating, next time we will try the rooftop for an even more scenic experience. | l o b s t e r b i s q u e | - great seafood flavour that's silky smooth and not starchy or salty garnished with fresh green onions & chunks of lobster meat. | c o c k t a i l s h r i m p | - succulent shrimps tossed in spicy cocktail sauce, extremely refreshing and a great palette cleanser. | f i s h t a c o s | - fresh and enjoyable, maybe a tad to dry and needed some simpler complements such as guacamole/cabbage (date seemed to like it - he usually goes for the swordfish gyro which he swears by) | c r i s p y c a l a m a r i | - perfectly fried and garnished with crispy lemon & spicy peppers, dunk them in the tasty dijon creamy aioli. (appetizer portion - great portion!) Presentation is spot on. Date pleaser. Great for groups. Great service. Seated right away on a busy Saturday afternoon. Had my eye on the lobster roll & grilled shrimp salad going to the other tables - I'll be coming back for ya ! Walking over to Harpoon Brewery now.......
(4)
Lyndsey C.
I didn't want this to be the case but I have to lower my rating based on overall experiences.... First, they get a high rating for the three different levels, especially the rooftop patio, which is great, although can be super busy and when this happens, the waitresses usually start to get extremely slow and rare... also, we had it happen when a waitress tried to just take the large amount of change after we paid as a tip... The location is great, love the atmosphere, other restaurants surrounding this one, and the pavilion next door. The sushi looked good and the oysters were great, other than how long they took to get to us. The reason for my lowering my review is the past two reservations I have made, I have asked for nice tables and even came early to get a nicer one... twice, I have been sat in crappy locations. The first time, they at least allowed me to ask for a table outside or nicer one and we ended up great... but the second one, we are celebrating our anniversary with another couple, put the reservation in weeks before, called the day before to confirm, then showed up early for a good table... and it wasn't peak time... they assured us it would be a great table, then we were stuck out in the open (not a good table against the window or out of the way), right next to a bus station where they kept hitting our table. Our waitress didn't keep our drinks full and rarely took plates away... Food is good but can be hit or miss on the heat of it... for being able to see the kitchen from our latest table, my lobster bisque was cold and pizza was no longer hot... I am willing to try again but I don't like the first floor right now... due to the service issues... The rooftop out with friends or a date would be nice.
(2)
Kevin S.
If you're from out of town, you have to go to Legal's at least once. However, if you're a local...go elsewhere. My wife and I go to Legal when its been long enough that we've forgotten how disappointing our last meal there was.. example...we had the lobster fritter...it was under cooked and we were concerned about the safety of eating it. The "stuffie" a RI staple, was inedible because of over seasoning, and lastly my wife's white wine had "something" black floating in the glass. Try it once, but if you're local, go somewhere else... OH, and the roofdeck...overrated beyond belief
(2)
NavRaj S.
Good food and great location.. Loved their cocktails.. The service was very good and servers were very friendly!!! Good place to hangout..
(4)
Dawn H.
*****FIRST FLOOR REVIEW***** I went there a week ago with a friend. I had not been to this place in a while prior to this visit but I will say, I am writing a review because I generally enjoyed this visit. I believe it was a Monday after work that I went and the place was packed! We were luck to get a spot closer to the server station but still overlooked the people below at the tables AND the water (with views of the Xfinity Center to our right). The seating was a bit squished but good. We were greeted by our waiter who mentioned the wine special list that was supposedly Northern Italy inspired or something like that but I started with a Citrus Sangria and friend ordered the Strawberry Sangria. It is not a a traditional sangria but luckily we could taste the alcohol (yum). When it came time to order food, an idea by the waiter was brought up to split our order (even the soup). The smile on my face was ear to ear to hear this and the display was great! Order... The Asparagus with egg shavings was alright (the veggie seems a bit on the wilting side and at least 3-4 was left). The Lobster Bisque (**split**) was warm at first when we ordered it but kindly and quickly given a fresh batch and it was so good! The Shrimp Pad Thai (**split**) was tasty and had added flavor bonus' of ginger and spicy pepper! Our portions were great! I saw the desserts but was really full. It is something I'd return to definitely have next time. I ended up looking at the wine inspired menu and ordered this Sauvignon Blanc which was nearly tasteless comparable to water - something happened IDK. I let our waiter know and got the Riesling (which is my fav white) and it was great! So, although we might have been slightly troublesome guests (not our faults!) the overall experience and level of professionalism and continued attentiveness of our waiter helped make this experience good :)
(4)
Jeff B.
Where did the light clam chowder go?!?!? Am I the only one who likes it? Where did the crab cakes entry go? Am I the only one who liked it? The appetizer portion was good, but seems to have changed, too. Service was fine. She did even try to hunt down story on light clam chowder. Apparently, you can sort of special order it. Weird. Overall, my experience was ok. I used to look forward to a Legals visit or two during every business trip visit - not sure after this experience. We'll see....
(3)
Nicole T.
Wait was unreal for a Monday night at 9 pm so we sat street side vs. harbor side. The service was great but food was just OK. Location is great for a taste of Boston.
(3)
Karen C.
Great View and perfect for a fun weekend brunch!!
(4)
Julia H.
really not sure what the hype is all about. it's more of a 3.5 stars, but will give it four stars. Luckily on a Saturday night they were able to seat a table of 6 within 5 mins on the main floor. ordered the cold seafood platter and the lobster roll. the cold seafood platter, maybe cause they don't really have to season and cook it, it was quite good! the snow crab legs are very salty though - so beware! the lobster roll - could be better. really you could go somewhere else to get a better roll. i guess it's worth to come here once every so often, but definitely not sure what the hype is all about.
(4)
Carielle C.
My friends and I went here for dinner last night and it was fantastic. One of my friends had been there before and she highly recommends the lobster roll. She has a gluten allergy and they have lots of gluten-free options. I don't eat seafood, but I got the Big Bowl sald with chicken and it was one of the best salads I've ever had. Just the right amount of dressing and the chicken was juicy and tender. My friends all raved about their food. Gluten-free clam strips, gluten-free lobster rolls with gluten-free fries, and another lobster roll that wasn't gluten-free. One of my other friends got a stuffie, which I tried (even though I don't like seafood), and it was tasty and had a kick to it! We also had an appetizer with the bruschetta with braised short rib. Delicious! For dessert, we shared bon bons and the salted caramel pie. Yum! Fantastic food and a great view. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Bill Z.
I felt like I should be able to order bison, antelope, and boar here, because on a Friday night the place can be a zoo. But here, the animals typically have gills. And it is a very well run zoo, with a staff that meshes together well like a fine machine. If you are lucky to get a table on the harbor side of the restaurant, you will have a great view. If it's busy, and if you are in a small group, by all means consider barside dining. They have a lot of space all over the restaurant, and again, a lot of it has a harbor view. Once you are seated, service is prompt everywhere, and those little devices the wait staff carry expedite your order ever faster. Drinks are expensive, but quite strong for the money, so I don't mind dishing out some $$ for one. I enjoyed my glass of red sangria ($11), but I understand the white comes across as a bit sweeter and slightly more diluted. Some of the sides or vegetables included in some of the dishes are less traditional and more interesting. For example, my seafood and sausage pasta dish also contained roasted cauliflower and broccoli rabe. One of the fish dishes came with a side of barley mixed with tomato and feta. One thing I would suggest if you order trout is to be familiar with it. The meat of trout can come in several shades from white to deep pink. We didn't have room for dessert, but I'm sure the desserts and after dinner drinks here are quite good.
(4)
Judy S.
Let's start by saying that regardless of the fact that we had a dinner reservation that had been made months in advance, our party had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The hostesses at the front desk were rude and set a poor tone for our evening. That said, our table, our waitress and our food made up for the ironic lack of hospitality from the hostesses. The food is good. Nothing you've never had before, but it is good, and the space and views are gorgeous.
(3)
Jason A.
596 reviews, and a 3.5 star rating for Legal Harborside is reasonably accurate. A consistent theme for the restaurant, that I will kindly summarize for you so that you do not have to read through all 500+ reviews: 5 star rating for the views. You're on the harbor, and facing Logan Airport. The views are eye-gasm worthy. 3 star rating for the food. It really is not that much better than something I can find pretty much anywhere in Boston. The seafood platter is overpriced for what it is, the lobster bisque tasted like heavily sugared cream (and not in a good way), and the "famous" clam chowder tastes straight out of a Campbell's can. 1-3 star rating for the service. It's a big ass restaurant, and the turnover in staff is consistent. Meaning it is hit or miss, and though the servers may mean well, if you are there to be taken care of by your server... well you're going to be sadly disappointed. Moral of the story: come for the views, and leave before you leave disappointed after dinner.
(3)
Mike F.
Wow is all I can say. We hosted clients here last week (late July), beautiful view from the deck on the 2nd floor. The shrimp cocktail were the largest I've ever seen, same with oysters. Lobster rolls perfect and unexpectedly very very good sushi. I forget some of the other stuff I ate but those we're the standouts. A++ and all super fresh
(5)
Susan R.
Continues to be great. Lobster bisque, bellied fried clams, swordfish, crab salad, and Buffalo fried shrimp were all excellent. Great location overlooking the pier and water. Perky staff.
(4)
Scott S.
Delicious and a great ambiance. Can't beat the view. From the upper level bar to the tables right on the dock, it is easy to spend the whole day here.
(4)
Jenny M.
Food is overpriced and unappetizing, particularly the lobster mac n cheese, overdressed crab cakes and stale pita appetizer. Service leaves little to be desired, especially when compared with other Seaport district restaurants. Only positive would be Harbor view. Recommendation would be to grab a cocktail, enjoy view and eat elsewhere.
View is A Sushi is C. Service is B. On the roof, basically only sushi is on the menu. Eating at a bunch of sushi places where the cooks are Asian, I feel when I bite into the legal seafoods sushi, I can just tell they're made by a non-Asian person. Edamame is great. Service: just felt there was quite a bit of empty glasses on our table.
(3)
J J.
Went here with a large group of work friends. Arrived after the main group (who was already seated upstairs) with an international colleague. The tough guy who worked there would not let us all go upstairs where our friends were waiting. He would not accept her foreign drivers license, copy of passport, or any other credentials. The ultra superior Legal Seafood employee would not let us in due to his strict irrational guidelines and possibly prejudice taste. I went right upstairs, got my group of work colleagues before they could order anything, and went next door to eat and drink. Lost revenue, anyone?
(1)
G L R.
First off, the view here is just beautiful! It can't be beat. I had a very good lobster roll and fries here. Also, their oysters. I selected 2 kinds and they were very fresh tasting. They have a decent wine selection. Prices are a little high, but not insane for fresh seafood either. Service was good. I would recommend.
(4)
Joe G.
Went to Legal Harborside after attending a conference at the Boston Convention Center. Had to walk about 1/2 mile from the convention center to get to the place. On a Friday night, the place was pretty busy. My friends and I ended up seating on the counter. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure everything was ok. I ordered the Tuna Burger, which was very tasty and filling. The Tuna was basically packed together and grilled, so if you're looking for a "fishy" kind of taste, you won't really taste it. It tasted alot like a greasy fish burger, which was fine with me. All in all, a pretty decent meal at Legal Haborside.
(3)
Blaire H.
Tasty place, with good lunch options. The roof is not open till four on week days, but they serve sushi! They have outdoor seating on the water though.
(4)
Rob C.
What a mistake. I tend to forget this company, let alone location is an up-scaled RED LOBSTER. I had the tuna-burger today. I think I want to vomit, as it's a few hours later and things aren't going to hot. The Tuna burger, is basically ground up tuna remnants and what not - and no where is it stated that it's F'n ground up. Fries tasted like they were dusted in flour before frying and had no flavour. Fish Taco - had a bite, meh. Bottom line: over priced and classic with the rest of the Seafood spots in Boston. SH*t quality and just serving the masses of suits and tourists here for marginal food. Don't go.
(1)
J B.
Not sure a place with a 2 hour Saturday wait-time needs a review, so I'll be brief... Their fried clams, steamers, and stuffies are the best in the city. They are akin to the RI institutions that my wife grew up on, which we travel specifically for. I know the "big chain" name might scare you (and I ordinarily would agree), but those items are honestly as good as any of those RI shacks. Yes, the 3rd floor is a bit of a meat market. Don't expect craft cocktails or good service up there; same as you wouldn't at a night club.
(4)
Joshua B.
2nd floor review. Beautiful place, amazing waiter. Solid bar tender. Taste/quality of food was 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Atmosphere was great. Had a great time here!
(5)
Mr. And Mrs. R.
We stopped in here for drinks this past weekend (Sat night) after eating dinner at a nearby steakhouse....and we wish we came here at the start of the night. This was probably our 4th time sitting at this bar, and we have always loved it. Whether just having drinks, apps, or a full dining experience, each time we've sat at this bar it's been lights out good. Great staff (and some potential rap stars), great scenery and ambience, great food and drink. Awesome wine selection and killer martinis. Our top spot hands down in the Seaport. See you soon.
(5)
Pat K.
This is about the third or fourth time I have been to this location. The views are amazing and the food is great. I love sitting outside, it has great views of the harbor and the people coming and going. The cool part about this location is its 3 different types of restaurants in one. Lower level (where I love to sit) is laid back typical seafood. The second floor is more upscale and formal dinning, and lastly the top deck is a very cool sushi/apps bar area. On Saturday April 18th my wife surprised me took me here on my birthday. I had the lobster roll ( a bit pricey) compared to some of the other places in the area (Sullivans). It was full of a TON of claw meat, and it was great. We shared an order of Calamari and my wife had fish and chips. We braved the cold and sat outside in the sun. Legal says they are not a chain in their ads on TV and I agree with them. They are not, especially at this location. With the menu changes and the different feels in the different levels it can be a lot of fun !
(4)
J. L.
This review is for the rooftop bar on the 3rd floor. The views of Boston Harbor are AMAZING. Simply awesome. The bar itself is pretty cool. I could not believe how rude the staff was. It was around 1:15 AM. They close at 1am. These men in sport jackets and ear pieces (I'm assuming bouncers or similar) were yelling at everyone to get out. Treating us like animals. It was so uncalled for. I can't understand why we were being yelled at and treated so poorly. Politeness that they are closed would have been fine and acceptable. I was so turned off by this. I wanted to like this place and now I have mixed feelings.
(3)
Deborah G.
I eat all over the place, all the time. And I can honestly chalk this up to one of my worst experiences. I usually eat on the first floor and have had great experiences there. I heard the second floor was nicer and higher end so we booked reservations to there. My waiter Was Taulant. He was nice but our service was terrible. Not only were our drinks taking 15 to 30 min a piece with some completely forgotten about (mind you the second floor was clearly NOT busy, restaurant or bar) our appetizers did not out, served forcing people at our table to eat without us. And then wait for our food. When we were finally able to put in our entree. We has asked what was taking so long and the floor managers response was they working with the pace of our table. If you looked back our table we had all empty drinks, still waiting, empty bread when we asked for more (because food was taking so long) and again 3 tables total in entire dining room. Our pork chop was delicious in flavor however the service and poor management will never have my business again. And worth of mouth spreads fast especially when u dine out 3-4 times a week! Mind you my friends and I dine at other places on the same street and have never been treated this way.
(2)
Diana K.
I am a huge fan of this enormous location overlooking Boston Harbor. We sat on the third floor deck with the wind in our hair and ordered two clam chowdas...what else?! The clam chowder was delicious and perfectly chunky, and went really well with our beers. The server even gave us a free drink after one of the beers took a little bit too long. I was impressed at the service regardless, seeing as how there were hundreds of people here, and they all were happy and fed. They have a special Mango IPA from Harpoon that was amazing. I think they mentioned they are the exclusive buyer of it. So good!
(4)
Layla B.
The dessert game is weak! Seasonal crisp was missing the crisp and was basically a warm bowl of fruit with ice cream on top. Tea was good and has a nice roof deck for chilling with friends.
(3)
Jyoti H.
Ha. Don't bother wasting your time coming here for the food or the rooftop lounge. Terrible service and rude people. You are better off staying in the Copley area and going out for drinks and food.
(1)
Terrance R.
I'm just leaving this place now, and I was blown away by how terrible the food was. Boston is supposed to be an excellent place to eat anything out of the sea, but I couldn't even finish my plate. Only one person at our table had a descent meal. He ordered the Asian inspired tuna which looked delicious. My crab roll was underwhelming, and it came with underwhelming coleslaw. This place was no more than an overpriced seafood diner with a view. My suggestion... Go for the drinks and view (amazing in the summer). Please please please skip on the meal. My only highlight: great service. When you're in Boston, find a better seafood place.
(2)
Jarrod G.
My family & I came here to celebrate my graduation from law school yesterday. We arrived 50 minutes late for our reservation on the first floor, but yet we were sat immediately and no mention was made of our lack of punctuality, which was great. The service was excellent and the food was perfect. All in all, I would highly recommend others to come to this restaurant to celebrate life's various celebrations. There was only one issue. My brother has Cerebral Palsy, and as such, is bound to a wheelchair. Upon checking in with the host, she immediately began to walk us to our table. Without even thinking about it she lead us up a two-step staircase. We all stopped at the staircase as she kept going. She eventually looked back and realized that none of us had followed her. I walked up to her and explained that my handicapped brother could not merely drive his wheelchair up a two-step staircase and that we would have to take the elevator. Upon doing so we were then lead to the least handicapped accessible table in the entire restaurant. In order to dodge a second two-step flight of stairs downward we had to drive thru the kitchen area, down a long ramp, and then back through the entire restaurant - bumping every single table along the way. Multiple times we had to ask guests to actually get up so we could make our way through. Half way through our journey the host actually stopped leading us to our table and began speaking with the manager. Seeing as how we were following her, it made the experience even more frustrating that we now had no idea which table we were going to be sitting at. At the conclusion of the meal, I asked the server if it would be okay for us to exit via the doors on the boardwalk-side of the restaurant since it would allow us to avoid the embarrassment of trying to navigate our way through the entire restaurant again. He was very helpful and made a path for us to do so. Like I said at the outset of this review, all in all, I would highly recommend this place for others. But I think Legal Harborside really needs to re-evaluate its protocol in order to make their guests that require special accommodations feel more welcome.
(3)
Bb D.
Nice place, with nice wait staff. Just a bit too crowded. Needs reservations, otherwise be ready to wait for a long time to get seated. Great food.
(4)
Kisha T.
I'll preface this with the following: I only came for drinks, a light snack and only experienced the roof deck. This location is beautiful and it's the most perfect place to have a few drinks on a warm summer day...that is, if you can ever order your drinks/actually get the drinks. I came here on a Friday afternoon for some drinks and snacks. We ended up staying for about two hours and in those two hours, we were able to order a drink, edamame and 3 oysters. The food wasn't terrible and drinks were sufficient. For 4 pm on Friday, the roof deck was hoppin'. It felt like a Miami bar/lounge, which is awesome if you dig that kind of environment. Service was pretty blah which is expected for a lounge but it's still part of the restaurant so there is still that expectation when it comes to service. Would I go back? Sure. But it's not a place to go if you don't like a large crowd and bad service.
(2)
Tenisha W.
If you want to enjoy the view of Boston harbor, this place has amazing views...BUT you have to make a reservation or else you can forget about that view you had hoped for. I speak from experience, we walked in the line was ridic and the wait for a table with a view was 1-11/2 hours, so we settled for a first come first serve table because we we hungry. The service was friendly and quick. Although it was very busy our server was very attentive. The food came out quick. We ordered the fried calamari and tempura green beans as appetizers. Both were really good. However they provided a spoon to divi up the green beans, that doesn't work too well. May I suggest thongs. For my meal I had the lobster roll it was absolutely delicious. The lobster tasted fresh and was cooked to perfection. The default side is French fries, which I wasnt a fan of I would have preferred something else maybe a vegetable. My husband had the tuna sandwich he really enjoyed it.. He said it was cooked well and very well seasoned. I tried the strawberry sangria which was different and it was good, although I must say it was strong for sangria. Overall I would go here again, next time with a reservation to get the full experience.
(4)
Xerxes N.
Three stories up with a beautiful water view. Smoking hot waitresses. Strong Chronic Iced Tea drinks. A buzz at 5pm and a pretty awesome nightlife atmosphere for a Monday. Thank you, Boston. Did I mention smoking hot waitresses? I didn't try the food but whatever sushi they were slinging looked pretty darn good!
(4)
Janet C.
The ambience was lovely, made even nicer by sitting by the window with a view of he harbor. Our meals were delicious and perfectly executed. The timing of the dishes were just as you would like them to be. The service was wonderful. It is a bit pricey but for a special dinner you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)
Katie J.
Usually I'm very critical of seafood, but this was hands-down incredible. Made a reservation for a special occasion and were not disappointed. Our party was seated at a table overlooking the water and it was stunning! Fresh breeze then followed by good food and wonderful service. For appetizers we had the fried calamari, oysters, mussels, and tuna crostini. The calamari and tuna were good, average. The oysters were so fresh and tasty! As for the mussels- good, but the curry sauce was a bit odd. We loved dipping our bread in it. For entrees we got an assortment. I had the fisherman's stew. They accidentally left out the white fish-- but were very quick to fix! It was delicious. We also got the char-grilled scallops with two sides (we chose spinach and eggplant). I had scallops at a place next door and was so disappointed...but these were SO GOOD. It's hard to find someone who can actually cook scallops right! Highly highly highly recommend! The clams & linguine were a hit, and the fish tacos were a hit with the teenager. Also had the cake with the ice cream bon-bons for dessert. We all left completely satisfied, full, and happy. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)
Murad B.
Food, which is mainly a seafood is really amazing, delicious and tasty. That from starters to the main course!!! Highly recommended!
(5)
Anna G.
My favorite, go-to restaurant in Boston! Firstly, the view - especially in the summer - is delightful. It is so nice being on the water with the boats coming in and sunny skies above. I always find the service here top-notch. I highly recommend waiting a few extra minutes to guarantee a table outside. I do not understand coming here and sitting near the street... sitting on the water is the whole reason to come here! I think the cocktails are pretty good and for food I recommend oysters, the famous bisque or chowdahh, lobster pizza, and soft belly clams (if they have it). Pass on the swordfish gyro. Overall, the ambiance here during nice weather is perfect - boisterous, festive, people enjoying summer in NE. Do not mistake this review for all Legal Seafoods as this is specific to Legal Harborside.
(5)
Holly B.
Wow. Awesome service beginning with the charming, beautiful Kate. She is genuinely interested in why you are visiting and where you want to sit. With the lineup out the door, she may have the most stressful job in Boston! She never loses her cool and makes everyone feel special. Up to the second floor where Sarah and Maryann await. Beautiful and talented, they are the sweetest bartenders ever. Have a wedding or function coming up? Sarah also is an expert at updos! Maryanne is a mixologist - best martinis ever! Great night! Now, to the food! We had the ahi tuna and pacific salmon. Both were fresh and incredibly delicious. We can't wait to go back.
(5)
Niki K.
We sat in the first come area since the ding room was full. The lobster bisque was more lobster than bisque, sweet and tender. The fried calamari had fried veggies with it. The fried lemons were amazing. I had fried clams, which were good but not in the half shell as expected. My friend had the lobster mac and cheese which she demolished. I was a little freaked out that the menu only said market prices but didn't have actual prices anywhere. We shared the bon bons, which were 2-3 bites of thick chocolate shells, and an assortment of chocolate, coffee, strawberry, or mint ice cream.
(5)
Vince D.
Great place to hangout during the summer. Place was jammed but was able to grab a seat at the bar with my girlfriend. Had the more than fortunate pleasure of having Tanya serve us. My girlfriend had accidentally tipped over her fresh Paloma on the bar and she was more than accommodating at replacing it. The food was on point we had the squid ink pasta and the octopus terrine but more importantly the service was phenomenal. Food came out super fast and staff was very knowledgeable. Will be back soon!
(5)
Danielle B.
The location is nice and the view is amazing. My mom and I ordered a lobster roll, fish and chips andclam chowder. The fish and chips were excellent! Light, fresh, flakey and well worth the price. The clam chowder was also very good. The lobster roll was a huge disappointment. The lobster was chewy and lacked flavor. The market price was $30. I'm really sad that I wasted $30 on that lobster roll.
(3)
Nicole L.
The staff was very accommodating with my food allergy. I appreciated the knowledge and extra steps the staff took to ensure my meal was free from cross contamination. The grilled shrimp was to die for!
(5)
Sarah S.
My review is for Floor 1. I went here with a group of 10 people from a conference I was attending. It was a quick walk from the Westin Waterfront. While waiting for my group, I had a glass of wine at the bar. Service is a little slow, but they were PACKED, so I understood. When I got to the restaurant the girl at the front said she had given someone in our group the buzzer to let us know when our table was ready. After about 20 minutes or so and all talking to each other, we realized that no one had the buzzer. I wonder how long our table had been ready before we finally asked about it. I got the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I also wanted to try the lobster bisque, but since I was already set on the lobster roll, I decided against it. Although, someone else got it, and it smelled absolutely amazing. Someone got the fried clams and passed them around to the whole table. Whoa - melt in your mouth deliciousness! The lobster roll looked small, but it was filling. It comes with fries and coleslaw. The lobster dishes are all market price, which was $23 when I was there (early May 2014). A lot of people in my group got some combo from the 'Wood Burning Grill' section. Everything looked great. I had the soup, lobster roll, and two beers (one of the Harpoon specialty brews) - total was $46. If I lived in Boston, I'd come back here over and over. Super nice staff, quick service for how busy they were and for the size of our table, and no complaints about splitting a check 10(!) ways.
(5)
Robert S.
We had reservations for 5PM and our table, overlooking the ocean was ready as promised. John, our waiter was great, polite, knowledgeable, courteous, perfect. I ordered the crabmeat salad...a big scoop of real crabmeat mixed with a light dressing over a half avocado, accompanied of boiled eggs, tomatoes and cucumbers. YUM. My BF got the baked scrod and it was light, fresh and tasty. Very good choice as much of the Legal Seafood sister companies.
(4)
Michael M.
Really unimpressed relative to some of the other "Legal" restaurants. Service is fantastic. Food is above average. I prefer LTk.
(3)
Scott H.
In town for business and wanted local seafood for dinner. Was also by myself so I preferred to eat at the bar. Using those two criteria this place hit the mark. They stir their martinis which is the right way and the shrimp cocktail was served in a globe made of ice. Pretty cool. Be sure to try the seared ahi. Also had the grilled octopus, which was the best I've ever had although portions were small and a bit expensive. I only had appetizers so I can't say if meals were subsets tail, but the apps were on the light side. The bar tender was really friendly and conversational, which was nice. Kept me from staring at my phone. She also had a few suggestions of local things to do. Prices were on the high side, but I'll likely be back.
(4)
Bob B.
Very busy place - tourist trap. Fried clam appetizer was overpriced and looked as though they had not changed the oil in the fryer in quite a while. The scrod was good size, but could use some seasoning. Service was good.
(2)
John I.
This is a very nice restaurant. There are three floors. The street level is standard Legal fare; the second floor Legal upscale, and the third a cocktail bar with deck. All have impressive views of the harbor, the fish pier, Logan Airport, and the "pavilion" concert venue. We entertained business guests on the second floor as a party of nine. We had a wonderful seafood tower appetizer with oysters, clams, crab and shrimp. It was presented nicely with multiple sauces. The seafood was, undeniably, fresh and awesome. Legal's trademark clam chowder was noticeably absent from the short menu but provided on request for our guests. Entrees included lobster and spare ribs, scallops, abalone, steak and shrimp. All were excellently prepared and tasty, if a bit pricey. The service was impressively adequate. We were intermittently swarmed with attention as plates were cleared or served and then left for long periods without anyone checking for needs. A wonderful but forgettable dinner was enjoyed by all.
(4)
Dylan C.
Corporate, touristy, and overpriced. What you would expect, I guess. Not an ounce of warmth in the place.
(1)
Brian A.
Stuffed artichokes!! Great atmosphere outside. Julien is an absolute all-star waiter.
(5)
Don M.
Good food,but the service i"was horrible!!!!The waitress was so negative and I can say rough!!!!!Bad experience!!!!!
(2)
Lilly S.
This review is based mainly on the outdoor seating on a nice day. I have only been here once and didn't spend any time inside. I like this place because of the roof top patio! WONDERFUL view of the water and such a great place to spend a sunny day! We got a pitcher of sangria and some light food. The waitress was really nice and everything was tasty. Perhaps a bit pricey but not ridiculous. We got there around 2 on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy yet. It did get pretty packed by 4 and service got a lot slower but what can you really expect? They can't possibly keep up with that. I recommend hanging out here for a bit when you're not in a hurry and you'll have a nice time, for sure!
(4)
T.M. C.
Our dinner started off okay down stairs on the first level. I'd to give it 5 stars for the first level but 2 stars for our experience on the third floor club. We ordered sangria and drinks at the bar on the first floor. Crab cake not cakes, just one was not worth $16. The fried green beans were great! Also ordered a kalamata and fig spread that was ok. Great service from our bartender. We continued our night by going up to the roof top bar. It was filled with a good mix of people but mostly 20 something's. We waited a bit and got a booth right on the water. After what seemed to be a good night, a 43 year old guy named Tom, who was married with 4 kids, and his hook up for the night, Ashley, who was a 24 yr old department store buyer, just randomly took over our booth. Ashley offered me a klonopin or an adderall. Offer illegal prescription drugs to an off duty cop? Omg. Hope Tom got it in with Ashley cause they ruined our night. There was also a discrepancy in our bills even though we ordered the same drinks at the bar and the same at our booth. Oh well....
(3)
Nancy G.
I have dined here many times. Great views and food. I was very disappointed at lunch yesterday. The server spilled 5 glasses of water on a client. Not her fault and we all felt terrible for her. The disappointment was that a manager never came over to apologize We had to suggest moving to another table. The new server acted annoyed that we moved and we experienced very slow service. The restaurants at liberty harbor are getting too complacent. Where is the customer service?
(2)
Lillian C.
Review for the first floor - dinner on a Sunday. This is the first of the Legal Seafood chain of restaurants I've tried. Service was on point. Menu was decent. I like how there are 3 different floors serving three different menus - it's like having three restaurants in one. I heard good things about the rooftop so I may return just for that once it starts to warm up. As for the food - it was just ok. I had some oysters and they were fresh but not much different from some $1 oyster places in Boston. I also had the Portuguese seafood stew, which was very delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and the stew had a lot of flavor. I also tried a little of the swordfish salad. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, but the salad was lacking flavor. The food was pretty good and the view is pretty nice. I also like the open floor plan since it reminds me of places in LA. The prices are pretty decent for what you get but I think fine dining is on the second floor if that's what you're looking for...
(3)
Chris L.
Went looking forward to a fabulous dinner. The Hostess was very kind and accommodating and seated us on the outdoor deck which was the best part of our night. The weather was fabulous and the atmosphere was perfect. The food arrived and the portions were average-small. The salad I received was wiltered and flavorless, the grilled scallops were small and bland. My date had the salmon and it was ok but just ok. We have had much better at other restaurants. So If you are looking for a great fish dinner look somewhere else but it you want a up beat atmosphere and a nice location give this place a try.... Definitely don't go for the food, you can do much better at many other places.
(3)
Emily H.
This was a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view of the water. I was here with a girlfriend on a road trip and we really needed a nice meal. She doesn't eat fish, but had an awesome steak and I tried the Portuguese seafood stew. We also shared the mixed bowl salad and some hummus with pita chips. Everything was delicious and the waiter was extremely knowledgable about the food and origins of the restaurant. Don't be thrown off by the front exterior (kind of looks like a cafe). The magic happens when you walk to the back, leading to a gorgeous restaurant!
(5)
Phil W.
Erin ate oysters, y'all!!!!!!!! (She's a vegematarian) Btw they have 14 kinds of oysters. Straightforward fish, but good. White sangria yes!
(4)
Diana M.
Third floor has amazing view. The drinks were very good. My man had the big boy Boston, he loved it.
(5)
Allen R.
The reason I gave this place only two stars is the NOISE LEVEL. We were there on a beautiful warm day. Fortunately were seated right at the edge of the deck and the glass doors were folded back so that one side of the restaurant was open from floor to ceiling. If they are closed the sound would bounce off the glass and it would be intolerably noisy--a place where you would have to shout and lean toward each other just to be heard. We were lead through the restaurant to this table and I was glad we were not seated toward the center of the restaurant. Even with the harborside wall open it was really noisy at the other tables. The only thing that doesn't reflect sound are people's bodies! If you go when the weather isn't great, plan to communicate via American Sign Language or be a very good lip reader. Even then, expect some temporary hearing loss after you leave this restaurant. In good weather call ahead and see if you can reserve a table outside on their deck. I don't believe the other Legal Seafoods or their second floor here are as noisey as this one.
(2)
Jillian T.
Fun sitting on the roof deck enjoying the sun but the sushi was so-so, our waitress was a bit removed as it was very busy but at least she had a smile on her face the whole time. The reason I give it fewer stars is due to more how people hover around you if you have a seat or table and the discomfort of the stools- I hadn't realized this was more of a bar than restaurant before coming. Also, the menu for the roof is limited and few snack items are available beyond sushi and lobster rolls.
(2)
Stacey K.
We made reservations for 1st floor dining about a week in advance for this past Friday night, we had 6 people for dinner and it was amazing to say the least! We had a seat right near the water and bar. The view is obviously stunning and the atmosphere is great, not super loud or over crowded, we could actually talk and hear each other. Our waiter was FABULOUS, his name was Mike and he was super helpful with recommendations as well as accommodations for someone with allergies! The food was to die for, I had a salmon special and fish tacos to share with my husband and we loved both dishes. Everything was prompt, warm and delicious. This is by far one of the best dining experiences I have had in the city! I will absolutely be retuning!
(5)
C D.
Vibrant ambience with a coveted waterfront view but disappointingly mediocre food and completely lacking in presentation. If your looking for tourist-inspired New England cuisine, this place is for you. Otherwise, don't bother. Pretty good wine list.
(1)
Annie B.
Amazing bar on the 3rd floor, good ambience!
(5)
Megan A.
I loved this place! The view from the bottom was amazing! The clam chowder was velvety and delicious. The server was really pleasant!
(4)
Robert W.
Great oysters, 14 types, seafood was well prepared. Good value.
(4)
Mj A.
We chose to eat here based on other reviews & we made a good choice. I had the lobster & it was delicicious & hubby had the steak & shrimp which was also very good. the waiter (Cody) was excellent. The only thing they need to improve is their baked potato. It was dry & flavorless. Even with extra sour cream it was still bland. The cole slaw was good. They could expand & improve their dessert menu. My dinner came with a cinnamon cocoa cake that was just OK. Hubby got the chocolate cake with a lava like pudding center & it was good. Their background music is loud & somewhat annoying. But all in all we really enjoyed eating there & will be back if we ever get to Boston again.
(4)
Carrie T.
We had to have lobster in Boston. On a recommendation, we went here. Nice location, right by the Aquarium. It was very crowded for a late afternoon but it's summer and it's tourist season. We got a seat by the window facing the street. We ordered 2 small lobsters (1 1/2 lbs) and just devoured it. It was tasty. We had sides that we barely touched cause we were working on our lobsters. We did order the crabcake which had nice big pieces of crab, not just bread mix. I think we scared our waitress the way we just tore into the lobsters and sucked it dry! Still she was pleasant when she filled my sister's ginger ale with water accidentally. She got her another one quickly. Price is not any higher or lower than some of the other places I checked out like the Union or Charter that is close by.
(3)
Tom G.
I had heard that the quality of the food and customer care had gone down hill and I should have headed the warning! It started with overdone fried clams that were small dark and chewy, continues with a stuffed artichoke that was waaaay to rich and a bit burnt as well, and ended with a very mediocre lobster roll. The chowder was the best part of the meal and when I told the bartender how bad the clams were his response was "oh". I will not return and believe that many will not go there based on " how it used to be" many years ago. Good luck to them!
(1)
Caroline M.
I went here with my boyfriend recently for our "six months" date. I am not a huge seafood person, but I was persuaded by my boyfriend's love of oysters and the promises of a view. We arrived around 9pm on a hot Monday night. I am glad we had a reservation, there were about 15 people waiting, but we were taken straight to a table on the 1st floor. The place was packed, and we were seated against a wall next to a raised bar area. The windows were pulled back, but the massive ceiling fans did their job. We started with tap beers, pleasantly surprised to find Pretty Things Jack D'Or on tap. Appetizer was bruchetta topped with artichoke puree, anchovy, and lemon. I only ate half of one, very lemon, with a nice texture of smooth topping and crunchy bread. I just couldn't get over eating an anchovy. Boyfriend loved it! Had to talk him down from ordering more. Instead he ordered oysters, only four, but he said each was perfectly delicious. He recommended the French Kiss and the Wellfleet. We each ordered from the wood fired grill. Out waitress was quite kind with my hopelessness choosing, and recommended the yellowfin tuna. It was cooked perfectly to medium well, and surprisingly, astonishingly delicious! My sides of mashed potatoes and jasmine rice were also perfect. My dining companion ordered the swordfish (medium rare) with mashed potatoes and spinach&pine nuts; he cleaned his plate, and declared everything perfect. To finish, we each had a glass of the extremely delicious white sangria and shared a Boston cream pie. Perfection. The fare on the 1st floor was typical Legal, as was the dining set up. Cloth napkins, but a paper table cloth. It was extremely noisy, and our table was wider than it was long, making conversation for us somewhat difficult. And elbow room for eating was scarce. The food was great, as was the sangria, but all a bit pricey, especially drinks. The view was great as well. However, for the view, next time we will probably try the upstairs for drinks after work instead of a full meal.
(4)
John P.
Of the restaurants in the area, this is one of the more reasonably priced joints. Went for a quick lunch, but place was packed so all hopes for a quick lunch went out the door. Not a bad thing as the staff was attentitive. Ordered the chowder, as it is required for all tourists, and was satisified with the taste and consistency. Not too thick, yet not too soupy. Also went with their salad, which was well dressed and the chicken was freshly grilled. Would go back again... and probably will as my work per diem won't afford the other restaurants in the area (ie. Del Frisco's!).
(4)
Mike B.
Mr. Berkowitz, sir, you are a genious! Whatever I said about Legal Seafoods in the past...i'm sorry. I've grown and clearly didn't see the big picture. You however did and continue to. So, he builds a pier. Yes a brand new pier! Why? Because he can. And it's in a pristine location...right next door to the Bank of America Pavillion. Don't you want to drink cocktails and cold beer and eat fried clams right on the waterfront with nothing but water and boats in view? Then he builds one of the biggest restaurants (Legal Harborside) including a killer circular bar on the 1st floor (all good seats) with enormous seating capacity of casual dining on with clear view of the centrally located open kitchen. There's fine dining on 2nd floor and a killer party-scene roof deck up top (with a smartly built glass roof with doors to extend the party rain or shine). Legal Harborside is a monstrosity. They had 24 servers on hand last night...so no waiting for beverages if you have a seat! One of the three hostesses said they can seat up to 800 guests. Insane. The place has it all. So does Walmart but this place is really good. Something about a place like this brings in a lot of attractive people, too! Suggestion: Go early to get the good seats and a parking spot. Get a minimum of one mojito per visit! Bonus: Because of Berkowitz' genius, he offers a gluten free menu...yep, even the fried clams, oyster sliders, dinner rolls and a pretty good beer. In fact, anything fried is gluten free. I eat everything but I tried it since my friend didn't... these didn't seem like other crappy gluten free stuff i've had before. I was very impressed!
(5)
Barbara W.
Excellent food, superb service and attention to my food allergies! Love this place!!
(5)
Carol C.
Excellent service at bar but mussels tough and chowder under seasoned. Disappointed.
(3)
Kasey F.
Legals is a good stand by for their chowder (official chowder served at presidential inaugurations). I went to this one twice in one weekend as it was nice to view the harbor while dining. The first time my mother ordered a battered shrimp dish but received the open white fish sandwich, not sure how the mix up happened there! But she tried it and enjoyed it. I had the fish tacos which were good, a little sweetened for my taste. The second time I mixed it up and got the tuna burger which was delicious ground tuna with a mix of spices and cilantro. We also tried the slice of chocolate mocha cake. Even with two of us it was so rich and sweet I couldn't finish my half!
(3)
Cami F.
Went to legal harborside with a friend for drinks and apps on the roof (top floor) and loved it! Perfect portioned food and menu made specifically for light snacking/dinner. Also their pitchers of cocktails were great and the view amazing. The only downside was the wait to get upstairs.
(4)
Sandy W.
I've always been a fan of Legal Seafood, and decided to give Legal Harborside a try for the New Year's with the family. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess was not happy. My nephew who is 2 years old said "Happy New Year" to her twice, and totally ignored him. STRIKE ONE! We asked the hostess for a booster seat for my nephew, it never delivered. STRIKE TWO! Let's talk about the food here... the clam chowder is $6.50, which was the size of a small mug. All the portions here are smaller and more expensive than the regular Legal Seafoods. The special I had was the grilled tuna coated with panko with a side of soba noodles. The noodles were very salty, couldn't finish half of it. The fish was dry, and the fish was over fried! STRIKE THREE! My brother had the Fisherman's Trio, at $15.95 ~ 3 shrimps, 3 scallops and a teeny piece of scrod! STRIKE FOUR! The mussels with curry was full of sand! STRIKE FIVE! A side of jasmine rice about a half cup ~ $3.95! STRIKE SIX! Now, onto the service.... our waitress was not attentive, our table was filled with finished appetizers, chowders and it was not cleared off. I had to ask her to take those away before our main entrees arrive, I had to ask her to refill everyone's glasses of water, and she was yapping away with the other waiters/waitresses at the corner! STRIKE SEVEN! One of the waiters came over and took my mom's cup away when she asked for a refill! STRIKE EIGHT! Get the picture? Overall, HUGE disappointment - not going back! On one last note, the view of the harbor was awesome!!!
(1)
Tom V.
Good, not great seafood. Nice atmosphere and great harbor views.
(3)
Dick S.
I have eaten at several legal sea foods. This is the best of any of them. I had oysters, clam chowder and a lobster roll. The service was great and the view was really good as well. I will come back here again and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it was a little noisy and pricey.
(4)
Janet W.
This review is for June 8th 2013 Saturday night. The place was packed with a two hour wait for dinning and a 45 min for the rooftop. Just by chance a couple was leaving a table by the window. They are first come first serve. We ordered the fresh oysters. 4 different kinds and they were all excellent. We ordered a second dozen of the small ones I forget what they were called. When they arrived they looked different and are server assured us they were they same. She checked with the kitchen and sure enough they were wrong. Without even asking they were taking off the bill. I must say they were very good. The shrimp cocktail was excellent, spicy and sweet very good. The mussels had a nice spicy, coconut milk with slight red peppers. The fried clams are the best clams I have ever had anywhere. I order fried whole clams at most seafood restaurants just to see how they are prepared. We also had the fried scallops. Whoever was on the deep fryer for the night did an excellent job. Perfectly done! After dinner we went to the rooftop to check out the crowed. It was way to busy. Very loud and crowed. We left for the 2nd floor bar. Had one drink on the 2nd floor and called it a night. I would return. Think ahead and try to make a reservation for outside on the water would be very nice. It is a very big place but very well run.
(5)
Ann B.
Wow! Go here! This is nothing like your parent's Legal Seafood! The downstairs has a great dressed up seafood market feel, lots of bar and water side indoor/ outdoor table seating. One long wall essentially opens up completely making the entire space feel like it's outside, harborside. The bar is a circle shape nestled into an all glass corner allowing great views from all seats! The staff was very friendly, and despite only being open a few weeks, really seemed to know the menu and work well together. Now for the food - I had a FANTASTIC lobster roll! Really light mayo, big pieces of meat and a nice seasoning. The menu in general is pretty broad with some old standards (fish + chips) and a fantastic selection of oysters! I can't wait to visit again!!
(4)
Paul G.
2nd floor is a huge disappointment and a rip-off. I had the cobia which was prepared asian style with bok choy, asian BBQ sauce and peanuts etc.....it literally was disgusting with BBQ sauce that tasted like unsweetened ketchup...almost not edible...and $42!! My wife had the stuffed dover sole which was cold on the outside and way too salty. The service was sub-par as well with long waits between drinks and it took way to long to get the check. In conclusion, NOT WORTH IT!! Just stick with the fish/chips or tuna burger on the 1st floor
(2)
Jessica G.
We have been twice since it has opened. Food seems remarkably fair priced for waterfront Boston dining (sandwiches and pizza in the 10-15 dollar range and full dinners 20-25). Both times we ordered the white clam pizza. One of us isn't a huge fan of clams, nor pizza with clams - and that one of us lived in New Haven for 5 years. But both of us really LOVED the white clam pizza. Although the consistency of the pizza has been lacking, it has been great both times! They have plenty of servers for the number of tables. Our food has always arrived within 15 mins of ordering. Everything we have had has been great! The cocktail list is a little disappointing. They have a thorough beer list (most of which are reasonably priced), and many wines by the glass (although not as reasonably priced). All in all, a good value and a great harbor view.
This place has really turned into a tourist trap- first clue if you are in a tourist trap if the waiter asks if you have ever been here before and you reply yes and he has a shocked look. The wait staff is a mess here. They are constantly bumping into each other (maybe the flow of the dining room needs help) or you see them walking with food not sure which table to bring it to. We expect a wait and were told 2 hours. We went to the bar, grabbed a seat and had some appetizers while waiting. An hour later, our table was ready. The same thing happened on our last visit. The front desk seems to double the expected wait time, almost hoping that you will walk out rather than wait. Seems odd.
(3)
Ben D.
Gorgeous location. I'd definitely go back solely for the harborside view. The food portions were smaller than I was expecting based on price, but quite tasty. Great drink menu as well. I liked that there was a bar on the third floor where we were able to wait before our table was ready. Nice relaxing atmosphere
(4)
Michael H.
We dined outside at the Floor 1 restaurant. We were seated promptly for our reservation and our outside table gave us a beautiful harbor view away from the noisy inside! I always enjoy Legal Seafood and our night at harbor side was no exception. Their chowder is great and we enjoyed portugese stew, calamari, shrimp cocktail and a very delicious tomato/peach salad!!! Price range is very good for floor 1 and wine list has some good options! A great spot to enjoy a great meal and view. We had hoped to try the roof deck but the line was very long and the crowd young enough to be our kids!!!
We had hummus/olive oil and Catamala/fig with oita for an appatizer. The olive/fig combo was supurb. The hummus was bland. Our server was super friendly and gave excellent suggestions. Our course was the grilled scallops with chard and slaw. The chard was ok, the slaw a bit heavy, but neither was bad. The scallops were amazing!! We loved every bite! Dessert was Boston Cream Pie. Interesting take on an old Boston staple. Serive was great, food was great overall. Had a nice dinner!
(4)
Angel L.
Review for rooftop deck (floor 3) Atmosphere: The ambiance is perfect whether you're looking for an informal or a formal night. I've come casually dressed while the table next to me was all in dresses and suits but the atmosphere is always the same...fun. Whether you're there just to drink and have appetizers or have an actual meal, I've always been comfortable. The waiters and waitresses do what they can to accommodate you even when it's busy so I can't complain. Seafood: For eating sushi for most of my life and working at a sushi restaurant, I can say that hands down this is one of the best sushi I've had in a VERY long time. You can immediately tell from every roll the chef makes that he uses only fresh fish and perfect proportions of every ingredient. My friends and I ordered a couple of rolls and including Unagi (Eel) Roll, Rainbow Roll, Red Dragon, Hawaiian Roll, Orange Dragon Roll, and I must say they were all delicious. I'm a tuna person so I'm a bit biased when choosing my rolls but I didn't have one complaint for any of them. My all times favorites however were 2 items that were not on the menu. We were able to put in a request for two AMAZING dishes. One was sushi pizza and the other an inverted crab Rangoon (as seen in the picture). The sushi pizza consisted of a thin seaweed rice sandwich that was lightly fried to make it crunchy. It was then topped with either salmon or tuna and garnished with a red/green pepper and tempura flakes. IT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Indeed it was very creative. Overall, I'd love to return when the weather is nicer to dress up and take pictures outside or just another Friday when I'm craving the amazing sushi I've had.
(5)
Piyush P.
Good stuff. From a Texan. Wasn't busy. Was close to the hotel. Food was great. Fajitas. Mmmm
(5)
Taylor K.
We came to the first floor for dinner. It was very very good! We went to the bar first and the bartender was super friendly and very helpful with guiding us through the menu. Had good beer and wine variety. Our waiter was also great. We got the lobset and mushroom pizza for an app. IT WAS AMAZZINNNNNGNGNGNG I highly recommend! We got a variety of meals but everyone was extremely pleased with literally EVERYTHING we ate. The view and ambience is gorgeous and perfect. There are also lots of places near by! HIGHLY recommend Legal Harborside.
(5)
Michelle S.
Was here on business in early October '13 and had one of the best dinner experiences due to the fantastic service I had and the oysters were to die for! I had 8-10 in one evening.... about 4-5 different type. The chowder was some of the best I had while touring New England over 10 days. Also the lobster roll was amazing. Plus sitting there with full views of the harbor is just amazing ambiance. Rooftop bar is pretty cool too. Even better views and seemed pretty hipster. Overall a great experience and fantastically superb oysters!
(5)
Jackie R.
Terrible service. They wouldn't let my friend in after we waited for 20 minutes because they thought she wasn't sober enough but (she was and) it's been raining all night. Really messed up.
(1)
Sarah B.
Great place on the harbor for business dinners! food is always phenomenal and the Oysters are huge!
(5)
Jeff D.
The same review I give every Legal Seafoods. The quality of the seafood is excellent and something the owners (who I know personally) truly care about. Your best bet (IMO) is to go with the wood-grilled items. Great fish, prepared simply over open flames just can't be beat. Except maybe by a few raw oysters. And the beef lettuce wraps...those kicked ass.
(4)
Rhonda C.
I don't give a place 5 stars unless it is over the top great. Went there in early October with some friends for a late lunch. The waitstaff was awesome and seated us near the window. The wine list was great, and the seafood was so fresh! I loved my lobster. My husband loved his oyster selection. My friend ordered the mussels, and they were incredible. Can't think of a better seafood place in Boston.
(5)
Pam D.
Love this place. Dined on the second floor. The food was excellent and the waitstaff superb. The top bar patio has great views. If it is busy, seats are hard to find, as well as the waitstaff; they did not seem very experienced. But I went for the second floor dining and that is what gets the 5-star review.
(5)
Mindy M.
Have been to the rooftop bar twice. Service is always crap. I don't understand the criteria for being waited on properly up there but if you can put up with that fact, it's really a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the water. I'd give the upstairs bar one and a half stars. Have also dined downstairs and the food and service were great. The fall drink right now, Apple Sangria, is delicious and I'm not one of those sweet specialty drink people. Also had the House salad and wood-fired scallops. Pass on the Japanese eggplant. It's over seasoned. Would give my dining experience 4 stars.
(3)
Edward M.
I made a reservation for the first floor for early on a Wednesday evening. Its 3 floors and a generally huge place. Got there at 5.30pm and the place was jammed. I asked the waitress if this is normal and she said it was the after work crowd combined with the concert next door later on that evening. I guess the lesson here is make sure you make reservations even if you don't think you'll need them. If I'm not mistaken the second floor is a fancier restaurant and the third floor is a rooftop that overlooks Boston Harbor and mostly serves drinks and apps. So we picked the first floor for dinner. I'll call it "energetic" but others might call it just plain noisy. Its big, wide-open and busy. I wouldn't come here if you're looking for a romantic dinner. The second floor might be better for that but will probably cost you more too. The food, at least on the 1st floor where I was, is pretty straight-up Legal Seafood. Which is to say tasty if basic seafood dishes. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy most people and portions are about average. In other words if you like the food at Legal you'll like the food here. If you don't then you won't. Simple as that. If you're in from out of town and never been to an LSF and you're looking for a decent seafood place this isn't a bad choice. Which is what I can say about the other aspects of Legal Harborside. It looks and feels like most other LSF locations. You will get solid if not eclectic seafood dishes, professional service in a reasonably attractive and busy physical location. This LSF is also like the others in that I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get. Honestly I had heard about this enormous LSF location and frankly I was hoping for something more "special". I wasn't disappointed per se but I wanted (or at least hoped for) more than a normal LSF. Maybe I should have booked a reservation the 2nd floor instead and found what I was looking for. It's a nice place with tasty seafood dishes and good service, just don't expect to be blown away. 3.5 starss for the food, 4 for the location on the water and 4 for the service. That rounds up to 4 stars.
(4)
Anne S.
Having had about 100 lobster rolls in my life, I have never paid $30 for one. They are usually about $17-$22. But I was feeling the warm weather and went with it. Save your $30 and order something else. The .25c hot dog bun looked like it was stepped on and not $30 worth of lobster. This reminded my why I don't come here.
(3)
Karen C.
We were here for Valentine's day and the food was amazing. The sashimi and sushi was incredibly fresh. The chef was very cute and came out to greet us to make sure everything was prefect. It wasn't too crowded when we were there because we started the night early and did get crowded later when we were done with dinner. Everyone was really polite and helpful.
(5)
Paul C.
Just awesome. Pretty much a sure thing if youre looking for good food, service, atmosphere, great view. Its a no brainer!
(5)
Jiyea C.
The second flood doesn't even look like any other Legal Sea Foods! It almost looks like a fine dining restaurant...almost. Good for celebrations, family dinners, group gatherings...just make a reservation! Food was 3.5 stars but the view persuaded me to bump it up to 4 stars. We got to the restaurant early for our 8pm reservation, so we decided to go to the 2nd floor bar to have a drink while we waited. Drinks try to be fancy, with French liquors and whimsical names. They were pricey at $11-$12 a pop, but tasted pretty good. Beer is served in goblets that look like less than a pint. Would not recommend. We had the tasting menu, and all of it was delicious though I found everything a little saltier than I prefer. the complimentary bread spread comes with different kinds of pastries and was beautifully presented (as was everything else). We thought it was a little interesting that filet mignon was the main dish in the tasting as we were expecting seafood given the venue, but nevertheless it was well executed. Notes: The top floor rooftop deck does not take reservations, and there is usually a line on the side of the restaurant on the ground floor to get to the third floor. If you make a reservation on OpenTable, the email confirmation tells you to call the restaurant by noon the day of your reservation, otherwise they will release your table for other diners. I don't know how strict they are about this, but just an FYI. It would suck if you forgot to make this phone call and showed up on time only to find out that your table is no longer reserved for you..
(4)
Meredith V.
We arrived for our 7:30 reservation and were immediately walked back to our table. The weather was beautiful so they had opened the entire first floor to the waterfront. What a great view! We ordered a few different types of bruschetta to start. My favorite ended up being the tuna crudo, fresh and just a little bit spicy. I had the lobster roll which is made to order, so I had them hold the mayo and bring me a side of melted butter. The lobster was sweet and pleasing. One of my friends ordered the fritto misto which was a huge platter of fried seafood and pickled veggies. He let me try a piece of the cauliflower and it was delish. Our server, Chelsey F made the experience even better. She was funny and efficient and covered a few little timing issues with the kitchen honestly and professionally. All in all it was a very nice experience.
(4)
Ramin S.
I am giving a 5 here because I've been there multiple times and have never had a bad experience. Food is great, server was friendly and we were seated at a great table outside. I must say, however, we were not checked on once after having been brought the food. They weren't too busy so I was a bit surprised. They did add a complimentary dessert as it was my fathers birthday! Overall, id go back, this place is great.
(5)
Inci K.
I thought it was dark, industrial looking, loud. I was going for a waterfront view, light, open and bright atmosphere for my guests. The food was fine, but I was too floored by how loud/echo-ey dark and industrial looking it was. It was an open kitchen plan - which may sound nice, to a point but it just adds to the noise and the industrial looking feel. Unless you have/ask for a waterfront seat this is what you're up against as well.
(3)
Chris L.
Nice swanky restaurant. Only went for a company event. They have three levels and the harbor/water views are great on the top floor. The top floor has an open-air deck ... which would be closed for winter / cold / bad weather. Top level was nicely laid out with couches and bar stools and we had some very tasty food and drinks. I think we had hand-made potato chips, crab cakes, mini lobster rolls, grass fed beef mini burgers, sangria, and a bunch of other stuff. (Highly recommend those mini lobster rolls, it tasted like there was a bit of lemon zest and lemon vinaigrette?) The rest of the top level was covered. There were two floors below that, and a nice spiral staircase and elevator access. I liked their decor and layout. They had pretty steady patronage (i.e., it was popular) but I never felt like I couldn't move around or that it was stuffed to or beyond capacity. As with most Legal-related restaurants, I wouldn't go there regularly. You at least know you are getting pretty good food (good quality) but it tends to be pricy.
(4)
Annalisa B.
I was in Boston to celebrate my birthday with some friends. On one of the trolly tours the guide told us that Legal Seafood was a fancy and upscale restaurant which was a little intimidating. We explored other options which turned out to be not the kind of place a girl wants to have a birthday dinner. Luckily Legal was in sight so we decided on taking up the upscale challenge. Maybe in Boston it's upscale but for someone who lives in Manhattan, it's a regular non-chain four star restaurant. The food was awesome. We ordered clams for appetizers and honestly I've never seen clams disappeared that fast. My lobster pot pie was a wonderful surprise. I had the option of having the crust since it wasn't covering the filling like most pot pies do. The staff was so friendly and attentive. I would definitely go there again.
(4)
Kim Y.
Im a huge fan of legals! I came here with my bf and I made a mistake by making my RSVP for 2nd floor dining cause I actually wanted 1st floor dining, the staff was just sooo polite and accommodating! there were no open RSVP but we got bench seating :) I'm addicted to oysters and they had katama bays! Yumm! I ordered the lobster roll and asked for it to be warmed with butter instead of mayo and they did that no problem but they were lacking on the lobster meat! My sister did the same thing at the legals in Braintree and they packed that roll full of lobster!!! My bf ordered the rigatoni and shrimp...not good..but that's his fault, I told him not to order it but he wanted to try something new. He ended up eating half of my lobster roll!
(4)
A D.
***BUYER BEWARE*** - The bartender on the roofdeck ALTERED MY RECEIPT to increase her tip, after being EXTREMELY rude to my party! Management will not help me and I have to go through my credit card company - Keep your receipt or pay cash!
(1)
Raisa S.
I'm really never eating at a chain restaurant, even if it's a small local chain I always lean towards visiting a one of a kind type of place. Because of their extended gluten free options and the high quality meal I have enjoyed at every LSF that I've been to I am a fan as well as a consistent customer. This time Joe and I decided to try Legal Harborside. He had a gift card so we figured we'd treat ourselves a little bit and dine upstairs at the formal dining area. I didn't really think to check the menu, because at this point I'm familiar with LSF's FANTASTIC calamari (I'm not gluten free) and delicious entree options. I know this is awful as a Bostonian BUT I'm not a HUGE seafood fan. So the fact that I LOVE lsf for the steak, says a lot about their tasty food. I only really eat shrimp and calamari as far as seafood goes. So anyways, everything about the more formal atmosphere was AMAZING. They only had late reservations open on a Friday night since we waited until last minute, so we figured we'd head in early and sit at the bar until 9:30. The bartender was very attentive, drinks were great, and we split a crab salad appetizer which was really tasty (my first time trying crab). The hostess was really nice and came over a little before 9:30 to let us know our table was ready. The most amazing part of the night was that it was a random night in August, but there were fireworks over the harbor! They happened to seat us RIGHT next to the window during the fireworks so we had some of the best seats in the house. This made the whole fine dining experience even finer. Our waiter was very attentive and really nice. Everything service-wise was 5 stars. The reason I only give it 3 is because I felt like this menu wasn't really as good as the regular LSF menu. It has less on it, which would be expected in finer dining, but they just really didn't have as much for gluten free options besides the dinner rolls. I also felt like the quality wasn't THAT much better for the price difference. The ambiance, etc. made it a special night but I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the extra money if we didn't have a gift card.
(3)
Whitney R.
Friends recommended to eat here when visiting Boston. We loved it. Lots to choose from on both the drinks and food menus. We both tried the clam chowder which is a must. Nice spot and lots of choices on where to sit.
(4)
Mindy T.
Love this location! 3 different floors.. all with different vibes. Went on the Roof Deck first for some drinks while we waited for our table. There was no wait, but when we got upstairs, the place was packed. The windows were closed because it had rained earlier so it wasn't too warm out but there was still daylight! You can see boats driving by. Awesome view. Strawberry sangria and white sangria is really good here! Went back down (took elevator instead of climbing down all those flights in heels) when it was almost our reservation time to grab drinks at downstairs bar instead. Ended up just sitting there instead of waiting for our table. Love the round bar even though you can't really people watch as much if you get stuck behind the giant beams. Started with some oysters. The Kumamoto oysters are the best!!! They are small in size but packed with flavor. I love Legal's mignonette.. it's load with whole black peppercorns that give it a good kick. I wasn't too hungry so I ended up getting 2 appetizers as my meal. Rosemary Scallops. Two large scallops skewered on a stick of rosemary served on top of a bed of chickpeas and chorizo. Cooked perfectly, loved the flavors of the chickpeas cooked with chorizo. The sauce was delicious. Baked Stuffed Artichokes are AMAZING! You have to try them. Three large pieces of artichoke hearts stuffed with a scallop and shrimp stuffing. It was creamy and cheesy and the seafood was so fresh. Just the perfect amount of browning on top from the melted cheese. So good! Made everyone try this and they loved it. Caesar salad is really good here too. I love their dressing. Croutons are a little on the sweet side. Seasonal Crisp was peaches and berries. Delicious! Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Boston Cream Pie was dry. Cake was too overcooked and the custard was dry. Ganache was good though. Service was a little on the slow side. It was not that busy either. I noticed that you get more attention when you are a group of "businessmen" than if you are a group of girls. Either way, you should give your customers the same service. You never know who works in the industry also. Service would get 2 stars.
(4)
Jackie K.
How bad can sushi be? Very bad. Like amazingly bad. How much can you water down cocktails? A lot How can you eat such mediocre food and pay so much? Boston restaurants on the water can charge whatever they want. I've been here a few times both for food and drinks and its just pretentious, overpriced and has bad food. The food so bland--how is it so possible to make food so bland? Service has been friendly and good although the staff seems stretched thin over the tables. Sangria is bad--do not get it, you will regret it. I'd rather go to Margaritas in Waltham and that place is bad but also on the water and not as bad as this place.
(1)
Lindsey H.
This is my go to spot.. the food is always great, and it's conveniently located right across from my apartment. It has a great view of the harbor making the atmosphere nice and relaxing no matter what the time of day. I've been here with family for dinner as well as for drinks with friends and I can't say I've ever been disappointed. I would highly recommend the clam pizza, the oysters (they have a great selection), and their margaritas are delicious. Reservations are always a good idea...
(4)
terry b.
We really enjoyed our visit here, we had a great server Jared that made really good suggestions. This restaurant is right on the water with great view and a really nice vibe. We would return again.
(4)
Brian B.
Great place to stop in for sea food. The location is amazxing sitting directly on Boston Harbor. A bit pricey but worth the stop. Highly recommend!
(4)
Matt S.
I've been to both the restaurant and the rooftop area. Starting with the restaurant first, it is rather good and the atmosphere/decor pretty exciting and impressive. Legal seafood is pretty well known for having quality seafood so it's hard to argue there. The deck and seating area around there have a great view, but nothing beats the rooftop deck in that regards. Although the menu is more limited up there (just sushi and a couple of simple grill options), the view up there is excellent and is perfect for lunch on a nice day. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a bite to eat in the seaport area.
(5)
Josephine L.
This is actually a review for floor 2 of the Legal Harborside complex, but Yelp doesn't seem to have a listing for that. The space is undoubtedly gorgeous and perfect for a night of fine dining. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't meet expectations. I had the Halibut with lobster and the portions were absolutely tiny. A small hunk of fish, a few fried cauliflowers and two tiny pieces of lobster. It was good but I was finished within 5 minutes and still hungry. And all this for $38? For that matter, almost every entree on the menu is in the $30s and yet the portion size is consistently small. I also had a cosmo and while it was tasty, it was also incredibly watered-down and sugary and tasted nothing like a traditional cosmo. Within our party, we had 3 orders of cosmos and no two drinks ever turned out the same. I would have expected better from the bar. The Maple Leaf was quite good, though. I will give props for the service. Our party had a lot of trouble getting together on time (out-of-towners stuck in traffic) and the staff let us keep our reservation even though we were an hour late when we were finally seated. Our waiter(s) were pretty attentive throughout the meal and were quite friendly. So kudos to them.
(3)
Jay P.
Have been here three times. Each time it has been insanely crowded, noisy and pretentious (most restaurants in Boston I have found to be this way - not sure what that is about, but they need to get over it! ). The food is pretty ordinary - which is sad as they do seem to have some really quality sea food at hand. The recipes and dishes are just totally lacking in anything that resembles creativity or an awareness of what is happening in the American culinary scene. Service has always been spotty and rushed. Prices are not insane, but they are not a good value either. My last visit was a disaster. I pretty much had to wait on myself - getting up several times to ask for things like condiments and silverware. Wow. Skip it, head in to a neighborhood and get something better.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Legal definitely lived up to the hype for me. Had probably the best plate of scallops I've ever had. Also the size of the order was quite large. Also had a very tasty cup of clam chowder. All in all great experience and would highly recommend checking out Legal Harborside.
(4)
Kelsey C.
The longer I wait to review the 2nd Floor of Legal Harborside, the lower its rating gets. So I figured I should get on it before the rating dips to zero. With a breathtaking waterfront location, pristine dining room, tasty drinks, and a menu that screamed of quality seafood, this imposing structure stood full of promise. This promise was manifest in the saintly patience of the staff. Thanks to a couple of incompetent cabbies, our group ended up being 45 minutes late for our reservation, but the host and hostess showed no signs of irritation. Unfortunately, when it was time to order, Legal Harborside showed its true colors. The majority of my table of 8 wanted to order it, and the remainder of the table was fatally allergic to half the things on it, but we were informed that it was not possible to accommodate that. Translation: order from the regular menu or die. Great service. Truly. The entrees weren't much either. My Olive Oil Poached Tuna was totally bland though the tuna was perfectly seared. Seared but not salted... The Misty Knoll Farms Chicken was better, and I was told that the Alaskan king crab topping theFilet Mignon was incredible. The dessert was a so-called chocolate mousse that turned out to be more of a gooey indecision. Too moist to be a brownie, too dry to be a mousse. Weird... I feel some residual guilt writing a bad review since the hosts were so polite about our tardiness, but I imagine it's easier to be patient when only half the dining room is full at 7 PM on a Friday night. I think I'd jump into the harbor before I came here again.
(2)
I M.
Got the oysters as apps, really good selection can't complaint. The grilled swordfish was on the dry side, probably trying something different next time. Fries were ok, there are better options for sides on the menu.
(4)
Michel D.
This is a review of the second-floor "gourmet" restaurant. I came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday with my wife and my in--laws - we were six in total and we all know our food and our wine. We have long been fans of Legal Seafoods, and have eaten in multiple locations throughout the Boston area, so we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this one. I have to say, it started well. The decor of the restaurant and the bar is nice, there is a galley where you can see the food being prepared, the tables are far enough from one another to provide privacy, there is nice view of the water and the lighting is well done. We had a drink at the bar before our meal, and the bartender made excellent cocktails and had detailed knowledge of the wines on hand. Then we were seated. The menu is dysfunctional. At first glance, there was nothing I wanted on it - I wanted to suggest we just go to the normal Legal on the first floor. It is a completely misguided attempt to be high end and gourmet. Everything is too complex, overdone and has too many things going on. It's alright to have some dishes like that, but on the seafood front, there was nothing that was not just a premium piece of fish, cooked to perfection with maybe just some lemon-butter-parsely on top of it and a side of super fresh vegetables. To be honest, most items made me think of a winter menu despite the fact that it was a beautiful August day. I don't think the staff here spends enough time on local markets to find the best in-season produce. We ordered oysters as appetizers, and the presentation was highly lacking. There were no small forks brought with the dish. The waiter messed up on our wines and we had to re-iterate who had ordered what wine before he went back to the bar to re-place our order. We had to ask for bread to be brought to the table, and the bread dish itself was ridiculous. The bread plate here consists of a few cuts arranged to look like some sort of sailboat, and at best enough for two people, never mind six. The main courses came out and did not deliver any "wow" factor. They were good, but nothing special and did not deserve the price tag they came with. Everyone ordered fish, and we all agreed that for the most part, the fish at the regular Legal is better at a fraction of the cost! We ordered our desserts and the order was blotched. The waiter had to go back to the kitchen to fix it. When our bill arrived, it was of course substantial, but we were expecting that. What we did not expect was the poor quality of our experience at that price. The service is amateurish and disorganized at best, and what's coming out of the kitchen is far from memorable. For the price, there are far better places to go for a memorable, satisfying experience. At least we had a beautiful view on the water throughout our meal!
(2)
Erik O.
Roof deck review only It's nice, very trendy. Your own privet bathrooms. Decent drinks, a little pricy, and decent appetizer sized foods. The view is ok, but I must say that since it is n the otherwise of the WTC, ABG and whiskey priest have it beat, by a long shot. Cool spot though. Only complaint: it gets kinda crowded with douchy after workers.
(3)
Richard R.
Lobster roll skimpy and only claws when compared to other Legal locations. Mussels and lobster pizza outstanding. Great outdoor patio on the water.
(4)
Silvia V.
I ended up at Legal Harborside last Sunday (Mother's Day) with two friends for lunch. It was a lovely sunny day and eating by the water only made sense. We didn't have reservations and even though the restaurant was full, we ended up being seated at the bar overlooking the ocean as we walked in. We ordered a sample of 12 local oysters to share. They were fresh, juicy and very delicious. I had the grilled swordfish for lunch which came with barely any veggies even though the menu said it came with cucumber, tomato, chickpeas, fennel, basil, lemon olive oil dressing. The swordfish was good, but I was still hungry after lunch. My friend doesn't eat onions, so before ordering Yellowfin Tuna with orzo salad and sweet & sour Japanese eggplant she asked whether the side dishes contain any onions, the waitress said no. When our entrees very delivered both her side dishes were full of onions. We complained and got some ice cream free of charge. The ice cream was good even though it was plain old vanilla. Being there on a busy day we were surprised by how many times one of the waiters kept bringing food that other people ordered to us. It was a bit odd. Anyway, when you go to any of the waterfront restaurants you know that you are paying for the location and not necessarily for the quality or quantity of food. Go to Legal Harborside for oysters if not for anything else.
(3)
Jessica W.
Best ever, their menu is totally different from the other legal seafood, the price is quite reasonable, but every dish has special creativity and good tasty. Totally love it.
(5)
TinoX T.
Awesome View,Good Food
(4)
Katherine D.
This review is strictly for a few experiences drinking on the upper floor. We got comfy seats, but if we hadn't it would have been way too crowded. The drinks were overpriced across the board. I know its the Seaport, but mixed drinks at over $10 is bad business. The crowd was rowdy for sure, and not really my scene. Our server was visibly agitated when I ordered a water. I'm sorry that I'm not made of money to take down an overpriced, and not very creative martini. I ended up with an alcoholic libation later, but she was resentful of the party for taking her prime real estate, even though the rest of us were indulging heavily. Pros, the space is nice. The view is great. I enjoyed the seating we snagged. The music was good, albeit a bit loud, and the door staff were very polite and pleasant.
(3)
Jane H.
Eh, Legal is Legal. You probably won't be disappointed and it won't knock your socks off. I had some sort of fish taco thingie, liked my cocktail - a ginny//lemonady something or other. See what I mean? I liked everything, but nothing was truly memorable.
(3)
Kim T.
2nd floor of Legal Harborside. I love the way this place is setup. 1st floor casual dining. 2nd fine dining. 3rd outside bar. There was a concert going on next store, score for us! I was visiting the home town and decided to come here for a nice dinner with my girlfriends. The waiters are so attentive, and so helpful with their food selections. It was a long dinner, but an exceptional one. We left with home made mini cookie instead of mints. :) I definitely will be back. Food: - Bread plate: ridiculous!! :) The corn bread, I think I had more than my share. Sorry, I love corn bread. - Melon Soup with Shrimp Salsa - Chef's surprise. Wasn't sure how this would taste, but wow! - Steamed Mussels: not too bad, but didn't wow me. Plus was that they were out of the shell - Butter Poached Lobster: holy crap. Yay for being completely de-shelled. The flavor was ridiculous!!! So sweet, and juicy. - Desserts: all were good! Don't remember what I ordered, but I left happy. Maybe I'll try the first floor this time, since they offer different food.
(5)
Nathan S.
Was at the Boston Convention Center for a long weekend and the Legal Harborside was worth a repeated visit (3 Legal visits in two days). About me: live in western NY (I used to live in Boston), so being at the coast I wanted to consume as much seafood as possible. (Also strange, while living in Boston for 6 years, I never ate at a Legal, I suppose it was always available and therefore was never a significant priority for dining out). The seafood and views are very good with lots of great seats including bar/window seats that are perfect if dining by oneself. I'd have no complaints, but I also ate at the Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill location had 1) cheaper prices for oysters and little-necks; 2) a more extensive menu; and 3) a much larger lobster roll. Which makes me think maybe the restaurants are franchised? Regardless, I had a great overall experience, friendly and helpful staff, and surprisingly, I didn't feel the least bit ill after consuming lots of fish and raw seafood. Legal's lobster roll is one of the best you'll find anywhere. The clam chowder was good, but didn't blow my expectations out of the water. And of course, the oysters and little-necks were great, but my ability to compare quality is limited.
(4)
Joe T.
We had two minor issues last night. The first: the bouncer checking id's to get to the third floor was rude. I'm from out of town (Pennsylvania) and I was simply showing him where my birthday was on my ID and he snapped saying "I know where it is!" Okay I was just trying to be helpful. After we hung out at the bar, we sat down at our table on the first floor. Our waiter, Santiago, was wonderful! The second issue: the crab legs were not fresh. We told our waiter and he was mortified. The manager came over, profusely apologized, and offered a more expensive substation at no charge, even after he comped the dish. We declined because, in all honesty, we were stuffed. When they brought the check they brought us over two comped and delicious desserts and apologized again. It was a great meal and great time. The customer service was amazing. I will definitely return. Also, get the swordfish gyro.
(4)
Laurie L.
This is a great place to eat and also buy your seafood in bulk at an amazing price. I usually buy my lobster tails and shrimp and then have my waitress serve it to me .. So fresh!! Pure love .. I like there drinks and the oysters there. The only down fall is the service. Very slow and it takes a while to get seated.
(4)
Matt F.
I was very skeptical of this place because they had so many of them around Boston (even at the terminal where we arrrived at Boston-Logan airport). I thought it might be too "chainy", but I was wrong ... Went to the Harborside location in the Seaport District for lunch on a very hot Saturday (without reservations). Got there around 11:00, and were able to get a couple seats at the 1st floor bar to watch the British Open. As a beer connoisseur, I was happy to see some local craft beer choices ("Cambridge Amber" from Cambridge Brewing Co. was my 1st choice ... "Beer of the Gods" from High & Mighty Beer Co. was my 2nd choice ... both were excellent). We ordered the Shellfish Platter to start things off, and this is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. The oysters were sooo small, you could barely enjoy them. Shrimp and crablegs were good, but I was really looking forward to some sizeable oysters on that platter. For my entree, I had the Lobster Roll ... hands down the best thing I had during my ENTIRE trip up to Boston. The combination of the chunks of lobster on a perfectly toasted brioche roll cannot be described. I could not stop talking about how good this lobster roll tasted. I may have had a dream about it for 2-3 nights straight upon my return to Charlotte, NC. The fries/cole slaw that came alongside it were pretty good, but the bar was set too high for anything else after I devoured the lobster roll. The price was fair ... it says "market price" on the menu, which may scare some people. I think it ended up being around $16/$17 for the lobster roll w/ fries ... if I had known how good it would taste, I would have paid triple the "market price". Did not get a chance to walk around (or go upstairs), but it looked really neat. On a final note, I did visit the Legal Sea Food at the airport after my flight was delayed. It was too early for a lobster roll (10:00 am), but I did grab another beer while watching the final round of the British Open. I was curious as to why they were able to serve beer before noon on a Sunday (the FoxSports bar across the gate told us alcohol could not be sold before noon on Sundays). However, no one at the Legal Sea Foods bar was complaining, as you could see Bloody Mary's, Screwdrivers, Mimosas, and Beers lined up all down the bar. In summary: Definitely go to Legal Sea Foods ... order the Lobster Roll, a local craft beer, and enjoy!
(4)
Dean O.
Went there this passed weekend. I ordered six oysters and they were awesome. My Wife ordered steamers and they were under cooked and looked like someone ran over them with their car. The main course was OK at best. One thing I can say is that the service was top notch. They promptly gave us a huge discount and apologized over and over again. I guess the simplest way to say it is it is just a little better than a Red Lobster. We stopped at Salmon Run Fishhouse in Lee and got a great meal.
(2)
Camellia I.
As a vegetarian I was surprised to find such an amazing veg friendly salad. lots of greens and with chickpeas. a perfect and complete meal. Four stars because my sisters food (the seafood trio) looked and tasted (in her opinion) of low quality. Tip: It's worth it to come to this LSF vs the one by the Aquarium on State st., this one has a great view of the harbor from all three floors!
(4)
Van N.
Disappointed. Have always enjoyed prior Legal dining experiences and was excited to try Harborside. Food was mediocre at best and service was horrible. Slow and rude.
(1)
Jennifer H.
I love Legal, and I have never been disappointed by them. I truly thought this would be an easy five-star review, but I have to drop a star for service and price. My friend and I chose to enjoy a Friday night on the second floor -- fine dining. So, I can understand the food being a bit spendy, but I thought many of the prices were over the top, especially given the service faux-pas. When you charge that much, everything should be perfect. Instead, I felt incredibly rushed by our waiter, who kept returning to the table when we had dropped many a subtle hint that we had not had a chance to look at the menu and wanted a leisurely meal where we could talk and relax. This frustrates me at a fine restaurant. Ok, enough of the bad, and on to the amazing! The building is incredible; you cannot miss the stunning glass and wood structure on the waterfront. Inside, everything is wide open, and the view is the star with floor-to-ceiling windows. We got a seat right next to the window on the water side, and the gracious hostess (Gina) was thoughtful enough to offer me a pashmina should my light sweater not be warm enough next to the glass. Nice touch. The food was perfection, and I will give the waiter a point for recommending the perfect white for my fish and the perfect red for my companion's steak -- and also for offering the half bottle solution when we were at a loss for how to select a compromise wine to complement both of our meals. We were offered an amuse bouche of, I believe, a potato and turnip soup -- very good. I also enjoyed a cucumber gimlet, which was a well balanced, slightly sweet and refreshing drink. I started with the steamed mussels ($13) with smoked tomato sauce , dried olives and lemon a brioche. It was the perfect starter for a chilly, windy Boston night -- very comforting. My companion chose the king crab ($12) with wasabi mayo, trout roe and ginger foam. The foam was humorous since it resembled soap suds, but the crap was outstanding. For entrees, I had the sauteed halibut with lobster, romanesco cauliflower puree, roasted heirloom radish and limoncello foam (more soap suds, $38). I also got to sample my companion's tomahawk steak with smoked bone marrow, cauliflower puree and creamed spinach ($56). This steak was perfectly charred on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. It was smoky and salty... like the most indulgent bacon you have ever had. My halibut was awesome. The saute resulted in a crispy exterior with a nice brown color, but the inside was moist and flaky. I'm normally not a fan of either califlower or radish, but the flavors were incredible and bounced off the halibut well. I wiped the plate clean. Will I go back? Most likely, but for that price, only on special occasion.
(4)
J W.
Amazing atmosphere - from fine dining, casual dining to hip raw bar - excellent. 3 stories - a place for everyone. We headed to the top floor and had sushi on the open deck. They had a few heat lamps, but the view and the atmosphere was excellent. Service was good, food was solid, place was the bomb.
(5)
Tom S.
Have eaten at Legal Harborside several times. Last night was disappointing. Arrived at 7 (no reservation) we were told it would be a 1.5 - 2 hour wait, but the tables in the market place were open to anyone... Low and behold there was a couple finishing up at a 4 top, and just paying their bill... we were in business. We sat down at about 7:15PM. It became apparent that the server (who was VERY friendly), was completely overwhelmed. I don't think that we got our drink order for 30 minutes after ordering them. EVERYTHING took forever. Drinks, bread, apps (chowder- how long does that take to make?) Finally when my dinner came out, the lobster claws were cold, and the tail was only warm. For spending $40 on a dish (lobster bake), I was super disappointed in both food and in service. I didn't bother to send it back, because at that point, I just wanted it to be over. In all, it took between 2:15 and 2:30 from start to finish. Probably won't go back for a while. Will definitely not sit in their marketplace again.
(2)
Anna C.
Wow. This place is phenomenal. We came just to have some New England Clam Chowder, but ended up staying for a while to soak up the gorgeous view. Then got sucked into ordering some sushi as well, which was very fresh. Everything was amazing -- food, service, atmosphere, view... even the price wasn't bad (not cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced either).
(5)
Melissa D.
Don't get me wrong- if you are able to get to the roof deck - it was amazing but a limited menu, staff rushing to get you out and snobby service turned me off. The first and second floors I have had their menu and it was good! Your standard but nothing blew me away. Views are amazing and it can get packed so open table it 2 weeks in advance to get the best times. The restaurant is very touristy. Prices are okay - city prices of 15-25 for a dinner entree. We went to the rooftop bar and it can get very hot up there with the furniture on a summer day so be prepared to get sunburned. They have delicious pitcher drinks which are more affordable than single serve drinks. However, when it was time to eat - not a lot of variety for the rooftop bar menu. Our server seemed more irritated than accommodating when our party grew. You would think she would be excited when a larger group equates a larger bill which equates a larger tip but she wasn't having it. This is a good place for Friday after work drinks and a great way to start the night but I don't see myself rushing to come back.
(3)
Debra L.
Loved the 3rd floor for an afternoon snack on a sunny winter afternoon. Beautiful space and view and wonderful service. I imagine in the summer this place would be insane, but it was perfect in February. I had a glass of Prosecco and my husband had a delicious Bloody Mary. I had a sip and regretted not getting one myself. The upstairs menu is limited but we were fine with that. We shared a dozen delicious oysters and a spicy tuna roll. It wasn't like a typical spicy tuna roll. It was more like a plain tuna roll with a mildly spicy sauce drizzled on top. I kind of liked it that way. You could really taste the tuna which was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back here! PS - It KILLS me that this place didn't open until after I left Fort Point Channel. Booo!
(5)
Mark W.
Very good food and service. Recommend the lobster Pizza
(4)
Sarah E.
Last night I had dinner at Legal Harborside and I literally hate it!!! First, the host was really unprofessional and received us with a little joke that the waiting time would be approximately 2hours. It wasn't funny at all because we were starving and we walked under rain to get there! Second, I had a $23 boring tiny swordfish with rice and mashed potatoes which I did not enjoy and I swear I could make something much better for 5 bucks!!! Or I could be the Legal Seafood chef!!! Either one!! Third, by the time we were leaving, one of the hosts shouted "Enjoy the weather"!!! That was so sarcastic and very unappropriated because it was raining and snowing and we had to walk to the parking a block away. Further more, you pay for public parking!!! Conclusion...Legal Harborside has awful services, boring food and unprofessional staff. Don't even waste your time and money there!!
(1)
Lesley P.
I am giving it a two to get your attention. All in all we had a good time, enjoyed the food, service and view. But the three of us had terrific sticker shock. We looked up the Legal Seafoods menus but this one is different so check the menu before you go. It differs per floor within the restaurant and NONE are the same as regular Legal Seafoods menus. They do a lot of a la carte and market pricing which really adds up. We had a dog with us so we were able to tie her up right outside the patio which was nice. We won't go back. The one upside is that we scored free Sunday parking at a nearby meter since parking can be expensive down there.
(2)
Burgess N.
We started in the top floor bar for cocktails. Only real complaint about that was the volume of the TV was deafening, and I am already practically deaf. Menu is a bit pricey, but that's to be expected in Boston. I had some delicious and very fresh oysters for an appetizer, then moved on to the Lobster Roll. It was very good. Chunky lobster meat with minimal garnishes. The service was great, even though our waiter was busy with other tables he spent plenty of time with us explaining the dishes, we didn't feel rushed at all. The main reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars was because of the noise level throughout the restaurant. It was crowded noise polluted from people and music, that in my opinion, was turned up too loud.
(4)
Nicole C.
We went for the oysters but got so much more. I wanted to bring my parents, from NY, for some fresh oysters. We ended up there for lunch because we were going to head over to Harpoon. I knew they would have good oysters, but didn't expect what we got. Diego was our server and he was awesome from the moment we sat down. He made some suggestions, we took them and we were not dissapointed. We started with a dozen oysters (Diego helped select the varieties), cups of chowder and a soup of the day all around. They oysters were fresh, clean and delicious. Their chowder was creamy and flavorful without being too thick. Next, my parents and I shared a lobster roll, the steamers, and the seafood stuffed artichokes. My husband got the skirt steak. Everything was perfectly done and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively, not to mention the nice view of the water up by the big windows, which open up to the dock during the warmer months. I can't wait to go back! P.S. get the sangria!
(5)
Chao D.
I love the sea food bere...recipient service is nlt that good..but the lobster is amazing...I like that
(5)
Ellen H.
Came on New Years Eve and could only get a 4:30pm reservation, but they did seat us at 4:30 despite only having 2 of 4 from our party there. **NOTE: This menu is NOT the same as other Legal Seafoods restaurants.** The menu itself is pretty small: a one-sheeter with extensive seafood options (duh) and almost NO "turf" options -- a skirt steak salad and one other steak option were the only meat options to be had. It is a seafood restaurant on the water, but I did expect a bit more variety. I had the clam chowder - delish! SUPER hot but scrumptious nonetheless. I ordered the buffalo shrimp as my meal; I expected a shrimp cocktail with some kind of buffalo rub, but what I got was deep-fried shrimp SWIMMING in buffalo sauce. Just ok, not great. The shrimp were huge which was really the only plus. We had to ask for bread about 5 times -- she would only bring one roll per person at the table and only when prompted. That was a little annoying in terms of service. The drinks were good, especially the mojito. Prices were lower than other Legal's, and lower than I'd expect, especially in Boston. I'd come back if I had a major hankering for seafood -- or clam chowder -- but it's not top on my list (maybe in summer -- great views!)
(3)
John B.
Great place. Fresh seafood and really not expensive (except for floor 2). First floor gets really busy, but you can always go to their take out counter. Second floor is amazing; shrimp cocktail is the best I've ever had, and the swordfish chop was astounding. Way to go guys!
(5)
Bob S.
This place is constantly busy, busy, busy!! I like the way the interior is arranged so that each seat gets a view of the harbor. The waitstaff is knowledgable and profesional (we've been here multiple times), the menu is very diverse giving customer's plenty of options to choose. I had the wood grilled sea scallops (outstanding) that came with two side dishes. I chose sauteed spinach with pine nuts and sweet and sour japanese eggplant. The meal was excellent, the portions were really enough to split if you weren't crazy hungry and again, service outstanding.
(4)
Rossi F.
Food and location were great but overall wasn't super impressed with the service. Two weeks ago I made a reservation for a party of 7 people for Sat 3/23. I called a few days before hand to tell them it was going to be 9 people, they had to bump our reservation from 8:30 to 9:00 in order to accomodate us. I understand that. But then when we got there at 8:50pm on Saturday they handed us a pager and said they were not sure when our table would be ready. After I checked in with a manager twice, complaining that we were celebrating a birthday and had plans after dinner, we were finally sat at 9:45. My girlfriend ran into a friend from work at the bar who was still waiting at 9:30pm for her 8:30pm reservation. They sent over a couple of free apps to the table but that was that. Our server was very informal and almost came across as rude. After waiting 45 minutes for a reservation and receiving less than mediocre service, I don't plan on going back. Maybe during a less busy time, but certainly not on a Saturday night.
(3)
Alireza S.
Being a local who lives in the neighborhood, have been here many times to show what Boston's seaport district has to offer. While the location and the view is unbeatable, regretfully, I have to say the staff has one of the worst attitudes you can find in Boston. The food is mediocre at best, the ambience is mixed and in a nutshell, if you are a tourist who doesn't know his/her way around or doesn't care or know much about great service or food quality and would just like to spend a night in "any" restaurant with a harbor view, this is your pick. If they want to maintain the legacy of the Legal Seafood brand/franchise, they better step up their game as competition is in the corner and having just a beautiful waterfront view wouldn't cut it.
(1)
jamie l.
The rooms were very nice (nice design and great view)...but the restaurant is huge and feels that way. The food was just okay. Nothing to get excited about - just a big factory for tourists. We won't go back.
(2)
Erin C.
On Saturday night around 6:30 my date and I headed down to try to grab a table for dinner on the 2nd floor. There was about a 30-40 minute wait so we just hopped up to the 3rd floor for some drinks. We split some oysters and a small pitcher of the White Sangria. Both were good, but nothing outstanding. I was a little disappointed that the bartender seemed to forget who we were and what we ordered every time he tried to give us someone else's order. He was nice though so that kind of made upf or it. Our experience on the 2nd floor was expensive but tasty. We split the mussels which was enough for both of us to have about 2 bites each. For my entree I had the sable and my date had the salmon. Both were cooked perfectly and super tasty. Our dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with cranberry sauce was sweet and tangy plus the perfect size for two people. The only thing that drove me nuts was our server. He was a bit of a pain and didn't seem pleased that we weren't ordering multiple appetizers. After we ordered he actually didn't stop by once to ask us how our meal was, fill up water or anything. I'd definitely be back to try the first floor and check out the 3rd floor when the place is opened up.
(3)
Diana Y.
--------LUNCH ONLY-------- This particular restaurant has a really nice setting in terms of ambiance. But that's pretty much it. NOTE** Neptune's was my first stop in Boston so that set the (high) standard of what all lobster rolls should be. Ordered the
(3)
Brittany H.
i hate chain restaurants... i''ll repeat.... HATE them.... BUT i suppose the only reason why i've been dragged here is to check out the amazing view of the waterfront and to hang out with my amazing friend. otherwise... i've been conned. flipside...we had a table for two outside. the view was breathtakingly beautiful on a saturday afternoon. the downside... food was mediocre and downright terrible. calamari would have been better if the batter wasn't so soggy. i had the tuna burger... and sadly, wish i would have ordered the lobster roll instead. also, the only oysters worth ordering were OUT that day!!!! :( flipside... our waitress was extremely patient and funny with us. i was a pain in the ass and frowned at everything... however, she graced us with her humor. had their sangrias...not as good as it used to be, but still enjoyable on a hot, dry day. let's face it... i paid for the experience...not the food. gladly come back to sit outside on the patio for drinks and apps only.
(2)
Michelle M.
I absolutely love Legal Seafoods! Because I have recently been diagnosed with gluten and dairy allergy I am quite limited in my options. Not to worry fellow non-gluten eaters. They have a gluten free menu and gluten free rolls to die for!! I am serious!! I have never tasted anything so delicious AND gluten free at the same time. I can even go as far as saying that those rolls are better than any gluten bread. I do remember the clam chowder which was the best but I had to be OK with the gluten free version which is nothing to compare but still OK. Any seafood you chose is beyond delicious, grilled shrimp is delish, all done a la perfection. They have a policy to serve clients with any allergies by their managers. Always attentive, pleasant servers, quick service, 5 star food= happy always returning customers! I give LSF a five star!
(5)
Brad E.
We started out with a terrific wine Cakebread chardonnay. Always a plus. We asked our waiter to recommend some oysters for an appetizer. He selected 4 different oyseters: Wianno XL, Glidden Pt, Kumamoto, and the wellfleet all of which were fantastic. We both liked the Wianno XL's best. For entrees, I had the grilled swordfish and my wife had the ahi. Both were cooked perfectly. The fish was the star of the show without sauces or other items to cover the taste of the fish. We had some interesting sides: soba noodles and orzo salad. Both dishes were interesting and went well with the fresh fish. For dessert, we had the boston creme pie, coffee tres leche, and chocolate mocha cake. The boston creme pie was not great. It was fine but wasn't something I'd have again. The coffee tres leche was light and simply melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. My wife's favorite was the chocolate mocha cake. The flavor was good and the texture was smooth and creamy. I am a fan.
(4)
Morgan D.
Went here for some birthday celebration cocktails and it was beauuuutiful!! As a visitor, I was blown away by the gorgeous view. I live near a waterfront city and man, I have never seen a place like this in Baltimore. This is one of those spots where you feel that 'grown and sexy' cliche. AND I ENJOYED IT. It's nice to be around peers that are dressed up for the night out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the OMG I need to be decked out for tonight types...but it definitely is nice to go out all glammed up with the girls. And rarely do I want to feel like an 'adult', but it was a nice change. Met some great people, had a great time. Boston, I love you!
(4)
Michael C.
Holy smokes is this place a zoo on a beautiful Friday night in August. Do not even think about arriving without a reservation or be prepared to wait, and wait and wait some more. Floor 1: As with the entire restaurant, it has killer views with a great decor but God All Mighty is this place crowded. Floor 3: 25 years ago I would have loved this floor. Again, absolutely killer views of the harbor and Logan. The area has wonderful outdoor seating, a great bar and is I suspect a gold mine.....the drinks were flowing and the cash was rolling in. Back to the 25 years ago; the average age was well south of mine and my wife's and the noise level well north of what I regard as normal. Beating a hasty retreat we head to floor 2. Ahhhh...now this is my kind of place. The bar again has to die for views with wonderfully comfortable chairs and beyond competent bartenders. Passing on my usual Martini, I ordered a Manhattan. So good I ordered a second....after a cold stare from my wife I reluctantly passed on the third one. We had diner with friends sitting outside. On an a perfect 80 degree no humidity night, it does not get much better than this. The menu is surprisingly light on fish offerings however what they have is excellent. Portions are a bit small, I think they need to be a bit more generous. What they do serve is fresh and wonderfully presented. The staff are as well trained as I have ever experience anywhere. I am not sure how they do it but all staff are polite and obviously well trained. Valet park your car; it is only 12 bucks. That makes up a bit for the expense. Granted we had 2 bottles of wine and desert however dinner for 4 was $345.00 before tip so bring the wallet.
(4)
Craig Z.
My second meal here (on the first floor) was better than my first. Steamers were the best I have ever had, I love the seaonsal crisp dessert every time--though I wish it had a little less crisp and a little more ice cream--and the crab and pepperoni pizza was incredible! Service is a little clueless, but nice.
(5)
Jules H.
I'm a longtime customer of Legal's, but this was my first trip to the new location. I have to say, I've always been a fan of LS because the seafood is fresh and simply prepared, so you can really enjoy the quality. The staff are always really well-trained and friendly, and the drinks are strong. All of this held true at the Harborside spot. We started with some killer drinks and edamame on the 3rd floor, and I have to second what a lot of folks here are saying - the third floor is too small. It's only going to get more crowded as this neighborhood develops, too. But there was a private party blocking off half the space, so that was an added factor. The view is awesome, being there after dark made Eastie look almost majestic :) Also, a free coat check (and shout out to the very friendly ID-check dude) made the whole bar experience WAY easier. We ate on the first floor, and I loved the shrimp corndog, a really creative starter that came with a DELICIOUS mango mustard. I had scallops and fried for my main, and they were as good as always - the sides (especially the mashed potatoes) at LS are always REALLY good, simple and fresh. And they're very easygoing about customizations - many times I've requested or had someone in my party request something that's not on the menu, and they've never said no or made it feel like a hassle.
(4)
Sheila B.
So I love this place. This our family dinner spot, with a toddler, it's fancy enough for my husband and myself and my toddler gets to eat some really good chicken tenders and french fries. What's not to like, NOTHING... I have been here probably 10x in the last year. I love, the atmosphere, the view, the service is top notch, it's not pretentious, the bathrooms are clean (and they have a changing table). I can always find a meter spot down the street. They have very attentive staff. The food, I haven't' eaten one bad thing here, my favorites, are the tuna special I had last night crusted in panko, with wasabi cream sauce, the lobster dinner stuffed tail, every piece of fish, oyster, crab, scallop, mussel and shrimp this place brings to the table is of high quality. I can't say enough good things. True story, we bought $200 worth of gift cards to give as x-mas gifts and we kept them for ourselves, we love you LHS !! Thank you for being so awesome as always.. see you soon !
(5)
Raphael D.
Ocean scallops are fussy creatures on the grill or in the pan. Five seconds too early and you have an undercooked scallop. Ten seconds too long and you have a rubbery nugget that could have been a decadent morsel as soft as butter. Here they're somewhere in between. Gonna stick with the lobster or the filets next time. Other than that they have a great beer selection, clams and oysters were super fresh and delicious, amazing view if your table is near the water and the service was pretty spot-on.
(3)
Melissa M.
First off, I do not eat seafood. In fact, I pretty much despise it. OK moving on...I come here for one reason only- the view from the roof deck. I used to also come here for their Coconut Lemonade but they no longer have it on their cocktail menu :( The first floor is loud, the second floor looks pretty but I've never actually seen anyone eating there or heard of anyone who ate there. The roof is where it's at. I prefer to walk all the way to the end on the right, away from the bar and the covering. The bar area is really packed and I like to have enough elbow room just in case I feel the need to break out into the chicken dance. I feel the crowd is at its best after work or late afternoon/early evening on the weekend. Late night can get a little weird. They have a decent wine list, although it takes roughly 35 minutes to actually get your drink. The wait staff have always been very pleasant, but they are soooooo slow. Going to the restroom can be a bit tricky, especially if you are on the right end of the deck. You must walk through the bar area. Now, although I should be flattered since I am in my mid 30's, I really don't think it's necessary to be groped by drunk business men every time I have to pee. You have to squeeze by them and not once have I made a successful bathroom trip without getting brushed up upon or goosed. It reminds me of The Purple Shamrock in 1998...anyways...the bathroom situation itself can be fun, especially if you witness first timers who are a little tipsy. The bathrooms are single stall rooms and the "womens" and "mens" stalls are not separated. AND to make it even more exciting, there is a mirror on the wall that makes it appear as though there are more stalls and I have seen several people walk into the mirror thinking it was part of the hallway. I know this is hard to visualize but if you do go to this location and use the restroom you will know exactly what I am talking about. So overall, Legal Harborside has a great view of the water and the fancy boats, nice-yet slow wait staff and good drinks.
(3)
I.m M.
To the manager at Legal Harborside: I never got to thank you for the complimentary Boston Cream Pies you sent to my table because my raw seafood platter was a little late. That's ok, you're all right! It really made my final day in Boston very pleasant. Thanks! Take a look at the presentation of the raw seafood platter: somone commented that they didn't think Legal Seafood could be so fancy. It's like the crab is attacking the oysters. See photo above.
(5)
Jessica B.
This was our second visit with a reservation in hand, on our first attempt we couldn't get a table. If you like to see and be seen, I guess this might be a good place to plant your twenty-year-old, daddy's credit card carrying, casually faded jeans-clad booty. If you're an aging curmudgeon sitting outside with the Flaming Lips blasting from the Bank of America Pavilion, maybe not so much. It's very loud outdoors when a band is playing, although the view is pretty. We sat on the first floor and may have gotten some kind of reduced cafe menu. My shrimp cocktail had medium sized shrimp jammed in a jar, rather than the large cocktail shrimp I am used to at Legals. My husband ordered a lobster roll and it was half the size of a normal one at Legals. What. The food was just plain bad. Our waitress was surly. The food didn't live up to the usual mall Legal's fare. I suspect things are swanker on the second floor, but I don't think I will be back to find out. There is a reduced fare parking lot across the street.
(2)
Monica B.
My girl friends and I, planned a girls night out starting out at this place, on a Saturday night. We went to the Third Floor, actually. First, it took the "hostess" close to 5 minutes to check our four IDs, they have to run them at this ID verification scanner and he didn't know how to use it... We weren't seated, we had to find a table and when we finally did, it was dirty and it wasn't until we asked them is when they cleaned it. The employee poured some liquid on the table and I thought it was going to spill all over me because it was so much.... The waitress was really pleasant to talk to and friendly but, it took them forever to take our drinks order, maybe 20 minutes. We had a purple Jesus and a Senor Coconut, they were both fantastic. It took them 30 minutes more, to take our order for food and another 30 minutes to serve the food. We all order sushi! I've been to sushi places before and they have never taken this long, even when we ordered a sushi boat! The sushi tasted good and everything tasted very fresh - I'll give them that - but, the rolls were falling apart! We ALL are sushi lovers and we know how to use chop sticks but, in some cases my friends even had to grab the pieces with their hands because it was ridiculous. We also ordered the only dessert available, chocolate cake. It was dry and just plain bad. I've been to other Legal Sea Foods and it's been so much better than this place. The atmosphere was weird too, it seem as though the manager isn't sure what market he is aiming at and you have a combination of young professionals feeling awkward, singles in their late 40's and 50's looking to "catch" young women in their 20's (such as myself and friends) and families who want to enjoy family dinner. The only two things I liked about this place in particular is obviously the gorgeous view and the drinks. Nothing else was good.
(2)
Robert W.
We sat at the bar, which was great for people watching. Super service, food was ok, trying some food we hadn't tried before. Staff was wonderful. Night, so didn't see how it looked during the daytime. We'll try it again next time we're in Boston!
(4)
Liz L.
Review is only for rooftop bar. The problem with Boston is that we have SO many awesome bars with so few roof decks. With that in mind, if you're looking for a bar with a rooftop view of the harbor, Legal Harborside is the place to be. It's also the place to be if you want to spend $10+ on well drinks, rub elbows with a whole bunch of people who think they need to be seen, and practice your funny accents - you'll be saying "Nope, we're not leaving" at least 200 times while you're there. Service was wonderful, view was beautiful... everything else made me feel like I was in a reality tv show.
(2)
Sonia D.
I was there a few days ago and had oyster and bubbly at the bar downstairs and then headed upstairs for drinks on the roofdeck. It was all around a great experience and I would love to have an event on the roof deck someday. The area upstairs is beautiful and the drinks are great as well. I will definitely be back for dinner and will be able to rate better on the food. Keep up the good work Legal's!!
(4)
Mary P.
While visiting Boston recently, we made reservations at Legal Seafood Harborside. This location of Legal Seafood has a very different menu from the other Legals in which we have had meals. This location is not for children. The menu is extremely limited and nearly every option includes some food with which the average person has never been acquainted. Two in our party ordered steak in this seafood restaurant because not one of the other options sounded appealing. If you are fond of very artistically designed foods on your plate and you don't mind spending a medium sized fortune, and you do not have children with you, then you might enjoy. We believe that Legal Seafood should not have it's name on this establishment since it is so wildly different from every one of the other locations. Look at menu before making reservations.
(2)
John M.
Mrs M. and myself spent a slow afternoon here in the bar people watching and water gazing while gorging ourselves on food and wine before a concert next door. The place is jamming at 3 PM on a Wednesday afternoon. We got a few spots at a bar facing outwards to enjoy the great view. I demolished two plates of oysters that were super fresh and wifey had the calamari which came with a wonderful dipping sauce and a few fried peppers that he said were awesome. Then we both had fish and chips which were very tasty and fresh. The service was great, the atmosphere was fantastic and the food was on par with what you'd typically expect from Legal's. All in all is was fantastic and I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Kelly C.
Here's my tip. MAKE A RESERVATION! I don't care when you are going, a Tuesday at 8pm, Reservation. Wednesday at 3pm, reservation. There was a 90 min wait on a pouring down rain Tuesday night. I would have turned around if it hadn't been my husbands birthday. It's not worth a 90 min wait, but I can't think of anywhere in Boston that really is. We did get to take advantge of the roof deck(3rd level) but since it was raining, it wasn't as nice since it was closed in and it was EXTREMEMLY loud from the people, music and the rain bainging on the flat roof. The food on level 1 was tasty and didn't disappoint. Pretty quick service too.
(4)
Mrs H.
I am writing an update from the review i posted in 7/1/13 The review I left I forwarded directly to customer service at Legals. That day I received an email from their Manager of Guest Services, JoAnne O'Neill. Ms O'Neill apologized for our experience and followed up her e-mail with a phone call from their Manager of Customer Relations. At this point they had spoken with the staff and wanted to hear my side. Asking people to vacate tables due to how long they have been there is NOT their policy. My guess is the manager and bouncers do this to receive quiet tips, much the way a doorman does so that you do not have to wait in line. They handled my complaint with seriousness, concern and diplomacy. Ms O'Neill also sent a hand written apology to me, completely unexpected and yes, it impressed as well as touched me. Due to how responsive Legal Seafood was I have raised my rating by one star. I will absolutely go back and I am hoping to give it five :-)
(3)
Robert L.
Sat on deck facing harbor on a beautiful night. Dinner was great. Service was fantastic.
(5)
Paul S.
The view and decor is great. Services was steller. Now lets talk food. Well I'm not impressed. I ordered the mug of New England clam chowder and it was filled with potatoes. I think I bit into maybe 4-5 clams at max. It was also lacking some flavor. I had a better bowl at the Dallas/FT Worth terminal on the same day. Now forth clam steamers. They were a nice size clams, but filled with grit. I think I still have sand in my teeth. The flavor was just ok. The only thing good here was my drink.
(1)
Carolina N.
This was the second time I went here. I thought the first time was great, but this time was mediocre at best. We were a large party (8) and arrived on time and were seated on time. However, the rest of the service was very slow. A lot of time passed between our drink order and appetizer order, and we waited 30+ min for our entrees. The waiter avoided contact with our table, probably because he knew it was taking so long. Drinks: The white sangria with St. Germaine and the top shelf margarita are great. Appetizers: We had oysters from Wellfleet and BC which were great, as were the bruschettas (1. tuna, 2. gorgonzola with fig). Entrees: I had a swordfish special with brussel sprouts and potatoes, which was ok. The people in our party who ordered the yellowfin tuna said it was bland. All in all, it was an underwhelming experience, which was particularly disappointing because of my previous good experience.
(3)
Jaclyn N.
The rooftop lounge has gorgeous views of the water. The sushi is good, the sangria was too sweet.
(4)
Colleen H.
Definitely my favorite restaurant on this strip of Seaport lovelies! The decor is perfect, oyster selection makes me smile, the Sauv Blanc they have ON TAP is pretty reasonable. It's crazy, I know, I'm drinking keg wine? But if Legal's pushing it -- it's gotta be ok. And it is. They have a swordfish and basil salad that's delicious. A little small in portion, but perfectly balanced flavors. My gf loved the margaritas too. Definitely a go-to for our office lunches!
(4)
Jenna P.
MMMMM. This place has 3 awesome things that I can't really put thumbs down to. OYSTERS, Hendrick's Gin, Waterfront views. This place is absolutely beautiful inside and has multiple floors. There's a few different levels with different vibes as well. Good for a dinner date, drink with friends, a nice light meal before a show at the pavilion, or just because. Pretty expensive but what can you expect for the location? Awesome seafood, great drinks and can't beat the view! A MUST TRY!
(4)
Mindy L.
So um...I have a bone to pick with the bartenders here. I think that they are attempting to deliberately get me completely and totally sh1t-faced on a regular basis. I have two, sometimes three white sangria's (arguably the best sangria I have had in the Boston area) and I get bombed. This has happened on multiple occasions so I feel justified in calling them out at this point. What the heck do you put in there? Grain alcohol? Whatever it is. I like it. Please keep on erasing my memories of the evenings I spend with you.
(4)
Anthony L.
The raw bar downstairs is excellent with lots of selection of local New England tasties. Upstairs has a beautiful dining room but the service is horrible. I'll just say that most of the team was young and inattentive and aloof. The Shrimp coctail was impressive, the filet was good, the cod was great. i probably wouldn't recommend it because the service was so bad.
(3)
Dan P.
My girlfriend works right across the street, so we tend to hit this place up right after work. Its always packed. When our friends from out of town come in, we bring them here since we know we'll get a good meal. To date, we've only had one problem with a special, Seafood Mac and Cheese, which they left the tails on the shrimp. This was quickly taken care of, and I even had a manager come out and apologize and offer me another meal. Our go to is the Tuna Burger, sooooo good.
(5)
Edward B.
Not sure what all the hype is about, so they're on the water, so is the airport. Went last week with colleagues for a holiday lunch. There were 5 of us, sat us on a table that was really a 4 top. Had to ask for another table to be connected. Maybe I'm just not as impressed as others. No water served at the table, waiter was okay, and way to hyper. It's just an overpriced, fast casual dining experience. I ordered a shrimp dish, med-small, which blew my mind. Save your money and pull over to a seafood shack up north or down on the cape.
Celebrated my son's 15th birthday at Legal's Harborside yesterday afternoon. Experience was excellent! We sat on the deck, loved the view. The two adults of the group were pleased with the Yum Berry Sangria and the Legal Sangria...thank you! Given Legal Seafoods is a chain restaurant, Legal Seafoods Harborside does not have that feel. To avoid an unpleasantly long wait (it is highly poplular), I recommend you make a reservation. As a group, we ordered the calamari and oysters for appetizers and my sons each ate and raved about the clam chowder. I was very pleased that with the help of our exceptional server, Kevin, my sons tried oysters for the first time. They were fresh and delicious (although the birthday boy decided they aren't meant to be eaten unless you are on an island, starving to death -- but he tried one!). Everyone enjoyed their meals, and while I don't recommend yesterday's wild salmon special (I strayed from my normal much loved meals to try something new), the food is always delicious.
(5)
Amy N.
Tall Ships weekend. Rooftop lounge review. Great drinks. We had a pitcher of Purple Jesus sangria and a few plates of sushi for lunch. smaller menu up here. Very good for not super authentic sushi. Grab a table by the window with couches around a coffee table. The view and the breezes are worth the trip alone. The room is airy, sunny and fun. Music is a bit club-like. I would have preferred some steel drums in this space at lunch time. There are outdoor deck areas on top and an indoor spot with AC if it's a scorcher of a day. Staff was attentive and not rushing us out. Many of them have radio head sets on and some serious bouncer types in suits gave a "men in black" vibe. That was all I would change... the music and the suits. The top floor should be like a tropical get away... a Margarita-ville of the North. Put those dudes in white untucked linen shirts and shorts and lose the Rap. Fair prices. The first and second floors look fantastic too. I would love to come back and try every level. Even though it is part of a chain, it does not feel that way here. The first floor looks very family friendly. There is a fishing pool for the little kids to try to catch something in. They were loving that!!
(4)
Winnie K.
Came here for lunch last week, before I started my shift @ my p/t job. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I decided to have lunch on open the roof deck. I had a great view of Boston Harbour. I ordered the Spider Maki roll (soft shell crab,& avocado, cucumber, tobiko, spicy mayo, teriyaki) & a order of Maguro Tuna nigiri (2 pieces). So fresh & yummy. It is a great place to take sit, relax & take in the great view. Almost like a little slice of heaven up here.
(5)
Steve L.
Went there for lunch and enjoyed the view and the great service. Upstairs not open for lunch. Great clam chowder, lobster roll, crab salad, scallops - I guess anything seafood. Can't wait for my next visit!
(4)
Lee P.
We love Legal Seafood in general. The Harborside location is the best design they have come up with yet. [We are talking about the first floor restaurant here, not the pricey second floor or the rooftop hipster bar.] Had a great table right on the water with perfect weather. Mike was a super waiter and very well versed in the menu and wines. Our meals were perfectly prepared and delicious. The wine list is only slightly over retail - with great choices and lots by the glass. You can't do wrong at Legal. They beat all the other seafood restaurants.
(5)
Robert M.
This review is for the design and vibe of the place. This is definitely playa stuff and whomever came up with the amazing idea of the level is of entertainment is brilliant. First floor is family-friendly, second floor a step up in service, and the third floor is all out over-the-top party.
(5)
Brandon T.
What a phenomenal place! Hard to know where to begin when writing my review. First off the place is seemingly brand new inside and out. Beautiful patio for a romantic dinner on a warmer night then late september. Suprised they dont have heaters out there yet. Food to match any budget depending on the level you are on. There are several different menus ranging from grilled haddock to sea bass and foie. Perfect for a date night, or any night out for that matter. Wish I lived closer so I could be there more often! We had a great bottle of chardonnay, several outstanding oysters, and some nice fish dishes. I would recommend coming here to anyone! Also a bonus: There is a music venue close by that you can hear on nice nights. Possibly a great idea to see if someone you or your date really likes is playing, and make a reservation that same evening?? Cant think of a better suprise date night.
(5)
Donna D.
Very good $$$ food service very speedy with the handheld computers. Valet parking $20 w/o validation $12 w/stamp. Throwback section on menu interesting offerings.
I'm giving this 5 stars mostly because of our waitress. It was my husband's birthday, and they seated us at a really nice table on the first floor next to the window with a view of the harbor. It was a bit noisy, but the ambience was just perfect for the two of us. My husband ordered the oysters on the half shell and absolutely loved them. He also ordered the yellowfin tuna medium rare, however he'd wished he had ordered it rare as it was a bit overdone for his liking. I had the salmon with the mashed potatoes and garlic green beans, it was fabulous. We were too full for dessert but the waitress insisted on bringing my husband birthday dessert which they comped us. Excellent service. I would highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions.
(5)
Travis B.
so i was visiting the in-laws in boston, and they always, always, ALWAYS treat us to Legals. i am never disappointed. this new locale, as many other reviewers have already stated, consists of 3 levels...level 1 for the regular folks (although at Legals prices, i say that with much chagrin), level 2 is apparently like life....for the upper class. and level 3 i heard was a bar/lounge. we had reservations at 5pm and were seated at a magnificent table facing the habah. the air was cool and damp and the atmosphere was just splendid. we split a lobstah pizza and although skeptical at first, with that initial bite i was sold. cheesy and lobster-y, without tasting fishy. we downed it immediately. i had an open faced tuna sandwich and wound up not even eating the bread. my tuna was fine, but not as grand as other Legal experiences. everyone else at the table remarked how much they enjoyed their food. the ma in law noted however that her steamed spinach side dish was very oily (which it was). i also had a cup of chowdah and although it was hot as lava, i relished every rich, creamy bite. our server was an absolute doll. she was attentive and smiled as if she loved working there. i think we all appreciated her work. i was a bit miffed at the door staff....they had a very aloof personality. overall, great views and atmosphere, but hopefully next time we're in town, we'll hit up one of the other traditional menu'd Legals.
(4)
Daniel L.
I came to Boston for seafood and Legal Harborside is certainly a required stop. The raw oysters were as sweet and tasty as I have ever had. The rare ahi tuna melted in your mouth.
(5)
Nicole M.
Wasn't very impressed with my meal and neither was anyone else in my group of five. The place was packed with people and quite noisy. The food really isn't flavorful. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(2)
Amy C.
Wow! We came here on a (very busy) Thursday night. We were significantly late for our reservation due to traffic, and I had called to let them know. I completely expected to wait upon arriving, but to our surprise they still had a table for us, outside like I had requested, and perhaps one of the best tables in the restaurant. And the hostess was super pleasant. We had clam chowder and steamers to start, and then yellowfin tuna and a seafood pasta dish for entrees. Everything was fantastic. And then for dessert, we shared a chocolate cake that was absolutely to die for. Our waiter was fantastic- very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. All of this combined with one of the best views in Boston- can't beat it. We'll be back!
(5)
Bryn B.
Lobster roll was awesome! I have never had a lobster that fresh in my life! I thought the lobster hopped right out of the water into my sandwich! Definitely worth it!
(5)
Jocelyn E.
Meh. The thing this place has going for them is their location. The view on the back patio is pretty nice. Who doesn't want to eat overlooking water? This is also the only waterfront seating restaurant on the dock that didn't resemble a bar. We have a one year old, so a place with a kid's menu and high chairs are a must. The hostesses were nice and accommodating. They did a great job seating us where we wanted to be seated. When we first got out back on the patio they had seated us in the corner... Where there was sun. The girl who had taken us to our table had no issues reseating us to another spot in the back, away from the sun. Our waitress was nice, but flaky. I mean, really flaky. She would consistently forget things and we rarely saw her. If you asked for something you she wouldn't remember it until she came back out, saw you, and then would apologize for what she had forgotten and go and come back right away (Tip: Maybe you should do it right away so you don't forget.). Her excuse to another table was that she had too many tables to wait, both inside and out. The food was okay. We had the clam chowder (that was good), I had the lobster roll (good, not great), my son had the Wooden Grilled Shrimp (WAY TOO SALTY!), and my hubby had the fried clam basket (which would have tasted better, had it not sat under a heat lamp for too long before being served). Everything came with a pile of fries. If you ever want just fries, this is the place for you. Our bill was a little under $60 when we were done, including tax (and before tip). I would've tipped less, but understanding that tips are typically split and the rest of the staff still deserved something despite our waitress's lackluster service, we still left about 15%. Hubby pretty much said the same thing. Plus let's be honest, my kid threw most of his not-very-good food all over the deck and someone is going to have to clean that up...
(2)
Michael C.
Legal Harborside is a welcome addition to Boston but is far from as perfect as it looks. Each floor is technically considered a separate restaurant, here is my breakdown: Floor 1: The typical Legal seafood dining experience. All of the menu selections you know and love (or not). We sat at the bar and had bunch of oysters, our favorite were the Wianno XL's and Wellfleet's. The Sangria is also pretty tasty. The big selling point for this place is the open air dining the wharf offers when they open their retractable windows. They also have a fish market on this floor. Floor 2: The second floor is their fine dining restaurant. One major problem is they make it a huge pain to get up to the second floor, you have to get your ID checked by a host (bouncer?) to get up there, even during the day. It is gorgeous, like downstairs has an expansive open kitchen, a private dining room for functions, and a small area for patio dining. Floor 3: This is the fun floor. Retractable roof, good bar/lounge set up, a good crowd, and good music. This is a perfect spot for a summer day. Really amazing views of Boston!
(4)
Mark O.
This review is strictly pertaining to the 2nd/3rd floor bar life on weekends. MA residents pride themselves on being welcoming, tolerant individuals. But when a bouncer on the decks bounces the one Indian man in the bar, without reason or circumstance, it makes me never want to come back again; I've never been so embarrassed for a colleague. I can guarantee that I will never, ever, return to this bar. If you're paid to "watch the bar" that doesn't attain to discrimination. Don't expect any more business from me, or my company, ever again.
(1)
Kimberley S.
This review is for the 3rd floor outdoor roof deck. Boyfriend and I came here for a very warm marathon Monday. We walked throughout Faneuil and South Boston hoping to sate our beer and lobster craving. Rather than sit outside on park benches and eat an inexpensive roll from a nice fish shack, we opted to try legal. I was skeptical at first. The new legal harborside had always seemed a little trendy, and I was concerned that in coming here we would be paying for the atmosphere and not the food. I was worried - nothing worse than a mayo-drenched lobster roll. Not to worry - Legal harborside does it right. We both got the lobster rolls we were craving, which were perfect. A wonderful buttery grilled bun, chock-full of very sweet and flavorful lobster. Barely discernable mayo. The roll was pure, sweet, and meaty. It was a wonderful treat for such a hot and sunny day. The chips that came with it were fantastic. We saw about 100 sushi rolls walk by and the raw tuna looked amazing. We'll be trying that next. Boyfriend commented how recently we'd hit a spot of bad luck as it pertained to service, and we were a little down about it. The service this afternoon was spot-on. Fast, friendly, attentive. "Very refreshing," as boyfriend put it. The food is great. The atmosphere can't be beat. Not a bad seat in the house overlooking the water. Service was impressive. We can't wait to come back. (love)
(5)
Anna T.
This review is only for the 3rd floor roof deck! This place was great for casual Saturday day drinking with friends. We had some out-of-towners with us and thought this would be a great place for them to see some amazing views of the city and harbor! While a little bit pricey, it is well worth it on a warm summer day. I would suggest their red sangria, it is some of the best I have ever had and you can get a glass, small pitcher or large pitcher to accommodate yourself or your party of 5. We also had some small plates of food including the Avocado salad and the Spicy Salmon Roll, both of which were super tasty! It is unfortunate that I really only came here at the end of summer because I would have made this my summer day drinking spot for sure! Oh well, there's always next summer, Legal!
(4)
Tim M.
Great food and drinks. The staff is great and they pay attention to the customers.
(5)
Thuy L.
This review is for the Rooftop bar only. What an incredible view--and when I say view, I mean the people. The actual scenery isn't bad either as you are looking right out into the harbor. The Legal rooftop is the only Legal that I know that serves sushi. Sushi is okay (definitely not the best) but you are coming here for the atmosphere anyway, which is hella-awesome! The drinks are good (but a little $$$). Get there early so that you 1) Don't have to wait in that ridiculous line and 2) to snag one of the lounge chairs. Try the Strong Man cocktail...it's quite tasty. Their sangria is a little too sweet for my taste but the other drinks are decent.
(4)
Molly M.
****Good ole New England clam chowda!! Best in Boston! The food is great, the harbor-side patio seating is relaxing, and the service is unbelievable! Our waitress Becky was AWESOME! Extremely personable, quick for service, and very attentive to detail! She's able to remember your full order while still chatting and cracking jokes with other customers. Once again, very personable! Great food, great service!
(5)
Julie N.
When: Saturday 3:00pm Where: 3rd floor What: Drinks This place was PACKED. The view was fantastic, the decor was cool, and a lovely couple got our attention and gave us their waterfront seats when they took off. I was afraid that Legal would've jacked up the drink prices for such a spot, but surprisingly a Bud Light was only $5.50 and their limited menu (mostly raw-bar and sushi) weren't overpriced either. I took a quick tour of the first floor and loved how open the space is. This is, by far, the most well designed Legal's I've ever been in. Tip: If you're driving here, there's a parking garage across the street for about $10 an hour so you might as well valet park and save some money if you're staying for awhile.
(4)
Boston A.
The view of the water is outstanding. The view of scantily-clad women of all ages trawling for rich husbands is even better. Wherever you sit, you'll be close to both.
(3)
Jennifer S.
Truly disappointing! Great location on the water and our servers were nice, but didn't communicate well considering they were supposed to be working as a team. The worst part was the food - a friend of mine and I both tried the big bowl salad...me with chicken and he tried it with lobster. The lettuce was cheap, iceberg lettuce and there were hardly any beans etc. in the salad as advertised. My chicken was dry, but apparently the lobster meat was good - actually the only good part of his salad. I hope this was just an exception to a normal experience because I was not impressed.
(2)
Lauren W.
This might be one of my favorite restaurants ever. The atmosphere is amazing. I felt like i was on the set of a romantic comedy. it was just too cute and there were adorable people everywhere. We got a drink while waiting (i loved the white sangria - holy yum!), but the wait wasn't too bad at all. we got an awesome location - right by the outside. The food was all excellent, especialy the raw bar items - some of the best oysters ever! our waiter, aaron was awesome too. we were a bit rowdy but he handled us really well. i want to go back - soon.
(5)
Stephanie P.
WORST SERVICE EVER!!! I hate to say this, because I love Legal in general, and have great times at other locations, but the Legal Harborside experience was dead wrong. We had a party of 5, seated on the first level. Our server was the worst. He was inattentive to say the least, but then he spilled a beer on my friend and I and did not even help to clean it up!! Nor did he replace the beer or the charge for the beer! He did not even replace our napkins let alone touch a napkin to clean it up!! Completely unprofessional. Then, later, we tried to go up to the roofdeck, which based on previous experience you can go right to after spending $$$ on dinner. The hostess said we had to wait in line. Okay. An hour later, we still weren't let in. We get to the front of the line and watch as the bouncer lets every other party in front of him go after flirting with him or handing him bribes. A half hour later we decide to ask for the manager, who tells us we should have been let up ASAP for eating dinner. No offer for free drinks, no apology, nothing. Never wasting my time again.
(1)
Barisa J.
Fabulous roofdeck with interesting cocktails and a very decent wine list. This is a very cool spot.
(4)
Jason L.
3.5 stars As someone who rarely frequents Legal Seafoods, I was drawn to the new and beautiful Waterfront outpost, which promised oceanfront views and fresh seafood. The multi-floor concept is a little convoluted at first, so check out the website. I dined on Floor 1 with a couple friends, and we had a primo table next to the big windows. The menu has minor variations from the other Legals, but all the mainstays remain. We had some delicious small spreads to start, and I really liked the fishy smoked bluefish with grilled pita. Most of the entrees were run of the mill, with your typical assortment of seafood. I went with a fried platter, which was heavy (my fault obviously for ordering that). Otherwise, no big surprises, fresh seafood with simple preparations. The 2nd floor's more fine dining menu looks more interesting, but hey the view and atmosphere itself is worth the trip. Be sure to take a trip to the 3rd floor after dinner for drinks on their spacious open patio bar. Food (6/10) Service (3.5/5) Decor (5/5) Value (4/5)
(4)
Nathalie U.
Went for my anniversary and it did not disappoint. legal sangria was fantastic. Streamers so fresh a And Brussels sprouts were yummy. Service was good not such a fan of the pumpkin mousse pie.
(4)
Molly Y.
This is the third Legal I've visited, and it was definitely a disappointment. Don't come here if you're expecting the full menu or a nice dining experience. You won't get either. It's more of a seaside bar - which hey, if that's what you're expecting, there's nothing wrong with it. My biggest problem was the food. Yuck-o. I got fish tacos, my partner got crab roll. Mine was edible only soaked in ketchup (a sin against fish tacos), and my partner's been sick to his stomach since we got home. Not coming back here again. What a thorough disappointment.
(2)
Luckie D.
Great location, beautiful view, friendly service. The food was fine and I must add light years ahaed of the Leagal Seafood in Atlanta which is one hush puppy away from being a Long John Silver. So with that said I'd go back
(3)
Allison M.
Had to come onto here and rave about our server tonight, Diego. Really knew his stuff, had great recommendations, and was a great server overall!
(5)
Alison F.
I was very disappointed by my experience here, I dined here last night for mothers day, for the price I paid for the prix fix menu I expected a lot better. The service was very slow, until it came time for the check, which could not have been taken care of faster! My main course came out cold, and when I asked for it to be warmed up (very nicely) the server did not apologize at all, just took it away, and then brought it back, "this should be more to your liking". We were never offered refills on our drinks. My friend got food poisoning from the oysters, and still paid full price for her meal. In fact nothing was taken off our bill at all (after having cold food, and food poisoning). When paying $300 for dinner I would expect to have a much better experience!!
(1)
Brendan S.
I love Legal Seafoods and have been to this one about 6 times in the past year. From that I can say that my experiences here have tended to be better the less crowded it is there. People have said the menu is limited, but if you're coming for seafood (after all it is a seafood restaurant), there are many choices and the specials are always good. Atmosphere is great! The servers are always very friendly and knowledgeable and with the exception of one visit, my fish has always been excellent. As I said, though the two times I went when it was really busy, my experiences have been somewhat sub-par for what I'm used to from Legal. On the 1st of these we arrived on time for our reservation. We requested a table by the water yet were brought to a tiny table by the bathrooms despite empty tables by the water. We then waited 15 minutes without anyone coming over to even fill out water glasses, before I finally asked a passing by server for a manager to come over. After waiting another 5-10 minutes, she came over and I explained our situation. After apologizing, she did seat us at a table by the water and we were given a complimentary appetizer. The service and food was fine after that, but I was still mad about the way I was treated. On my second bad experience, I arrived without a reservation on a busy Thursday night, so we sat at the bar to avoid an hour wait. I know it was busy, but it was still incredibly noisy, and talking to each other was worthless. When my grilled salmon (my usual) came out, it was terrible. It was an oddly-shaped bad cut of fish that was slobbered all over with butter (I'm dairy-free btw). All the other times there was never butter on my fish; usually a light amount of olive oil. After a few bites I told my server I couldn't eat it and he kindly took it off my bill. I still like this restaurant, but I'd recommend going to the Legal C Bar in Dedham; same menu, better food, less noisy, and more relaxing.
(3)
Divya B.
I can come back to this place just for the mussels. Their mussels in yellow curry with pineapple and cilantro is out of this world! Don't miss out on them. I took one star out of the ratings because the food taste isnt consistent. It wont disappoint you but I felt it fluctuates between "good" and "great". I also love their veggie bruschetta and sweet red pepper dip. They go so well with a glass (or more?) of white sangria. The harborside view\seating adds a sense of calmness to this otherwise noisy and always busy place. Great place to hang out with friends on a beautiful summer day.
(4)
Aman S.
Always good and always consistent. I love the scallops and shrimp cocktail apps. I had a 2+ pound lobster and was totally content. The prices were reasonable and the service was impeccable. I ate here 2 nights in a row while in Boston on business last week.
(5)
Michael M.
Arghh! This is what I call FPF, or fat peoples's food. Everything's thick and sweet (why so much sugar with my fruit de mer?) It's like an Applebee's. You can do SO much better in Boston.
(1)
samsara w.
Horrendous experience. DO.NOT.GO.HERE. We had reservations for dinner last night at 4 pm. Early evening for us as we have a 6 month old, and my mother-in-law was here from Texas. When I checked in with the hostess, she did not smile, wasn't in the least bit welcoming, and handed me a buzzer saying there was a wait, as others had checked in before us. The 'wait' turned out to be long, and many people were seated before us (some without reservations) who she referred to by name and seemed very familiar with. I am Indian, and I can't help but think that race had something to do with her behavior. When we finally got our table, after I went up there and asked how much longer, we were seated in the only spot in the entire restaurant where it was hard to see the water (right behind the cash register), this despite my requesting an outside table near the water. Oh well... The lobsters were rubbery and tough, badly prepared. We had to ask for rolls, while other tables had theirs well before us. My salmon was gross, and the noodles as the side were COLD and drenched in a sweet, inedible dressing. We were out $130 for a terrible meal, with no class or substance for three people, with no alcohol. To make things worse, it was so LOUD that we couldn't carry on a conversation without shouting. We ended up looking at each other defeatedly, poking the TERRIBLE food on our plates, in silence. Not exactly the special evening we had planned. Legal you disappointed me and broke my heart. Again, don't waste your money and time on this TOURIST TRAP, SUBPAR dining experience. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)
Macy A.
A great place to hang out in the summer. Pretty crowded in the weekend so you might want to go there earlier if you plan to be able to enter before it closes. By the way it is open until 1am. If there is a concert or an event in the hall across the street, you can watch/listen for free at the bar on the third floor. A good place to have a drink. Would recommend it.
(4)
Melissa M.
Spring time is my favorite time in Boston simply because we finally get to start eating lunch outside.... Legal Harborside has a great oyster menu, wine selection, and beautiful views no matter where you sit. Its always busy so be prepared to wait or make a reservation. I have always had amazing service and the specialty drinks are always yummy. Great place for Lunch or dinner on the water.
(5)
Bill W.
Being from Boston I am not overly impressed by Seafood restaurants in general and I also have had some unpleasant experiences at the "other" Legal Seafood in Boston. I vowed never to visit another Legal Seafood establishment and have been vocal about it. But a co-worked visited Legal Harborside and had good experiences so we decided to give Legal one more shot Wine selection is fairly limited unless you buy by the bottle but my wife had a very nice 2009 JM Raffault "Les Galuches" Cabernet Franc. At $9.00 per glass and the pour was good. I chose the Darkhorse "Cabernet at $10 per glass. Being wine drinkers, we do not mind trying wines we haven't had. Both were excellent. For the meal we both selected Fish in Foil (16.95) steamed haddock, cheese and veggies but asked to hold the cheese. Our server (Chad) was accommodating, entertaining, attentive and informative. Despite my persistent "whining" about needing "healthy" foods, Chad never waivered in his mission to satisfy us. He offered unique opportunities and was sincere in his efforts to please us. I changed up to the Sav Blanc Henry Natter Sancerre (Loire) 2011 at $14 per glass (pricy...but nice.) When the meal came...it was a disappointment. My fish (Haddock) was not cooked. By that I mean it was raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone elsewhere. So once again I was disappointed by Legal Seafood. So I needed to tell the server. Here's where the story is better at Harborside than the "other" Legal place. The manager (Peter Barker) came over immediately. He apologized and explained that our dish would need to be made from the start. It would take at least 8 minutes to steam. He provided shrimp cocktail at no charge while we waited. I am not looking for a free meal and could easily got one, but was happy with the attention that Peter and Chad provided. I was also delighted that Peter stated the meal would be made over...and not simply re-heated (as my previous experience at the Marriott Long Wharf site was) Chad made it his mission to pay special attention to us for the duration of our stay. But what made the day was... the meal. It was simply outstanding. The Legal staff did not re-heat. They made the plate and it was apparent to me that care was given to ensure our meals were perfect. Although the meal we originally ordered was poorly prepared, Legal Harborside's Peter Barker and our guy Chad, went out of their way to make sure we were happy. I will never go back to the other Legal and will never have a good word to say (and am quite vocal about it) I will be back to Legal Harborside and thank these 2 gentlemen for their attention. Oh - the view is spectacular
(4)
Nicki B.
Fun and nice place. Good food, good drinks.
(4)
Vince D.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Place was packed. Great atmosphere. The food was just ok though. It didn't live up to other Legal seafood locations we've dined at. The service was slow. We had to flag our waitress down for another drink and the check. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
J P.
EXTREMELY RUDE SERVER!!!!!!!!!! Walked by our table four times and finally stopped when eventually acknowledging our signals (25-minutes.) We asked for menus, she walked away & returned only to literally throw the menus across the table and walk away without a word. The food was good, but the service was horrible. We were their ready to spend money and were treated like dirt!
(1)
Kyla C.
I always eat at Legal's when in Boston so I had to check out the new Harborside restaurant. I had lunch with my sister on the first floor and it was good. We tried many things on the menu: oysters, red pepper spread with pita chips and crostini with different toppings - all good, especially the red pepper spread. I got the lobster roll and it was full of bigs chunks of lobster meat, yum. We shared a cupcake for dessert which was tasty as well. The waiter forgot a couple of small things but overall the service was good. All in all our meal was pretty expensive, espcially for lunch, so that threw me for a loop. Too bad it was a super crappy, rainy day when I was there because the view is great and can't be beat. Don't forget to stop on the 3rd floor for a drink before you leave, it's pretty cool up there!
(4)
issy d.
Five star for service! I came here last Saturday for a friends birthday dinner. Every staff member we came across was great. The hostess at the front were so friendly and helpful. They put us on wait list and we got to go to the upstairs bar and the bartender was great made good recommendations and told us if we ordered drinks or food and our table came up that they can hold the table downstairs for us so we did a dozen oysters and a few rounds of drinks. Julian the guy at the door was my favorite! He helped us take epic model photos next to the flowers upstairs. he must of overheard us discussing a birthday and he relayed the message back downstairs where my hostess already knew before I could say anything and they relayed that to our server so they surprised the birthday boy with desert. The Server made great recommendations and the manager also helped us send the birthday boy a strong drink so we could finish the birthday boy off! probably isn't even strong.. I ordered a "one shot kill" Which is a drink I totally made up but it did the trick. end of dinner we all drew on a postcard that they attach to the receipt I addressed that to the birthday boy....I told myself that service was awesome and it would be even more awesome if they actually sent that to the birthday boy, and I forgot about it all. But today the post card actually arrived in his mail box! I loveeee the staff so much. It was a great first experience at legals harborside we will be back! I really loved that the staff was receptive to our jokes and that they made the experience that much more memorable just from how good the customer service was. I hope legals harborside management reads this and commends their staff for it!
(5)
Mark L.
The biggest Legal I've ever seen with three distinct seating areas that makes this more like three+ separate restaurants under one banner. Expanded legal menu (food and drinks) was available but I had more bar food while catching the Bruins-Blackhawks game. Both the deep fried clams and the clam pizza were great. Decent crowd.
(4)
Christopher H.
Have been here several times for a simple seafood dinner. Always a good time. Russel Is one of the best servers there and is real pleasant. Highly recommend
(4)
BF K.
If I could give negative stars on how our party was treated on the third floor, I'd fly those non existent stars on a non existent banner high in the sky for all to see. We brought a group of forty people to the harbor side roof on a really nice, totally out of season night- it was beautiful out, and the crowd otherwise was really small, so the business we were bringing in (buying bottles, purple Jesus' for the group etc) was relevant. Sure we'd come from a party, and we may have had one or two people that probably needed to be cut off. Normally, if you see an issue with a patron, you A. Cut them off B. tell their friends you cut them off so they can deal with it C. Ask the patron to leave D. Tell the patron to leave E. kick the patron out the door. One or all of these. So I ask you.. Since when do you tell an entire party of FORTY that they're cut off because two people need to stop for the evening? When the entire other THIRTY EIGHT people are fine and having a great night? Yea- this place does. And when you politely talk to the manager and security team about asking if they can let you know who the issue is so you can put them in a cab and keep on having a good time and they won't tell you? And refuse to reason? Well that's when I say you just lost a shiz load of business. Thanks Legal Harborside, for exceeding my expectations on just how much more douchey your franchise has become. See you never.
(1)
Stephen M.
The Chef's taster menu with wine recommendation was exquisite. Celebrated our silver wedding anniversay here and they made a special fuss of us, even writing congratulatory wishes in chocolate on our desert plate - it's the little things that make all the difference. Lovely view of the harbour while dining with constantly changing light as the sun sets.
(5)
Brian C.
Visited the 3rd level on the Friday after the 4th figuring that a slow day in the city would allow us access to the typically very busy spot. Nabbed two stools at the railing in the outside area. Things were looking good. Things went downhill ....slowly. Two quick observations: One, nice view obviously of the harbor and airport, but not of the city. The adjacent building blocks the view to the west. Two, the speakers were really awful out there. The music was almost unrecognizable. Kind of shocking for a new facility. The deck was full but not jammed, but service was extremely slow. It took 20 mins to get glasses of water and 30 minutes for our first drink. By the way it was about 95 degrees up there. Food delivery was actually slower. We asked about our order and found out that it had been delivered to the wrong party. The reorder was taking just as long so we decided to bail out. Great start but horrible experience. Others around us told us that they had similar service. We spent an hour, eager to spend some $$ but left after one drink each. We crossed the street and had terrific service at Mortons bar.
(1)
Caroline W.
This legals is a lot like the others but has a fabulous location. This location has three floors of bars and seating, including a roof top patio and deck area that has a retractable roof for the warm summer nights. The raw oysters we ordered were amazing and they had about 10 varieties available (many from Ma). The lunch portions we got were on the small side but fresh and flavorful. Between $12- $17 for a lunch entree. Our table had a view of the ocean and we could see the boats/planes going by. Very nice except for the loud kitchen area that is rather open because it is exposed to the customers. During the summer season (busy season) this place is bumpin and there is usually always a line for the rooftop patio and tables. The second floor of this legals offers a separate menu from the others and it is much pricier. Private parties: We asked to try and reserve tables for a cocktail hour later in the summer and they told us it was all first some first serve. Otherwise, to reserve a room for some our friends to mingle together and order appetizers they require a minimum $5000. Yeah right! Overall, a great spot. But assume you will have to wait for a table if you go at peak hours.
(4)
Christian R.
Very relaxing atmosphere on the harbor. 3 floors with outdoor seating. Good (mostly local) beers on tap. Oysters and clams were excellent and very fresh.
(4)
Stephanie I.
Great seafood options. Not so good for none fish eaters like my dad and brother who were kinda stuck with burgers. My fiance and mom ordered shrimp fra diavolo which they loved and I really liked the lobster roll I ordered. We were seated immediately on the night of July 4th because we opted to sit in the dining room area but not by the covetted windows which was perfectly fine with us because after dinner we simply walked over to the harbor and enjoyed the view.
(4)
Denise B.
This is my favorite Legals. Great location! It's always busy in here and it does get crowded, but that is a good thing, it means people keep coming back. The food is delicious! I love to go here for dinner, but have a drink on the 2nd or 3rd floor to start. I have never had anything bad here and the service is alwasy fantastic.
(5)
Lance S.
I actually just created an account so I could share my experience...my wife and I are on the rooftop right now and have literally been sitting here for 25mins on the railing without being served...the server continually walks but has only acknowledged us once (mind you it's still fairly early and not very busy)...still haven't even placed an order!!!! We were prepared for dinner/drinks but after this service we're leaving... Very cool spot but can't explain how bad this service is.........oh well, good try
(1)
Marilyn S.
Great Service. Wonderful fresh lobster, clams and mussels. Good wine and a great day to eat on the wharf. You could smell the salty sea and the doors were open to feel the breeze. Food was something we are dreaming about now that we are back in the midwest. Wonderful! I ate at this restaurant years ago when they first opened. We ate on picnic tables. Same great food but the view was perfect.
(5)
Stephanie P.
This newest Legals boasts amazing seaside views to rival their already fantastic menu. We started with drinks from the bar and the mixed cocktails didn't disappoint at double the usual size!. My mom had to share hers. The lobster pizza app was incredible!!! Thin, crispy crust with cheese, lobster, a soft egg in the center (sounds a little odd, but it was oh so right!). I went with fresh Wellfleet oysters on the half shell. They were deliciously briny, albeit small. I had never had oysters served with their champagne-vinegar and it was a wonderful compliment. My sister and I split a bottle of wine (she ordered oysters as well), and my husband and mom enjoyed their fish sandwiches while dad kept his face buried in his fried clams until reaching the bottom of the plate. I agree with my husband on the service, I was unimpressed with the 3 staff members we encountered at the door and hostess stand. Without as much as a smile they slapped the beeper in our hands even though we had a reservation. um, ok thanks. At least we had a beautiful table by the open wall. We got to relish in the fresh sea air and watch the boats pass through the harbor. However, 3 cheers for our server who was always checking on us and had a great smile and attitude. I was certain my mom was going to ask her to join us. Although Legal's seafood doesn't disappoint no matter which location you visit, this one is a must for the views. Especially for us desert dwellers who don't ever get to dine by the ocean!
(5)
Blair H.
An amazing way to spend an afternoon. I had a fisherman's stew, solely based on the fact that for $15.95, I thought I was getting more for my money compared to the clam linguine. The stew, aka cioppino, could have used a bit more fishy punch (or clammy kick). I also didn't like that it tasted a lot like canned, diced tomatoes. Also also, if that waiter got any closer to me and asked me if I wanted another drink again, I'da shoved my spoon in his nose. But the view and the atmosphere! There are few places I'd rather lunch in Boston. P.S., make a reservation! There was a 1.5h wait for the informal dining room at 5pm on a Saturday. Got lucky and found a couple of bar seats.
(4)
Amanda G.
Officially OBSESSED. Finally, a place that serves the consistently fresh and delicious Legal food I know and love, but with added twists, and an AMAZING space and view. Where to begin... The food was a mix of old faithfuls (Tuna Burger a la LTK, and grilled Scallops with two sides) and fun surprises! Gorgonzola and fig jam on bruschetta (yummmm x3) and a long list of oysters from the raw bar, including Wellfleet Oysters, my fav and they did not disappoint! We ate on the first floor - the more "affordable" of the two floors, the second being ultra fine dining, beautiful space but $$$$ meals - and it was wonderful. Right by the water with an insane view, next to the open kitchen, surrounded by people dressed up for a night out and near a long seated bar area where couples and singles ate and stared out at the water. I felt like I was in NYC but NOT because we were definitely not land locked. After a fab dinner, we went up to the third floor to get a load of the roof deck bar. In a word: awesome. There's a big bar in the center of the roof deck, covered, and it's planked by open seating areas uncovered and with great views of the water and city (and Pavilion). If you like seafood, great views. Boston, America, fun, and Summer - go! P.s. Re: service, it was OK, I think they're still figuring out how to deal with so many people in one space (make a reservation), but everything else more than made up for any failings on the wait staff...
(5)
Eliot C.
I visited Legals (floor 1) with four other friends on Saturday. It was a gorgeous evening. The doors to the deck were open for outside dining. There was a blue sky and the temperature was perfect. We were lucky enough to score a table on the deck (which I thought was one of the best seats in the house). Very relaxing atmosphere being outside, there was a public boat dock right below us, and we had a great view of the harbor/airport. The waitress was awesome. She was very personable, knew the menu and had several good suggestions for both food and drink. We started with Raw Oysters, Calamari and Buffalo Shrimp along with a few mixed drinks and beer, We then moved onto the the main meal of sword fish, salmon, scallops and crabless/peperoni pizza (for the seafood challenged member of the group). We ended the meal with a smooth glass of scotch. All the food was good. I don't think we left a thing on any of plates.
(3)
Ken S.
Delicious: the maki rolls are beautiful though not tightly wrapped. The lobster roll is flavorful though they are a bit generous with the mayonnaise. The cocktails are good. I recommend that you hit this place on a cool weekday for lunch. It's quieter, you can find a seat, and you can really enjoy your meal.
(4)
H T.
Really great seafood, especially for the price. I ordered the crabcake combo platter and loved everything on in. The scallops were amazing. I also ordered a dozen local oysters. They were the biggest oysters I've ever seen and they were very flavorful. I would definitely rely on this chain in the future to serve me high quality seafood at a reasonable price. I think it is a good place to take out-of-towners because you know you can count on the quality.
(4)
Susan B.
The roofdeck bar has a spectacular view...but that is it. The menu is strictly sushi and not very good sushi at that, overly very sweet rice and not so fresh fish. The only other offering are chowder (good) and some kind of crab salad that did not look like crab salad. Service was awful, a bunch of young brunette (female only) clones standing around not paying attention to customers. 30 minutes to get a cup of chowder, 45 minutes to get a crappy crab salad and even longer to get the sushi. We had to get our most of our beverages at the bar and God forbid you ask for a water. This is the 3rd time I've been here now and have had the same experience each time. The first floor has really good food and service and a varied menu, but usually has a really long wait.
(2)
Kris R.
this place is ginorm! as an out of towner, came here with a bunch of drunk folk on a bar crawl - my absolute fave spot by far. super huge, like 3 ridic floors, awesome view of the ocean on the roofdeck, a bit of swag, fo' sho'. shared the lobster pizza and some oysters with a friend. super good. great cocktails, too. i'd definitely come back. awesome place for visitors.
(4)
Annmarie A.
With Legal Seafood's, you always know what you're going to get. Or will you? Legal Harborside is definitely a bit of a different take on the Legal Seafood restaurants we've all come to know and love. This location is ideal, right out on the water, with full-wall windows which can easily be opened and pushed back to enjoy the lovely sea breeze. But it is LOUD. At a table of six, I could only hear the ones seated directly in front and beside me. This is partially due to the open windows and proximity to the airport, but also due to the wooden deck-like floors, high ceilings, and somewhat excessive use of concrete. I am used to the thick carpeting, cozy chairs, and quiet atmosphere of the other locations. Speaking of cozy chairs, half of the seating is benches, and the other half splits between table and pub height versions of patio furniture type chairs. A bit uncomfortable, and a surprise considering the elderly crowd. The oyster bar is up on a platform, and faces the ocean while overlooking the dining room. There is seating outside, but there are no awnings or umbrellas yet, so it can get a bit hot in the direct sun. The main bar is a beautiful creation, but is pushed to one side so the view can be the star (rightly so, at least in the summer). The staff was pleasant, if a bit harried in the lunchtime rush. However, we were sat promptly despite half of our party was 45 minutes late, and we were never made to feel as though we were a bother, which I greatly appreciated. Our waitress took our oyster and appetizer oysters promptly, returning for drink refills, and showing up right away when the rest of our party arrived. Drinks: Delicious! A surprisingly good micro-brew selection, and inventive cocktail menu. The only downsides were that the wine was predictably overpriced, and I was disappointed that they took away the wine-flights. Food: Again, delicious. Legal's stopped short of changing the basics of their menu, with chowders and lobsters front and center. They switched the chowder cup & bowl options for a single mug, which is a fine size for not filling up before the meal. The prices on the first floor seem in line with the other restaurants, so they are not charging these prices for the location alone. All in all, a solid visit.
(4)
Ann M.
Once again, Legal Seafoods delivers a guest experience that makes the grade. At Legal Harborside you'll enjoy Boston's new view in the emerging Seaport neighborhood. Tenured Bostonians will appreciate how beautifully the Berkowitz Family has carried on the heritage of Jimmy's Harborside. And, out of towners should beat a path to the best fried clams anywhere. The gleaming, exposed kitchen is nothing short of an operational marvel, and a fitting visual balance to your Boston Harbor vista. There's really no bad seat in the place. And, weather permitting, you can opt to dine al fresco on the deck/dock. Maureen is captain of the front desk and manages a team of hosts to seat the room fearlessly. Our server Gabrielle was pure sunshine, and took great care of our multigenerational party. The food is everything you would expect: fresh, delicious, and generous in proportion. Honestly, it's one of those menus where you want to eat everything. We had fun sharing plates of Truffled Egg Salad, Whipped Gorgonzola & Fig Jam Bruschetta and Kalamata Spread with Grilled Pita. My entree of White Clam Pizza with Arugula was innovative and over the top yum. It's hard to imagine the place getting any better, but it's about to. In early June they'll open the 2nd floor formal restaurant & a roof top lounge. I call that 3 stories of happiness. youtube.com/user/HotelAd…
(5)
Courtney M.
I have been to several Legal Seafoods and you never can go wrong. We ordered apps and drinks before catching the "T" back to the airport. Once again the food was wonderful!!
(5)
H S.
Enjoyed the food (the Icelandic tasting menu) especially the braised lamb, also enjoyed the lobster raviolini. The bar program could use some updating though. I asked the 2nd floor bartenders for 7 different liqueurs, all pretty standard at the better craft cocktail bars around town, and not only did they not have them, they hadn't even heard of them. Some training could be in order.
(3)
Emily P.
The first floor is really amazing! Love the fish and chips, the oysters, the clam pizza! Beer is pretty cold and drinks are really tasty! Warning: don't sit behind the concrete pole; barthenders may not see you...Third floor; getting a table in the summer can be a nightmare (Legal suggestion; have a waitlist for table for those who would like one- this will make the experience more enjoyable). We had some tourists pretty much bounce us as we tried to pay our tab....Bus boy spilled an entire plate of oyters into purse and was not apologetic- very annoying :( Also; some peopl BUT the view is amazing and a great spot to meet friends!
(4)
Joo L.
Location: The view was beautiful, right in front of the water. Service: I went to Legal Harborside on a Thursday morning at 11:00am (opening time), so we were one of the first ones to be seated near the water. The hostess was slow in walking us to our table (I noticed that all guests were slowly walked to their tables...must be a rule). We were greeted by our server who was very confusing to me. She was nice one minute, and then cold and annoyed the next minute. She had an awful hearing problem as well, as we tried to flag her down multiple times as she walked past us, but she never acknowledged us. There were hoards of servers, but many of them were socializing and flirting with each other, rather than focusing on the customers. It felt like we were watching some sort of MTV reality show. Food: The food is not that cheap. Because I have a shell fish food allergy, I was unable to eat 75% of what was on the menu, so I ordered their Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. It was pretty basic. Our server was pretty accommodating with my request to cook everything on separate cookware. However, my family thought the lobster roll was very good, and the steamed lobster so-so (they thought it was overpriced). The bread, however, was very delicious...warm, soft and satisfying.
(3)
Tim H.
Legal Seafood means only the best finest fresh seafood and lobster. Best New England Chowder. Excellent Lobster and mussels. In season oysters vary per location. Excellent raw bar offerings. If you do not live in Boston or near a Legal Seafood then it is hard to get past the lobster and chowder to other fish dishes. Legl Seafood Harborside is the flagship and is special. Great dining on the porch at the Harbor and spectacular bar with aquarium and large screen TVs for watching sports. If you happen to miss Harborside you can enjoy Legal Seafood at Logan Airport with little decrease in quality.
(5)
michael l.
Food was excellent. Our server Matthew P was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some great suggestions. Views of the harbor
(5)
Di B.
We went today for lunch and the food was very good, but not great. My Rhode Island Stuffy had shell in it, which was difficult to get out of my teeth. And my friend shrimp still had the veins in it. I was pretty grossed out by that. You cannot get past the awesome view and the service was excellent. Would go again, but VERY disappointed that a seafood restaurant like Legal would not devein shrimp. My husband had the oysters rockefeller and friend clams and loved them.
(3)
Tim H.
2 stars for the location and the actual space, its beautiful. If you like your drinks filled with lots of ice and very little alcohol, this is your spot. And no bottle beer, only tap, better profit margins. RB keepin on it on the cheap.
(2)
Sarah O.
LOVE! Generally not a huge Legal Seafoods fan but I love Legal Harborside (have only eaten at the first floor restaurant). Good quality seafood and decent prices. SO many different and creative options. I have sampled a good amount of this menu and everything I has been delicious. A great place to go to share try out different items. Brought friends from out of town here and they also loved it. It's loud and busy but right on the water and very pretty and cool atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone, whether a tourist or a local! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed.
(5)
Gaven H.
This review is for the Legal Harborside - Floor 2 . Yelp does not have a area to review F2. I had been to Floor 3 for drinks and Floor 1 for dinner with a group of family/friends. I enjoyed the time I had spent on both floors. So this past weekend my girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary. I knew we would enjoy the second floor. The oysters are the only thing you will find on any other Legal menu. I have eaten at other restaurants in the area and you seem to pay for the atmosphere and views. You might pay for these on the other floors, but on F2 it's all about the food. This is a place I could gorge myself time and time again. You start eating and want more. The problem is you also can not wait to try what's going to be put in front of you next. This is a pricey meal, but I have paid the same or more for less enjoyable meals. Starters: $11-$22 per plate We went with the oysters. Sweet, crisp, and clean Raspberry Points. The Glidden Point's were good, but nothing new with flavor. Next the seared foie gras, rich in the best of ways. This was done with chocolate brioche and cherries, which work well with the smoky flavor from the sear of the foie gras. The candied ginger on the plate (to me) is not needed. Main courses: $28-$56 per plate She had the butter poached lobster. This is served over corn, chorizo, mussels, and potatoes. Another rich plate. But hey it's an anniversary. I did not try this, but she says it was a great dish. The reason I did not try the lobster was because I was engrossed in the sauteed hiramasa. The smoky eggplant puree goes perfectly with the herbs used to season the hiramasa. The fish was cooked perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone, and hope to copy it for home use. Dessert: $8- $11 per plate Now here is where I lost track: I'm still thinking about the main course. She had the toffee pudding. I had the goat cheese napoleon. I'm sure that these were both great desserts, but the main courses overwhelmed them. The flavor and taste were good and enjoyable, but as I write this review I could have forgot to put them in. The wait staff was very well trained. Exceptionally polite and very informative. Our waiter even gave some recommendations as to better alternatives on the menu and the reasons he liked them more. So I say "Go to Legal Harborside Floor 2". If it's a special night or any night this is a perfect meal. Well worth it.
(5)
stephanie b.
Roofdeck: Gorgeous roof deck. However, we ordered oysters and shrimp cocktail and had to beg to get a napkin, silverware, etc. Ashley waited on us, very nice but when she finally brought us ONE napkin and there were 5 of us, i was kind of irritated. She was very sweet but raw oysters with no napkins, side plates or anything seems a bit clueless... Floor 2: A bit overpriced for the portions. Also if you are going to charge $30 for a very small piece of fish be sure to have SIDE ORDERS. We kept asking for extra food...can we have a side of Polenta etc. They need to just go ahead and bite the bullet and be a la carte, why not, the prices already reflect that type of menu. We had the sablefish, salmon, and hen - all of which were delicious but we were starving AND we had already had appetizers on the roofdeck and had ordered tuna as an appetizer (very small). The staff was amazing, fine dining quality but not at all stuffy. The hostess was very nice and professional as well and kept moving our reservation b/c we were waiting for the damn napkins on the roofdeck so we could eat our apps!
(3)
Adrian H.
Since the renovation of the wharf (and the loss of one of my favorite seafood restaurants to the renovation), I had hoped to return to equally good food and an even better experience. Alas, I was more than disappointed. I started with the calamari which was fine, but the presentation was not what I would expect for the cost. My entree was the crab salad. My impression of a salad included greens, but there were none. The crab was in a half avocado, with tasteless tomatoes, hard boiled egg and thickly cut cucumber. Again, the food was simply not well prepared, considered, presented, or cooked. My wife had the tuna burger because she had the same meal at the Legal C in Dedham and had enjoyed it. This burger, however, lacked any taste. My mother had the fish and chips and she was less than pleased. Finally, the service was cheerful, but slow. I was relieved to step out into the wharf's night air.
(2)
Rick M.
I must say that I was sorely disappointed with our experience at this place. We took some out of town relatives here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. First of all, it was really noisy. Unless you had your ear three inches away from the person who was speaking to you, you could not hear a word. Second, the waitstaff was terrible. I mean, I have had better service at a gas staion. We waited over 15 minutes just to order drink. Then, the beer came and was warm. We tried to send the drinks back, but could not flag down our waitress. The food finally came and was luke warm as well. I will say that the person who was responsible for clearing tables was over attentive, as we felt like we were being pushed out early to make room for the next customer. I do not understand anyone's fascinaton with this chain of restaraunts. Food was terrible, service was bad and the atmosphere is akin to a rugby match. Never going back ever again.
(1)
D B.
Went to dinner Friday night and place was very busy. There was an hour plus wait for seating on the 1st level with a water view. Seeing we were hungry we found a table in the bar area. Bar area was not very loud and overlooked street. This was kinda nice as we were away from the crowd. Michael was our waiter and the service was quite good. Mike was well versed on the wine and dinner menus. Started with a bunch of oysters and for dinner had grilled Blue fin tuna. Fish was excellent. The deserts sounded good but passed this time. Will be back again!
(3)
Erika W.
Tried cotuit oysters, very nice with a medium brine. Moonstone, which had a very briney sea flavor, were delish. The best were the naked cowboy - dive caught with a bold briney flavor and a perfect, more firm texture. The two spreads we tried were both delicious. One being the salt cod brandade and the other smoked bluefish, accompanied by toasted pita. Next we tried the fried clams and the oven roasted clams. I know, bivalve overload. The oven roasted clams were good, but not great. I'd go for something else next time. The fried clams, however, were fantastic. Small, juicy & tender. Perfectly fried, not greasy at all, I would definitely get them again. One of the bar staff was really helpful & knowledgeable and gave us some recs for the next visit.
(4)
Johanna G.
Awesome! Great view, great curry mussels appetizer .Perfect on a beautiful day or night. I had a crab salad for lunch that was excellent. I will definitely go back.
(5)
George K.
Great place, amazing view, delicious drinks and food BUT why everything plastic on the roof deck? Forks and plates are plastic. Only the drinks were served in glass! Wasteful, unnecessary, annoying and it ruined the whole nice feelings about the place. I hope it will change SOON!
(2)
Chaim T.
You can't beat the rooftop view on the third floor, but don't let the view fool you. We ate on the first floor and with a so-so experience. My wife had to send her wood grilled salmon back TWICE since it was way undercooked (think medium rare for tuna). She opted for the wood grilled trout the third time which was better if not a tad too salty. I had the same and although I enjoyed the dish I was put off by the sloppy plating. The trout was atop two side dishes of room temperature jasmine rice and buckwheat noodles. It looked thrown together. The service was good and attentive with many apologies from the manager for the undercooked salmon. We're not rushing back.
(3)
Dorothy R.
Loved the rooftop bar!! Great drink menu - definitely try the St Germaine cocktail! Great summer drink!
(5)
Johnny U.
Heard from locals this was the only chain they would eat at. This was close to the airport, so we thought one last meal at a water front place. We expected inflated prices, but they were only a few dollars more than others. Great staff. Great food. Clam chowder was well stocked. The rest of the food was great as well. A bit chilly to sit outside? I expected Boston to be warm and muggy. It felt like a early sring evening....in June? So we took a table by the window. Fun, great people watching, good food.
(4)
Laura C.
Legal was recommended by locals via friends. We loved the ambiance of the bar (3rd floor) and the meal on the first floor. The clam chowder was the BEST - very non-west coast meaning it was not so gloppy thick, but more subtle and with intense clam nectar flavor. The fried fish plate was too salty, however. Too bad, otherwise would have given 5 stars.
(4)
Gonzalo B.
Exhibit #274 on Why They Need More Restaurants in Boston. Talk about your Masses of Asses. Whoa, baby! You're goin' to a casting call, a cattle call, you're gonna shoot some fish in a barrel, only you're the fish and you're in the barrel and...hey. I'm gettin' carried away here. it's crowded. Been to many of the Legal locations over the years, many times. Always thought of this as kind of a 10%-90% kinda place - ten per cent locales, 90% tourists/conventioneers/etc...never real blown away by them, always pretty mezza-mezza, some things pretty strong, other...not so much. Been to this location, location, location twice now. The 1st was fine, the second, uh, nahhhh. We had a 45 minute (surprise!!!) wait for a 1st fl table with some out of town guests. We elevated to the deck and got some bar seats, some good sushi, decent shrimp cocktail...weather-wise, as Frank used to say, it's such...a lovely view... Back downstairs, nice table window-side, good, young, energetic waiter. Everybody liked their meals, including my seafood trio. The sizes here seem to have been downsized about a 1/4 or a 1/3rd. The trick is, nobody ssems to notice. I noticed. Next time the building was bursting more than usual, we slid into 2 seats at the round bar. Nice that they have Pretty Things beer, it's pretty %$#@ good! We ordered fried oyster sliders, and got mostly fried clams. Why they send out 3 of anything just sucks. Mostly people eat in two's, in four's...3 of an app is just wrong. I get one, you get one, we arm wrestle for the third. Clams not oysters, 10 feet from the oyster bar.There's a big difference, we mentioned it to the bartender, and a manager came by and apologized, took it off the bill. A fine move, and a good guy. He listened too to what we had to say about the curry mussels, the mussels were big and meaty and delicious, as was the sauce...too bad no bread for sopping up the bottom/sauce, that's part of the whole thing. And, they could give you a soup spoon...you'd use it. At the bar, no bread forthcoming, maybe if you ask...also, no water offered...you imbibe more beer that way... Biggest letdown was the great-sounding lobster/mushroom pizza. The crust is the same as the dipping chips you get for the small app dips, like the excellent bluefish we also got...this was a soppin', sloppy, difficult to eat liquid mess -and, more onion pie than other ingredients. we ate maybe a 3rd. She didn't ask if we wanted the rest - I think she knew. So. Like I said earlier, some things pretty damn good, others...no so much. But it's a scene, if you like to be in the herd, go.
(3)
Nadeen H.
From my previous experiences at Legal I was skeptical that this would be any different. LTK was always the exception, but they were a different concept all together. The new Harborside location is a Legal's I will definitely go back to. The energy was fun, the restaurant is beautifully done, clean, no snoozy music and the food and drinks were awesome. The servers were all attentive and friendly. The mussels were by far my favorite as well as the ham salad small plate. They had a lot of fun drinks and a good beer selection. Make sure you save room for dessert. We tried the coconut cream pie, rhubarb cobbler and the boston cream pie (not the same old standby as all the other boring Legal's). I couldn't pick a favorite, they were that good. I hope they add specials as well as a few more entrees, to keep me interested.
(5)
Ted K.
Stopped in for a late lunch on Monday afternoon of a beer and some oysters and other apps. We sat at the bar. The view is incredible. We loved the oysters. We loved the special Sam Adams and Harpoon beers available on tap. The service was miserable. I don't know if the bartender was having a bad day or what. No smile. No welcome. When we told her we would like to order some oysters, we were told to "hold on," then we watched her wander off to do apparently nothing. There were two other guests sitting at the enormous bar. Maybe after thirteen years in restaurants, I still can't see the subtle but onerous obligations weighing on a bartender at 3pm on a Monday. Or maybe she just wanted to throw a little attitude. Either way, we couldn't believe she still had a job at such a place. The rest of the experience was great, so it didn't totally put us off entirely, but we're not in a rush to go back.
(3)
Ken W.
After reading great reviews, I decided to have a mid-afternoon meal. Service is the only thing I can rate. Warning sign number one, hostess was helping a customer and she walked away with no explanation. The gentleman and lady had to defer to someone else. To decide to try the roof top lounge. It appeared not to be busy for the time of day. I was greeted and set at one of the high tops table inside. Then i was amazed how the wait staff ignored me the entire time I was there. When asked who was covering my area, a waitress was pointed out a co-worker. Noted I had made eye contact several times with this person, she had failed to acknowledge me. So after taking 30 minutes out of my day and getting nothing to eat I felt it was best to leave. And seek nourishment at another restaurant.
(1)
Kiarash Z.
Because I wanted to eat seafood by the water and I needed a table for 12 and because my cousin was paying for it, I had a great time at Legal Harborside. The cocktails in the third-floor lounge (with a great harbor view) were awful, but the food on the first floor was amazing. My favorite: the stuffed artichoke appetizer, which is loaded with scallops and shrimp. I prayed it never would end. Also, the staff was kind enough to keep the kitchen open for members of the family who arrived late. Classy.
(4)
Jessica G.
I can only write about the 3rd floor as I usually end up across the street for my Legal dining. The bar and lounge area provides amazing views of the city and a great reprieve from indoor bars in the summertime. You can hear the concerts right from your seat as well. Getting a seat is the hard part. Be prepared to be a vulture and divide your party up to stalk open seats. Once you are lucky and find one, the drinks are on the pricier side, but pretty tasty. The food menu is limited, but tasty and worth ordering. In short, visit, but expect crowds and finding seats to be difficult.
(3)
Thomas G.
I'll definite come back to this place next time I'm in Boston, one night oysters on the half shell, another night the waiter recommended the tuna burger...Everything was so good!
(4)
Oz L.
I have been there a few times and if it was not for the location and the long lines to get up there in the evenings I would not be eating there at all. If you go to Legal Harborside's Roofdeck - Go for view and the ambiance. Their menu on the roof deck is mainly sushi and maki rolls. The food is fair at best. We tried the soft shell crab and it was breaded... awful. The sashimi was not fresh. The rice used for the maki rolls was hard... Enough said. 3 stars for the view and the location on the water!
(3)
Pat O.
The roofdeck at Legal Harborside is one of the best designed and laid out spaces I've ever encountered. The views are phenomenal and the service is great. The only downside is the limited sushi menu.
(5)
Maggie M.
Pretty good food but pricey. We stopped in after the brewery tour and order two harpoon beers but they had no selection even though they are right next to the brewery!!!! I had the lobster roll which was 2:1 bread to lobster... Meh! But the meat was nice. My boyfriend had the fish and chips which he liked a lot. Overall it was a beautiful view, very busy, good service, and okay food for the price. $55 for lunch with beer including tip...
(3)
Josie G.
A friend and I came here during the week on a Tuesday for lunch. A perfect day to be sitting in the sun on the deck - HEAVEN. We started with margaritas from hell, a coconut water drink (delicious) and then settled down with cucumber drinks - (the best). Everything we ordered was great- oysters, crab salad, lobster roll. It really was just a great lunch. Service was outstanding- his name was Mike!
(5)
David K.
The 3rd Floor is AWESOME. Reasonable prices, super comfortable seating, beautiful location and the best waterfront view Ive seen. Fun times right here, but big crowds.
(5)
Tony D.
Never had a bad meal, service is always great. No complaints, highly recommended. A little expensive, but not bad for great seafood. You get what you pay for and this is a great value.
(5)
Mike L.
Food was awful and way overpriced. I basically had a plate full of crab shells. Won't ever go back to this overrated pathetic excuse for a restaurant again. Don't fall for the hype and go to a nice mom and pop place in the South End or walk across the bridge to the Barking Crab or something.
(1)
Charlie T.
Rooftop bar also has a bar menu. Best tuna sushi I've ever had. The lobster maki (or whatever it's called) was a bit rubbery. Great drinks and view on the roof.
(3)
Leah A.
My experiences here have been on the roof deck and not inside the restaurant. The food is great, though the roof deck choices are not as extensive as inside (no crab cake!). The location and view are fabulous, the people watching can be fascinating, but the service stinks. If you want your table wiped down or some napkins, prepare to wait awhile and ask everyone you see when they walk by. And maybe, just maybe, someone will finally do it.
(3)
Karishma R.
The rooftop of Legal Harborside is my favorite bar in Boston. The view is spectacular, and its proximity to the Bank of America Pavilion makes it a great place to have a drink and listen to the concerts next door. The only problem is the often lengthy lines that can form very early. I prefer to come here on weekdays after work, as on the weekends the wait is a deterrent. The other problem is that this bar can often get very crowded, which can sometimes be a nuisance. However, that being said, the food and drinks are great. Harpoon actually make a special beer just for them (Harpoon Harborside) which is pretty good. And you definitely can't beat that view. Every person I've brought here has loved it!
(4)
Stephanie S.
Amazing service! Very good food & just an amazing atmosphere. Defiantly will be back in the near future. Server was very friendly & knowledgeable.
(5)
John B.
I went here on a date and the food was great and the atmosphere was up beat. The service we had at the table was ok, but when we went to the bar after for a martini they refused to serve us. Considering we only had one or two drinks with dinner and were not driving I felt this was a bit strange, but other then that it was as expected - delicious seafood.
(3)
Marisa R.
This is a typical Legal Sea Foods joint that serves sushi on its roof deck. The sushi is actually pretty decent. The only reason to go to this place is because of the roof deck bar. The cocktails are okay, but the view is the reason why people stand in line. One of the better views of Boston that you can find.
(3)
Carmel I.
If you get the seafood trio, be prepared to have fries with a side of seafood, not seafood with a side of fries! I was a bit disappointed with that, but overall, this location is a great place to dine.
(4)
Caro C.
I'm a born and raised Bostonian and have been to Legals many many times. This location needs help. Server forgot chowder, oysters took almost 45 minutes and came out right before our meal, which was not what we wanted as they ran out of the special. It's a special chef, order accordingly. Also we ordered a bottle of wine and that took so much time that the waiter actually came by and asked if we wanted more drinks. Hello! Wine? Roger, this location needs help.
(2)
Skoolly T.
Great staff! Lobster roll was pretty good, a bit on the mayo side, could have been more lil on nakid side
(4)
anne c.
I would give it no stars but that is not a choice. The place is beautiful and the bartenders very nice!! We are locals and have been to Legal Seafoods all over Boston and other states as well so know what to expect. We arrived at 5:00 on a Wed night and went to the hostess desk where there were 3 women. Asked for dinner for 2. She stated it would be 45- an hour or we could eat downstairs. No--we wanted dinner. This restaurant is set up on 3 floors--the first being raw bar, bar and tables with paper table covers and casual food. The 2nd floor is fine dining which is where we intended to be. After we waited an hour and half---she said no one was leaving so took longer! We were seated at a table on the first floor. Asked for manager who explained we would have had to go to second floor to that hostess desk for a seat up there. @ managers could not quite figure out why we were not happy and kept asking what they should do? We left!! Valet service was 20 min for getting your car at that point! I did resolve the issue by calling corporate and she was very understanding about the fact no one ever asked where we wanted to eat! If they don't do better on customer service, they will not last long in this area!
(1)
Sarah D.
I had the fish.
(3)
Lindsey D.
The food is way too overpriced. I've had better seafood for less. The clam chowder isn't as amazing as everyone claims. I would skip it.
(2)
Rhea K.
Came here while waiting for a flight out of Boston.. had about 2 hours to kill, so we decided to get some last minute seafood before leaving the city. Oysters are really good, and very fresh. Clam chowder was also good, but I'm not really a good judge of chowder. Ended up getting the lobster roll here which was pretty good! It was served on a buttery, thick brioche slice, and tasted great. Fries were slightly sweet(?) and really crispy. Also got the bucatini pasta... it was okay. I guess you don't go to a seafood restaurant to get vegetarian bucatini, but it was only just ok. Our server, Julie D, was extremely nice and didn't rush us at all. I felt a little bad sitting there for so long, but there wasn't really a wait and she didn't make us feel weird.
(4)
Jason F.
Great spot. Super fresh food. I was not lead astray when I asked for an assortment of oysters. The striped bass special was boss. Great bar staff on second floor.
(4)
Jean B.
First of all we chose this restaurant for its location, and the location was beautiful. We sat at bar stools overlooking the water but where wasn't a bad seat in the house. Also the service was very good. Unfortunately my positive reviews end there. The food was mediocre at best. At a place called legal seafood I had certain expectations in regards to the seafood. The shrimp cocktail was small deshelled shrimp in a soup of cocktail sauce served in a jar like glass. The crispy fish taco was soggy and not tasty at all and the shortrib bruschetta was made with a dry stewed beef. Ever the ceasar salad that we shared was tasteless yet sopping with dressing. Great place for drinks and view but don't decomend it for dinner.
(2)
Erika G.
This review is for Floor 2- not your average Legal! A chilly Christmas day dinner, we were whisked up the winding staircase past a waterfall to be met by a wonderful hostess dressed as mrs. claus. She tells us our table is not ready yet and to step into the bar, but we know already it will be worth the wait- she is preparing a booth table overlooking the harbor for us. Our waiter comes by and is as adorable and friendly as ever, he quickly shows his knowledge of the wine list and helps us select a celebratory bottle. We peruse the $55 price fixed menu and I find myself completely conflicted- there are too many things to decide! Glancing back at the shiny, polished kitchen with its quiet and masterful chefs- I know I can't go wrong. Course 1: Mixed greens with blue cheese, candied pecans, and sugared cranberries. Course 2: Hiramasa with pink peppercorns (my favorite) and preserved limes Course 3: a perfectly cooked, generous portion of salmon with a delicious glaze and bitter greens Course 4: Stick toffee pudding (it is Christmas after all) deconstructed. The sticky toffee pudding balls stick to the top of my mouth, but are quickly washed down with little bites of butter pecan ice cream. I cannot wait to return- especially for a special occasion tasting menu!
(5)
Kerry C.
I took my mother here for mother's day and we had a great experience. Hostess who sat us I think the manager was super friendly and attentive to my mother. The server was pleasant and the food was excellent. Loved the local oysters. I got the special (steelhead trout) it was great! Server was very knowledgeable too about the fish. We had a great view of the harbor. Good for special events as long as you plan in advance.
(5)
Ryan O.
I really enjoy every visit to Legal Harborside. Actually, I have only been twice and usually my last meal before heading back to Europe. Both times we ate on the first floor near the large open doors...nice and relaxing views on a nice afternoon. The staff has always been really great - with lots of suggestions for both drinks and food. I must say that they never recommended anything that we didn't like. There are some very creative cocktails (the cucumber and coconut drinks are worth trying) and food options, as well as the traditional Legal Seafood necessary items - clam chowder, fried clams and lobster rolls. Try the tuna bruschetta...awesome. All three floors seem busy with different menus...the outdoor patio on the third floor was very active and is likely a great place for after work drinks. Really need to get back soon... There is a convenient parking lot across the street, plus valet parking right in front of the restaurant.
(4)
Karyn V.
My boyfriend and I ate on the second floor dining room at Legal Harborside and we will definitely be back! Note, if you want the typical Legal Seafoods menu, this is not the same. In fact, nothing from their menu is on this menu. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful. The design of the restaurant takes full advantage of the harbor view and is reminiscent of a ship's dining room, with curved rosewood ceiling and glossy black columns inspired by the mast of a ship that anchor the space. There is also an outdoor patio equipped with an outdoor fireplace that allows you to eat dinner over the ocean below. The menu offers modern seafood and has a unique selection of artisan wines, each produced from a specific terroir representing some of the world's most classic regions from family-owned vineyards. In addition, they offer many normal size bottles with a half bottle option, which is great since a bottle is too much for the two of us. Many great wines are available this way including Paul Hobbs' wines. For dinner, we ordered the crispy pig's head with fried clams, sauce ravigote, and pink peppercorn as an appetizer. For our main course, I ordered the misty knoll farms chicken with spring sweet pea and egg ravioli, artichokes, favas, and pea shoots, and my boyfriend ordered the butter poached lobster with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. All were extremely good although next time we will probably forgo the crispy pig head and try some other appetizer from the menu. While pricey, Legal Harborside definitely does not leave you disappointed. We will be back! The second time we went we ordered the clam chowder, which is not listed on the menu. It is the typical Legal's chowder dressed up with a few fried clams and a few steamed cockles.
(5)
DD T.
My friend is a huge fan of oysters and each time I take her to a Legal's restaurant, she's never disappointed. Anytime of the year, whether the name of the month has an 'R' in it or not, they have a fresh collection of oysters from both coasts and also Canada, which has basically made me give up my ambition of shucking oysters myself at home. Because what I buy can never be as fresh and yummy. =) The view is awesome, this is really good for a date and also bar-hopping. You should do that some weekend nights before it gets cold. For me, I'd just get a seat facing the waters, whistling to myself: "sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time..."
(4)
Matthew B.
Are you an ostentatious git? If so, you may enjoy Legal Harborside. This restaurant, though billed as the crown jewel of the Legal franchise, is by far the worst. As a family, we have been patronizing Legal Sea Foods for decades; however our meal here tonight has made us reconsider our devotion to this local chain. Let's talk food. The selection is very limited as the entire menu takes up just one page. Upon first glance, you'll notice that most starters are over $15 and most entries over $40. Before placing our order, our waiter notified us that we were entitled to a "complimentary" bottle of water (sparkling or flat). Wow. Complimentary water. After placing our order, our waiter returned to the table to inform us that the kitchen had just run out of salmon. Really? Legal running our of salmon? Strike One. Before our appetizers were served, we each received (another) "complimentary" bowl of squash soup. But to call it a bowl would really be too kind; it was more like a thimbleful. Our appetizers arrived and were quite good. Then, after they were cleared and the table was crumbed, we eagerly awaited our entrees. And we waited... Strike Two. When the food arrived, we were all generally pleased with the quality. However, we've enjoyed most of our dishes at the various Legals we've patronized over the years; while the food here good, it was by no means a step above the others. One member of our party ordered a chicken entree. For roughly $30, he received 1/4 of a chicken. Sorry, but no matter what you do to it, no 1/4 chicken is worth $30. Strike Three. So to review, this place is all about ambiance (dark wood paneling and harbor views) and ostentation. In that regard, it fits in very well with the whole milieu of the Seaport District. As long-time Legal fans, we all gave this place a resounding thumbs down! p.s. To add insult to injury, the third floor was reserved for a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch get together. Sorry, but didn't you guys just get bailed out by us (the taxpayer)? How bout you drag your sorry bloated asses to the 99 next time?
(1)
Trisha A.
Went here last Friday with some friends for dinner last week for Valentine's day, and both the food and the service were excellent! The waitress was very attentive and took into account the fact that a few people were a bit late when bringing out the food. She also checked in on us consistently to make sure we had everything we needed. My friends and I had the clam chowder, which is always a favorite, as well as a sushi boat filled with selections from the chef and other items not necessarily on the menu. The sushi chef was kind enough to meet us and explain the various sushi rolls, as well as ask us of our opinion of things not yet on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they only use real crab meat in their sushi, even in the California rolls. The sushi boat had a great variety - there were rolls with both shrimp and lobster tempura, tuna, avocado, salmon, even eel, among other things. Since we let them know that one of our friends was allergic to crab and lobster, the sushi chef made sure there were selections to accommodate her and made sure to point out which rolls were okay for her to eat. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the sushi chef's take on a crab rangoon, which I believe was a mixture of crab topped with avocado and spicy mayo on top of what looked like a crispy wonton wrapper. Also, we ate on the roof deck, and I'm not sure if it's different in the day time but at night when we went it was 21+. I definitely recommend this place and would come back again.
(5)
Brandi J.
LOVE this place. The atmosphere and view on the roof top is perfect - service was great, food was great, pricing is reasonable. The outside deck is still open even in the chilly weather AND they give you blankets - too cute and too fun. only complaint was the sangria.... it wasn't sangria... but, that didn't/doesn't change my opinion on how fabulous this place is - the top floor is great for a date night, a ladies night out, a group gathering... you won't be disappointed
(5)
Fred W.
All in all we enjoyed the dinner. One of had a lobster which was enjoyed by that person. I ordered a Lobster Roll which was touted by another Yelp reviewer, the lobster parts were fine , but overall it wasn't what I expected.. and sorry that I ordered it. The Fish and chips were OK, but one piece was dark, which isn't very appetizing. We also had shrimp cocktail and Fried Calamari, both were done well and of good quality The place is well run, head sets on most servers and wireless transmitters for taking orders, Finally it was noisy and too busy,, but funny enough , we all enjoyed it. Would I go back? probably,
(4)
Adam P.
Went here tonight for dinner on floor one. Decor is cool and the view is outstanding! For appetizer I had the smoked salmon pizza which was great. For dinner I had the crispy fish sandwich which was okay but could have used more seasoning. However, the plate it was served on was poorly designed for eating. Dessert was key lime pie which was also good. Service was excellent and the location was great.
(4)
Paula A.
The space is great. The view is spectacular. Our server was top notch. The hostess was nice & we were seated w/in minutes of our scheduled reservation time. However ---- I didn't love my meal, I got the halibut, cheese & veggies in tin foil - it was meh. BF got the seared yellow fin tuna - which he liked. The crowd was a bit on the cheesy side, the bar was a total mob scene. if i walked by some night & it wasn't a complete cluster f%ck, i'd probably try it again.
(3)
Colleen G.
I love going to the roof deck on a beautiful day. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are delicious. My favorite is their red sangria.
(5)
Steve T.
(email sent to Main Office) I am a regular customer at legal seafood as I am for Maine and lover fish. I just want to let you know about my experience at Long Wharf last night. We were met outside by Gwendelym (spelling) outside. She simply looked at me and said nothing like "welcome to legal Seafoods. I told her I had 8 pm reservations. She proceeded by telling me "you need to go inside". My roommate noticed the lack of customer service coming from her that we did not expect. This resturant is in a vistor area, and very popular. He spoke to Chris the inside Manager about her. We were told it would take 16 minutes before we were seated. There was no place to stand a wait, and we asked later of a place to wait. The hostess then said "sorry there is no place to wait". We were standing near the entrance and felt uncomfortable as the staff kept saying excuse me. So, haven a stroke two years ago I decided to wait outside leaning on the pole. The pole was near the outside hostess table. Again, after being spoken to Gwendlym told the other three staff members and amongst other patrions was just transpired. After she finish I told her "that was more unprofessional". She began telling me things that would be expected from a stranger. "I was not rude to him". That is really confortational, and after the event I personally would not have said anything. That is only an expample of what she said. I procceded going in to tell Chris again. Upon going in to speak to me she proceeded along with others to Laugh at me. Yes, Laugh. Chris took her off the floor and I express the situitation to Chris and told him that I eat at 4 pm so 8 pm I am hungry and it was earlier I would left. Chris was outstanding in listening, and taking action. He did not make me pay my meal along with my roommate that spoke with him. I did tell Chris I was going to tell you of my experience
(3)
Tracy S.
Love the location view etc. food was average. Long time legal fan. Just not impressed with first floor menu at this location.
(3)
H H.
The best outdoor rooftop place for drinks in Boston that I've found so far. A bit out of the way, but the view of great, and the atmosphere is lively... The rooftop serves sushi and a limited seafood menu (chowder, lobster roll, etc.). To my surprise, the sushi is actually quite good! I liked the rolls, and I've seen bigger groups getting sushi boats that looked pretty impressive too. Drinks are not too special though, and pretty light on alcohol.
(4)
Carter D.
The clams were good, but i've had better. They served me a bloody mary when i was already drunk in the middle of the night. Maybe it wasn't that late, just december, I don't know. Big place, slow service, decent quality, not too expensive. It's just average, maybe worth going to if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)
J P.
Had dinner at Legal Seafood with my 10-year old son while visiting from California, to pass the time while my husband and older sons attended the Bruin's playoff game! I have been here in the past, and recalled that I had a pretty good experience. We arrived on a Friday night at about 6 pm and were seated immediately. I started with a perfect Russian Standard martini with hand stuffed blue cheese olives. I love blue cheese olives but they are not very common on the west coast where I live so it was a treat! We shared a bowl of the yummy clam chowder as an appetizer, along with a couple of delicious oysters for me. Both the oysters and chowder were excellent! I suggested to my son that he should order seafood since that was their specialty (and since we were in Boston) so he ordered the FISH SHAPED cheese ravioli off of the children's menu. Great twist for a seafood establishment! I usually only order cioppino when I am in San Francisco, but decided to give it a try at Legal Seafood. You will not be disappointed! It had a ton of fresh mussels, clams, shrimp and a nice large crab leg in the middle. The broth was super tasty and it came with a nice piece of fresh bread to soak up the goodness. To top off my meal I had a glass of Cakebread Sauvignion Blanc. It is almost unheard of to be able to order a Cakebread wine by the glass so this was a super nice surprise! My son finished his meal with a brownie/ice-cream creation (also off the children's menu). I had a little taste and it was excellent as well. I cannot comment on the parking as we walked from our hotel. But our server was super attentive and we had everything we needed at the right time to make this a really enjoyable meal! I will definitely be back when I return to Boston!
(4)
Tom D.
The good: gorgeous roofdeck, good sushi, the sake is awesome, The bad: line for the roof is always long, service (although friendly) is slowww. we waited about 15 minutes for our drinks.
(4)
Kallie F.
The 3rd floor of Legal Harborside has some spectacular views and in the summer months the roof retracts and all the windows can be folded to make this setting like an outdoor roof deck. The menu only has sushi and some appetizers, but a full bar. We went on a Tuesday evening to avoid the weekend crowds. However, tis the Season there were two private parties taking place. The downstairs host sent us to the third floor without any mention of the two parties taking place. When we arrived, the next host mentioned the private parties but offered us seats at the bar. This was not our first choice, but we took a seat anyway. We thought we would have to bail since we couldn't seem to get any service. In the nick of time however Matt, our bartender, came to the rescue. The sushi was AMAZING, and extremely fresh with great creations from the Sushi chef. We loved the Red Dragon roll and the avocado salad was delicious. The prices were as expected for Sushi in this area ($10-14 for "fancier" rolls). Matt was also very friendly and described some of their "bar creation" recipes like the Sailor Moon. Thankfully the great service from Matt and the food made up for the earlier missteps. We will certainly come back, especially in the warmer months. They are also hosting a New Year's Eve party which should prove to be pretty spectacular considering they have a front row seat of the harbor and fireworks.
(4)
Alexis J.
In the past I had heard a lot of bad things about Legal Seafood but I figured that I had to try it at least once while living in Boston so we went to Legal Harborside. We went on a Monday and it was still fairly crowded around dinner time, but not so crowded that we had to wait for a table. The service, I thought, was great and the food was even better. I got the fried clams and the person I was with got the fried shrimp. They were both absolutely delicious. For dessert we got the seasonal cobbler which was apple and cranberry and honestly that was the best part of the meal. It was amazing. I also got the apple sangria and the person with me got the Legal sangria (or whatever their house sangria is called) and that was delicious too. I will admit, the food is a bit overpriced but you still get a lot of good quality food for the amount you pay for so I didn't think it was too bad. I will definitely be back here again.
(5)
Twain S.
Liked the food, and service. But not going back. I only eat out less than 10 times a year. That combined with the fact that there are hundreds of places to eat, means that any little thing will ensure I don't come back. From the web page: You'll find a nod to our heritage on the first floor hull, with a casual menu of seafood favorites with a twist, an oyster bar and an old-fashioned fish market. The second floor dining room offers cuisine prepared with sensible creativity for celebratory eating and private dining events. And those that visit the third floor promenade deck will enjoy a four-season rooftop lounge... So from that description I decided that eating on the first floor made the most sense. That being said I have no idea what they mean by "an old-fashioned fish market". I totally missed that. Although I did find the "catch-and-release" fishing spot. Food was good, I had clam chowder, and the Portuguese Seafood Stew The service was also good. The waiter filled up my water without having to ask, some thing I like. The seating was cramped. There was at best a one person wide between the tables. So the waiters were constantly having to squeeze by. It was too noisy. You had speak into the ear of the person sitting next to you, and yell to the person on the other side of the table. When I go out to eat I want to be able to have a conversation. To top it off they were playing music at the same time. The menu offered a very, very limited selection. I kept turning it over assuming there was more to choose to from on the other side. (The menu is online, check it out before you decide to go eat there.) And to top it off I slammed my head getting up from the toilet. Each bathroom had it's own toilet and sink. For some reason there were two hand soap dispensers, one near the sink, and the other on the wall in front of the toilet. I didn't look up, as I stood, and the wall in front was so close that I hit my head on the hand soap dispenser. I had to sit back down for a couple of minutes, it wasn't a glancing blow. My significant other pointed that the entire building was less than a year old. But for some reason they were not able to figure out how much room they needed to fit a toilet. A silly aside was the catch-and-release "pond". There was what looked like a wishing pond, which had a sign which indicated that kids were allowed to "fish". As in hold a pole, and catch a fish. But they were suppose to "release" what ever it was that they caught. Just really silly. How about you take that extra space and give people more room to eat? No reason to go back.
(1)
Erin B.
We had a reservation for 5 pm on Christmas day. The notes on the reservation requested a High chair. We arrive, and the hostess seems troubled, but since we had to wait for my husband to park the car, she had time. When he finally arrived, I tell them and she says "well we are just trying to rearrange because of the high chair". As if they didn't know I was coming with a kid. Finally a different hostess tells us our table is ready. She brings us over & smiles. I say, Do you have a high chair? (My son is 2, it's pretty obvious he needs a high chair and not a bench seat) She says "oh you need a high chair?". Yes. Oh Ok. then she stutters about 3 times and says, "we're going to move you someplace else where it's easier for the high chair. Where would you like to wait?" Awkward. So I say "where would you like us to wait?" She says "oh you can sit here, just don't order anything". Awkward #2. Then a DIFFERENT manager comes over & says "ok here is the high chair" . ??? OK, so I guess we aren't moving? He looks at me like I have 10 heads. Once that was all settled our waitress was fantastic and the food was great. My only other complaint is that this is a summer restaurant. We've gone for the past 2 christmas's, but it's always cold and not cozy. I asked about the heat but nothing changed. In fact I think she might have forgotten that I asked. If you do decide to go, don't expect a high chair, and wear an extra sweater.
(3)
Katarina G.
There are three floors to this place, each a different restaurant, so I am not sure which restaurant everyone else is reviewing. I ate at Floor 2 with my husband while visiting Boston. Floor 2 is the "fine dining" restaurant. It was date night so we decided to be fancy. :o) The service was wonderful and our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. And the view was breathtaking. We shared a half-bottle of cabernet which was delicious. We were greeted with a shrimp and melon introductory dish that was refreshing and left me wanting more. Our appetizers included a lobster soup and short rib raviolis with truffle sauce. OMG...these were amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered the scallops (he wanted to try the abalone but they were all out which sucked). The server recommended the scallops prepared the same way and my husband was happy. He said it was the best scallop dish he had ever had. I ordered the fillet with king crab on top. This was bay far the most tender fillet I have ever had. I literally cut it with a butter knife. We closed our night off with espresso before heading upstairs. (It did take a while to get our bill though...like a super long while.) This is where Legal Harborside lost a star. The Floor 3 bar didn't fit the Floor 2 experience we just had. The server on Floor 3 had that look on her face like she just wanted to go home for the night. Sorry lady, you work here and we are paying for drinks, so that means you have to be friendly. It's your job. The wine I ordered was disappointing, but it was my only option by the glass. I almost considered sending it back. I couldn't tell if it was skunked or just extremely low quality. Whatever, we left after one round. Overall though, we had a great night and loved our dinner!
(4)
Jeff H.
Second-best seafood I had while in Boston. What really shone for us was the service, though. Had a baby with us for early dinner who had a stomach upset. The wait staff didn't bat an eye, just helped us clean up and kept the food and drink coming for the rest of us. Salmon was good, not spectacular, but appetizers were top of the line: I especially liked the PEI mussels.
(4)
L N.
Dined here last evening with out of town family. It was packed but fun. We were promptly seated ( A +). We placed our drink order and that is were the bumps started. Our cocktails were so watered down that instead ordering a second "soda," my husband actually switched to soda (F-). Disappointing given that bar is huge and looks absolutely amazing. Our server continued to be scattered. I ordered six oysters (which I prefer my oysters in the small side but this took it almost to the microscopic level), and was served five. I was offered to have this taken care of but let go since you pay "per piece." (C) The actual entree's were fabulous (no famous onion strings at this location) (A) Then when it came time to pay, a portion was being paid in cash with the balance on my husbands credit card. That was also mixed up which was tacking on an evtra $100 to the bill (good try) but promptly corrected. (C) Maybe the chaos contributed to the up and down experience but given it's Legal's and it's a busy holiday weekend for Boston restaurants, they know this and I expected them to be on their game.
(3)
Jan D.
Was very disappointed with our meals at the Harborside location. Everything was bland, nothing had any punch to it, and scrod didn't seem fresh as it had absolutely no flavor. Wellfleet oysters were good, but that was only positive note. Would not return to this location tho other Legals have been ok in the past.
(2)
BOB R.
Dined at the first floor raw bar. Nice few of the habour on a summer eve, We had drinks, lobster rolls and 6 wellfleet and 6 french kiss oysters. Everything was delicious and fresh. A little crowded and noisy but had a fun time before a rock concert.
(4)
Annonymous N.
The location is beautiful! The restaurant it self has a great atmosphere! I happen to dine in with my family on a Tuesday night! When we arrive at 6:30pm there was a wait for a minimal of 45min. We were about to walk out and they called us back and told us they had a table. We were brought to the main floor right by the window with a beautiful view of the deck! The place was half full which we wondered why the 45min wait. The waiter was dull and a bit snippy! We felt li,e he had too much on his hand and could not handle 4 tables. We were celebrating my fiance's birthday and we felt rush.. Needless to say we took our time, after a $250 check you want to rush people out! I've had better experience in other locations.
(2)
David B.
Love this place but if you are looking for quiet and intimate, go somewhere else. It is a bit noisy but the scene is fun and lively, the food fantastic and the staff very helpful and friendly. We changed are order based on the waiter's recommendations and had an amazing meal. And you can't beat dining on the deck on a beautiful summer evening.
(4)
Mari R.
I am not one to eat at chain restaurants. However, this one was amazing. The food was very fresh and delicious. I would go here again, and again, and again.
(4)
Ann O.
My husband and I went to Legal Harborside, had lunch on the first floor on a Saturday afternoon a couple of months ago. No real wait to get a table, I had the fish stew (whatever they call it on the menu) and it was fabulous. Definitely would go back again. We went to the dining room Friday night, waiting for a daughter coming in from NYC, so we decided to have a leisurely dinner there. We had to wait about 15 minutes for our Opentable reservation but they set us up with a beautiful booth overlooking the water, so it was worth it. The service was great, the meals seem to be slow to come once we finally ordered, but no complaints because we always delay ordering because the meals always seem to come out so fast and we like to relax and talk for a while. I digress--my husband ordered the tuna and said it was "good" but he didn't say great, I ordered the halibut, which was cooked perfectly, nice crust on the outside, and I enjoyed the unusal accompaniments, though I can't say that I liked them - but that's not the chef's problem. I liked the fact that they were using unusual ingredients, not your typical veggies. I probably would have ordered the lobster, but at $54 that was just ridiculous. I especially liked the fact that I said to the wait person that I wanted to start with a cup of chowder, which was not on the 2nd floor menu but was clearly in the building, and she took the request without any issue. Overall, the dining experience was about 2 hours long, so plan accordingly, but we will definitely be back again. Only we're more likely to visit the first floor, as the menu seemed to have more variety than the dining room.
(4)
Tom B.
CAUTION, the validated parking IS NOT ACROSS THE STREET from the restaurant, the parking across the street will cost you $20.00! The parking that is validated is down the street in the next block and, yes, across the street. Otherwise everything was great, service, food, drinks, and the view. I will definitely go back...now that I know where to parkl
(4)
Kristin Q.
This is an amazing gem of a restaurant. The manager Justin is so professional and helpful. We love coming here and enjoying not only the food but the service and the view!
(5)
dennis n.
We thought we would try the new place out for a late lunch --1pm on a Wednesday. We were impressed with the fabulous harber view and the ambience. It has only been open for a few weeks and only the 1st flloor is operating right now for casual dining and bar. Fine dining on second story and rooftop to come soon. They have a small free parking lot, which will probably be full most of the time. We had the bluepoint oysters on half shell, which were as fresh and tasty as I've ever had anywhere, washed down with a nice Tanqueray Martini. Wife had the lobster roll ($17) and I ordered the Fish n Chips ($11). Both were scrumptuous. Fries could have been crispier, but no complaints. If you want to try it out there was plenty of seating at 1:30 and if you can find an open meter on the street (bring quarters) it will only cost you a two bucks instead of 12 for valet. We are definitely going back there! PS if you need to GPS, Address is on NORTHERN Ave (mispelled in Yelp)
(4)
Gail S.
We really enjoy Legal Harborside -- the food is consistently good and the service is always fast, professional and friendly. First, the restaurant is beautiful -- all three floors have a stunning view of Boston Harbor. You can find nice healthy and vegetarian options -- their Big Salad is fabulous (fresh greens, tomatoes, asparagus, chick peas, olives in a balsamic dressing) as is their swordfish salad. Of course, they serve Legal staples like an incredible lobster roll, fish & chips, baked schrod, fresh lobster, homemade chowder, crabmeat salad, etc. There are plenty of options for seafood haters too -- in fact, their burger is pretty terrific. Lastly, they sell fresh fish, lobster and other goodies at their market on the first floor. The third floor --with its expansive outdoor deck and gorgeous view -- attracts a hopping crowd at night and on the weekends when the weather is nice.
(5)
Carol C.
Shame on you Legal Seafood!!!!! Been going for years here even when out of state. Brought a nephew there last weekend who was visiting from Iceland. We ordered whole belly clams and got a bunch of clam strips with just 3 whole bellys. That's unacceptable at those prices. What a huge disappointment this trip was. We should have stayed on the Cape where we get a full order of whole bellys when thats what we order.
(3)
Betsey N.
We got tired of waiting 1/2 hour past our reservation time. The music blasting away and the servers and diners shouting over it to be heard made conversation impossible. After standing crammed against the others waiting to be seated for what felt like forever -- dodging harried servers who were forced to wind their precarious way through the crowd-- two of our party had headaches that completely spoiled our appetites. No food could possibly be good enough to warrant suffering the horrible atmosphere in that place. We will not bother to return.
(1)
Vince R.
EXPERIENCE: We had reservations for Floor 1 at Haborside on Valentine's Day for 7PM, due to terrible traffic, we arrived 45 minutes late. I fully expected them to turn us away or out us in the back of the line and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated almost immediately ahead of others who were waiting. As a added plus we were seated at the window at a small four person picnic style table and were away from the other more cramped tables for two. We've previously been to floor 2 and enjoyed that experience very much. People have mentioned the noise on Floor 1, and it was a bit noisy, but it felt more lively and fun versus way too loud, our conversation was no problem. FOOD: We had the clam chowder mugs and steamers to start -- both excellent! We split the lobster special for the entree and it was also fantastic. Our waitress was readily available when we needed attention and left us alone as we lingered over our initial Wine and later Irish Coffees. You can't go wrong, Floor 2 is nicer and more quite but if you are wanting something more casual, floor 1 fits the bill!
(5)
Lili M.
When i came here we got a seat right by the window so it was a great view and unique dining experience. I ordered their pasta with clams and my friend ordered chicken fingers and fries I believe. The food wasn't anything special but we also probably just ordered the wrong things (after all it is a seafood restaurant so if you go try to stick to that!) But the window dining was great and the service was good too.
(3)
Vanessa B.
Before arriving in Boston we were told that this place is a must. The chowder would be something that we'd be wanting second helpings of. We went for dinner on a Friday night, and I'm sure they are always busy on the weekends, but add the fact that the Boston Marathon was taking place that Monday and their expo was just down the street didn't help. Because of the 2 1/2 hour wait we opted to dine at the bar. We missed out on the view that we were hoping for but it was still a great experience. Our server was great. Very attentive and made sure we were good with everything we ordered...she knew it was our first time there. We started with the clam chowder and it definitely did not disappoint. One of the top 2 that we had while in Boston. For my meal I had the crab meat roll with a side of fries and mashed potatoes. The fries were pretty normal, but the mashed potatoes were heavenly. The crab meat roll came out like a sandwich which I wasn't entirely suspecting. I didn't eat the bread, scared It would take up too much room and leave me too full to eat all the crab meat. The crab meat was delicious and so fresh. Like I said, this place was beyond busy. I'm not sure if it's normally that busy on a Friday night or if it was the Boston Marathon that made it a madhouse. I'd love to go back and try to dine during a slower time so we can have the view we were hoping for.
(4)
Kim T.
I came in yesterday with a friend for lunch, service was excellent, our waitor was friendly and extremely attentive, also the food was great...I got the white sangria (super delicious) and a tuna burger and my friend got the lobster roll ...also we started with a white clam pizza ... if you go here definitely get it, it was unbelievable! Best lunch Ive had in a long time ... Not to mention the place is beautiful the ambiance is great ... i love the lighting and the big fans as well! Great job ... Will be back very soon!!
(5)
Dee L.
Went this past Monday it was our 2nd visit in just a few weeks. Location, Location, Location, great spot on a beautiful day. Both times went for lunch 30 minute wait this past Monday but fine with that waited outside with a great view of the harbor. The food is good got cod 1st time grilled shrimp this time both good. I like that they have unusual sides not the standard fries, baked or coleslaw. The only problem I have and it seems others have is the service. It's not fine dining but for $60 for lunch (no cocktails) I expect prompt service. It appears they hire younger servers which is fine but the last time we went the service was painfully slow. He might have been new because he seemed to struggle with the handheld device that the orders are taken on and when our order came out - brought by a "runner" the sides were wrong. He took the sides back and we waited a lot longer than we should have with our grilled shrimp and grilled scallops looking lonely while waiting for the correct sides to be brought out. They need to work on the service and then they will be in firmly in the 4 star range. It's a great place on a nice day not sure how they'll do once the New England Winter hits.
(3)
Kalliope K.
Must have been a bad day. Rooftop deck at Legal Harborside. Lousy service. Clam Chowder, watery and absent clams. Expensive. C'mon Legal.... this did not get you to where you are today.
(2)
Tom W.
I hate giving Legal a bad review since I've had very good experiences at other Legal Seafood restaurants in the past. I'm originally from the Boston area and always look forward to some good fried clams when I get a chance to be in New England. This was our first time at Harborside and we ate on the first floor restaurant. Great layout and location and the service was pretty good although our waiter did forget to bring us our drink order. However, I hate to be picky about service or location; most of us go to restaurants for the food, and this time we were very disappointed. My daughter and I had steamers for an appetizer - pretty good. My wife had mussels for her Entre - also pretty good but nothing special. My daughter had Tuna for her Entre - it should have been sent back. I didn't realize how bad it was until half way through the meal when I noticed that she ate very little of it. It was overcooked and dry. My fried clams were very disappointing. The clams themselves were in pieces; at first, I thought I got strips, but they were just bits and pieces, like they came from the bottom of the bucket. I could have lived with that if they had been crisp, but they were not. My wife had onion soup - terrible. She also had a caesar salad - also not very good. All in all, not a very good dining experience. The location will not save this restaurant unless they get their kitchen act together. There are too many good restaurant options in Boston - don't think I'll every go back to this one.
(2)
Alex Z.
best roof deck bar in boston ive found. great for summers. mostly late 20s and up.
(4)
Barbara B.
Just ate at the new Legals on the water - in their fancier dining room. Thought it was a little stuffy and pretensive Although the food did live up to Legals promise of excellence I also thought it was a bit overt priced . I am not in a hurry to return.
(3)
Kent M.
Pretty place, beautiful water views, fine attentive friendly service. BUT small almost nouvelle cuisine portions -- scallops appetizer @ $13 delivers one (yes, one) scallop -- and very expensive. Food was very well prepared & tasty, but if you go, skip next month's mortgage and bring them the cash.
(4)
Shannon C.
This place is fabulous. We did not have a reservation at 7p on a Saturday & were told a 2 hour wait - there was also an hour long wait to get onto the roofdeck just for a drink - however, within 5 minutes of arriving we were ushered to a lovely table next to the open windows overlooking the water (I'm attributing this to my date's unbelievable charm with front of house staff). Our waiter Matthew was great & suggested perfect oysters for us since we were undecided. We had the tuna crudo and the roasted clams - the grilled scallops and striped bass. The crudo was my favorite -the clams were good though & came in a spicy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the grilled scallop dish came with 7 scallops! I expected maybe 4. They were grilled perfectly - the striped bass was a special that night & had a grilled peach salad that was delicious. The food & ambiance here are amazing - the cucumber cooler cocktail was also to die for.
(5)
Just S.
They lie. The wait is forever; at least 30 minutes longer than the hour they tell you and way over priced Yankee Lobster down the street is much better if you you would rather good food and don't care about ambiance. Plus on nights there's a concert at the pavilion you can hear the show from their patio.
(1)
J F.
Great atmosphere! The views are amazing...by far one of my new standard go to places!
(4)
Helen B.
Legal has been a mainstay for me for years, but the Northern Ave restaurant is truly a beautiful building. I had lunch recently in the ground level floor overlooking the water - very pleasant. I had a salad with lobster meat that was very delicious. This seems a little more upscale than other Legal places. My only complaint is the music is too load.
(4)
Cailyn K.
I just went to Legal Harborsides (Third Floor) with a friend to grab drinks. The atmosphere is wonderful but there pitchers of sangria and margaritas are horrible. We bought two pitchers (each between $20-$30 each) and all we got was flavored ice cubes. There is absolutely no alcohol in these pitchers and they were horrible. Honestly, you can find the same view with better drinks at Atlantic Beer Garden and Whiskey Priest. Don't waste your time!
(1)
Roseann S.
Overall my experience was favorable even though we had 7:15pm reservations and didn't get seated until 8:00pm. They seem to be struggling with the velocity of interest and it is completely chaotic at the hostess stand with a lot of miss communication. But once we were seated our server was excellent as was the menu and the food. I have a gluten allergy and for the first time in 3 years was able to eat fried clams again. If you can be patient with being seated it is a great location and the food is delicious.
(4)
Bill G.
1st off we went on a Sunday(10/9) evening, and faced an "estimated wait" of 45 minutes. We languished out on the pier (nice views)for almost 90minutes before we got buzzed that our table was ready. The First floor was excruciatingly loud! The fact that the canned music was stuck on the same jazz piece didn't help. The waitress was perky, but not too good. She initially entered our dinner order as an appetizers. She adjusted, but not before waiting 20 minutes for 2 clam chowders. I have eaten at many Legal Seafoods before and the chowder was superb. The chowder was mediocre at best here;tons of potatoes and minimum clams; a disappointment. We asked for rolls and they came after 2 repeat requests,again about 20 minutes later. The main course came another 20 minutes later; fried clams that were all stuck together and rubbery and to top it off not even hot. Cold fried seafood is not what I hoped for! My dining companion had the Portuguese seafood stew and found it hot but not much better. It was a thin, almost campbell soup-like broth with mostly mussels and a few shrimp. Things seem to run in 20 minute segments here. We dined for 20 minutes, then ordered dessert; a cup of frozen custard. That arrived 20 minutes later. Keep in mind now that we waited 90 minutes to get a table! The check arrived and our waitress vanished off the floor for 30 MINUTES! When she came back she told us a really involved story about having to go upstairs to get a new HH computer 'cause hers froze; No apology, mind you, just a story! To be fair, we did try to flag down a floor manager and pay him so we could leave, but they disappeared too. In sum, we wasted about 4 hours between waiting for a table, waiting for service, and waiting to pay so we could leave, And then the food wasn't nearly as good as other Legal Seafood restaurants we've eaten in lately(Long Wharf. Oh, and $8 to park too. Roger Berkowitz, you got a lot of 'splaining to do!
(1)
Ed B.
My parents were in town for a conference and staying at the Renaissance. It was raining and my parents had just arrived from driving in the rain storm so we didn't want to have to go very far for dinner. Having never been here and interestred in trying it out, I made a reservation for 5:30PM but with parking, we didn't get there utnil 5:50PM. Luckily they didn't give away our table and we were sat immediately. I like the space and I'm sure its really nice in the summer. But it is LOUD. We could barely hear each other. Our water, Mario (?) came over to us and right off the back had 'personal' suggestions for wine, beers, food and was able to tell us a little about what he thought would be considered good. To start we shared the steamers, which were pretty good. They weren't gritty as I thought they would be. The broth was really tasty. My dad was just eating it up like it was soup. I had a mug of their clam chowder, which is still to me one of the better clam chowders I've had. Not a lot of potatoes, creamy, you can taste the clams. For my entree I got the tuna burger, not really knowing what to expect. It was good. The chipotle mayo gave it a nice kick. My mom got fried clams. I love whole belly clams that just burst in your mouth. I wouldn't consider Legal's to have the best. Their clams are small, but not greasy. SOmetimes they taste a bit, bordering on burnt. My dad enjoyed his portuguese stew. For dessert we split a Bananas Foster Bread pudding. it was okay. Very sweet. Our check with tip ended up about $104 for three people. Overall, it was good, but not great. If you've been to other Legal Seafood's its pretty much the same, except the location. would I go back? Probably, but only when I'm in the area. I live outside of the city, so I would have to be for a special occasion, like my parents in town.
(3)
Lesley P.
I am giving it a two to get your attention. All in all we had a good time, enjoyed the food, service and view. But the three of us had terrific sticker shock. We looked up the Legal Seafoods menus but this one is different so check the menu before you go. It differs per floor within the restaurant and NONE are the same as regular Legal Seafoods menus. They do a lot of a la carte and market pricing which really adds up. We had a dog with us so we were able to tie her up right outside the patio which was nice. We won't go back. The one upside is that we scored free Sunday parking at a nearby meter since parking can be expensive down there.
(2)
Melissa D.
Don't get me wrong- if you are able to get to the roof deck - it was amazing but a limited menu, staff rushing to get you out and snobby service turned me off. The first and second floors I have had their menu and it was good! Your standard but nothing blew me away. Views are amazing and it can get packed so open table it 2 weeks in advance to get the best times. The restaurant is very touristy. Prices are okay - city prices of 15-25 for a dinner entree. We went to the rooftop bar and it can get very hot up there with the furniture on a summer day so be prepared to get sunburned. They have delicious pitcher drinks which are more affordable than single serve drinks. However, when it was time to eat - not a lot of variety for the rooftop bar menu. Our server seemed more irritated than accommodating when our party grew. You would think she would be excited when a larger group equates a larger bill which equates a larger tip but she wasn't having it. This is a good place for Friday after work drinks and a great way to start the night but I don't see myself rushing to come back.
(3)
Debra L.
Loved the 3rd floor for an afternoon snack on a sunny winter afternoon. Beautiful space and view and wonderful service. I imagine in the summer this place would be insane, but it was perfect in February. I had a glass of Prosecco and my husband had a delicious Bloody Mary. I had a sip and regretted not getting one myself. The upstairs menu is limited but we were fine with that. We shared a dozen delicious oysters and a spicy tuna roll. It wasn't like a typical spicy tuna roll. It was more like a plain tuna roll with a mildly spicy sauce drizzled on top. I kind of liked it that way. You could really taste the tuna which was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back here! PS - It KILLS me that this place didn't open until after I left Fort Point Channel. Booo!
(5)
Mark W.
Very good food and service. Recommend the lobster Pizza
(4)
Sarah E.
Last night I had dinner at Legal Harborside and I literally hate it!!! First, the host was really unprofessional and received us with a little joke that the waiting time would be approximately 2hours. It wasn't funny at all because we were starving and we walked under rain to get there! Second, I had a $23 boring tiny swordfish with rice and mashed potatoes which I did not enjoy and I swear I could make something much better for 5 bucks!!! Or I could be the Legal Seafood chef!!! Either one!! Third, by the time we were leaving, one of the hosts shouted "Enjoy the weather"!!! That was so sarcastic and very unappropriated because it was raining and snowing and we had to walk to the parking a block away. Further more, you pay for public parking!!! Conclusion...Legal Harborside has awful services, boring food and unprofessional staff. Don't even waste your time and money there!!
(1)
Burgess N.
We started in the top floor bar for cocktails. Only real complaint about that was the volume of the TV was deafening, and I am already practically deaf. Menu is a bit pricey, but that's to be expected in Boston. I had some delicious and very fresh oysters for an appetizer, then moved on to the Lobster Roll. It was very good. Chunky lobster meat with minimal garnishes. The service was great, even though our waiter was busy with other tables he spent plenty of time with us explaining the dishes, we didn't feel rushed at all. The main reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars was because of the noise level throughout the restaurant. It was crowded noise polluted from people and music, that in my opinion, was turned up too loud.
(4)
Nicole C.
We went for the oysters but got so much more. I wanted to bring my parents, from NY, for some fresh oysters. We ended up there for lunch because we were going to head over to Harpoon. I knew they would have good oysters, but didn't expect what we got. Diego was our server and he was awesome from the moment we sat down. He made some suggestions, we took them and we were not dissapointed. We started with a dozen oysters (Diego helped select the varieties), cups of chowder and a soup of the day all around. They oysters were fresh, clean and delicious. Their chowder was creamy and flavorful without being too thick. Next, my parents and I shared a lobster roll, the steamers, and the seafood stuffed artichokes. My husband got the skirt steak. Everything was perfectly done and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively, not to mention the nice view of the water up by the big windows, which open up to the dock during the warmer months. I can't wait to go back! P.S. get the sangria!
(5)
Chao D.
I love the sea food bere...recipient service is nlt that good..but the lobster is amazing...I like that
(5)
Ellen H.
Came on New Years Eve and could only get a 4:30pm reservation, but they did seat us at 4:30 despite only having 2 of 4 from our party there. **NOTE: This menu is NOT the same as other Legal Seafoods restaurants.** The menu itself is pretty small: a one-sheeter with extensive seafood options (duh) and almost NO "turf" options -- a skirt steak salad and one other steak option were the only meat options to be had. It is a seafood restaurant on the water, but I did expect a bit more variety. I had the clam chowder - delish! SUPER hot but scrumptious nonetheless. I ordered the buffalo shrimp as my meal; I expected a shrimp cocktail with some kind of buffalo rub, but what I got was deep-fried shrimp SWIMMING in buffalo sauce. Just ok, not great. The shrimp were huge which was really the only plus. We had to ask for bread about 5 times -- she would only bring one roll per person at the table and only when prompted. That was a little annoying in terms of service. The drinks were good, especially the mojito. Prices were lower than other Legal's, and lower than I'd expect, especially in Boston. I'd come back if I had a major hankering for seafood -- or clam chowder -- but it's not top on my list (maybe in summer -- great views!)
(3)
John B.
Great place. Fresh seafood and really not expensive (except for floor 2). First floor gets really busy, but you can always go to their take out counter. Second floor is amazing; shrimp cocktail is the best I've ever had, and the swordfish chop was astounding. Way to go guys!
(5)
Matt D.
Good service, knowledgable bartenders. The lack of 5 stars is only for the line on the summer weekends. Nobody likes to wait in line. I usually say I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member (Groucho Marx). This place is worth it for the views alone.
(4)
Maggie N.
Love the roofdeck! Sushi and white sangeria a must!
(5)
Caitlin M.
This place is well worth the money. They honored my request to sit by the window, and the view is so nice! The shrimp are giant. The scallop dish was amazing. The chef also will bring out some complimentary tasters. It is such a fun, romantic, warm environment. I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Tihomir D.
Another great night at legals roof top. Love that place and Didi took great care of us.
(5)
Alex D.
Best seafood restaurant yet. Perfect place for Caviar. Oyster fans, here is your place. Believe it or not they have Alaskan King crab. 5 stars all the way.
(5)
Alison Y.
Legal harbor side came highly recommended and did not disappoint! Food was excellent! We ate down stairs on the patio. Wonderful views there is also a sushi and raw bar upstairs. They even have a small togo counter with pre made meals, sushi and some frozen speciality dishes ( lobster mac n cheese)... Oysters were shucked perfectly and probably the best I have ever had! Cool spot to take in Boston while enjoying a tasty lunch or dinner!
(4)
Bilal A.
We've been there three. We asked to have a table right next to sea. They made us wait for one hour. It is too long. I tried fish in foil. It was delicious. If you do not want to eat with bacon, you should tell them before placing order. Feel free to ask anything because they are quite kind and nice I put this place into my list. I prefere to go in the future.
(4)
Kevin L.
I've never been disappointed with a Legal's experience and Harborside continued to support this statement. I came here on a Thusrday night at 9pm and there was still a wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. Luckily there were some empty chairs at the bar and the Pats were playing, so that was a no brainer. The bartender was friendly and knew the menu really well. I ordered the fried clams, crab roll, and crab and pepperoni pizza. Although the clams were sweet, I wasn't a fan of the batter and the clams were a little small. The batter seemed a little soggy and didn't have a nice, crisp crunch to it. The crab roll was filled with fresh crab meat and the roll was nicely buttered and toasted. Surprisingly, the biggest highlight of the night was the pizza. It was a flatbread pizza with crab, tomatoes, and pepperoni. Seems like a weird combo, but the flavors blended together so nicely. You gotta try it!
(4)
Neelam P.
Can I not rate 10 stars? We had a group of 15 and anytime you go with a large group anywhere, it tends to get complicated, but Santiago handled us well. The food at Legal was awesome, I simply ate out of everyone else's plates because I wanted to order everything on the menu. A few amazing things I tasted and left there extremely satisfied were the Lobster Bisque, Linguini & Clams, Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, Oysters, Lobster Pot Pie...I am sure anything you order will be simply satisfying. Santiago was our waiter and if you go, request him. I am sure everyone else was great, but he really made our experience awesome. PS - THE VIEW, oh it's amazing!
(5)
Sharon L.
I would like to give it a 3.5 5 for the atmosphere 5 for the crab roll on a hot dog roll 2 for the chips 2 for the non functional basket its served in
(4)
Angela L.
Rooftop review: Wow. What a VIEW. They have lots of seating around the bar area and outdoor patio seating as well. I went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty packed. They have fun music, but not much dancing going on- just drinks and hanging out. Drinks are STRONG. So you will definitely get your money's worth when getting a drink. Bartenders were nice. Overall, I'd come back! Get here early because otherwise rooftop will be full. They do make you wait for awhile before getting in if you get there later.
(4)
Patti M.
The food here is tasty but no means the best. There are other places to have a great (not to mention cheaper) seafood meal. That being said, their clam chowder is good but by far not the best I have tasted. The lobster roll was fresh, tasty, and a decent sized portion and they didn't skimp on the truffle fries in the silly basket. They were pretty tasty as well. The Boston cream pie was excellent, though not as much for its flavor as for the fact it was NOT sickening sweet. The atmosphere is pretty, with a great view of the water and the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Kelly O.
It's a Legal, with all that entails- consistently prepared fresh seafood (although I'm becoming less of a fan of their fried clams over time, they're just not as delicious as I remember them), decent beer/mediocre cocktail list (why all the vodka?), reasonable service, mid-to-highish prices. That being said, this spot in particular has lovely waterside views on all 3 floors, but you will wait for them- this place gets craaaazy packed, especially if there's a concert on next door. But don't limit this place to just summer- I had a blast at a private company holiday party, where the food/booze/service was top notch and the views coupled with the cozy fireplaces made the night quite lovely.
(4)
Khristina D.
Had tacos and fried green beans. There was a long wait but the food was great. Now...I ordered the green bloody Mary. It's not for everyone, me included. The texture of the drink was more like a badly mixed smoothy. Our waiter looks like Turtle from Entourage. ..and sounds like Matt Damon: only in Boston, right! Obviously, I love this place. Boston or Warwick. ..no matter...great calamari. ..always and ways winner.
(4)
Steven T.
Fun place to hangout. It has a great view of the water. It gets crowded fast on Saturday afternoons. Pros: -Clean and comfortable. -Fabulous view of the water. -Quick and friendly staff.
(4)
Kike M.
This restaurant is amazing in every sense: its location in the harbor, the fantastic food, fresh products, fresh seafood, lovely staff. Must to try: their lobster roll, with fries and salad. Kinda pricey but totally worth it. If you can get a table outside with the sea view, do it.
(4)
Ashley C.
*This review is for the upstairs bar. Got in line around 11 pm and waited half an hour to get up there. Surprisingly, they don't have a strict dress code - I was in shorts, tank and running shoes and they still let me in. The view was of the harbor was decent. There was a good amount of seating and tables upstairs, along with a nice breeze in the open air. Drinks were pretty expensive (cranberry vodka $15!!!), but that's expected. It was a good time, but I expected a bigger, more spacious/open rooftop bar. It was more of just a bar upstairs with no windows.
(3)
Tyrie D.
Great oysters fantastic drinks and a help full service at the bar. Loved the selection of oysters they have with the discretion of them all.
(4)
Alan C.
Just finished the Harpoon Brewery tour so crew and I wanted to have a nice Saturday lunch at Legal Harborside. It was packed but there is bar seating all around first floor and we got seats near the waterfront side. Gorgeous view. Food: Crab Roll - This was a bit pricey but well worth it. The toasted buttered bun was packed with succulent crab meat. It was well seasoned with just enough mayo to give it flavor but definitely did not drown it like other places I've been to. It tasted fresh and before I knew it, finished the whole thing. The fries on the side was really nothing special, average. The cole slaw that came in tiny cup was ok. Service: Super busy Saturday but waitress did check on us often but that's probably because we sat in a high traffic area.
(5)
David C.
It may be dressed up like the swanky place to be on a happening summer night, but Legal Harborside (the first floor, that is) is still Legal Seafoods at heart, which means the food is mediocre at best. The tuna burgers, lobster mac and cheese, and Portuguese stew ordered by my table all required a little extra seasoning (the mac and cheese was particularly bland, which was most disappointing of all), but the shrimp and scallop stuffed artichokes and lobster/bacon pizza were a bit better. Service is great, however, friendly and professional, and the views simply can't be beat. I'd probably suggest skipping the food, save for a few raw bivalves, and kicking back with some drinks so that you can enjoy the sunset in style.
(3)
Jowanna G.
Mediocre overpriced food in a nice setting, I think that sums up my experience at harborside legals. I am a self proclaimed foodie that loves to indulge in good foodie no matter what the cost may be. But when I received 1 piece of fish, 2 scallops, and 2 shrimps with one shrimp tail as a fishermen platter for $33.95 that is just completely unacceptable. The seafood was soggy, & I had to build my own fishermen platter because this location does not offer one, I never thought that I would have this experience with legals seafood. The highlight of my experience here was leaving! Don't waste your time or money with this restaurant, it has become a step below red lobster and just another over priced chain restaurant.
This review is on the third floor roof deck. We decided to stop here during our trip to Boston, but what we didn't realize was that it was graduation weekend for pretty much every university AND Harpoon was hosting a 5K race, so it was BUSY! There was a 2 hour wait for the seating on the first floor, so we opted for the roof deck. There was a line just to get up to the 3rd floor, so we waited for at least 30 minutes. Then once we got up there, it was first come first serve for tables, so we were eyeing the tables like hawks. It took over an hour to finally sit and order lunch. Once we sat and looked over the menu, we realized the menu is totally different than the menu downstairs. It was mostly sushi, rather than your typical seafood. However, it was affordable and very tasty. They had fun drinks, and accidentally gave us a large pitcher of sangria instead of a small, so we couldn't complain. Even though it was a pain to get a table, it was great food and a beautiful view. It's definitely a scene, and not somewhere i would come often, but it was fun. My recommendation is to come early, like right when they open, to beat the crowd.
(4)
Gabriela L.
When I was recently in town, I was craving Oysters and what better location than the original Legal Seafoods on the Boston Harbor. It was one of the first few weekends with nice weather, and after getting slammed with snow all winter you can imagine how packed this place was. It took us about 30 minutes, but we jumped on a group as they were leaving to snag their booth on the 3rd floor. The menu up here is limited but of course we ordered lots of oysters to start, which were fabulous. We become more hungry the more we ate... (and the more we drank) so we also ordered some sushi and an avocado salad as well. The array of sushi we got was great but the avocado salad was pretty heavy on the spicy mayo, so not great. Overall, it's a good time to get together with friends have a few drinks, share a few small plates and enjoy the view.
(4)
Karina B.
FIRST FLOOR REVIEW: Amazing service, amazing food ( highly recommend the lobster mac and cheese). I also tried the clam chowder which was DELICIOUS! the caesar salad i feel like was too expensive for what we got but still good! My family ordered the clam with linguini i tasted a bite and it was really good and there are a bunch of tiny clams in the shell which they give you a plate where you can dispose of them! The fresh oysters were delicious I recommend either the cape cod ones or the duxbury MA ones! Definitely coming back! Someone around us got the lobster rolls which looked amazing
(5)
Richard J.
Great friendly staff, amazing food. Tuna Burger is incredible Buffalo Shrimp is pure perfection
(5)
Crystal M.
Don't bother unless you are an American with an American driving license or stupid enough to carry your passport with you. At the old age of 32 we were not allowed wine with our dinner unless we had passport's which of course I would only carry around if I was silly enough. Loose your passport and spend 2 months waiting for a replacement in a country you're not from, just not worth the risk, for any lobster roll. Legal is so legal it will only accept US driving licenses, no international's allowed. In a hugely tourist plagued city this is just plain ignorant.
(1)
Elisha T.
I was introduced to this restaurant on my first travel to Boston and I'm really satisfied with the quality of food here. Portion of food is more than you can eat in one go and it was around $20/person. We were a party of 5 people visiting here on Friday for lunch. There were good number of tables available to get seated immediately. The view of lake is great over large windows on the lakeside. Interior of restaurant is also nice if you want to take some photo together with friends and families. If you have a chance to dine here, be sure to try clam chowder, mussels, and calamari as an appetizer because you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lane L.
Just spent way too much money on bad food. I love sea food. Which is why when I come to a city like Boston, I get all excited. This place was a let down. Definitely don't get the lobster. I didn't know what people were taking about when they called seafood stringy until I had their lobster. The service was all fine and the server was helpful with our party of 7 but the service can't make the food taste better, can it?
(2)
Kaveh Z.
Good for seafood. Not being so much of a seafood fan I ordered the Swordfish Gyro and have to say loved it. The white sangria was good too. In another visit I decided to have steak and although meat was good but the vegetables were not that good. I still recommend this place. Food is good and view is great.
(4)
Amir F.
By far favorite restaurant in Boston. We always take friends from our hometown in Orlando who visit. Fair but expected higher prices, great quality, and never had bad service
(5)
Stefanie A.
Such a great open air, rooftop bar with amazing views of the water & boats! Came here for some apps and drinks while we were in town visiting our Boston friends (we're from Chicago). We each had some good cocktails and for apps we shared the oysters, little necks, and three different sushi rolls. All delicious!
(5)
Guillem L.
The view is amazing but the food is not so good. I had tasty oysters but the salmon had nothing exceptional, after two hours waiting my friends and I were skeptical... However, the waitress was friendly and smiling all the dinner.
(3)
Yelena W.
We went to the restaurant at 12 pm on Sunday for a good meal but... As soon we got in, FOUR young people upfront looked at us and asked us if we had a reservation. The minute they heard that we didn't make a reservation , they told us that we have to wait for a table outside for 45 minutes but they were ready to give us a table inside so we can see traffic on Northern street istead of enjoying a nice view of Boston Harbor. :) It was kind of surprising because while we walked outside we saw at least five emply tables in the Patio. Believe it or not, it was our third attempt to get to this restaurant without a reservation. We learned our lesson, either make a reservation or watch traffic. My advice would be "Make a reservation" prior going to this restaurant if you want to have a nice view while you are eating your meal. Also, you will get a "special look" or actually "four special looks" if you didn't make a reservation to this elite place. Something like "Who are you? and you don't belong to be here!"
(1)
K R.
First floor review: I've eaten here many times and always enjoyed my meal and the service. Plenty to pick from and the view is amazing! Everyone who I have brought here has loved it. I went there this past weekend and was incredibly impressed. I was dining with a few people with different allergies and the staff did an excellent job at offering excellent substitutions and keeping our order straight. Everyone loved what they ordered!
(5)
Rach E.
Food and service were fantastic. We sat at the bar with Stephanie last night. Her recommendations were great. We had then lobster pizza and tuna tacos. Great portions and reasonably priced! Definitely a must see.
(5)
Zoila V.
Gorgeous view!! The location of this restaurant is perfect, right on the water by finishing pier. Boats can dock right up to the restaurant which is pretty darn cool for being right in the city! Even late on a Monday night this place was super busy...always a good sign! The restaurant itself is very modern looking, nice 360 bar on the 1st floor! We got the legal sangria...yum! For those that like a sweet sangria i would recommend this! We got grilled scallops and fried clams for entrees...market price wasn't bad! Average $23 for each plate. Portions were good size too especially for an upscale restaurant. Service was pleasant, and pretty fast. We really enjoyed our dinner here, food was great but the view and ambience really make the place!
(4)
Sonia N.
For a chain, I've always liked Legal's but this time I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and I don't have a bad thing to say. My Sapphire Gimlet was superb and having it served in a nicely chilled glass was an added bonus. For our starter, we decided to try out the wild mushroom and lobster pizza and it was definitely worth trying. Very tasty and the combo of mushroom and lobster mixed well together. Our entrees also did not disappoint. Our bartender hard sold us the swordfish calling it the "best dish in the house" so even though we weren't in the mood for it, we ordered it at her insistence and WOW, it was the softest tastiest cut of fish I've eaten in a while. The eggplant side we got with it was yummy as well. My taste buds were singing! It was offered at a hefty $30 but trust me, it is worth the splurge. The fried clams were equally delicious. The clam bellies were plump and neither the clams or the fries were overcooked as it sometimes can be at other places. Looking forward to returning at some point. Love that this location has great food and great views.
(5)
A P.
Beautiful view, fabulous food! 2nd Floor was perfect! We enjoyed a filet and the blackened sunburst trout. Also the lobster bisque... So Good! Request to sit near the windows and watch the setting sun!
(4)
Kathleen D.
The idea of eating a sea animal generally makes me cringe. In the past decade, I can probably count how many fish I've consumed on one hand. It really makes no sense, I know. I eat chicken or red meat with no problem... yet when it comes to a fish, I just picture its little eyes staring me down and can't stomach it. I made an exception at Legal Harborside this week. We headed in for lunch and were seated in the first floor dining room near one of the big glass windows peering out onto the harbor. The menu was, obviously, overwhelmingly fish-based... because, you know, it's a seafood restaurant. Still: they have some land options too, like a hamburger or turkey burger. Nonetheless, I chatted with our sweet server about my lack of adventure into seafood territory, and told her that I've been kind of wanting to try swordfish. I had it once before... in Italy four years ago, and remembered liking it. She replied that it was a great fish to try since it's the "chicken of the sea." Sold. I ordered the gyro. It came out not resembling a fish much at all! It didn't even taste all too fishy. With a squirt of lemon, mixed with the pita and the tzatziki sauce, it was the perfect gateway fish. I think I may be ready to try others! Maybe. I really enjoyed my time at Legal Harborside. It was a casual lunch, but I heard (from a trolley guide, ahem -- I was a tourist!) that the place turns classy at night.
(5)
Jen W.
SECOND FLOOR REVIEW: for a restaurant that rejects the idea that it's a chain, it seems highly audacious and counterintuitive to put three different restaurants (or concepts) in one building AND across the street from another Legal's (LTK). That aside, let me help you. If you want an upscale (read: pricey) dining experience, then you can get that here. If you want a truly memorable, can't-wait-to-return experience, look elsewhere. During our experience, our waiter told one half of our party (10 of us at a long table) that we ordered the seafood tower. We did not. We told him to check with him before we ordered items from the raw bar without knowing everyone's comfort level. $90 later we discovered that no one actually ordered the thing. Fast forward 90 minutes... No sign of our entrees (or the salad I ordered... Never did arrive). Nothing to hold us over. Not even an acknowledgement until the second (maybe third) time we asked what was going on with our food. They did right by us by reducing the final bill, but it wasn't enough to stop me from posting this review and it's not enough for me to go back. Whatever identity crisis this brand is going through, I hope it works out. Right now, this second floor restaurant/concept/thing isn't working. The menu feels like someone challenged Legal chefs to a game of "Chopped," and the staff doesn't have the same dedication to quality and customer service. Idk. Smh. Wtf.
(2)
Manfred S.
The food has been fantastic during the past few visits and once we were finally served it was fantastic again. Food only would be a solid five star, but there were reservation issues. --- It is supposed to be fine dining, but they only manage fine food. The request for pescataria adjustments of our order was lost in translation. To the food: Oysters --- Okay. Wellfleets are hard to mess up. They were better than the Duxbury's that were also available. (Note: only two choices of very large oysters but good) Where the kitchen shined: oxtail ravioli (on the house) - not so good for my pescatarian wife but I liked it a lot despite being on the sweet side lobster tail salad (on the house) - lovely, once it registered that honey is a pescatarian abalone - fantastic, but could do without the bacon bits (note: pescatarians don't care for bacon). tuna - hugh piece, slightly over seared (without being asked, I mentioned that I like my tuna rare) dessert (on the house) - chocolate raspberry cake and some chocolate chip ice cream (sorry, but I don't like chocolate desserts so cannot comment) wine - Sancerre rose, light crispy, reasonably priced - perfect for any food, but especially for seafood Management's screw-up: We made the wedding anniversary reservation - 8:30 PM window seat - during a previous visit. We arrived early at 8:05. We were told that the window table was not ready, but would be available closer to the booked time. We were seated around 9:10. Notably, there was a walk-in line that seemed to get seated first. No one bothered to check on us until after I checked at 8:35 and then complained around 8:50. They told us that our table was ready and they walked us to a booth in the back --- far from a window seat. We probably could have had that table an hour earlier. Recommendation to the hosts (there were many): Don't upsell bad tables. Communicate if there is a problem. Don't wait until our night is spoiled!
(4)
lizzie b.
Crowded bar... Nice view if you can get a seat. Music too loud to be relaxing. Sangria is gross and way too sweet. Downstairs is unbearably loud. Service just okay. Waiter took selfies with friend's phone that she asked him to please charge. I love the scrod, but they wouldn't serve a baked potato in this location. Sides weren't good. And there's only one side included in this dinner versus two at other Legals. Left with no voice due to screaming at friend all night so she could hear me. Basically love the view and the fish itself but the rest is chaos.
(2)
chanda d.
AMAZING, Grown and Sexy night out with my best girl friend! The Red Dragon Sushi was incredible! It's all about the ambiance. If you really want a great experience, call and reserve a table.
Great light lunch here before heading to Harpoon. We sat at their bar and had excellent service, drinks, and food. Definitely recommend the mussels and the stuffie. Great view of the harbor in a beautiful restaurant.
(5)
Gina B.
Had the opportunity try Legal recently after a work trip took me up to Beantown again. It's surprising large inside, 3 stories I believe and quite contemporary inside. Given the size of our group, we opted for a prix fix meal (soup/salad, entree and dessert). I'm gluten-free and asked the server if they could make an accommodation, which they did. They even had gluten-free bread, though it was hard as a rock. They offered sorbet as an alternative for a gluten-free dessert option. Unfortunately, it had terrible freezer burn. They finally brought out some fresh sorbet, but I felt this should had been caught before it was brought out. Other than that, I thought the food was good and I liked the ambience.
(4)
Emily S.
I feel like I don't give out a ton of five stars, but we had a flawless and magical night here from start to finish! Atmosphere: We sat by the tall floor to ceiling glass windows/doors leading to the outdoor deck that looked out over the harbor and it was stunning. The ceiling and bar looked industrial chic. This is a cool place to bring family, a date, or friends! Love the heavy wood table. Service: I think our Waitress's name was Liz? She had long brown hair and a flower in it! She was charismatic, charming, funny, kind and perfectly timed. She was available when needed and not intrusive either. We kicked it off with her and she made an amazing meal an awesome experience. Food: We ordered the tempura battered green beans and lobster/wild mushroom pizza for appetizers along with a few oysters (can't remember which, sorry! I'm the non-oyster eater of the party of 3). They green beans were accompanied by two delicious tangy and zesty aiolis. I dipped in both before popping those veggies as if they were fries- SO crisp and such rich flavor! The pizza was perfectly toasted and there were large, fresh chunks of lobster meat that melted in our mouths. For dinner I had the most tender cheeseburger cooked medium rare on a big soft bun that came with fries and a pickle. Others in my party enjoyed the Swordfish special with a cup of classic New England clam chowder (just the warm, creamy, traditional type you may be looking for!) and the Salmon. They were so satisfied and happy with their meals and said they were perfect! We ended with a berry crisp and unexpected chocolate creme brulee that was so well done... We were licking our spoons clean. I read many of these other reviews before we decided on this place and we came out with no regrets. This night at Legal's beat out a fancy meal from the night before spent at Grill 23 with its experimental pink, smoky, highly salted chowder they should call a bisque and it's calamari that was more onion than sea critter.
(5)
Andrew P.
I usually have a good experience here, but I think this restaurant has gotten a bit too big for it's britches. I went with two friends on a Wednesday night in hopes of getting a table. I was quoted an hour and a half wait time. Seemed long, and we were about to go elsewhere but found seats at the bar. Out of curiosity I checked OpenTable on my phone and there was a reservation for 8pm available. It was 7:30pm! Why would the hostess quote me a time 3 times as long as one available online for a customer that may or may not happen? When approached about this the hostess had no excuse and actually had no words. Definitely not good customer service. If you choose to go here, make sure you check OpenTable first as they clearly like reservations better than customers standing in front of them!
(2)
Luna D.
Best lobster ever, chowder is perfect with reasonable price, much better than daily catch ever
(5)
Guillermo M.
Nice place to come with somebody from out of town. Good food, nice view of the harbor, quick service, not cheap but not extremely expensive. This time we got fried oysters, a Harpoon seasonal beer, clam chowder, lobster roll and closed with a seasonal fruit crisp and all was really good.
(4)
Idan H.
Perfect! The food is amazing. Everything is treated with great care. The service is like nothing else.
(5)
Michael Z.
We have been fans of Legal Seafood for years and today we tried Legal Harborside First Floor. Our food overall was well prepared and the service was excellent. We particularly like the door that open to deck and you sit almost outdoor. Great place to visit
(4)
Milly R.
The roof deck bar is a fun place to watch people. Young crowds who wants to be seen!
(4)
Sarah W.
Lovely location. Amazing views and a serious crowd lined up to view them. I'm usually a bit of a snob about chain restaurants (and chain restaurants with airport locations? come ON), but I have always had good experiences at Legal. Had the lobster bisque on my last visit. In middle America, lobster bisque is usually a rich, creamy soup with a great lobster flavor from the shells they use for the stock. At Legal, lobster bisque is that same thing, only your bowl is filled about half way with honest to God lobster. It's Boston. The water is right there. You expect them to bring their A game with the seafood, but this was definitely above and beyond. The non-seafood appetizers we tried were perfectly adequate, but don't mess around. Let them do what they do best.
(4)
Ann H.
My sister & I went here for our last night of our trip to Boston. We had heard mixed reviews, such as: They are not as good as they once were. And: You will not be disappointed. We made 8:00 reservations, got seated early & had a great table by the water. Our waitress, Emily, could not have been nicer. We split a salad & she brought it in two bowls & it was plenty per person. We ordered the seafood combo but the combo had changed unbeknownst to Emily & did not contain what we wanted. We changed to an appetizer order of crab legs & two lobsters. When the crab legs came, they had a very distinct odor of ammonia. We went ahead and tasted & YUCK! They were gooey & my sister was convinced they were undercooked. They took them back & heated them up. In the meantime, they brought us a complimentary cup of chowder which was very good. When our crab legs came back, the reheating totally enhanced the AMMONIA smell & taste. I called the waitress & (I think) manager over when I could get their attention - the man said he was 'stuffed up' & couldn't smell them. Emily said she doesn't eat crab legs so she doesn't know what they are suppose to taste like. SERIOUSLY???? Even if you NEVER had crab legs before, would you serve ANYthing that smelled like AMMONIA? They, of course, took them off our order. The lobsters were pretty much ok but I think I could taste a more faint ammonia taste in the small legs so I couldn't eat them. Maybe because they were cooked in the same pot as the crab legs? I guess the most disappointing thing was what I felt was their dishonesty about not admitting they had served us in edible crab legs. I'll not go back next time I'm in Boston nor will I ever recommend this restaurant to any of my friends.
(1)
Lisa V.
Great choice of a restuarant for seafood! The only negative was the shrimp cocktail. It was served in cocktail sauce with a strong cucumber taste. I like to dip my shrimp into plain cocktail sauce. Also, the shrimp were smaller than I expected. The calamari, oysters, clam white pizza and clam chowder were to die for. Also, the lobster bisque contained the biggest piece of lobster which was a delight. Our party of four had a waitress named Lisa who was phenomenal. I would definitely request her on our next visit!
(4)
Brian H.
Two colleagues and myself had dinner here on a Wednesday evening, we ordered a bottle of wine and calamari to start. All is well in the beginning with the wine and calamari being very tasty, Sharon our server recommended the panko crusted tuna, so two of us ordered that and the other ordered the swordfish. All three fish came out overcooked, it didn't take much for our server Sharon to realize this and correct the problem immediately by putting in new orders and delivering them in short time, they came out perfect the second time. Legal owned the mistake and fairly compensated our bill, not what we were looking for but it was a nice gesture.
(4)
Michael H.
We dined outside at the Floor 1 restaurant. We were seated promptly for our reservation and our outside table gave us a beautiful harbor view away from the noisy inside! I always enjoy Legal Seafood and our night at harbor side was no exception. Their chowder is great and we enjoyed portugese stew, calamari, shrimp cocktail and a very delicious tomato/peach salad!!! Price range is very good for floor 1 and wine list has some good options! A great spot to enjoy a great meal and view. We had hoped to try the roof deck but the line was very long and the crowd young enough to be our kids!!!
We had hummus/olive oil and Catamala/fig with oita for an appatizer. The olive/fig combo was supurb. The hummus was bland. Our server was super friendly and gave excellent suggestions. Our course was the grilled scallops with chard and slaw. The chard was ok, the slaw a bit heavy, but neither was bad. The scallops were amazing!! We loved every bite! Dessert was Boston Cream Pie. Interesting take on an old Boston staple. Serive was great, food was great overall. Had a nice dinner!
(4)
Jeff D.
The same review I give every Legal Seafoods. The quality of the seafood is excellent and something the owners (who I know personally) truly care about. Your best bet (IMO) is to go with the wood-grilled items. Great fish, prepared simply over open flames just can't be beat. Except maybe by a few raw oysters. And the beef lettuce wraps...those kicked ass.
(4)
Rhonda C.
I don't give a place 5 stars unless it is over the top great. Went there in early October with some friends for a late lunch. The waitstaff was awesome and seated us near the window. The wine list was great, and the seafood was so fresh! I loved my lobster. My husband loved his oyster selection. My friend ordered the mussels, and they were incredible. Can't think of a better seafood place in Boston.
(5)
Angel L.
Review for rooftop deck (floor 3) Atmosphere: The ambiance is perfect whether you're looking for an informal or a formal night. I've come casually dressed while the table next to me was all in dresses and suits but the atmosphere is always the same...fun. Whether you're there just to drink and have appetizers or have an actual meal, I've always been comfortable. The waiters and waitresses do what they can to accommodate you even when it's busy so I can't complain. Seafood: For eating sushi for most of my life and working at a sushi restaurant, I can say that hands down this is one of the best sushi I've had in a VERY long time. You can immediately tell from every roll the chef makes that he uses only fresh fish and perfect proportions of every ingredient. My friends and I ordered a couple of rolls and including Unagi (Eel) Roll, Rainbow Roll, Red Dragon, Hawaiian Roll, Orange Dragon Roll, and I must say they were all delicious. I'm a tuna person so I'm a bit biased when choosing my rolls but I didn't have one complaint for any of them. My all times favorites however were 2 items that were not on the menu. We were able to put in a request for two AMAZING dishes. One was sushi pizza and the other an inverted crab Rangoon (as seen in the picture). The sushi pizza consisted of a thin seaweed rice sandwich that was lightly fried to make it crunchy. It was then topped with either salmon or tuna and garnished with a red/green pepper and tempura flakes. IT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Indeed it was very creative. Overall, I'd love to return when the weather is nicer to dress up and take pictures outside or just another Friday when I'm craving the amazing sushi I've had.
(5)
Piyush P.
Good stuff. From a Texan. Wasn't busy. Was close to the hotel. Food was great. Fajitas. Mmmm
(5)
Taylor K.
We came to the first floor for dinner. It was very very good! We went to the bar first and the bartender was super friendly and very helpful with guiding us through the menu. Had good beer and wine variety. Our waiter was also great. We got the lobset and mushroom pizza for an app. IT WAS AMAZZINNNNNGNGNGNG I highly recommend! We got a variety of meals but everyone was extremely pleased with literally EVERYTHING we ate. The view and ambience is gorgeous and perfect. There are also lots of places near by! HIGHLY recommend Legal Harborside.
(5)
Michelle S.
Was here on business in early October '13 and had one of the best dinner experiences due to the fantastic service I had and the oysters were to die for! I had 8-10 in one evening.... about 4-5 different type. The chowder was some of the best I had while touring New England over 10 days. Also the lobster roll was amazing. Plus sitting there with full views of the harbor is just amazing ambiance. Rooftop bar is pretty cool too. Even better views and seemed pretty hipster. Overall a great experience and fantastically superb oysters!
(5)
Jackie R.
Terrible service. They wouldn't let my friend in after we waited for 20 minutes because they thought she wasn't sober enough but (she was and) it's been raining all night. Really messed up.
(1)
Sarah B.
Great place on the harbor for business dinners! food is always phenomenal and the Oysters are huge!
(5)
Pam D.
Love this place. Dined on the second floor. The food was excellent and the waitstaff superb. The top bar patio has great views. If it is busy, seats are hard to find, as well as the waitstaff; they did not seem very experienced. But I went for the second floor dining and that is what gets the 5-star review.
(5)
Mindy M.
Have been to the rooftop bar twice. Service is always crap. I don't understand the criteria for being waited on properly up there but if you can put up with that fact, it's really a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the water. I'd give the upstairs bar one and a half stars. Have also dined downstairs and the food and service were great. The fall drink right now, Apple Sangria, is delicious and I'm not one of those sweet specialty drink people. Also had the House salad and wood-fired scallops. Pass on the Japanese eggplant. It's over seasoned. Would give my dining experience 4 stars.
(3)
Edward M.
I made a reservation for the first floor for early on a Wednesday evening. Its 3 floors and a generally huge place. Got there at 5.30pm and the place was jammed. I asked the waitress if this is normal and she said it was the after work crowd combined with the concert next door later on that evening. I guess the lesson here is make sure you make reservations even if you don't think you'll need them. If I'm not mistaken the second floor is a fancier restaurant and the third floor is a rooftop that overlooks Boston Harbor and mostly serves drinks and apps. So we picked the first floor for dinner. I'll call it "energetic" but others might call it just plain noisy. Its big, wide-open and busy. I wouldn't come here if you're looking for a romantic dinner. The second floor might be better for that but will probably cost you more too. The food, at least on the 1st floor where I was, is pretty straight-up Legal Seafood. Which is to say tasty if basic seafood dishes. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy most people and portions are about average. In other words if you like the food at Legal you'll like the food here. If you don't then you won't. Simple as that. If you're in from out of town and never been to an LSF and you're looking for a decent seafood place this isn't a bad choice. Which is what I can say about the other aspects of Legal Harborside. It looks and feels like most other LSF locations. You will get solid if not eclectic seafood dishes, professional service in a reasonably attractive and busy physical location. This LSF is also like the others in that I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get. Honestly I had heard about this enormous LSF location and frankly I was hoping for something more "special". I wasn't disappointed per se but I wanted (or at least hoped for) more than a normal LSF. Maybe I should have booked a reservation the 2nd floor instead and found what I was looking for. It's a nice place with tasty seafood dishes and good service, just don't expect to be blown away. 3.5 starss for the food, 4 for the location on the water and 4 for the service. That rounds up to 4 stars.
(4)
Anne S.
Having had about 100 lobster rolls in my life, I have never paid $30 for one. They are usually about $17-$22. But I was feeling the warm weather and went with it. Save your $30 and order something else. The .25c hot dog bun looked like it was stepped on and not $30 worth of lobster. This reminded my why I don't come here.
(3)
Jiyea C.
The second flood doesn't even look like any other Legal Sea Foods! It almost looks like a fine dining restaurant...almost. Good for celebrations, family dinners, group gatherings...just make a reservation! Food was 3.5 stars but the view persuaded me to bump it up to 4 stars. We got to the restaurant early for our 8pm reservation, so we decided to go to the 2nd floor bar to have a drink while we waited. Drinks try to be fancy, with French liquors and whimsical names. They were pricey at $11-$12 a pop, but tasted pretty good. Beer is served in goblets that look like less than a pint. Would not recommend. We had the tasting menu, and all of it was delicious though I found everything a little saltier than I prefer. the complimentary bread spread comes with different kinds of pastries and was beautifully presented (as was everything else). We thought it was a little interesting that filet mignon was the main dish in the tasting as we were expecting seafood given the venue, but nevertheless it was well executed. Notes: The top floor rooftop deck does not take reservations, and there is usually a line on the side of the restaurant on the ground floor to get to the third floor. If you make a reservation on OpenTable, the email confirmation tells you to call the restaurant by noon the day of your reservation, otherwise they will release your table for other diners. I don't know how strict they are about this, but just an FYI. It would suck if you forgot to make this phone call and showed up on time only to find out that your table is no longer reserved for you..
(4)
Meredith V.
We arrived for our 7:30 reservation and were immediately walked back to our table. The weather was beautiful so they had opened the entire first floor to the waterfront. What a great view! We ordered a few different types of bruschetta to start. My favorite ended up being the tuna crudo, fresh and just a little bit spicy. I had the lobster roll which is made to order, so I had them hold the mayo and bring me a side of melted butter. The lobster was sweet and pleasing. One of my friends ordered the fritto misto which was a huge platter of fried seafood and pickled veggies. He let me try a piece of the cauliflower and it was delish. Our server, Chelsey F made the experience even better. She was funny and efficient and covered a few little timing issues with the kitchen honestly and professionally. All in all it was a very nice experience.
(4)
Ramin S.
I am giving a 5 here because I've been there multiple times and have never had a bad experience. Food is great, server was friendly and we were seated at a great table outside. I must say, however, we were not checked on once after having been brought the food. They weren't too busy so I was a bit surprised. They did add a complimentary dessert as it was my fathers birthday! Overall, id go back, this place is great.
(5)
Inci K.
I thought it was dark, industrial looking, loud. I was going for a waterfront view, light, open and bright atmosphere for my guests. The food was fine, but I was too floored by how loud/echo-ey dark and industrial looking it was. It was an open kitchen plan - which may sound nice, to a point but it just adds to the noise and the industrial looking feel. Unless you have/ask for a waterfront seat this is what you're up against as well.
(3)
Karen C.
We were here for Valentine's day and the food was amazing. The sashimi and sushi was incredibly fresh. The chef was very cute and came out to greet us to make sure everything was prefect. It wasn't too crowded when we were there because we started the night early and did get crowded later when we were done with dinner. Everyone was really polite and helpful.
(5)
Paul C.
Just awesome. Pretty much a sure thing if youre looking for good food, service, atmosphere, great view. Its a no brainer!
(5)
Chris L.
Nice swanky restaurant. Only went for a company event. They have three levels and the harbor/water views are great on the top floor. The top floor has an open-air deck ... which would be closed for winter / cold / bad weather. Top level was nicely laid out with couches and bar stools and we had some very tasty food and drinks. I think we had hand-made potato chips, crab cakes, mini lobster rolls, grass fed beef mini burgers, sangria, and a bunch of other stuff. (Highly recommend those mini lobster rolls, it tasted like there was a bit of lemon zest and lemon vinaigrette?) The rest of the top level was covered. There were two floors below that, and a nice spiral staircase and elevator access. I liked their decor and layout. They had pretty steady patronage (i.e., it was popular) but I never felt like I couldn't move around or that it was stuffed to or beyond capacity. As with most Legal-related restaurants, I wouldn't go there regularly. You at least know you are getting pretty good food (good quality) but it tends to be pricy.
(4)
Annalisa B.
I was in Boston to celebrate my birthday with some friends. On one of the trolly tours the guide told us that Legal Seafood was a fancy and upscale restaurant which was a little intimidating. We explored other options which turned out to be not the kind of place a girl wants to have a birthday dinner. Luckily Legal was in sight so we decided on taking up the upscale challenge. Maybe in Boston it's upscale but for someone who lives in Manhattan, it's a regular non-chain four star restaurant. The food was awesome. We ordered clams for appetizers and honestly I've never seen clams disappeared that fast. My lobster pot pie was a wonderful surprise. I had the option of having the crust since it wasn't covering the filling like most pot pies do. The staff was so friendly and attentive. I would definitely go there again.
(4)
Kim Y.
Im a huge fan of legals! I came here with my bf and I made a mistake by making my RSVP for 2nd floor dining cause I actually wanted 1st floor dining, the staff was just sooo polite and accommodating! there were no open RSVP but we got bench seating :) I'm addicted to oysters and they had katama bays! Yumm! I ordered the lobster roll and asked for it to be warmed with butter instead of mayo and they did that no problem but they were lacking on the lobster meat! My sister did the same thing at the legals in Braintree and they packed that roll full of lobster!!! My bf ordered the rigatoni and shrimp...not good..but that's his fault, I told him not to order it but he wanted to try something new. He ended up eating half of my lobster roll!
(4)
Raisa S.
I'm really never eating at a chain restaurant, even if it's a small local chain I always lean towards visiting a one of a kind type of place. Because of their extended gluten free options and the high quality meal I have enjoyed at every LSF that I've been to I am a fan as well as a consistent customer. This time Joe and I decided to try Legal Harborside. He had a gift card so we figured we'd treat ourselves a little bit and dine upstairs at the formal dining area. I didn't really think to check the menu, because at this point I'm familiar with LSF's FANTASTIC calamari (I'm not gluten free) and delicious entree options. I know this is awful as a Bostonian BUT I'm not a HUGE seafood fan. So the fact that I LOVE lsf for the steak, says a lot about their tasty food. I only really eat shrimp and calamari as far as seafood goes. So anyways, everything about the more formal atmosphere was AMAZING. They only had late reservations open on a Friday night since we waited until last minute, so we figured we'd head in early and sit at the bar until 9:30. The bartender was very attentive, drinks were great, and we split a crab salad appetizer which was really tasty (my first time trying crab). The hostess was really nice and came over a little before 9:30 to let us know our table was ready. The most amazing part of the night was that it was a random night in August, but there were fireworks over the harbor! They happened to seat us RIGHT next to the window during the fireworks so we had some of the best seats in the house. This made the whole fine dining experience even finer. Our waiter was very attentive and really nice. Everything service-wise was 5 stars. The reason I only give it 3 is because I felt like this menu wasn't really as good as the regular LSF menu. It has less on it, which would be expected in finer dining, but they just really didn't have as much for gluten free options besides the dinner rolls. I also felt like the quality wasn't THAT much better for the price difference. The ambiance, etc. made it a special night but I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the extra money if we didn't have a gift card.
(3)
Whitney R.
Friends recommended to eat here when visiting Boston. We loved it. Lots to choose from on both the drinks and food menus. We both tried the clam chowder which is a must. Nice spot and lots of choices on where to sit.
(4)
Sam J.
Visiting from Zürich, took a taxi across town for our reservation but refused entry because we don't carry passports to get access to restaurants over there, especially not at age 35. Peter (the manager) was particularly antisocial about it, hence warning you about the service you can expect. Went to LTK across the road (apparently owned by the same company, which makes their "company policy" even more insane), where the service was fantastic. Don't bother with the harborside - duck across the road for the same product but with good service.
(1)
Mindy T.
Love this location! 3 different floors.. all with different vibes. Went on the Roof Deck first for some drinks while we waited for our table. There was no wait, but when we got upstairs, the place was packed. The windows were closed because it had rained earlier so it wasn't too warm out but there was still daylight! You can see boats driving by. Awesome view. Strawberry sangria and white sangria is really good here! Went back down (took elevator instead of climbing down all those flights in heels) when it was almost our reservation time to grab drinks at downstairs bar instead. Ended up just sitting there instead of waiting for our table. Love the round bar even though you can't really people watch as much if you get stuck behind the giant beams. Started with some oysters. The Kumamoto oysters are the best!!! They are small in size but packed with flavor. I love Legal's mignonette.. it's load with whole black peppercorns that give it a good kick. I wasn't too hungry so I ended up getting 2 appetizers as my meal. Rosemary Scallops. Two large scallops skewered on a stick of rosemary served on top of a bed of chickpeas and chorizo. Cooked perfectly, loved the flavors of the chickpeas cooked with chorizo. The sauce was delicious. Baked Stuffed Artichokes are AMAZING! You have to try them. Three large pieces of artichoke hearts stuffed with a scallop and shrimp stuffing. It was creamy and cheesy and the seafood was so fresh. Just the perfect amount of browning on top from the melted cheese. So good! Made everyone try this and they loved it. Caesar salad is really good here too. I love their dressing. Croutons are a little on the sweet side. Seasonal Crisp was peaches and berries. Delicious! Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Boston Cream Pie was dry. Cake was too overcooked and the custard was dry. Ganache was good though. Service was a little on the slow side. It was not that busy either. I noticed that you get more attention when you are a group of "businessmen" than if you are a group of girls. Either way, you should give your customers the same service. You never know who works in the industry also. Service would get 2 stars.
(4)
Bob R.
We were very disappointed in our meal. Mussels served in s bad pineapple broth... Mussels belong in garlic, butter, white wine. My scrod was small and dry. The Portuguese. Seafood stew was so mediocre. We always look forward to Legal Seafood but no more. It gets mass produced is the feeling i got. Sorry i usually love Legal Seafood. a year ago I ate upstairs and it was much better. The service was fine, but food was not.
(1)
Nat A.
Service is so slow & kinda rude for an empty bar. food was ok & not amazing & overpriced.
(2)
lindsey f.
Great Job! Our company recently sent a few young girls into the city for a special evening out as they are experiencing a recent diagnosis of cancer within their family. I called a few places and none were as accommodating as Legal Harborside. One of the managers, Sean, helped us weeks in advance, holding a special table when they do not normally do so, going out of his way to have sparkling cider from an outside vendor on the table. Sean and his team went above and beyond to help us give two teens a memorable night, feeling like royalty. Good food, better people! Thanks guys!!
(5)
Jackie K.
How bad can sushi be? Very bad. Like amazingly bad. How much can you water down cocktails? A lot How can you eat such mediocre food and pay so much? Boston restaurants on the water can charge whatever they want. I've been here a few times both for food and drinks and its just pretentious, overpriced and has bad food. The food so bland--how is it so possible to make food so bland? Service has been friendly and good although the staff seems stretched thin over the tables. Sangria is bad--do not get it, you will regret it. I'd rather go to Margaritas in Waltham and that place is bad but also on the water and not as bad as this place.
(1)
Grace M.
i'd never associated legal with sushi as it's always been a fish and chowder kinda place to me, but harborside's got really fresh, perfect sushi. the view of course is as good as it gets and the open breeze is really pleasant while dining. easily the best legal location :)
(5)
The R.
I went to the legal harborside this evening with a group of friends. The staff was very polite and did not rush you out like most restaurants. I had the fish and chips, it was light flakey and everything you could ask in a meal of fish and chips. Overall me and my friends really enjoyed the visit and will probably be back.
(4)
Ryan R.
Great food & service other than the downstairs hostesses. Upon checking in for a reservation, they couldn't find it & we almost left - they offered nothing but a sorry. We looked up the reservation on opentable app, showed it to them, and they pointed out it was for the second floor (same restaurant, but different reservation system). Never suggested that might be the case - again, we almost left & they said nothing!!!
(3)
Katie S.
I'm upgrading. Had a couple of really great meals here lately. The fish is sooo fresh, the service is great and I love the wine list.
(4)
J C.
Will never return. I usually like Legals, but I visited this location for my 27th birthday and got a nasty case of food poisoning. We sat on the roofdeck and had oysters and 3 rolls of sushi. Legals would be the last place I would ever imagine getting sick from, and thats why I thought they would at least respond to the e-mail I sent them about my illness. No response. My guess is they have such a low-rate of illness from the fish because they refuse to acknowledge anyone who actually does get sick.
(1)
Thomas S.
They use to be good . Very expensive and way over crowded. Small portions .i guess its more for hanging out socializing . Legal sea food was the best but i dont think so anymore .they forgot there roots .
(2)
A D.
***BUYER BEWARE*** - The bartender on the roofdeck ALTERED MY RECEIPT to increase her tip, after being EXTREMELY rude to my party! Management will not help me and I have to go through my credit card company - Keep your receipt or pay cash!
(1)
Anita C.
*This review is for the Rooftop Deck (3rd floor)* Number of visits: 2 I am continually impressed by this venue's food and service! This is an ideal location for any special occasion, after-work drinks, or any night when you're craving real seafood! Food: I would definitely recommend trying any of their sushi and sashimi. You can taste the freshness in their fish and the portions are decent. For the quality of the food, their prices are justified. I particularly enjoyed the Avocado Salad and the Hawaiian Roll. Their sushi appetizers and specialty rolls are simple yet the ingredients compliment each other well, making each bite flavorful and refreshing. Ambiance: Just google Legal Harborside Rooftop deck and it'll speak for itself (although photos does not do it justice). The room is open and spacious so you can see the harbor from any seat. And for those semi chilly nights, their patio is warmed with heaters! Service: Their service is fantastic each time I've gone! Our most recent waitress was friendly and was always there when we needed her. Fun fact: They use REAL crab in all of their dishes, even in the California Roll, which is a rare find. So if you think you know what a California Roll tastes like, wait till you try it with real crab!
(5)
Jim D.
Bar staff and table staff was great. Front door and 2nd floor greeting staff was poor. We arrived at 5:30, wait was 45 min, no problem But no offer to just put us at bar to wait. 2nd floor was wide open but no offer for table there---we would have paid for up menu. Personally went to 2nd floor but 3 girls just standing there also looked at me like I was lost and no help, even when u asked them for help. Seemed odd, entire kitchen was standing tree perched to prepare.
(2)
Maurice P.
Wonderful setting, service and sushi. However, the menu upstairs where it's the most fun is a bit limited.
(4)
Elena E.
Had dinner on the second floor restaurant. Great place to come for seafood and enjoy the waterfront view. I didn't have such high expectations since the regular Legal Seafood restaurants are ok but nothing special. Floor 2 is a different restaurant completely. All of the table face towards the windows but unfortunately we didn't get a booth right against a window, even though I requested one on opentable. Service was very good the whole time there. When our dinners came, they accidentally brought the lobster and short rib entree, which none of us had ordered. They acknowledged the mistake and gave us the lobster on the house as they quickly brought out the correct dish. Pretty nice to get a $52 entree for free!
(4)
Morgan P.
Went here for dinner on a trip to Boston. The service was awesome and the view was unbelievable. It was very reasonably priced and I enjoyed everyone else's meal. Mine was the fried scallops which I would have liked a lot more had they not been fried - I wasn't aware of that. The oysters we had were phenomenal and the chowder was A+ - I am still craving it today. Highly recommend!
(4)
Laila B.
I have to give 4 stars because the oysters here changed my life. See, I'm from Louisiana and I just love our warm-water oysters from the bayou. I've tried oysters all over (Seattle, San Francisco and even the coast of France!) but I still prefer our homegrowns. So I thought I should at least give the New England oysters a try and selected 4 different kinds. I called my husband at work after I ate the first one. I took pictures of all of them. So cold. So briny. So delightful. I actually started looking at real estate in Boston and considered moving there after eating those oysters. Amazing. I also got some bruschetta with gorgonzola and fig (ok but wouldn't order again) and grilled swordfish with an orzo-grapefruit-fennel salad. The fish was very good but the salad literally tasted like nothing. That was a disappointment. Service was great. So was the view. So I probably wouldn't go back unless it was eat oyster after oyster. And at $2.25 each, they were the cheapest I paid anywhere in Boston.
(4)
Ann I.
Great restaurant with a wonderful view! The menu was vast and had lots of great foods to choose from. We ordered the Lobster roll, Calamari, and Lobster Bisque soup. All were flavorful and service was nice and accommodating. Our waiter was very patient as we looked at the menus for a while since there was so much to choose from. The manager stopped by once to ask us how the meal was and the drinks were constantly filled by various wait staff. Would for sure make reservations as this place is packed every night of the week.
(4)
Juan M.
The food and service was good! One of my favorite places in Boston! Very lively place!
(3)
Huy N.
What else can I say about Legals Harborside that hasn't already been said? The waitress service was excellent and attentive. They even moved us to a bigger table when they thought our table was too crowded on a Friday night. We ate on the 3rd floor on the roof deck. The view was excellent, I just hope I can come back again when it's warmer to stay on the deck. I solely ordered sushi and that was fantastic. I got 2 sushi boats with my friends and it was all delicious. It was quite nice of the chef to come out and talk to us, asking for feedback. The sushi tasted fresh and we got such a wide variety on the sushi boat so we were really able to try a bunch of different things. My only complaint, which is nit-picking really, is that the the waitress did take long with our drinks, but it was a crowded and packed Friday night so that was expected. Overall I would come back again, maybe not on a Friday night when its crowded because the food was great and i would love to try more items on the menu.
(5)
Prinya S.
Roof top staff is horrible and service sucks. Very packed and food selection is limited.
(1)
Tina S.
Dined I the rooftop great atmosphere. They had the fireplace on so you didn't feel like you were on a rooftop in November. The sushi was fresh and tasty. Will have to come again
(4)
Michele H.
Legal's, you do some things so well. Like ahi tuna in a wasabi aoli with seaweed salad. Or lobster bisque, or buttery stuffed lobster. But sometimes the easy things escape you. Like wood plank salmon. I understand letting natural flavors shine through. But this was bland. No sauce, no herbs, no creativity, no nothing. It was rare but gummy. It was $30 of rare, gummy, blandness. Can you get a great meal here? Absolutely. But the chances of getting something just okay or worse while also shelling out $xxx is not a gamble I'd like to take anytime soon, especially when better (and cheaper) seafood places abound.
(3)
Malisa S.
Went here for Valentines Day with a couple of friends and it was great! Got there before the dinner rush at 7:30 so we were able to get a table for the six of us at the rooftop deck. Great service from both the waitress and the sushi chef. We had a sushi boat and some of the chef's selections were new rolls not on the menu yet, and talked with us to get feedback, which was sweet of him. One thing not on the menu yet was the BLT, aka bacon, lettuce, and tuna in a crispy shell and some sauce, which was crazy good. The food was delicious and the fish fresh, so overall a really good experience!
(5)
Lauretta L.
I agree with many of the previous reviewers - come here for the gorgeous view and exciting setting. We came for a late dinner and sat on the first floor patio, which provided us with a great view of the docked boats and city lights. There's a lot to take in here and if you find yourself bored, there is probably something wrong with you. Service and food alone would not urge me to return here. The service, while attentive, wasn't impressive. Our server was a bit rough around the edges and our interactions felt rushed. The Fried Whole Belly Clams were delicious, although there were small thin pieces of...fried lemon(?) included in the basket. We couldn't figure out what they were but I ate them anyway...the clams themselves were delicious. However, I would suggest not piling them into a small basket because the bottom got soggy. The Wellfleet and Kumamoto oysters were fresh and delicious - I ate them w/o any toppings :). Yum! The Portuguese Fish Stew was average. It could have used a richer broth. While you're supposed to wait in line to get to the rooftop deck, we managed to get in w/o doing so :). This was the highlight of our experience! Be sure to get up here.
(3)
julie n.
Very busy restaurant right on the water. We had a reservation for 7 but changed it to 8 last minute and there was no issue. We were seated at a table by the large open windows so had a great breeze. It was so very loud in the restaurant. Sister and I shared a lobster bake. They split the plate for us and we both had plenty of lobster. The corn was so good. It was juicy and sweet, had so much flavor. The clam chowder was also very good. The rolls were delicious. They have a 100 year old 12lb lobster available for about $250, it was massive! Enjoyed the food and experience very much.
(4)
Lauren P.
We had drinks on the rooftop and it was great! We also had the sushi and that was really good as well. You really can't beat the view of the water.
(4)
Sherrie C.
I met some friends on the first floor for lunch. It was amazing food and the oysters were sooooo FRESH! Views are spectacular but prices were a little high. Our waitress was very busy so it was difficult to flag her down the few times we needed things but the location and people watching more than made up for it! I would love to check out the roof top patio...it was too windy when we were there. Maybe later this summer...
(4)
Sarah K.
The evening started out poorly; I had made reservations and yet over 25 minutes later after our reservation time, we still weren't seated. The on shift manager (I believe her name is Megan) really turned the evening around for us. She found us a great, quiet table and ensured we got clam chowder and rolls immediately (I was starving and raving about the chowder). I didn't realize that this place has a different menu than other Legal Sea Foods, as this is Legal Sea Foods "Harborside". The chowder is the same across all LSF, so that was tasty. We also tried the gluten free muffins. Not as good as the regular roll, but good for gluten free. I got the baked haddock but was expecting the 'regular' one served at other LSF and didn't like the Harborside one as much as the regular. My bf got the Portuguese seafood stew and really liked it.
(4)
Gregory D.
I had dinner at Legal Seafoods Harborside tonight, one of my favorite restaurants! But not tonight. I know it's tough to eat out due to my dairy allergy but usually this place is great with allergies. My server told me that the dish I ordered had dairy and she couldn't have it made but it was Rosemary skewered scallops! So I told her to make it without dairy. Our dinner came out and it delicious! I ordered a burger to go and asked for Brussels sprouts and fries and got nothing! It was unacceptable. On the way out the door, neither the manager or the host said thank you or have a good night. Instead they looked at me and walked away in silence. For such a great place I didn't feel it was up to par to my standards.
(3)
Stephanie K.
Please note: this review is for the 3rd floor only. The rooftop bar at Legal Harborside is a pretty space with views to match. Unfortunately, the staff are well aware of this and take advantage of knowing they have a captive audience. The atmosphere is very loud, the drinks average, and the sushi subpar. Honestly, I expected that going in because I'd heard this lounge was more of a scene than anything else. But what really earned this one-star review was the staff's appalling unprofessionalism. From the doorman to the manager, everyone who works here has an attitude and should rethink their decision to work in the hospitality industry. What's funny is the managers give an air of professionalism and seriousness (the Secret Service called: they want their suits and earpieces back!), but it's all a façade. For all their blustering, this bar is chaotic and their waitstaff make far too many mistakes for a place that's gotten too big for their britches. Our waitress was not only abrupt and unfriendly, she made multiple errors and never apologized. It took close to an hour for our small food order to arrive. When it finally came, part of the order was incorrect and we had to send it back. The sushi was ok but nothing special, and it was obvious the rolls were made hastily because one fell apart and the other one had pieces that were uneven (some were so big it was impossible to fit them in your mouth). But the icing on the cake was that the waitress charged the wrong amount to our credit cards despite the fact that we clearly wrote it all out on the receipt (the mixup was that two people in my party had last names that start with the same letter...really?!). What's more, she then accused us of leaving $70 on our tab. We'd been a group and some people had left early, but no one left without paying. Knowing that it was a busy place, I gave the waitress the benefit of the doubt and politely asked if we could see the earlier receipts from the members of our party who had left in order to compare them to the original. She sent over the manager who said there was nothing he could do re: showing us the receipts from our table. Look, I used to work in a restaurant and I know that there are groups of dishonest people who try to skip out of places without paying the full tab. That's wrong, and I feel badly for restaurants that have to deal with bad patrons. However, this did not happen with my group. I know errors happen and we gladly would have made up the difference if we'd actually made a mistake, but the manager wasn't even willing to work with us to go through the prior receipts and check. He insisted that we had to split the remainder among us, even though we were not in the wrong. Finally, we got so tired of arguing with him that we agreed to have the difference split among our cards. The manager put the wrong amounts on two people's cards. When we pointed it out, he said it was too late and there was nothing we could do. When we asked to speak to his supervisor, he rolled his eyes and walked away.
(1)
Julie A.
Large parties can be a huge pain in the ass, and when I'm part of a big group, I always expect something to go wrong. Not here. This was an absolutely flawless treatment of a large party. Our group of eleven arrived a few minutes late for a 6:30 reservation, and our table wasn't quite ready. Instead of making us stand around, they swept us up to the stunning roofdeck (which I can only imagine is even more spectacular in warm weather), moved a bunch of tables around to accommodate the group, and sent a complementary appetizer or two to our table to tide us over during the wait. A few minutes later, we were escorted downstairs to a lovely high-top table right by the windows. We had two waitresses, each with a handheld electronic notepad thingy, so nobody had to shout across the table and no order was misplaced. Logistics aside, the food was stellar. One of the while-you're-waiting appetizers was shrimp cocktail, served dangling on an ICE GLOBE. I can't even. Apparently it is one of the items on the middle-floor, "fancy" menu. Drinks were also impressive, both in size and content. I am always a sucker for a bleu cheese stuffed olive. Sangria (particularly the apple variety) was tasty and unique. Back downstairs, I loved the assorted oysters and lobster and mushroom pizza. The only downside was that my entree, the tuna special of the night, was a little overcooked - next time I'll specify and order it rare. Looking forward to experiencing Legal again, perhaps next time with a smaller crew and warmer weather!
(4)
Greg W.
So I heard a lot about this place. We had reservations but it took forever to get seated and the hostesses did not seem to care. Finally after getting a manager (Megan) things started to look up. She was super nice and very friendly. She deserves a raise :) Anyways the menu is different then their test kitchen across the street and from the other location but still very good. Each floor of this location is a whole differnt them (like say fancier level, normal level, sushi level). They have a real gluten free menu if that is your thing. The normal rolls are super good though (pigg pigg). I got the Portuguese stew and it was really good. I would happily come back here anytime IF the reservation thing works out as they get super busy.
(3)
Mary F.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have always enjoyed it. This time was no exception. I ordered the appetizer of fried clams and a cup of clam chowder. I also ordered a glass of Cakebread Savignon Blanc. Everything was excellent. The service started slow but ended well. I normally try not to go to large commercial restaurants when I travel but Legal Seafood Harborside is the exception. Great food and an amazing view of the harbor.
(5)
Ken C.
This location has great views of the harbor. Yes I know its a chain but its quite a good one. Def try the NE clam chauudah it has actual fresh clams in it. Food here is real good, and so is the service. I tried lobstah roll, and it was well worth it. This spot is def on the fancier side attracting a lot of visitors to city. Worth stopping by. Bit pricey but nothing crazy. its also close to Harpoon brewery which is a nice trip also
(4)
Jenni K.
We were on floor 1 of this restaurant. It was really packed and pretty loud, so I wasn't sure how much fun we'd have. Fortunately, we were seated in the back and able to have decent conversation. The waiter was great! super helpful, providing recommendations and helping us all choose things. We ended up sharing a lobster special, which was twice baked with some sort of stuff on top of it. I thought it was good, not amazing, some pieces seemed too baked and I almost would have rather gotten the plain lobster to dip in melted butter. Everyone also had a salad, which was great. The Baked Artichokes with shrimp and scallop stuffing was SOO GOOD. Order it. All in all, it was good. Nice to be near the water, but I prefer smaller restaurants that aren't as loud, nor a drinking scene on their upper floors.
(4)
Victoria S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! My staples are the Tuna burger and the Portuguese Stew! The burger is better than any tuna burger I've had before! Their large bowl salad has amazing dressing too! Its really fun to go during a concert at Bank of America Pavilion and sit outside - its like you have a free ticket to the arena next door!
(4)
Sydney G.
Warning to all. I got the oysters and I must say they do not taste any better coming back up than they do going down. Food is expensive and subpar to boot. Drinks are off the charts priced and again are not worth what you're spending. My mother who ordered a different meal ended up getting food poisoning too, long story short, sale yourself some money and time in the bathroom.
(1)
Aaron K.
World Class Seafood. Legal Harborside is the flagship of this popular NE restaurant chain and has a completely different menu then the rest of the restaurants. It also has a well known executive chef at the helm. I have been saying since this place opened that the first floor has the best seafood in Boston. It is simple, well priced and extremely fresh. They do mostly everything you could ask for and do it well. Recently we had the chance to splurge on ourselves and decided to try Floor 2 for the feast of the seven fishes tasting menu. Superb. I could go pescatarian if I could always eat like this. Every single dish was well executed, unique and delicious (excluding the monkfish, so one miss). We were brought tiny forks, spoons, and even chopsticks to eat our seven + course meal. You get everything at this restaurant that the first floor is lacking; excellent service, beautifully plated dishes, and an even better view of the harbor. There are also a couple freebies along the way. This is gourmet seafood on the second floor and the chef comes up with some exciting combinations. We loved the pickled quince mignonette and smoked foam on the oysters. All the broths and sauces complemented each dish wonderfully. We were truly in heaven and wouldn't hesitate to come back next year to see what the chef comes up with for the feast (even with the hefty price tag). If you are looking to please a seafood lover, look no further than Legal Harborside.
(5)
JeNnIfEr S.
I had the Lobster Bisque and the White Clam Pizza. Both were good (though a bit pricey). *** Legal Harborside- Floor 1 ***
(3)
Michele W.
Great view, excellent service, and delicious food. A word of advice: share a mug of clam chowder. Theres no way you can have a mug of it AND eat anything else. This chowder has a 1:1 ratio of soup to stuff. i also had 2 oysters from the raw bar and they were very fresh. I also had some of the lobster roll and fried scallops. The lobster roll was so tasty. The bread was very crunchy, but not so hard that you couldn't bite into it, and the lobster was tender, fresh, and sweet. I feel they put the perfect amount of mayo (I'm anti mayo). The Scallops. Oh my gosh. Its been too long since I've had them anywhere they've been cooked properly. The breading didn't overpower delicate sweetness of it. The scallop was soo soft. It wasnt chewy and rubbery like I'm used to. Skip the wait, make reservations. Also, find street parking. Otherwise pay $16 for parking WITH validation.
(5)
Jeff F.
This review is for the 2nd level. Great spot if you want a 4 top with a water view. I think it's great that Legal developed a finer dining concept on the 2nd level, but ultimately it slightly misses the mark. They need to revamp the entrees since although Cobia and Abalone are interesting fish, they aren't that great. Also - Lobster shouldn't be smoked. If you do find yourself having dinner here, the salmon is the call since the beet emulsion is memorable. The apps were interesting, but nothing memorable enough to highly recommend. Here's a stack-ranking of best to worst: - King Crab Salad - coconut noodle was creative; fantastic w/ the King Crab - Octopus - solid - Seared Scallop over braised pork belly - ok - Tartare Trio - only the tuna was worth it - wish I could have had triple tuna instead of salmon & hiramasa Probably worth checking out once if you're a Legal fan, but if you're in from out of town, I wouldn't put this on your shortlist.
(3)
Evan S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! The best part about Legal Harborside is it's location and view! This is a great place to grab a casual dinner and cocktails!
(4)
Kalyn H.
Dined here a couple of months ago while visiting Boston from Chicago...best restaurant I have ever eaten at. Can't wait to go back! Service - A+ we were accommodated even with calling only a couple of hours ahead on a Saturday night, our view was amazing, right on the harbor! Food - A+ Ordered 6 oysters, scallops, lobster Mac and cheese and the lobster roll. The lobster roll is to die for, the bread and spread combo is so tasty. We even spent $75 to order the lobster Mac and cheese shipped in dry ice last month, delicious!!!
(5)
NikkeyNDon C.
We ate at the bar and it was a great time. Friendly bartenders who were more than willing to help us with any tourist questions. We made to happy hour where they had $1 oysters which were very tasty "naked cowboys" is what they called them. Over all great atmosphere and good oysters.
(4)
Bill L.
We were served bad oysters. They didn't taste fresh. One actually had a bad smell. My wife was sick later that evening after dinner. Our guest was visiting from Dallas. Her comment? "Great view! But the food? Lets skip this place the next time I'm in town."Legal Seafoods? Have YOU gone tourist trap on us?
(2)
Elvin M.
I know that Legals aren't necessarily where Bostonians go to treat themselves but I've been to Harborside twice now and as recent implant I got to say that I've been nothing but impressed with the quality of food I've had. I'm in love with this place, really.
(5)
Kurt S.
Great view, Legals food and service always great. Always a thumbs up for Legal's. Could it be better? Add a "Captain Mary" and make a killer bloody mary with clam juice... I mean, you ARE Legal Seafood so clam juice should be a natural... maybe that's just me though.
(4)
Sarah F.
Had an awesome time there tonight. Great food, great service, very nice upscale experience. Loved it! Russell is an awesome waiter, be sure to ask for him, really knows his stuff. Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Vince F.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in over a decade. Upon arrival and attempt at getting seated, our guest host on the main floor was incompetent and unwelcoming. Once seated, our waitress on the main floor was also extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming. We realized after looking through the menu that we were not seated in the correct part of the restaurant to order sushi. We were then sent to the 3rd floor where we were greeted by another incompetent group of guest hosts. Before allowing us to be seated, we were asked for ID. I presented my Alberta driver's license (I am over 40 years old) and my companion presented her NEXUS card (she is over 30). We were told that they are unable to accept international ID cards and told that we needed to present our passports. As our passports were in our hotel room several blocks away, we politely declined and left. What a waste of a great location and well appointed decor. Recommendation: Stay away from this place as it is clear that a positive customer experience is not a priority.
(1)
Olive D.
UPDATE! guest services got in touch, spoke to a very polite professional lady. Informed her that we still had a great time despite the awful service I would return. She apologized and I just received a gift card to return! Customer service at it finest ! Everyone has an "off" night. I don't normally complain , but it's one way to improve. There's ways to handle a situation. I though about complaining that night ,after a few sangrias thought it was a bad idea, couldn't get my friends to take me seriously , let alone a manager ! So kudos to legals! See you all soon to dine outdoors one more time before snow arrives!!
(5)
Laurel W.
Amazing Meal- Legal really is the top when it comes to working with food allergic guests and this location is simply outstanding- (I have allergies to gluten, corn, tree nuts, shellfish, citrus and nightshade sensitivities) Even with these, there is quite the variety to choose from! Fish was fresh and perfectly cooked and the brussels sprouts with bacon were amazing-They even brought out warm gf dinner rolls (made locally by Something Sweet Without Wheat)- Our server was friendly, personable and very helpful- I cannot recommend Legal Harborside enough!
(5)
Erich B.
My wife and I went to the first floor dining area which is the casual dining area. We went on Tuesday abt 530. it was not that busy and we did not have to wait. The view is excellent of the harbor and the atmospher is fun and casual. We saw falies and couples there. The food as very good. My wife had the lobster which was perfectly cooked. I had the gumbo which was also tasty. Over all it was not the best food we had in Boston during our trip, but we would certainly come again if we were in boston.
(4)
Lillie A.
Came here with my close friend on her birthday, we sat outside which was an amazing view but please I advice you if it's a little windy STAY INSIDE - the food was delish. The service was great however I preordered a surprise bday cake for my friend and it was a NONO don't waste your money I'd suggest that you walk with your own cake .
(4)
vinny o.
Was here for dinner tonight, when we first walked in it was awkward, I said 2 for dinner and they both seem puzzled, hi I said it slowly and clearly. Then I was asked if I wanted to sit upstairs downstairs or-rooftop, I know the rooftop doesn't offer a full menu with only a partial of some sort so we said upstairs. Hostess upstairs seemed sweet and brought us to a table overlooking the ocean. Beautiful! Server comes over asked us for drinks and told us about the menu very extensively. Shrimp cocktail for our app was phenomenal with an amazing presentation! Onto dinner we both ordered the cod which really lacked flavor although again the presentation was nice with a seafood foam, definitely not what I expected, it was just so bland and my husband also thought so. Dessert was good pineapple upside down. I'll try again but not rushing back not with so many other options in Boston. The service was the strongest point of the night. Props to the waiter!
(3)
Joelle K.
I would have rated this closer to a 3, had it not been for the view. This Legal Sea Foods is right on the harbor and we sat at the bar facing out onto the water, which was pretty awesome. I have heard that the roof deck is awesome, but we decided against the long wait and sat right down at the bar. I would highly recommend the clam chowder. the food and chips and fish tacos were just ok.
(4)
brad h.
Flew up from Atlanta to see Boston and eat some seafood. We tried a few places, Legal was recommended and was on the Harbor next to our hotel. Great view of the water from our table both nights. Yep, we went two nights in a row, so that says a lot. The place is crowded, if you want quiet - this is not the place. Get reservations. Well organized, they got us seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly but knew how to leave us alone with each other. We had their wood fired Scallop Skewer and Clam Chowder to start. The wood smoke taste was a bit more than I would have preferred, but then, I enjoy some variety. I would order them again. We spit a skewer. The Chowder was as good as it gets. Perfection, would be my opinion. Lobsters - we had two with Swiss Chard... I had mashed potatoes, My wife Brussels Sprouts (She said they were good)... All was done to perfection. There is not much more that you can do to a good seafood dining experience. SECOND NIGHT: Their Cod and Lobster served on Spaghetti Squash was the main dish... By this time we were suffering from food overload, so we went lighter. Excellent meal with a light fish, covered in a lobster sauce. They serve about a dozen different varieties of oysters, that would have been on this list if we had another night. If you are anywhere near this place while in Boston, go.
(5)
Karsten W.
We actually wanted to go the Yankee Lobster Fish Market due to its promising rating but unfortunately it was totally crowded and we were too hungry to wait for a free table. The Legal Harborside is in the close neighbourhood and made a promising impression. We took the macaroni with lobster. It was delicious, but we missed the huge amount of lobster which the waiter had promised. So the price wasn't appropriate. I definitely wouldn't go there again for dinner with friends but I would recommend the restaurant for business occasions. The view on the waterside is great and the menu offers a wide range of upper class sea food and drinks.
(3)
Phil O.
I'm ranking this based on Legal Harborside's night life, and not the food. You'd be hard pressed to find a better female-to-male ratio in Boston in the summer months. The place has an unenforced classy dress code, it's clean and the decor is spectacular, and it overlooks the Boston Harbor. Drinks are expensive but you'd expect that for a place like this.
(4)
Dan L.
Service is fairly good. Food is good. There was a piece of bamboo in my meal, good thing I noticed it while chewing on it. They did remove it from the bill. The young women standing near us drove me crazy, as she seemed to keeping close watch as to each bite people were taking to try to figure out when the table would be free. Very annoying Also, there were a couple of boats backed into the pier and sending noxious fumes into the restaurant.
(2)
F V.
For some reason, the crab meat sandwich I ordered did not taste like real crab. It tasted processed because it's too uniform almost like imitation crab meat. I have ordered crab meat sandwich in Maine and it tasted better. My friend ordered their special sole fish and he complained it was not seasoned properly. I have eaten in other Legal Seafood locations but this place is a bummer. Maybe it's just what we ordered.
(2)
Kris S.
Just. AMAZING!!! So I'm a fan of the Legal chain anyway, but my hubby thinks it's just above avg. Therefore, he was quite skeptical about Legal Harborside. I think, however, he has seen the light! The scallops with pork belly was phenomenal and a good-sized portion. The chicken was delish, as was the black pepper linguine. Drinks were a little light on the pours, but our charismatic waiter made up for it. Add in the amuse bouche, surprise banana choco complimentary mini-dessert, and stunning views, and we have a winner.
My husband and I took my mother in-law to Legal Harborside for her 60th birthday. I had requested a window seat for the view. We arrived to the restaurant they seated us on the deck where we had a beautiful view of the harbor, just as requested. The service was phenomenal, as well as the food. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner with a upscale atmosphere.
(5)
Rob H.
Awesome place for dinner. Three of us sat at the bar overlooking the harbor and had steamers and mussels to start with. Both dishes were fantastic. I proceeded to have swordfish and a side of scallops. As good as any fresh fish I have ever had. A must try if you are in the Boston area. Get there early as the place was packed by 6:30 with an hour wait for a table.
(5)
Abbie M.
Went to lunch with a friend and her mom to celebrate a birthday. I'm eating gluten-free for a week, so I'm always nervous at restaurants because they like to hide flour in places it doesn't belong, like chowder. I found out, after the fact, that they offer a gluten-free menu and I wish they had mentioned it before (as I said I wasn't eating wheat). Ordering here was extremely difficult off the regular menu - I could eat maybe 7 things on the menu. Most of the things that I could eat, were the most expensive things on the menu (or I don't like them). I wasn't sure about the chowder so I stayed away, and went with the caesar salad, no croutons. It arrived with croutons. Sigh, eye roll, pick them off, not that big a deal. The caesar itself was only ok, the dressing was a little bland and watery. I picked off my friend's grilled scallops with mashed potatoes and swiss chard - all of which were VERY good. They both had the chowder which they said was great. Service-wise, we had two waiters? This was confusing to me. When we didn't need them, they were constantly checking on us. Short on time, we didn't have the chance for dessert. Then when we needed the check, they had all disappeared. Despite the fact that it was a very large space, it was really loud and hard to hear inside. The people I came with made the lunch incredibly enjoyable, not so much the ambiance or food. The normal entrees and things with wheat in them all looked good. Get the gluten free menu though, or you'll be sorry... I left hungry. :(
(3)
Samantha N.
We were from out of town and some locals recommended legal harbor side 3rd floor for sushi and drinks. The lobster roll was recommended for its presentation which was nothing less than it was described to us. Our bartender Lisa was more than accommodating and very friendly and professional. I will 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves sushi!
(5)
Shelby R.
Loved the scallops (grilled and fried), and the legal sangria was amazing! Trout the lobster roll didn't have enough lobster or seasoning, but I'm not an expert at that dish. Had a great time, will definitely recommend you try it.
(4)
Tom G.
Rooftop bar review only: meat market, gorgeous views, passable but expensive appetizers, terrible service, super watered down and expensive cocktails. It's hard to get a spot outside unless you're there around 4pm. It fills up and you'll wait in line. I've been up there a few times over the summer with coworkers but, in the end, we always vow to never go back...yet apparently do.
(2)
Krista D.
Great night out with the girls! Sat on the second floor deck overlooking the harbor. Used Opentable for reservations without a hitch. Loved Katy our server. She had excellent recommendations and explanations. She was so warm and friendly. We had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked. Great wine selections and we were never rushed. A perfect night out! We'll be back!
(5)
Reagan S.
The oyster selection was amazing. I think they had 10 different oysters to pick from. I had the lobster roll that was really good.
(5)
Larry A.
I always felt the usual Legal's were overpriced. This more casual version of Legal's (downstairs) is in a reasonable range and the food is just as good. Great views of the water, fun and vibrant atmosphere even if it is a bit noisy. Spare yourself some $ and skip the old time Legal's and treat yourself to this fun place.
(4)
Bryan R.
Excellent roofdeck. Leaving this review a little sparse for now so I can add it to a list. Beautiful settings. Great drinks (Boston Strong Boy is an absolute top ten drink to drink outside anywhere). Lots of nice touches everywhere. Superb private changing room-like bathrooms. Good sushi. Only downsides are the likelihood of standing in line for a long time to get in and the lack of food options. I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to see a few non-sushi, reasonably priced items.
(4)
Matt C.
I don't think I have ever been more surprised by a 5 star experience. I have been to the waterfront many times and the view and ambiance is always 5 stars but I had never experienced Legal Seafood in that location. I assumed that due to the decent but underwhelming experience at other legal seafood's around Boston that 3 star quality in a 5 star location was going to leave me disappointed. However, this Legal Seafood is unlike the rest. The menu is unique and the restaurant feels very little like the other chain locations that bare the same name. We started with the Spread plate to share and opted for the bluefish, ham salad, and the hummus varieties. Although the container was difficult to work with the product was great. We moved on to split the seasonal salad and then the salmon entree. The best part was the fact that everything seemed to work and there were many items that looked enticing enough to guarantee a return visit. Be sure to check out the 3rd floor when you visit for the view but don't miss out on the dinning experience on the first floor, it was definitley worth it.
(5)
Damien S.
Beyond impressed at the look and feel of what could arguably be the flagship location in the Legal family. Covering three floors, most of the dining room tables have harbor views, so don't be surprised to see a humpback surface while you're mowing down on a hot&crusty roll or thirty. Alas on this, our virgin voyage to the polished and sparkly locale, we aimed to drink in the views... and the booze. So, the elliptical bar on the first floor is where we stayed. Maddening crowds did nothing to shake the nerve of our proficient bar team, whipping up a mimosa, pulled Guinness and an Old Fashioned with the quickness. Mama S wasn't crazy for the house Cava used in the mimosa; however, the replacement bubbles received the chug-a-lug treatment. What can I say, she fears scurvy. Totally dig the open kitchen and hyperactive raw bar. Papa S asked the fast and furious shucker about the total shift half-shell count. Without looking up, he laughed and said, "You've gotta be kidding me." Serious business. For drinks, it's aces. A few novelty cocktails - skinny pina coladas, cucumber vodka drinks, something called the Purple Jesus - that might be worth a sip, but nothing that screams creative superplus. And although I didn't eat this go-around, I will be back as the expected Legal menu ain't here. The food list is chock full of new stuff not present at their other locations, even going a step further to have unique menus on each floor. Boom bobba. First on the docket? Poor Man's Surf & Turf - a stuffed quahog and a 1/4lb hot dog for $12.
(4)
Lauren J.
Fine dining on the second floor was out of this world and their diver scallops with peaches was the best meal I've ever had in my life. Fine dining is pricey but is worth it! The service treats you like royalty and each meal was a seafood lover's dream come true.
(5)
Les C.
There were 10 of us who dined here on a Sunday night. We had a reservation and when we arrived our table was ready, and set in a fabulous location. We had a lovely view of the water. If you're looking to dine at Legal Seafood while in Boston, please go to this location. It's stunning. We ordered a number of food items, our absolute favourites included: lobster bake, crab salad, lobster and wild mushroom pizza, lobster Mac and cheese, oysters and clam chowder. Two items that tasted 'OK' but we probably wouldn't order again were the lobster pot pie and the white clam pizza. Our server, Lisa, was fantastic and very helpful with menu suggestions, accommodating with our requests and very friendly. The staff overall were all welcoming and helpful. Kudos to all staff at his location. We hope to be able to visit again someday.
(5)
John D.
Besides fresh seafood they actually make a great burger too. This place is simply awesome with professional service with the best location to boot. Its a must visit in the warm weather when they open the whole wall facing the water very kool indeed. Never had a bad experience here in any way. Only thing is you have to pay for valet parking but i find it totally worth it considering the location.
(5)
Israel H.
Came here one evening with a business associate. I got here via the water taxi, and has a great presence from the water. This place was jammed so we waited downstairs at the bar and had a drink till our table was ready.. The drinks took a while to be served.... and hence the only 4 stars... When we were finally called upstairs, we had to wait again, till the table was formally ready. However, once we were seated, the ambience and the food was incredible. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. It was expensive.. but well worth it.. Ask for a table by the windows upstairs.. great view!
(4)
C R.
Me: NOISY. Guest: WHAT? Me: I SAID THAT IT IS NOISY IN HERE? Guest: NOISY? Me: (Covering my ears and mouthing the word: N O I S Y) Guest: YEAH. The restaurant itself is in a nice location - very crowded and all kinds of things to navigate in order to get to a table. This is full contact eating - note: I did not say dining. Everyone screaming, eating, gulping. This is not a place to have a relaxing lunch or dinner. If you hate your spouse, partner, etc., and have long-since lost any desire to talk with them, go here and watch them eat. The food is good - which is to say creative, flavorful and presented somewhat artfully. But the ambiance detracts from anything and everything else. The staff heard you in and out - their voices hoarse from barking over the din. I'm officially launcing the quiet or din-free dining movement. No TVS, No thumping soundsystems, no phones on the table; just you, me the food and maybe a drink. Let's talk, eat, enjoy each other's company and the food. Anybody?
(2)
Lily W.
love the setting! 3 stories. bar and tables. lots of windows. very fresh seafood. great seafood roll. light on the sauce to highlight lobster flavor. service can use a little help. I stopped in in between a conference and I noticed the server didn't give me bread while the couple next to me did. And he was really slow with my check. I saw him taking the time for orders for a large group. just poor form. he was friendly though. 4 stars because of atmosphere and food!
(4)
Kelsey H.
I was visiting friends in Boston over the weekend and picked this place for dinner Saturday night. We ate on the first floor, which is nice-casual. The second floor is swanky and the top floor is the rooftop bar that specializes in cocktails, sushi and small bites. I'd say the first floor is a happy medium. First plus, right off the bat: We came in about an hour before our reservation. Our earlier activity didn't take as long as we anticipated, so we thought it was worth a shot to let them know we were there. Rather than have us wait, they went ahead and seated us. The waiter was nice and personable and didn't mind that it took us a while to sort out what we wanted. We had hot fresh rolls that arrived with our drink order (a cocktail and two beers) and kept coming. We ended up splitting a pizza as an appetizer, with cheese, arugula, pancetta and clams. I'm not big on clams but it was very good and had a nice crust. The portion was just enough to be a good starter and kept us filled up until our food came. The mains were lovely. One of my friends had classic fish and chips with big pieces of fish (cod?) and my other friend had seafood stew that had an abundance of shellfish, vegetables and large chunks of sausage. I had salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. The fish was great, almost a perfect portion. I'm finicky about cooked spinach, but it was wilted just right and had pine nuts and a nice glaze. But what really got me was dessert. Only two of us had dessert. One friend ordered frozen custard that came in a generous portion with a candle (it was her birthday). I, meanwhile, had a chocolate espresso cake that could've easily fed three people. I thought that, given that we each had drinks and basically a three-course meal, the prices were also reasonable. I really enjoyed this place and would love to try it again when I get back to Boston.
(5)
Rachel G.
It was really good! They patiently and correctly served my group of 12. Everything was delicious and there were no errors. Also, we had two allergies, peanut and tree nut, and they took every precaution to make sure that their food was safe for them. Would definitely go again when I'm in Boston next. It's also a beautiful place to eat and it was an excellent environment, on the waterfront and with the lighting.
(4)
Rachel N.
A slightly overly generous 4 star designation given that I only went for drinks, and extra nice in light of the fact that I thought that the waitresses were dressed like hookers and it felt kind of like a meat market -- but I digress -- the view of the harbor is gorgeous, and if the B-52s happen to be playing next store, you get a free concert as well (Love Shack has never sounded so good)! We stayed mostly on the patio area, which was loud, but def quieter inside, which had kind of a pumping-clurb vibe going on. Strong selection of wines by the glass (bonus points for having an Alcatian Reisling, rather than the overly sweet German ones), and I've heard that the cocktails are delicious, though flagging down a waitress can be a challenge. The sush is priced reasonably -- most rolls were btwn $4.5-10 -- they also have a lobster roll ($18) and something else not raw, for those who are more Legal traditionalists. Be prepared to wait -- we rolled in pretty early (6:30p) on a weeknight and had to sweat it out for a bit -- but once we were up there, we were golden. If you're a man looking to get laid, be attractive in that New England way. If you're a girl, throw on some eyeliner and a cute silk dress and you're golden. Wouldn't take a first date here unless I really just wanted to spend the rest of the time checking other people out and having to lip read to make conversation, but if that's your thing, then it's a perfect place to do that casual summer "I'm so trendy and I'm impressing you by taking you to the up and coming Seaport area" thing. Or just go with girlfriends, my personal choice for champions.
(4)
Sara M.
What a beautiful roof deck! We showed up around lunchtime and scored some sofas to lounge on and enjoy the view. Our server, Michelle, was very professional and took very good care of us. The sushi is good, and the bottle of wine we had was delicious. Michelle even brought us samples of two when we couldn't decide. Looking forward to more fabulous roof deck days!
(5)
S P.
Second floor dining experience. Just perfect. Staff: exceptional, on the ball, friendly, knowledgeable from the minute we walked in to the moment we left. Kitchen: I'm celiac, and they did everything to accommodate and more, including serving a small complimentary item on a beet instead of a cracker :) The food was simply wonderful and worth every dime. Atmosphere: gorgeous view of the harbor. Tasteful decorations. Definitely recommend. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Eunice E.
I've been here for many different occasions (both the second and third floors), and I've got to say, my experience with Legal Harborside has been very much like a fine wine--better with time. I've been to the third floor the most, and for good reason. It's gorgeous up there on the rooftop deck. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll hear live music from the Pavilion, and that's awesome. Not that you need very much more when you're here. There are spectacular views of the harbor, a full bar, and tons of seating options, ranging from high top bar stools to wicker chairs and round tables, to plush couches with pillows. You're free to lounge around and enjoy a drink or two (or three) while you're there. It used to be that it was only open from 4 p.m. onward, and served only drinks (last summer, when it first opened), but they wised up and started opening it at noon for lunch AND drinks this season. The menu's limited to sushi and sandwiches (crab and lobster rolls), but that's all you really need while you're enjoying the views from the roof! Highly, highly recommended. The second floor is Legal's fine dining area, and the menu here's also different from their standard Legal fare (case in point: they don't have clam chowda... nope, here they offer the more refined lobster soup, complete with oloroso sherry). It's all exceptional, though, as you'd expect... I mean, any place with "caviar service" is bound to be amazing, right? It'll set you back a pretty penny to eat here, for sure, but it's a phenomenal treat, and their cocktails are just as lovely as their cuisine. Last summer, because we ate dinner on the second floor, we were actually escorted upstairs to the third floor (skipping the enormous line outside) for drinks. Pretty swanky. I have yet to eat on the first floor, but I'm sure it'd be enjoyable, to say the least. I definitely think whoever came up with the sectional flooring (first--informal, second--fine dining, third--drinks and small bites) was brilliant. Kudos! This is definitely THE place to come for the summer, whether to grab a bite with a girlfriend, a drink with a date, or simply to enjoy the scenery.
(5)
Steph A.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in the area! The place is beautiful and the wait staff is very well trained. Had the apple sangria and loved every sip it it. The white clam pizza was amazing and I would definitely get it again. The sea scallops were very good as well. Love love love! Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(5)
Yasa E.
Every single thing i've tried here is amazing. Legals definitely goes out of their way to make every guest's experience special. This place is packed always, but there is a huge bar and some side rail seating, so it's usually not a problem to grab a seat at one of those for some drinks and dinner (unless it's a friday or saturday). Oysters are the freshest in the city, hands down. The variety changes with seasons, which is great (they also have more oyster varieties on the menu than any other restaurant in the city). The wine list is extensive and ohhh sooooo affordable! There is no way you can get a bottle of silver oak or sonoma cutrer for such a low price anywhere else. All of the food i've ever tried here has been exceptional! Try the stuffie. it will change your life.
(5)
Jenny L.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the sushi! It's a true hidden gem in the midst of a huge chain like Legals. The creativity of the rolls made our sushi experience so memorable! We had a variety of rolls and all were fresh and simply delicious. Having tried most of the sushi restaurants around the greater Boston area, I must say this might be the best one I have had! We came here on a Friday night and though it was quite busy, the server was always within reach and periodically checked in with us. Not only was the service great, the sushi absolutely delicious, the view was breath taking as well. Will definitely be one of my go to spots now for sushi!
(5)
Marc Z.
We went out for a Saturday night and wanted to go to the Legal Harborside rooftop since we had seen the enticing venue the evening before. When arriving, we were told to wait in line to enter the the rooftop. Without adding any adjectives, there was a dumb and stupid "stairman" (as opposed to doorman) waiting to make sure that only a limited number of people came upstairs. Totally unnecessary, since the upstairs was only sizzling, not buzzing and a lot more space was available. At any case, two girls showed up and laid their arms around him - yes, they went upstairs. We mentioned this to Justin Lisonbee, the manager. He rectified the situation immediately without any buts/excuses. "Not acceptable", since there were many more patrons waiting outside. He handled the situation fantastically since he really knows his trade. Legal Seafoods is a professional outfit, we have enjoyed their awesomely fresh seafood all over Boston and Justin reconfirmed that Legal Seafoods would like to stay that way - he has the experience since he told me that he managed the wharf location before. We are hopeful that we dont find the same "stairman" the next time - really, it is not a hard job: let the people wait in line equally until space is available and then send them up and while doing that get paid! Justin, because of you we are writing this, we dont know you personally but you should us again what restaurant you are working for.
(5)
Chad C.
Stopped by for happy hour on a Thursday and it was a great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the water. Drinks were delicious and food was good, we sat on the first floor of Legal Harborside. We really enjoyed the oysters and lobster roll. Legal is a chain so keep that in mind but with that said we are always happy with the food, drinks and service. This location has the best atmosphere and view of all the Legals in Boston.
(4)
Bill W.
Being from Boston I am not overly impressed by Seafood restaurants in general and I also have had some unpleasant experiences at the "other" Legal Seafood in Boston. I vowed never to visit another Legal Seafood establishment and have been vocal about it. But a co-worked visited Legal Harborside and had good experiences so we decided to give Legal one more shot Wine selection is fairly limited unless you buy by the bottle but my wife had a very nice 2009 JM Raffault "Les Galuches" Cabernet Franc. At $9.00 per glass and the pour was good. I chose the Darkhorse "Cabernet at $10 per glass. Being wine drinkers, we do not mind trying wines we haven't had. Both were excellent. For the meal we both selected Fish in Foil (16.95) steamed haddock, cheese and veggies but asked to hold the cheese. Our server (Chad) was accommodating, entertaining, attentive and informative. Despite my persistent "whining" about needing "healthy" foods, Chad never waivered in his mission to satisfy us. He offered unique opportunities and was sincere in his efforts to please us. I changed up to the Sav Blanc Henry Natter Sancerre (Loire) 2011 at $14 per glass (pricy...but nice.) When the meal came...it was a disappointment. My fish (Haddock) was not cooked. By that I mean it was raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone elsewhere. So once again I was disappointed by Legal Seafood. So I needed to tell the server. Here's where the story is better at Harborside than the "other" Legal place. The manager (Peter Barker) came over immediately. He apologized and explained that our dish would need to be made from the start. It would take at least 8 minutes to steam. He provided shrimp cocktail at no charge while we waited. I am not looking for a free meal and could easily got one, but was happy with the attention that Peter and Chad provided. I was also delighted that Peter stated the meal would be made over...and not simply re-heated (as my previous experience at the Marriott Long Wharf site was) Chad made it his mission to pay special attention to us for the duration of our stay. But what made the day was... the meal. It was simply outstanding. The Legal staff did not re-heat. They made the plate and it was apparent to me that care was given to ensure our meals were perfect. Although the meal we originally ordered was poorly prepared, Legal Harborside's Peter Barker and our guy Chad, went out of their way to make sure we were happy. I will never go back to the other Legal and will never have a good word to say (and am quite vocal about it) I will be back to Legal Harborside and thank these 2 gentlemen for their attention. Oh - the view is spectacular
(4)
Nicki B.
Fun and nice place. Good food, good drinks.
(4)
Vince D.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Place was packed. Great atmosphere. The food was just ok though. It didn't live up to other Legal seafood locations we've dined at. The service was slow. We had to flag our waitress down for another drink and the check. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
J P.
EXTREMELY RUDE SERVER!!!!!!!!!! Walked by our table four times and finally stopped when eventually acknowledging our signals (25-minutes.) We asked for menus, she walked away & returned only to literally throw the menus across the table and walk away without a word. The food was good, but the service was horrible. We were their ready to spend money and were treated like dirt!
(1)
Kyla C.
I always eat at Legal's when in Boston so I had to check out the new Harborside restaurant. I had lunch with my sister on the first floor and it was good. We tried many things on the menu: oysters, red pepper spread with pita chips and crostini with different toppings - all good, especially the red pepper spread. I got the lobster roll and it was full of bigs chunks of lobster meat, yum. We shared a cupcake for dessert which was tasty as well. The waiter forgot a couple of small things but overall the service was good. All in all our meal was pretty expensive, espcially for lunch, so that threw me for a loop. Too bad it was a super crappy, rainy day when I was there because the view is great and can't be beat. Don't forget to stop on the 3rd floor for a drink before you leave, it's pretty cool up there!
(4)
issy d.
Five star for service! I came here last Saturday for a friends birthday dinner. Every staff member we came across was great. The hostess at the front were so friendly and helpful. They put us on wait list and we got to go to the upstairs bar and the bartender was great made good recommendations and told us if we ordered drinks or food and our table came up that they can hold the table downstairs for us so we did a dozen oysters and a few rounds of drinks. Julian the guy at the door was my favorite! He helped us take epic model photos next to the flowers upstairs. he must of overheard us discussing a birthday and he relayed the message back downstairs where my hostess already knew before I could say anything and they relayed that to our server so they surprised the birthday boy with desert. The Server made great recommendations and the manager also helped us send the birthday boy a strong drink so we could finish the birthday boy off! probably isn't even strong.. I ordered a "one shot kill" Which is a drink I totally made up but it did the trick. end of dinner we all drew on a postcard that they attach to the receipt I addressed that to the birthday boy....I told myself that service was awesome and it would be even more awesome if they actually sent that to the birthday boy, and I forgot about it all. But today the post card actually arrived in his mail box! I loveeee the staff so much. It was a great first experience at legals harborside we will be back! I really loved that the staff was receptive to our jokes and that they made the experience that much more memorable just from how good the customer service was. I hope legals harborside management reads this and commends their staff for it!
(5)
Mark L.
The biggest Legal I've ever seen with three distinct seating areas that makes this more like three+ separate restaurants under one banner. Expanded legal menu (food and drinks) was available but I had more bar food while catching the Bruins-Blackhawks game. Both the deep fried clams and the clam pizza were great. Decent crowd.
(4)
Christopher H.
Have been here several times for a simple seafood dinner. Always a good time. Russel Is one of the best servers there and is real pleasant. Highly recommend
(4)
Oz L.
I have been there a few times and if it was not for the location and the long lines to get up there in the evenings I would not be eating there at all. If you go to Legal Harborside's Roofdeck - Go for view and the ambiance. Their menu on the roof deck is mainly sushi and maki rolls. The food is fair at best. We tried the soft shell crab and it was breaded... awful. The sashimi was not fresh. The rice used for the maki rolls was hard... Enough said. 3 stars for the view and the location on the water!
(3)
Pat O.
The roofdeck at Legal Harborside is one of the best designed and laid out spaces I've ever encountered. The views are phenomenal and the service is great. The only downside is the limited sushi menu.
(5)
Maggie M.
Pretty good food but pricey. We stopped in after the brewery tour and order two harpoon beers but they had no selection even though they are right next to the brewery!!!! I had the lobster roll which was 2:1 bread to lobster... Meh! But the meat was nice. My boyfriend had the fish and chips which he liked a lot. Overall it was a beautiful view, very busy, good service, and okay food for the price. $55 for lunch with beer including tip...
(3)
Josie G.
A friend and I came here during the week on a Tuesday for lunch. A perfect day to be sitting in the sun on the deck - HEAVEN. We started with margaritas from hell, a coconut water drink (delicious) and then settled down with cucumber drinks - (the best). Everything we ordered was great- oysters, crab salad, lobster roll. It really was just a great lunch. Service was outstanding- his name was Mike!
(5)
David K.
The 3rd Floor is AWESOME. Reasonable prices, super comfortable seating, beautiful location and the best waterfront view Ive seen. Fun times right here, but big crowds.
(5)
Tony D.
Never had a bad meal, service is always great. No complaints, highly recommended. A little expensive, but not bad for great seafood. You get what you pay for and this is a great value.
(5)
Mike L.
Food was awful and way overpriced. I basically had a plate full of crab shells. Won't ever go back to this overrated pathetic excuse for a restaurant again. Don't fall for the hype and go to a nice mom and pop place in the South End or walk across the bridge to the Barking Crab or something.
(1)
Charlie T.
Rooftop bar also has a bar menu. Best tuna sushi I've ever had. The lobster maki (or whatever it's called) was a bit rubbery. Great drinks and view on the roof.
(3)
Leah A.
My experiences here have been on the roof deck and not inside the restaurant. The food is great, though the roof deck choices are not as extensive as inside (no crab cake!). The location and view are fabulous, the people watching can be fascinating, but the service stinks. If you want your table wiped down or some napkins, prepare to wait awhile and ask everyone you see when they walk by. And maybe, just maybe, someone will finally do it.
(3)
Karishma R.
The rooftop of Legal Harborside is my favorite bar in Boston. The view is spectacular, and its proximity to the Bank of America Pavilion makes it a great place to have a drink and listen to the concerts next door. The only problem is the often lengthy lines that can form very early. I prefer to come here on weekdays after work, as on the weekends the wait is a deterrent. The other problem is that this bar can often get very crowded, which can sometimes be a nuisance. However, that being said, the food and drinks are great. Harpoon actually make a special beer just for them (Harpoon Harborside) which is pretty good. And you definitely can't beat that view. Every person I've brought here has loved it!
(4)
Stephanie S.
Amazing service! Very good food & just an amazing atmosphere. Defiantly will be back in the near future. Server was very friendly & knowledgeable.
(5)
John B.
I went here on a date and the food was great and the atmosphere was up beat. The service we had at the table was ok, but when we went to the bar after for a martini they refused to serve us. Considering we only had one or two drinks with dinner and were not driving I felt this was a bit strange, but other then that it was as expected - delicious seafood.
(3)
Marisa R.
This is a typical Legal Sea Foods joint that serves sushi on its roof deck. The sushi is actually pretty decent. The only reason to go to this place is because of the roof deck bar. The cocktails are okay, but the view is the reason why people stand in line. One of the better views of Boston that you can find.
(3)
Carmel I.
If you get the seafood trio, be prepared to have fries with a side of seafood, not seafood with a side of fries! I was a bit disappointed with that, but overall, this location is a great place to dine.
(4)
Caro C.
I'm a born and raised Bostonian and have been to Legals many many times. This location needs help. Server forgot chowder, oysters took almost 45 minutes and came out right before our meal, which was not what we wanted as they ran out of the special. It's a special chef, order accordingly. Also we ordered a bottle of wine and that took so much time that the waiter actually came by and asked if we wanted more drinks. Hello! Wine? Roger, this location needs help.
(2)
Skoolly T.
Great staff! Lobster roll was pretty good, a bit on the mayo side, could have been more lil on nakid side
(4)
anne c.
I would give it no stars but that is not a choice. The place is beautiful and the bartenders very nice!! We are locals and have been to Legal Seafoods all over Boston and other states as well so know what to expect. We arrived at 5:00 on a Wed night and went to the hostess desk where there were 3 women. Asked for dinner for 2. She stated it would be 45- an hour or we could eat downstairs. No--we wanted dinner. This restaurant is set up on 3 floors--the first being raw bar, bar and tables with paper table covers and casual food. The 2nd floor is fine dining which is where we intended to be. After we waited an hour and half---she said no one was leaving so took longer! We were seated at a table on the first floor. Asked for manager who explained we would have had to go to second floor to that hostess desk for a seat up there. @ managers could not quite figure out why we were not happy and kept asking what they should do? We left!! Valet service was 20 min for getting your car at that point! I did resolve the issue by calling corporate and she was very understanding about the fact no one ever asked where we wanted to eat! If they don't do better on customer service, they will not last long in this area!
(1)
Sarah D.
I had the fish.
(3)
Lindsey D.
The food is way too overpriced. I've had better seafood for less. The clam chowder isn't as amazing as everyone claims. I would skip it.
(2)
Rhea K.
Came here while waiting for a flight out of Boston.. had about 2 hours to kill, so we decided to get some last minute seafood before leaving the city. Oysters are really good, and very fresh. Clam chowder was also good, but I'm not really a good judge of chowder. Ended up getting the lobster roll here which was pretty good! It was served on a buttery, thick brioche slice, and tasted great. Fries were slightly sweet(?) and really crispy. Also got the bucatini pasta... it was okay. I guess you don't go to a seafood restaurant to get vegetarian bucatini, but it was only just ok. Our server, Julie D, was extremely nice and didn't rush us at all. I felt a little bad sitting there for so long, but there wasn't really a wait and she didn't make us feel weird.
(4)
Jason F.
Great spot. Super fresh food. I was not lead astray when I asked for an assortment of oysters. The striped bass special was boss. Great bar staff on second floor.
(4)
Jean B.
First of all we chose this restaurant for its location, and the location was beautiful. We sat at bar stools overlooking the water but where wasn't a bad seat in the house. Also the service was very good. Unfortunately my positive reviews end there. The food was mediocre at best. At a place called legal seafood I had certain expectations in regards to the seafood. The shrimp cocktail was small deshelled shrimp in a soup of cocktail sauce served in a jar like glass. The crispy fish taco was soggy and not tasty at all and the shortrib bruschetta was made with a dry stewed beef. Ever the ceasar salad that we shared was tasteless yet sopping with dressing. Great place for drinks and view but don't decomend it for dinner.
(2)
Erika G.
This review is for Floor 2- not your average Legal! A chilly Christmas day dinner, we were whisked up the winding staircase past a waterfall to be met by a wonderful hostess dressed as mrs. claus. She tells us our table is not ready yet and to step into the bar, but we know already it will be worth the wait- she is preparing a booth table overlooking the harbor for us. Our waiter comes by and is as adorable and friendly as ever, he quickly shows his knowledge of the wine list and helps us select a celebratory bottle. We peruse the $55 price fixed menu and I find myself completely conflicted- there are too many things to decide! Glancing back at the shiny, polished kitchen with its quiet and masterful chefs- I know I can't go wrong. Course 1: Mixed greens with blue cheese, candied pecans, and sugared cranberries. Course 2: Hiramasa with pink peppercorns (my favorite) and preserved limes Course 3: a perfectly cooked, generous portion of salmon with a delicious glaze and bitter greens Course 4: Stick toffee pudding (it is Christmas after all) deconstructed. The sticky toffee pudding balls stick to the top of my mouth, but are quickly washed down with little bites of butter pecan ice cream. I cannot wait to return- especially for a special occasion tasting menu!
(5)
Kerry C.
I took my mother here for mother's day and we had a great experience. Hostess who sat us I think the manager was super friendly and attentive to my mother. The server was pleasant and the food was excellent. Loved the local oysters. I got the special (steelhead trout) it was great! Server was very knowledgeable too about the fish. We had a great view of the harbor. Good for special events as long as you plan in advance.
(5)
Ryan O.
I really enjoy every visit to Legal Harborside. Actually, I have only been twice and usually my last meal before heading back to Europe. Both times we ate on the first floor near the large open doors...nice and relaxing views on a nice afternoon. The staff has always been really great - with lots of suggestions for both drinks and food. I must say that they never recommended anything that we didn't like. There are some very creative cocktails (the cucumber and coconut drinks are worth trying) and food options, as well as the traditional Legal Seafood necessary items - clam chowder, fried clams and lobster rolls. Try the tuna bruschetta...awesome. All three floors seem busy with different menus...the outdoor patio on the third floor was very active and is likely a great place for after work drinks. Really need to get back soon... There is a convenient parking lot across the street, plus valet parking right in front of the restaurant.
(4)
Stephanie I.
Great seafood options. Not so good for none fish eaters like my dad and brother who were kinda stuck with burgers. My fiance and mom ordered shrimp fra diavolo which they loved and I really liked the lobster roll I ordered. We were seated immediately on the night of July 4th because we opted to sit in the dining room area but not by the covetted windows which was perfectly fine with us because after dinner we simply walked over to the harbor and enjoyed the view.
(4)
Karyn V.
My boyfriend and I ate on the second floor dining room at Legal Harborside and we will definitely be back! Note, if you want the typical Legal Seafoods menu, this is not the same. In fact, nothing from their menu is on this menu. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful. The design of the restaurant takes full advantage of the harbor view and is reminiscent of a ship's dining room, with curved rosewood ceiling and glossy black columns inspired by the mast of a ship that anchor the space. There is also an outdoor patio equipped with an outdoor fireplace that allows you to eat dinner over the ocean below. The menu offers modern seafood and has a unique selection of artisan wines, each produced from a specific terroir representing some of the world's most classic regions from family-owned vineyards. In addition, they offer many normal size bottles with a half bottle option, which is great since a bottle is too much for the two of us. Many great wines are available this way including Paul Hobbs' wines. For dinner, we ordered the crispy pig's head with fried clams, sauce ravigote, and pink peppercorn as an appetizer. For our main course, I ordered the misty knoll farms chicken with spring sweet pea and egg ravioli, artichokes, favas, and pea shoots, and my boyfriend ordered the butter poached lobster with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. All were extremely good although next time we will probably forgo the crispy pig head and try some other appetizer from the menu. While pricey, Legal Harborside definitely does not leave you disappointed. We will be back! The second time we went we ordered the clam chowder, which is not listed on the menu. It is the typical Legal's chowder dressed up with a few fried clams and a few steamed cockles.
(5)
DD T.
My friend is a huge fan of oysters and each time I take her to a Legal's restaurant, she's never disappointed. Anytime of the year, whether the name of the month has an 'R' in it or not, they have a fresh collection of oysters from both coasts and also Canada, which has basically made me give up my ambition of shucking oysters myself at home. Because what I buy can never be as fresh and yummy. =) The view is awesome, this is really good for a date and also bar-hopping. You should do that some weekend nights before it gets cold. For me, I'd just get a seat facing the waters, whistling to myself: "sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time..."
(4)
Matthew B.
Are you an ostentatious git? If so, you may enjoy Legal Harborside. This restaurant, though billed as the crown jewel of the Legal franchise, is by far the worst. As a family, we have been patronizing Legal Sea Foods for decades; however our meal here tonight has made us reconsider our devotion to this local chain. Let's talk food. The selection is very limited as the entire menu takes up just one page. Upon first glance, you'll notice that most starters are over $15 and most entries over $40. Before placing our order, our waiter notified us that we were entitled to a "complimentary" bottle of water (sparkling or flat). Wow. Complimentary water. After placing our order, our waiter returned to the table to inform us that the kitchen had just run out of salmon. Really? Legal running our of salmon? Strike One. Before our appetizers were served, we each received (another) "complimentary" bowl of squash soup. But to call it a bowl would really be too kind; it was more like a thimbleful. Our appetizers arrived and were quite good. Then, after they were cleared and the table was crumbed, we eagerly awaited our entrees. And we waited... Strike Two. When the food arrived, we were all generally pleased with the quality. However, we've enjoyed most of our dishes at the various Legals we've patronized over the years; while the food here good, it was by no means a step above the others. One member of our party ordered a chicken entree. For roughly $30, he received 1/4 of a chicken. Sorry, but no matter what you do to it, no 1/4 chicken is worth $30. Strike Three. So to review, this place is all about ambiance (dark wood paneling and harbor views) and ostentation. In that regard, it fits in very well with the whole milieu of the Seaport District. As long-time Legal fans, we all gave this place a resounding thumbs down! p.s. To add insult to injury, the third floor was reserved for a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch get together. Sorry, but didn't you guys just get bailed out by us (the taxpayer)? How bout you drag your sorry bloated asses to the 99 next time?
(1)
Trisha A.
Went here last Friday with some friends for dinner last week for Valentine's day, and both the food and the service were excellent! The waitress was very attentive and took into account the fact that a few people were a bit late when bringing out the food. She also checked in on us consistently to make sure we had everything we needed. My friends and I had the clam chowder, which is always a favorite, as well as a sushi boat filled with selections from the chef and other items not necessarily on the menu. The sushi chef was kind enough to meet us and explain the various sushi rolls, as well as ask us of our opinion of things not yet on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they only use real crab meat in their sushi, even in the California rolls. The sushi boat had a great variety - there were rolls with both shrimp and lobster tempura, tuna, avocado, salmon, even eel, among other things. Since we let them know that one of our friends was allergic to crab and lobster, the sushi chef made sure there were selections to accommodate her and made sure to point out which rolls were okay for her to eat. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the sushi chef's take on a crab rangoon, which I believe was a mixture of crab topped with avocado and spicy mayo on top of what looked like a crispy wonton wrapper. Also, we ate on the roof deck, and I'm not sure if it's different in the day time but at night when we went it was 21+. I definitely recommend this place and would come back again.
(5)
Denise B.
This is my favorite Legals. Great location! It's always busy in here and it does get crowded, but that is a good thing, it means people keep coming back. The food is delicious! I love to go here for dinner, but have a drink on the 2nd or 3rd floor to start. I have never had anything bad here and the service is alwasy fantastic.
(5)
Lance S.
I actually just created an account so I could share my experience...my wife and I are on the rooftop right now and have literally been sitting here for 25mins on the railing without being served...the server continually walks but has only acknowledged us once (mind you it's still fairly early and not very busy)...still haven't even placed an order!!!! We were prepared for dinner/drinks but after this service we're leaving... Very cool spot but can't explain how bad this service is.........oh well, good try
(1)
Marilyn S.
Great Service. Wonderful fresh lobster, clams and mussels. Good wine and a great day to eat on the wharf. You could smell the salty sea and the doors were open to feel the breeze. Food was something we are dreaming about now that we are back in the midwest. Wonderful! I ate at this restaurant years ago when they first opened. We ate on picnic tables. Same great food but the view was perfect.
(5)
Adam P.
Went here tonight for dinner on floor one. Decor is cool and the view is outstanding! For appetizer I had the smoked salmon pizza which was great. For dinner I had the crispy fish sandwich which was okay but could have used more seasoning. However, the plate it was served on was poorly designed for eating. Dessert was key lime pie which was also good. Service was excellent and the location was great.
(4)
Paula A.
The space is great. The view is spectacular. Our server was top notch. The hostess was nice & we were seated w/in minutes of our scheduled reservation time. However ---- I didn't love my meal, I got the halibut, cheese & veggies in tin foil - it was meh. BF got the seared yellow fin tuna - which he liked. The crowd was a bit on the cheesy side, the bar was a total mob scene. if i walked by some night & it wasn't a complete cluster f%ck, i'd probably try it again.
(3)
Colleen G.
I love going to the roof deck on a beautiful day. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are delicious. My favorite is their red sangria.
(5)
Steve T.
(email sent to Main Office) I am a regular customer at legal seafood as I am for Maine and lover fish. I just want to let you know about my experience at Long Wharf last night. We were met outside by Gwendelym (spelling) outside. She simply looked at me and said nothing like "welcome to legal Seafoods. I told her I had 8 pm reservations. She proceeded by telling me "you need to go inside". My roommate noticed the lack of customer service coming from her that we did not expect. This resturant is in a vistor area, and very popular. He spoke to Chris the inside Manager about her. We were told it would take 16 minutes before we were seated. There was no place to stand a wait, and we asked later of a place to wait. The hostess then said "sorry there is no place to wait". We were standing near the entrance and felt uncomfortable as the staff kept saying excuse me. So, haven a stroke two years ago I decided to wait outside leaning on the pole. The pole was near the outside hostess table. Again, after being spoken to Gwendlym told the other three staff members and amongst other patrions was just transpired. After she finish I told her "that was more unprofessional". She began telling me things that would be expected from a stranger. "I was not rude to him". That is really confortational, and after the event I personally would not have said anything. That is only an expample of what she said. I procceded going in to tell Chris again. Upon going in to speak to me she proceeded along with others to Laugh at me. Yes, Laugh. Chris took her off the floor and I express the situitation to Chris and told him that I eat at 4 pm so 8 pm I am hungry and it was earlier I would left. Chris was outstanding in listening, and taking action. He did not make me pay my meal along with my roommate that spoke with him. I did tell Chris I was going to tell you of my experience
(3)
Tracy S.
Love the location view etc. food was average. Long time legal fan. Just not impressed with first floor menu at this location.
(3)
H H.
The best outdoor rooftop place for drinks in Boston that I've found so far. A bit out of the way, but the view of great, and the atmosphere is lively... The rooftop serves sushi and a limited seafood menu (chowder, lobster roll, etc.). To my surprise, the sushi is actually quite good! I liked the rolls, and I've seen bigger groups getting sushi boats that looked pretty impressive too. Drinks are not too special though, and pretty light on alcohol.
(4)
J P.
Had dinner at Legal Seafood with my 10-year old son while visiting from California, to pass the time while my husband and older sons attended the Bruin's playoff game! I have been here in the past, and recalled that I had a pretty good experience. We arrived on a Friday night at about 6 pm and were seated immediately. I started with a perfect Russian Standard martini with hand stuffed blue cheese olives. I love blue cheese olives but they are not very common on the west coast where I live so it was a treat! We shared a bowl of the yummy clam chowder as an appetizer, along with a couple of delicious oysters for me. Both the oysters and chowder were excellent! I suggested to my son that he should order seafood since that was their specialty (and since we were in Boston) so he ordered the FISH SHAPED cheese ravioli off of the children's menu. Great twist for a seafood establishment! I usually only order cioppino when I am in San Francisco, but decided to give it a try at Legal Seafood. You will not be disappointed! It had a ton of fresh mussels, clams, shrimp and a nice large crab leg in the middle. The broth was super tasty and it came with a nice piece of fresh bread to soak up the goodness. To top off my meal I had a glass of Cakebread Sauvignion Blanc. It is almost unheard of to be able to order a Cakebread wine by the glass so this was a super nice surprise! My son finished his meal with a brownie/ice-cream creation (also off the children's menu). I had a little taste and it was excellent as well. I cannot comment on the parking as we walked from our hotel. But our server was super attentive and we had everything we needed at the right time to make this a really enjoyable meal! I will definitely be back when I return to Boston!
(4)
Tom D.
The good: gorgeous roofdeck, good sushi, the sake is awesome, The bad: line for the roof is always long, service (although friendly) is slowww. we waited about 15 minutes for our drinks.
(4)
Kallie F.
The 3rd floor of Legal Harborside has some spectacular views and in the summer months the roof retracts and all the windows can be folded to make this setting like an outdoor roof deck. The menu only has sushi and some appetizers, but a full bar. We went on a Tuesday evening to avoid the weekend crowds. However, tis the Season there were two private parties taking place. The downstairs host sent us to the third floor without any mention of the two parties taking place. When we arrived, the next host mentioned the private parties but offered us seats at the bar. This was not our first choice, but we took a seat anyway. We thought we would have to bail since we couldn't seem to get any service. In the nick of time however Matt, our bartender, came to the rescue. The sushi was AMAZING, and extremely fresh with great creations from the Sushi chef. We loved the Red Dragon roll and the avocado salad was delicious. The prices were as expected for Sushi in this area ($10-14 for "fancier" rolls). Matt was also very friendly and described some of their "bar creation" recipes like the Sailor Moon. Thankfully the great service from Matt and the food made up for the earlier missteps. We will certainly come back, especially in the warmer months. They are also hosting a New Year's Eve party which should prove to be pretty spectacular considering they have a front row seat of the harbor and fireworks.
(4)
Alexis J.
In the past I had heard a lot of bad things about Legal Seafood but I figured that I had to try it at least once while living in Boston so we went to Legal Harborside. We went on a Monday and it was still fairly crowded around dinner time, but not so crowded that we had to wait for a table. The service, I thought, was great and the food was even better. I got the fried clams and the person I was with got the fried shrimp. They were both absolutely delicious. For dessert we got the seasonal cobbler which was apple and cranberry and honestly that was the best part of the meal. It was amazing. I also got the apple sangria and the person with me got the Legal sangria (or whatever their house sangria is called) and that was delicious too. I will admit, the food is a bit overpriced but you still get a lot of good quality food for the amount you pay for so I didn't think it was too bad. I will definitely be back here again.
(5)
Caroline W.
This legals is a lot like the others but has a fabulous location. This location has three floors of bars and seating, including a roof top patio and deck area that has a retractable roof for the warm summer nights. The raw oysters we ordered were amazing and they had about 10 varieties available (many from Ma). The lunch portions we got were on the small side but fresh and flavorful. Between $12- $17 for a lunch entree. Our table had a view of the ocean and we could see the boats/planes going by. Very nice except for the loud kitchen area that is rather open because it is exposed to the customers. During the summer season (busy season) this place is bumpin and there is usually always a line for the rooftop patio and tables. The second floor of this legals offers a separate menu from the others and it is much pricier. Private parties: We asked to try and reserve tables for a cocktail hour later in the summer and they told us it was all first some first serve. Otherwise, to reserve a room for some our friends to mingle together and order appetizers they require a minimum $5000. Yeah right! Overall, a great spot. But assume you will have to wait for a table if you go at peak hours.
(4)
Christian R.
Very relaxing atmosphere on the harbor. 3 floors with outdoor seating. Good (mostly local) beers on tap. Oysters and clams were excellent and very fresh.
(4)
Stephanie P.
This newest Legals boasts amazing seaside views to rival their already fantastic menu. We started with drinks from the bar and the mixed cocktails didn't disappoint at double the usual size!. My mom had to share hers. The lobster pizza app was incredible!!! Thin, crispy crust with cheese, lobster, a soft egg in the center (sounds a little odd, but it was oh so right!). I went with fresh Wellfleet oysters on the half shell. They were deliciously briny, albeit small. I had never had oysters served with their champagne-vinegar and it was a wonderful compliment. My sister and I split a bottle of wine (she ordered oysters as well), and my husband and mom enjoyed their fish sandwiches while dad kept his face buried in his fried clams until reaching the bottom of the plate. I agree with my husband on the service, I was unimpressed with the 3 staff members we encountered at the door and hostess stand. Without as much as a smile they slapped the beeper in our hands even though we had a reservation. um, ok thanks. At least we had a beautiful table by the open wall. We got to relish in the fresh sea air and watch the boats pass through the harbor. However, 3 cheers for our server who was always checking on us and had a great smile and attitude. I was certain my mom was going to ask her to join us. Although Legal's seafood doesn't disappoint no matter which location you visit, this one is a must for the views. Especially for us desert dwellers who don't ever get to dine by the ocean!
(5)
Blair H.
An amazing way to spend an afternoon. I had a fisherman's stew, solely based on the fact that for $15.95, I thought I was getting more for my money compared to the clam linguine. The stew, aka cioppino, could have used a bit more fishy punch (or clammy kick). I also didn't like that it tasted a lot like canned, diced tomatoes. Also also, if that waiter got any closer to me and asked me if I wanted another drink again, I'da shoved my spoon in his nose. But the view and the atmosphere! There are few places I'd rather lunch in Boston. P.S., make a reservation! There was a 1.5h wait for the informal dining room at 5pm on a Saturday. Got lucky and found a couple of bar seats.
(4)
Amanda G.
Officially OBSESSED. Finally, a place that serves the consistently fresh and delicious Legal food I know and love, but with added twists, and an AMAZING space and view. Where to begin... The food was a mix of old faithfuls (Tuna Burger a la LTK, and grilled Scallops with two sides) and fun surprises! Gorgonzola and fig jam on bruschetta (yummmm x3) and a long list of oysters from the raw bar, including Wellfleet Oysters, my fav and they did not disappoint! We ate on the first floor - the more "affordable" of the two floors, the second being ultra fine dining, beautiful space but $$$$ meals - and it was wonderful. Right by the water with an insane view, next to the open kitchen, surrounded by people dressed up for a night out and near a long seated bar area where couples and singles ate and stared out at the water. I felt like I was in NYC but NOT because we were definitely not land locked. After a fab dinner, we went up to the third floor to get a load of the roof deck bar. In a word: awesome. There's a big bar in the center of the roof deck, covered, and it's planked by open seating areas uncovered and with great views of the water and city (and Pavilion). If you like seafood, great views. Boston, America, fun, and Summer - go! P.s. Re: service, it was OK, I think they're still figuring out how to deal with so many people in one space (make a reservation), but everything else more than made up for any failings on the wait staff...
(5)
Eliot C.
I visited Legals (floor 1) with four other friends on Saturday. It was a gorgeous evening. The doors to the deck were open for outside dining. There was a blue sky and the temperature was perfect. We were lucky enough to score a table on the deck (which I thought was one of the best seats in the house). Very relaxing atmosphere being outside, there was a public boat dock right below us, and we had a great view of the harbor/airport. The waitress was awesome. She was very personable, knew the menu and had several good suggestions for both food and drink. We started with Raw Oysters, Calamari and Buffalo Shrimp along with a few mixed drinks and beer, We then moved onto the the main meal of sword fish, salmon, scallops and crabless/peperoni pizza (for the seafood challenged member of the group). We ended the meal with a smooth glass of scotch. All the food was good. I don't think we left a thing on any of plates.
(3)
Ken S.
Delicious: the maki rolls are beautiful though not tightly wrapped. The lobster roll is flavorful though they are a bit generous with the mayonnaise. The cocktails are good. I recommend that you hit this place on a cool weekday for lunch. It's quieter, you can find a seat, and you can really enjoy your meal.
(4)
H T.
Really great seafood, especially for the price. I ordered the crabcake combo platter and loved everything on in. The scallops were amazing. I also ordered a dozen local oysters. They were the biggest oysters I've ever seen and they were very flavorful. I would definitely rely on this chain in the future to serve me high quality seafood at a reasonable price. I think it is a good place to take out-of-towners because you know you can count on the quality.
(4)
Susan B.
The roofdeck bar has a spectacular view...but that is it. The menu is strictly sushi and not very good sushi at that, overly very sweet rice and not so fresh fish. The only other offering are chowder (good) and some kind of crab salad that did not look like crab salad. Service was awful, a bunch of young brunette (female only) clones standing around not paying attention to customers. 30 minutes to get a cup of chowder, 45 minutes to get a crappy crab salad and even longer to get the sushi. We had to get our most of our beverages at the bar and God forbid you ask for a water. This is the 3rd time I've been here now and have had the same experience each time. The first floor has really good food and service and a varied menu, but usually has a really long wait.
(2)
Kris R.
this place is ginorm! as an out of towner, came here with a bunch of drunk folk on a bar crawl - my absolute fave spot by far. super huge, like 3 ridic floors, awesome view of the ocean on the roofdeck, a bit of swag, fo' sho'. shared the lobster pizza and some oysters with a friend. super good. great cocktails, too. i'd definitely come back. awesome place for visitors.
(4)
Annmarie A.
With Legal Seafood's, you always know what you're going to get. Or will you? Legal Harborside is definitely a bit of a different take on the Legal Seafood restaurants we've all come to know and love. This location is ideal, right out on the water, with full-wall windows which can easily be opened and pushed back to enjoy the lovely sea breeze. But it is LOUD. At a table of six, I could only hear the ones seated directly in front and beside me. This is partially due to the open windows and proximity to the airport, but also due to the wooden deck-like floors, high ceilings, and somewhat excessive use of concrete. I am used to the thick carpeting, cozy chairs, and quiet atmosphere of the other locations. Speaking of cozy chairs, half of the seating is benches, and the other half splits between table and pub height versions of patio furniture type chairs. A bit uncomfortable, and a surprise considering the elderly crowd. The oyster bar is up on a platform, and faces the ocean while overlooking the dining room. There is seating outside, but there are no awnings or umbrellas yet, so it can get a bit hot in the direct sun. The main bar is a beautiful creation, but is pushed to one side so the view can be the star (rightly so, at least in the summer). The staff was pleasant, if a bit harried in the lunchtime rush. However, we were sat promptly despite half of our party was 45 minutes late, and we were never made to feel as though we were a bother, which I greatly appreciated. Our waitress took our oyster and appetizer oysters promptly, returning for drink refills, and showing up right away when the rest of our party arrived. Drinks: Delicious! A surprisingly good micro-brew selection, and inventive cocktail menu. The only downsides were that the wine was predictably overpriced, and I was disappointed that they took away the wine-flights. Food: Again, delicious. Legal's stopped short of changing the basics of their menu, with chowders and lobsters front and center. They switched the chowder cup & bowl options for a single mug, which is a fine size for not filling up before the meal. The prices on the first floor seem in line with the other restaurants, so they are not charging these prices for the location alone. All in all, a solid visit.
(4)
Ann M.
Once again, Legal Seafoods delivers a guest experience that makes the grade. At Legal Harborside you'll enjoy Boston's new view in the emerging Seaport neighborhood. Tenured Bostonians will appreciate how beautifully the Berkowitz Family has carried on the heritage of Jimmy's Harborside. And, out of towners should beat a path to the best fried clams anywhere. The gleaming, exposed kitchen is nothing short of an operational marvel, and a fitting visual balance to your Boston Harbor vista. There's really no bad seat in the place. And, weather permitting, you can opt to dine al fresco on the deck/dock. Maureen is captain of the front desk and manages a team of hosts to seat the room fearlessly. Our server Gabrielle was pure sunshine, and took great care of our multigenerational party. The food is everything you would expect: fresh, delicious, and generous in proportion. Honestly, it's one of those menus where you want to eat everything. We had fun sharing plates of Truffled Egg Salad, Whipped Gorgonzola & Fig Jam Bruschetta and Kalamata Spread with Grilled Pita. My entree of White Clam Pizza with Arugula was innovative and over the top yum. It's hard to imagine the place getting any better, but it's about to. In early June they'll open the 2nd floor formal restaurant & a roof top lounge. I call that 3 stories of happiness. youtube.com/user/HotelAd…
(5)
Courtney M.
I have been to several Legal Seafoods and you never can go wrong. We ordered apps and drinks before catching the "T" back to the airport. Once again the food was wonderful!!
(5)
H S.
Enjoyed the food (the Icelandic tasting menu) especially the braised lamb, also enjoyed the lobster raviolini. The bar program could use some updating though. I asked the 2nd floor bartenders for 7 different liqueurs, all pretty standard at the better craft cocktail bars around town, and not only did they not have them, they hadn't even heard of them. Some training could be in order.
(3)
Emily P.
The first floor is really amazing! Love the fish and chips, the oysters, the clam pizza! Beer is pretty cold and drinks are really tasty! Warning: don't sit behind the concrete pole; barthenders may not see you...Third floor; getting a table in the summer can be a nightmare (Legal suggestion; have a waitlist for table for those who would like one- this will make the experience more enjoyable). We had some tourists pretty much bounce us as we tried to pay our tab....Bus boy spilled an entire plate of oyters into purse and was not apologetic- very annoying :( Also; some peopl BUT the view is amazing and a great spot to meet friends!
(4)
Joo L.
Location: The view was beautiful, right in front of the water. Service: I went to Legal Harborside on a Thursday morning at 11:00am (opening time), so we were one of the first ones to be seated near the water. The hostess was slow in walking us to our table (I noticed that all guests were slowly walked to their tables...must be a rule). We were greeted by our server who was very confusing to me. She was nice one minute, and then cold and annoyed the next minute. She had an awful hearing problem as well, as we tried to flag her down multiple times as she walked past us, but she never acknowledged us. There were hoards of servers, but many of them were socializing and flirting with each other, rather than focusing on the customers. It felt like we were watching some sort of MTV reality show. Food: The food is not that cheap. Because I have a shell fish food allergy, I was unable to eat 75% of what was on the menu, so I ordered their Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. It was pretty basic. Our server was pretty accommodating with my request to cook everything on separate cookware. However, my family thought the lobster roll was very good, and the steamed lobster so-so (they thought it was overpriced). The bread, however, was very delicious...warm, soft and satisfying.
(3)
Bethany B.
This is a great spot for enjoying the Boston summer. There's a beautiful view, and good food and drinks. I highly recommend the coconut lemonade cocktail. It sounds weird but trust me, it's delicious.
(4)
Tessa M.
I've been here three times since it opened, to mixed experiences. The positives: -The service here is really good. Every waiter I've had has been accommodating and very friendly; checking in when they need to and leaving us in peace for a good part of our meal. -The raw bar. The Cherrystones here are scrumptious!! They are huge, and I often end up eating at least five before my meal. I seriously have considered only ordering these and foregoing my meal because they are so refreshing and good! The negatives: -The location. If you are coming from north of Boston around rush hour, be prepared to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for a good forty-five minutes. There are very few ways to get into the seaport district, and Boston's asinine street plan does nothing to help matters. With the onslaught of building projects coming to this area, I cannot see matters improving unless the city creates some new measures of driving here. -The ambience. Same problem here as at Temazcal: If you sit outside, you will be surrounded by people holding loud conversations next to you, preventing you from getting up, and sticking their butts in your faces. The managers here should ban bar customers from bringing their drinks outside, as it is extremely rude to those seated outdoors. Also, it is very hard to move around in this restaurant in general. There are waiters and bars everywhere, meaning huge crowds congregate in the middle of the restaurant, making it difficult to navigate around all the people. -The menu. After two trips here, I was already bored by the menu. There was little that appealed to me on it; most of it consisted of ordinary fish dishes that I could prepare at home. I ordered the lobster roll twice here and both times it was puny and overpriced. The salmon pizza is good, and the clam chowder is too. I can't remember what I ordered the other time I came, not a good omen. I love spinach and orzo salad, but the way they are prepared here ruin the side dishes for me. The spinach has pine nuts and raisins, while the orzo salad is light and citrusy- the flavors do not really work well in either of these dishes. Bottom line: if you are looking for a good seafood meal, avoid this place unless you are desperate, have money to spend, and don't intend on driving here.
(2)
Dan S.
I can't hear my brain! I went to Legal Harborside for the second time in a week this past Saturday. Both times, I went early enough at lunch to land a prime seat outside, under the overhang. Parking was easy, we were seated right away. BAM!!! RIGHT UNDER A SPEAKER PLAYING THE WORST MUSIC EVER! Sorry, that was jarring. So was our table location. All the outdoor tables had the same problem. In fact, we saw two other people complain. We were told that the "manager couldn't be located" to turn the music down. Apparently, the complexity of the volume knob requires that only someone trained at the management level could do anything about the problem Next problem - service. They didn't remember anything. My wife got up 3 times. 1st, to get milk for our baby. We ordered it, got everything else, but not her milk. Good policy for parents - complement the baby, even if it's butt ugly, and get it fed so everyone else can relax. Then she forgot silverware. Then she forgot a refill. It was early and our waitress was watching TV with other servers. We interrupted her doing nothing to get what we asked for. The food - typical Legal. The first visit I thought it was a cut above. This time, my scallops were bordering on raw and the portions were tiny. My wife's pasta with clams was really heavy on the wine, in fact the wine tasted uncooked, almost like someone just dumped a glass on a bowl of pasta. And she got a few broken shells in her mouth. It happens, but not as much as it did. Over all, Legal needs to TURN IT DOWN, focus on service and have this gorgeous, perfectly located restaurant live up to potential.
(2)
Scott H.
Yes, it's a chain. Yes, it's super expensive. Yes, you pay more for the location. But Legal is still some of the best, freshest seafood to be found, and in Boston that is saying a lot! We went on a weekday afternoon around lunch time and only waited about 5 minutes for a patio seat. Inside seating was available immediately. Our server was nice, but perhaps a bit overwhelmed. I chose the fried whole bellied clam roll with onion rings (of course) and seaweed salad as sides. The clams were perfectly done and just the right amount for the $17 price tag. Rings were tasty and the seaweed salad was good as well. Simple, with a drizzle of vinegarette. My wife got a cup of chowder, which she really enjoyed. and a lobster roll. She loved it, but the market price was about $25. She also got the seaweed and a side of jalapeno polenta, which was very good. Sure you can get cheaper and seafood at about the same level at some of the mom and pop shops around town but don't dismiss Legal if you are nearby because you will not be disappointed. Helpful hint to travelers. If you are flying out of terminal C at Logan airport, legal has a very nice restaurant right before you go through security so you can get a last minute fix before your flight.
(4)
Jonathan M.
The list of some of the most anticipated births in history: 1. Jesus 2. Brangelina's first child (isn't this one the girl who looks like a boy?) 3. Brangelina's twins 4. Legal's Harborside Few restaurants in this city have been as anticipated as this restaurant. Months before it was opened, it was spoken about in hushed tones in the Boston Globe. The week before opening an entire two page article was devoted the restaurant, exploring the ins and outs of the massive preparations for this new space on the Waterfront. Needless to say this place has enormous expectations, and it really doesn't disappoint. Singlehandedly, this place has helped bring much needed foot traffic to the floundering Waterfront area, and I firmly believe it will help reshape the neighborhood into the Back Bay of the 21st century that it's been trying to be for the past 10 years. The location is pleasant. If you're a plane watcher, you won't be disappointed: Logan Airport is so close you can make out the numbers of planes landing and taking off. It's beautiful next to the water, but the area is still heavily reliant on industry. Those looking for an idyllic New England waterfront dining experience would be better off in Chatham or Marblehead than coming here. The interior is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. I felt richer just by breathing the air in there. The bar area is perfectly rounded so that if you're sitting next to someone you still feel like you're more face to face than exactly next to them, making conversation easier. The food is high quality and delicious, but didn't send me into the stratosphere. Be sure to try either the pita chips with your choice of sides (the red pepper was especially memorable) or the crostini for an appetizer (the egg salad variety was particularly tasty). The appetizers were surprisingly good as well; usually desserts are outsourced and no special attention is paid to them. However, in this case it's evident the restaurant cares about all sections of the menu. Their take on the Boston Cream Pie will forever make you rethink just buying one at Shaws and eating the whole thing with a plastic fork in the parking lot (not that I've ever done that). All in all, this is the place to see, be seen, enjoy good food, and will especially be happening in the summer when the roofdeck opens.
(4)
Ivan M.
Great location, great views, great food but getting reservation is really tough.
(4)
Albert B.
The food was fantastic, as were the views of the water. Staff was attentive and friendly. My friends 7 month year old baby was dining with us, and at least 6 members of the staff came to our table to say "hi" to her- it was a nice touch. Definitely recommend. Rainbow trout is phenomenal.
(4)
Jake C.
Incredible rooftop bar with the best view of Boston Harbor I've ever seen. On a sunny summer afternoon, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and ceiling of the huge bar space retract to provide long panoramic sight lines and the experience of looming above Boston Harbor. Expansive lounge environment is relaxed and peaceful with patio decks on either side of the central bar/lounge space, one overlooking the World Trade Center Boston, the other overlooking the B of A Pavilion -- consequently, can get very loud out on this deck during a live show. The line (forms outside building's first floor side entrance, early on weekends!) can appear intimidating, but don't be discouraged: this rooftop bar is THE place to be on a relaxing sunny summer afternoon or hot summer night in Boston!!
(5)
Jenifer W.
Let me start by saying I've hated seafood my whole life... I made a vow when my children were born that I'd learn to eat it because I wanted THEM to eat it. I've been working on it, begrudingly, for 4 long years. When we planned our trip to Boston, my boss said "Don't miss Legal Harborside". ATMOSPHERE: Unbeliveably busy - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the place was absolutely crammed with people, and had a wait outside the door. The atmosphere itself is very lovely. Minimalistic with decor (save for the "water wall"), and features a wide open view of the Boston Harbor which was breaktaking at sunset. We got lucky enough to sit right at the windows (outside = too cold on a May night), and the girls were enchanted watching the boats. We got up and walked along the pier while waiting for food to arrive, and it was fantastic. FOOD: Back to my story... I hate seafood :). I looked at their menu before actually going, and had no clue what I was going to order which would "look like" fish, but saved me from actually eating it. On arrival, our server made a few suggestions, and when I told her my dilemna, she recommended an OFF MENU item that chef makes for the servers. It was grilled haddock on a bed of lobster and mushroom risotto. Must have been the wine, but in a freak moment I went for the off menu dinner "balls in". My hubs had grilled sea scallops, and the girls had pizza and spaghetti. We had calamari for an appetizer, and it was fantastic. Just the right amount of breading and seasoning, and the dipping sauce was scratch made and really complimentary. When the food arrived, I woefully tried a baby bite, only to realize this dish may have been the best seafood I've ever had. The fish was perfectly cooked, very fresh, and had a great flavor. The risotto was incredible, with funky teeny weeny mushrooms mixed in and not fishy tasting at all. There were gorgeous chunks of pink lobster, but without the yuck flavor you get when a lobster is not fresh. This place made me a believer - I'd consider moving to Boston just to be close. My husband's scallops were good, and the girls had generous portions of food which they both loved (THANK YOU Legal for making flavorful kids food, where most restaurants feel it's okay to serve crap). We had Bon Bons for dessert, and they were a unique and welcome finish to an unforgettable experience. SERVICE: Our server was fantastic. She was helpful, there when we needed her, and spot on about the food. She and the server in the next section were SOOOO sweet to our girls - chatted them up, played with them for a few seconds here and there, and made them feel very special. Where normally I am tough on servers because I so rarely get a good one, our server here was really amazing. In a rare moment for me, I walked the floor to find a shift manager so I could let them know just how wonderful both girls were. VALUE: Great. We viewed the menu beforehand, so we walked in expecting to pay a higher price than most other options. The quality of the food was top notch, and couldn't have been any better than it was. We paid around $165 for an app, 2 entrees, 2 kids, and a dessert. I plan to go back again whenever I can.
(5)
Scott C.
I actually dined on the second floor but it could have been in a dungeon and still have been phenomenal. Pig head and heirloom tomato salad appetizers started off an evening of seafood nirvana. Service, wine, and entrees were equally fantastic. Very accommodating to my Aussie companion food allergies as well. A great evening out in Beantown!
(5)
Jatte B.
First off, this listing needs to be clarified. The LEGAL SEAFOODS at 270 Northern Ave is different than the LEGAL HARBORSIDE that is upstairs from LSF (correct me if I am wrong). The menus are VERY different... the ground floor is the standard LSF everyone has grown to love. The upstairs LHS is a bit more experimental and adventurous. We rolled into the joint on a Friday night and it was very apparent that the wait for a table at LSF was 2+ hours... so we thought we'd give the fancier upstairs a whirl. We were dressed in t-shirts and jeans... I am assuming that may be frowned upon once LHS is up and running a few more weeks (judging by the decor, menu, other guests' attire). The menu was mainly seafood... and lots of fun: Chutneys, spices, exotic fish/preparations, oddball/fun apps/bites that you would not find on the more "staple"-centric LSF menu. The cost for 4 of us... with was about $400 (incl tax/tip)... but we did go off the deep end with 5 apps + 2 bites for the table plus two bottles worth of wine. I highly recommend this place for any foodie who wants something delicious and different with a great view of the harbor (inside/outside seating available).
(5)
Matt G.
5 stars for location and service - our waiter sat with our 9 year old and showed him how to shell his lobster. 4 stars for food as a whole. Great local Sam Adams special beer
(4)
Shannon E.
Beautiful location. Draws big crowds. Waitresses work really hard and manage large crowds well. Food is good, if you're in the mood for what they're serving. 3rd floor menu, where the drinking crowd is, leaves a lot to be desired if you just want to drink & snack. And unfortunately big, bad, bald 3rd floor "bouncer" has an inflated ego, using aggressive and threatening tactics to intimidate patrons for no good reason. I would expect this from some of the establishments in Faneuil Hall or Back Bay or even if deserved here if people were getting rowdy, but to come up to a table of friends having a nice night and good, mellow conversation and start accusing and threatening and being aggressive is out of line. Seriously, get over yourself and find something productive to do like help the waitresses clear glasses from the tables. Probably won't go back at the risk of having to deal with this a-hole. There are plenty of other great spots on the areas.
(2)
Haley C.
The place is amazing. The roof deck, is well pretty perfect... but to get in?! Plan on going super early... and really working it if you want a seat! Also, you can make a reservation downstairs, but that's limited. So far I have eaten downstairs--- not bad and on the roof deck. (limited menu on the roof deck, but good). Staff have always been fantastic and I like that they valet. Great place to bring out of town guests.
(4)
David H.
I get it that this place regularly gets five stars, great location, vibey, noisey, and almost always full.....but unlike my wife, I have never been a big fan of Legal Seafoods. We were there for a bar side dinner this week, and again several weeks before....but there is a common theme with each visit...the front desk is manned by immature young ladies who really haven't grasped the concept of a well run front desk. There is no structure, or consistency....and on a recent visit by a mature British friend of ours, she was turned away from the rooftop lounge, because her British drivers license, which clearly illustrated her age, was an unacceptable form of identification. The second issue I have is the value of the food...the portions are small, yet overpriced, and no greater illustration of that fact was the bruschetta appetizers.....two tiny slices of crostini toast, spread with a small quantity of gorgonzola creamy cheese, and an even smaller dollop of fig jam. Admittedly, you cannot get much these days for $3.50, but this was a real slap in the face. Legal Seafoods you can only fool the public for so long as to the quality and caliber of your establishments....spend some money and train your staff to execute their duties professionally....and stop believing you are being so clever and overcharging for overhyped dishes, that represent no value to the average diner, for the quantities that are being served
(1)
Stacy R.
We hope the owner will read this review. We arrived at 5:00 and were told we could get a table at 5:30 at the restaurant on the 2nd floor. At 5:30 we went up to the 2nd floor and were told that all the tables were reserved and we could eat at the bar. We were at the bar for 90 minutes and most of the tables in the restaurant remained empty the entire time. The service at the bar was awful; we had to ask the bartender 3 times before he took our order. We ordered 3 appetizers. The octopus was very tough and almost inedible. The seared tuna had a stale taste. The trio of tartar was fine. We have been loyal and frequent Legal customers for decades and are very disappointed. The location is striking It's an abuse to loyal customers to assume that service and food don't matter - that people will come back despite the poor service, unappetizing food, and high prices. They won't.
(1)
Food G.
Disclaimer: this review is based on the top floor, lounge menu not the regular menu. Recently attended a company event up on the 4th floor of Legal Harborside where the "lounge menu" was served buffet style. I was excited to try it out as I have had good meals at the Legals near the aquarium...boy was I dissapointed. The waitstaff was good and attentive, but they were only dealing with drinks, so they get a little bit of a pass. The food on the other hand, was way, way below expectations. I started with the Clam Chowder which was ok, but really lacked seasoning. I dont find it a good sign when a seafood place cant do a good chowder. The trooper I am, I moved on to the Lobster Risotto. Sadly this was almost completely tasteless (again, where's seasoning?) and cold... not cool, cold. Strike two. Maybe the Chicken Satay skewers will be better I thought? Wrong. I could tell with the first bite I tried that it was barely on the side of properly cooked. Strike three. A normal person would stop after three strikes, but I then noticed the shrimp. I love shrimp and surely that must be good, I thought to myself. Wrong again! Its not hard to tell frozen shrimp from fresh and these were definitely previously frozen. Add to that the fact they are drowning in some "cocktail type" sauce by default and you have a recipe for sub-par. I'm an adult, give me fresh shrimp with sauce on the side and let me decide how I want to sauce them. This shouldn't be too much to ask of a famous seafood restaurant.
(2)
Terri C.
Unimpressed with the 2nd Floor, all we kept hearing about was how the 2nd floor was different from all the other Legals - this being highlighted when we asked to be sat our table that we had reserved 2 months ago. I explained our friends we running late -it was pouring rain out -and I mentioned my OpenTable acct and again was told this Legal is different. The treatment was so poor, I don't care where you are located, it's all about the treatment - get over yourselves. We dine in all in price ranges but expect firs class treatment wherever we go. If they had read our OpenTable profile "like the other Legals" they would have noticed we dine at Legal's OFTEN and don't skim on what we order. NO MORE. We were not able to get the beverages ordered on the first floor or order Fried Oysters - those were ONLY available on the first floor. I have never taken the time to write a negative review after dropping $300 between the 2 floors, I needed to air my grievances. Oh the food was good, I will give them that - in fact it was delicious but its also about the experience and for us -it was not a positive one.
(1)
Susan J.
I've been a few times to this legals and have tried the sushi and some of the other dishes on all different floors. My boyfriend and I went over the weekend and he was in the mood for fish and I was in the mood for sushi so we thought it was the perfect spot! But they really could not accomidate us because they only serve certain things on certain floors. If we wanted to get the actual dishes we wanted, my boyfriend and I would have had to sit on different floors!!! It's really like 3 different restaurants. We ended up sitting on the 2nd floor where i was able to get a rare tuna appetizer as my dinner, but left pretty hungry. Dissapointed that they cannot find a way to offer similar things throghout the restaurant.
(3)
Fred Y.
Fish tacos! That's all you need to know!
(4)
Margot L.
I never write yelp reviews but since I have had two bad experiences at the second floor fine dining at legal harborside I felt compelled. The two times I have been here I made a reservation. Each time my party and I were shuffled to the bar upon arriving and assured our table would be ready soon but have a drink at the bar while you wait. Each time I waited 45 minutes for my table to be ready. This past time I complained. The hostess was very gracious in buying us an appetizer after finally seating us at 9:15pm for a 8:30pm reservation I even called to confirm a reservation I had made on open table earlier in the week. Having this exact same thing happen twice I think they need to figure out a better reservation process. Food was good but wait was not worth it. I will never go here again.
(1)
Patrick M.
Great view, fun crowd & the rooftop bar with retractable roof is very cool. Food was good. Busy, busy place. $16 to valet with validation.
(3)
Angelica B.
Loved this place. Found it on yelp and it was recommended by the concierge at my hotel. Food was great! Don't wait for a table unless you want to be outside on the deck. Take a seat at the back counter overlooking the water, it's mesmerizing! Great beers on tap and lots of small plates. I shared a lobster and wild mushroom pizza, quite tasty. The fried clams and steamer were both terrific. I enjoyed so much I came back two days later for oysters on the half shell with prosecco. Perfection!
(4)
Janina T.
I've been here a few times, heading straight for the roofdeck for drinks. I generally come pretty late in the evenings on either Thursday or Saturday nights so by that time dinner has long passed and/or the kitchen has closed. They get an A++++++ for ambiance and decor. The roofdeck view is GORGEOUS beyond belief, overlooking the water. I love that they have both covered and uncovered seating so you can take your pick. Music's not bad either, from what I could hear. I heard a mixture of hip hop and classic/alternative rock. I like that they play it at a level that isn't overbearing to the point that you can't hear whoever you're speaking to but it's loud enough for your to enjoy at the same time. Drinks are pretty good (and strong) here. They're a bit pricier than they might be at the other bars down the street but I'm pretty sure it's because you're paying more to be in a swankier place. I haven't tried the food yet although I'm assuming it's equal if not the same as what's at Legal Sea Foods. I've booked my birthday dinner here so I'm hoping for the best!
(4)
Jessica P.
First the good: -The food was excellent, and we did not have to wait long. The view is also quite nice. Now the cons: -The service was inattentive. We did not get any rolls and my father had to ask our server 4 times before she finally brought him the class of water he wanted. -The atmosphere was a bit meh. It was loud enough that we could barely hear each other, and it wouldn't have killed some of the other patrons to take a bath and put on something other than ratty sweats and cut-offs. This isn't as swanky as some Boston restaurants, but it's not a dive bar either. Dress like a grown-up and observe basic hygiene or stick with McDonald's.
(3)
Neill K.
I promise if I come back and have the same experience I will give you five stars! I tell people that I'm not one to go to a legal seafood unless there is a visitor who's requesting. In my book there is better fine dining and better seafood at other locations around our fair city...with that said, I WILL be back to the Harborside location. I had lunch with a great friend on the first floor (duh, that's all that's open for lunch) I love the layout! We sat one table away from the water, although the rest of the facility looked beautiful even if we weren't staring at the water the whole time. The food was great! We started with the calamari, which was crispy and delicious. We each then had a salad, me the shrimp and my friend the crab. Both salads were of decent portion and very flavorful! My only complaint was that mine had very few shrimp? Whatever...like I said...I was busy staring at the water most the time. Service...top notch. Right when we walked in we were greeted by a team of people who were there to help us! I did first take my friend up to show him the different levels, which they were more than happy to let us explore. Our server was awesome as we took way to long and ordered everything just a little different than original. Fun, relaxing, good food...will be back.
(4)
Jess C.
SOOO I came here because I wanted a classy place to take the parentals before dragging them to watch the Redbull Cliff Diving. The menu is different from other Legal Sea Foods, which is nice, but sometimes you want a LITTLE more. For example, the grilled shrimp only comes with lemon... no lemon chive butter or cajun spices like we all know and love from all the other Legals!! The roof deck is not something I have ventured up to yet, simply because it was not open at the hour we were there. I hear it's very "Miami" and being from there, I obviously have to investigate. Food was good, and I must say.. I love the view this place offers.
(4)
Hilary A.
We were attending a show at the BoA Pavilion next door, so we opted to dine here due to its awesomely close proximity. Not being from the area, this was a gamble. We chose dinner on the 2nd floor, which was the only floor taking reservations. This is like 3 businesses in one: 1st floor raw bar/pub fare, 2nd floor finer dining and 3 floor is an upscale, open-air bar. When we arrived there were TONS of people and the establishment is huge; I thought I made a huge mistake. To my surprise, we were whisked up out of the chaos to a lovely, private table on the deck, overlooking the harbor. Our waiter was perfection. He paid close attention to detail, made sure to get us served in time to catch our show, polite, not overly chatty, but friendly. He even gave us a little complimentary grab-and-go dessert because we didn't have time to have one otherwise. The food was delicious. The menu wasn't enormous, but has enough offerings for everyone to find something. I had the lobster ($50) and my husband chose two appetizers (due to dietary restrictions) soft-shell crab ($14) and scallops ($14). It wasn't cheap, but I wanted a nice experience and was willing to pay. It was the perfect start to a great night.
(4)
Mitchell F.
The first floor deck is right on the water looking over the harbor with Logan in the background. Very nice setting. I had the oyster slider app and it was great. Good portions, moist and not overpowering. A good value for the price. For a main course I had the fried fisherman's trio however I requested it wood fired so I could taste the seafood. The best decision I ever made. The wood firing really brought out the flavors. The staff handled the change flawlessly from the server who said cheerfully "no problem" to the request,to the cooks who took the shrimp, sea scallops, and haddock and wood fired them instead of coating them in batter and frying them, and did so without tearing up the fish. Now for the reason I didn't give 5 stars. The side dishes were bland and small. My Ceasar salad had no flavor with 3 soggy croutons, and greens filmed with a light layer of tasteless cream sauce. My cole slaw was just cabbage and carrots coated in a tiny bit of mayo and no seasoning. Worst was my desert. I had the lemon coconut something. It was a flavorless spongy lemon cakelike substance with a hint of coconut flavor on top in a rock hard pastry shell which served as a bowl. A total disappointment. Still the seafood,service, and views were great and that's what it was all about.
(4)
Monique W.
The roof deck is amazing!! The staff and Manager are great.. They were very helpful. The drinks fabulous!! I can not wait to come back again!!
(4)
Erin B.
We had a reservation for 5 pm on Christmas day. The notes on the reservation requested a High chair. We arrive, and the hostess seems troubled, but since we had to wait for my husband to park the car, she had time. When he finally arrived, I tell them and she says "well we are just trying to rearrange because of the high chair". As if they didn't know I was coming with a kid. Finally a different hostess tells us our table is ready. She brings us over & smiles. I say, Do you have a high chair? (My son is 2, it's pretty obvious he needs a high chair and not a bench seat) She says "oh you need a high chair?". Yes. Oh Ok. then she stutters about 3 times and says, "we're going to move you someplace else where it's easier for the high chair. Where would you like to wait?" Awkward. So I say "where would you like us to wait?" She says "oh you can sit here, just don't order anything". Awkward #2. Then a DIFFERENT manager comes over & says "ok here is the high chair" . ??? OK, so I guess we aren't moving? He looks at me like I have 10 heads. Once that was all settled our waitress was fantastic and the food was great. My only other complaint is that this is a summer restaurant. We've gone for the past 2 christmas's, but it's always cold and not cozy. I asked about the heat but nothing changed. In fact I think she might have forgotten that I asked. If you do decide to go, don't expect a high chair, and wear an extra sweater.
(3)
Twain S.
Liked the food, and service. But not going back. I only eat out less than 10 times a year. That combined with the fact that there are hundreds of places to eat, means that any little thing will ensure I don't come back. From the web page: You'll find a nod to our heritage on the first floor hull, with a casual menu of seafood favorites with a twist, an oyster bar and an old-fashioned fish market. The second floor dining room offers cuisine prepared with sensible creativity for celebratory eating and private dining events. And those that visit the third floor promenade deck will enjoy a four-season rooftop lounge... So from that description I decided that eating on the first floor made the most sense. That being said I have no idea what they mean by "an old-fashioned fish market". I totally missed that. Although I did find the "catch-and-release" fishing spot. Food was good, I had clam chowder, and the Portuguese Seafood Stew The service was also good. The waiter filled up my water without having to ask, some thing I like. The seating was cramped. There was at best a one person wide between the tables. So the waiters were constantly having to squeeze by. It was too noisy. You had speak into the ear of the person sitting next to you, and yell to the person on the other side of the table. When I go out to eat I want to be able to have a conversation. To top it off they were playing music at the same time. The menu offered a very, very limited selection. I kept turning it over assuming there was more to choose to from on the other side. (The menu is online, check it out before you decide to go eat there.) And to top it off I slammed my head getting up from the toilet. Each bathroom had it's own toilet and sink. For some reason there were two hand soap dispensers, one near the sink, and the other on the wall in front of the toilet. I didn't look up, as I stood, and the wall in front was so close that I hit my head on the hand soap dispenser. I had to sit back down for a couple of minutes, it wasn't a glancing blow. My significant other pointed that the entire building was less than a year old. But for some reason they were not able to figure out how much room they needed to fit a toilet. A silly aside was the catch-and-release "pond". There was what looked like a wishing pond, which had a sign which indicated that kids were allowed to "fish". As in hold a pole, and catch a fish. But they were suppose to "release" what ever it was that they caught. Just really silly. How about you take that extra space and give people more room to eat? No reason to go back.
(1)
Carter D.
The clams were good, but i've had better. They served me a bloody mary when i was already drunk in the middle of the night. Maybe it wasn't that late, just december, I don't know. Big place, slow service, decent quality, not too expensive. It's just average, maybe worth going to if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)
Katarina G.
There are three floors to this place, each a different restaurant, so I am not sure which restaurant everyone else is reviewing. I ate at Floor 2 with my husband while visiting Boston. Floor 2 is the "fine dining" restaurant. It was date night so we decided to be fancy. :o) The service was wonderful and our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. And the view was breathtaking. We shared a half-bottle of cabernet which was delicious. We were greeted with a shrimp and melon introductory dish that was refreshing and left me wanting more. Our appetizers included a lobster soup and short rib raviolis with truffle sauce. OMG...these were amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered the scallops (he wanted to try the abalone but they were all out which sucked). The server recommended the scallops prepared the same way and my husband was happy. He said it was the best scallop dish he had ever had. I ordered the fillet with king crab on top. This was bay far the most tender fillet I have ever had. I literally cut it with a butter knife. We closed our night off with espresso before heading upstairs. (It did take a while to get our bill though...like a super long while.) This is where Legal Harborside lost a star. The Floor 3 bar didn't fit the Floor 2 experience we just had. The server on Floor 3 had that look on her face like she just wanted to go home for the night. Sorry lady, you work here and we are paying for drinks, so that means you have to be friendly. It's your job. The wine I ordered was disappointing, but it was my only option by the glass. I almost considered sending it back. I couldn't tell if it was skunked or just extremely low quality. Whatever, we left after one round. Overall though, we had a great night and loved our dinner!
(4)
Brandi J.
LOVE this place. The atmosphere and view on the roof top is perfect - service was great, food was great, pricing is reasonable. The outside deck is still open even in the chilly weather AND they give you blankets - too cute and too fun. only complaint was the sangria.... it wasn't sangria... but, that didn't/doesn't change my opinion on how fabulous this place is - the top floor is great for a date night, a ladies night out, a group gathering... you won't be disappointed
(5)
Fred W.
All in all we enjoyed the dinner. One of had a lobster which was enjoyed by that person. I ordered a Lobster Roll which was touted by another Yelp reviewer, the lobster parts were fine , but overall it wasn't what I expected.. and sorry that I ordered it. The Fish and chips were OK, but one piece was dark, which isn't very appetizing. We also had shrimp cocktail and Fried Calamari, both were done well and of good quality The place is well run, head sets on most servers and wireless transmitters for taking orders, Finally it was noisy and too busy,, but funny enough , we all enjoyed it. Would I go back? probably,
(4)
Jeff H.
Second-best seafood I had while in Boston. What really shone for us was the service, though. Had a baby with us for early dinner who had a stomach upset. The wait staff didn't bat an eye, just helped us clean up and kept the food and drink coming for the rest of us. Salmon was good, not spectacular, but appetizers were top of the line: I especially liked the PEI mussels.
(4)
BF K.
If I could give negative stars on how our party was treated on the third floor, I'd fly those non existent stars on a non existent banner high in the sky for all to see. We brought a group of forty people to the harbor side roof on a really nice, totally out of season night- it was beautiful out, and the crowd otherwise was really small, so the business we were bringing in (buying bottles, purple Jesus' for the group etc) was relevant. Sure we'd come from a party, and we may have had one or two people that probably needed to be cut off. Normally, if you see an issue with a patron, you A. Cut them off B. tell their friends you cut them off so they can deal with it C. Ask the patron to leave D. Tell the patron to leave E. kick the patron out the door. One or all of these. So I ask you.. Since when do you tell an entire party of FORTY that they're cut off because two people need to stop for the evening? When the entire other THIRTY EIGHT people are fine and having a great night? Yea- this place does. And when you politely talk to the manager and security team about asking if they can let you know who the issue is so you can put them in a cab and keep on having a good time and they won't tell you? And refuse to reason? Well that's when I say you just lost a shiz load of business. Thanks Legal Harborside, for exceeding my expectations on just how much more douchey your franchise has become. See you never.
(1)
Stephen M.
The Chef's taster menu with wine recommendation was exquisite. Celebrated our silver wedding anniversay here and they made a special fuss of us, even writing congratulatory wishes in chocolate on our desert plate - it's the little things that make all the difference. Lovely view of the harbour while dining with constantly changing light as the sun sets.
(5)
Brian C.
Visited the 3rd level on the Friday after the 4th figuring that a slow day in the city would allow us access to the typically very busy spot. Nabbed two stools at the railing in the outside area. Things were looking good. Things went downhill ....slowly. Two quick observations: One, nice view obviously of the harbor and airport, but not of the city. The adjacent building blocks the view to the west. Two, the speakers were really awful out there. The music was almost unrecognizable. Kind of shocking for a new facility. The deck was full but not jammed, but service was extremely slow. It took 20 mins to get glasses of water and 30 minutes for our first drink. By the way it was about 95 degrees up there. Food delivery was actually slower. We asked about our order and found out that it had been delivered to the wrong party. The reorder was taking just as long so we decided to bail out. Great start but horrible experience. Others around us told us that they had similar service. We spent an hour, eager to spend some $$ but left after one drink each. We crossed the street and had terrific service at Mortons bar.
(1)
Kat T.
My friends and I were at the Legal Harborside's patio the day it opened. It had a lovely view of the Harbor and an unpretentious atmosphere despite the trendy decor. The three-tiered dining concept, with the first floor being casual, the 2nd with fine dining and the 3rd floor/patio with small bites, is brilliant! Since it was the opening day, the patio didn't serve food though they did pass some free tasty apps around. The Tuna tartare was muy delicioso! We waited about an hour and a half for a table of 5 which was a bummer but our patio bar server was very attentive and kept serving us with the free apps. The manager was very apologetic for the wait, which we sort of expected would be the case on a Saturday night. Overall, the place was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out at the patio more frequently this Summer.
(4)
Ann C.
This was my first time at this location so I will say upfront that I only enjoyed a single meal here. (I used to come here back when it was Jimmy Harborside! I also still had legitimate friends from Southie back then too...) I guess I was only sort of expecting the imposing feel of this particular Legal's. But I'm not gonna lie though - I enjoyed how far they went with this one. There's like 6 floors or something. Nicely designed and laid out with a circular bar and sprawling pseudo-eating-areas (is it just a drinks seat?...or can I actually eat a meal here? omg I can eat here too!? :D) There's something about the atmosphere that is practically begging for lunch break yuppies and adorable tourists to infiltrate at high volume. I'm glad they're doing well - the waterfront is too picturesque to not set up a destination area like this. Yeah it's kinda sterile and corprate, but soon everwhere in the world will be merely shades of such. I don't mind - plus they kept the lovely aquatic mosaic wall from the Jimmy days in Legal's interior. Anyways, I ordered a lobster roll that was positively delicious (crap,now I want one). Everything was served in a most timely manner by this guy Curtis something. Omg he was soooooo cute - kinda looks like Kurt Cobain. I recommend him :D My only complaint is that many might mistake the menu entry for the tuna sandwhich as tuna SALAD sandwich - the description is kinda vague. It's actually huge pieces of mildy seared tuna. I found that out the hard way but Curtis was most gracious and patient and didn't mind taking it back so I could get a lobster roll. (omg seriously so cute) I paid for the sushi-ish tuna sandwhich anyways, mostly because of his adorableness...and because it's a classy thing to do :D btw, who remembers when there was that epic chinese food restaurant like right across the street? holy crap I'm totally dating myself now...
(4)
Jeff M.
My wife and I took a client of mine last Sunday night. We did have reservations and were seated right away. The restaurant was very busy, as it was a beautiful night and the back of the restaurant opens to the harbor. My client being from LA had to have the Chowder and some fried clams for an app. When eating one of the clams I bite down on a nice size piece of shell. When I told the waitress about it, she asked if I was OK and when I said yes, she said OK then and went about her business. I had Anna's Boston Scrod and it was as good as I remember. I'm sure we will give it another try.
(3)
Anik M.
So if you are going to go to the first two floors then I would mark this place much higher - the second floor is definitely 5 star. Now on to the review of the third floor...AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! Where do I start - here is basically how the meal turned out: 1. Asked the server which sake she would recommend - she chose the most expensive which we obliged given our experience on the second floor. Big mistake - it was a plum juice sake blend which had the feel of desert wine. The waitress had no idea what she was speaking about. To top it off our sake was served in wine glasses which just doesn't fit the drink. 2. The edamame was probably cooked by Captain Crunch - pretty much raw. 3. I didn't realize crab was served with the shell on in sushi. My wife found several pieces of crab shell in her California roll including one the size of a quarter. 4. The service: a. Our waitress was hard to track down even though there were 2 servers and a bartender and the place was 25% full. When she did come over and we informed her of the shell in the sushi she reached down to try and remove it with her HANDS from our plate which had another type of roll (which we weren't going to eat anyways - but who does that!). She then brought us the bill and charged us for the roll we had sent back - which after I pointed, she removed. There was also a complete lack of an apology for their horrendous food. b. On our way out the the door man had asked how our food was and we said not very good. He asked us to elaborate and we politely declined - he pushed a few more times and we finally described out experience. His response was "Well at least come back for drinks" to which I responded "You can get a drink anywhere." Absolutely clueless to the quality of their food. I have to say that this was a huge let down and am shocked that they had such little care for their drinks, food and service. There are may better places to go for an after work cocktail and snack in the city...actually ANY PLACE would be better.
(1)
B R.
I was fully prepared to hate it here. I've been to a lot of Legal's locations over the years. They are always delicious but overpriced. We had the luck of being out on a friends boat and docked right under the restaurant. We had reservations for the bar area. So the caveat is simple, you have to have reservations. No way I'm waiting insanely long times to eat here. Now, I really liked this place. Great people watching, the bar area menu was reasonably priced. The food was delicious and the atmosphere on a beautiful warm day was awesome. I had the wood grilled shrimp with soba noodles and orzo salad. You get to pick two small sides with certain dishes. My only complain is they do not have the sugar snap peas in oyster sauce, a fan favorite. The alcoholic raspberry lime rickey was tasty but a bit watered down and too much ice for the price. Switched to beer for the better value. I would go again. definitely. with a reservation :) but first I would explore all the other restaurants in this newly vibrant part of town.
(4)
Katrina H.
This review is particularly for Legal Harborside - Floor 2. This floor is considered more fine dining, and they even mention on the website that it is for "special occasions." After moving to the area, I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday, and I am so glad I did! The food and drinks were delicious. For our entree, we both ordered Butter Poached Lobster and it was to die for. Just melt in your mouth deliciousness. We had a beautiful seat overlooking the water. And the waitstaff was great - very accommodating. The manager even escorted us up to Floor 3 after our dinner (the line was around the block) since we wanted to have some after dinner cocktails. I can't wait to come back here. It is on the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)
Erica C.
I loved this place! Came there with family and started with the calamari lobster roll, and bloody Marys. All were great! It was my first lobster roll so I can't really say if it was the "best" but I definitely enjoyed every bite. I also had the crab salad which was amazing! A huge mound of yummy crab. Can't really beat that. My husband had the fish and chips which he loved. Go here!
(5)
Megan M.
This review is for floor 2. My dining experience was okay. The atmosphere and view was definitely the best part. The view of the harbor and the city is one of the best you can get. The decor is tasteful and modern. Our server was good, knowledgeable on the wine and also got the chef to prepare a special salad. However, there was only a need to prepare a special salad because the selection was so limited. I think every dinner menu should have some type of green salad to start with. For entrees we had the prosciutto wrapped tuna and the cod over clams. The tuna was good, I think the prosciutto would have been better if it was more rare like the tuna. I thought I would love the combo but wasn't a big fan. The cod was nothing special either. We also had the lobster gnocchi app, which was probably the best part of the food. Also the most inexpensive bottle of chardonnay was still around $50. So all in all, for the price I was not impressed. Would prefer Atlantic Fish Co or Oceanaire.
(3)
Scott C.
Sushi is mediocre. Seemed fresh, but not well made. Not much ingenuity in the menu. Just ok. Service on 3rd floor was uninterested. Legal is my favorite seafood place, but I'll be staying away from the sushi. Rec you do also.
(3)
Sara F.
Can't rate the restaurant yet, since when I tried to get in one Tuesday night a couple of weeks ago, there was a two and a half hour wait. I shouldn't have been surprised -- it's been getting a lot of attention, and then there's all the tourist traffic. So we headed up to the Roof Deck on the 3rd floor, which was absolutely packed. Unfortunately it was raining pretty hard, because the deck has an amazing view of the harbor. It would be a fantastic place to hang out on a sunny day. It got quieter after about 7:30, as the after-work crowd dispersed, so I think next time I'd try for a late arrival, to enjoy the deck or the dining room without quite so many crowds. Definitely make a reservation if you want to have dinner here without a crazy-long wait.
(3)
Chris L.
Went looking forward to a fabulous dinner. The Hostess was very kind and accommodating and seated us on the outdoor deck which was the best part of our night. The weather was fabulous and the atmosphere was perfect. The food arrived and the portions were average-small. The salad I received was wiltered and flavorless, the grilled scallops were small and bland. My date had the salmon and it was ok but just ok. We have had much better at other restaurants. So If you are looking for a great fish dinner look somewhere else but it you want a up beat atmosphere and a nice location give this place a try.... Definitely don't go for the food, you can do much better at many other places.
(3)
Emily H.
This was a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view of the water. I was here with a girlfriend on a road trip and we really needed a nice meal. She doesn't eat fish, but had an awesome steak and I tried the Portuguese seafood stew. We also shared the mixed bowl salad and some hummus with pita chips. Everything was delicious and the waiter was extremely knowledgable about the food and origins of the restaurant. Don't be thrown off by the front exterior (kind of looks like a cafe). The magic happens when you walk to the back, leading to a gorgeous restaurant!
(5)
Phil W.
Erin ate oysters, y'all!!!!!!!! (She's a vegematarian) Btw they have 14 kinds of oysters. Straightforward fish, but good. White sangria yes!
(4)
Diana M.
Third floor has amazing view. The drinks were very good. My man had the big boy Boston, he loved it.
(5)
Allen R.
The reason I gave this place only two stars is the NOISE LEVEL. We were there on a beautiful warm day. Fortunately were seated right at the edge of the deck and the glass doors were folded back so that one side of the restaurant was open from floor to ceiling. If they are closed the sound would bounce off the glass and it would be intolerably noisy--a place where you would have to shout and lean toward each other just to be heard. We were lead through the restaurant to this table and I was glad we were not seated toward the center of the restaurant. Even with the harborside wall open it was really noisy at the other tables. The only thing that doesn't reflect sound are people's bodies! If you go when the weather isn't great, plan to communicate via American Sign Language or be a very good lip reader. Even then, expect some temporary hearing loss after you leave this restaurant. In good weather call ahead and see if you can reserve a table outside on their deck. I don't believe the other Legal Seafoods or their second floor here are as noisey as this one.
(2)
Jillian T.
Fun sitting on the roof deck enjoying the sun but the sushi was so-so, our waitress was a bit removed as it was very busy but at least she had a smile on her face the whole time. The reason I give it fewer stars is due to more how people hover around you if you have a seat or table and the discomfort of the stools- I hadn't realized this was more of a bar than restaurant before coming. Also, the menu for the roof is limited and few snack items are available beyond sushi and lobster rolls.
(2)
Stacey K.
We made reservations for 1st floor dining about a week in advance for this past Friday night, we had 6 people for dinner and it was amazing to say the least! We had a seat right near the water and bar. The view is obviously stunning and the atmosphere is great, not super loud or over crowded, we could actually talk and hear each other. Our waiter was FABULOUS, his name was Mike and he was super helpful with recommendations as well as accommodations for someone with allergies! The food was to die for, I had a salmon special and fish tacos to share with my husband and we loved both dishes. Everything was prompt, warm and delicious. This is by far one of the best dining experiences I have had in the city! I will absolutely be retuning!
(5)
C D.
Vibrant ambience with a coveted waterfront view but disappointingly mediocre food and completely lacking in presentation. If your looking for tourist-inspired New England cuisine, this place is for you. Otherwise, don't bother. Pretty good wine list.
(1)
Annie B.
Amazing bar on the 3rd floor, good ambience!
(5)
Megan A.
I loved this place! The view from the bottom was amazing! The clam chowder was velvety and delicious. The server was really pleasant!
(4)
Robert W.
Great oysters, 14 types, seafood was well prepared. Good value.
(4)
Mj A.
We chose to eat here based on other reviews & we made a good choice. I had the lobster & it was delicicious & hubby had the steak & shrimp which was also very good. the waiter (Cody) was excellent. The only thing they need to improve is their baked potato. It was dry & flavorless. Even with extra sour cream it was still bland. The cole slaw was good. They could expand & improve their dessert menu. My dinner came with a cinnamon cocoa cake that was just OK. Hubby got the chocolate cake with a lava like pudding center & it was good. Their background music is loud & somewhat annoying. But all in all we really enjoyed eating there & will be back if we ever get to Boston again.
(4)
Carrie T.
We had to have lobster in Boston. On a recommendation, we went here. Nice location, right by the Aquarium. It was very crowded for a late afternoon but it's summer and it's tourist season. We got a seat by the window facing the street. We ordered 2 small lobsters (1 1/2 lbs) and just devoured it. It was tasty. We had sides that we barely touched cause we were working on our lobsters. We did order the crabcake which had nice big pieces of crab, not just bread mix. I think we scared our waitress the way we just tore into the lobsters and sucked it dry! Still she was pleasant when she filled my sister's ginger ale with water accidentally. She got her another one quickly. Price is not any higher or lower than some of the other places I checked out like the Union or Charter that is close by.
(3)
Lee M.
Great location, view, food. Definitely arm yourself with a reservation. But two concerns: first, this place is LOUD. Be ready to yell at other people in your party the whole time. Second, the cool piping in the ceiling looks great but the condensation drips, drips, drips on the diners. And nowhere seems to be safe. Eat outside if you can to solve both problems!
(3)
Glutenfree G.
Calling all celiacs and gluten free dieters... Legal Harborside has gluten free rolls and gluten fish and chips. It's been about 5 years since I was diagnosed and this is the first time I've been to a seafood restaurant that did it for me. They said they can turn any fried items on the menu gluten free. The taste was a bit bland but honestly it was so exciting to try gluten free fish and chips. I'll definitely go back to try calamari and other fried seafood items. Thanks Legal Harborside for letting me eat something "normal" again.
(4)
Sam A.
Amazing restaurant. Dined on Floor 2 on a Sunday evening. From the friendly and courteous valet to the exceptional front and back of the house, this was a great experience and one that we'll be sure to repeat. The California abalone was such an outstanding dish and pairing a large Halibut portion with steakhouse-style spinach was an excellent touch. We were delighted with the complimentary amuse bouche and the peppermint fudge at the beginning and end of the meal. The wine list was exceptional and reasonable, and contrary to what a lot of other reviews say, the quality of the food and service definitely justifies the price.
(5)
Simi S.
delicious. delicious! really great bloody mary's.
(5)
Tom G.
I had heard that the quality of the food and customer care had gone down hill and I should have headed the warning! It started with overdone fried clams that were small dark and chewy, continues with a stuffed artichoke that was waaaay to rich and a bit burnt as well, and ended with a very mediocre lobster roll. The chowder was the best part of the meal and when I told the bartender how bad the clams were his response was "oh". I will not return and believe that many will not go there based on " how it used to be" many years ago. Good luck to them!
(1)
Barbara W.
Excellent food, superb service and attention to my food allergies! Love this place!!
(5)
Carol C.
Excellent service at bar but mussels tough and chowder under seasoned. Disappointed.
(3)
Kasey F.
Legals is a good stand by for their chowder (official chowder served at presidential inaugurations). I went to this one twice in one weekend as it was nice to view the harbor while dining. The first time my mother ordered a battered shrimp dish but received the open white fish sandwich, not sure how the mix up happened there! But she tried it and enjoyed it. I had the fish tacos which were good, a little sweetened for my taste. The second time I mixed it up and got the tuna burger which was delicious ground tuna with a mix of spices and cilantro. We also tried the slice of chocolate mocha cake. Even with two of us it was so rich and sweet I couldn't finish my half!
(3)
Caroline M.
I went here with my boyfriend recently for our "six months" date. I am not a huge seafood person, but I was persuaded by my boyfriend's love of oysters and the promises of a view. We arrived around 9pm on a hot Monday night. I am glad we had a reservation, there were about 15 people waiting, but we were taken straight to a table on the 1st floor. The place was packed, and we were seated against a wall next to a raised bar area. The windows were pulled back, but the massive ceiling fans did their job. We started with tap beers, pleasantly surprised to find Pretty Things Jack D'Or on tap. Appetizer was bruchetta topped with artichoke puree, anchovy, and lemon. I only ate half of one, very lemon, with a nice texture of smooth topping and crunchy bread. I just couldn't get over eating an anchovy. Boyfriend loved it! Had to talk him down from ordering more. Instead he ordered oysters, only four, but he said each was perfectly delicious. He recommended the French Kiss and the Wellfleet. We each ordered from the wood fired grill. Out waitress was quite kind with my hopelessness choosing, and recommended the yellowfin tuna. It was cooked perfectly to medium well, and surprisingly, astonishingly delicious! My sides of mashed potatoes and jasmine rice were also perfect. My dining companion ordered the swordfish (medium rare) with mashed potatoes and spinach&pine nuts; he cleaned his plate, and declared everything perfect. To finish, we each had a glass of the extremely delicious white sangria and shared a Boston cream pie. Perfection. The fare on the 1st floor was typical Legal, as was the dining set up. Cloth napkins, but a paper table cloth. It was extremely noisy, and our table was wider than it was long, making conversation for us somewhat difficult. And elbow room for eating was scarce. The food was great, as was the sangria, but all a bit pricey, especially drinks. The view was great as well. However, for the view, next time we will probably try the upstairs for drinks after work instead of a full meal.
(4)
Mike B.
Mr. Berkowitz, sir, you are a genious! Whatever I said about Legal Seafoods in the past...i'm sorry. I've grown and clearly didn't see the big picture. You however did and continue to. So, he builds a pier. Yes a brand new pier! Why? Because he can. And it's in a pristine location...right next door to the Bank of America Pavillion. Don't you want to drink cocktails and cold beer and eat fried clams right on the waterfront with nothing but water and boats in view? Then he builds one of the biggest restaurants (Legal Harborside) including a killer circular bar on the 1st floor (all good seats) with enormous seating capacity of casual dining on with clear view of the centrally located open kitchen. There's fine dining on 2nd floor and a killer party-scene roof deck up top (with a smartly built glass roof with doors to extend the party rain or shine). Legal Harborside is a monstrosity. They had 24 servers on hand last night...so no waiting for beverages if you have a seat! One of the three hostesses said they can seat up to 800 guests. Insane. The place has it all. So does Walmart but this place is really good. Something about a place like this brings in a lot of attractive people, too! Suggestion: Go early to get the good seats and a parking spot. Get a minimum of one mojito per visit! Bonus: Because of Berkowitz' genius, he offers a gluten free menu...yep, even the fried clams, oyster sliders, dinner rolls and a pretty good beer. In fact, anything fried is gluten free. I eat everything but I tried it since my friend didn't... these didn't seem like other crappy gluten free stuff i've had before. I was very impressed!
(5)
Cami F.
Went to legal harborside with a friend for drinks and apps on the roof (top floor) and loved it! Perfect portioned food and menu made specifically for light snacking/dinner. Also their pitchers of cocktails were great and the view amazing. The only downside was the wait to get upstairs.
(4)
John P.
Of the restaurants in the area, this is one of the more reasonably priced joints. Went for a quick lunch, but place was packed so all hopes for a quick lunch went out the door. Not a bad thing as the staff was attentitive. Ordered the chowder, as it is required for all tourists, and was satisified with the taste and consistency. Not too thick, yet not too soupy. Also went with their salad, which was well dressed and the chicken was freshly grilled. Would go back again... and probably will as my work per diem won't afford the other restaurants in the area (ie. Del Frisco's!).
(4)
Sandy W.
I've always been a fan of Legal Seafood, and decided to give Legal Harborside a try for the New Year's with the family. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess was not happy. My nephew who is 2 years old said "Happy New Year" to her twice, and totally ignored him. STRIKE ONE! We asked the hostess for a booster seat for my nephew, it never delivered. STRIKE TWO! Let's talk about the food here... the clam chowder is $6.50, which was the size of a small mug. All the portions here are smaller and more expensive than the regular Legal Seafoods. The special I had was the grilled tuna coated with panko with a side of soba noodles. The noodles were very salty, couldn't finish half of it. The fish was dry, and the fish was over fried! STRIKE THREE! My brother had the Fisherman's Trio, at $15.95 ~ 3 shrimps, 3 scallops and a teeny piece of scrod! STRIKE FOUR! The mussels with curry was full of sand! STRIKE FIVE! A side of jasmine rice about a half cup ~ $3.95! STRIKE SIX! Now, onto the service.... our waitress was not attentive, our table was filled with finished appetizers, chowders and it was not cleared off. I had to ask her to take those away before our main entrees arrive, I had to ask her to refill everyone's glasses of water, and she was yapping away with the other waiters/waitresses at the corner! STRIKE SEVEN! One of the waiters came over and took my mom's cup away when she asked for a refill! STRIKE EIGHT! Get the picture? Overall, HUGE disappointment - not going back! On one last note, the view of the harbor was awesome!!!
(1)
Tom V.
Good, not great seafood. Nice atmosphere and great harbor views.
(3)
Dick S.
I have eaten at several legal sea foods. This is the best of any of them. I had oysters, clam chowder and a lobster roll. The service was great and the view was really good as well. I will come back here again and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it was a little noisy and pricey.
(4)
Janet W.
This review is for June 8th 2013 Saturday night. The place was packed with a two hour wait for dinning and a 45 min for the rooftop. Just by chance a couple was leaving a table by the window. They are first come first serve. We ordered the fresh oysters. 4 different kinds and they were all excellent. We ordered a second dozen of the small ones I forget what they were called. When they arrived they looked different and are server assured us they were they same. She checked with the kitchen and sure enough they were wrong. Without even asking they were taking off the bill. I must say they were very good. The shrimp cocktail was excellent, spicy and sweet very good. The mussels had a nice spicy, coconut milk with slight red peppers. The fried clams are the best clams I have ever had anywhere. I order fried whole clams at most seafood restaurants just to see how they are prepared. We also had the fried scallops. Whoever was on the deep fryer for the night did an excellent job. Perfectly done! After dinner we went to the rooftop to check out the crowed. It was way to busy. Very loud and crowed. We left for the 2nd floor bar. Had one drink on the 2nd floor and called it a night. I would return. Think ahead and try to make a reservation for outside on the water would be very nice. It is a very big place but very well run.
(5)
Ann B.
Wow! Go here! This is nothing like your parent's Legal Seafood! The downstairs has a great dressed up seafood market feel, lots of bar and water side indoor/ outdoor table seating. One long wall essentially opens up completely making the entire space feel like it's outside, harborside. The bar is a circle shape nestled into an all glass corner allowing great views from all seats! The staff was very friendly, and despite only being open a few weeks, really seemed to know the menu and work well together. Now for the food - I had a FANTASTIC lobster roll! Really light mayo, big pieces of meat and a nice seasoning. The menu in general is pretty broad with some old standards (fish + chips) and a fantastic selection of oysters! I can't wait to visit again!!
(4)
Debbie C.
This review is for Legals Harborside, Floor 2. First of all, when we entered the lobby was mobbed and a line snaked from a hostess stand to the door. We got in line behind many disappointed diners without reservations. When we got to the front and told them we had a reservation for Floor 2, the hostess said, "Go right up the stairs." Some signage or announcement would save a lot of people some time. But up we went, to a quieter and more elegant 2nd floor. We were meeting 2 other people for dinner, so we went to the bar. The host/hostess stand on Floor 2 is a bit cold and professional - no warm greeting or smile. In fact the bespectacled host never looked up at us during any of our comings and goings. His job seemed to be to tell the hostess, "They can go to 37." Chilly. The bar was warmer with friendly bartenders and the view, which is why you're there in the first place. Dinner was a mixed bag. My husband's shrimp cocktail was "the best he's ever had in his life" (He's given to exageration.) The shrimp (3 for $20) were huge. And his tuna wrapped in prosciutto was wonderful. My cod was crispy (I like that) and delicious (also nice), but perched atop a strange and bitter melange of little clamlike shells (cockles, they said) mixed with overcooked sugar snap peas which were olive green and stringy and other tasteless and murky colored things in a green sauce described as "green garlic sauce" which was not too tasty. Our out of town guests insited that the view was wonderful which I think meant that dinner was just ok. The oysters were terrific. They serve a cool, paper-thin flatbread with spices that everyone loved. I had a very hard time finding a white wine I liked. They do, fortunately, let you try the wine before making a commitment. I finally asked if they had a nice Pinot Noir (they do) and settled on red.
(3)
Cassandra S.
I wish I had a better review to give. I love this place and the food HOWEVER I made a reservation for 7:30. My party of 4 arrived at 7:05 we understood it may not be possible to be seated early but we checked in and headed to the bar. At 7:35 we asked if we could be sat as our reservation time had passed; the hostess told us that all reservations were sat within 15 mins of the actual time (odd I thought I was making a reservation to eat at the time I wanted) at 8 pm we were paged A WHOLE HALF HOUR after our reservation. The waiter was very nice and we did receive a free appetizer for our trouble but then our meal took OVER AN HOUR to get to our table. Absolutely ridiculous! It's really too bad because I love that the restaurant is on the water, and the food is great!
(1)
Jon R.
I went on a Monday expecting a subtle crowd. I was wrongly informed. This playrd was pretty crowded but yet enjoyable. I sat by the raw bar and the service was good. I had clam chowder and a crab roll. They were both satisfying and tasty.
(4)
Kate H.
No,no. We were looking forward and expecting something good and what a disappointment ! First we waited for over 90 minutes for our farmed,fresh salmon and when it arrived it was stone cold. On the second round it was hot but mostly raw. What a waste of time. If you value your time and have other options don't go here.
(1)
Geoff A.
Great seafood with a great view. Ambience: This is for Floor 2 which is not to be confused with other areas in the same restaurant which offer different menus and cater to different price levels and needs. The view up here was superb and the place is quiet and perfect for a nice date night. Service: Veru friendly waiters and barstaff. I really appreciated the fact that our waiter was attentive but never came over to interrupt with constant "How are things here then?" which you often get bugged by at other restaurants. We never had to wait for anything and the staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Food: Great wine list. The food was very well conceived and tasty. Not huge portions (which I appreciate) but the highest quality. It's often nice to have the problem of many items on the menu which you'd like to try. In this case I was with some other people who I could sample from and we found everything to be delicious. Price: Okay, so it's not cheap but as I said you get what you pay for which is high quality all round. I'll be going back.
(5)
Casie G.
My dad was visiting from out of town and wanted to "eat some form of seafood". I have never been to any Legals as I'd rather not go to a chain but I figured we could try the new one on the waterfront...we were not disappointed. It was a Friday night so we probably waited an hour for our table but we were more than happy to stand by the bar. Even though the place was packed, the bartenders did a great job getting to everyone (sure made that hour wait much better). Once we sat, we were able to get a table outside and everything was just wonderful - the view, the service & most importantly, the food. The steamers & calamari were absolutely delicious (definitely get the steamers, you will want to drink the broth) & the seafood stew was packed with seafood. There wasn't a thing that came out that was bad. I definitely recommend this location for anyone who has folks in visiting as the location is cool, the food is good and if you stay on the first floor, it's not too expensive.
(4)
Lindsay G.
new&sexy scene in Boston. the nightlife of the 3rd floor had a beautiful view& chill atmosphere. RReeaallyy well made drinks, superior table and BAR service!! reasonably priced drinks from $11 mixed $5 beer. loved the vibe of the 3rd floor. very chic and modern. definitely an A-list place to hit in Boston!
(5)
Robyn R.
I was actually on the second floor...
(4)
Renita K.
Haven't had dinner here but I did get in a fight with a cougar the other night while getting a drink at the bar. The drinks were good and took the edge off the overly pretentious crowd... lots of cougars chasing after it. The rooftop bar had an amazing view though and was worth the wait!
(3)
Jenna H.
I have wanted to try this legal since I heard my friends chattering about what great food they had and what a great location it was. The location is beautifully set in the new and recently booming seaport district. We decided to eat on the first floor as that is what we were dressed for. Plus I had to see this fishing pond. While it is a great idea, I had a vision in my head of it being a bit bigger haha. On to the important stuff - eats! We sat at the bar while we waited for a table and found a great wine and drink list. Here we started with some Kumamoto oysters, my favorite - which were nice and fresh. Next we tried some of the small plate bruschetta's - my favorites were the tuna, and the fig and with warm gorgonzola. The last app we had at the bar was a Rhode Island Stuffie. A What?? A Stuffie. No I had never heard of this. It was Amazing! My favorite thing we had on the menu. It was basically a stuffed clam with a kick of spice - yum! I was not as impressed with the dinner however. My Salmon lacked flavor and was not memorable. For sides, I picked the Soba noodles - I don't know why but I was not expecting them to be cold, and the spinach was just ok. My husband got the mashed taters - those were great - I would go with those if I come back! For Desert we had the bon bons - yummy. How can you screw up ice cream balls dipped in chocolate though! I knew they would be a safe bet, and I was right. Service both at the bar and our table was great. While I had a good / fair dining experience, I don't think I was wowed to come back. I am glad I tried it though, and would recommend others to try it too.
(3)
Valerie V.
Wow, this place really lives up to the hype! Ate on the first floor with three other people on a Tuesday evening. It would so lively you would have thought it was Friday night! Unfortunately, that did mean that we were seating 35 minutes after our actual reservation time...But that being said, we were given an amazing table that was sort of half inside half outside. The feel of the restaurant is wonderful because it completely opens out onto the harbor, its gorgeous. The main event, at least for us, were the oysters. There were many varieties available and chefs devoted to shucking them where you can watch. We got 2 dozen of four varieties and they were all completely delectable. We also tried the steamed mussels and the clam steamers which were both plump and yummy too. By the time we reached entrees, we were fairly full so we didn't get too much. But we did try to wood planked scallops and a lobster roll that were shared. Again, YUM. The service was pretty good, not fantastic but not terrible either. What I was very impressed with was the free -large- dessert we were given to share because it was my birthday. It was a huge bowl of apple crisp with a bowl of vanilla ice cream on the side....mmmm. I'll be back as soon as physically possible.
(5)
Lien H.
We are pretty close to many Legal Seafood restaurants but we choose to come to this one because of its ocean view. Not only that, this place is spacial with tall ceiling, you don't get the fishy smell in the dining area. Service is not consistent, especially on maintaining our table with clean plates.
(4)
Amy R.
I have been to Legal Harborside - Floor 1 a couple of times in the past few weeks. Both have been pretty tremendous experiences. The first time, I was able to score a last minute reservation on Open Table during an optimal dinner time (7pm). Score. The boyfriend and I arrived and we were sat immediately upon arrival. Double score. We had incredible seating on a pseudo-picnic style table right out on the dock - the view was amazing and the weather was perfection. We split some oysters (Wellfleet, Cotuit, and Kumamoto). All were extremely tasty. We also split the Gorgonzola & Fig Bruschetta which was surprisingly delicious. The last time I had Figs was in Newton form as a child. The bruschetta seemed like an odd flavor profile to me at first, but definitely worked. The boyfriend got standard seared scallops and I tried one of Inman Square's original - the Fish in Foil (steamed haddock and veggies). The fish and most of the veggies were extremely good, but I could have done without the steamed tomatoes. Dessert, we tried their summer special - strawberry & rhubard crisp *drool* No complaints here! My last outing to Floor 1 was on Friday 7/15. This time, no rezzy, but I was able to secure 2 seats within 15 minutes of arrival time. My sister and I split the Wellfleet and Cotuit oysters (couldn't resist). However, they were out of all of the Washington State oysters that night, but the bartender surprised us with his selections and were equally as good as the others I've tried from Floor 1. We also split the calamari and steamers - mouthwatering. The only complaint I would have about my last experience was the slowness of the bar. It took awhile for any of the bartenders to mosey over to our section of the bar, but in their defense, the place was bumpin' with Peter Frampton fans - no lie... Very pleased with this addition to the Seaport!
(5)
Amanda L.
Wowie zowie. I can't wait to get someone to take me on a date here so I can order the $57 lobster. :D I just stopped in for a drink with a friend, we sat in the lounge on the second floor, and after peeking at the menu we decided to order the carpaccio & the crispy crab. The carpaccio was deeeeelicious, just mouthwatering-ly perfect, spritzed with truffle oil, seasoned with sea salt and garnished with cilantro. The crispy crab things were ok, like cold spring rolls filled with crab salad. Interesting and tasty but overshadowed by our other dish. Drinks were perfect (one each) and our bill was over $50. Oh well! Fantastic view, amazing service, delicious eats. See you soon, LHS!
(5)
Dave V.
Great location. Love the smaller tapas-like portions. Scallops are always incredible as are the cherrystones and oysters. Personally I would not highly recommend the fried clams - scallops are way better IMO (and I love fried clams). Rest of the menu is really enjoyable - can't go wrong here.
(5)
Karmen W.
I was iffy on not being able to secure a reservation online (my friend said it's better to reserve via the phone but I was being lazy, heh) for 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. But the real trouble was just finding parking- not the waiting (for the table). Their restaurant's lot was full when I got there, so I had to circle around trying to fish for a meter spot ..but I was pretty unlucky in that area. After 15, 20 or so minutes, the lot was open again and the service there was pretty quick and the guy was very friendly. My friend and I were almost immediately seated by our hostess. I guess 3pm's a good time to go for lunch here if you're not willing to wait :) The atmosphere is great, and the scene you're able to get of the waterfront is a pleasure to have while dining. We got ourselves an order of their French Kiss oysters from the raw bar, which were delicious with the sauce that accompany them. Super fresh and delectable. A must try! We weren't all too hungry so we each got salads- she got the caesar salad with a custom add-on of a tuna burger on top (it's not on the menu, but if you ask nicely they can make it happen!), and I got myself a simple "Big Salad" with chicken. The salad was okay, but the chicken was good. But yeah, I'm totally reading your mind because you must be like, "Who orders a chicken salad at Legal SEAFOODS anyway?" Overall, I'd definitely go back to try out some more things on the menu while enjoying the waterfront.
(4)
Ben D.
Gorgeous location. I'd definitely go back solely for the harborside view. The food portions were smaller than I was expecting based on price, but quite tasty. Great drink menu as well. I liked that there was a bar on the third floor where we were able to wait before our table was ready. Nice relaxing atmosphere
(4)
Gloria L.
We went to the third floor bar, and it was fun! It was a clear night but still a little chilly for a spring night, so their heat lamps were really nice to have. We tried the strawberry and white sangrias, and they were delicious! Not "authentic", but yummy drinks. We also ordered some food - the sushi was okay (didn't expect too much from Legal), and the lobster and crab rolls came with chips (chips were kind of weird). Food is decent, but expensive (but again, it's Legal). Good experience, though, because of the view, the drinks, and the service! Our server was nice and relatively attentive, even though there were a TON of other people there. Would come back for the strawberry sangria.
(4)
Wade L.
Not quite good the 1st try. So crowded on Sunday night. The service are slow.
(3)
Patricia F.
We (party party of 10) visited this establishment mid week. The atmosphere and view were beautiful. The waitstaff professional and attentive, not very engaging though, however that maybe something that is liked by some and not others. The food was very good and cooked as ordered.
(4)
Lani I.
Beautiful view. Our waitress was very personable and helpful. She suggested types of oysters for us to try since we never had any before. The food came out very quickly. The sangria was perfect.
(5)
K S.
Reviews that rate this place under 4 starts speak to fried clams and other seafood dishes (some that lacked vegetables with them) that are too basic to really be impressed by. How many times have you actually been impressed by fried clams? If you are heading to this place, you are going here to try seafood that has been prepared in a unique way. You don't rate a restaurant like this based on something simple, like French Fries (ie, fried clams). Understand where you are before judging. Do you go to McDonald's and rate their fish? Fried clams and a lack of vegetables? C'mon. For those intending to try the food here that costs more than $5, allow me to introduce the second floor. The oysters were great. The abalone entree was fantastic and one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. The fish tasted like veal - how is that even possible? The waiter helped select some really impressive Pinot Noir bottles which certainly helped make an impression as well. The after dinner ambush of sweetness was certainly a great way to end the evening. It's expensive, but what in Boston isn't? Best of luck and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
(4)
Maura G.
What a beautiful location - great on a hot and humid day. The food is also very good. The mussels were delicious and definitely need more bread to soak up the broth. The fried clams were great, not over breaded (wish they were larger belly, but as I get older it is hard to find a place that serves them). The waitstaff was attentive and overall had a great time (just a little noisy) - but that is ok because of the view
(4)
K M.
Made reservations for 7:15 for a 70th birthday for my out of town mother- in-law, requested a window seat. Was seated immediately with a window seat, all the wait staff, host staff and the Maître D greeted her with birthday wishes, Kevin the Maître D made 2 appearances at the table to make sure that everything was going well. Our waitress Meredith was more than accommodating. Order'd steaks, they were wonderful, cooked to perfection, potato's were delicious. The dessert was so/so, overall experience was great!
(4)
Sarah O.
LOVE! Generally not a huge Legal Seafoods fan but I love Legal Harborside (have only eaten at the first floor restaurant). Good quality seafood and decent prices. SO many different and creative options. I have sampled a good amount of this menu and everything I has been delicious. A great place to go to share try out different items. Brought friends from out of town here and they also loved it. It's loud and busy but right on the water and very pretty and cool atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone, whether a tourist or a local! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed.
(5)
Kent M.
Pretty place, beautiful water views, fine attentive friendly service. BUT small almost nouvelle cuisine portions -- scallops appetizer @ $13 delivers one (yes, one) scallop -- and very expensive. Food was very well prepared & tasty, but if you go, skip next month's mortgage and bring them the cash.
(4)
Jeanne T.
Would rate higher but for the price, did not expect to get a sarcastic waiter who treated us as if we were hillbillies! Whatever you do, do not ask if the seafood is fresh. I have never asked any server that in my life. I meant to ask if there was a seafood special as I saw someone eating a lovely light white fishmthat I could not seem to find on the menus. Not having memorized the Legal Seafood mission statement, he laughed and said " have you never eaten here before? In a very condescending tone." Yeah I get it, embarrassed, bla, bla, bla. Your fish is so fresh and your clams have different pedigrees with briney, kind of briney, brine less, sweet clean and buttery with no hint of brine , some were from Canadian islands, all raised with love and nurtured and Fresh! Our server made my husband feel like it was his first time eating in such a cultured establishment as he explained the varieties and their differences as if he was explaining to a child. He later asked my husband how he liked his choices, with a fake "wide eyed" look of feigned interest. My husband stated he did, was unsure if he tasted much of a difference in his two choices but that both were very good. Snide guy then laughed and said " we'll I guess it's all the same when you put Tabasco sauce all over it" ( which my husband asked for but which came with it anyway) The food? great! the prices? High! The service? passive aggressive, fake and snotty. To top it off, they deliver along with your check, a one page statement explaining their freshness policy" They are very proud of this.... Very proud. We laughed so hard. I know my question of " do you have fresh fish" is the joke of the evening there. It started us off on the wrong foot with our surely waiter. Please let me apologize for I too was in the service industry for half my life. We are not worthy to dine with you. perhaps we will see if there is a Red Lobster nearby. We were the family sitting in the bar area by fish tank, late evening, myself, son and husband., so to our waiter whose name I did not catch, thanks for making us endure a very uncomfortable experience. It did give us a lot to laugh about though!
(3)
Beth R.
My family & I went to Legal Harborside for my birthday dinner this past summer and it was just as I heard/expected. While we waited for our table, we had some drinks and apps at the bar...delicious. I had a cup of my favorite clam chowder, my mother got a fried clams app to share and my father ordered a Shellfish Platter. The crab legs were huge and the fam raved about the rest of the platter. It was a little over an hour wait, but to be expected in the middle of beautiful summer weekend in July. Our table was pretty much, right on the dock, overlooking the boats. Our waiter was very nice and gave recommendations to those of us who were indecisive about our meal choices. The bathrooms are all the way down past the kitchen to the left of the restaurant and they're all single stalls with large individual doors...if they're all taken, you wait in the hallway, for some reason, other diners were confused by this. I could hear them outside as they waited. Legal Harborside is pretty pricey and nice for a special occasion dinner or drink. The place is huge, I've heard the top floor gives great scenic views of the harbor and there's a bar up there and they serve bar food only.
(4)
Keem H.
Great place! I would go again. Food was very delicious. The view is amazing.
(5)
Ashley K.
Good location, average food. One of the worst Legals in the city, aside from the great views and venue- which is the only thing that sets this location apart from other Legals. LTK and C Bar concepts have a much better and broader menu, would have preferred those or an original Legals to this menu. Menu is VERY limited for non seafood joiners in your party. Turn and burn atmosphere with cheap food, limited options and poor quality. Decent service and cocktails but salmon (requested well done) was medium at best. Water glasses left empty while several staff sat and mingled by the bathroom. Won't be back for food, maybe to the roof deck for drinks, but that's about all this location has going for it. Save your money, eat somewhere else and go there for drinks on the third floor.
(2)
Samantha S.
Really good :-) Out of all the legals in Boston, this one is my favorite. I like the interior, the roof deck (although gets crowded so go early) and the food/staff are great. Can't go wrong.
(4)
Vanae T.
i give it to these guys...the view of the water is really great! the ambiance and service was good! but let's talk food here for a sec... the good: -the oysters (beach blondes) were very fresh and delicious. -clam chowder was ok. i've had better at SF soup company and expected more from a boston joint. the not-so-good: -all of our pasta orders (i ordered the fedilini + shrimp) came out very salty! i dont think i've ever had a pasta dish at a restaurant that was that heavy on the salt. made us drink extra glasses of water, as we were dehydrating. in fact, i had to add water to my pasta dish to dilute how salty it was. even though the view and feel was great, the salty food was bad enough that i don't think i'll return to eat here....maybe just for drinks.
(2)
Deb c.
Dined here with an out-of-town friend last night and had an unpleasant experience. We each got lobster; however, my friend's was woefully undercooked, with disgusting black matter (raw tomally or something) oozing out. This resulted in a 15 minute wait while a new lobster was prepared. Very uncomfortable, as one of us had been served already. OK, these things happen, but the floor manager came by and said "your food will be out shortly, sorry for the wait" but should have also, at the very least, offered my friend a dessert on the house. Have dined at Legal, first Inman Square, then Chestnut Hill, since the 70s, scores of times. This branch seems, sadly, more of a tourist trap. Best part of the experience: Our server, Megan, was terrific, and the location iis great.
(2)
Brittany S.
The ambience is incredible, and dinner on the patio overlooking the harbor is quite an experience, especially at sunset. I'm fortunate enough to dine at seafood restaurants in San Francisco regularly, and Seattle and Hawaii are two other amazing spots I love for local fish. That said, paying Legal's premium prices for imported seafood is disappointing at best. The one thing I'd recommend hitting Legal Seafood for is their jumbo shrimp cocktail - the shrimp are far bigger than any I've ever seen before. My recommendation: skip the seafood altogether in Boston and head to the North End for some delicious Italian food instead.
(3)
Jamie G.
So I'm giving the: Downstairs- 5 stars Roofdeck -1.5-2ish stars for an average of 3 stars. Here's why: We started downstairs, waiting for a place to open up for us on the roofdeck. We sat at the bar and has a great view of the harbor through the open windows. There was a cute fishing pond for kids to catch and release fish inside. We ordered martinis and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. He said they didnt have any more made, and we asked if someone could make them for us. He seemed slightly hesitant, which bothered me, so someone did make them for us, and they and the martinis were delicious (mine hendricks and hers ketel one). Our buzzer finally buzzed so we headed upstairs with our drinks. The roofdeck was gorgeous and spacious and with a wonderful view. But they dont have ANY food upstairs, just spreads with pita, and drinks. Very disappointing, as I wanted to try the fried calamari. We did order two spreads: Hummus, za'atar spice and olive oil - which was delicious, and the Kalamata and fig- which was more like a paste and had a nasty flavor. Both came with good spiced pita chips. I ordered water and it took FOREVER to come- ugh-- seriously, how long does it take to pour a glass of water? And my friend ordered another martini, but they did not have blue cheese stuffed olives and couldnt make them for us, and the martini tasted funny, so she ordered a different, and it still tasted funny. So we loved the ambiance of the roofdeck, but we were very disappointed in the lack of food, bad service, and low quality drinks. If I were to go back again, I might order a drink downstairs, bring it up to roofdeck, enjoy it for awhile and then head back downstairs for dinner. Which is complicated and unfortunate. Hope they shape up that roofdeck!!
(3)
Beverly M.
I dined on Floor 2 on a recent Saturday evening. Must make reservations well in advance. especially if you prefer outdoor dining. Dining on Floor 2 is an absolutely amazing experience. I was fortunate to snag an outdoor table. There are only a few outdoor tables overlooking the harbor which makes you feel like you are at a private dining event. The menu as well as the wine list is totally different than the other Legal menus. There is a clear focus on creativity with the entrees. Service was impeccable and never rushed. It is expensive but for a special occasion it is worth the splurge. I would also recommend a pre-dinner cocktail in the Floor 2 bar. Very quiet and intimate compared to the bars on floor 1 and roof top. Spectacular view.
(5)
Sheila T.
Location, decor and view are excellent. It is very loud. Oysters were very good. Service was excellent. I had the linguine and clams it was okay. I would go back again for oysters and drinks.
(3)
Beth M.
My sister loves this place, so we're here a lot lol! The seafood looks very fresh, being a non seafood eater I squally order the clam chowder light clams extra potato sit outside and enjoy a nice drink! Great view! Just wish they had more of a non seafood selection!
(4)
Brittany E.
When in Boston, gotta try the seafood! This place was recommended by my friends family member who frequents Boston for business. We put in a reservation online so we were seated right away. We even were 5 minutes late because we had gotten lost, and we were still seated immediately. We sat on the first floor. Our waitress was really sweet and helpful. She helped my friend who was new to eating a whole lobster learn how to crack parts of the shell more easily. However, she was slow to fill our water glasses, and I noticed her standing around right near our table and never notice we needed it. The food though, was outstanding. The clam chowder was some of the best I've ever had. I'd highly recommend getting it. It could serve as a meal because it is quite filling. I got a 1.5 pound lobster and that was a LOT of food. I barely touched my sides of rice and eggplant because of the lobster. However, the rice I did eat was delicious and the eggplant had some form of Asian sauce on it that tasted great. The seafood paired nicely with the bottle of champagne. It's a little pricy, but worth the visit!
(4)
Kate L.
Still not sure why there is such a long line on a Friday night. And the girls get extremely hooched for the occasion which is a shame for such a classy joint. If you're trying to get food late at night on the roof, good luck. We waited for a server for 30 min and had to leave and go to the first floor bar to eat. I will say the tuna bruschetta and corn/feta bruschetta were out of this world. Small 2 pieces each perfect size app if you order 2 kinds. Extremely flavorful and great consistency. Service at bar downstairs was also good!! Only food complaint are the pizzas. First we tried the white clam pizza and it was covered in arugula like basically more arugula than anything else. There were maybe 3 small chunks of clam and it was pretty fishy tasting. The bartender was nice enough to send it back and make us a new one. So we tried the pepperoni crab one per his recommendation. Eek. The crab was fresh but the combo was weird and there was hardly any cheese so it seemed like the dish was confused. I'll upload a pic. But keep in mind the pic is missing crust which was the only good part. Good prices and would go back for that bruschetta!!!
(3)
Amanda L.
It makes me sad that this location only has 3 stars. I LOVE this location, despite the fact that it's a real pain in the butt to get to - especially in winter! The atmosphere in the downstairs dining room is awesome. The kitchen is open and you can see flames flare every now and then. You can also smell all of the delicious food running to different tables. It's casual, but not too casual and nice enough to enjoy an elegant seafood experience for lunch or dinner. The sangria is a must. So is the calamari. I can't put my finger on what exactly it is that is so friggen' awesome for both, but they're just that, awesome. I've enjoyed the lobster roll and other seafood dishes here on various occasions and haven't recalled anything being mediocre or terrible. The roof deck is a great place to hangout in the summer (if you get out of work early). If you show up during busy times then you'll have to wait in line and although the view on top is nice, it gets super stuffy up here. The roof deck also has a separate menu from the restaurant which includes pretty delicious sushi. Summer/Winter... I'm here. All too often. And I'll continue to come back.
(4)
Mary E.
The only reason this gets 4 stars is because my dads dinner came out cold. Other than that this place was fantastic. I'm not normally a Legals fan (I'm kind of a chain snob), but the atmosphere and the food at this location was top notch. We all ordered various fish entrees and happily consumed 2 recommended bottles of white wine. The view was great and so was the food!
(4)
Aleksandra S.
In Boston with a friend visiting from NYC... Heard great things about this rooftop by the water and decided to have a couple of drinks. The ambiance is really nice, however the blond girl bartender was very rude. I was waiting to order a drink at the bar that wasn't even busy, she looked at me and kept doing her thing. Then she came in front of me and said "WHAT YOU WANT?" Excuse me!? At a place like Legal Harborside this shouldn't be happening! Then she gave me the drinks, I paid and she didn't even said thank you or you're welcome when I paid and left a tip. Very unacceptable! The drinks on the other side are okay.
(3)
Kristen D.
I love everything about this place! It's difficult to have a bad view anywhere here because everything is cool to look at. My favorite part about the view was certainly the lookout over the harbor. The huge glass windows and open-air area made it even cooler! We sat at the bar originally to wait for the rooftop to open. Instead, we ordered a raw seafood platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, etc) to share while we sipped on Bloody Mary's and beers. Now, I've had seafood before and have loved almost everything I've tried. However, I have NEVER in my life ever eaten something so fresh, delicious, and mouthwatering as what I ate at Legal Harborside. Perhaps it's because I'm a Chicagoan and haven't been exposed to "real" seafood before, but oh my GOSH. Who knew there was such a significant difference between seafood in Chi vs. seafood in Boston? I knew there would be a difference of course, but I was definitely not prepared for it to be that significant. I loved the garlic/shallot/vinegar stuff they give you to put on oysters. I was so mad that we only had a few left when I finally decided to try it! I can't wait to go back to Boston to experience this place again.
(5)
J F.
The view here is lovely and a great place to sit and stare at the harbor. The food is what you'd expect from Legal Seafood, good quality and well prepared in general. Make sure you try some of the appetizers as this way you can try more dishes. The toasts with toppings ate fun. I had the olive and fig paste which was delicious, served on crispy baked pita. Of course you can go wrong with any of the seafood. It's all good here. This isn't a date night restaurant, that's for sure. It's crowded and loud and feels like dining in a warehouse, but I guess you go for the view and the seafood not to actually have a conversation!
(3)
Moosa D.
Food: 4.5/5, Best sushi in Boston Service: 5/5, Staff was quick, attentive, and friendly. even with a large group right in the middle of the Friday evening rush Atmosphere: 5/5, One of the nicer views from the waterfront
(5)
Jordan B.
Absolutely love this place - got the upcale-ish ambiance if you're looking for it, not CRAZY expensive, beautiful view, great staff, great food, great drinks, what else am I missing? When it's warm out, the experience of looking at the beautiful waterfront while enjoying your seafood and drink is just absolutely relaxing. It's a great get away place from work during your lunch hours to just unwind and not think about anything but a good life. The Portuguese Seafood Stew was incredibly rich and filled with different seafood flavor combined into one giant seafood delight. It tastes light yet rich at the same time - if you're a health nut and wants a rich yet "light" meal (and if you love seafood), you must try it. The cool thing about this place is that the three floors got different food and themes - if you want the typical seafood, go to the first floor. Second floor's got the more upscale feel with formal dining. And the top deck is a cool sushi/apps bar area. Either way, you're surrounded by an amazing view and great service.
(5)
Tony C.
We arrived and were told a table would be over 2 hour wait!! we tried to get a seat at the bar but were unsuccessful, an assistant manager, Gabrielle Green asked if she could help and we explained we were headed to a show in Cambridge at the Oberon (that my girlfriend's son "Complete Destruction" was performing in) and Rose & I just wanted to try out a Legal Seafood location; having never been there before. Gabrielle found us a table with a water view immediately (in an area I was told by another manager was held for reservations) and I tried to tip her $10 but she wouldn't take it... She said the reservation for that table wasn't until 7pm and we would be gone by then. She "made " our nite to say the least. We enjoyed a Salmon Burger and Halibut both fantastic! But the real treat was how Gabrielle Green went out of her way to accommodate us, This is truly a valuable employee!! Thank you so much!
(5)
Emilia T.
Food was top notch and a great location. We were particularly impressed by our waitress Holly who both had a lovely personality and gave great recommendations. If you can get a seat, I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Nina S.
If you're going to go to legal seafood in Boston, might as well go to the one in the water. I mean that view. Wow. There are four floors, first is like a market place you can purchase seafood and other stuff, second floor is the formal dining area, not sure what third floor was, but i think i heard just appetizers? And the fourth floor is the amazing rooftop bar. The view of the Boston seaport from up there is pretty sweet. But I digress. Came here tonight for a work celebration and we had selections which I'm honestly not sure if they were regular menu items or special items they made just for our event. I got the beet and arugula salad with candied walnuts and vinaigrette to start. It was a thoughtful salad with nice balance of flavors. Then I got the salmon with couscous and a puree of eggplant and then topped with tzatziki sauce which I wasn't too fond of. My salmon was a bit overcooked and the skin was soggy which was a sad situation. And then the accompaniments were interesting but just the flavors didn't go with the salmon, they were all too strong and so each component of the dish was fighting to be the star. The real star was the dessert. Mascarpone cheese cake.. to die for. The top was creme bruleed so you got that crunchiness factor, and then the filling was creamy and decadent, and then the Graham cracker business on the bottom anchoring the whole dessert. I cleaned that plate. All in all, would come back for the dessert and rooftop bar! Oh and the bread! How could I forget! There was the bacon mini biscuit and then a huge cheese cracker. With a price tag of free.99 it's a win.
(3)
Jeremy S.
The 3rd floor sushi bar has a great view and had great raw oyster. It was unfortunate we couldn't get the full menu there, but I understand the logic. In the main restaurant I had the Portuguese Seafood Stew, and the flavors were great. The stew's shrimp and mussels were both overcooked, but my fiancee's Salmon and the clams in my stew were cooked to perfection. One member of our party had the lobster and throughly enjoyed it, but I can't remember what the other had. I think she enjoyed it though. Overall, it was one of the best meals we had in Boston.
(3)
Brad F.
The food is unmistakably excellent, but the service is totally where 5 stars comes from. Our waiter, Conor, was perfect. This dude is calm, collected, took care of us without being annoyingly persistent in order to make sure his tip was decent, and was overall one of the most friendly and responsive people I've ever had take care of me/us at a restaurant. Thanks for the chit-chat about Somerville and some cool spots to hit in that area.
(5)
Wafa A.
Amazing restaurant. In my 4 day stay in Boston I went to Legal 3 times! Service is great for being such a busy place & super nice/friendly waiters. They have lots of seating options( outside, inside, upper deck, bar, & upfront window seating). Food varies from bites to eat to big meals & is very worth the price. Is also kid friendly. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Steven C.
Psst, Roger... It's a chain... bwahahaha Customer dinner at the Northern Ave location. I think Roger B is a brilliant businessman and this place is an awesome location. That being said, you can't swing a dead cat in the town without hitting a Legal anymore. I think they've done a nice job with the menu considering the challenges in the local fish stocks lately. I normally would have gone with Salmon but that nasty YouTube video on the Scottish farmed stuff has turned me off. The filet looked yummy so I went in that direction. First time eating beef at a legal. Started with some Duxbury oysters which were great. My west coast colleagues freak out at the size. Filet was perfectly cooked, nice presentation and a piece of king crab on top. The other details: Second floor, great decor with vistas of the harbor. Service was outstanding and the only downside was the lights keep going up and down.
(4)
Alycia R.
Perfect place to get drunk on a Sunday! Best view of the harbor, great music, awesome drinks. Can't vouch for the food but this place is fun...
(4)
Richard G.
This is for the lunch service.... I came here because I was told they have the best clam chowder in Boston. Have in mind I heard this from several local natives. My was I was extremely disappointed. My girl and I came here with high hopes and unfortunately a national chain restaurant serves better than these guys. Service was slow. We asked for water and bread. Waited about 15 minutes and we saw our server cleaning tables. It seemed like she was more concerned filling tables than serving the ones she has. Also yes we were dressed a,little under for the occasion but that shouldn't matter. I never write reviews about service unless it's over the top or really bad and, well you can be your judge at this point.... OK back to the chowder... very runny,no flavor,not many clams or, anything for that matter. I added a ton of salt & pepper & still no bueno.i was hyping this place all week to my girl & I was right ALL HYPE! Lesson learned.
(1)
Diana L.
Great place to come on the weekend and just walk along the dock and take in the views. The venue is super spacious with lots of natural lighting and window thats open up during the warm weather. There's many levels of seating, next time we will try the rooftop for an even more scenic experience. | l o b s t e r b i s q u e | - great seafood flavour that's silky smooth and not starchy or salty garnished with fresh green onions & chunks of lobster meat. | c o c k t a i l s h r i m p | - succulent shrimps tossed in spicy cocktail sauce, extremely refreshing and a great palette cleanser. | f i s h t a c o s | - fresh and enjoyable, maybe a tad to dry and needed some simpler complements such as guacamole/cabbage (date seemed to like it - he usually goes for the swordfish gyro which he swears by) | c r i s p y c a l a m a r i | - perfectly fried and garnished with crispy lemon & spicy peppers, dunk them in the tasty dijon creamy aioli. (appetizer portion - great portion!) Presentation is spot on. Date pleaser. Great for groups. Great service. Seated right away on a busy Saturday afternoon. Had my eye on the lobster roll & grilled shrimp salad going to the other tables - I'll be coming back for ya ! Walking over to Harpoon Brewery now.......
(4)
Lyndsey C.
I didn't want this to be the case but I have to lower my rating based on overall experiences.... First, they get a high rating for the three different levels, especially the rooftop patio, which is great, although can be super busy and when this happens, the waitresses usually start to get extremely slow and rare... also, we had it happen when a waitress tried to just take the large amount of change after we paid as a tip... The location is great, love the atmosphere, other restaurants surrounding this one, and the pavilion next door. The sushi looked good and the oysters were great, other than how long they took to get to us. The reason for my lowering my review is the past two reservations I have made, I have asked for nice tables and even came early to get a nicer one... twice, I have been sat in crappy locations. The first time, they at least allowed me to ask for a table outside or nicer one and we ended up great... but the second one, we are celebrating our anniversary with another couple, put the reservation in weeks before, called the day before to confirm, then showed up early for a good table... and it wasn't peak time... they assured us it would be a great table, then we were stuck out in the open (not a good table against the window or out of the way), right next to a bus station where they kept hitting our table. Our waitress didn't keep our drinks full and rarely took plates away... Food is good but can be hit or miss on the heat of it... for being able to see the kitchen from our latest table, my lobster bisque was cold and pizza was no longer hot... I am willing to try again but I don't like the first floor right now... due to the service issues... The rooftop out with friends or a date would be nice.
(2)
Kevin S.
If you're from out of town, you have to go to Legal's at least once. However, if you're a local...go elsewhere. My wife and I go to Legal when its been long enough that we've forgotten how disappointing our last meal there was.. example...we had the lobster fritter...it was under cooked and we were concerned about the safety of eating it. The "stuffie" a RI staple, was inedible because of over seasoning, and lastly my wife's white wine had "something" black floating in the glass. Try it once, but if you're local, go somewhere else... OH, and the roofdeck...overrated beyond belief
(2)
NavRaj S.
Good food and great location.. Loved their cocktails.. The service was very good and servers were very friendly!!! Good place to hangout..
(4)
J J.
Went here with a large group of work friends. Arrived after the main group (who was already seated upstairs) with an international colleague. The tough guy who worked there would not let us all go upstairs where our friends were waiting. He would not accept her foreign drivers license, copy of passport, or any other credentials. The ultra superior Legal Seafood employee would not let us in due to his strict irrational guidelines and possibly prejudice taste. I went right upstairs, got my group of work colleagues before they could order anything, and went next door to eat and drink. Lost revenue, anyone?
(1)
Dawn H.
*****FIRST FLOOR REVIEW***** I went there a week ago with a friend. I had not been to this place in a while prior to this visit but I will say, I am writing a review because I generally enjoyed this visit. I believe it was a Monday after work that I went and the place was packed! We were luck to get a spot closer to the server station but still overlooked the people below at the tables AND the water (with views of the Xfinity Center to our right). The seating was a bit squished but good. We were greeted by our waiter who mentioned the wine special list that was supposedly Northern Italy inspired or something like that but I started with a Citrus Sangria and friend ordered the Strawberry Sangria. It is not a a traditional sangria but luckily we could taste the alcohol (yum). When it came time to order food, an idea by the waiter was brought up to split our order (even the soup). The smile on my face was ear to ear to hear this and the display was great! Order... The Asparagus with egg shavings was alright (the veggie seems a bit on the wilting side and at least 3-4 was left). The Lobster Bisque (**split**) was warm at first when we ordered it but kindly and quickly given a fresh batch and it was so good! The Shrimp Pad Thai (**split**) was tasty and had added flavor bonus' of ginger and spicy pepper! Our portions were great! I saw the desserts but was really full. It is something I'd return to definitely have next time. I ended up looking at the wine inspired menu and ordered this Sauvignon Blanc which was nearly tasteless comparable to water - something happened IDK. I let our waiter know and got the Riesling (which is my fav white) and it was great! So, although we might have been slightly troublesome guests (not our faults!) the overall experience and level of professionalism and continued attentiveness of our waiter helped make this experience good :)
(4)
Jeff B.
Where did the light clam chowder go?!?!? Am I the only one who likes it? Where did the crab cakes entry go? Am I the only one who liked it? The appetizer portion was good, but seems to have changed, too. Service was fine. She did even try to hunt down story on light clam chowder. Apparently, you can sort of special order it. Weird. Overall, my experience was ok. I used to look forward to a Legals visit or two during every business trip visit - not sure after this experience. We'll see....
(3)
Nicole T.
Wait was unreal for a Monday night at 9 pm so we sat street side vs. harbor side. The service was great but food was just OK. Location is great for a taste of Boston.
(3)
Karen C.
Great View and perfect for a fun weekend brunch!!
(4)
Julia H.
really not sure what the hype is all about. it's more of a 3.5 stars, but will give it four stars. Luckily on a Saturday night they were able to seat a table of 6 within 5 mins on the main floor. ordered the cold seafood platter and the lobster roll. the cold seafood platter, maybe cause they don't really have to season and cook it, it was quite good! the snow crab legs are very salty though - so beware! the lobster roll - could be better. really you could go somewhere else to get a better roll. i guess it's worth to come here once every so often, but definitely not sure what the hype is all about.
(4)
Carielle C.
My friends and I went here for dinner last night and it was fantastic. One of my friends had been there before and she highly recommends the lobster roll. She has a gluten allergy and they have lots of gluten-free options. I don't eat seafood, but I got the Big Bowl sald with chicken and it was one of the best salads I've ever had. Just the right amount of dressing and the chicken was juicy and tender. My friends all raved about their food. Gluten-free clam strips, gluten-free lobster rolls with gluten-free fries, and another lobster roll that wasn't gluten-free. One of my other friends got a stuffie, which I tried (even though I don't like seafood), and it was tasty and had a kick to it! We also had an appetizer with the bruschetta with braised short rib. Delicious! For dessert, we shared bon bons and the salted caramel pie. Yum! Fantastic food and a great view. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Bill Z.
I felt like I should be able to order bison, antelope, and boar here, because on a Friday night the place can be a zoo. But here, the animals typically have gills. And it is a very well run zoo, with a staff that meshes together well like a fine machine. If you are lucky to get a table on the harbor side of the restaurant, you will have a great view. If it's busy, and if you are in a small group, by all means consider barside dining. They have a lot of space all over the restaurant, and again, a lot of it has a harbor view. Once you are seated, service is prompt everywhere, and those little devices the wait staff carry expedite your order ever faster. Drinks are expensive, but quite strong for the money, so I don't mind dishing out some $$ for one. I enjoyed my glass of red sangria ($11), but I understand the white comes across as a bit sweeter and slightly more diluted. Some of the sides or vegetables included in some of the dishes are less traditional and more interesting. For example, my seafood and sausage pasta dish also contained roasted cauliflower and broccoli rabe. One of the fish dishes came with a side of barley mixed with tomato and feta. One thing I would suggest if you order trout is to be familiar with it. The meat of trout can come in several shades from white to deep pink. We didn't have room for dessert, but I'm sure the desserts and after dinner drinks here are quite good.
(4)
Judy S.
Let's start by saying that regardless of the fact that we had a dinner reservation that had been made months in advance, our party had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The hostesses at the front desk were rude and set a poor tone for our evening. That said, our table, our waitress and our food made up for the ironic lack of hospitality from the hostesses. The food is good. Nothing you've never had before, but it is good, and the space and views are gorgeous.
(3)
G L R.
First off, the view here is just beautiful! It can't be beat. I had a very good lobster roll and fries here. Also, their oysters. I selected 2 kinds and they were very fresh tasting. They have a decent wine selection. Prices are a little high, but not insane for fresh seafood either. Service was good. I would recommend.
(4)
Jason A.
596 reviews, and a 3.5 star rating for Legal Harborside is reasonably accurate. A consistent theme for the restaurant, that I will kindly summarize for you so that you do not have to read through all 500+ reviews: 5 star rating for the views. You're on the harbor, and facing Logan Airport. The views are eye-gasm worthy. 3 star rating for the food. It really is not that much better than something I can find pretty much anywhere in Boston. The seafood platter is overpriced for what it is, the lobster bisque tasted like heavily sugared cream (and not in a good way), and the "famous" clam chowder tastes straight out of a Campbell's can. 1-3 star rating for the service. It's a big ass restaurant, and the turnover in staff is consistent. Meaning it is hit or miss, and though the servers may mean well, if you are there to be taken care of by your server... well you're going to be sadly disappointed. Moral of the story: come for the views, and leave before you leave disappointed after dinner.
(3)
Mike F.
Wow is all I can say. We hosted clients here last week (late July), beautiful view from the deck on the 2nd floor. The shrimp cocktail were the largest I've ever seen, same with oysters. Lobster rolls perfect and unexpectedly very very good sushi. I forget some of the other stuff I ate but those we're the standouts. A++ and all super fresh
(5)
Susan R.
Continues to be great. Lobster bisque, bellied fried clams, swordfish, crab salad, and Buffalo fried shrimp were all excellent. Great location overlooking the pier and water. Perky staff.
(4)
Scott S.
Delicious and a great ambiance. Can't beat the view. From the upper level bar to the tables right on the dock, it is easy to spend the whole day here.
(4)
Jenny M.
Food is overpriced and unappetizing, particularly the lobster mac n cheese, overdressed crab cakes and stale pita appetizer. Service leaves little to be desired, especially when compared with other Seaport district restaurants. Only positive would be Harbor view. Recommendation would be to grab a cocktail, enjoy view and eat elsewhere.
View is A Sushi is C. Service is B. On the roof, basically only sushi is on the menu. Eating at a bunch of sushi places where the cooks are Asian, I feel when I bite into the legal seafoods sushi, I can just tell they're made by a non-Asian person. Edamame is great. Service: just felt there was quite a bit of empty glasses on our table.
(3)
Danielle B.
The location is nice and the view is amazing. My mom and I ordered a lobster roll, fish and chips andclam chowder. The fish and chips were excellent! Light, fresh, flakey and well worth the price. The clam chowder was also very good. The lobster roll was a huge disappointment. The lobster was chewy and lacked flavor. The market price was $30. I'm really sad that I wasted $30 on that lobster roll.
(3)
Nicole L.
The staff was very accommodating with my food allergy. I appreciated the knowledge and extra steps the staff took to ensure my meal was free from cross contamination. The grilled shrimp was to die for!
(5)
Terrance R.
I'm just leaving this place now, and I was blown away by how terrible the food was. Boston is supposed to be an excellent place to eat anything out of the sea, but I couldn't even finish my plate. Only one person at our table had a descent meal. He ordered the Asian inspired tuna which looked delicious. My crab roll was underwhelming, and it came with underwhelming coleslaw. This place was no more than an overpriced seafood diner with a view. My suggestion... Go for the drinks and view (amazing in the summer). Please please please skip on the meal. My only highlight: great service. When you're in Boston, find a better seafood place.
(2)
J B.
Not sure a place with a 2 hour Saturday wait-time needs a review, so I'll be brief... Their fried clams, steamers, and stuffies are the best in the city. They are akin to the RI institutions that my wife grew up on, which we travel specifically for. I know the "big chain" name might scare you (and I ordinarily would agree), but those items are honestly as good as any of those RI shacks. Yes, the 3rd floor is a bit of a meat market. Don't expect craft cocktails or good service up there; same as you wouldn't at a night club.
(4)
Vince D.
Great place to hangout during the summer. Place was jammed but was able to grab a seat at the bar with my girlfriend. Had the more than fortunate pleasure of having Tanya serve us. My girlfriend had accidentally tipped over her fresh Paloma on the bar and she was more than accommodating at replacing it. The food was on point we had the squid ink pasta and the octopus terrine but more importantly the service was phenomenal. Food came out super fast and staff was very knowledgeable. Will be back soon!
(5)
Blaire H.
Tasty place, with good lunch options. The roof is not open till four on week days, but they serve sushi! They have outdoor seating on the water though.
(4)
Pat K.
This is about the third or fourth time I have been to this location. The views are amazing and the food is great. I love sitting outside, it has great views of the harbor and the people coming and going. The cool part about this location is its 3 different types of restaurants in one. Lower level (where I love to sit) is laid back typical seafood. The second floor is more upscale and formal dinning, and lastly the top deck is a very cool sushi/apps bar area. On Saturday April 18th my wife surprised me took me here on my birthday. I had the lobster roll ( a bit pricey) compared to some of the other places in the area (Sullivans). It was full of a TON of claw meat, and it was great. We shared an order of Calamari and my wife had fish and chips. We braved the cold and sat outside in the sun. Legal says they are not a chain in their ads on TV and I agree with them. They are not, especially at this location. With the menu changes and the different feels in the different levels it can be a lot of fun !
(4)
J. L.
This review is for the rooftop bar on the 3rd floor. The views of Boston Harbor are AMAZING. Simply awesome. The bar itself is pretty cool. I could not believe how rude the staff was. It was around 1:15 AM. They close at 1am. These men in sport jackets and ear pieces (I'm assuming bouncers or similar) were yelling at everyone to get out. Treating us like animals. It was so uncalled for. I can't understand why we were being yelled at and treated so poorly. Politeness that they are closed would have been fine and acceptable. I was so turned off by this. I wanted to like this place and now I have mixed feelings.
(3)
Deborah G.
I eat all over the place, all the time. And I can honestly chalk this up to one of my worst experiences. I usually eat on the first floor and have had great experiences there. I heard the second floor was nicer and higher end so we booked reservations to there. My waiter Was Taulant. He was nice but our service was terrible. Not only were our drinks taking 15 to 30 min a piece with some completely forgotten about (mind you the second floor was clearly NOT busy, restaurant or bar) our appetizers did not out, served forcing people at our table to eat without us. And then wait for our food. When we were finally able to put in our entree. We has asked what was taking so long and the floor managers response was they working with the pace of our table. If you looked back our table we had all empty drinks, still waiting, empty bread when we asked for more (because food was taking so long) and again 3 tables total in entire dining room. Our pork chop was delicious in flavor however the service and poor management will never have my business again. And worth of mouth spreads fast especially when u dine out 3-4 times a week! Mind you my friends and I dine at other places on the same street and have never been treated this way.
(2)
Diana K.
I am a huge fan of this enormous location overlooking Boston Harbor. We sat on the third floor deck with the wind in our hair and ordered two clam chowdas...what else?! The clam chowder was delicious and perfectly chunky, and went really well with our beers. The server even gave us a free drink after one of the beers took a little bit too long. I was impressed at the service regardless, seeing as how there were hundreds of people here, and they all were happy and fed. They have a special Mango IPA from Harpoon that was amazing. I think they mentioned they are the exclusive buyer of it. So good!
(4)
Layla B.
The dessert game is weak! Seasonal crisp was missing the crisp and was basically a warm bowl of fruit with ice cream on top. Tea was good and has a nice roof deck for chilling with friends.
(3)
Jyoti H.
Ha. Don't bother wasting your time coming here for the food or the rooftop lounge. Terrible service and rude people. You are better off staying in the Copley area and going out for drinks and food.
(1)
Jarrod G.
My family & I came here to celebrate my graduation from law school yesterday. We arrived 50 minutes late for our reservation on the first floor, but yet we were sat immediately and no mention was made of our lack of punctuality, which was great. The service was excellent and the food was perfect. All in all, I would highly recommend others to come to this restaurant to celebrate life's various celebrations. There was only one issue. My brother has Cerebral Palsy, and as such, is bound to a wheelchair. Upon checking in with the host, she immediately began to walk us to our table. Without even thinking about it she lead us up a two-step staircase. We all stopped at the staircase as she kept going. She eventually looked back and realized that none of us had followed her. I walked up to her and explained that my handicapped brother could not merely drive his wheelchair up a two-step staircase and that we would have to take the elevator. Upon doing so we were then lead to the least handicapped accessible table in the entire restaurant. In order to dodge a second two-step flight of stairs downward we had to drive thru the kitchen area, down a long ramp, and then back through the entire restaurant - bumping every single table along the way. Multiple times we had to ask guests to actually get up so we could make our way through. Half way through our journey the host actually stopped leading us to our table and began speaking with the manager. Seeing as how we were following her, it made the experience even more frustrating that we now had no idea which table we were going to be sitting at. At the conclusion of the meal, I asked the server if it would be okay for us to exit via the doors on the boardwalk-side of the restaurant since it would allow us to avoid the embarrassment of trying to navigate our way through the entire restaurant again. He was very helpful and made a path for us to do so. Like I said at the outset of this review, all in all, I would highly recommend this place for others. But I think Legal Harborside really needs to re-evaluate its protocol in order to make their guests that require special accommodations feel more welcome.
(3)
Bb D.
Nice place, with nice wait staff. Just a bit too crowded. Needs reservations, otherwise be ready to wait for a long time to get seated. Great food.
(4)
Kisha T.
I'll preface this with the following: I only came for drinks, a light snack and only experienced the roof deck. This location is beautiful and it's the most perfect place to have a few drinks on a warm summer day...that is, if you can ever order your drinks/actually get the drinks. I came here on a Friday afternoon for some drinks and snacks. We ended up staying for about two hours and in those two hours, we were able to order a drink, edamame and 3 oysters. The food wasn't terrible and drinks were sufficient. For 4 pm on Friday, the roof deck was hoppin'. It felt like a Miami bar/lounge, which is awesome if you dig that kind of environment. Service was pretty blah which is expected for a lounge but it's still part of the restaurant so there is still that expectation when it comes to service. Would I go back? Sure. But it's not a place to go if you don't like a large crowd and bad service.
(2)
Sarah S.
My review is for Floor 1. I went here with a group of 10 people from a conference I was attending. It was a quick walk from the Westin Waterfront. While waiting for my group, I had a glass of wine at the bar. Service is a little slow, but they were PACKED, so I understood. When I got to the restaurant the girl at the front said she had given someone in our group the buzzer to let us know when our table was ready. After about 20 minutes or so and all talking to each other, we realized that no one had the buzzer. I wonder how long our table had been ready before we finally asked about it. I got the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I also wanted to try the lobster bisque, but since I was already set on the lobster roll, I decided against it. Although, someone else got it, and it smelled absolutely amazing. Someone got the fried clams and passed them around to the whole table. Whoa - melt in your mouth deliciousness! The lobster roll looked small, but it was filling. It comes with fries and coleslaw. The lobster dishes are all market price, which was $23 when I was there (early May 2014). A lot of people in my group got some combo from the 'Wood Burning Grill' section. Everything looked great. I had the soup, lobster roll, and two beers (one of the Harpoon specialty brews) - total was $46. If I lived in Boston, I'd come back here over and over. Super nice staff, quick service for how busy they were and for the size of our table, and no complaints about splitting a check 10(!) ways.
(5)
Robert S.
We had reservations for 5PM and our table, overlooking the ocean was ready as promised. John, our waiter was great, polite, knowledgeable, courteous, perfect. I ordered the crabmeat salad...a big scoop of real crabmeat mixed with a light dressing over a half avocado, accompanied of boiled eggs, tomatoes and cucumbers. YUM. My BF got the baked scrod and it was light, fresh and tasty. Very good choice as much of the Legal Seafood sister companies.
(4)
Michael M.
Really unimpressed relative to some of the other "Legal" restaurants. Service is fantastic. Food is above average. I prefer LTk.
(3)
Scott H.
In town for business and wanted local seafood for dinner. Was also by myself so I preferred to eat at the bar. Using those two criteria this place hit the mark. They stir their martinis which is the right way and the shrimp cocktail was served in a globe made of ice. Pretty cool. Be sure to try the seared ahi. Also had the grilled octopus, which was the best I've ever had although portions were small and a bit expensive. I only had appetizers so I can't say if meals were subsets tail, but the apps were on the light side. The bar tender was really friendly and conversational, which was nice. Kept me from staring at my phone. She also had a few suggestions of local things to do. Prices were on the high side, but I'll likely be back.
(4)
Bob B.
Very busy place - tourist trap. Fried clam appetizer was overpriced and looked as though they had not changed the oil in the fryer in quite a while. The scrod was good size, but could use some seasoning. Service was good.
(2)
John I.
This is a very nice restaurant. There are three floors. The street level is standard Legal fare; the second floor Legal upscale, and the third a cocktail bar with deck. All have impressive views of the harbor, the fish pier, Logan Airport, and the "pavilion" concert venue. We entertained business guests on the second floor as a party of nine. We had a wonderful seafood tower appetizer with oysters, clams, crab and shrimp. It was presented nicely with multiple sauces. The seafood was, undeniably, fresh and awesome. Legal's trademark clam chowder was noticeably absent from the short menu but provided on request for our guests. Entrees included lobster and spare ribs, scallops, abalone, steak and shrimp. All were excellently prepared and tasty, if a bit pricey. The service was impressively adequate. We were intermittently swarmed with attention as plates were cleared or served and then left for long periods without anyone checking for needs. A wonderful but forgettable dinner was enjoyed by all.
(4)
Dylan C.
Corporate, touristy, and overpriced. What you would expect, I guess. Not an ounce of warmth in the place.
(1)
Brian A.
Stuffed artichokes!! Great atmosphere outside. Julien is an absolute all-star waiter.
(5)
Don M.
Good food,but the service i"was horrible!!!!The waitress was so negative and I can say rough!!!!!Bad experience!!!!!
(2)
Lilly S.
This review is based mainly on the outdoor seating on a nice day. I have only been here once and didn't spend any time inside. I like this place because of the roof top patio! WONDERFUL view of the water and such a great place to spend a sunny day! We got a pitcher of sangria and some light food. The waitress was really nice and everything was tasty. Perhaps a bit pricey but not ridiculous. We got there around 2 on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy yet. It did get pretty packed by 4 and service got a lot slower but what can you really expect? They can't possibly keep up with that. I recommend hanging out here for a bit when you're not in a hurry and you'll have a nice time, for sure!
(4)
T.M. C.
Our dinner started off okay down stairs on the first level. I'd to give it 5 stars for the first level but 2 stars for our experience on the third floor club. We ordered sangria and drinks at the bar on the first floor. Crab cake not cakes, just one was not worth $16. The fried green beans were great! Also ordered a kalamata and fig spread that was ok. Great service from our bartender. We continued our night by going up to the roof top bar. It was filled with a good mix of people but mostly 20 something's. We waited a bit and got a booth right on the water. After what seemed to be a good night, a 43 year old guy named Tom, who was married with 4 kids, and his hook up for the night, Ashley, who was a 24 yr old department store buyer, just randomly took over our booth. Ashley offered me a klonopin or an adderall. Offer illegal prescription drugs to an off duty cop? Omg. Hope Tom got it in with Ashley cause they ruined our night. There was also a discrepancy in our bills even though we ordered the same drinks at the bar and the same at our booth. Oh well....
(3)
Joe G.
Went to Legal Harborside after attending a conference at the Boston Convention Center. Had to walk about 1/2 mile from the convention center to get to the place. On a Friday night, the place was pretty busy. My friends and I ended up seating on the counter. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure everything was ok. I ordered the Tuna Burger, which was very tasty and filling. The Tuna was basically packed together and grilled, so if you're looking for a "fishy" kind of taste, you won't really taste it. It tasted alot like a greasy fish burger, which was fine with me. All in all, a pretty decent meal at Legal Haborside.
(3)
Mr. And Mrs. R.
We stopped in here for drinks this past weekend (Sat night) after eating dinner at a nearby steakhouse....and we wish we came here at the start of the night. This was probably our 4th time sitting at this bar, and we have always loved it. Whether just having drinks, apps, or a full dining experience, each time we've sat at this bar it's been lights out good. Great staff (and some potential rap stars), great scenery and ambience, great food and drink. Awesome wine selection and killer martinis. Our top spot hands down in the Seaport. See you soon.
(5)
Nancy G.
I have dined here many times. Great views and food. I was very disappointed at lunch yesterday. The server spilled 5 glasses of water on a client. Not her fault and we all felt terrible for her. The disappointment was that a manager never came over to apologize We had to suggest moving to another table. The new server acted annoyed that we moved and we experienced very slow service. The restaurants at liberty harbor are getting too complacent. Where is the customer service?
(2)
Lillian C.
Review for the first floor - dinner on a Sunday. This is the first of the Legal Seafood chain of restaurants I've tried. Service was on point. Menu was decent. I like how there are 3 different floors serving three different menus - it's like having three restaurants in one. I heard good things about the rooftop so I may return just for that once it starts to warm up. As for the food - it was just ok. I had some oysters and they were fresh but not much different from some $1 oyster places in Boston. I also had the Portuguese seafood stew, which was very delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and the stew had a lot of flavor. I also tried a little of the swordfish salad. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, but the salad was lacking flavor. The food was pretty good and the view is pretty nice. I also like the open floor plan since it reminds me of places in LA. The prices are pretty decent for what you get but I think fine dining is on the second floor if that's what you're looking for...
(3)
Holly N.
Been many times and no complaints about the food. We dined last evening on the first floor and once again we felt rushed with spending over $170. We also wanted to have an after dinner drink on the third floor and were told to go outside and wait in line - really? And yes, management supported this ridiculous process. On our first outing to dining on the second floor, the valet could not locate my car. Well folks, it is not only about the food!
(2)
Michelle T.
Huge fan of the curry mussels! Packed with flavor, however, I thought the mussels were a little over cooked causing them to become smaller/dried up and a little tougher. Maybe better luck next time. Tried two different oysters, ordered 3 of each. I'm forgetting which ones exactly, our waiter recommended them. Always fun to try something new. Really fresh and tasty. Tried to clam "chowda," hearty and generous with the clams.
(4)
J P.
Was going to a concert next door so decided to eat here before the concert. First time at this location. Made reservations and was a half hour early, they sat us right away. Had a great view of the waterfront. Waiter was Sean he was the best. Very attentive and friendly. Also liked he was not the Phony type very sincere. . Food was very good both my husband and I got the Lobster Bake. This has everything Chowder, steamers , mussles, lobster and corn on the cob. Glass of wine is a good serving. Was hoping to see a manager to comment on the great service we had by Sean, but sadly there was none in sight.
(5)
Wendy F.
This is by FAR my favorite Legal Sea Foods. It is not like any of the others. The space and view are amazing at the seaport. Three different floors for dining and cocktails. The white sangria is amazing. Also i had a tuna special that was great. I do not recommend the shrimp that come in a mason jar. Not very good and too small. Great for groups!!!
(4)
Robert C.
Was at Harborside on the upper deck Sunday July 26th at around 10:30 pm and witnessed a young restaurant manager and a bouncer loudly screaming and cursing at a table of patrons. The table seemed to have been quietly enjoying themselves prior. It was the most disgraceful display of unprofessional behavior I have ever witnessed by restaurant staff. Both should be immediately fired. I will never go back and will certainly share my experience.
(1)
Carrie L.
5 stars for the view and location. I was lucky enough to find a table for my party within 5 minutes on the 3rd floor rooftop deck. The wait downstairs was 2 hours. This review is solely based on the 3rd floor. Friday early evening, noise level was off the roof. Although the waterfront view was gorgeous, I can not hear any of my friends across from me. At all. Ordered the strawberry sangria, A-OK. For food, we decided to split 2 lobster rolls, a crab roll, and 3 sushi rolls between five girls. The chips that came on the side of the lobster & crab rolls were pretty good. Lobster roll is typical. Crab roll was not popular with us. The crab meat tasted fake. The 3 sushi rolls were orange dragon (spicy salmon with salmon), red dragon (spicy tuna with tuna) , and caterpillar (eel with avocado on top). The food was very average at best. Environment was too lively to enjoy the average food. I will be making reservations next time I come in.
(3)
Tina B.
Great rooftop view. Great sushi. They don't normally take reservations but if you have a big enough group and call ahead they may be able to accommodate you :)
(4)
S R.
I would like to give this place a worse review for being overcrowded and slow and expensive but the food is too good. Lots of healthy options. They will make certain items gluten free for you as marked on the menu. Seafood is prepared well without excess sauces and seasonings. Staff is generally friendly and doing their best to manage the volume of clients. The drinks are pretty bad though so stick with wine or beer.
(4)
Theresa A.
I have always had a great experience here! My standby is the wood grilled swordfish and the clam chowder is amazing! Consistently have had good service here weather I have a table inside,outside or sitting at the bar. I love that while Legals is becoming more of a chain restaurant they are not losing any of their excellent service or quality of food. I always take out of town guest here for seafood, can't go wrong!
(5)
Michelle S.
Yes, I know. Everyone knows about Legals' in New England, and I think everyone has either been there a million times or purposely avoiding it due to it's mainstream reputation. I guess I have fit into the second of those categories as I always strive to try something new. I also have a bad taste in my mouth based on my VERY sub-par experiences at the renovation-ready location in Chestnut Hill. However, my friend and I had a great dinner night out here on Friday worth reviewing. I'm also officially ready for summer... We came in around 7 and put our name in for a table for two. Then we headed to the first floor bar for a drink. Great wine selection - I got the Cabernet Franc for $9. I guess it's worth mentioning I had a second glass with my meal, so I was impressed. Bartender was super friendly, and so was our waiter once we did sit down, about 25 minutes later. For dinner, we were seated at a cozy (bit cramped) table on the first floor. It's so cool how they use brown paper with the Legal stamped logo for a table cloth! Our server was friendly, patient, and unpretentious. We were at no point rushed, but always attentively helped. My girlfriend and I had a bit of trouble deciding what to order since everything looked so good - but we both ended up settling on the fish tacos. And for $12, I ended up spending a lot less money than I expected. I also ordered the $6 seasonal salad for a starter. The salad was phenomenal - walnuts, goat cheese, and cranberries over baby greens with a balsamic, glazey dressing. Our food came out promptly after I finished my salad, and we were served two, overstuffed, fresh fish tacos. They were outrageously good! After dinner, we headed up to the third floor bar to finish our drinks and look out on the harbor. I can't wait to come back come May for a late, festive dinner with my girlfriends and a couple drinks out on the roof deck!
(4)
Alex C.
Awesome place! Met Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots!!!!!! def come. It's a fun place and great drinks. Great aura.
(5)
Sara E.
Legal harborside was amazing at hosting our 10-guest function. Everyone is very kind and helpful and hospitable! Love this place!
(5)
Tom J.
Good food and nice environment. Got the fish in foil (halibut) and wife got the lobster pot pie. If I had rice or a starch it would have made my meal complete. Was kind of expensive for what you got left kind of hungry still. However what was served was delicious.
(3)
Karl F.
A nice place for seafood in Boston, good view, good food, lively & fun. I came here with a group for a business dinner. We first went to the bar upstairs, I had a virgin bloody Mary, no complaints, the others enjoys the variety of beers. There is a nice view of the Boston harbor up here. Then when our table was ready downstairs in the dinning area we went back down and ordered dinner. There is a good selection of dishes from casual mid priced items to more $$$ priced dishes, I had some steamers and oysters, they we delicious, then a lobster roll for main course. It was good. The staff was great, my associate thoroughly enjoyed their food. The main thing about Legal Harborside is the atmosphere, Trendy night life place with a great view and good place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Amy S.
Best Service. Best Food. Best View! We came for dinner, so we couldn't enjoy the view as much as the people who come during the day or for the sunset, but even with it being dark outside, this was an impeccable view of the harbor! I immediately felt like I was in good hands. We started off with a variety of oysters - mainly East Coast. These were the best oysters I've ever had in my life, literally. I know the polar vortex helped contribute to the meatiness of the oysters, but these were incredibly fresh and well taken care of. Next, I got the Arctic Char special with a side of saffron wild rice/mushrooms. So incredibly delicious and fresh! The char was paired with grapefruit for that hint of acidity. The saffron wild rice and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to this entree. Ordered a Allagash White, which tasted pretty fresh. They have a solid beer and wine list, which is always appreciated. The service was beyond amazing and everyone was super friendly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Gloria F.
Beautiful views with very decent food. Ya. I'm spoiled and live in New York. So food is nothing particularly special but I'd definitely come here for drinks and dinner again. I highly recommend drinks on the third floor. The water and city scape views are stunning. We went to the formal restaurant and split oysters and the swordfish special. If seAfood is not your thing it's probably best to skip this joint. Otherwise dig in to light and tasty fare. It's best to come here on expense account as I'm not sure id want to pay on my own dime, but expense account is a definite yes!
(4)
Dalya N.
This place is Great. We have reservations for the 2nd floor, but we decided to go to the 3rd floor because of the Sushi Menu. They don't take reservations for the 3rd unless you take to the manager. We told the manager is was our anniversary and he was a GEM!! Not only he made sure that we get a table next to the water but he also brought us 2 special Rolls on the house!! Amazing service wish I can remember the manager's name to give him recognition. Food was amazing and atmosphere was great! Loud for a romantic dinner but we liked it a lot.
(5)
Kaverne A J L.
Great atmosphere. Reservations should be made in advanced! Otherwise wait for the free seating! Good clam chowder and fresh oysters! Lobster was alright and the service staffs were really busy!
(4)
Kimberly L.
Came here with a party of 8! We were seated by the bar and ended up getting a table before 7:30pm which was great! I ordered the stuffed artichoke hearts and the lobster roll. Both dishes were good but nothing spectacular. The lobster roll reminds me of Luke's lobster in NYC. The stuffed artichokes were super cheesy and creamy but good. Our waiter josh was awesome! He was really attentive and got us the hookup with the rooftop. Overall, this chain is pretty consistent and I would go back!
(3)
Jay S.
I tried. Really, I tried not to visit Legal for seafood. I was trying other places in the area. I was trying to avoid what I consider a borderline chain restaurant. However, this was without a doubt the best seafood preparation I had this trip. I had a Panko crusted tuna, berry crisp and a coffee. Pricey at $50 but an excellent meal. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the cost.
(4)
M. Alan B.
I see a bunch of positive reviews here, so perhaps my experience was an anomaly (or the reviewers are "friends and family"?) but my experience was not worth the time, effort and travel. From the moment we walked in to the minute we left I was deeply underwhelmed. While the building itself is new and "well appointed" there is little interesting about it, the location (which adds to the detraction) or view. The feel of it was a giant yawn. It was July 4th weekend and the place was practically empty (our first clue?) so we decided on the first floor outdoors (because there was no full menu on the deck, really are you kidding me!? and were seated quickly.. When our waiter came I asked about the menu relative to other locations and was told that: "as our flagship location we have a different menu and are more special than the others" AND that I'd "be impressed with them" (a boastful claim not knowing who I was or what my expectations might be). My dining partner ordered a swordfish dish and I started out with a simple order of Duxbury Oysters (the Oyster menu was generally incipid). I was told the Swordfish was Excellent but when I tasted it I thought it was "ok". The Oysters were very good but with preparation consisting of shucking them and sticking them on a plate not exactly a culinary achievement. When my main dish arrive it was small tasteless and OVERPRICED. I ate it all because I was starving and being stuck in the wasteland that is convention visitor hell I didn't have the patience to "try" elsewhere. The service and attention was acceptable but in no way distinguishing for a Flagship location. Legals is a very good, typically reliable restaurant and I've eaten at most locations on numerous occasions (just had lunch at the Copley location last week). It is one of the first places I recommend to out of Townes but the Harborside is a place I would discourage people from. It was OVERPRICED AND UNDERWHELMING.
(2)
Kevin J.
Service - really good. Our waiter knew his stuff and was very friendly. I had the swordfish gyro which was great - the char on the fish and the pita balanced perfect with the cucumber sauce. Very satisfying. There was a 30 min wait, but the seats by the entrance (without the cool view) had a zero min wait so we went for that option. All food here is fresh and local. Best thing - 5 mins after leaving the building a hostess managed to track us down - we had left a bag of books and whatnot in there. I thought that was a really decent thing for them to do. Good people. Good food.
(4)
Patrick B.
1. Terrible, slow service 2. Waiters and staff act like you're bothering them by asking for food and drinks 3. Overpriced 4. Rude management staff that roll their eyes at you when you have a problem with them.
(1)
Jake C.
Really great! The food was fantastic, and service perfect. Really enjoyed the evening, and the environment, on a beautiful night.
(5)
Maureen M.
We had a small sampling of bar fare last night on the second floor at Legal Harborside. The food was good tasting and presented well. The lobster soup was amazing and calamari and seasonal salad were very good. The only thing that irked me and made we write this review is, when asked what I wanted to drink I said a glass of chardonnay, house will be fine. I knew they had an extensive wine menu and I didn't want to get into it. Just a plain ole glass of house chard please! When the bill came we quickly realized my 2 glasses of wine were $18.50 EACH. Me thinks I didn't get the house wine.......When we asked about it, the waiter went on and on about their wines and how great they are...blah blah blah. A word of warning. If you are ordering wine. Pick out a specific one and tell the waiter what you want! I won't make that mistake again. (the wine was good....but not $18.50 good)
(3)
Sylvia C.
Finally checked the roof top out. Went there on Friday right after work around 5:30pm and the place was already packed (luckily no lines yet - whew). I thought it was a bit weird that after checking your ID - they stamp you then before you get onto the stairs they use a black light to check your stamp (almost like a club). The view from the rooftop is nice - sleek and chic patio furniture. Definitely, looked like a happening place. Noticed some tables had the reserve signs (thought seating was first come first serve). Nevertheless - we lucked out seating (moving a chair and there from other tables). A bummer for the Legal Seafood regulars is that the menu for the roof deck is mainly sushi. Though many options for the sushi - can't say they were spectacular. Service was pretty good given the place was packed - bartender takes your drink order pretty quickly and servers check up quite frequently on how we're doing. The place overall is great - just a bit on the pricey side but guess that's Seaport District.
(4)
Ty W.
Interesting fun dessert with popcorn!! Filet was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his flounder!
(4)
Emily L.
Nice area for rooftop drinks and seafood towers. Good for dinner with groups. 3 levels to the restaurant. The 2nd floor is more upscale.
(4)
Frank N.
This Legal is my favorite spot when I want an impromptu lazy weekend bar-side. Never have a problem grabbing a seat at the circular bar--seems most of the tourists gravitate towards the upstairs or to the tables by the open windows. It's a busy spot, but the service attentive and the kitchen keeps up. The oysters are always local, Merry, Wianno, and Katama Bay, tasty and briny goodness! The crabmeat roll and lobster rolls always accompany our lunch meals. Also good, fresh and tasty. For drinks, there are usually some interesting cocktails but the Sam Adams crafted especially for Legal's is my favorite.
(5)
Gricel G.
Just flew in from Sunny Ft. Lauderdale, to a lovely 18 degrees. Staying at the Seaport, they recommend this restaurant. Staff was fantastic! James the bartender, extremely attentive. Very comforting when traveling alone on business. Great cosmo and he helped me pick a terrific dish. 2 thumbs up on the Lobster Bisque. Will definitely recommend.
(5)
Rob C.
What a mistake. I tend to forget this company, let alone location is an up-scaled RED LOBSTER. I had the tuna-burger today. I think I want to vomit, as it's a few hours later and things aren't going to hot. The Tuna burger, is basically ground up tuna remnants and what not - and no where is it stated that it's F'n ground up. Fries tasted like they were dusted in flour before frying and had no flavour. Fish Taco - had a bite, meh. Bottom line: over priced and classic with the rest of the Seafood spots in Boston. SH*t quality and just serving the masses of suits and tourists here for marginal food. Don't go.
(1)
Tenisha W.
If you want to enjoy the view of Boston harbor, this place has amazing views...BUT you have to make a reservation or else you can forget about that view you had hoped for. I speak from experience, we walked in the line was ridic and the wait for a table with a view was 1-11/2 hours, so we settled for a first come first serve table because we we hungry. The service was friendly and quick. Although it was very busy our server was very attentive. The food came out quick. We ordered the fried calamari and tempura green beans as appetizers. Both were really good. However they provided a spoon to divi up the green beans, that doesn't work too well. May I suggest thongs. For my meal I had the lobster roll it was absolutely delicious. The lobster tasted fresh and was cooked to perfection. The default side is French fries, which I wasnt a fan of I would have preferred something else maybe a vegetable. My husband had the tuna sandwich he really enjoyed it.. He said it was cooked well and very well seasoned. I tried the strawberry sangria which was different and it was good, although I must say it was strong for sangria. Overall I would go here again, next time with a reservation to get the full experience.
(4)
Xerxes N.
Three stories up with a beautiful water view. Smoking hot waitresses. Strong Chronic Iced Tea drinks. A buzz at 5pm and a pretty awesome nightlife atmosphere for a Monday. Thank you, Boston. Did I mention smoking hot waitresses? I didn't try the food but whatever sushi they were slinging looked pretty darn good!
(4)
Janet C.
The ambience was lovely, made even nicer by sitting by the window with a view of he harbor. Our meals were delicious and perfectly executed. The timing of the dishes were just as you would like them to be. The service was wonderful. It is a bit pricey but for a special dinner you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)
Katie J.
Usually I'm very critical of seafood, but this was hands-down incredible. Made a reservation for a special occasion and were not disappointed. Our party was seated at a table overlooking the water and it was stunning! Fresh breeze then followed by good food and wonderful service. For appetizers we had the fried calamari, oysters, mussels, and tuna crostini. The calamari and tuna were good, average. The oysters were so fresh and tasty! As for the mussels- good, but the curry sauce was a bit odd. We loved dipping our bread in it. For entrees we got an assortment. I had the fisherman's stew. They accidentally left out the white fish-- but were very quick to fix! It was delicious. We also got the char-grilled scallops with two sides (we chose spinach and eggplant). I had scallops at a place next door and was so disappointed...but these were SO GOOD. It's hard to find someone who can actually cook scallops right! Highly highly highly recommend! The clams & linguine were a hit, and the fish tacos were a hit with the teenager. Also had the cake with the ice cream bon-bons for dessert. We all left completely satisfied, full, and happy. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)
Murad B.
Food, which is mainly a seafood is really amazing, delicious and tasty. That from starters to the main course!!! Highly recommended!
(5)
Joshua B.
2nd floor review. Beautiful place, amazing waiter. Solid bar tender. Taste/quality of food was 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Atmosphere was great. Had a great time here!
(5)
Anna G.
My favorite, go-to restaurant in Boston! Firstly, the view - especially in the summer - is delightful. It is so nice being on the water with the boats coming in and sunny skies above. I always find the service here top-notch. I highly recommend waiting a few extra minutes to guarantee a table outside. I do not understand coming here and sitting near the street... sitting on the water is the whole reason to come here! I think the cocktails are pretty good and for food I recommend oysters, the famous bisque or chowdahh, lobster pizza, and soft belly clams (if they have it). Pass on the swordfish gyro. Overall, the ambiance here during nice weather is perfect - boisterous, festive, people enjoying summer in NE. Do not mistake this review for all Legal Seafoods as this is specific to Legal Harborside.
(5)
Holly B.
Wow. Awesome service beginning with the charming, beautiful Kate. She is genuinely interested in why you are visiting and where you want to sit. With the lineup out the door, she may have the most stressful job in Boston! She never loses her cool and makes everyone feel special. Up to the second floor where Sarah and Maryann await. Beautiful and talented, they are the sweetest bartenders ever. Have a wedding or function coming up? Sarah also is an expert at updos! Maryanne is a mixologist - best martinis ever! Great night! Now, to the food! We had the ahi tuna and pacific salmon. Both were fresh and incredibly delicious. We can't wait to go back.
(5)
Niki K.
We sat in the first come area since the ding room was full. The lobster bisque was more lobster than bisque, sweet and tender. The fried calamari had fried veggies with it. The fried lemons were amazing. I had fried clams, which were good but not in the half shell as expected. My friend had the lobster mac and cheese which she demolished. I was a little freaked out that the menu only said market prices but didn't have actual prices anywhere. We shared the bon bons, which were 2-3 bites of thick chocolate shells, and an assortment of chocolate, coffee, strawberry, or mint ice cream.
(5)
Anne J.
Legal Harborside First Floor. Legal Harborside Second Floor. Legal Harborside Third Floor. How ridiculous to separate a restaurant into different parts managed separately. It creates confusion. Then disappointment on learning that you can have a conversation on the second floor but only a limited menu. OR you can have the broader Legal menu on the first floor but at a noise level where you have to shout to be heard. You have another shouting opportunity on the third floor over drinks, against a thumping background of technomusic. Travesty.
(1)
Chris And Michelle R.
My husband and I stayed in Boston recently to celebrate his birthday. The Innkeeper at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at suggested Harborside when we asked for an upscale experience that would be appropriate for the clothing we would be wearing for a day of hiking through the city. She said she would not normally recommend a "chain", but because of the location, the reviews she has heard and the fact that they have an executive chef she felt comfortable enough to recommend. Let me tell you...she was spot on! We spent more than 3 hours here, enjoying everything from the patio seating in the seafood district to the service. Our server, Pedro "Pete", was phenominal. Held to high standards by our neighboring servers, Santiago and Diego, he went above and beyond to ensure our visit was more than pleasant. His personality was fun and edgy, exactly what we appreciate =) We explained that we were in no rush and wanted to enjoy multiple different offerings at a very slow pace and he never made us feel rushed. Our food was delicious, from the appetizers to the dessert and everything in between. The service we experienced, and heard on either side of us from Diego and Santiago, was so exceptional that we were sure to call a manager over to our table and recognize the great quality we witnessed. Thank you, Harborside, for making our stay and birthday dinner everything we were hoping for!
(5)
Nicole B.
I was with a party of 6 and we came to the 3rd floor bar for the beautiful views, but it was not equipped to handle the crowd. We wanted food along with our drinks and had to eat on our lap in the lounge area because the tables and bar were too crowded. The sangria was delicious (I tried both the red and white) but the crab roll was just too rich for my taste. Even the chips that came with it were thick and oily, though the coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. Under different circumstances I might give this 4 stars.
(3)
Alison R.
We arrived around 6:45 on a Friday night. It was packed in there and we didn't really expect to get a table but we were offered a table outside right away! score! It was somewhat rainy but there was an overhang so it was perfectly fine. We informed our server Brittney W (who was amazing!) that we were heading next door for a show so were looking for a quick dinner. She took our order for drinks, oysters and dinners at once. Two of our group are gluten free so the fact that the menu indicates what is or can be made gluten free is such a bonus for us. The service could not have been more impeccable. It was quick, efficient, everything was excellent and I think we we were out of there by 7:20. Brittney was warm, bubbly and super quick. She was the epitome of the perfect server. We would be lucky to be seated in her section next time!
(5)
Philip C.
While touring around Faneuil Hall and the North End we stopped at Legal Seafoods for lunch. The service was excellent and the seafood very enjoyable. Prices were comparable to most surrounding establishments, but the overall quality was much better. We had a window seat and had a nice view of the Harbor activities as we ate....
(4)
Jonah K.
New huge legal on the water, you know you'll get good quality food here normally. Our visit was nothing different. The striper caught off the cape was fresh and delicious, the Caesar salad is always one of my personal favorites and the eggplant side dish was also excellent. I would normally suggest to get the specials at Legal, they normally have something which stands out from the touristy menu and is very fresh and well done.
(4)
Craig S.
I have been here a few times and it has always been pretty good. The location is amazing, it is well set up but always absurdly busy. Went in this Holiday Monday and lucked out with two seats at the bar. Starving, I decided to order most of the menu as I could not decide -- always a fan of tapas style. I got Buffalo Shrimp - good and classy but tasted a little old. Short rib and tuna crudo bruscetta - both awesome. Chowda..of coarse ever better with buffalo sauce in it. Oysters always on point. and the biggest disappointment the Coconut milk mussels. They were old and deformed -- very sad as my craving for good mussels is what attracted me here in the first place. The flavors were good enough that it covered up how old they actually were - but later when I ate the leftovers I almost threw up. She got the presumptively safest thing on the menu, Fish and Chips- they were not safe. It was presented as if they had just dumped the remnants of the fry tray onto her plate - as the fish looked half eaten and there were random bits of tentacle. She was too nice to complain but I'm not. Besides a good place should know when they make a mistake so they can correct it --and not charge me for it. Drinks were very good as was the bartender - I will be back but I do expect a nice place like this to be perfect ... Step up your game Legals
(2)
Sergio M.
Loved the seafood. Swordfish gyro was awesome ! The fish was cooked perfect charred and very moist. We had mussels and oyster for an app and they were delicious, have have been here a few time and I will keep going back for food and drinks !
(4)
Jeff C.
I've been to a lot of different sushi restaurants in the past 8 years, but I have to say that the sushi here is the freshest and tastiest that I've ever had. I went to this place with a few friends and we sat on the rooftop with a gorgeous view overlooking the harbor. We ordered a ton of sushi and it all came out in a very timely manner. The sushi was served in a beautiful wooden boat and the presentation was stunning. The sushi chef did an AMAZING job preparing the food - it looked just like a piece of art. As for the food itself, like I said, I've never had better sushi. The quality of the ingredients was outstanding and each roll was packed with delicious seafood - they definitely don't skimp on the portions. My group was so impressed by this place that we asked to meet the chef. He came out, introduced himself as Harold, and asked us how we enjoyed the food. He seemed so proud when we told him that this was the best sushi we've ever eaten and told us that he carefully makes every roll to perfection. The wait staff was extremely friendly and graciously accommodated our group. I will definitely be going back soon!
(5)
Sanel S.
Ugh, where to begin. I guess at the beginning... Actually I don't have time for this, I have to get going, but in short. I came here with a group of friends for my birthday on a cold winter night in early March. I was here back in November for another birthday and loved the drinks. First thing I get at the door is some pretentios little chick telling me I can't go upstairs to the third floor and that me and my company should hang out in the lobby instead. Maybe it was because I wasn't dressed head to toe in Armani suits, I don't know. Color me weird but I like wearing North Face jackets in winter when it's 20* outside. So as I'm arguing there and asking why the hell can't I go up there, and her telling me it's really busy, another server joins in the conversation, a little older and obviously knows what the hell she's doing. She goes "What's going on?" Me: "I'm just trying to get to the 3rd floor", her "Oh it's open just go right up on ahead." And I'm thinking "Wtf, she just told me I can't?" We get up there, there's literally 2 people in the corner sitting, i.e., it is the antithesis to "packed". That really rubbed me the wrong way. Then about hour and a half into hanging out, we're on our I guess 3rd round of drinks (everyone is ordering at different times since we all drink at different paces). So I order my 2nd drink, which actually turned out to be terrible. My mistake. So rather than whine about it and ask for a refund I ask for the server to order a new one and give the old one to my friend since she didn't mind the taste. The server then gets really testy and says we've already had too much and she's going to have to stop us now. When I explain to her that my drink sucks and I need a replacement she finally gives in. She spent most of the evening trying to avoid our table, and when we were finally ready to order sushi she was nowhere to be found. We weren't causing a rackus, we were not loud, we didn't look like scum in fact we were quite nicely dressed. Maybe we weren't the standard cougar clientele and that's what rubbed her the wrong way, or the fact that she's ~24 and most she's done with her life is work at Legal Harborside. Though I will say just an hour prior to this we all had an amazing dinner at LTK across the street. So I don't know what was the deal with these two girls. My friends ended up picking up the tab for me so I didn't see the final tally but I know for a fact all 5 were quite displeased and she did not get much of a tip. Too bad, such a fantastic view, some of best drinks in town, but we were treated so pi$$-poor.
(2)
Nicole S.
I would give no stars if I could- fine dining on the 2nd floor is a joke. The menu is limited, overpriced and ultimate got me ill. We had an 8:30 reservation, and everything started out fine. We ordered a cold soup and calamari app, which came out in a normal amount of time, maybe 10 min from the order...and then we waited over an hour for the entrees from the time the apps were delivered- we didn't get the entrees til after 10pm after being sat at 8:30!!! The waiter never came back to check on us, we had to flag him down to order any drinks, and when we complained about how long it was taking he seemed indifferent. We waited longer, and were pretty upset, we had to ask for a manager, who tried to make it right and ultimately comped the whole bill- thank goodness for that. The filet which was supposed to be MR, came out rare, scallops undercooked and the burger we ordered without cheese came out as a cheeseburger. I ultimately couldn't keep any of the food down.....terrible service, terrible experience. Place was a joke- wasn't even busy. Ruined our nice night out visiting Boston from NYC. Terrible.
(1)
Mike D.
Seafood in Boston is risky business sometimes. I often try to venture out to the other great seafood spots in town but Ive been let down oh so often. I consider this place my security blanket when it comes to seafood and here's why: In the 2 dozen times that I have been here, I have never been let down. I've been up and down the menu and honestly have experienced some of the best seafood I have ever had. The service has always been great and never spotty. The food preparation is always on point and the views are to die for. What a winning combination. Now if you are reading this and saying to yourself, well Ive been to other legals and the experience has just been ehh, trust me, there is something different about this one, they take the extra step to make sure everything is perfect for you. Stop thinking and just go!
(4)
Kris E.
Great drinks and food! Definitely worth the trip, but a bit pricey. The views are really nice. The oysters were fresh and they have a nice selection. Our waiter was terrific. Giving 4 stars because the hostess was less than friendly and because it is a bit overpriced. Still a good experience.
(4)
Chris R.
Friendly place - great food and service. There's a giant variety Vibe is relaxed and friendly. Recommend scallops, chowder and lobster rolls Ill be back!
(4)
Lala I.
the dinner lasted almost 3 hours because of extremely slow service. the food is def better than your average legal seafood and the view was very enjoyable, but the it still has the average sucky chain restaurant service. very rude, chaotic, slow service. they even brought us the wrong food. wine was not so good either. it's a good place to bring a date, but i'd def explore more places in the seaport district before i return to this one.
(3)
Salena M.
This is a review for the nicer, gourmet dining section. View is gorgeous with the high vast windows and elegant dining area. Food was okay... had abalone with lemon risotto that tasted mediocre even though the description sounds amazing. My husband got the grilled cobia (a type of white fish) with pomegranate bbq sauce and that was delicious. For kids - they are able to cook something simple like grilled chicken or salmon and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes were a hit with the kids served in "cute" little stainless steel pots If you're up to try another Legal Seafood restaurant, go for it, at least you can enjoy the view from the 2nd floor and drink some wine.
(3)
Jill G.
gorgeous roofdeck view- one of my favorite spots for a "sunday funday". always packed with somewhat of a yuppy crowd, but a great place to go with friends. its actually different from the typical legal chain- they even have beers that Sams and Harpoon brew for them uniquely. Really great food- fresh fish!
(4)
Mikaela H.
I dined at a window table on Floor 1. The view was incredible. I had never been to a Legal Seafood before and I appreciated our server telling us about the company history. I was very happy with the gluten free rolls and the crabmeat salad was simple and dleicious. If we left then I would have given Legal Harborside 5 stars. But then the entrees arrived... I ordered the fish in foil with no bacon, which unfortunately meant they had to leave off the mushrooms too because the bacon and mushrooms are apparently cooked together. This was disappointing because I love mushroms but don't eat pork. Anyway, when the fish came I opened the foil to find that the fish was literally SWIMMING IN BUTTER. To be fair, some people probably enjoy this but in my opinion, being served what must have been an entire stick of butter is REVOLTING and on the menu it just said "steamed haddock" so there was no warning. I literally could not eat it. My mom was willing to switch plates with me but her scallops were also far too heavy. Just thinking about the butter smell right now is making me nauseous. In summary, Legal Harborside has a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff but butter and salt are completely overused in an attempt to make rich dishes. Don't get be wrong, I enjoy flavorful food. But I do not enjoy food that is so intense I want to vomit because I can actually feel my arteries clogging. If you care at all about healthy food, do not eat here.
(2)
Michelle P.
Usually I'm not into chain seafood restaurants but Legal is actually quite good and their seafood doesn't leave me screaming for the hills. Baked stuffed artichokes with scallops and shrimp. You must get this. I for one typically enjoy cheese and seafood together...if you don't, you probably should skip it. Their softshell crab BLT was good and my dining companions fish was delicious. I believe it was bass of some type. Overall service was good though prices are pretty high, but hey, the view was worth it....almost.
(4)
Ira H.
I've been here twice in the past week. Last Wed on the roof deck at night. Awesome view and breeze. Good quick drink service. Went again this past Sunday for a family lunch. We tried for the roof deck but found out they only serve sushi and bar food up there. No problem. The host was very kind. We headed down to the 1st floor. Still had a great water view and breeze. It was a little more crowded. Service and food were great. Believe it or not, prices were reasonable for the 4 of us. Fish Tacos ($11), 2 kids lunches ($7 each,) small salad ($8) Fish tacos were excellent. I'll be back again.
(5)
Daniel W.
The one star reviews of this restaurant are about as petty as petty gets. Downright laughable. The chowder is great and the Fisherman's stew is awesome. Yes, it will cost more than Red Lobster. Yes, it's busy and noisy. Yes, it's in a busy part of town near the convention center so there will trouble parking and parking fees.
(5)
MyBroken J.
Wonderful service! Fantastic food! Beautiful ambience. The lobster soup is the best! The seafood was prepared to perfection! The filet was outstanding!
(5)
Matt S.
I've been to both the restaurant and the rooftop area. Starting with the restaurant first, it is rather good and the atmosphere/decor pretty exciting and impressive. Legal seafood is pretty well known for having quality seafood so it's hard to argue there. The deck and seating area around there have a great view, but nothing beats the rooftop deck in that regards. Although the menu is more limited up there (just sushi and a couple of simple grill options), the view up there is excellent and is perfect for lunch on a nice day. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a bite to eat in the seaport area.
(5)
Steve W.
This was a recommendation from my concierge. The wait was about 10 minutes before anyone came over to say hello. I was incorrectly placed in the wrong section by the hostess so I needed to move up 3 floors. The food offering was very limited and the service was not attentive. I was at the bar and needed to flag down the bartender on a few occasions to get anything, and he forgot to bring me my drink. The food was nothing special although the prices were on the high end. Definitely not worth the trip. Bad service, Bad food. Don't waste your time and money!
(1)
Brian B.
Great place to stop in for sea food. The location is amazxing sitting directly on Boston Harbor. A bit pricey but worth the stop. Highly recommend!
(4)
Josephine L.
This is actually a review for floor 2 of the Legal Harborside complex, but Yelp doesn't seem to have a listing for that. The space is undoubtedly gorgeous and perfect for a night of fine dining. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't meet expectations. I had the Halibut with lobster and the portions were absolutely tiny. A small hunk of fish, a few fried cauliflowers and two tiny pieces of lobster. It was good but I was finished within 5 minutes and still hungry. And all this for $38? For that matter, almost every entree on the menu is in the $30s and yet the portion size is consistently small. I also had a cosmo and while it was tasty, it was also incredibly watered-down and sugary and tasted nothing like a traditional cosmo. Within our party, we had 3 orders of cosmos and no two drinks ever turned out the same. I would have expected better from the bar. The Maple Leaf was quite good, though. I will give props for the service. Our party had a lot of trouble getting together on time (out-of-towners stuck in traffic) and the staff let us keep our reservation even though we were an hour late when we were finally seated. Our waiter(s) were pretty attentive throughout the meal and were quite friendly. So kudos to them.
(3)
Jay P.
Have been here three times. Each time it has been insanely crowded, noisy and pretentious (most restaurants in Boston I have found to be this way - not sure what that is about, but they need to get over it! ). The food is pretty ordinary - which is sad as they do seem to have some really quality sea food at hand. The recipes and dishes are just totally lacking in anything that resembles creativity or an awareness of what is happening in the American culinary scene. Service has always been spotty and rushed. Prices are not insane, but they are not a good value either. My last visit was a disaster. I pretty much had to wait on myself - getting up several times to ask for things like condiments and silverware. Wow. Skip it, head in to a neighborhood and get something better.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Legal definitely lived up to the hype for me. Had probably the best plate of scallops I've ever had. Also the size of the order was quite large. Also had a very tasty cup of clam chowder. All in all great experience and would highly recommend checking out Legal Harborside.
(4)
Lindsey H.
This is my go to spot.. the food is always great, and it's conveniently located right across from my apartment. It has a great view of the harbor making the atmosphere nice and relaxing no matter what the time of day. I've been here with family for dinner as well as for drinks with friends and I can't say I've ever been disappointed. I would highly recommend the clam pizza, the oysters (they have a great selection), and their margaritas are delicious. Reservations are always a good idea...
(4)
terry b.
We really enjoyed our visit here, we had a great server Jared that made really good suggestions. This restaurant is right on the water with great view and a really nice vibe. We would return again.
(4)
Kelsey C.
The longer I wait to review the 2nd Floor of Legal Harborside, the lower its rating gets. So I figured I should get on it before the rating dips to zero. With a breathtaking waterfront location, pristine dining room, tasty drinks, and a menu that screamed of quality seafood, this imposing structure stood full of promise. This promise was manifest in the saintly patience of the staff. Thanks to a couple of incompetent cabbies, our group ended up being 45 minutes late for our reservation, but the host and hostess showed no signs of irritation. Unfortunately, when it was time to order, Legal Harborside showed its true colors. The majority of my table of 8 wanted to order it, and the remainder of the table was fatally allergic to half the things on it, but we were informed that it was not possible to accommodate that. Translation: order from the regular menu or die. Great service. Truly. The entrees weren't much either. My Olive Oil Poached Tuna was totally bland though the tuna was perfectly seared. Seared but not salted... The Misty Knoll Farms Chicken was better, and I was told that the Alaskan king crab topping theFilet Mignon was incredible. The dessert was a so-called chocolate mousse that turned out to be more of a gooey indecision. Too moist to be a brownie, too dry to be a mousse. Weird... I feel some residual guilt writing a bad review since the hosts were so polite about our tardiness, but I imagine it's easier to be patient when only half the dining room is full at 7 PM on a Friday night. I think I'd jump into the harbor before I came here again.
(2)
I M.
Got the oysters as apps, really good selection can't complaint. The grilled swordfish was on the dry side, probably trying something different next time. Fries were ok, there are better options for sides on the menu.
(4)
Michel D.
This is a review of the second-floor "gourmet" restaurant. I came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday with my wife and my in--laws - we were six in total and we all know our food and our wine. We have long been fans of Legal Seafoods, and have eaten in multiple locations throughout the Boston area, so we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this one. I have to say, it started well. The decor of the restaurant and the bar is nice, there is a galley where you can see the food being prepared, the tables are far enough from one another to provide privacy, there is nice view of the water and the lighting is well done. We had a drink at the bar before our meal, and the bartender made excellent cocktails and had detailed knowledge of the wines on hand. Then we were seated. The menu is dysfunctional. At first glance, there was nothing I wanted on it - I wanted to suggest we just go to the normal Legal on the first floor. It is a completely misguided attempt to be high end and gourmet. Everything is too complex, overdone and has too many things going on. It's alright to have some dishes like that, but on the seafood front, there was nothing that was not just a premium piece of fish, cooked to perfection with maybe just some lemon-butter-parsely on top of it and a side of super fresh vegetables. To be honest, most items made me think of a winter menu despite the fact that it was a beautiful August day. I don't think the staff here spends enough time on local markets to find the best in-season produce. We ordered oysters as appetizers, and the presentation was highly lacking. There were no small forks brought with the dish. The waiter messed up on our wines and we had to re-iterate who had ordered what wine before he went back to the bar to re-place our order. We had to ask for bread to be brought to the table, and the bread dish itself was ridiculous. The bread plate here consists of a few cuts arranged to look like some sort of sailboat, and at best enough for two people, never mind six. The main courses came out and did not deliver any "wow" factor. They were good, but nothing special and did not deserve the price tag they came with. Everyone ordered fish, and we all agreed that for the most part, the fish at the regular Legal is better at a fraction of the cost! We ordered our desserts and the order was blotched. The waiter had to go back to the kitchen to fix it. When our bill arrived, it was of course substantial, but we were expecting that. What we did not expect was the poor quality of our experience at that price. The service is amateurish and disorganized at best, and what's coming out of the kitchen is far from memorable. For the price, there are far better places to go for a memorable, satisfying experience. At least we had a beautiful view on the water throughout our meal!
(2)
Erik O.
Roof deck review only It's nice, very trendy. Your own privet bathrooms. Decent drinks, a little pricy, and decent appetizer sized foods. The view is ok, but I must say that since it is n the otherwise of the WTC, ABG and whiskey priest have it beat, by a long shot. Cool spot though. Only complaint: it gets kinda crowded with douchy after workers.
(3)
Richard R.
Lobster roll skimpy and only claws when compared to other Legal locations. Mussels and lobster pizza outstanding. Great outdoor patio on the water.
(4)
Silvia V.
I ended up at Legal Harborside last Sunday (Mother's Day) with two friends for lunch. It was a lovely sunny day and eating by the water only made sense. We didn't have reservations and even though the restaurant was full, we ended up being seated at the bar overlooking the ocean as we walked in. We ordered a sample of 12 local oysters to share. They were fresh, juicy and very delicious. I had the grilled swordfish for lunch which came with barely any veggies even though the menu said it came with cucumber, tomato, chickpeas, fennel, basil, lemon olive oil dressing. The swordfish was good, but I was still hungry after lunch. My friend doesn't eat onions, so before ordering Yellowfin Tuna with orzo salad and sweet & sour Japanese eggplant she asked whether the side dishes contain any onions, the waitress said no. When our entrees very delivered both her side dishes were full of onions. We complained and got some ice cream free of charge. The ice cream was good even though it was plain old vanilla. Being there on a busy day we were surprised by how many times one of the waiters kept bringing food that other people ordered to us. It was a bit odd. Anyway, when you go to any of the waterfront restaurants you know that you are paying for the location and not necessarily for the quality or quantity of food. Go to Legal Harborside for oysters if not for anything else.
(3)
Jessica W.
Best ever, their menu is totally different from the other legal seafood, the price is quite reasonable, but every dish has special creativity and good tasty. Totally love it.
(5)
TinoX T.
Awesome View,Good Food
(4)
Katherine D.
This review is strictly for a few experiences drinking on the upper floor. We got comfy seats, but if we hadn't it would have been way too crowded. The drinks were overpriced across the board. I know its the Seaport, but mixed drinks at over $10 is bad business. The crowd was rowdy for sure, and not really my scene. Our server was visibly agitated when I ordered a water. I'm sorry that I'm not made of money to take down an overpriced, and not very creative martini. I ended up with an alcoholic libation later, but she was resentful of the party for taking her prime real estate, even though the rest of us were indulging heavily. Pros, the space is nice. The view is great. I enjoyed the seating we snagged. The music was good, albeit a bit loud, and the door staff were very polite and pleasant.
(3)
Jane H.
Eh, Legal is Legal. You probably won't be disappointed and it won't knock your socks off. I had some sort of fish taco thingie, liked my cocktail - a ginny//lemonady something or other. See what I mean? I liked everything, but nothing was truly memorable.
(3)
Kim T.
2nd floor of Legal Harborside. I love the way this place is setup. 1st floor casual dining. 2nd fine dining. 3rd outside bar. There was a concert going on next store, score for us! I was visiting the home town and decided to come here for a nice dinner with my girlfriends. The waiters are so attentive, and so helpful with their food selections. It was a long dinner, but an exceptional one. We left with home made mini cookie instead of mints. :) I definitely will be back. Food: - Bread plate: ridiculous!! :) The corn bread, I think I had more than my share. Sorry, I love corn bread. - Melon Soup with Shrimp Salsa - Chef's surprise. Wasn't sure how this would taste, but wow! - Steamed Mussels: not too bad, but didn't wow me. Plus was that they were out of the shell - Butter Poached Lobster: holy crap. Yay for being completely de-shelled. The flavor was ridiculous!!! So sweet, and juicy. - Desserts: all were good! Don't remember what I ordered, but I left happy. Maybe I'll try the first floor this time, since they offer different food.
(5)
Nathan S.
Was at the Boston Convention Center for a long weekend and the Legal Harborside was worth a repeated visit (3 Legal visits in two days). About me: live in western NY (I used to live in Boston), so being at the coast I wanted to consume as much seafood as possible. (Also strange, while living in Boston for 6 years, I never ate at a Legal, I suppose it was always available and therefore was never a significant priority for dining out). The seafood and views are very good with lots of great seats including bar/window seats that are perfect if dining by oneself. I'd have no complaints, but I also ate at the Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill location had 1) cheaper prices for oysters and little-necks; 2) a more extensive menu; and 3) a much larger lobster roll. Which makes me think maybe the restaurants are franchised? Regardless, I had a great overall experience, friendly and helpful staff, and surprisingly, I didn't feel the least bit ill after consuming lots of fish and raw seafood. Legal's lobster roll is one of the best you'll find anywhere. The clam chowder was good, but didn't blow my expectations out of the water. And of course, the oysters and little-necks were great, but my ability to compare quality is limited.
(4)
Bob S.
This place is constantly busy, busy, busy!! I like the way the interior is arranged so that each seat gets a view of the harbor. The waitstaff is knowledgable and profesional (we've been here multiple times), the menu is very diverse giving customer's plenty of options to choose. I had the wood grilled sea scallops (outstanding) that came with two side dishes. I chose sauteed spinach with pine nuts and sweet and sour japanese eggplant. The meal was excellent, the portions were really enough to split if you weren't crazy hungry and again, service outstanding.
(4)
Rossi F.
Food and location were great but overall wasn't super impressed with the service. Two weeks ago I made a reservation for a party of 7 people for Sat 3/23. I called a few days before hand to tell them it was going to be 9 people, they had to bump our reservation from 8:30 to 9:00 in order to accomodate us. I understand that. But then when we got there at 8:50pm on Saturday they handed us a pager and said they were not sure when our table would be ready. After I checked in with a manager twice, complaining that we were celebrating a birthday and had plans after dinner, we were finally sat at 9:45. My girlfriend ran into a friend from work at the bar who was still waiting at 9:30pm for her 8:30pm reservation. They sent over a couple of free apps to the table but that was that. Our server was very informal and almost came across as rude. After waiting 45 minutes for a reservation and receiving less than mediocre service, I don't plan on going back. Maybe during a less busy time, but certainly not on a Saturday night.
(3)
Alireza S.
Being a local who lives in the neighborhood, have been here many times to show what Boston's seaport district has to offer. While the location and the view is unbeatable, regretfully, I have to say the staff has one of the worst attitudes you can find in Boston. The food is mediocre at best, the ambience is mixed and in a nutshell, if you are a tourist who doesn't know his/her way around or doesn't care or know much about great service or food quality and would just like to spend a night in "any" restaurant with a harbor view, this is your pick. If they want to maintain the legacy of the Legal Seafood brand/franchise, they better step up their game as competition is in the corner and having just a beautiful waterfront view wouldn't cut it.
(1)
jamie l.
The rooms were very nice (nice design and great view)...but the restaurant is huge and feels that way. The food was just okay. Nothing to get excited about - just a big factory for tourists. We won't go back.
(2)
Erin C.
On Saturday night around 6:30 my date and I headed down to try to grab a table for dinner on the 2nd floor. There was about a 30-40 minute wait so we just hopped up to the 3rd floor for some drinks. We split some oysters and a small pitcher of the White Sangria. Both were good, but nothing outstanding. I was a little disappointed that the bartender seemed to forget who we were and what we ordered every time he tried to give us someone else's order. He was nice though so that kind of made upf or it. Our experience on the 2nd floor was expensive but tasty. We split the mussels which was enough for both of us to have about 2 bites each. For my entree I had the sable and my date had the salmon. Both were cooked perfectly and super tasty. Our dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with cranberry sauce was sweet and tangy plus the perfect size for two people. The only thing that drove me nuts was our server. He was a bit of a pain and didn't seem pleased that we weren't ordering multiple appetizers. After we ordered he actually didn't stop by once to ask us how our meal was, fill up water or anything. I'd definitely be back to try the first floor and check out the 3rd floor when the place is opened up.
(3)
Diana Y.
--------LUNCH ONLY-------- This particular restaurant has a really nice setting in terms of ambiance. But that's pretty much it. NOTE** Neptune's was my first stop in Boston so that set the (high) standard of what all lobster rolls should be. Ordered the
(3)
Brittany H.
i hate chain restaurants... i''ll repeat.... HATE them.... BUT i suppose the only reason why i've been dragged here is to check out the amazing view of the waterfront and to hang out with my amazing friend. otherwise... i've been conned. flipside...we had a table for two outside. the view was breathtakingly beautiful on a saturday afternoon. the downside... food was mediocre and downright terrible. calamari would have been better if the batter wasn't so soggy. i had the tuna burger... and sadly, wish i would have ordered the lobster roll instead. also, the only oysters worth ordering were OUT that day!!!! :( flipside... our waitress was extremely patient and funny with us. i was a pain in the ass and frowned at everything... however, she graced us with her humor. had their sangrias...not as good as it used to be, but still enjoyable on a hot, dry day. let's face it... i paid for the experience...not the food. gladly come back to sit outside on the patio for drinks and apps only.
(2)
Michelle M.
I absolutely love Legal Seafoods! Because I have recently been diagnosed with gluten and dairy allergy I am quite limited in my options. Not to worry fellow non-gluten eaters. They have a gluten free menu and gluten free rolls to die for!! I am serious!! I have never tasted anything so delicious AND gluten free at the same time. I can even go as far as saying that those rolls are better than any gluten bread. I do remember the clam chowder which was the best but I had to be OK with the gluten free version which is nothing to compare but still OK. Any seafood you chose is beyond delicious, grilled shrimp is delish, all done a la perfection. They have a policy to serve clients with any allergies by their managers. Always attentive, pleasant servers, quick service, 5 star food= happy always returning customers! I give LSF a five star!
(5)
Brad E.
We started out with a terrific wine Cakebread chardonnay. Always a plus. We asked our waiter to recommend some oysters for an appetizer. He selected 4 different oyseters: Wianno XL, Glidden Pt, Kumamoto, and the wellfleet all of which were fantastic. We both liked the Wianno XL's best. For entrees, I had the grilled swordfish and my wife had the ahi. Both were cooked perfectly. The fish was the star of the show without sauces or other items to cover the taste of the fish. We had some interesting sides: soba noodles and orzo salad. Both dishes were interesting and went well with the fresh fish. For dessert, we had the boston creme pie, coffee tres leche, and chocolate mocha cake. The boston creme pie was not great. It was fine but wasn't something I'd have again. The coffee tres leche was light and simply melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. My wife's favorite was the chocolate mocha cake. The flavor was good and the texture was smooth and creamy. I am a fan.
(4)
Morgan D.
Went here for some birthday celebration cocktails and it was beauuuutiful!! As a visitor, I was blown away by the gorgeous view. I live near a waterfront city and man, I have never seen a place like this in Baltimore. This is one of those spots where you feel that 'grown and sexy' cliche. AND I ENJOYED IT. It's nice to be around peers that are dressed up for the night out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the OMG I need to be decked out for tonight types...but it definitely is nice to go out all glammed up with the girls. And rarely do I want to feel like an 'adult', but it was a nice change. Met some great people, had a great time. Boston, I love you!
(4)
Michael C.
Holy smokes is this place a zoo on a beautiful Friday night in August. Do not even think about arriving without a reservation or be prepared to wait, and wait and wait some more. Floor 1: As with the entire restaurant, it has killer views with a great decor but God All Mighty is this place crowded. Floor 3: 25 years ago I would have loved this floor. Again, absolutely killer views of the harbor and Logan. The area has wonderful outdoor seating, a great bar and is I suspect a gold mine.....the drinks were flowing and the cash was rolling in. Back to the 25 years ago; the average age was well south of mine and my wife's and the noise level well north of what I regard as normal. Beating a hasty retreat we head to floor 2. Ahhhh...now this is my kind of place. The bar again has to die for views with wonderfully comfortable chairs and beyond competent bartenders. Passing on my usual Martini, I ordered a Manhattan. So good I ordered a second....after a cold stare from my wife I reluctantly passed on the third one. We had diner with friends sitting outside. On an a perfect 80 degree no humidity night, it does not get much better than this. The menu is surprisingly light on fish offerings however what they have is excellent. Portions are a bit small, I think they need to be a bit more generous. What they do serve is fresh and wonderfully presented. The staff are as well trained as I have ever experience anywhere. I am not sure how they do it but all staff are polite and obviously well trained. Valet park your car; it is only 12 bucks. That makes up a bit for the expense. Granted we had 2 bottles of wine and desert however dinner for 4 was $345.00 before tip so bring the wallet.
(4)
Craig Z.
My second meal here (on the first floor) was better than my first. Steamers were the best I have ever had, I love the seaonsal crisp dessert every time--though I wish it had a little less crisp and a little more ice cream--and the crab and pepperoni pizza was incredible! Service is a little clueless, but nice.
(5)
Jules H.
I'm a longtime customer of Legal's, but this was my first trip to the new location. I have to say, I've always been a fan of LS because the seafood is fresh and simply prepared, so you can really enjoy the quality. The staff are always really well-trained and friendly, and the drinks are strong. All of this held true at the Harborside spot. We started with some killer drinks and edamame on the 3rd floor, and I have to second what a lot of folks here are saying - the third floor is too small. It's only going to get more crowded as this neighborhood develops, too. But there was a private party blocking off half the space, so that was an added factor. The view is awesome, being there after dark made Eastie look almost majestic :) Also, a free coat check (and shout out to the very friendly ID-check dude) made the whole bar experience WAY easier. We ate on the first floor, and I loved the shrimp corndog, a really creative starter that came with a DELICIOUS mango mustard. I had scallops and fried for my main, and they were as good as always - the sides (especially the mashed potatoes) at LS are always REALLY good, simple and fresh. And they're very easygoing about customizations - many times I've requested or had someone in my party request something that's not on the menu, and they've never said no or made it feel like a hassle.
(4)
Sheila B.
So I love this place. This our family dinner spot, with a toddler, it's fancy enough for my husband and myself and my toddler gets to eat some really good chicken tenders and french fries. What's not to like, NOTHING... I have been here probably 10x in the last year. I love, the atmosphere, the view, the service is top notch, it's not pretentious, the bathrooms are clean (and they have a changing table). I can always find a meter spot down the street. They have very attentive staff. The food, I haven't' eaten one bad thing here, my favorites, are the tuna special I had last night crusted in panko, with wasabi cream sauce, the lobster dinner stuffed tail, every piece of fish, oyster, crab, scallop, mussel and shrimp this place brings to the table is of high quality. I can't say enough good things. True story, we bought $200 worth of gift cards to give as x-mas gifts and we kept them for ourselves, we love you LHS !! Thank you for being so awesome as always.. see you soon !
(5)
Raphael D.
Ocean scallops are fussy creatures on the grill or in the pan. Five seconds too early and you have an undercooked scallop. Ten seconds too long and you have a rubbery nugget that could have been a decadent morsel as soft as butter. Here they're somewhere in between. Gonna stick with the lobster or the filets next time. Other than that they have a great beer selection, clams and oysters were super fresh and delicious, amazing view if your table is near the water and the service was pretty spot-on.
(3)
Melissa M.
First off, I do not eat seafood. In fact, I pretty much despise it. OK moving on...I come here for one reason only- the view from the roof deck. I used to also come here for their Coconut Lemonade but they no longer have it on their cocktail menu :( The first floor is loud, the second floor looks pretty but I've never actually seen anyone eating there or heard of anyone who ate there. The roof is where it's at. I prefer to walk all the way to the end on the right, away from the bar and the covering. The bar area is really packed and I like to have enough elbow room just in case I feel the need to break out into the chicken dance. I feel the crowd is at its best after work or late afternoon/early evening on the weekend. Late night can get a little weird. They have a decent wine list, although it takes roughly 35 minutes to actually get your drink. The wait staff have always been very pleasant, but they are soooooo slow. Going to the restroom can be a bit tricky, especially if you are on the right end of the deck. You must walk through the bar area. Now, although I should be flattered since I am in my mid 30's, I really don't think it's necessary to be groped by drunk business men every time I have to pee. You have to squeeze by them and not once have I made a successful bathroom trip without getting brushed up upon or goosed. It reminds me of The Purple Shamrock in 1998...anyways...the bathroom situation itself can be fun, especially if you witness first timers who are a little tipsy. The bathrooms are single stall rooms and the "womens" and "mens" stalls are not separated. AND to make it even more exciting, there is a mirror on the wall that makes it appear as though there are more stalls and I have seen several people walk into the mirror thinking it was part of the hallway. I know this is hard to visualize but if you do go to this location and use the restroom you will know exactly what I am talking about. So overall, Legal Harborside has a great view of the water and the fancy boats, nice-yet slow wait staff and good drinks.
(3)
I.m M.
To the manager at Legal Harborside: I never got to thank you for the complimentary Boston Cream Pies you sent to my table because my raw seafood platter was a little late. That's ok, you're all right! It really made my final day in Boston very pleasant. Thanks! Take a look at the presentation of the raw seafood platter: somone commented that they didn't think Legal Seafood could be so fancy. It's like the crab is attacking the oysters. See photo above.
(5)
Jessica B.
This was our second visit with a reservation in hand, on our first attempt we couldn't get a table. If you like to see and be seen, I guess this might be a good place to plant your twenty-year-old, daddy's credit card carrying, casually faded jeans-clad booty. If you're an aging curmudgeon sitting outside with the Flaming Lips blasting from the Bank of America Pavilion, maybe not so much. It's very loud outdoors when a band is playing, although the view is pretty. We sat on the first floor and may have gotten some kind of reduced cafe menu. My shrimp cocktail had medium sized shrimp jammed in a jar, rather than the large cocktail shrimp I am used to at Legals. My husband ordered a lobster roll and it was half the size of a normal one at Legals. What. The food was just plain bad. Our waitress was surly. The food didn't live up to the usual mall Legal's fare. I suspect things are swanker on the second floor, but I don't think I will be back to find out. There is a reduced fare parking lot across the street.
(2)
Monica B.
My girl friends and I, planned a girls night out starting out at this place, on a Saturday night. We went to the Third Floor, actually. First, it took the "hostess" close to 5 minutes to check our four IDs, they have to run them at this ID verification scanner and he didn't know how to use it... We weren't seated, we had to find a table and when we finally did, it was dirty and it wasn't until we asked them is when they cleaned it. The employee poured some liquid on the table and I thought it was going to spill all over me because it was so much.... The waitress was really pleasant to talk to and friendly but, it took them forever to take our drinks order, maybe 20 minutes. We had a purple Jesus and a Senor Coconut, they were both fantastic. It took them 30 minutes more, to take our order for food and another 30 minutes to serve the food. We all order sushi! I've been to sushi places before and they have never taken this long, even when we ordered a sushi boat! The sushi tasted good and everything tasted very fresh - I'll give them that - but, the rolls were falling apart! We ALL are sushi lovers and we know how to use chop sticks but, in some cases my friends even had to grab the pieces with their hands because it was ridiculous. We also ordered the only dessert available, chocolate cake. It was dry and just plain bad. I've been to other Legal Sea Foods and it's been so much better than this place. The atmosphere was weird too, it seem as though the manager isn't sure what market he is aiming at and you have a combination of young professionals feeling awkward, singles in their late 40's and 50's looking to "catch" young women in their 20's (such as myself and friends) and families who want to enjoy family dinner. The only two things I liked about this place in particular is obviously the gorgeous view and the drinks. Nothing else was good.
(2)
Robert W.
We sat at the bar, which was great for people watching. Super service, food was ok, trying some food we hadn't tried before. Staff was wonderful. Night, so didn't see how it looked during the daytime. We'll try it again next time we're in Boston!
(4)
Liz L.
Review is only for rooftop bar. The problem with Boston is that we have SO many awesome bars with so few roof decks. With that in mind, if you're looking for a bar with a rooftop view of the harbor, Legal Harborside is the place to be. It's also the place to be if you want to spend $10+ on well drinks, rub elbows with a whole bunch of people who think they need to be seen, and practice your funny accents - you'll be saying "Nope, we're not leaving" at least 200 times while you're there. Service was wonderful, view was beautiful... everything else made me feel like I was in a reality tv show.
(2)
Sonia D.
I was there a few days ago and had oyster and bubbly at the bar downstairs and then headed upstairs for drinks on the roofdeck. It was all around a great experience and I would love to have an event on the roof deck someday. The area upstairs is beautiful and the drinks are great as well. I will definitely be back for dinner and will be able to rate better on the food. Keep up the good work Legal's!!
(4)
Mary P.
While visiting Boston recently, we made reservations at Legal Seafood Harborside. This location of Legal Seafood has a very different menu from the other Legals in which we have had meals. This location is not for children. The menu is extremely limited and nearly every option includes some food with which the average person has never been acquainted. Two in our party ordered steak in this seafood restaurant because not one of the other options sounded appealing. If you are fond of very artistically designed foods on your plate and you don't mind spending a medium sized fortune, and you do not have children with you, then you might enjoy. We believe that Legal Seafood should not have it's name on this establishment since it is so wildly different from every one of the other locations. Look at menu before making reservations.
(2)
John M.
Mrs M. and myself spent a slow afternoon here in the bar people watching and water gazing while gorging ourselves on food and wine before a concert next door. The place is jamming at 3 PM on a Wednesday afternoon. We got a few spots at a bar facing outwards to enjoy the great view. I demolished two plates of oysters that were super fresh and wifey had the calamari which came with a wonderful dipping sauce and a few fried peppers that he said were awesome. Then we both had fish and chips which were very tasty and fresh. The service was great, the atmosphere was fantastic and the food was on par with what you'd typically expect from Legal's. All in all is was fantastic and I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Kelly C.
Here's my tip. MAKE A RESERVATION! I don't care when you are going, a Tuesday at 8pm, Reservation. Wednesday at 3pm, reservation. There was a 90 min wait on a pouring down rain Tuesday night. I would have turned around if it hadn't been my husbands birthday. It's not worth a 90 min wait, but I can't think of anywhere in Boston that really is. We did get to take advantge of the roof deck(3rd level) but since it was raining, it wasn't as nice since it was closed in and it was EXTREMEMLY loud from the people, music and the rain bainging on the flat roof. The food on level 1 was tasty and didn't disappoint. Pretty quick service too.
(4)
Mrs H.
I am writing an update from the review i posted in 7/1/13 The review I left I forwarded directly to customer service at Legals. That day I received an email from their Manager of Guest Services, JoAnne O'Neill. Ms O'Neill apologized for our experience and followed up her e-mail with a phone call from their Manager of Customer Relations. At this point they had spoken with the staff and wanted to hear my side. Asking people to vacate tables due to how long they have been there is NOT their policy. My guess is the manager and bouncers do this to receive quiet tips, much the way a doorman does so that you do not have to wait in line. They handled my complaint with seriousness, concern and diplomacy. Ms O'Neill also sent a hand written apology to me, completely unexpected and yes, it impressed as well as touched me. Due to how responsive Legal Seafood was I have raised my rating by one star. I will absolutely go back and I am hoping to give it five :-)
(3)
Robert L.
Sat on deck facing harbor on a beautiful night. Dinner was great. Service was fantastic.
(5)
Paul S.
The view and decor is great. Services was steller. Now lets talk food. Well I'm not impressed. I ordered the mug of New England clam chowder and it was filled with potatoes. I think I bit into maybe 4-5 clams at max. It was also lacking some flavor. I had a better bowl at the Dallas/FT Worth terminal on the same day. Now forth clam steamers. They were a nice size clams, but filled with grit. I think I still have sand in my teeth. The flavor was just ok. The only thing good here was my drink.
(1)
Carolina N.
This was the second time I went here. I thought the first time was great, but this time was mediocre at best. We were a large party (8) and arrived on time and were seated on time. However, the rest of the service was very slow. A lot of time passed between our drink order and appetizer order, and we waited 30+ min for our entrees. The waiter avoided contact with our table, probably because he knew it was taking so long. Drinks: The white sangria with St. Germaine and the top shelf margarita are great. Appetizers: We had oysters from Wellfleet and BC which were great, as were the bruschettas (1. tuna, 2. gorgonzola with fig). Entrees: I had a swordfish special with brussel sprouts and potatoes, which was ok. The people in our party who ordered the yellowfin tuna said it was bland. All in all, it was an underwhelming experience, which was particularly disappointing because of my previous good experience.
(3)
Jaclyn N.
The rooftop lounge has gorgeous views of the water. The sushi is good, the sangria was too sweet.
(4)
Colleen H.
Definitely my favorite restaurant on this strip of Seaport lovelies! The decor is perfect, oyster selection makes me smile, the Sauv Blanc they have ON TAP is pretty reasonable. It's crazy, I know, I'm drinking keg wine? But if Legal's pushing it -- it's gotta be ok. And it is. They have a swordfish and basil salad that's delicious. A little small in portion, but perfectly balanced flavors. My gf loved the margaritas too. Definitely a go-to for our office lunches!
(4)
Jenna P.
MMMMM. This place has 3 awesome things that I can't really put thumbs down to. OYSTERS, Hendrick's Gin, Waterfront views. This place is absolutely beautiful inside and has multiple floors. There's a few different levels with different vibes as well. Good for a dinner date, drink with friends, a nice light meal before a show at the pavilion, or just because. Pretty expensive but what can you expect for the location? Awesome seafood, great drinks and can't beat the view! A MUST TRY!
(4)
Mindy L.
So um...I have a bone to pick with the bartenders here. I think that they are attempting to deliberately get me completely and totally sh1t-faced on a regular basis. I have two, sometimes three white sangria's (arguably the best sangria I have had in the Boston area) and I get bombed. This has happened on multiple occasions so I feel justified in calling them out at this point. What the heck do you put in there? Grain alcohol? Whatever it is. I like it. Please keep on erasing my memories of the evenings I spend with you.
(4)
Anthony L.
The raw bar downstairs is excellent with lots of selection of local New England tasties. Upstairs has a beautiful dining room but the service is horrible. I'll just say that most of the team was young and inattentive and aloof. The Shrimp coctail was impressive, the filet was good, the cod was great. i probably wouldn't recommend it because the service was so bad.
(3)
Dan P.
My girlfriend works right across the street, so we tend to hit this place up right after work. Its always packed. When our friends from out of town come in, we bring them here since we know we'll get a good meal. To date, we've only had one problem with a special, Seafood Mac and Cheese, which they left the tails on the shrimp. This was quickly taken care of, and I even had a manager come out and apologize and offer me another meal. Our go to is the Tuna Burger, sooooo good.
(5)
Edward B.
Not sure what all the hype is about, so they're on the water, so is the airport. Went last week with colleagues for a holiday lunch. There were 5 of us, sat us on a table that was really a 4 top. Had to ask for another table to be connected. Maybe I'm just not as impressed as others. No water served at the table, waiter was okay, and way to hyper. It's just an overpriced, fast casual dining experience. I ordered a shrimp dish, med-small, which blew my mind. Save your money and pull over to a seafood shack up north or down on the cape.
Celebrated my son's 15th birthday at Legal's Harborside yesterday afternoon. Experience was excellent! We sat on the deck, loved the view. The two adults of the group were pleased with the Yum Berry Sangria and the Legal Sangria...thank you! Given Legal Seafoods is a chain restaurant, Legal Seafoods Harborside does not have that feel. To avoid an unpleasantly long wait (it is highly poplular), I recommend you make a reservation. As a group, we ordered the calamari and oysters for appetizers and my sons each ate and raved about the clam chowder. I was very pleased that with the help of our exceptional server, Kevin, my sons tried oysters for the first time. They were fresh and delicious (although the birthday boy decided they aren't meant to be eaten unless you are on an island, starving to death -- but he tried one!). Everyone enjoyed their meals, and while I don't recommend yesterday's wild salmon special (I strayed from my normal much loved meals to try something new), the food is always delicious.
(5)
Amy N.
Tall Ships weekend. Rooftop lounge review. Great drinks. We had a pitcher of Purple Jesus sangria and a few plates of sushi for lunch. smaller menu up here. Very good for not super authentic sushi. Grab a table by the window with couches around a coffee table. The view and the breezes are worth the trip alone. The room is airy, sunny and fun. Music is a bit club-like. I would have preferred some steel drums in this space at lunch time. There are outdoor deck areas on top and an indoor spot with AC if it's a scorcher of a day. Staff was attentive and not rushing us out. Many of them have radio head sets on and some serious bouncer types in suits gave a "men in black" vibe. That was all I would change... the music and the suits. The top floor should be like a tropical get away... a Margarita-ville of the North. Put those dudes in white untucked linen shirts and shorts and lose the Rap. Fair prices. The first and second floors look fantastic too. I would love to come back and try every level. Even though it is part of a chain, it does not feel that way here. The first floor looks very family friendly. There is a fishing pool for the little kids to try to catch something in. They were loving that!!
(4)
Winnie K.
Came here for lunch last week, before I started my shift @ my p/t job. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I decided to have lunch on open the roof deck. I had a great view of Boston Harbour. I ordered the Spider Maki roll (soft shell crab,& avocado, cucumber, tobiko, spicy mayo, teriyaki) & a order of Maguro Tuna nigiri (2 pieces). So fresh & yummy. It is a great place to take sit, relax & take in the great view. Almost like a little slice of heaven up here.
(5)
Donna D.
Very good $$$ food service very speedy with the handheld computers. Valet parking $20 w/o validation $12 w/stamp. Throwback section on menu interesting offerings.
(4)
Robert M.
This review is for the design and vibe of the place. This is definitely playa stuff and whomever came up with the amazing idea of the level is of entertainment is brilliant. First floor is family-friendly, second floor a step up in service, and the third floor is all out over-the-top party.
(5)
Brandon T.
What a phenomenal place! Hard to know where to begin when writing my review. First off the place is seemingly brand new inside and out. Beautiful patio for a romantic dinner on a warmer night then late september. Suprised they dont have heaters out there yet. Food to match any budget depending on the level you are on. There are several different menus ranging from grilled haddock to sea bass and foie. Perfect for a date night, or any night out for that matter. Wish I lived closer so I could be there more often! We had a great bottle of chardonnay, several outstanding oysters, and some nice fish dishes. I would recommend coming here to anyone! Also a bonus: There is a music venue close by that you can hear on nice nights. Possibly a great idea to see if someone you or your date really likes is playing, and make a reservation that same evening?? Cant think of a better suprise date night.
so i was visiting the in-laws in boston, and they always, always, ALWAYS treat us to Legals. i am never disappointed. this new locale, as many other reviewers have already stated, consists of 3 levels...level 1 for the regular folks (although at Legals prices, i say that with much chagrin), level 2 is apparently like life....for the upper class. and level 3 i heard was a bar/lounge. we had reservations at 5pm and were seated at a magnificent table facing the habah. the air was cool and damp and the atmosphere was just splendid. we split a lobstah pizza and although skeptical at first, with that initial bite i was sold. cheesy and lobster-y, without tasting fishy. we downed it immediately. i had an open faced tuna sandwich and wound up not even eating the bread. my tuna was fine, but not as grand as other Legal experiences. everyone else at the table remarked how much they enjoyed their food. the ma in law noted however that her steamed spinach side dish was very oily (which it was). i also had a cup of chowdah and although it was hot as lava, i relished every rich, creamy bite. our server was an absolute doll. she was attentive and smiled as if she loved working there. i think we all appreciated her work. i was a bit miffed at the door staff....they had a very aloof personality. overall, great views and atmosphere, but hopefully next time we're in town, we'll hit up one of the other traditional menu'd Legals.
(4)
Daniel L.
I came to Boston for seafood and Legal Harborside is certainly a required stop. The raw oysters were as sweet and tasty as I have ever had. The rare ahi tuna melted in your mouth.
(5)
Nicole M.
Wasn't very impressed with my meal and neither was anyone else in my group of five. The place was packed with people and quite noisy. The food really isn't flavorful. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(2)
Amy C.
Wow! We came here on a (very busy) Thursday night. We were significantly late for our reservation due to traffic, and I had called to let them know. I completely expected to wait upon arriving, but to our surprise they still had a table for us, outside like I had requested, and perhaps one of the best tables in the restaurant. And the hostess was super pleasant. We had clam chowder and steamers to start, and then yellowfin tuna and a seafood pasta dish for entrees. Everything was fantastic. And then for dessert, we shared a chocolate cake that was absolutely to die for. Our waiter was fantastic- very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. All of this combined with one of the best views in Boston- can't beat it. We'll be back!
(5)
Bryn B.
Lobster roll was awesome! I have never had a lobster that fresh in my life! I thought the lobster hopped right out of the water into my sandwich! Definitely worth it!
(5)
Jocelyn E.
Meh. The thing this place has going for them is their location. The view on the back patio is pretty nice. Who doesn't want to eat overlooking water? This is also the only waterfront seating restaurant on the dock that didn't resemble a bar. We have a one year old, so a place with a kid's menu and high chairs are a must. The hostesses were nice and accommodating. They did a great job seating us where we wanted to be seated. When we first got out back on the patio they had seated us in the corner... Where there was sun. The girl who had taken us to our table had no issues reseating us to another spot in the back, away from the sun. Our waitress was nice, but flaky. I mean, really flaky. She would consistently forget things and we rarely saw her. If you asked for something you she wouldn't remember it until she came back out, saw you, and then would apologize for what she had forgotten and go and come back right away (Tip: Maybe you should do it right away so you don't forget.). Her excuse to another table was that she had too many tables to wait, both inside and out. The food was okay. We had the clam chowder (that was good), I had the lobster roll (good, not great), my son had the Wooden Grilled Shrimp (WAY TOO SALTY!), and my hubby had the fried clam basket (which would have tasted better, had it not sat under a heat lamp for too long before being served). Everything came with a pile of fries. If you ever want just fries, this is the place for you. Our bill was a little under $60 when we were done, including tax (and before tip). I would've tipped less, but understanding that tips are typically split and the rest of the staff still deserved something despite our waitress's lackluster service, we still left about 15%. Hubby pretty much said the same thing. Plus let's be honest, my kid threw most of his not-very-good food all over the deck and someone is going to have to clean that up...
(2)
Michael C.
Legal Harborside is a welcome addition to Boston but is far from as perfect as it looks. Each floor is technically considered a separate restaurant, here is my breakdown: Floor 1: The typical Legal seafood dining experience. All of the menu selections you know and love (or not). We sat at the bar and had bunch of oysters, our favorite were the Wianno XL's and Wellfleet's. The Sangria is also pretty tasty. The big selling point for this place is the open air dining the wharf offers when they open their retractable windows. They also have a fish market on this floor. Floor 2: The second floor is their fine dining restaurant. One major problem is they make it a huge pain to get up to the second floor, you have to get your ID checked by a host (bouncer?) to get up there, even during the day. It is gorgeous, like downstairs has an expansive open kitchen, a private dining room for functions, and a small area for patio dining. Floor 3: This is the fun floor. Retractable roof, good bar/lounge set up, a good crowd, and good music. This is a perfect spot for a summer day. Really amazing views of Boston!
(4)
Mark O.
This review is strictly pertaining to the 2nd/3rd floor bar life on weekends. MA residents pride themselves on being welcoming, tolerant individuals. But when a bouncer on the decks bounces the one Indian man in the bar, without reason or circumstance, it makes me never want to come back again; I've never been so embarrassed for a colleague. I can guarantee that I will never, ever, return to this bar. If you're paid to "watch the bar" that doesn't attain to discrimination. Don't expect any more business from me, or my company, ever again.
(1)
Jen G.
Go to place for sushi
(5)
Juls B.
I'm giving this 5 stars mostly because of our waitress. It was my husband's birthday, and they seated us at a really nice table on the first floor next to the window with a view of the harbor. It was a bit noisy, but the ambience was just perfect for the two of us. My husband ordered the oysters on the half shell and absolutely loved them. He also ordered the yellowfin tuna medium rare, however he'd wished he had ordered it rare as it was a bit overdone for his liking. I had the salmon with the mashed potatoes and garlic green beans, it was fabulous. We were too full for dessert but the waitress insisted on bringing my husband birthday dessert which they comped us. Excellent service. I would highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions.
(5)
Steve L.
Went there for lunch and enjoyed the view and the great service. Upstairs not open for lunch. Great clam chowder, lobster roll, crab salad, scallops - I guess anything seafood. Can't wait for my next visit!
(4)
Lee P.
We love Legal Seafood in general. The Harborside location is the best design they have come up with yet. [We are talking about the first floor restaurant here, not the pricey second floor or the rooftop hipster bar.] Had a great table right on the water with perfect weather. Mike was a super waiter and very well versed in the menu and wines. Our meals were perfectly prepared and delicious. The wine list is only slightly over retail - with great choices and lots by the glass. You can't do wrong at Legal. They beat all the other seafood restaurants.
(5)
Kimberley S.
This review is for the 3rd floor outdoor roof deck. Boyfriend and I came here for a very warm marathon Monday. We walked throughout Faneuil and South Boston hoping to sate our beer and lobster craving. Rather than sit outside on park benches and eat an inexpensive roll from a nice fish shack, we opted to try legal. I was skeptical at first. The new legal harborside had always seemed a little trendy, and I was concerned that in coming here we would be paying for the atmosphere and not the food. I was worried - nothing worse than a mayo-drenched lobster roll. Not to worry - Legal harborside does it right. We both got the lobster rolls we were craving, which were perfect. A wonderful buttery grilled bun, chock-full of very sweet and flavorful lobster. Barely discernable mayo. The roll was pure, sweet, and meaty. It was a wonderful treat for such a hot and sunny day. The chips that came with it were fantastic. We saw about 100 sushi rolls walk by and the raw tuna looked amazing. We'll be trying that next. Boyfriend commented how recently we'd hit a spot of bad luck as it pertained to service, and we were a little down about it. The service this afternoon was spot-on. Fast, friendly, attentive. "Very refreshing," as boyfriend put it. The food is great. The atmosphere can't be beat. Not a bad seat in the house overlooking the water. Service was impressive. We can't wait to come back. (love)
(5)
Anna T.
This review is only for the 3rd floor roof deck! This place was great for casual Saturday day drinking with friends. We had some out-of-towners with us and thought this would be a great place for them to see some amazing views of the city and harbor! While a little bit pricey, it is well worth it on a warm summer day. I would suggest their red sangria, it is some of the best I have ever had and you can get a glass, small pitcher or large pitcher to accommodate yourself or your party of 5. We also had some small plates of food including the Avocado salad and the Spicy Salmon Roll, both of which were super tasty! It is unfortunate that I really only came here at the end of summer because I would have made this my summer day drinking spot for sure! Oh well, there's always next summer, Legal!
(4)
Tim M.
Great food and drinks. The staff is great and they pay attention to the customers.
(5)
Thuy L.
This review is for the Rooftop bar only. What an incredible view--and when I say view, I mean the people. The actual scenery isn't bad either as you are looking right out into the harbor. The Legal rooftop is the only Legal that I know that serves sushi. Sushi is okay (definitely not the best) but you are coming here for the atmosphere anyway, which is hella-awesome! The drinks are good (but a little $$$). Get there early so that you 1) Don't have to wait in that ridiculous line and 2) to snag one of the lounge chairs. Try the Strong Man cocktail...it's quite tasty. Their sangria is a little too sweet for my taste but the other drinks are decent.
(4)
Molly M.
****Good ole New England clam chowda!! Best in Boston! The food is great, the harbor-side patio seating is relaxing, and the service is unbelievable! Our waitress Becky was AWESOME! Extremely personable, quick for service, and very attentive to detail! She's able to remember your full order while still chatting and cracking jokes with other customers. Once again, very personable! Great food, great service!
(5)
Julie N.
When: Saturday 3:00pm Where: 3rd floor What: Drinks This place was PACKED. The view was fantastic, the decor was cool, and a lovely couple got our attention and gave us their waterfront seats when they took off. I was afraid that Legal would've jacked up the drink prices for such a spot, but surprisingly a Bud Light was only $5.50 and their limited menu (mostly raw-bar and sushi) weren't overpriced either. I took a quick tour of the first floor and loved how open the space is. This is, by far, the most well designed Legal's I've ever been in. Tip: If you're driving here, there's a parking garage across the street for about $10 an hour so you might as well valet park and save some money if you're staying for awhile.
(4)
Boston A.
The view of the water is outstanding. The view of scantily-clad women of all ages trawling for rich husbands is even better. Wherever you sit, you'll be close to both.
(3)
Jennifer S.
Truly disappointing! Great location on the water and our servers were nice, but didn't communicate well considering they were supposed to be working as a team. The worst part was the food - a friend of mine and I both tried the big bowl salad...me with chicken and he tried it with lobster. The lettuce was cheap, iceberg lettuce and there were hardly any beans etc. in the salad as advertised. My chicken was dry, but apparently the lobster meat was good - actually the only good part of his salad. I hope this was just an exception to a normal experience because I was not impressed.
(2)
Lauren W.
This might be one of my favorite restaurants ever. The atmosphere is amazing. I felt like i was on the set of a romantic comedy. it was just too cute and there were adorable people everywhere. We got a drink while waiting (i loved the white sangria - holy yum!), but the wait wasn't too bad at all. we got an awesome location - right by the outside. The food was all excellent, especialy the raw bar items - some of the best oysters ever! our waiter, aaron was awesome too. we were a bit rowdy but he handled us really well. i want to go back - soon.
(5)
Stephanie P.
WORST SERVICE EVER!!! I hate to say this, because I love Legal in general, and have great times at other locations, but the Legal Harborside experience was dead wrong. We had a party of 5, seated on the first level. Our server was the worst. He was inattentive to say the least, but then he spilled a beer on my friend and I and did not even help to clean it up!! Nor did he replace the beer or the charge for the beer! He did not even replace our napkins let alone touch a napkin to clean it up!! Completely unprofessional. Then, later, we tried to go up to the roofdeck, which based on previous experience you can go right to after spending $$$ on dinner. The hostess said we had to wait in line. Okay. An hour later, we still weren't let in. We get to the front of the line and watch as the bouncer lets every other party in front of him go after flirting with him or handing him bribes. A half hour later we decide to ask for the manager, who tells us we should have been let up ASAP for eating dinner. No offer for free drinks, no apology, nothing. Never wasting my time again.
(1)
Barisa J.
Fabulous roofdeck with interesting cocktails and a very decent wine list. This is a very cool spot.
(4)
Jason L.
3.5 stars As someone who rarely frequents Legal Seafoods, I was drawn to the new and beautiful Waterfront outpost, which promised oceanfront views and fresh seafood. The multi-floor concept is a little convoluted at first, so check out the website. I dined on Floor 1 with a couple friends, and we had a primo table next to the big windows. The menu has minor variations from the other Legals, but all the mainstays remain. We had some delicious small spreads to start, and I really liked the fishy smoked bluefish with grilled pita. Most of the entrees were run of the mill, with your typical assortment of seafood. I went with a fried platter, which was heavy (my fault obviously for ordering that). Otherwise, no big surprises, fresh seafood with simple preparations. The 2nd floor's more fine dining menu looks more interesting, but hey the view and atmosphere itself is worth the trip. Be sure to take a trip to the 3rd floor after dinner for drinks on their spacious open patio bar. Food (6/10) Service (3.5/5) Decor (5/5) Value (4/5)
(4)
Nathalie U.
Went for my anniversary and it did not disappoint. legal sangria was fantastic. Streamers so fresh a And Brussels sprouts were yummy. Service was good not such a fan of the pumpkin mousse pie.
(4)
Molly Y.
This is the third Legal I've visited, and it was definitely a disappointment. Don't come here if you're expecting the full menu or a nice dining experience. You won't get either. It's more of a seaside bar - which hey, if that's what you're expecting, there's nothing wrong with it. My biggest problem was the food. Yuck-o. I got fish tacos, my partner got crab roll. Mine was edible only soaked in ketchup (a sin against fish tacos), and my partner's been sick to his stomach since we got home. Not coming back here again. What a thorough disappointment.
(2)
Luckie D.
Great location, beautiful view, friendly service. The food was fine and I must add light years ahaed of the Leagal Seafood in Atlanta which is one hush puppy away from being a Long John Silver. So with that said I'd go back
(3)
Allison M.
Had to come onto here and rave about our server tonight, Diego. Really knew his stuff, had great recommendations, and was a great server overall!
(5)
Alison F.
I was very disappointed by my experience here, I dined here last night for mothers day, for the price I paid for the prix fix menu I expected a lot better. The service was very slow, until it came time for the check, which could not have been taken care of faster! My main course came out cold, and when I asked for it to be warmed up (very nicely) the server did not apologize at all, just took it away, and then brought it back, "this should be more to your liking". We were never offered refills on our drinks. My friend got food poisoning from the oysters, and still paid full price for her meal. In fact nothing was taken off our bill at all (after having cold food, and food poisoning). When paying $300 for dinner I would expect to have a much better experience!!
(1)
Brendan S.
I love Legal Seafoods and have been to this one about 6 times in the past year. From that I can say that my experiences here have tended to be better the less crowded it is there. People have said the menu is limited, but if you're coming for seafood (after all it is a seafood restaurant), there are many choices and the specials are always good. Atmosphere is great! The servers are always very friendly and knowledgeable and with the exception of one visit, my fish has always been excellent. As I said, though the two times I went when it was really busy, my experiences have been somewhat sub-par for what I'm used to from Legal. On the 1st of these we arrived on time for our reservation. We requested a table by the water yet were brought to a tiny table by the bathrooms despite empty tables by the water. We then waited 15 minutes without anyone coming over to even fill out water glasses, before I finally asked a passing by server for a manager to come over. After waiting another 5-10 minutes, she came over and I explained our situation. After apologizing, she did seat us at a table by the water and we were given a complimentary appetizer. The service and food was fine after that, but I was still mad about the way I was treated. On my second bad experience, I arrived without a reservation on a busy Thursday night, so we sat at the bar to avoid an hour wait. I know it was busy, but it was still incredibly noisy, and talking to each other was worthless. When my grilled salmon (my usual) came out, it was terrible. It was an oddly-shaped bad cut of fish that was slobbered all over with butter (I'm dairy-free btw). All the other times there was never butter on my fish; usually a light amount of olive oil. After a few bites I told my server I couldn't eat it and he kindly took it off my bill. I still like this restaurant, but I'd recommend going to the Legal C Bar in Dedham; same menu, better food, less noisy, and more relaxing.
(3)
Divya B.
I can come back to this place just for the mussels. Their mussels in yellow curry with pineapple and cilantro is out of this world! Don't miss out on them. I took one star out of the ratings because the food taste isnt consistent. It wont disappoint you but I felt it fluctuates between "good" and "great". I also love their veggie bruschetta and sweet red pepper dip. They go so well with a glass (or more?) of white sangria. The harborside view\seating adds a sense of calmness to this otherwise noisy and always busy place. Great place to hang out with friends on a beautiful summer day.
(4)
Aman S.
Always good and always consistent. I love the scallops and shrimp cocktail apps. I had a 2+ pound lobster and was totally content. The prices were reasonable and the service was impeccable. I ate here 2 nights in a row while in Boston on business last week.
(5)
Michael M.
Arghh! This is what I call FPF, or fat peoples's food. Everything's thick and sweet (why so much sugar with my fruit de mer?) It's like an Applebee's. You can do SO much better in Boston.
(1)
samsara w.
Horrendous experience. DO.NOT.GO.HERE. We had reservations for dinner last night at 4 pm. Early evening for us as we have a 6 month old, and my mother-in-law was here from Texas. When I checked in with the hostess, she did not smile, wasn't in the least bit welcoming, and handed me a buzzer saying there was a wait, as others had checked in before us. The 'wait' turned out to be long, and many people were seated before us (some without reservations) who she referred to by name and seemed very familiar with. I am Indian, and I can't help but think that race had something to do with her behavior. When we finally got our table, after I went up there and asked how much longer, we were seated in the only spot in the entire restaurant where it was hard to see the water (right behind the cash register), this despite my requesting an outside table near the water. Oh well... The lobsters were rubbery and tough, badly prepared. We had to ask for rolls, while other tables had theirs well before us. My salmon was gross, and the noodles as the side were COLD and drenched in a sweet, inedible dressing. We were out $130 for a terrible meal, with no class or substance for three people, with no alcohol. To make things worse, it was so LOUD that we couldn't carry on a conversation without shouting. We ended up looking at each other defeatedly, poking the TERRIBLE food on our plates, in silence. Not exactly the special evening we had planned. Legal you disappointed me and broke my heart. Again, don't waste your money and time on this TOURIST TRAP, SUBPAR dining experience. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)
Macy A.
A great place to hang out in the summer. Pretty crowded in the weekend so you might want to go there earlier if you plan to be able to enter before it closes. By the way it is open until 1am. If there is a concert or an event in the hall across the street, you can watch/listen for free at the bar on the third floor. A good place to have a drink. Would recommend it.
(4)
Melissa M.
Spring time is my favorite time in Boston simply because we finally get to start eating lunch outside.... Legal Harborside has a great oyster menu, wine selection, and beautiful views no matter where you sit. Its always busy so be prepared to wait or make a reservation. I have always had amazing service and the specialty drinks are always yummy. Great place for Lunch or dinner on the water.
(5)
Kiarash Z.
Because I wanted to eat seafood by the water and I needed a table for 12 and because my cousin was paying for it, I had a great time at Legal Harborside. The cocktails in the third-floor lounge (with a great harbor view) were awful, but the food on the first floor was amazing. My favorite: the stuffed artichoke appetizer, which is loaded with scallops and shrimp. I prayed it never would end. Also, the staff was kind enough to keep the kitchen open for members of the family who arrived late. Classy.
(4)
Jessica G.
I can only write about the 3rd floor as I usually end up across the street for my Legal dining. The bar and lounge area provides amazing views of the city and a great reprieve from indoor bars in the summertime. You can hear the concerts right from your seat as well. Getting a seat is the hard part. Be prepared to be a vulture and divide your party up to stalk open seats. Once you are lucky and find one, the drinks are on the pricier side, but pretty tasty. The food menu is limited, but tasty and worth ordering. In short, visit, but expect crowds and finding seats to be difficult.
(3)
Thomas G.
I'll definite come back to this place next time I'm in Boston, one night oysters on the half shell, another night the waiter recommended the tuna burger...Everything was so good!
(4)
Maryanne S.
If the check wasn't so high, I'd be amused by our dinner. One of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. (2nd floor) . Wrong drink orders, undercooked food and the rudest staff I've ever seen anywhere.
(1)
Jason B.
Best overall spot in The bean.... Service, food, bar, fellow customers... The real Deal in Every Sense of The Word!!! Burkie you've outdone yourself bud!!
(5)
Alan O.
Ate on the first floor. For a brand-new building in 2011 below acceptable on the handicap accessible front. Get in the front door and immediately have to take an elevator to get up less than 3 feet. What about a ramp? Or no need for an elevator or a ramp?!!! OK - now up to level - take a ramp down to the dining area - but have to ask other patrons to move in their chairs to get by. Fish choice: narrow. Service standards lacking: The one entre special is $8 more than anything else - but the server does not give the price unless asked. Multiple attempts to clear a plate when another person at the table is still eating. Clearly a policy to turn the table at the expense of hospitality.
(1)
Keri D.
This was my second visit to Legal Harborside (my first visit being to Floor 2 a few weeks back). We were seated at an outdoor table and, as rain was in the forecast, we asked what would happen if it rained. The hostess told us to hope it didn't. Sangrias were well liked but multiple other drinks, including the cucumber cooler, had to be sent back for being overly sweet. We ordered the gorgonzola and fig bruschette as an app for a party of 5 and the server failed to mention it is two small crostinis and better meant for sharing between 2. Steamers were a bit gritty and half of our calamari was dumped on one of our guests with no apology and no assistance with cleanup. Entrees were OK. Selection of side dishes is strange with no plain steamed veggies available. "Sauteed spinach with pine nuts" included an abundance of raisins. Finally, we were disappointed that spending $300 plus on Floor 1 didn't even warrant placement near the front of the line to enjoy the roof deck. With regard to my experience on Floor 2 - it was very "stuffy". Despite an early reservation and empty dining room, our table was only made available to us after we ordered a drink at the bar. Food was delicious but the waiter's poor attitude was a put-off.
(2)
Kerry H.
They get an A+ for ambiance! My new favorite! I love the location - right on the harbor - and I love how they have divided the venue into three different levels. The first floor is like a typical Legal and the food is just as delicious. The second floor is fine dining. The third floor is very cool! The third floor is a bar area with sushi and a limited menu. It is set up with couches and high top tables. There is a copper fireplace adding to the ambiance. The best part is the roof is retractable! I can't wait to return in the summer, especially when there is a concert going on! The views from all three levels is spectacular. Take the stairs up instead of the elevator. It gives you the feel for all three levels. it's a great place for out-of-towners as well. It's located in the Seaport District amongst many other great establishments. It makes me want to move down there!
(5)
Di B.
We went today for lunch and the food was very good, but not great. My Rhode Island Stuffy had shell in it, which was difficult to get out of my teeth. And my friend shrimp still had the veins in it. I was pretty grossed out by that. You cannot get past the awesome view and the service was excellent. Would go again, but VERY disappointed that a seafood restaurant like Legal would not devein shrimp. My husband had the oysters rockefeller and friend clams and loved them.
(3)
Mitchell P.
Went here yesterday for lunch, the building/view is awesome looking, unfortunately i cannot say the same for the food. I started with an appetizer the stuffed squid, it was disgusting, the sausage and squid and red sauce combo just didnt work, i could see this at the TEST kitchen, but not on someones real menu, oh and the best part it came with a 2 inch piece of plastic in the stuffed squid, must of been part of the special sauce or something. Any who main course Yellowfin tuna, it was decent, comes with some plain ole white rice like you would get at your local chinese food take out place, or from Shaw's lol.....just nothing really to wow about, a decent piece of tuna, but def not the best...I think they should go back to the normal legal seafoods menu, but even that is just ok
(1)
Joseph C.
Male host blonde ...... DUMB! But other than that great food and atmosphere. A tad crowded but thats the name of the game I think.
(3)
Zheng L.
the steamed lobster here is fantastic...never seen such a big lobster (1-1.5lb) costs less than 30 bucks! and it tastes great
(5)
Jacqueline C.
We had dinner with some friends from out of town here last night. We were looking for a place to get good fish but would also be kind of cool. We were worried about it being touristy but the location seemed to help ward off that typical obnoxious crowd. The view is amazing. I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. I thought the bench-seating would be weird but it was totally fine and we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious!! Definitely perfect and delicious all around. We started off with a few appetizers and Legal turned some of your traditional seafood apps into upscale treats. The bbq shrimp was scrumptious and the braised pork tostada was fabulous. For dinner we all chose fish off of the grilled menu and everyones was cooked perfectly. The only downside was that our server was kind of weird. She wasn't exactly on her game and was a little awkward. Despite that, dinner was delicious, the location is amazing and we would definitely do dinner here again.
(4)
Tim H.
2 stars for the location and the actual space, its beautiful. If you like your drinks filled with lots of ice and very little alcohol, this is your spot. And no bottle beer, only tap, better profit margins. RB keepin on it on the cheap.
(2)
Tim H.
Legal Seafood means only the best finest fresh seafood and lobster. Best New England Chowder. Excellent Lobster and mussels. In season oysters vary per location. Excellent raw bar offerings. If you do not live in Boston or near a Legal Seafood then it is hard to get past the lobster and chowder to other fish dishes. Legl Seafood Harborside is the flagship and is special. Great dining on the porch at the Harbor and spectacular bar with aquarium and large screen TVs for watching sports. If you happen to miss Harborside you can enjoy Legal Seafood at Logan Airport with little decrease in quality.
(5)
michael l.
Food was excellent. Our server Matthew P was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some great suggestions. Views of the harbor
(5)
Bob C.
I have to admit that i was extremely disappointed with my visit to Legal Harborside last night. I had two coworkers in from out of town who were craving seafood. Of course the first thing that came to mind was Legal Seafoods. I mean how miss out... Well known brand with great seafood, a beautiful facility with Big Ass Fans located right on the Boston Harbor. Well needless to say i was wrong. It all started when i walked in the door and was told that it was a 15 minute wait. I could care less about the wait but i did ask what tables we were waiting for whether it was downstairs or upstairs. She sad " you are waiting for the tables downstairs" I followed up that statement with "what about upstairs. Her reponse was "that's the finer diner" Of course I said what we don't fit in with the fine dining? She kind of laughed and said well if you want to but its really expensive. Anyway i kind of laughed and just went to the bar to grab a drink. When we got seated we waited for about 10 minutes, no joke, before someone even came up to our table. I mean if the waiter said guys I'll be right with you that would have been totally fine but he just walked right by without even making eye contact. Finally he came and we orderd a few appetizers, shrimp cocktail and calamari. Well the shrimp cocktail came in this little Jar and were mini shrimp marinated in some sauce. I have to admit they were pretty good but not what i was expecting at all. As for the calamari they came in this little basket. Multiple times i took what i thought was either a fried calamari or pepper but no it was a fried lemon! I mean it's not a big deal that they breaded a lemon but to me those are the little details that matter especially in a reputable place like Legals. When the meal came it was pretty good but the size, presentation was to be desired especially for the price. The service ended up being pretty good once we finally got waited on but overall i was very very disappointed. For a company to spend as much money as they did to build this great place the quality of food and service did not live up to my expectations. Tonight i was at the Prudential Mall and walked by a Legal Seafood and actually walked inside to look at the menu. I did realize the menu at Legal Harborside was different but as a first time customer it was not expecting that to be the case. I have to admit that i hardly ever write a review but i did tonight because i was really that disappointed. Knowing the kind of care and quality Mr Burkowitz puts into his company i just feel he should know because he'd be the first to admit that the experience i had last night is unexectable. Please realize.....if this was a normal local seafood shop i'd have a totally different view.... but this is Legal Seafood and my expectations were so much higher. Oh well I'll probably be back when the weather is nice out but feel that i should express my thoughts.
(2)
Robin L.
We had lunch on the first floor and thought it was very good. There's nothing fancy here, but Legal really knows how to do seafood. My husband said his clam chowder was excellent. Not too floury. We each had a fried plate, mine scallops his shrimp. Great light breading fried just right. Fries and Cole slaw also good. Legal has awesome rolls, so be sure to ask for some. I had a great Bloody Mary, but it's not for the faint of heart! Nice view of the harbor.
(4)
Tom H.
Way to noisy. Went to dine saturday evening -1st & 3rd floor constant booming disco music- too loud for conversation what is the reason for that? I left with a head ache
(2)
Joan M.
Stopped in Legal after a show last night. Beautiful night for a drink at Legals rooftop lounge. My friend went to the bar and order two drinks and one soda. We waited at the table for her for 20 min. Then I see her talking to a manager. Turns out she gave the bartender a $100 bill, the only bill she had on her and the bartender never came back with her change. Bartender gave her the 3 drinks, took the $100 and said he would be right back, then he ignored her as she stood at the bar waiting for him. She told the manager what happened and he said that was not possible, it must have been her mistake. No mistake about this. The bartender stole her $80.00. Absolutely no question about it. He stole her money and the manager sided with his bartender and told her to write to corporate if she wanted to complain. I give this a rating on one for the view. Careful of your money when ordering from the 3rd floor bar. I will never be back.
(1)
Martina S.
Amazing food and amazing service. Oysters were to die for, great recommendations by our server Lisa on which oysters to choose. We will be returning!
(5)
Christopher G.
We showed up there on wednesday night and they had a 2 hour wait. We were told to call in today and make reservation for tonight. Called today and I was told they have nothing for 2 adults and a highchair until 10pm. Ummmmmm my kid will be fast asleep by then. Not sure if they like kids or not but this place is a joke
(1)
Cory G.
I would have given the restaurant a 5 star review but we were seated 35mins after our reservation. This was our 1st wedding anniversary which I had noted when making the reservation. There was about a 20 min break between our apps and entrees which wasn't that bad but we were wondering what was going on. Overall, the food really shined except ironically the amuse-bouche. It was some weird eggplant thing on a crustini. I got the trio of tartare special which was amazing and my husband got the bacon wrapped scallop. Both were exceptionally delicious. For entrees we ordered the cod and the filet. They were both excellent and beautifully prepared. For dessert we got the tort and the chocolate banana cup, which were a perfect finish. The view from our table was amazing. I would definitely go back.
(4)
J P.
This review is for the first floor. The view was very good and service was OK. Table was small for the 5 of us. We ordered some oysters, they were fresh, but unfortunately some of them had some debris from shucking. Calamari appetizer was good. Kids meals were good. Clam chowder was good. Our entrees look so "blah"..they did nothing to make it presentable. The food itself is fresh, so you know the ingredients were good. But the presentation was bad, just a pile of veggie, piece of fish and pile of starch. Not even a spring of parsley! One would expect more when dining out. We were not able to find "free" street parking so we had to park in their lot, which was $5 with validation. After dinner we walked up to the different floors to check things out. People were friendly and the views were fantastic from each level. But I don't think it's a place we would revisit.
(3)
Gaven H.
This review is for the Legal Harborside - Floor 2 . Yelp does not have a area to review F2. I had been to Floor 3 for drinks and Floor 1 for dinner with a group of family/friends. I enjoyed the time I had spent on both floors. So this past weekend my girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary. I knew we would enjoy the second floor. The oysters are the only thing you will find on any other Legal menu. I have eaten at other restaurants in the area and you seem to pay for the atmosphere and views. You might pay for these on the other floors, but on F2 it's all about the food. This is a place I could gorge myself time and time again. You start eating and want more. The problem is you also can not wait to try what's going to be put in front of you next. This is a pricey meal, but I have paid the same or more for less enjoyable meals. Starters: $11-$22 per plate We went with the oysters. Sweet, crisp, and clean Raspberry Points. The Glidden Point's were good, but nothing new with flavor. Next the seared foie gras, rich in the best of ways. This was done with chocolate brioche and cherries, which work well with the smoky flavor from the sear of the foie gras. The candied ginger on the plate (to me) is not needed. Main courses: $28-$56 per plate She had the butter poached lobster. This is served over corn, chorizo, mussels, and potatoes. Another rich plate. But hey it's an anniversary. I did not try this, but she says it was a great dish. The reason I did not try the lobster was because I was engrossed in the sauteed hiramasa. The smoky eggplant puree goes perfectly with the herbs used to season the hiramasa. The fish was cooked perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone, and hope to copy it for home use. Dessert: $8- $11 per plate Now here is where I lost track: I'm still thinking about the main course. She had the toffee pudding. I had the goat cheese napoleon. I'm sure that these were both great desserts, but the main courses overwhelmed them. The flavor and taste were good and enjoyable, but as I write this review I could have forgot to put them in. The wait staff was very well trained. Exceptionally polite and very informative. Our waiter even gave some recommendations as to better alternatives on the menu and the reasons he liked them more. So I say "Go to Legal Harborside Floor 2". If it's a special night or any night this is a perfect meal. Well worth it.
(5)
stephanie b.
Roofdeck: Gorgeous roof deck. However, we ordered oysters and shrimp cocktail and had to beg to get a napkin, silverware, etc. Ashley waited on us, very nice but when she finally brought us ONE napkin and there were 5 of us, i was kind of irritated. She was very sweet but raw oysters with no napkins, side plates or anything seems a bit clueless... Floor 2: A bit overpriced for the portions. Also if you are going to charge $30 for a very small piece of fish be sure to have SIDE ORDERS. We kept asking for extra food...can we have a side of Polenta etc. They need to just go ahead and bite the bullet and be a la carte, why not, the prices already reflect that type of menu. We had the sablefish, salmon, and hen - all of which were delicious but we were starving AND we had already had appetizers on the roofdeck and had ordered tuna as an appetizer (very small). The staff was amazing, fine dining quality but not at all stuffy. The hostess was very nice and professional as well and kept moving our reservation b/c we were waiting for the damn napkins on the roofdeck so we could eat our apps!
(3)
Adrian H.
Since the renovation of the wharf (and the loss of one of my favorite seafood restaurants to the renovation), I had hoped to return to equally good food and an even better experience. Alas, I was more than disappointed. I started with the calamari which was fine, but the presentation was not what I would expect for the cost. My entree was the crab salad. My impression of a salad included greens, but there were none. The crab was in a half avocado, with tasteless tomatoes, hard boiled egg and thickly cut cucumber. Again, the food was simply not well prepared, considered, presented, or cooked. My wife had the tuna burger because she had the same meal at the Legal C in Dedham and had enjoyed it. This burger, however, lacked any taste. My mother had the fish and chips and she was less than pleased. Finally, the service was cheerful, but slow. I was relieved to step out into the wharf's night air.
(2)
Paul G.
2nd floor is a huge disappointment and a rip-off. I had the cobia which was prepared asian style with bok choy, asian BBQ sauce and peanuts etc.....it literally was disgusting with BBQ sauce that tasted like unsweetened ketchup...almost not edible...and $42!! My wife had the stuffed dover sole which was cold on the outside and way too salty. The service was sub-par as well with long waits between drinks and it took way to long to get the check. In conclusion, NOT WORTH IT!! Just stick with the fish/chips or tuna burger on the 1st floor
(2)
Jessica G.
We have been twice since it has opened. Food seems remarkably fair priced for waterfront Boston dining (sandwiches and pizza in the 10-15 dollar range and full dinners 20-25). Both times we ordered the white clam pizza. One of us isn't a huge fan of clams, nor pizza with clams - and that one of us lived in New Haven for 5 years. But both of us really LOVED the white clam pizza. Although the consistency of the pizza has been lacking, it has been great both times! They have plenty of servers for the number of tables. Our food has always arrived within 15 mins of ordering. Everything we have had has been great! The cocktail list is a little disappointing. They have a thorough beer list (most of which are reasonably priced), and many wines by the glass (although not as reasonably priced). All in all, a good value and a great harbor view.
This place has really turned into a tourist trap- first clue if you are in a tourist trap if the waiter asks if you have ever been here before and you reply yes and he has a shocked look. The wait staff is a mess here. They are constantly bumping into each other (maybe the flow of the dining room needs help) or you see them walking with food not sure which table to bring it to. We expect a wait and were told 2 hours. We went to the bar, grabbed a seat and had some appetizers while waiting. An hour later, our table was ready. The same thing happened on our last visit. The front desk seems to double the expected wait time, almost hoping that you will walk out rather than wait. Seems odd.
(3)
Laura C.
Legal was recommended by locals via friends. We loved the ambiance of the bar (3rd floor) and the meal on the first floor. The clam chowder was the BEST - very non-west coast meaning it was not so gloppy thick, but more subtle and with intense clam nectar flavor. The fried fish plate was too salty, however. Too bad, otherwise would have given 5 stars.
(4)
Kristin Q.
This is an amazing gem of a restaurant. The manager Justin is so professional and helpful. We love coming here and enjoying not only the food but the service and the view!
(5)
Ted K.
Stopped in for a late lunch on Monday afternoon of a beer and some oysters and other apps. We sat at the bar. The view is incredible. We loved the oysters. We loved the special Sam Adams and Harpoon beers available on tap. The service was miserable. I don't know if the bartender was having a bad day or what. No smile. No welcome. When we told her we would like to order some oysters, we were told to "hold on," then we watched her wander off to do apparently nothing. There were two other guests sitting at the enormous bar. Maybe after thirteen years in restaurants, I still can't see the subtle but onerous obligations weighing on a bartender at 3pm on a Monday. Or maybe she just wanted to throw a little attitude. Either way, we couldn't believe she still had a job at such a place. The rest of the experience was great, so it didn't totally put us off entirely, but we're not in a rush to go back.
(3)
Ken W.
After reading great reviews, I decided to have a mid-afternoon meal. Service is the only thing I can rate. Warning sign number one, hostess was helping a customer and she walked away with no explanation. The gentleman and lady had to defer to someone else. To decide to try the roof top lounge. It appeared not to be busy for the time of day. I was greeted and set at one of the high tops table inside. Then i was amazed how the wait staff ignored me the entire time I was there. When asked who was covering my area, a waitress was pointed out a co-worker. Noted I had made eye contact several times with this person, she had failed to acknowledge me. So after taking 30 minutes out of my day and getting nothing to eat I felt it was best to leave. And seek nourishment at another restaurant.
(1)
L N.
Dined here last evening with out of town family. It was packed but fun. We were promptly seated ( A +). We placed our drink order and that is were the bumps started. Our cocktails were so watered down that instead ordering a second "soda," my husband actually switched to soda (F-). Disappointing given that bar is huge and looks absolutely amazing. Our server continued to be scattered. I ordered six oysters (which I prefer my oysters in the small side but this took it almost to the microscopic level), and was served five. I was offered to have this taken care of but let go since you pay "per piece." (C) The actual entree's were fabulous (no famous onion strings at this location) (A) Then when it came time to pay, a portion was being paid in cash with the balance on my husbands credit card. That was also mixed up which was tacking on an evtra $100 to the bill (good try) but promptly corrected. (C) Maybe the chaos contributed to the up and down experience but given it's Legal's and it's a busy holiday weekend for Boston restaurants, they know this and I expected them to be on their game.
(3)
Jan D.
Was very disappointed with our meals at the Harborside location. Everything was bland, nothing had any punch to it, and scrod didn't seem fresh as it had absolutely no flavor. Wellfleet oysters were good, but that was only positive note. Would not return to this location tho other Legals have been ok in the past.
(2)
BOB R.
Dined at the first floor raw bar. Nice few of the habour on a summer eve, We had drinks, lobster rolls and 6 wellfleet and 6 french kiss oysters. Everything was delicious and fresh. A little crowded and noisy but had a fun time before a rock concert.
(4)
Annonymous N.
The location is beautiful! The restaurant it self has a great atmosphere! I happen to dine in with my family on a Tuesday night! When we arrive at 6:30pm there was a wait for a minimal of 45min. We were about to walk out and they called us back and told us they had a table. We were brought to the main floor right by the window with a beautiful view of the deck! The place was half full which we wondered why the 45min wait. The waiter was dull and a bit snippy! We felt li,e he had too much on his hand and could not handle 4 tables. We were celebrating my fiance's birthday and we felt rush.. Needless to say we took our time, after a $250 check you want to rush people out! I've had better experience in other locations.
(2)
David B.
Love this place but if you are looking for quiet and intimate, go somewhere else. It is a bit noisy but the scene is fun and lively, the food fantastic and the staff very helpful and friendly. We changed are order based on the waiter's recommendations and had an amazing meal. And you can't beat dining on the deck on a beautiful summer evening.
(4)
Mari R.
I am not one to eat at chain restaurants. However, this one was amazing. The food was very fresh and delicious. I would go here again, and again, and again.
(4)
Ann O.
My husband and I went to Legal Harborside, had lunch on the first floor on a Saturday afternoon a couple of months ago. No real wait to get a table, I had the fish stew (whatever they call it on the menu) and it was fabulous. Definitely would go back again. We went to the dining room Friday night, waiting for a daughter coming in from NYC, so we decided to have a leisurely dinner there. We had to wait about 15 minutes for our Opentable reservation but they set us up with a beautiful booth overlooking the water, so it was worth it. The service was great, the meals seem to be slow to come once we finally ordered, but no complaints because we always delay ordering because the meals always seem to come out so fast and we like to relax and talk for a while. I digress--my husband ordered the tuna and said it was "good" but he didn't say great, I ordered the halibut, which was cooked perfectly, nice crust on the outside, and I enjoyed the unusal accompaniments, though I can't say that I liked them - but that's not the chef's problem. I liked the fact that they were using unusual ingredients, not your typical veggies. I probably would have ordered the lobster, but at $54 that was just ridiculous. I especially liked the fact that I said to the wait person that I wanted to start with a cup of chowder, which was not on the 2nd floor menu but was clearly in the building, and she took the request without any issue. Overall, the dining experience was about 2 hours long, so plan accordingly, but we will definitely be back again. Only we're more likely to visit the first floor, as the menu seemed to have more variety than the dining room.
(4)
Tom B.
CAUTION, the validated parking IS NOT ACROSS THE STREET from the restaurant, the parking across the street will cost you $20.00! The parking that is validated is down the street in the next block and, yes, across the street. Otherwise everything was great, service, food, drinks, and the view. I will definitely go back...now that I know where to parkl
(4)
dennis n.
We thought we would try the new place out for a late lunch --1pm on a Wednesday. We were impressed with the fabulous harber view and the ambience. It has only been open for a few weeks and only the 1st flloor is operating right now for casual dining and bar. Fine dining on second story and rooftop to come soon. They have a small free parking lot, which will probably be full most of the time. We had the bluepoint oysters on half shell, which were as fresh and tasty as I've ever had anywhere, washed down with a nice Tanqueray Martini. Wife had the lobster roll ($17) and I ordered the Fish n Chips ($11). Both were scrumptuous. Fries could have been crispier, but no complaints. If you want to try it out there was plenty of seating at 1:30 and if you can find an open meter on the street (bring quarters) it will only cost you a two bucks instead of 12 for valet. We are definitely going back there! PS if you need to GPS, Address is on NORTHERN Ave (mispelled in Yelp)
(4)
Gail S.
We really enjoy Legal Harborside -- the food is consistently good and the service is always fast, professional and friendly. First, the restaurant is beautiful -- all three floors have a stunning view of Boston Harbor. You can find nice healthy and vegetarian options -- their Big Salad is fabulous (fresh greens, tomatoes, asparagus, chick peas, olives in a balsamic dressing) as is their swordfish salad. Of course, they serve Legal staples like an incredible lobster roll, fish & chips, baked schrod, fresh lobster, homemade chowder, crabmeat salad, etc. There are plenty of options for seafood haters too -- in fact, their burger is pretty terrific. Lastly, they sell fresh fish, lobster and other goodies at their market on the first floor. The third floor --with its expansive outdoor deck and gorgeous view -- attracts a hopping crowd at night and on the weekends when the weather is nice.
(5)
Carol C.
Shame on you Legal Seafood!!!!! Been going for years here even when out of state. Brought a nephew there last weekend who was visiting from Iceland. We ordered whole belly clams and got a bunch of clam strips with just 3 whole bellys. That's unacceptable at those prices. What a huge disappointment this trip was. We should have stayed on the Cape where we get a full order of whole bellys when thats what we order.
(3)
Betsey N.
We got tired of waiting 1/2 hour past our reservation time. The music blasting away and the servers and diners shouting over it to be heard made conversation impossible. After standing crammed against the others waiting to be seated for what felt like forever -- dodging harried servers who were forced to wind their precarious way through the crowd-- two of our party had headaches that completely spoiled our appetites. No food could possibly be good enough to warrant suffering the horrible atmosphere in that place. We will not bother to return.
(1)
Vince R.
EXPERIENCE: We had reservations for Floor 1 at Haborside on Valentine's Day for 7PM, due to terrible traffic, we arrived 45 minutes late. I fully expected them to turn us away or out us in the back of the line and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated almost immediately ahead of others who were waiting. As a added plus we were seated at the window at a small four person picnic style table and were away from the other more cramped tables for two. We've previously been to floor 2 and enjoyed that experience very much. People have mentioned the noise on Floor 1, and it was a bit noisy, but it felt more lively and fun versus way too loud, our conversation was no problem. FOOD: We had the clam chowder mugs and steamers to start -- both excellent! We split the lobster special for the entree and it was also fantastic. Our waitress was readily available when we needed attention and left us alone as we lingered over our initial Wine and later Irish Coffees. You can't go wrong, Floor 2 is nicer and more quite but if you are wanting something more casual, floor 1 fits the bill!
(5)
Lili M.
When i came here we got a seat right by the window so it was a great view and unique dining experience. I ordered their pasta with clams and my friend ordered chicken fingers and fries I believe. The food wasn't anything special but we also probably just ordered the wrong things (after all it is a seafood restaurant so if you go try to stick to that!) But the window dining was great and the service was good too.
(3)
Vanessa B.
Before arriving in Boston we were told that this place is a must. The chowder would be something that we'd be wanting second helpings of. We went for dinner on a Friday night, and I'm sure they are always busy on the weekends, but add the fact that the Boston Marathon was taking place that Monday and their expo was just down the street didn't help. Because of the 2 1/2 hour wait we opted to dine at the bar. We missed out on the view that we were hoping for but it was still a great experience. Our server was great. Very attentive and made sure we were good with everything we ordered...she knew it was our first time there. We started with the clam chowder and it definitely did not disappoint. One of the top 2 that we had while in Boston. For my meal I had the crab meat roll with a side of fries and mashed potatoes. The fries were pretty normal, but the mashed potatoes were heavenly. The crab meat roll came out like a sandwich which I wasn't entirely suspecting. I didn't eat the bread, scared It would take up too much room and leave me too full to eat all the crab meat. The crab meat was delicious and so fresh. Like I said, this place was beyond busy. I'm not sure if it's normally that busy on a Friday night or if it was the Boston Marathon that made it a madhouse. I'd love to go back and try to dine during a slower time so we can have the view we were hoping for.
(4)
Kim T.
I came in yesterday with a friend for lunch, service was excellent, our waitor was friendly and extremely attentive, also the food was great...I got the white sangria (super delicious) and a tuna burger and my friend got the lobster roll ...also we started with a white clam pizza ... if you go here definitely get it, it was unbelievable! Best lunch Ive had in a long time ... Not to mention the place is beautiful the ambiance is great ... i love the lighting and the big fans as well! Great job ... Will be back very soon!!
(5)
Dee L.
Went this past Monday it was our 2nd visit in just a few weeks. Location, Location, Location, great spot on a beautiful day. Both times went for lunch 30 minute wait this past Monday but fine with that waited outside with a great view of the harbor. The food is good got cod 1st time grilled shrimp this time both good. I like that they have unusual sides not the standard fries, baked or coleslaw. The only problem I have and it seems others have is the service. It's not fine dining but for $60 for lunch (no cocktails) I expect prompt service. It appears they hire younger servers which is fine but the last time we went the service was painfully slow. He might have been new because he seemed to struggle with the handheld device that the orders are taken on and when our order came out - brought by a "runner" the sides were wrong. He took the sides back and we waited a lot longer than we should have with our grilled shrimp and grilled scallops looking lonely while waiting for the correct sides to be brought out. They need to work on the service and then they will be in firmly in the 4 star range. It's a great place on a nice day not sure how they'll do once the New England Winter hits.
(3)
Kalliope K.
Must have been a bad day. Rooftop deck at Legal Harborside. Lousy service. Clam Chowder, watery and absent clams. Expensive. C'mon Legal.... this did not get you to where you are today.
(2)
Tom W.
I hate giving Legal a bad review since I've had very good experiences at other Legal Seafood restaurants in the past. I'm originally from the Boston area and always look forward to some good fried clams when I get a chance to be in New England. This was our first time at Harborside and we ate on the first floor restaurant. Great layout and location and the service was pretty good although our waiter did forget to bring us our drink order. However, I hate to be picky about service or location; most of us go to restaurants for the food, and this time we were very disappointed. My daughter and I had steamers for an appetizer - pretty good. My wife had mussels for her Entre - also pretty good but nothing special. My daughter had Tuna for her Entre - it should have been sent back. I didn't realize how bad it was until half way through the meal when I noticed that she ate very little of it. It was overcooked and dry. My fried clams were very disappointing. The clams themselves were in pieces; at first, I thought I got strips, but they were just bits and pieces, like they came from the bottom of the bucket. I could have lived with that if they had been crisp, but they were not. My wife had onion soup - terrible. She also had a caesar salad - also not very good. All in all, not a very good dining experience. The location will not save this restaurant unless they get their kitchen act together. There are too many good restaurant options in Boston - don't think I'll every go back to this one.
(2)
Alex Z.
best roof deck bar in boston ive found. great for summers. mostly late 20s and up.
(4)
Barbara B.
Just ate at the new Legals on the water - in their fancier dining room. Thought it was a little stuffy and pretensive Although the food did live up to Legals promise of excellence I also thought it was a bit overt priced . I am not in a hurry to return.
(3)
Shannon C.
This place is fabulous. We did not have a reservation at 7p on a Saturday & were told a 2 hour wait - there was also an hour long wait to get onto the roofdeck just for a drink - however, within 5 minutes of arriving we were ushered to a lovely table next to the open windows overlooking the water (I'm attributing this to my date's unbelievable charm with front of house staff). Our waiter Matthew was great & suggested perfect oysters for us since we were undecided. We had the tuna crudo and the roasted clams - the grilled scallops and striped bass. The crudo was my favorite -the clams were good though & came in a spicy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the grilled scallop dish came with 7 scallops! I expected maybe 4. They were grilled perfectly - the striped bass was a special that night & had a grilled peach salad that was delicious. The food & ambiance here are amazing - the cucumber cooler cocktail was also to die for.
(5)
Just S.
They lie. The wait is forever; at least 30 minutes longer than the hour they tell you and way over priced Yankee Lobster down the street is much better if you you would rather good food and don't care about ambiance. Plus on nights there's a concert at the pavilion you can hear the show from their patio.
(1)
J F.
Great atmosphere! The views are amazing...by far one of my new standard go to places!
(4)
Helen B.
Legal has been a mainstay for me for years, but the Northern Ave restaurant is truly a beautiful building. I had lunch recently in the ground level floor overlooking the water - very pleasant. I had a salad with lobster meat that was very delicious. This seems a little more upscale than other Legal places. My only complaint is the music is too load.
(4)
Cailyn K.
I just went to Legal Harborsides (Third Floor) with a friend to grab drinks. The atmosphere is wonderful but there pitchers of sangria and margaritas are horrible. We bought two pitchers (each between $20-$30 each) and all we got was flavored ice cubes. There is absolutely no alcohol in these pitchers and they were horrible. Honestly, you can find the same view with better drinks at Atlantic Beer Garden and Whiskey Priest. Don't waste your time!
(1)
Roseann S.
Overall my experience was favorable even though we had 7:15pm reservations and didn't get seated until 8:00pm. They seem to be struggling with the velocity of interest and it is completely chaotic at the hostess stand with a lot of miss communication. But once we were seated our server was excellent as was the menu and the food. I have a gluten allergy and for the first time in 3 years was able to eat fried clams again. If you can be patient with being seated it is a great location and the food is delicious.
(4)
Bill G.
1st off we went on a Sunday(10/9) evening, and faced an "estimated wait" of 45 minutes. We languished out on the pier (nice views)for almost 90minutes before we got buzzed that our table was ready. The First floor was excruciatingly loud! The fact that the canned music was stuck on the same jazz piece didn't help. The waitress was perky, but not too good. She initially entered our dinner order as an appetizers. She adjusted, but not before waiting 20 minutes for 2 clam chowders. I have eaten at many Legal Seafoods before and the chowder was superb. The chowder was mediocre at best here;tons of potatoes and minimum clams; a disappointment. We asked for rolls and they came after 2 repeat requests,again about 20 minutes later. The main course came another 20 minutes later; fried clams that were all stuck together and rubbery and to top it off not even hot. Cold fried seafood is not what I hoped for! My dining companion had the Portuguese seafood stew and found it hot but not much better. It was a thin, almost campbell soup-like broth with mostly mussels and a few shrimp. Things seem to run in 20 minute segments here. We dined for 20 minutes, then ordered dessert; a cup of frozen custard. That arrived 20 minutes later. Keep in mind now that we waited 90 minutes to get a table! The check arrived and our waitress vanished off the floor for 30 MINUTES! When she came back she told us a really involved story about having to go upstairs to get a new HH computer 'cause hers froze; No apology, mind you, just a story! To be fair, we did try to flag down a floor manager and pay him so we could leave, but they disappeared too. In sum, we wasted about 4 hours between waiting for a table, waiting for service, and waiting to pay so we could leave, And then the food wasn't nearly as good as other Legal Seafood restaurants we've eaten in lately(Long Wharf. Oh, and $8 to park too. Roger Berkowitz, you got a lot of 'splaining to do!
(1)
Ed B.
My parents were in town for a conference and staying at the Renaissance. It was raining and my parents had just arrived from driving in the rain storm so we didn't want to have to go very far for dinner. Having never been here and interestred in trying it out, I made a reservation for 5:30PM but with parking, we didn't get there utnil 5:50PM. Luckily they didn't give away our table and we were sat immediately. I like the space and I'm sure its really nice in the summer. But it is LOUD. We could barely hear each other. Our water, Mario (?) came over to us and right off the back had 'personal' suggestions for wine, beers, food and was able to tell us a little about what he thought would be considered good. To start we shared the steamers, which were pretty good. They weren't gritty as I thought they would be. The broth was really tasty. My dad was just eating it up like it was soup. I had a mug of their clam chowder, which is still to me one of the better clam chowders I've had. Not a lot of potatoes, creamy, you can taste the clams. For my entree I got the tuna burger, not really knowing what to expect. It was good. The chipotle mayo gave it a nice kick. My mom got fried clams. I love whole belly clams that just burst in your mouth. I wouldn't consider Legal's to have the best. Their clams are small, but not greasy. SOmetimes they taste a bit, bordering on burnt. My dad enjoyed his portuguese stew. For dessert we split a Bananas Foster Bread pudding. it was okay. Very sweet. Our check with tip ended up about $104 for three people. Overall, it was good, but not great. If you've been to other Legal Seafood's its pretty much the same, except the location. would I go back? Probably, but only when I'm in the area. I live outside of the city, so I would have to be for a special occasion, like my parents in town.
(3)
Rick M.
I must say that I was sorely disappointed with our experience at this place. We took some out of town relatives here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. First of all, it was really noisy. Unless you had your ear three inches away from the person who was speaking to you, you could not hear a word. Second, the waitstaff was terrible. I mean, I have had better service at a gas staion. We waited over 15 minutes just to order drink. Then, the beer came and was warm. We tried to send the drinks back, but could not flag down our waitress. The food finally came and was luke warm as well. I will say that the person who was responsible for clearing tables was over attentive, as we felt like we were being pushed out early to make room for the next customer. I do not understand anyone's fascinaton with this chain of restaraunts. Food was terrible, service was bad and the atmosphere is akin to a rugby match. Never going back ever again.
(1)
D B.
Went to dinner Friday night and place was very busy. There was an hour plus wait for seating on the 1st level with a water view. Seeing we were hungry we found a table in the bar area. Bar area was not very loud and overlooked street. This was kinda nice as we were away from the crowd. Michael was our waiter and the service was quite good. Mike was well versed on the wine and dinner menus. Started with a bunch of oysters and for dinner had grilled Blue fin tuna. Fish was excellent. The deserts sounded good but passed this time. Will be back again!
(3)
Erika W.
Tried cotuit oysters, very nice with a medium brine. Moonstone, which had a very briney sea flavor, were delish. The best were the naked cowboy - dive caught with a bold briney flavor and a perfect, more firm texture. The two spreads we tried were both delicious. One being the salt cod brandade and the other smoked bluefish, accompanied by toasted pita. Next we tried the fried clams and the oven roasted clams. I know, bivalve overload. The oven roasted clams were good, but not great. I'd go for something else next time. The fried clams, however, were fantastic. Small, juicy & tender. Perfectly fried, not greasy at all, I would definitely get them again. One of the bar staff was really helpful & knowledgeable and gave us some recs for the next visit.
(4)
Johanna G.
Awesome! Great view, great curry mussels appetizer .Perfect on a beautiful day or night. I had a crab salad for lunch that was excellent. I will definitely go back.
(5)
George K.
Great place, amazing view, delicious drinks and food BUT why everything plastic on the roof deck? Forks and plates are plastic. Only the drinks were served in glass! Wasteful, unnecessary, annoying and it ruined the whole nice feelings about the place. I hope it will change SOON!
(2)
Chaim T.
You can't beat the rooftop view on the third floor, but don't let the view fool you. We ate on the first floor and with a so-so experience. My wife had to send her wood grilled salmon back TWICE since it was way undercooked (think medium rare for tuna). She opted for the wood grilled trout the third time which was better if not a tad too salty. I had the same and although I enjoyed the dish I was put off by the sloppy plating. The trout was atop two side dishes of room temperature jasmine rice and buckwheat noodles. It looked thrown together. The service was good and attentive with many apologies from the manager for the undercooked salmon. We're not rushing back.
(3)
Dorothy R.
Loved the rooftop bar!! Great drink menu - definitely try the St Germaine cocktail! Great summer drink!
(5)
Gonzalo B.
Exhibit #274 on Why They Need More Restaurants in Boston. Talk about your Masses of Asses. Whoa, baby! You're goin' to a casting call, a cattle call, you're gonna shoot some fish in a barrel, only you're the fish and you're in the barrel and...hey. I'm gettin' carried away here. it's crowded. Been to many of the Legal locations over the years, many times. Always thought of this as kind of a 10%-90% kinda place - ten per cent locales, 90% tourists/conventioneers/etc...never real blown away by them, always pretty mezza-mezza, some things pretty strong, other...not so much. Been to this location, location, location twice now. The 1st was fine, the second, uh, nahhhh. We had a 45 minute (surprise!!!) wait for a 1st fl table with some out of town guests. We elevated to the deck and got some bar seats, some good sushi, decent shrimp cocktail...weather-wise, as Frank used to say, it's such...a lovely view... Back downstairs, nice table window-side, good, young, energetic waiter. Everybody liked their meals, including my seafood trio. The sizes here seem to have been downsized about a 1/4 or a 1/3rd. The trick is, nobody ssems to notice. I noticed. Next time the building was bursting more than usual, we slid into 2 seats at the round bar. Nice that they have Pretty Things beer, it's pretty %$#@ good! We ordered fried oyster sliders, and got mostly fried clams. Why they send out 3 of anything just sucks. Mostly people eat in two's, in four's...3 of an app is just wrong. I get one, you get one, we arm wrestle for the third. Clams not oysters, 10 feet from the oyster bar.There's a big difference, we mentioned it to the bartender, and a manager came by and apologized, took it off the bill. A fine move, and a good guy. He listened too to what we had to say about the curry mussels, the mussels were big and meaty and delicious, as was the sauce...too bad no bread for sopping up the bottom/sauce, that's part of the whole thing. And, they could give you a soup spoon...you'd use it. At the bar, no bread forthcoming, maybe if you ask...also, no water offered...you imbibe more beer that way... Biggest letdown was the great-sounding lobster/mushroom pizza. The crust is the same as the dipping chips you get for the small app dips, like the excellent bluefish we also got...this was a soppin', sloppy, difficult to eat liquid mess -and, more onion pie than other ingredients. we ate maybe a 3rd. She didn't ask if we wanted the rest - I think she knew. So. Like I said earlier, some things pretty damn good, others...no so much. But it's a scene, if you like to be in the herd, go.
(3)
Nadeen H.
From my previous experiences at Legal I was skeptical that this would be any different. LTK was always the exception, but they were a different concept all together. The new Harborside location is a Legal's I will definitely go back to. The energy was fun, the restaurant is beautifully done, clean, no snoozy music and the food and drinks were awesome. The servers were all attentive and friendly. The mussels were by far my favorite as well as the ham salad small plate. They had a lot of fun drinks and a good beer selection. Make sure you save room for dessert. We tried the coconut cream pie, rhubarb cobbler and the boston cream pie (not the same old standby as all the other boring Legal's). I couldn't pick a favorite, they were that good. I hope they add specials as well as a few more entrees, to keep me interested.
(5)
Johnny U.
Heard from locals this was the only chain they would eat at. This was close to the airport, so we thought one last meal at a water front place. We expected inflated prices, but they were only a few dollars more than others. Great staff. Great food. Clam chowder was well stocked. The rest of the food was great as well. A bit chilly to sit outside? I expected Boston to be warm and muggy. It felt like a early sring evening....in June? So we took a table by the window. Fun, great people watching, good food.
(4)
Joe T.
We had two minor issues last night. The first: the bouncer checking id's to get to the third floor was rude. I'm from out of town (Pennsylvania) and I was simply showing him where my birthday was on my ID and he snapped saying "I know where it is!" Okay I was just trying to be helpful. After we hung out at the bar, we sat down at our table on the first floor. Our waiter, Santiago, was wonderful! The second issue: the crab legs were not fresh. We told our waiter and he was mortified. The manager came over, profusely apologized, and offered a more expensive substation at no charge, even after he comped the dish. We declined because, in all honesty, we were stuffed. When they brought the check they brought us over two comped and delicious desserts and apologized again. It was a great meal and great time. The customer service was amazing. I will definitely return. Also, get the swordfish gyro.
(4)
Laurie L.
This is a great place to eat and also buy your seafood in bulk at an amazing price. I usually buy my lobster tails and shrimp and then have my waitress serve it to me .. So fresh!! Pure love .. I like there drinks and the oysters there. The only down fall is the service. Very slow and it takes a while to get seated.
(4)
Matt F.
I was very skeptical of this place because they had so many of them around Boston (even at the terminal where we arrrived at Boston-Logan airport). I thought it might be too "chainy", but I was wrong ... Went to the Harborside location in the Seaport District for lunch on a very hot Saturday (without reservations). Got there around 11:00, and were able to get a couple seats at the 1st floor bar to watch the British Open. As a beer connoisseur, I was happy to see some local craft beer choices ("Cambridge Amber" from Cambridge Brewing Co. was my 1st choice ... "Beer of the Gods" from High & Mighty Beer Co. was my 2nd choice ... both were excellent). We ordered the Shellfish Platter to start things off, and this is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. The oysters were sooo small, you could barely enjoy them. Shrimp and crablegs were good, but I was really looking forward to some sizeable oysters on that platter. For my entree, I had the Lobster Roll ... hands down the best thing I had during my ENTIRE trip up to Boston. The combination of the chunks of lobster on a perfectly toasted brioche roll cannot be described. I could not stop talking about how good this lobster roll tasted. I may have had a dream about it for 2-3 nights straight upon my return to Charlotte, NC. The fries/cole slaw that came alongside it were pretty good, but the bar was set too high for anything else after I devoured the lobster roll. The price was fair ... it says "market price" on the menu, which may scare some people. I think it ended up being around $16/$17 for the lobster roll w/ fries ... if I had known how good it would taste, I would have paid triple the "market price". Did not get a chance to walk around (or go upstairs), but it looked really neat. On a final note, I did visit the Legal Sea Food at the airport after my flight was delayed. It was too early for a lobster roll (10:00 am), but I did grab another beer while watching the final round of the British Open. I was curious as to why they were able to serve beer before noon on a Sunday (the FoxSports bar across the gate told us alcohol could not be sold before noon on Sundays). However, no one at the Legal Sea Foods bar was complaining, as you could see Bloody Mary's, Screwdrivers, Mimosas, and Beers lined up all down the bar. In summary: Definitely go to Legal Sea Foods ... order the Lobster Roll, a local craft beer, and enjoy!
(4)
Dean O.
Went there this passed weekend. I ordered six oysters and they were awesome. My Wife ordered steamers and they were under cooked and looked like someone ran over them with their car. The main course was OK at best. One thing I can say is that the service was top notch. They promptly gave us a huge discount and apologized over and over again. I guess the simplest way to say it is it is just a little better than a Red Lobster. We stopped at Salmon Run Fishhouse in Lee and got a great meal.
(2)
Camellia I.
As a vegetarian I was surprised to find such an amazing veg friendly salad. lots of greens and with chickpeas. a perfect and complete meal. Four stars because my sisters food (the seafood trio) looked and tasted (in her opinion) of low quality. Tip: It's worth it to come to this LSF vs the one by the Aquarium on State st., this one has a great view of the harbor from all three floors!
(4)
Van N.
Disappointed. Have always enjoyed prior Legal dining experiences and was excited to try Harborside. Food was mediocre at best and service was horrible. Slow and rude.
(1)
Jennifer H.
I love Legal, and I have never been disappointed by them. I truly thought this would be an easy five-star review, but I have to drop a star for service and price. My friend and I chose to enjoy a Friday night on the second floor -- fine dining. So, I can understand the food being a bit spendy, but I thought many of the prices were over the top, especially given the service faux-pas. When you charge that much, everything should be perfect. Instead, I felt incredibly rushed by our waiter, who kept returning to the table when we had dropped many a subtle hint that we had not had a chance to look at the menu and wanted a leisurely meal where we could talk and relax. This frustrates me at a fine restaurant. Ok, enough of the bad, and on to the amazing! The building is incredible; you cannot miss the stunning glass and wood structure on the waterfront. Inside, everything is wide open, and the view is the star with floor-to-ceiling windows. We got a seat right next to the window on the water side, and the gracious hostess (Gina) was thoughtful enough to offer me a pashmina should my light sweater not be warm enough next to the glass. Nice touch. The food was perfection, and I will give the waiter a point for recommending the perfect white for my fish and the perfect red for my companion's steak -- and also for offering the half bottle solution when we were at a loss for how to select a compromise wine to complement both of our meals. We were offered an amuse bouche of, I believe, a potato and turnip soup -- very good. I also enjoyed a cucumber gimlet, which was a well balanced, slightly sweet and refreshing drink. I started with the steamed mussels ($13) with smoked tomato sauce , dried olives and lemon a brioche. It was the perfect starter for a chilly, windy Boston night -- very comforting. My companion chose the king crab ($12) with wasabi mayo, trout roe and ginger foam. The foam was humorous since it resembled soap suds, but the crap was outstanding. For entrees, I had the sauteed halibut with lobster, romanesco cauliflower puree, roasted heirloom radish and limoncello foam (more soap suds, $38). I also got to sample my companion's tomahawk steak with smoked bone marrow, cauliflower puree and creamed spinach ($56). This steak was perfectly charred on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. It was smoky and salty... like the most indulgent bacon you have ever had. My halibut was awesome. The saute resulted in a crispy exterior with a nice brown color, but the inside was moist and flaky. I'm normally not a fan of either califlower or radish, but the flavors were incredible and bounced off the halibut well. I wiped the plate clean. Will I go back? Most likely, but for that price, only on special occasion.
(4)
J W.
Amazing atmosphere - from fine dining, casual dining to hip raw bar - excellent. 3 stories - a place for everyone. We headed to the top floor and had sushi on the open deck. They had a few heat lamps, but the view and the atmosphere was excellent. Service was good, food was solid, place was the bomb.
(5)
Tom S.
Have eaten at Legal Harborside several times. Last night was disappointing. Arrived at 7 (no reservation) we were told it would be a 1.5 - 2 hour wait, but the tables in the market place were open to anyone... Low and behold there was a couple finishing up at a 4 top, and just paying their bill... we were in business. We sat down at about 7:15PM. It became apparent that the server (who was VERY friendly), was completely overwhelmed. I don't think that we got our drink order for 30 minutes after ordering them. EVERYTHING took forever. Drinks, bread, apps (chowder- how long does that take to make?) Finally when my dinner came out, the lobster claws were cold, and the tail was only warm. For spending $40 on a dish (lobster bake), I was super disappointed in both food and in service. I didn't bother to send it back, because at that point, I just wanted it to be over. In all, it took between 2:15 and 2:30 from start to finish. Probably won't go back for a while. Will definitely not sit in their marketplace again.
(2)
Anna C.
Wow. This place is phenomenal. We came just to have some New England Clam Chowder, but ended up staying for a while to soak up the gorgeous view. Then got sucked into ordering some sushi as well, which was very fresh. Everything was amazing -- food, service, atmosphere, view... even the price wasn't bad (not cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced either).
(5)
Elisabeth F.
Came here on the last night of our trip to Boston because I was dying to try some clam chowda. We sat at a high top in the bar area because there was a 2 hour wait for anything else, but it was still totally awesome. Our waiter, John, was very nice and attentive. Plus he was local so had a pretty legit Boston accent. My boyfriend is literally deathly allergic to shellfish so we mentioned it when he first got to our table, and he was so attentive with making sure the kitchen took good care of separating all his food. Very impressive. He even tried to get us access to the incredibly popular rooftop bar without having to stand in the 1.5 hour line outside. It didn't work out, but it's the thought that counts! I tried my first oyster (the French kiss oyster I believe). Won't be eating those again but my bf's sister, who's an oyster fanatic, said it was delicious! Finally, the clam chowder I went there for definitely lived up to my expectations. I don't think I'm a big fan of the chowda, but it was pretty darn good! Overall, very wonderful way to wrap up the trip.
(4)
Bob C.
Had an excellent lunch with Melise, Pat and Beth after doing the Fenway Park tour. Ihad the traditonal chowder and lobster roll, melise had some yummy fish tacos, Beth went with fish abd chips and Pat had a knock-out artichoke/crab appetizer that stole the show. Good service, nice people, very busy on a Thu lunch, a great location for an excellent meal, a little pricey. Enjoy!
(4)
Kate O.
I wanted something on the water with this being my first time to Boston. So I literally asked a couple walking on the street for a place they would recommend and this was it. It is AWESOME inside. Each floor has a different menu. We sat on the roof top because I was dying to sit outside. Although it took quite some time to find a spot for three we ended up squishing at the outdoor bar table with three high chairs. After seeing the yummy drink next to me, I asked what she ordered and she said the strawberry sangria. 5 STARS!! Awesome!!! Although I really don't think the pitcher is the deal b/c you don't get the cute filled wine glass and there is a TON of ice in the pitcher but still good. On to the rolls. YUMMO. Surprisingly the shrimp tempura roll was the best (meaning literally order it as it was AMAZING), then the caterpillar roll, then the lobster roll, although for $26 would not order again but cute presentation. We also ordered the red dragon roll too. The service was okay. But the view and food made up for it.
(4)
Stephanie F.
Three stories of awesomeness on the water. This is my favorite in the collection of Legal restaurants. There is something for everyone here and the best part if the quality control. The restaurant benefits from having the fish pier nearby and their processing plant down the block. First floor. - casual, relaxed dining with fresh quality options. Second floor - formal dining Third floor - rooftop bar. Love the sushi there. The sushi chef Haru is one of the nicest people you'll meet. An asset to this establishment. The best part for me is the ability to bring the same fresh ingredients to your home. They have a fish / seafood display. This is my top choice for raw seafood and I don't mind the extra trip after the supermarket to get their fresh ingredients. Like the motto sites, if its not fresh, it's not legal.
(5)
April E.
Very fresh and delicious oysters. Service was good but a little slow. Had to ask for drink refills. I had the lobster roll and it was really good but sort of pricey. The menu said "market price" so I was warned!
(4)
Kristine N.
Amazing staff, amazing view, and amazing food. We shared the lobster bake which came with a variety of shellfish. Everything was fresh and delicious. The corn was surprisingly one of the best corns I've had. Corn is corn, I know, but it was good! Other people at the table tried the chicken and fish tacos and seemed to really like them. The fried shrimp appetizer was so so good. It was crispy and had a great sweet & tangy sauce.
(4)
David H.
Seafood is beyond nasty in my opinion. A beautiful upper roof deck with fantastic drinks isn't. Come just to hang out and drink, that's why I went.
(5)
Jessica L.
I dined on the 2nd floor, but if I come back I'll stick with the rooftop bar. Legal Harborside definitely has gorgeous view. I found the service a bit mixed and the dishes hit or miss. Upon arrival, the hostess impatiently asked if our entire party was present (ie, 5 people for a birthday dinner). When all of us had arrived and found one another in the bar area (where they directed us to wait), the hostess was nowhere to be found and it took awhile to get seated. While the waitress refilling our water and folding our napkins throughout the evening was excellent (prompt and almost invisible), the rest of ther service was only so-so. The corn muffins in the bread basket were cold and some of the drinks came out slightly wrong. Not a huge deal, obviously, but given the somewhat "upscale" ambience that the restaurant tries to project and that it took over a month to get the reservation one would think the service would be a bit better. In terms of the menu, I found the appetizers and desserts more of a draw than the actual main courses. The Wellfleet oysters were exquisite! One of my friends ordered the octopus and lardo, and while some of us loved the lardo, others thought the dish got a bit salty and the octopus a bit tough. The lobster gnocchi with zucchini flowers was absolutely delicious, though it seemed to be in a lot of butter (lobster in butter is delish, but I think this was in a pool of almost pure butter). The filet mignon and cod dishes looked solid. For drinks, the French 75 was one of the best I've had, and the truffle blue cheese martini was great (though not for everyone). For the margaritas, the "smoky" one was a bit too smoky, while the other (Jalisco Smash) was delicious, though it had too much ice. In terms of desserts, the Popcorn Sundae was amazing. Somehow they combined rich, creamy ice cream with savory peanut brittle and buttery, salty popcorn. The chocolate chilli mousse was also great.
(4)
Richard C.
I have been to this site 3-4 times, always had personable, attentive, interested, appropriately friendly wait staff; no exception this time. I have been eating at Legal restaurants since 1968 (college & med school); from Inman to Copley to Kendall to Chestnut Hill to Burlington to Long Wharf to Park Sq to Warwick to Crystal City, VA and beyond! I always experienced tremendous consistency in prep of fried clams and wait staff service. I always have fried clams for my dinner and sometimes appetizer and entree. Why? Because I moved to Hawaii, years ago, & Legal does not ship to Hawaii & because, for my taste, the right way to prep & cook fried clams is the Legal way (when not on the Cape)! Every trip I take to the Mainland, I look for fried clams at a Legal restaurant. BUT, this time is the only time (!) I have been disappointed in the clams; small with tiny, nearly non-existent bellies, very spotty breading (corn meal) coverage. The waitress apologized and apparently expected the manager to speak to us. The mgr never showed, but the waitress did her best to figure out what went wrong. The chowder was great as usual. This time Legal rates a 2 star because of the fried clams; 4 stars because of the waitress and servers; 0 stars for an uninterested manager!
(2)
Andrew H.
Had a wonderful evening the entree was perfect. The lobster roll was delicious had just enough mayonnaise. The fries were perfect best fries I've ever had and don't get me started on the rolls. Over all would recommend it to anyone the environment was awesome.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lien H.
We are pretty close to many Legal Seafood restaurants but we choose to come to this one because of its ocean view. Not only that, this place is spacial with tall ceiling, you don't get the fishy smell in the dining area. Service is not consistent, especially on maintaining our table with clean plates.
(4)Jamie G.
So I'm giving the: Downstairs- 5 stars Roofdeck -1.5-2ish stars for an average of 3 stars. Here's why: We started downstairs, waiting for a place to open up for us on the roofdeck. We sat at the bar and has a great view of the harbor through the open windows. There was a cute fishing pond for kids to catch and release fish inside. We ordered martinis and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. He said they didnt have any more made, and we asked if someone could make them for us. He seemed slightly hesitant, which bothered me, so someone did make them for us, and they and the martinis were delicious (mine hendricks and hers ketel one). Our buzzer finally buzzed so we headed upstairs with our drinks. The roofdeck was gorgeous and spacious and with a wonderful view. But they dont have ANY food upstairs, just spreads with pita, and drinks. Very disappointing, as I wanted to try the fried calamari. We did order two spreads: Hummus, za'atar spice and olive oil - which was delicious, and the Kalamata and fig- which was more like a paste and had a nasty flavor. Both came with good spiced pita chips. I ordered water and it took FOREVER to come- ugh-- seriously, how long does it take to pour a glass of water? And my friend ordered another martini, but they did not have blue cheese stuffed olives and couldnt make them for us, and the martini tasted funny, so she ordered a different, and it still tasted funny. So we loved the ambiance of the roofdeck, but we were very disappointed in the lack of food, bad service, and low quality drinks. If I were to go back again, I might order a drink downstairs, bring it up to roofdeck, enjoy it for awhile and then head back downstairs for dinner. Which is complicated and unfortunate. Hope they shape up that roofdeck!!
(3)Beverly M.
I dined on Floor 2 on a recent Saturday evening. Must make reservations well in advance. especially if you prefer outdoor dining. Dining on Floor 2 is an absolutely amazing experience. I was fortunate to snag an outdoor table. There are only a few outdoor tables overlooking the harbor which makes you feel like you are at a private dining event. The menu as well as the wine list is totally different than the other Legal menus. There is a clear focus on creativity with the entrees. Service was impeccable and never rushed. It is expensive but for a special occasion it is worth the splurge. I would also recommend a pre-dinner cocktail in the Floor 2 bar. Very quiet and intimate compared to the bars on floor 1 and roof top. Spectacular view.
(5)Sheila T.
Location, decor and view are excellent. It is very loud. Oysters were very good. Service was excellent. I had the linguine and clams it was okay. I would go back again for oysters and drinks.
(3)Maryanne S.
If the check wasn't so high, I'd be amused by our dinner. One of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. (2nd floor) . Wrong drink orders, undercooked food and the rudest staff I've ever seen anywhere.
(1)Jason B.
Best overall spot in The bean.... Service, food, bar, fellow customers... The real Deal in Every Sense of The Word!!! Burkie you've outdone yourself bud!!
(5)Jon R.
I went on a Monday expecting a subtle crowd. I was wrongly informed. This playrd was pretty crowded but yet enjoyable. I sat by the raw bar and the service was good. I had clam chowder and a crab roll. They were both satisfying and tasty.
(4)Kate H.
No,no. We were looking forward and expecting something good and what a disappointment ! First we waited for over 90 minutes for our farmed,fresh salmon and when it arrived it was stone cold. On the second round it was hot but mostly raw. What a waste of time. If you value your time and have other options don't go here.
(1)Alan O.
Ate on the first floor. For a brand-new building in 2011 below acceptable on the handicap accessible front. Get in the front door and immediately have to take an elevator to get up less than 3 feet. What about a ramp? Or no need for an elevator or a ramp?!!! OK - now up to level - take a ramp down to the dining area - but have to ask other patrons to move in their chairs to get by. Fish choice: narrow. Service standards lacking: The one entre special is $8 more than anything else - but the server does not give the price unless asked. Multiple attempts to clear a plate when another person at the table is still eating. Clearly a policy to turn the table at the expense of hospitality.
(1)Keri D.
This was my second visit to Legal Harborside (my first visit being to Floor 2 a few weeks back). We were seated at an outdoor table and, as rain was in the forecast, we asked what would happen if it rained. The hostess told us to hope it didn't. Sangrias were well liked but multiple other drinks, including the cucumber cooler, had to be sent back for being overly sweet. We ordered the gorgonzola and fig bruschette as an app for a party of 5 and the server failed to mention it is two small crostinis and better meant for sharing between 2. Steamers were a bit gritty and half of our calamari was dumped on one of our guests with no apology and no assistance with cleanup. Entrees were OK. Selection of side dishes is strange with no plain steamed veggies available. "Sauteed spinach with pine nuts" included an abundance of raisins. Finally, we were disappointed that spending $300 plus on Floor 1 didn't even warrant placement near the front of the line to enjoy the roof deck. With regard to my experience on Floor 2 - it was very "stuffy". Despite an early reservation and empty dining room, our table was only made available to us after we ordered a drink at the bar. Food was delicious but the waiter's poor attitude was a put-off.
(2)Kerry H.
They get an A+ for ambiance! My new favorite! I love the location - right on the harbor - and I love how they have divided the venue into three different levels. The first floor is like a typical Legal and the food is just as delicious. The second floor is fine dining. The third floor is very cool! The third floor is a bar area with sushi and a limited menu. It is set up with couches and high top tables. There is a copper fireplace adding to the ambiance. The best part is the roof is retractable! I can't wait to return in the summer, especially when there is a concert going on! The views from all three levels is spectacular. Take the stairs up instead of the elevator. It gives you the feel for all three levels. it's a great place for out-of-towners as well. It's located in the Seaport District amongst many other great establishments. It makes me want to move down there!
(5)Mitchell P.
Went here yesterday for lunch, the building/view is awesome looking, unfortunately i cannot say the same for the food. I started with an appetizer the stuffed squid, it was disgusting, the sausage and squid and red sauce combo just didnt work, i could see this at the TEST kitchen, but not on someones real menu, oh and the best part it came with a 2 inch piece of plastic in the stuffed squid, must of been part of the special sauce or something. Any who main course Yellowfin tuna, it was decent, comes with some plain ole white rice like you would get at your local chinese food take out place, or from Shaw's lol.....just nothing really to wow about, a decent piece of tuna, but def not the best...I think they should go back to the normal legal seafoods menu, but even that is just ok
(1)Joseph C.
Male host blonde ...... DUMB! But other than that great food and atmosphere. A tad crowded but thats the name of the game I think.
(3)Zheng L.
the steamed lobster here is fantastic...never seen such a big lobster (1-1.5lb) costs less than 30 bucks! and it tastes great
(5)Jacqueline C.
We had dinner with some friends from out of town here last night. We were looking for a place to get good fish but would also be kind of cool. We were worried about it being touristy but the location seemed to help ward off that typical obnoxious crowd. The view is amazing. I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. I thought the bench-seating would be weird but it was totally fine and we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious!! Definitely perfect and delicious all around. We started off with a few appetizers and Legal turned some of your traditional seafood apps into upscale treats. The bbq shrimp was scrumptious and the braised pork tostada was fabulous. For dinner we all chose fish off of the grilled menu and everyones was cooked perfectly. The only downside was that our server was kind of weird. She wasn't exactly on her game and was a little awkward. Despite that, dinner was delicious, the location is amazing and we would definitely do dinner here again.
(4)Bob C.
I have to admit that i was extremely disappointed with my visit to Legal Harborside last night. I had two coworkers in from out of town who were craving seafood. Of course the first thing that came to mind was Legal Seafoods. I mean how miss out... Well known brand with great seafood, a beautiful facility with Big Ass Fans located right on the Boston Harbor. Well needless to say i was wrong. It all started when i walked in the door and was told that it was a 15 minute wait. I could care less about the wait but i did ask what tables we were waiting for whether it was downstairs or upstairs. She sad " you are waiting for the tables downstairs" I followed up that statement with "what about upstairs. Her reponse was "that's the finer diner" Of course I said what we don't fit in with the fine dining? She kind of laughed and said well if you want to but its really expensive. Anyway i kind of laughed and just went to the bar to grab a drink. When we got seated we waited for about 10 minutes, no joke, before someone even came up to our table. I mean if the waiter said guys I'll be right with you that would have been totally fine but he just walked right by without even making eye contact. Finally he came and we orderd a few appetizers, shrimp cocktail and calamari. Well the shrimp cocktail came in this little Jar and were mini shrimp marinated in some sauce. I have to admit they were pretty good but not what i was expecting at all. As for the calamari they came in this little basket. Multiple times i took what i thought was either a fried calamari or pepper but no it was a fried lemon! I mean it's not a big deal that they breaded a lemon but to me those are the little details that matter especially in a reputable place like Legals. When the meal came it was pretty good but the size, presentation was to be desired especially for the price. The service ended up being pretty good once we finally got waited on but overall i was very very disappointed. For a company to spend as much money as they did to build this great place the quality of food and service did not live up to my expectations. Tonight i was at the Prudential Mall and walked by a Legal Seafood and actually walked inside to look at the menu. I did realize the menu at Legal Harborside was different but as a first time customer it was not expecting that to be the case. I have to admit that i hardly ever write a review but i did tonight because i was really that disappointed. Knowing the kind of care and quality Mr Burkowitz puts into his company i just feel he should know because he'd be the first to admit that the experience i had last night is unexectable. Please realize.....if this was a normal local seafood shop i'd have a totally different view.... but this is Legal Seafood and my expectations were so much higher. Oh well I'll probably be back when the weather is nice out but feel that i should express my thoughts.
(2)Robin L.
We had lunch on the first floor and thought it was very good. There's nothing fancy here, but Legal really knows how to do seafood. My husband said his clam chowder was excellent. Not too floury. We each had a fried plate, mine scallops his shrimp. Great light breading fried just right. Fries and Cole slaw also good. Legal has awesome rolls, so be sure to ask for some. I had a great Bloody Mary, but it's not for the faint of heart! Nice view of the harbor.
(4)Tom H.
Way to noisy. Went to dine saturday evening -1st & 3rd floor constant booming disco music- too loud for conversation what is the reason for that? I left with a head ache
(2)Lindsay G.
new&sexy scene in Boston. the nightlife of the 3rd floor had a beautiful view& chill atmosphere. RReeaallyy well made drinks, superior table and BAR service!! reasonably priced drinks from $11 mixed $5 beer. loved the vibe of the 3rd floor. very chic and modern. definitely an A-list place to hit in Boston!
(5)Robyn R.
I was actually on the second floor...
(4)Renita K.
Haven't had dinner here but I did get in a fight with a cougar the other night while getting a drink at the bar. The drinks were good and took the edge off the overly pretentious crowd... lots of cougars chasing after it. The rooftop bar had an amazing view though and was worth the wait!
(3)Joan M.
Stopped in Legal after a show last night. Beautiful night for a drink at Legals rooftop lounge. My friend went to the bar and order two drinks and one soda. We waited at the table for her for 20 min. Then I see her talking to a manager. Turns out she gave the bartender a $100 bill, the only bill she had on her and the bartender never came back with her change. Bartender gave her the 3 drinks, took the $100 and said he would be right back, then he ignored her as she stood at the bar waiting for him. She told the manager what happened and he said that was not possible, it must have been her mistake. No mistake about this. The bartender stole her $80.00. Absolutely no question about it. He stole her money and the manager sided with his bartender and told her to write to corporate if she wanted to complain. I give this a rating on one for the view. Careful of your money when ordering from the 3rd floor bar. I will never be back.
(1)Martina S.
Amazing food and amazing service. Oysters were to die for, great recommendations by our server Lisa on which oysters to choose. We will be returning!
(5)Christopher G.
We showed up there on wednesday night and they had a 2 hour wait. We were told to call in today and make reservation for tonight. Called today and I was told they have nothing for 2 adults and a highchair until 10pm. Ummmmmm my kid will be fast asleep by then. Not sure if they like kids or not but this place is a joke
(1)Cory G.
I would have given the restaurant a 5 star review but we were seated 35mins after our reservation. This was our 1st wedding anniversary which I had noted when making the reservation. There was about a 20 min break between our apps and entrees which wasn't that bad but we were wondering what was going on. Overall, the food really shined except ironically the amuse-bouche. It was some weird eggplant thing on a crustini. I got the trio of tartare special which was amazing and my husband got the bacon wrapped scallop. Both were exceptionally delicious. For entrees we ordered the cod and the filet. They were both excellent and beautifully prepared. For dessert we got the tort and the chocolate banana cup, which were a perfect finish. The view from our table was amazing. I would definitely go back.
(4)J P.
This review is for the first floor. The view was very good and service was OK. Table was small for the 5 of us. We ordered some oysters, they were fresh, but unfortunately some of them had some debris from shucking. Calamari appetizer was good. Kids meals were good. Clam chowder was good. Our entrees look so "blah"..they did nothing to make it presentable. The food itself is fresh, so you know the ingredients were good. But the presentation was bad, just a pile of veggie, piece of fish and pile of starch. Not even a spring of parsley! One would expect more when dining out. We were not able to find "free" street parking so we had to park in their lot, which was $5 with validation. After dinner we walked up to the different floors to check things out. People were friendly and the views were fantastic from each level. But I don't think it's a place we would revisit.
(3)Holly N.
Been many times and no complaints about the food. We dined last evening on the first floor and once again we felt rushed with spending over $170. We also wanted to have an after dinner drink on the third floor and were told to go outside and wait in line - really? And yes, management supported this ridiculous process. On our first outing to dining on the second floor, the valet could not locate my car. Well folks, it is not only about the food!
(2)Michelle T.
Huge fan of the curry mussels! Packed with flavor, however, I thought the mussels were a little over cooked causing them to become smaller/dried up and a little tougher. Maybe better luck next time. Tried two different oysters, ordered 3 of each. I'm forgetting which ones exactly, our waiter recommended them. Always fun to try something new. Really fresh and tasty. Tried to clam "chowda," hearty and generous with the clams.
(4)J P.
Was going to a concert next door so decided to eat here before the concert. First time at this location. Made reservations and was a half hour early, they sat us right away. Had a great view of the waterfront. Waiter was Sean he was the best. Very attentive and friendly. Also liked he was not the Phony type very sincere. . Food was very good both my husband and I got the Lobster Bake. This has everything Chowder, steamers , mussles, lobster and corn on the cob. Glass of wine is a good serving. Was hoping to see a manager to comment on the great service we had by Sean, but sadly there was none in sight.
(5)Wendy F.
This is by FAR my favorite Legal Sea Foods. It is not like any of the others. The space and view are amazing at the seaport. Three different floors for dining and cocktails. The white sangria is amazing. Also i had a tuna special that was great. I do not recommend the shrimp that come in a mason jar. Not very good and too small. Great for groups!!!
(4)Robert C.
Was at Harborside on the upper deck Sunday July 26th at around 10:30 pm and witnessed a young restaurant manager and a bouncer loudly screaming and cursing at a table of patrons. The table seemed to have been quietly enjoying themselves prior. It was the most disgraceful display of unprofessional behavior I have ever witnessed by restaurant staff. Both should be immediately fired. I will never go back and will certainly share my experience.
(1)Carrie L.
5 stars for the view and location. I was lucky enough to find a table for my party within 5 minutes on the 3rd floor rooftop deck. The wait downstairs was 2 hours. This review is solely based on the 3rd floor. Friday early evening, noise level was off the roof. Although the waterfront view was gorgeous, I can not hear any of my friends across from me. At all. Ordered the strawberry sangria, A-OK. For food, we decided to split 2 lobster rolls, a crab roll, and 3 sushi rolls between five girls. The chips that came on the side of the lobster & crab rolls were pretty good. Lobster roll is typical. Crab roll was not popular with us. The crab meat tasted fake. The 3 sushi rolls were orange dragon (spicy salmon with salmon), red dragon (spicy tuna with tuna) , and caterpillar (eel with avocado on top). The food was very average at best. Environment was too lively to enjoy the average food. I will be making reservations next time I come in.
(3)Tina B.
Great rooftop view. Great sushi. They don't normally take reservations but if you have a big enough group and call ahead they may be able to accommodate you :)
(4)S R.
I would like to give this place a worse review for being overcrowded and slow and expensive but the food is too good. Lots of healthy options. They will make certain items gluten free for you as marked on the menu. Seafood is prepared well without excess sauces and seasonings. Staff is generally friendly and doing their best to manage the volume of clients. The drinks are pretty bad though so stick with wine or beer.
(4)Theresa A.
I have always had a great experience here! My standby is the wood grilled swordfish and the clam chowder is amazing! Consistently have had good service here weather I have a table inside,outside or sitting at the bar. I love that while Legals is becoming more of a chain restaurant they are not losing any of their excellent service or quality of food. I always take out of town guest here for seafood, can't go wrong!
(5)Ryan R.
Great food & service other than the downstairs hostesses. Upon checking in for a reservation, they couldn't find it & we almost left - they offered nothing but a sorry. We looked up the reservation on opentable app, showed it to them, and they pointed out it was for the second floor (same restaurant, but different reservation system). Never suggested that might be the case - again, we almost left & they said nothing!!!
(3)Katie S.
I'm upgrading. Had a couple of really great meals here lately. The fish is sooo fresh, the service is great and I love the wine list.
(4)Michelle S.
Yes, I know. Everyone knows about Legals' in New England, and I think everyone has either been there a million times or purposely avoiding it due to it's mainstream reputation. I guess I have fit into the second of those categories as I always strive to try something new. I also have a bad taste in my mouth based on my VERY sub-par experiences at the renovation-ready location in Chestnut Hill. However, my friend and I had a great dinner night out here on Friday worth reviewing. I'm also officially ready for summer... We came in around 7 and put our name in for a table for two. Then we headed to the first floor bar for a drink. Great wine selection - I got the Cabernet Franc for $9. I guess it's worth mentioning I had a second glass with my meal, so I was impressed. Bartender was super friendly, and so was our waiter once we did sit down, about 25 minutes later. For dinner, we were seated at a cozy (bit cramped) table on the first floor. It's so cool how they use brown paper with the Legal stamped logo for a table cloth! Our server was friendly, patient, and unpretentious. We were at no point rushed, but always attentively helped. My girlfriend and I had a bit of trouble deciding what to order since everything looked so good - but we both ended up settling on the fish tacos. And for $12, I ended up spending a lot less money than I expected. I also ordered the $6 seasonal salad for a starter. The salad was phenomenal - walnuts, goat cheese, and cranberries over baby greens with a balsamic, glazey dressing. Our food came out promptly after I finished my salad, and we were served two, overstuffed, fresh fish tacos. They were outrageously good! After dinner, we headed up to the third floor bar to finish our drinks and look out on the harbor. I can't wait to come back come May for a late, festive dinner with my girlfriends and a couple drinks out on the roof deck!
(4)Alex C.
Awesome place! Met Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots!!!!!! def come. It's a fun place and great drinks. Great aura.
(5)Sara E.
Legal harborside was amazing at hosting our 10-guest function. Everyone is very kind and helpful and hospitable! Love this place!
(5)Tom J.
Good food and nice environment. Got the fish in foil (halibut) and wife got the lobster pot pie. If I had rice or a starch it would have made my meal complete. Was kind of expensive for what you got left kind of hungry still. However what was served was delicious.
(3)Salena M.
This is a review for the nicer, gourmet dining section. View is gorgeous with the high vast windows and elegant dining area. Food was okay... had abalone with lemon risotto that tasted mediocre even though the description sounds amazing. My husband got the grilled cobia (a type of white fish) with pomegranate bbq sauce and that was delicious. For kids - they are able to cook something simple like grilled chicken or salmon and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes were a hit with the kids served in "cute" little stainless steel pots If you're up to try another Legal Seafood restaurant, go for it, at least you can enjoy the view from the 2nd floor and drink some wine.
(3)Mikaela H.
I dined at a window table on Floor 1. The view was incredible. I had never been to a Legal Seafood before and I appreciated our server telling us about the company history. I was very happy with the gluten free rolls and the crabmeat salad was simple and dleicious. If we left then I would have given Legal Harborside 5 stars. But then the entrees arrived... I ordered the fish in foil with no bacon, which unfortunately meant they had to leave off the mushrooms too because the bacon and mushrooms are apparently cooked together. This was disappointing because I love mushroms but don't eat pork. Anyway, when the fish came I opened the foil to find that the fish was literally SWIMMING IN BUTTER. To be fair, some people probably enjoy this but in my opinion, being served what must have been an entire stick of butter is REVOLTING and on the menu it just said "steamed haddock" so there was no warning. I literally could not eat it. My mom was willing to switch plates with me but her scallops were also far too heavy. Just thinking about the butter smell right now is making me nauseous. In summary, Legal Harborside has a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff but butter and salt are completely overused in an attempt to make rich dishes. Don't get be wrong, I enjoy flavorful food. But I do not enjoy food that is so intense I want to vomit because I can actually feel my arteries clogging. If you care at all about healthy food, do not eat here.
(2)Michelle P.
Usually I'm not into chain seafood restaurants but Legal is actually quite good and their seafood doesn't leave me screaming for the hills. Baked stuffed artichokes with scallops and shrimp. You must get this. I for one typically enjoy cheese and seafood together...if you don't, you probably should skip it. Their softshell crab BLT was good and my dining companions fish was delicious. I believe it was bass of some type. Overall service was good though prices are pretty high, but hey, the view was worth it....almost.
(4)Ira H.
I've been here twice in the past week. Last Wed on the roof deck at night. Awesome view and breeze. Good quick drink service. Went again this past Sunday for a family lunch. We tried for the roof deck but found out they only serve sushi and bar food up there. No problem. The host was very kind. We headed down to the 1st floor. Still had a great water view and breeze. It was a little more crowded. Service and food were great. Believe it or not, prices were reasonable for the 4 of us. Fish Tacos ($11), 2 kids lunches ($7 each,) small salad ($8) Fish tacos were excellent. I'll be back again.
(5)Daniel W.
The one star reviews of this restaurant are about as petty as petty gets. Downright laughable. The chowder is great and the Fisherman's stew is awesome. Yes, it will cost more than Red Lobster. Yes, it's busy and noisy. Yes, it's in a busy part of town near the convention center so there will trouble parking and parking fees.
(5)MyBroken J.
Wonderful service! Fantastic food! Beautiful ambience. The lobster soup is the best! The seafood was prepared to perfection! The filet was outstanding!
(5)Jill G.
gorgeous roofdeck view- one of my favorite spots for a "sunday funday". always packed with somewhat of a yuppy crowd, but a great place to go with friends. its actually different from the typical legal chain- they even have beers that Sams and Harpoon brew for them uniquely. Really great food- fresh fish!
(4)Steve W.
This was a recommendation from my concierge. The wait was about 10 minutes before anyone came over to say hello. I was incorrectly placed in the wrong section by the hostess so I needed to move up 3 floors. The food offering was very limited and the service was not attentive. I was at the bar and needed to flag down the bartender on a few occasions to get anything, and he forgot to bring me my drink. The food was nothing special although the prices were on the high end. Definitely not worth the trip. Bad service, Bad food. Don't waste your time and money!
(1)Karl F.
A nice place for seafood in Boston, good view, good food, lively & fun. I came here with a group for a business dinner. We first went to the bar upstairs, I had a virgin bloody Mary, no complaints, the others enjoys the variety of beers. There is a nice view of the Boston harbor up here. Then when our table was ready downstairs in the dinning area we went back down and ordered dinner. There is a good selection of dishes from casual mid priced items to more $$$ priced dishes, I had some steamers and oysters, they we delicious, then a lobster roll for main course. It was good. The staff was great, my associate thoroughly enjoyed their food. The main thing about Legal Harborside is the atmosphere, Trendy night life place with a great view and good place to hang out with friends.
(4)Amy S.
Best Service. Best Food. Best View! We came for dinner, so we couldn't enjoy the view as much as the people who come during the day or for the sunset, but even with it being dark outside, this was an impeccable view of the harbor! I immediately felt like I was in good hands. We started off with a variety of oysters - mainly East Coast. These were the best oysters I've ever had in my life, literally. I know the polar vortex helped contribute to the meatiness of the oysters, but these were incredibly fresh and well taken care of. Next, I got the Arctic Char special with a side of saffron wild rice/mushrooms. So incredibly delicious and fresh! The char was paired with grapefruit for that hint of acidity. The saffron wild rice and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to this entree. Ordered a Allagash White, which tasted pretty fresh. They have a solid beer and wine list, which is always appreciated. The service was beyond amazing and everyone was super friendly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Gloria F.
Beautiful views with very decent food. Ya. I'm spoiled and live in New York. So food is nothing particularly special but I'd definitely come here for drinks and dinner again. I highly recommend drinks on the third floor. The water and city scape views are stunning. We went to the formal restaurant and split oysters and the swordfish special. If seAfood is not your thing it's probably best to skip this joint. Otherwise dig in to light and tasty fare. It's best to come here on expense account as I'm not sure id want to pay on my own dime, but expense account is a definite yes!
(4)Dalya N.
This place is Great. We have reservations for the 2nd floor, but we decided to go to the 3rd floor because of the Sushi Menu. They don't take reservations for the 3rd unless you take to the manager. We told the manager is was our anniversary and he was a GEM!! Not only he made sure that we get a table next to the water but he also brought us 2 special Rolls on the house!! Amazing service wish I can remember the manager's name to give him recognition. Food was amazing and atmosphere was great! Loud for a romantic dinner but we liked it a lot.
(5)Kaverne A J L.
Great atmosphere. Reservations should be made in advanced! Otherwise wait for the free seating! Good clam chowder and fresh oysters! Lobster was alright and the service staffs were really busy!
(4)Kimberly L.
Came here with a party of 8! We were seated by the bar and ended up getting a table before 7:30pm which was great! I ordered the stuffed artichoke hearts and the lobster roll. Both dishes were good but nothing spectacular. The lobster roll reminds me of Luke's lobster in NYC. The stuffed artichokes were super cheesy and creamy but good. Our waiter josh was awesome! He was really attentive and got us the hookup with the rooftop. Overall, this chain is pretty consistent and I would go back!
(3)Jay S.
I tried. Really, I tried not to visit Legal for seafood. I was trying other places in the area. I was trying to avoid what I consider a borderline chain restaurant. However, this was without a doubt the best seafood preparation I had this trip. I had a Panko crusted tuna, berry crisp and a coffee. Pricey at $50 but an excellent meal. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the cost.
(4)M. Alan B.
I see a bunch of positive reviews here, so perhaps my experience was an anomaly (or the reviewers are "friends and family"?) but my experience was not worth the time, effort and travel. From the moment we walked in to the minute we left I was deeply underwhelmed. While the building itself is new and "well appointed" there is little interesting about it, the location (which adds to the detraction) or view. The feel of it was a giant yawn. It was July 4th weekend and the place was practically empty (our first clue?) so we decided on the first floor outdoors (because there was no full menu on the deck, really are you kidding me!? and were seated quickly.. When our waiter came I asked about the menu relative to other locations and was told that: "as our flagship location we have a different menu and are more special than the others" AND that I'd "be impressed with them" (a boastful claim not knowing who I was or what my expectations might be). My dining partner ordered a swordfish dish and I started out with a simple order of Duxbury Oysters (the Oyster menu was generally incipid). I was told the Swordfish was Excellent but when I tasted it I thought it was "ok". The Oysters were very good but with preparation consisting of shucking them and sticking them on a plate not exactly a culinary achievement. When my main dish arrive it was small tasteless and OVERPRICED. I ate it all because I was starving and being stuck in the wasteland that is convention visitor hell I didn't have the patience to "try" elsewhere. The service and attention was acceptable but in no way distinguishing for a Flagship location. Legals is a very good, typically reliable restaurant and I've eaten at most locations on numerous occasions (just had lunch at the Copley location last week). It is one of the first places I recommend to out of Townes but the Harborside is a place I would discourage people from. It was OVERPRICED AND UNDERWHELMING.
(2)Kevin J.
Service - really good. Our waiter knew his stuff and was very friendly. I had the swordfish gyro which was great - the char on the fish and the pita balanced perfect with the cucumber sauce. Very satisfying. There was a 30 min wait, but the seats by the entrance (without the cool view) had a zero min wait so we went for that option. All food here is fresh and local. Best thing - 5 mins after leaving the building a hostess managed to track us down - we had left a bag of books and whatnot in there. I thought that was a really decent thing for them to do. Good people. Good food.
(4)Patrick B.
1. Terrible, slow service 2. Waiters and staff act like you're bothering them by asking for food and drinks 3. Overpriced 4. Rude management staff that roll their eyes at you when you have a problem with them.
(1)Jake C.
Really great! The food was fantastic, and service perfect. Really enjoyed the evening, and the environment, on a beautiful night.
(5)Maureen M.
We had a small sampling of bar fare last night on the second floor at Legal Harborside. The food was good tasting and presented well. The lobster soup was amazing and calamari and seasonal salad were very good. The only thing that irked me and made we write this review is, when asked what I wanted to drink I said a glass of chardonnay, house will be fine. I knew they had an extensive wine menu and I didn't want to get into it. Just a plain ole glass of house chard please! When the bill came we quickly realized my 2 glasses of wine were $18.50 EACH. Me thinks I didn't get the house wine.......When we asked about it, the waiter went on and on about their wines and how great they are...blah blah blah. A word of warning. If you are ordering wine. Pick out a specific one and tell the waiter what you want! I won't make that mistake again. (the wine was good....but not $18.50 good)
(3)Sylvia C.
Finally checked the roof top out. Went there on Friday right after work around 5:30pm and the place was already packed (luckily no lines yet - whew). I thought it was a bit weird that after checking your ID - they stamp you then before you get onto the stairs they use a black light to check your stamp (almost like a club). The view from the rooftop is nice - sleek and chic patio furniture. Definitely, looked like a happening place. Noticed some tables had the reserve signs (thought seating was first come first serve). Nevertheless - we lucked out seating (moving a chair and there from other tables). A bummer for the Legal Seafood regulars is that the menu for the roof deck is mainly sushi. Though many options for the sushi - can't say they were spectacular. Service was pretty good given the place was packed - bartender takes your drink order pretty quickly and servers check up quite frequently on how we're doing. The place overall is great - just a bit on the pricey side but guess that's Seaport District.
(4)Ty W.
Interesting fun dessert with popcorn!! Filet was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his flounder!
(4)Emily L.
Nice area for rooftop drinks and seafood towers. Good for dinner with groups. 3 levels to the restaurant. The 2nd floor is more upscale.
(4)Frank N.
This Legal is my favorite spot when I want an impromptu lazy weekend bar-side. Never have a problem grabbing a seat at the circular bar--seems most of the tourists gravitate towards the upstairs or to the tables by the open windows. It's a busy spot, but the service attentive and the kitchen keeps up. The oysters are always local, Merry, Wianno, and Katama Bay, tasty and briny goodness! The crabmeat roll and lobster rolls always accompany our lunch meals. Also good, fresh and tasty. For drinks, there are usually some interesting cocktails but the Sam Adams crafted especially for Legal's is my favorite.
(5)Gricel G.
Just flew in from Sunny Ft. Lauderdale, to a lovely 18 degrees. Staying at the Seaport, they recommend this restaurant. Staff was fantastic! James the bartender, extremely attentive. Very comforting when traveling alone on business. Great cosmo and he helped me pick a terrific dish. 2 thumbs up on the Lobster Bisque. Will definitely recommend.
(5)Anita C.
*This review is for the Rooftop Deck (3rd floor)* Number of visits: 2 I am continually impressed by this venue's food and service! This is an ideal location for any special occasion, after-work drinks, or any night when you're craving real seafood! Food: I would definitely recommend trying any of their sushi and sashimi. You can taste the freshness in their fish and the portions are decent. For the quality of the food, their prices are justified. I particularly enjoyed the Avocado Salad and the Hawaiian Roll. Their sushi appetizers and specialty rolls are simple yet the ingredients compliment each other well, making each bite flavorful and refreshing. Ambiance: Just google Legal Harborside Rooftop deck and it'll speak for itself (although photos does not do it justice). The room is open and spacious so you can see the harbor from any seat. And for those semi chilly nights, their patio is warmed with heaters! Service: Their service is fantastic each time I've gone! Our most recent waitress was friendly and was always there when we needed her. Fun fact: They use REAL crab in all of their dishes, even in the California Roll, which is a rare find. So if you think you know what a California Roll tastes like, wait till you try it with real crab!
(5)Jim D.
Bar staff and table staff was great. Front door and 2nd floor greeting staff was poor. We arrived at 5:30, wait was 45 min, no problem But no offer to just put us at bar to wait. 2nd floor was wide open but no offer for table there---we would have paid for up menu. Personally went to 2nd floor but 3 girls just standing there also looked at me like I was lost and no help, even when u asked them for help. Seemed odd, entire kitchen was standing tree perched to prepare.
(2)Maurice P.
Wonderful setting, service and sushi. However, the menu upstairs where it's the most fun is a bit limited.
(4)Elena E.
Had dinner on the second floor restaurant. Great place to come for seafood and enjoy the waterfront view. I didn't have such high expectations since the regular Legal Seafood restaurants are ok but nothing special. Floor 2 is a different restaurant completely. All of the table face towards the windows but unfortunately we didn't get a booth right against a window, even though I requested one on opentable. Service was very good the whole time there. When our dinners came, they accidentally brought the lobster and short rib entree, which none of us had ordered. They acknowledged the mistake and gave us the lobster on the house as they quickly brought out the correct dish. Pretty nice to get a $52 entree for free!
(4)Laila B.
I have to give 4 stars because the oysters here changed my life. See, I'm from Louisiana and I just love our warm-water oysters from the bayou. I've tried oysters all over (Seattle, San Francisco and even the coast of France!) but I still prefer our homegrowns. So I thought I should at least give the New England oysters a try and selected 4 different kinds. I called my husband at work after I ate the first one. I took pictures of all of them. So cold. So briny. So delightful. I actually started looking at real estate in Boston and considered moving there after eating those oysters. Amazing. I also got some bruschetta with gorgonzola and fig (ok but wouldn't order again) and grilled swordfish with an orzo-grapefruit-fennel salad. The fish was very good but the salad literally tasted like nothing. That was a disappointment. Service was great. So was the view. So I probably wouldn't go back unless it was eat oyster after oyster. And at $2.25 each, they were the cheapest I paid anywhere in Boston.
(4)Ann I.
Great restaurant with a wonderful view! The menu was vast and had lots of great foods to choose from. We ordered the Lobster roll, Calamari, and Lobster Bisque soup. All were flavorful and service was nice and accommodating. Our waiter was very patient as we looked at the menus for a while since there was so much to choose from. The manager stopped by once to ask us how the meal was and the drinks were constantly filled by various wait staff. Would for sure make reservations as this place is packed every night of the week.
(4)Juan M.
The food and service was good! One of my favorite places in Boston! Very lively place!
(3)Huy N.
What else can I say about Legals Harborside that hasn't already been said? The waitress service was excellent and attentive. They even moved us to a bigger table when they thought our table was too crowded on a Friday night. We ate on the 3rd floor on the roof deck. The view was excellent, I just hope I can come back again when it's warmer to stay on the deck. I solely ordered sushi and that was fantastic. I got 2 sushi boats with my friends and it was all delicious. It was quite nice of the chef to come out and talk to us, asking for feedback. The sushi tasted fresh and we got such a wide variety on the sushi boat so we were really able to try a bunch of different things. My only complaint, which is nit-picking really, is that the the waitress did take long with our drinks, but it was a crowded and packed Friday night so that was expected. Overall I would come back again, maybe not on a Friday night when its crowded because the food was great and i would love to try more items on the menu.
(5)Anne E.
Great light lunch here before heading to Harpoon. We sat at their bar and had excellent service, drinks, and food. Definitely recommend the mussels and the stuffie. Great view of the harbor in a beautiful restaurant.
(5)Gina B.
Had the opportunity try Legal recently after a work trip took me up to Beantown again. It's surprising large inside, 3 stories I believe and quite contemporary inside. Given the size of our group, we opted for a prix fix meal (soup/salad, entree and dessert). I'm gluten-free and asked the server if they could make an accommodation, which they did. They even had gluten-free bread, though it was hard as a rock. They offered sorbet as an alternative for a gluten-free dessert option. Unfortunately, it had terrible freezer burn. They finally brought out some fresh sorbet, but I felt this should had been caught before it was brought out. Other than that, I thought the food was good and I liked the ambience.
(4)Emily S.
I feel like I don't give out a ton of five stars, but we had a flawless and magical night here from start to finish! Atmosphere: We sat by the tall floor to ceiling glass windows/doors leading to the outdoor deck that looked out over the harbor and it was stunning. The ceiling and bar looked industrial chic. This is a cool place to bring family, a date, or friends! Love the heavy wood table. Service: I think our Waitress's name was Liz? She had long brown hair and a flower in it! She was charismatic, charming, funny, kind and perfectly timed. She was available when needed and not intrusive either. We kicked it off with her and she made an amazing meal an awesome experience. Food: We ordered the tempura battered green beans and lobster/wild mushroom pizza for appetizers along with a few oysters (can't remember which, sorry! I'm the non-oyster eater of the party of 3). They green beans were accompanied by two delicious tangy and zesty aiolis. I dipped in both before popping those veggies as if they were fries- SO crisp and such rich flavor! The pizza was perfectly toasted and there were large, fresh chunks of lobster meat that melted in our mouths. For dinner I had the most tender cheeseburger cooked medium rare on a big soft bun that came with fries and a pickle. Others in my party enjoyed the Swordfish special with a cup of classic New England clam chowder (just the warm, creamy, traditional type you may be looking for!) and the Salmon. They were so satisfied and happy with their meals and said they were perfect! We ended with a berry crisp and unexpected chocolate creme brulee that was so well done... We were licking our spoons clean. I read many of these other reviews before we decided on this place and we came out with no regrets. This night at Legal's beat out a fancy meal from the night before spent at Grill 23 with its experimental pink, smoky, highly salted chowder they should call a bisque and it's calamari that was more onion than sea critter.
(5)Andrew P.
I usually have a good experience here, but I think this restaurant has gotten a bit too big for it's britches. I went with two friends on a Wednesday night in hopes of getting a table. I was quoted an hour and a half wait time. Seemed long, and we were about to go elsewhere but found seats at the bar. Out of curiosity I checked OpenTable on my phone and there was a reservation for 8pm available. It was 7:30pm! Why would the hostess quote me a time 3 times as long as one available online for a customer that may or may not happen? When approached about this the hostess had no excuse and actually had no words. Definitely not good customer service. If you choose to go here, make sure you check OpenTable first as they clearly like reservations better than customers standing in front of them!
(2)Luna D.
Best lobster ever, chowder is perfect with reasonable price, much better than daily catch ever
(5)Guillermo M.
Nice place to come with somebody from out of town. Good food, nice view of the harbor, quick service, not cheap but not extremely expensive. This time we got fried oysters, a Harpoon seasonal beer, clam chowder, lobster roll and closed with a seasonal fruit crisp and all was really good.
(4)Idan H.
Perfect! The food is amazing. Everything is treated with great care. The service is like nothing else.
(5)Michael Z.
We have been fans of Legal Seafood for years and today we tried Legal Harborside First Floor. Our food overall was well prepared and the service was excellent. We particularly like the door that open to deck and you sit almost outdoor. Great place to visit
(4)Milly R.
The roof deck bar is a fun place to watch people. Young crowds who wants to be seen!
(4)Sarah W.
Lovely location. Amazing views and a serious crowd lined up to view them. I'm usually a bit of a snob about chain restaurants (and chain restaurants with airport locations? come ON), but I have always had good experiences at Legal. Had the lobster bisque on my last visit. In middle America, lobster bisque is usually a rich, creamy soup with a great lobster flavor from the shells they use for the stock. At Legal, lobster bisque is that same thing, only your bowl is filled about half way with honest to God lobster. It's Boston. The water is right there. You expect them to bring their A game with the seafood, but this was definitely above and beyond. The non-seafood appetizers we tried were perfectly adequate, but don't mess around. Let them do what they do best.
(4)Ann H.
My sister & I went here for our last night of our trip to Boston. We had heard mixed reviews, such as: They are not as good as they once were. And: You will not be disappointed. We made 8:00 reservations, got seated early & had a great table by the water. Our waitress, Emily, could not have been nicer. We split a salad & she brought it in two bowls & it was plenty per person. We ordered the seafood combo but the combo had changed unbeknownst to Emily & did not contain what we wanted. We changed to an appetizer order of crab legs & two lobsters. When the crab legs came, they had a very distinct odor of ammonia. We went ahead and tasted & YUCK! They were gooey & my sister was convinced they were undercooked. They took them back & heated them up. In the meantime, they brought us a complimentary cup of chowder which was very good. When our crab legs came back, the reheating totally enhanced the AMMONIA smell & taste. I called the waitress & (I think) manager over when I could get their attention - the man said he was 'stuffed up' & couldn't smell them. Emily said she doesn't eat crab legs so she doesn't know what they are suppose to taste like. SERIOUSLY???? Even if you NEVER had crab legs before, would you serve ANYthing that smelled like AMMONIA? They, of course, took them off our order. The lobsters were pretty much ok but I think I could taste a more faint ammonia taste in the small legs so I couldn't eat them. Maybe because they were cooked in the same pot as the crab legs? I guess the most disappointing thing was what I felt was their dishonesty about not admitting they had served us in edible crab legs. I'll not go back next time I'm in Boston nor will I ever recommend this restaurant to any of my friends.
(1)Lisa V.
Great choice of a restuarant for seafood! The only negative was the shrimp cocktail. It was served in cocktail sauce with a strong cucumber taste. I like to dip my shrimp into plain cocktail sauce. Also, the shrimp were smaller than I expected. The calamari, oysters, clam white pizza and clam chowder were to die for. Also, the lobster bisque contained the biggest piece of lobster which was a delight. Our party of four had a waitress named Lisa who was phenomenal. I would definitely request her on our next visit!
(4)Brian H.
Two colleagues and myself had dinner here on a Wednesday evening, we ordered a bottle of wine and calamari to start. All is well in the beginning with the wine and calamari being very tasty, Sharon our server recommended the panko crusted tuna, so two of us ordered that and the other ordered the swordfish. All three fish came out overcooked, it didn't take much for our server Sharon to realize this and correct the problem immediately by putting in new orders and delivering them in short time, they came out perfect the second time. Legal owned the mistake and fairly compensated our bill, not what we were looking for but it was a nice gesture.
(4)lindsey f.
Great Job! Our company recently sent a few young girls into the city for a special evening out as they are experiencing a recent diagnosis of cancer within their family. I called a few places and none were as accommodating as Legal Harborside. One of the managers, Sean, helped us weeks in advance, holding a special table when they do not normally do so, going out of his way to have sparkling cider from an outside vendor on the table. Sean and his team went above and beyond to help us give two teens a memorable night, feeling like royalty. Good food, better people! Thanks guys!!
(5)J C.
Will never return. I usually like Legals, but I visited this location for my 27th birthday and got a nasty case of food poisoning. We sat on the roofdeck and had oysters and 3 rolls of sushi. Legals would be the last place I would ever imagine getting sick from, and thats why I thought they would at least respond to the e-mail I sent them about my illness. No response. My guess is they have such a low-rate of illness from the fish because they refuse to acknowledge anyone who actually does get sick.
(1)Thomas S.
They use to be good . Very expensive and way over crowded. Small portions .i guess its more for hanging out socializing . Legal sea food was the best but i dont think so anymore .they forgot there roots .
(2)Prinya S.
Roof top staff is horrible and service sucks. Very packed and food selection is limited.
(1)Tina S.
Dined I the rooftop great atmosphere. They had the fireplace on so you didn't feel like you were on a rooftop in November. The sushi was fresh and tasty. Will have to come again
(4)Michele H.
Legal's, you do some things so well. Like ahi tuna in a wasabi aoli with seaweed salad. Or lobster bisque, or buttery stuffed lobster. But sometimes the easy things escape you. Like wood plank salmon. I understand letting natural flavors shine through. But this was bland. No sauce, no herbs, no creativity, no nothing. It was rare but gummy. It was $30 of rare, gummy, blandness. Can you get a great meal here? Absolutely. But the chances of getting something just okay or worse while also shelling out $xxx is not a gamble I'd like to take anytime soon, especially when better (and cheaper) seafood places abound.
(3)Malisa S.
Went here for Valentines Day with a couple of friends and it was great! Got there before the dinner rush at 7:30 so we were able to get a table for the six of us at the rooftop deck. Great service from both the waitress and the sushi chef. We had a sushi boat and some of the chef's selections were new rolls not on the menu yet, and talked with us to get feedback, which was sweet of him. One thing not on the menu yet was the BLT, aka bacon, lettuce, and tuna in a crispy shell and some sauce, which was crazy good. The food was delicious and the fish fresh, so overall a really good experience!
(5)Lauretta L.
I agree with many of the previous reviewers - come here for the gorgeous view and exciting setting. We came for a late dinner and sat on the first floor patio, which provided us with a great view of the docked boats and city lights. There's a lot to take in here and if you find yourself bored, there is probably something wrong with you. Service and food alone would not urge me to return here. The service, while attentive, wasn't impressive. Our server was a bit rough around the edges and our interactions felt rushed. The Fried Whole Belly Clams were delicious, although there were small thin pieces of...fried lemon(?) included in the basket. We couldn't figure out what they were but I ate them anyway...the clams themselves were delicious. However, I would suggest not piling them into a small basket because the bottom got soggy. The Wellfleet and Kumamoto oysters were fresh and delicious - I ate them w/o any toppings :). Yum! The Portuguese Fish Stew was average. It could have used a richer broth. While you're supposed to wait in line to get to the rooftop deck, we managed to get in w/o doing so :). This was the highlight of our experience! Be sure to get up here.
(3)julie n.
Very busy restaurant right on the water. We had a reservation for 7 but changed it to 8 last minute and there was no issue. We were seated at a table by the large open windows so had a great breeze. It was so very loud in the restaurant. Sister and I shared a lobster bake. They split the plate for us and we both had plenty of lobster. The corn was so good. It was juicy and sweet, had so much flavor. The clam chowder was also very good. The rolls were delicious. They have a 100 year old 12lb lobster available for about $250, it was massive! Enjoyed the food and experience very much.
(4)Lauren P.
We had drinks on the rooftop and it was great! We also had the sushi and that was really good as well. You really can't beat the view of the water.
(4)Sherrie C.
I met some friends on the first floor for lunch. It was amazing food and the oysters were sooooo FRESH! Views are spectacular but prices were a little high. Our waitress was very busy so it was difficult to flag her down the few times we needed things but the location and people watching more than made up for it! I would love to check out the roof top patio...it was too windy when we were there. Maybe later this summer...
(4)Sarah K.
The evening started out poorly; I had made reservations and yet over 25 minutes later after our reservation time, we still weren't seated. The on shift manager (I believe her name is Megan) really turned the evening around for us. She found us a great, quiet table and ensured we got clam chowder and rolls immediately (I was starving and raving about the chowder). I didn't realize that this place has a different menu than other Legal Sea Foods, as this is Legal Sea Foods "Harborside". The chowder is the same across all LSF, so that was tasty. We also tried the gluten free muffins. Not as good as the regular roll, but good for gluten free. I got the baked haddock but was expecting the 'regular' one served at other LSF and didn't like the Harborside one as much as the regular. My bf got the Portuguese seafood stew and really liked it.
(4)Gregory D.
I had dinner at Legal Seafoods Harborside tonight, one of my favorite restaurants! But not tonight. I know it's tough to eat out due to my dairy allergy but usually this place is great with allergies. My server told me that the dish I ordered had dairy and she couldn't have it made but it was Rosemary skewered scallops! So I told her to make it without dairy. Our dinner came out and it delicious! I ordered a burger to go and asked for Brussels sprouts and fries and got nothing! It was unacceptable. On the way out the door, neither the manager or the host said thank you or have a good night. Instead they looked at me and walked away in silence. For such a great place I didn't feel it was up to par to my standards.
(3)Stephanie K.
Please note: this review is for the 3rd floor only. The rooftop bar at Legal Harborside is a pretty space with views to match. Unfortunately, the staff are well aware of this and take advantage of knowing they have a captive audience. The atmosphere is very loud, the drinks average, and the sushi subpar. Honestly, I expected that going in because I'd heard this lounge was more of a scene than anything else. But what really earned this one-star review was the staff's appalling unprofessionalism. From the doorman to the manager, everyone who works here has an attitude and should rethink their decision to work in the hospitality industry. What's funny is the managers give an air of professionalism and seriousness (the Secret Service called: they want their suits and earpieces back!), but it's all a façade. For all their blustering, this bar is chaotic and their waitstaff make far too many mistakes for a place that's gotten too big for their britches. Our waitress was not only abrupt and unfriendly, she made multiple errors and never apologized. It took close to an hour for our small food order to arrive. When it finally came, part of the order was incorrect and we had to send it back. The sushi was ok but nothing special, and it was obvious the rolls were made hastily because one fell apart and the other one had pieces that were uneven (some were so big it was impossible to fit them in your mouth). But the icing on the cake was that the waitress charged the wrong amount to our credit cards despite the fact that we clearly wrote it all out on the receipt (the mixup was that two people in my party had last names that start with the same letter...really?!). What's more, she then accused us of leaving $70 on our tab. We'd been a group and some people had left early, but no one left without paying. Knowing that it was a busy place, I gave the waitress the benefit of the doubt and politely asked if we could see the earlier receipts from the members of our party who had left in order to compare them to the original. She sent over the manager who said there was nothing he could do re: showing us the receipts from our table. Look, I used to work in a restaurant and I know that there are groups of dishonest people who try to skip out of places without paying the full tab. That's wrong, and I feel badly for restaurants that have to deal with bad patrons. However, this did not happen with my group. I know errors happen and we gladly would have made up the difference if we'd actually made a mistake, but the manager wasn't even willing to work with us to go through the prior receipts and check. He insisted that we had to split the remainder among us, even though we were not in the wrong. Finally, we got so tired of arguing with him that we agreed to have the difference split among our cards. The manager put the wrong amounts on two people's cards. When we pointed it out, he said it was too late and there was nothing we could do. When we asked to speak to his supervisor, he rolled his eyes and walked away.
(1)Sam J.
Visiting from Zürich, took a taxi across town for our reservation but refused entry because we don't carry passports to get access to restaurants over there, especially not at age 35. Peter (the manager) was particularly antisocial about it, hence warning you about the service you can expect. Went to LTK across the road (apparently owned by the same company, which makes their "company policy" even more insane), where the service was fantastic. Don't bother with the harborside - duck across the road for the same product but with good service.
(1)Julie A.
Large parties can be a huge pain in the ass, and when I'm part of a big group, I always expect something to go wrong. Not here. This was an absolutely flawless treatment of a large party. Our group of eleven arrived a few minutes late for a 6:30 reservation, and our table wasn't quite ready. Instead of making us stand around, they swept us up to the stunning roofdeck (which I can only imagine is even more spectacular in warm weather), moved a bunch of tables around to accommodate the group, and sent a complementary appetizer or two to our table to tide us over during the wait. A few minutes later, we were escorted downstairs to a lovely high-top table right by the windows. We had two waitresses, each with a handheld electronic notepad thingy, so nobody had to shout across the table and no order was misplaced. Logistics aside, the food was stellar. One of the while-you're-waiting appetizers was shrimp cocktail, served dangling on an ICE GLOBE. I can't even. Apparently it is one of the items on the middle-floor, "fancy" menu. Drinks were also impressive, both in size and content. I am always a sucker for a bleu cheese stuffed olive. Sangria (particularly the apple variety) was tasty and unique. Back downstairs, I loved the assorted oysters and lobster and mushroom pizza. The only downside was that my entree, the tuna special of the night, was a little overcooked - next time I'll specify and order it rare. Looking forward to experiencing Legal again, perhaps next time with a smaller crew and warmer weather!
(4)Greg W.
So I heard a lot about this place. We had reservations but it took forever to get seated and the hostesses did not seem to care. Finally after getting a manager (Megan) things started to look up. She was super nice and very friendly. She deserves a raise :) Anyways the menu is different then their test kitchen across the street and from the other location but still very good. Each floor of this location is a whole differnt them (like say fancier level, normal level, sushi level). They have a real gluten free menu if that is your thing. The normal rolls are super good though (pigg pigg). I got the Portuguese stew and it was really good. I would happily come back here anytime IF the reservation thing works out as they get super busy.
(3)Mary F.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have always enjoyed it. This time was no exception. I ordered the appetizer of fried clams and a cup of clam chowder. I also ordered a glass of Cakebread Savignon Blanc. Everything was excellent. The service started slow but ended well. I normally try not to go to large commercial restaurants when I travel but Legal Seafood Harborside is the exception. Great food and an amazing view of the harbor.
(5)Ken C.
This location has great views of the harbor. Yes I know its a chain but its quite a good one. Def try the NE clam chauudah it has actual fresh clams in it. Food here is real good, and so is the service. I tried lobstah roll, and it was well worth it. This spot is def on the fancier side attracting a lot of visitors to city. Worth stopping by. Bit pricey but nothing crazy. its also close to Harpoon brewery which is a nice trip also
(4)Grace M.
i'd never associated legal with sushi as it's always been a fish and chowder kinda place to me, but harborside's got really fresh, perfect sushi. the view of course is as good as it gets and the open breeze is really pleasant while dining. easily the best legal location :)
(5)The R.
I went to the legal harborside this evening with a group of friends. The staff was very polite and did not rush you out like most restaurants. I had the fish and chips, it was light flakey and everything you could ask in a meal of fish and chips. Overall me and my friends really enjoyed the visit and will probably be back.
(4)Morgan P.
Went here for dinner on a trip to Boston. The service was awesome and the view was unbelievable. It was very reasonably priced and I enjoyed everyone else's meal. Mine was the fried scallops which I would have liked a lot more had they not been fried - I wasn't aware of that. The oysters we had were phenomenal and the chowder was A+ - I am still craving it today. Highly recommend!
(4)Jenni K.
We were on floor 1 of this restaurant. It was really packed and pretty loud, so I wasn't sure how much fun we'd have. Fortunately, we were seated in the back and able to have decent conversation. The waiter was great! super helpful, providing recommendations and helping us all choose things. We ended up sharing a lobster special, which was twice baked with some sort of stuff on top of it. I thought it was good, not amazing, some pieces seemed too baked and I almost would have rather gotten the plain lobster to dip in melted butter. Everyone also had a salad, which was great. The Baked Artichokes with shrimp and scallop stuffing was SOO GOOD. Order it. All in all, it was good. Nice to be near the water, but I prefer smaller restaurants that aren't as loud, nor a drinking scene on their upper floors.
(4)Victoria S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! My staples are the Tuna burger and the Portuguese Stew! The burger is better than any tuna burger I've had before! Their large bowl salad has amazing dressing too! Its really fun to go during a concert at Bank of America Pavilion and sit outside - its like you have a free ticket to the arena next door!
(4)Sydney G.
Warning to all. I got the oysters and I must say they do not taste any better coming back up than they do going down. Food is expensive and subpar to boot. Drinks are off the charts priced and again are not worth what you're spending. My mother who ordered a different meal ended up getting food poisoning too, long story short, sale yourself some money and time in the bathroom.
(1)Aaron K.
World Class Seafood. Legal Harborside is the flagship of this popular NE restaurant chain and has a completely different menu then the rest of the restaurants. It also has a well known executive chef at the helm. I have been saying since this place opened that the first floor has the best seafood in Boston. It is simple, well priced and extremely fresh. They do mostly everything you could ask for and do it well. Recently we had the chance to splurge on ourselves and decided to try Floor 2 for the feast of the seven fishes tasting menu. Superb. I could go pescatarian if I could always eat like this. Every single dish was well executed, unique and delicious (excluding the monkfish, so one miss). We were brought tiny forks, spoons, and even chopsticks to eat our seven + course meal. You get everything at this restaurant that the first floor is lacking; excellent service, beautifully plated dishes, and an even better view of the harbor. There are also a couple freebies along the way. This is gourmet seafood on the second floor and the chef comes up with some exciting combinations. We loved the pickled quince mignonette and smoked foam on the oysters. All the broths and sauces complemented each dish wonderfully. We were truly in heaven and wouldn't hesitate to come back next year to see what the chef comes up with for the feast (even with the hefty price tag). If you are looking to please a seafood lover, look no further than Legal Harborside.
(5)JeNnIfEr S.
I had the Lobster Bisque and the White Clam Pizza. Both were good (though a bit pricey). *** Legal Harborside- Floor 1 ***
(3)Bob R.
We were very disappointed in our meal. Mussels served in s bad pineapple broth... Mussels belong in garlic, butter, white wine. My scrod was small and dry. The Portuguese. Seafood stew was so mediocre. We always look forward to Legal Seafood but no more. It gets mass produced is the feeling i got. Sorry i usually love Legal Seafood. a year ago I ate upstairs and it was much better. The service was fine, but food was not.
(1)Nat A.
Service is so slow & kinda rude for an empty bar. food was ok & not amazing & overpriced.
(2)Matt D.
Good service, knowledgable bartenders. The lack of 5 stars is only for the line on the summer weekends. Nobody likes to wait in line. I usually say I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member (Groucho Marx). This place is worth it for the views alone.
(4)Maggie N.
Love the roofdeck! Sushi and white sangeria a must!
(5)Caitlin M.
This place is well worth the money. They honored my request to sit by the window, and the view is so nice! The shrimp are giant. The scallop dish was amazing. The chef also will bring out some complimentary tasters. It is such a fun, romantic, warm environment. I would definitely go here again.
(5)Tihomir D.
Another great night at legals roof top. Love that place and Didi took great care of us.
(5)Alex D.
Best seafood restaurant yet. Perfect place for Caviar. Oyster fans, here is your place. Believe it or not they have Alaskan King crab. 5 stars all the way.
(5)Michele W.
Great view, excellent service, and delicious food. A word of advice: share a mug of clam chowder. Theres no way you can have a mug of it AND eat anything else. This chowder has a 1:1 ratio of soup to stuff. i also had 2 oysters from the raw bar and they were very fresh. I also had some of the lobster roll and fried scallops. The lobster roll was so tasty. The bread was very crunchy, but not so hard that you couldn't bite into it, and the lobster was tender, fresh, and sweet. I feel they put the perfect amount of mayo (I'm anti mayo). The Scallops. Oh my gosh. Its been too long since I've had them anywhere they've been cooked properly. The breading didn't overpower delicate sweetness of it. The scallop was soo soft. It wasnt chewy and rubbery like I'm used to. Skip the wait, make reservations. Also, find street parking. Otherwise pay $16 for parking WITH validation.
(5)Jeff F.
This review is for the 2nd level. Great spot if you want a 4 top with a water view. I think it's great that Legal developed a finer dining concept on the 2nd level, but ultimately it slightly misses the mark. They need to revamp the entrees since although Cobia and Abalone are interesting fish, they aren't that great. Also - Lobster shouldn't be smoked. If you do find yourself having dinner here, the salmon is the call since the beet emulsion is memorable. The apps were interesting, but nothing memorable enough to highly recommend. Here's a stack-ranking of best to worst: - King Crab Salad - coconut noodle was creative; fantastic w/ the King Crab - Octopus - solid - Seared Scallop over braised pork belly - ok - Tartare Trio - only the tuna was worth it - wish I could have had triple tuna instead of salmon & hiramasa Probably worth checking out once if you're a Legal fan, but if you're in from out of town, I wouldn't put this on your shortlist.
(3)Evan S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! The best part about Legal Harborside is it's location and view! This is a great place to grab a casual dinner and cocktails!
(4)Kalyn H.
Dined here a couple of months ago while visiting Boston from Chicago...best restaurant I have ever eaten at. Can't wait to go back! Service - A+ we were accommodated even with calling only a couple of hours ahead on a Saturday night, our view was amazing, right on the harbor! Food - A+ Ordered 6 oysters, scallops, lobster Mac and cheese and the lobster roll. The lobster roll is to die for, the bread and spread combo is so tasty. We even spent $75 to order the lobster Mac and cheese shipped in dry ice last month, delicious!!!
(5)Elvin M.
I know that Legals aren't necessarily where Bostonians go to treat themselves but I've been to Harborside twice now and as recent implant I got to say that I've been nothing but impressed with the quality of food I've had. I'm in love with this place, really.
(5)Kurt S.
Great view, Legals food and service always great. Always a thumbs up for Legal's. Could it be better? Add a "Captain Mary" and make a killer bloody mary with clam juice... I mean, you ARE Legal Seafood so clam juice should be a natural... maybe that's just me though.
(4)Sarah F.
Had an awesome time there tonight. Great food, great service, very nice upscale experience. Loved it! Russell is an awesome waiter, be sure to ask for him, really knows his stuff. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Vince F.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in over a decade. Upon arrival and attempt at getting seated, our guest host on the main floor was incompetent and unwelcoming. Once seated, our waitress on the main floor was also extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming. We realized after looking through the menu that we were not seated in the correct part of the restaurant to order sushi. We were then sent to the 3rd floor where we were greeted by another incompetent group of guest hosts. Before allowing us to be seated, we were asked for ID. I presented my Alberta driver's license (I am over 40 years old) and my companion presented her NEXUS card (she is over 30). We were told that they are unable to accept international ID cards and told that we needed to present our passports. As our passports were in our hotel room several blocks away, we politely declined and left. What a waste of a great location and well appointed decor. Recommendation: Stay away from this place as it is clear that a positive customer experience is not a priority.
(1)Olive D.
UPDATE! guest services got in touch, spoke to a very polite professional lady. Informed her that we still had a great time despite the awful service I would return. She apologized and I just received a gift card to return! Customer service at it finest ! Everyone has an "off" night. I don't normally complain , but it's one way to improve. There's ways to handle a situation. I though about complaining that night ,after a few sangrias thought it was a bad idea, couldn't get my friends to take me seriously , let alone a manager ! So kudos to legals! See you all soon to dine outdoors one more time before snow arrives!!
(5)Laurel W.
Amazing Meal- Legal really is the top when it comes to working with food allergic guests and this location is simply outstanding- (I have allergies to gluten, corn, tree nuts, shellfish, citrus and nightshade sensitivities) Even with these, there is quite the variety to choose from! Fish was fresh and perfectly cooked and the brussels sprouts with bacon were amazing-They even brought out warm gf dinner rolls (made locally by Something Sweet Without Wheat)- Our server was friendly, personable and very helpful- I cannot recommend Legal Harborside enough!
(5)Erich B.
My wife and I went to the first floor dining area which is the casual dining area. We went on Tuesday abt 530. it was not that busy and we did not have to wait. The view is excellent of the harbor and the atmospher is fun and casual. We saw falies and couples there. The food as very good. My wife had the lobster which was perfectly cooked. I had the gumbo which was also tasty. Over all it was not the best food we had in Boston during our trip, but we would certainly come again if we were in boston.
(4)Lillie A.
Came here with my close friend on her birthday, we sat outside which was an amazing view but please I advice you if it's a little windy STAY INSIDE - the food was delish. The service was great however I preordered a surprise bday cake for my friend and it was a NONO don't waste your money I'd suggest that you walk with your own cake .
(4)vinny o.
Was here for dinner tonight, when we first walked in it was awkward, I said 2 for dinner and they both seem puzzled, hi I said it slowly and clearly. Then I was asked if I wanted to sit upstairs downstairs or-rooftop, I know the rooftop doesn't offer a full menu with only a partial of some sort so we said upstairs. Hostess upstairs seemed sweet and brought us to a table overlooking the ocean. Beautiful! Server comes over asked us for drinks and told us about the menu very extensively. Shrimp cocktail for our app was phenomenal with an amazing presentation! Onto dinner we both ordered the cod which really lacked flavor although again the presentation was nice with a seafood foam, definitely not what I expected, it was just so bland and my husband also thought so. Dessert was good pineapple upside down. I'll try again but not rushing back not with so many other options in Boston. The service was the strongest point of the night. Props to the waiter!
(3)Joelle K.
I would have rated this closer to a 3, had it not been for the view. This Legal Sea Foods is right on the harbor and we sat at the bar facing out onto the water, which was pretty awesome. I have heard that the roof deck is awesome, but we decided against the long wait and sat right down at the bar. I would highly recommend the clam chowder. the food and chips and fish tacos were just ok.
(4)brad h.
Flew up from Atlanta to see Boston and eat some seafood. We tried a few places, Legal was recommended and was on the Harbor next to our hotel. Great view of the water from our table both nights. Yep, we went two nights in a row, so that says a lot. The place is crowded, if you want quiet - this is not the place. Get reservations. Well organized, they got us seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly but knew how to leave us alone with each other. We had their wood fired Scallop Skewer and Clam Chowder to start. The wood smoke taste was a bit more than I would have preferred, but then, I enjoy some variety. I would order them again. We spit a skewer. The Chowder was as good as it gets. Perfection, would be my opinion. Lobsters - we had two with Swiss Chard... I had mashed potatoes, My wife Brussels Sprouts (She said they were good)... All was done to perfection. There is not much more that you can do to a good seafood dining experience. SECOND NIGHT: Their Cod and Lobster served on Spaghetti Squash was the main dish... By this time we were suffering from food overload, so we went lighter. Excellent meal with a light fish, covered in a lobster sauce. They serve about a dozen different varieties of oysters, that would have been on this list if we had another night. If you are anywhere near this place while in Boston, go.
(5)Karsten W.
We actually wanted to go the Yankee Lobster Fish Market due to its promising rating but unfortunately it was totally crowded and we were too hungry to wait for a free table. The Legal Harborside is in the close neighbourhood and made a promising impression. We took the macaroni with lobster. It was delicious, but we missed the huge amount of lobster which the waiter had promised. So the price wasn't appropriate. I definitely wouldn't go there again for dinner with friends but I would recommend the restaurant for business occasions. The view on the waterside is great and the menu offers a wide range of upper class sea food and drinks.
(3)NikkeyNDon C.
We ate at the bar and it was a great time. Friendly bartenders who were more than willing to help us with any tourist questions. We made to happy hour where they had $1 oysters which were very tasty "naked cowboys" is what they called them. Over all great atmosphere and good oysters.
(4)Bill L.
We were served bad oysters. They didn't taste fresh. One actually had a bad smell. My wife was sick later that evening after dinner. Our guest was visiting from Dallas. Her comment? "Great view! But the food? Lets skip this place the next time I'm in town."Legal Seafoods? Have YOU gone tourist trap on us?
(2)Phil O.
I'm ranking this based on Legal Harborside's night life, and not the food. You'd be hard pressed to find a better female-to-male ratio in Boston in the summer months. The place has an unenforced classy dress code, it's clean and the decor is spectacular, and it overlooks the Boston Harbor. Drinks are expensive but you'd expect that for a place like this.
(4)Dan L.
Service is fairly good. Food is good. There was a piece of bamboo in my meal, good thing I noticed it while chewing on it. They did remove it from the bill. The young women standing near us drove me crazy, as she seemed to keeping close watch as to each bite people were taking to try to figure out when the table would be free. Very annoying Also, there were a couple of boats backed into the pier and sending noxious fumes into the restaurant.
(2)F V.
For some reason, the crab meat sandwich I ordered did not taste like real crab. It tasted processed because it's too uniform almost like imitation crab meat. I have ordered crab meat sandwich in Maine and it tasted better. My friend ordered their special sole fish and he complained it was not seasoned properly. I have eaten in other Legal Seafood locations but this place is a bummer. Maybe it's just what we ordered.
(2)Kris S.
Just. AMAZING!!! So I'm a fan of the Legal chain anyway, but my hubby thinks it's just above avg. Therefore, he was quite skeptical about Legal Harborside. I think, however, he has seen the light! The scallops with pork belly was phenomenal and a good-sized portion. The chicken was delish, as was the black pepper linguine. Drinks were a little light on the pours, but our charismatic waiter made up for it. Add in the amuse bouche, surprise banana choco complimentary mini-dessert, and stunning views, and we have a winner.
(5)Mitra S.
Just wow. The scenes alone give this a good review-- right on the harbor. At this place you can eat at different floors, which vary in levels of" class". I ate on the first floor which was the most popular. We had the stuffed artichoke and buffalo shrimp for appetizers, the tuna, swordfish, and shrimp and sausage as meals, and the creme brûlée and Boston cream pie for dessert. Oh my god. Knock out. The only meal that I wouldn't recommend whole heartedly is the shrimp and sausage. Besides that I would ABSOLUTELY come again. Best places for seafood on the harbor!
(5)Jessica D.
My husband and I took my mother in-law to Legal Harborside for her 60th birthday. I had requested a window seat for the view. We arrived to the restaurant they seated us on the deck where we had a beautiful view of the harbor, just as requested. The service was phenomenal, as well as the food. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner with a upscale atmosphere.
(5)Rob H.
Awesome place for dinner. Three of us sat at the bar overlooking the harbor and had steamers and mussels to start with. Both dishes were fantastic. I proceeded to have swordfish and a side of scallops. As good as any fresh fish I have ever had. A must try if you are in the Boston area. Get there early as the place was packed by 6:30 with an hour wait for a table.
(5)Abbie M.
Went to lunch with a friend and her mom to celebrate a birthday. I'm eating gluten-free for a week, so I'm always nervous at restaurants because they like to hide flour in places it doesn't belong, like chowder. I found out, after the fact, that they offer a gluten-free menu and I wish they had mentioned it before (as I said I wasn't eating wheat). Ordering here was extremely difficult off the regular menu - I could eat maybe 7 things on the menu. Most of the things that I could eat, were the most expensive things on the menu (or I don't like them). I wasn't sure about the chowder so I stayed away, and went with the caesar salad, no croutons. It arrived with croutons. Sigh, eye roll, pick them off, not that big a deal. The caesar itself was only ok, the dressing was a little bland and watery. I picked off my friend's grilled scallops with mashed potatoes and swiss chard - all of which were VERY good. They both had the chowder which they said was great. Service-wise, we had two waiters? This was confusing to me. When we didn't need them, they were constantly checking on us. Short on time, we didn't have the chance for dessert. Then when we needed the check, they had all disappeared. Despite the fact that it was a very large space, it was really loud and hard to hear inside. The people I came with made the lunch incredibly enjoyable, not so much the ambiance or food. The normal entrees and things with wheat in them all looked good. Get the gluten free menu though, or you'll be sorry... I left hungry. :(
(3)Samantha N.
We were from out of town and some locals recommended legal harbor side 3rd floor for sushi and drinks. The lobster roll was recommended for its presentation which was nothing less than it was described to us. Our bartender Lisa was more than accommodating and very friendly and professional. I will 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves sushi!
(5)Shelby R.
Loved the scallops (grilled and fried), and the legal sangria was amazing! Trout the lobster roll didn't have enough lobster or seasoning, but I'm not an expert at that dish. Had a great time, will definitely recommend you try it.
(4)Tom G.
Rooftop bar review only: meat market, gorgeous views, passable but expensive appetizers, terrible service, super watered down and expensive cocktails. It's hard to get a spot outside unless you're there around 4pm. It fills up and you'll wait in line. I've been up there a few times over the summer with coworkers but, in the end, we always vow to never go back...yet apparently do.
(2)Krista D.
Great night out with the girls! Sat on the second floor deck overlooking the harbor. Used Opentable for reservations without a hitch. Loved Katy our server. She had excellent recommendations and explanations. She was so warm and friendly. We had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked. Great wine selections and we were never rushed. A perfect night out! We'll be back!
(5)Reagan S.
The oyster selection was amazing. I think they had 10 different oysters to pick from. I had the lobster roll that was really good.
(5)Larry A.
I always felt the usual Legal's were overpriced. This more casual version of Legal's (downstairs) is in a reasonable range and the food is just as good. Great views of the water, fun and vibrant atmosphere even if it is a bit noisy. Spare yourself some $ and skip the old time Legal's and treat yourself to this fun place.
(4)Bryan R.
Excellent roofdeck. Leaving this review a little sparse for now so I can add it to a list. Beautiful settings. Great drinks (Boston Strong Boy is an absolute top ten drink to drink outside anywhere). Lots of nice touches everywhere. Superb private changing room-like bathrooms. Good sushi. Only downsides are the likelihood of standing in line for a long time to get in and the lack of food options. I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to see a few non-sushi, reasonably priced items.
(4)Matt C.
I don't think I have ever been more surprised by a 5 star experience. I have been to the waterfront many times and the view and ambiance is always 5 stars but I had never experienced Legal Seafood in that location. I assumed that due to the decent but underwhelming experience at other legal seafood's around Boston that 3 star quality in a 5 star location was going to leave me disappointed. However, this Legal Seafood is unlike the rest. The menu is unique and the restaurant feels very little like the other chain locations that bare the same name. We started with the Spread plate to share and opted for the bluefish, ham salad, and the hummus varieties. Although the container was difficult to work with the product was great. We moved on to split the seasonal salad and then the salmon entree. The best part was the fact that everything seemed to work and there were many items that looked enticing enough to guarantee a return visit. Be sure to check out the 3rd floor when you visit for the view but don't miss out on the dinning experience on the first floor, it was definitley worth it.
(5)Damien S.
Beyond impressed at the look and feel of what could arguably be the flagship location in the Legal family. Covering three floors, most of the dining room tables have harbor views, so don't be surprised to see a humpback surface while you're mowing down on a hot&crusty roll or thirty. Alas on this, our virgin voyage to the polished and sparkly locale, we aimed to drink in the views... and the booze. So, the elliptical bar on the first floor is where we stayed. Maddening crowds did nothing to shake the nerve of our proficient bar team, whipping up a mimosa, pulled Guinness and an Old Fashioned with the quickness. Mama S wasn't crazy for the house Cava used in the mimosa; however, the replacement bubbles received the chug-a-lug treatment. What can I say, she fears scurvy. Totally dig the open kitchen and hyperactive raw bar. Papa S asked the fast and furious shucker about the total shift half-shell count. Without looking up, he laughed and said, "You've gotta be kidding me." Serious business. For drinks, it's aces. A few novelty cocktails - skinny pina coladas, cucumber vodka drinks, something called the Purple Jesus - that might be worth a sip, but nothing that screams creative superplus. And although I didn't eat this go-around, I will be back as the expected Legal menu ain't here. The food list is chock full of new stuff not present at their other locations, even going a step further to have unique menus on each floor. Boom bobba. First on the docket? Poor Man's Surf & Turf - a stuffed quahog and a 1/4lb hot dog for $12.
(4)Lauren J.
Fine dining on the second floor was out of this world and their diver scallops with peaches was the best meal I've ever had in my life. Fine dining is pricey but is worth it! The service treats you like royalty and each meal was a seafood lover's dream come true.
(5)Les C.
There were 10 of us who dined here on a Sunday night. We had a reservation and when we arrived our table was ready, and set in a fabulous location. We had a lovely view of the water. If you're looking to dine at Legal Seafood while in Boston, please go to this location. It's stunning. We ordered a number of food items, our absolute favourites included: lobster bake, crab salad, lobster and wild mushroom pizza, lobster Mac and cheese, oysters and clam chowder. Two items that tasted 'OK' but we probably wouldn't order again were the lobster pot pie and the white clam pizza. Our server, Lisa, was fantastic and very helpful with menu suggestions, accommodating with our requests and very friendly. The staff overall were all welcoming and helpful. Kudos to all staff at his location. We hope to be able to visit again someday.
(5)John D.
Besides fresh seafood they actually make a great burger too. This place is simply awesome with professional service with the best location to boot. Its a must visit in the warm weather when they open the whole wall facing the water very kool indeed. Never had a bad experience here in any way. Only thing is you have to pay for valet parking but i find it totally worth it considering the location.
(5)Israel H.
Came here one evening with a business associate. I got here via the water taxi, and has a great presence from the water. This place was jammed so we waited downstairs at the bar and had a drink till our table was ready.. The drinks took a while to be served.... and hence the only 4 stars... When we were finally called upstairs, we had to wait again, till the table was formally ready. However, once we were seated, the ambience and the food was incredible. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. It was expensive.. but well worth it.. Ask for a table by the windows upstairs.. great view!
(4)C R.
Me: NOISY. Guest: WHAT? Me: I SAID THAT IT IS NOISY IN HERE? Guest: NOISY? Me: (Covering my ears and mouthing the word: N O I S Y) Guest: YEAH. The restaurant itself is in a nice location - very crowded and all kinds of things to navigate in order to get to a table. This is full contact eating - note: I did not say dining. Everyone screaming, eating, gulping. This is not a place to have a relaxing lunch or dinner. If you hate your spouse, partner, etc., and have long-since lost any desire to talk with them, go here and watch them eat. The food is good - which is to say creative, flavorful and presented somewhat artfully. But the ambiance detracts from anything and everything else. The staff heard you in and out - their voices hoarse from barking over the din. I'm officially launcing the quiet or din-free dining movement. No TVS, No thumping soundsystems, no phones on the table; just you, me the food and maybe a drink. Let's talk, eat, enjoy each other's company and the food. Anybody?
(2)Lily W.
love the setting! 3 stories. bar and tables. lots of windows. very fresh seafood. great seafood roll. light on the sauce to highlight lobster flavor. service can use a little help. I stopped in in between a conference and I noticed the server didn't give me bread while the couple next to me did. And he was really slow with my check. I saw him taking the time for orders for a large group. just poor form. he was friendly though. 4 stars because of atmosphere and food!
(4)Kelsey H.
I was visiting friends in Boston over the weekend and picked this place for dinner Saturday night. We ate on the first floor, which is nice-casual. The second floor is swanky and the top floor is the rooftop bar that specializes in cocktails, sushi and small bites. I'd say the first floor is a happy medium. First plus, right off the bat: We came in about an hour before our reservation. Our earlier activity didn't take as long as we anticipated, so we thought it was worth a shot to let them know we were there. Rather than have us wait, they went ahead and seated us. The waiter was nice and personable and didn't mind that it took us a while to sort out what we wanted. We had hot fresh rolls that arrived with our drink order (a cocktail and two beers) and kept coming. We ended up splitting a pizza as an appetizer, with cheese, arugula, pancetta and clams. I'm not big on clams but it was very good and had a nice crust. The portion was just enough to be a good starter and kept us filled up until our food came. The mains were lovely. One of my friends had classic fish and chips with big pieces of fish (cod?) and my other friend had seafood stew that had an abundance of shellfish, vegetables and large chunks of sausage. I had salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. The fish was great, almost a perfect portion. I'm finicky about cooked spinach, but it was wilted just right and had pine nuts and a nice glaze. But what really got me was dessert. Only two of us had dessert. One friend ordered frozen custard that came in a generous portion with a candle (it was her birthday). I, meanwhile, had a chocolate espresso cake that could've easily fed three people. I thought that, given that we each had drinks and basically a three-course meal, the prices were also reasonable. I really enjoyed this place and would love to try it again when I get back to Boston.
(5)Rachel G.
It was really good! They patiently and correctly served my group of 12. Everything was delicious and there were no errors. Also, we had two allergies, peanut and tree nut, and they took every precaution to make sure that their food was safe for them. Would definitely go again when I'm in Boston next. It's also a beautiful place to eat and it was an excellent environment, on the waterfront and with the lighting.
(4)Rachel N.
A slightly overly generous 4 star designation given that I only went for drinks, and extra nice in light of the fact that I thought that the waitresses were dressed like hookers and it felt kind of like a meat market -- but I digress -- the view of the harbor is gorgeous, and if the B-52s happen to be playing next store, you get a free concert as well (Love Shack has never sounded so good)! We stayed mostly on the patio area, which was loud, but def quieter inside, which had kind of a pumping-clurb vibe going on. Strong selection of wines by the glass (bonus points for having an Alcatian Reisling, rather than the overly sweet German ones), and I've heard that the cocktails are delicious, though flagging down a waitress can be a challenge. The sush is priced reasonably -- most rolls were btwn $4.5-10 -- they also have a lobster roll ($18) and something else not raw, for those who are more Legal traditionalists. Be prepared to wait -- we rolled in pretty early (6:30p) on a weeknight and had to sweat it out for a bit -- but once we were up there, we were golden. If you're a man looking to get laid, be attractive in that New England way. If you're a girl, throw on some eyeliner and a cute silk dress and you're golden. Wouldn't take a first date here unless I really just wanted to spend the rest of the time checking other people out and having to lip read to make conversation, but if that's your thing, then it's a perfect place to do that casual summer "I'm so trendy and I'm impressing you by taking you to the up and coming Seaport area" thing. Or just go with girlfriends, my personal choice for champions.
(4)S P.
Second floor dining experience. Just perfect. Staff: exceptional, on the ball, friendly, knowledgeable from the minute we walked in to the moment we left. Kitchen: I'm celiac, and they did everything to accommodate and more, including serving a small complimentary item on a beet instead of a cracker :) The food was simply wonderful and worth every dime. Atmosphere: gorgeous view of the harbor. Tasteful decorations. Definitely recommend. Definitely will be back.
(5)Sara M.
What a beautiful roof deck! We showed up around lunchtime and scored some sofas to lounge on and enjoy the view. Our server, Michelle, was very professional and took very good care of us. The sushi is good, and the bottle of wine we had was delicious. Michelle even brought us samples of two when we couldn't decide. Looking forward to more fabulous roof deck days!
(5)Eunice E.
I've been here for many different occasions (both the second and third floors), and I've got to say, my experience with Legal Harborside has been very much like a fine wine--better with time. I've been to the third floor the most, and for good reason. It's gorgeous up there on the rooftop deck. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll hear live music from the Pavilion, and that's awesome. Not that you need very much more when you're here. There are spectacular views of the harbor, a full bar, and tons of seating options, ranging from high top bar stools to wicker chairs and round tables, to plush couches with pillows. You're free to lounge around and enjoy a drink or two (or three) while you're there. It used to be that it was only open from 4 p.m. onward, and served only drinks (last summer, when it first opened), but they wised up and started opening it at noon for lunch AND drinks this season. The menu's limited to sushi and sandwiches (crab and lobster rolls), but that's all you really need while you're enjoying the views from the roof! Highly, highly recommended. The second floor is Legal's fine dining area, and the menu here's also different from their standard Legal fare (case in point: they don't have clam chowda... nope, here they offer the more refined lobster soup, complete with oloroso sherry). It's all exceptional, though, as you'd expect... I mean, any place with "caviar service" is bound to be amazing, right? It'll set you back a pretty penny to eat here, for sure, but it's a phenomenal treat, and their cocktails are just as lovely as their cuisine. Last summer, because we ate dinner on the second floor, we were actually escorted upstairs to the third floor (skipping the enormous line outside) for drinks. Pretty swanky. I have yet to eat on the first floor, but I'm sure it'd be enjoyable, to say the least. I definitely think whoever came up with the sectional flooring (first--informal, second--fine dining, third--drinks and small bites) was brilliant. Kudos! This is definitely THE place to come for the summer, whether to grab a bite with a girlfriend, a drink with a date, or simply to enjoy the scenery.
(5)Steph A.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in the area! The place is beautiful and the wait staff is very well trained. Had the apple sangria and loved every sip it it. The white clam pizza was amazing and I would definitely get it again. The sea scallops were very good as well. Love love love! Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(5)Yasa E.
Every single thing i've tried here is amazing. Legals definitely goes out of their way to make every guest's experience special. This place is packed always, but there is a huge bar and some side rail seating, so it's usually not a problem to grab a seat at one of those for some drinks and dinner (unless it's a friday or saturday). Oysters are the freshest in the city, hands down. The variety changes with seasons, which is great (they also have more oyster varieties on the menu than any other restaurant in the city). The wine list is extensive and ohhh sooooo affordable! There is no way you can get a bottle of silver oak or sonoma cutrer for such a low price anywhere else. All of the food i've ever tried here has been exceptional! Try the stuffie. it will change your life.
(5)Jenny L.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the sushi! It's a true hidden gem in the midst of a huge chain like Legals. The creativity of the rolls made our sushi experience so memorable! We had a variety of rolls and all were fresh and simply delicious. Having tried most of the sushi restaurants around the greater Boston area, I must say this might be the best one I have had! We came here on a Friday night and though it was quite busy, the server was always within reach and periodically checked in with us. Not only was the service great, the sushi absolutely delicious, the view was breath taking as well. Will definitely be one of my go to spots now for sushi!
(5)Marc Z.
We went out for a Saturday night and wanted to go to the Legal Harborside rooftop since we had seen the enticing venue the evening before. When arriving, we were told to wait in line to enter the the rooftop. Without adding any adjectives, there was a dumb and stupid "stairman" (as opposed to doorman) waiting to make sure that only a limited number of people came upstairs. Totally unnecessary, since the upstairs was only sizzling, not buzzing and a lot more space was available. At any case, two girls showed up and laid their arms around him - yes, they went upstairs. We mentioned this to Justin Lisonbee, the manager. He rectified the situation immediately without any buts/excuses. "Not acceptable", since there were many more patrons waiting outside. He handled the situation fantastically since he really knows his trade. Legal Seafoods is a professional outfit, we have enjoyed their awesomely fresh seafood all over Boston and Justin reconfirmed that Legal Seafoods would like to stay that way - he has the experience since he told me that he managed the wharf location before. We are hopeful that we dont find the same "stairman" the next time - really, it is not a hard job: let the people wait in line equally until space is available and then send them up and while doing that get paid! Justin, because of you we are writing this, we dont know you personally but you should us again what restaurant you are working for.
(5)Chad C.
Stopped by for happy hour on a Thursday and it was a great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the water. Drinks were delicious and food was good, we sat on the first floor of Legal Harborside. We really enjoyed the oysters and lobster roll. Legal is a chain so keep that in mind but with that said we are always happy with the food, drinks and service. This location has the best atmosphere and view of all the Legals in Boston.
(4)Anne J.
Legal Harborside First Floor. Legal Harborside Second Floor. Legal Harborside Third Floor. How ridiculous to separate a restaurant into different parts managed separately. It creates confusion. Then disappointment on learning that you can have a conversation on the second floor but only a limited menu. OR you can have the broader Legal menu on the first floor but at a noise level where you have to shout to be heard. You have another shouting opportunity on the third floor over drinks, against a thumping background of technomusic. Travesty.
(1)Chris And Michelle R.
My husband and I stayed in Boston recently to celebrate his birthday. The Innkeeper at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at suggested Harborside when we asked for an upscale experience that would be appropriate for the clothing we would be wearing for a day of hiking through the city. She said she would not normally recommend a "chain", but because of the location, the reviews she has heard and the fact that they have an executive chef she felt comfortable enough to recommend. Let me tell you...she was spot on! We spent more than 3 hours here, enjoying everything from the patio seating in the seafood district to the service. Our server, Pedro "Pete", was phenominal. Held to high standards by our neighboring servers, Santiago and Diego, he went above and beyond to ensure our visit was more than pleasant. His personality was fun and edgy, exactly what we appreciate =) We explained that we were in no rush and wanted to enjoy multiple different offerings at a very slow pace and he never made us feel rushed. Our food was delicious, from the appetizers to the dessert and everything in between. The service we experienced, and heard on either side of us from Diego and Santiago, was so exceptional that we were sure to call a manager over to our table and recognize the great quality we witnessed. Thank you, Harborside, for making our stay and birthday dinner everything we were hoping for!
(5)Elisabeth F.
Came here on the last night of our trip to Boston because I was dying to try some clam chowda. We sat at a high top in the bar area because there was a 2 hour wait for anything else, but it was still totally awesome. Our waiter, John, was very nice and attentive. Plus he was local so had a pretty legit Boston accent. My boyfriend is literally deathly allergic to shellfish so we mentioned it when he first got to our table, and he was so attentive with making sure the kitchen took good care of separating all his food. Very impressive. He even tried to get us access to the incredibly popular rooftop bar without having to stand in the 1.5 hour line outside. It didn't work out, but it's the thought that counts! I tried my first oyster (the French kiss oyster I believe). Won't be eating those again but my bf's sister, who's an oyster fanatic, said it was delicious! Finally, the clam chowder I went there for definitely lived up to my expectations. I don't think I'm a big fan of the chowda, but it was pretty darn good! Overall, very wonderful way to wrap up the trip.
(4)Bob C.
Had an excellent lunch with Melise, Pat and Beth after doing the Fenway Park tour. Ihad the traditonal chowder and lobster roll, melise had some yummy fish tacos, Beth went with fish abd chips and Pat had a knock-out artichoke/crab appetizer that stole the show. Good service, nice people, very busy on a Thu lunch, a great location for an excellent meal, a little pricey. Enjoy!
(4)Kate O.
I wanted something on the water with this being my first time to Boston. So I literally asked a couple walking on the street for a place they would recommend and this was it. It is AWESOME inside. Each floor has a different menu. We sat on the roof top because I was dying to sit outside. Although it took quite some time to find a spot for three we ended up squishing at the outdoor bar table with three high chairs. After seeing the yummy drink next to me, I asked what she ordered and she said the strawberry sangria. 5 STARS!! Awesome!!! Although I really don't think the pitcher is the deal b/c you don't get the cute filled wine glass and there is a TON of ice in the pitcher but still good. On to the rolls. YUMMO. Surprisingly the shrimp tempura roll was the best (meaning literally order it as it was AMAZING), then the caterpillar roll, then the lobster roll, although for $26 would not order again but cute presentation. We also ordered the red dragon roll too. The service was okay. But the view and food made up for it.
(4)Stephanie F.
Three stories of awesomeness on the water. This is my favorite in the collection of Legal restaurants. There is something for everyone here and the best part if the quality control. The restaurant benefits from having the fish pier nearby and their processing plant down the block. First floor. - casual, relaxed dining with fresh quality options. Second floor - formal dining Third floor - rooftop bar. Love the sushi there. The sushi chef Haru is one of the nicest people you'll meet. An asset to this establishment. The best part for me is the ability to bring the same fresh ingredients to your home. They have a fish / seafood display. This is my top choice for raw seafood and I don't mind the extra trip after the supermarket to get their fresh ingredients. Like the motto sites, if its not fresh, it's not legal.
(5)April E.
Very fresh and delicious oysters. Service was good but a little slow. Had to ask for drink refills. I had the lobster roll and it was really good but sort of pricey. The menu said "market price" so I was warned!
(4)Kristine N.
Amazing staff, amazing view, and amazing food. We shared the lobster bake which came with a variety of shellfish. Everything was fresh and delicious. The corn was surprisingly one of the best corns I've had. Corn is corn, I know, but it was good! Other people at the table tried the chicken and fish tacos and seemed to really like them. The fried shrimp appetizer was so so good. It was crispy and had a great sweet & tangy sauce.
(4)David H.
Seafood is beyond nasty in my opinion. A beautiful upper roof deck with fantastic drinks isn't. Come just to hang out and drink, that's why I went.
(5)Nicole B.
I was with a party of 6 and we came to the 3rd floor bar for the beautiful views, but it was not equipped to handle the crowd. We wanted food along with our drinks and had to eat on our lap in the lounge area because the tables and bar were too crowded. The sangria was delicious (I tried both the red and white) but the crab roll was just too rich for my taste. Even the chips that came with it were thick and oily, though the coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. Under different circumstances I might give this 4 stars.
(3)Jessica L.
I dined on the 2nd floor, but if I come back I'll stick with the rooftop bar. Legal Harborside definitely has gorgeous view. I found the service a bit mixed and the dishes hit or miss. Upon arrival, the hostess impatiently asked if our entire party was present (ie, 5 people for a birthday dinner). When all of us had arrived and found one another in the bar area (where they directed us to wait), the hostess was nowhere to be found and it took awhile to get seated. While the waitress refilling our water and folding our napkins throughout the evening was excellent (prompt and almost invisible), the rest of ther service was only so-so. The corn muffins in the bread basket were cold and some of the drinks came out slightly wrong. Not a huge deal, obviously, but given the somewhat "upscale" ambience that the restaurant tries to project and that it took over a month to get the reservation one would think the service would be a bit better. In terms of the menu, I found the appetizers and desserts more of a draw than the actual main courses. The Wellfleet oysters were exquisite! One of my friends ordered the octopus and lardo, and while some of us loved the lardo, others thought the dish got a bit salty and the octopus a bit tough. The lobster gnocchi with zucchini flowers was absolutely delicious, though it seemed to be in a lot of butter (lobster in butter is delish, but I think this was in a pool of almost pure butter). The filet mignon and cod dishes looked solid. For drinks, the French 75 was one of the best I've had, and the truffle blue cheese martini was great (though not for everyone). For the margaritas, the "smoky" one was a bit too smoky, while the other (Jalisco Smash) was delicious, though it had too much ice. In terms of desserts, the Popcorn Sundae was amazing. Somehow they combined rich, creamy ice cream with savory peanut brittle and buttery, salty popcorn. The chocolate chilli mousse was also great.
(4)Richard C.
I have been to this site 3-4 times, always had personable, attentive, interested, appropriately friendly wait staff; no exception this time. I have been eating at Legal restaurants since 1968 (college & med school); from Inman to Copley to Kendall to Chestnut Hill to Burlington to Long Wharf to Park Sq to Warwick to Crystal City, VA and beyond! I always experienced tremendous consistency in prep of fried clams and wait staff service. I always have fried clams for my dinner and sometimes appetizer and entree. Why? Because I moved to Hawaii, years ago, & Legal does not ship to Hawaii & because, for my taste, the right way to prep & cook fried clams is the Legal way (when not on the Cape)! Every trip I take to the Mainland, I look for fried clams at a Legal restaurant. BUT, this time is the only time (!) I have been disappointed in the clams; small with tiny, nearly non-existent bellies, very spotty breading (corn meal) coverage. The waitress apologized and apparently expected the manager to speak to us. The mgr never showed, but the waitress did her best to figure out what went wrong. The chowder was great as usual. This time Legal rates a 2 star because of the fried clams; 4 stars because of the waitress and servers; 0 stars for an uninterested manager!
(2)Andrew H.
Had a wonderful evening the entree was perfect. The lobster roll was delicious had just enough mayonnaise. The fries were perfect best fries I've ever had and don't get me started on the rolls. Over all would recommend it to anyone the environment was awesome.
(5)Alison R.
We arrived around 6:45 on a Friday night. It was packed in there and we didn't really expect to get a table but we were offered a table outside right away! score! It was somewhat rainy but there was an overhang so it was perfectly fine. We informed our server Brittney W (who was amazing!) that we were heading next door for a show so were looking for a quick dinner. She took our order for drinks, oysters and dinners at once. Two of our group are gluten free so the fact that the menu indicates what is or can be made gluten free is such a bonus for us. The service could not have been more impeccable. It was quick, efficient, everything was excellent and I think we we were out of there by 7:20. Brittney was warm, bubbly and super quick. She was the epitome of the perfect server. We would be lucky to be seated in her section next time!
(5)Philip C.
While touring around Faneuil Hall and the North End we stopped at Legal Seafoods for lunch. The service was excellent and the seafood very enjoyable. Prices were comparable to most surrounding establishments, but the overall quality was much better. We had a window seat and had a nice view of the Harbor activities as we ate....
(4)Jonah K.
New huge legal on the water, you know you'll get good quality food here normally. Our visit was nothing different. The striper caught off the cape was fresh and delicious, the Caesar salad is always one of my personal favorites and the eggplant side dish was also excellent. I would normally suggest to get the specials at Legal, they normally have something which stands out from the touristy menu and is very fresh and well done.
(4)Craig S.
I have been here a few times and it has always been pretty good. The location is amazing, it is well set up but always absurdly busy. Went in this Holiday Monday and lucked out with two seats at the bar. Starving, I decided to order most of the menu as I could not decide -- always a fan of tapas style. I got Buffalo Shrimp - good and classy but tasted a little old. Short rib and tuna crudo bruscetta - both awesome. Chowda..of coarse ever better with buffalo sauce in it. Oysters always on point. and the biggest disappointment the Coconut milk mussels. They were old and deformed -- very sad as my craving for good mussels is what attracted me here in the first place. The flavors were good enough that it covered up how old they actually were - but later when I ate the leftovers I almost threw up. She got the presumptively safest thing on the menu, Fish and Chips- they were not safe. It was presented as if they had just dumped the remnants of the fry tray onto her plate - as the fish looked half eaten and there were random bits of tentacle. She was too nice to complain but I'm not. Besides a good place should know when they make a mistake so they can correct it --and not charge me for it. Drinks were very good as was the bartender - I will be back but I do expect a nice place like this to be perfect ... Step up your game Legals
(2)Sergio M.
Loved the seafood. Swordfish gyro was awesome ! The fish was cooked perfect charred and very moist. We had mussels and oyster for an app and they were delicious, have have been here a few time and I will keep going back for food and drinks !
(4)Sanel S.
Ugh, where to begin. I guess at the beginning... Actually I don't have time for this, I have to get going, but in short. I came here with a group of friends for my birthday on a cold winter night in early March. I was here back in November for another birthday and loved the drinks. First thing I get at the door is some pretentios little chick telling me I can't go upstairs to the third floor and that me and my company should hang out in the lobby instead. Maybe it was because I wasn't dressed head to toe in Armani suits, I don't know. Color me weird but I like wearing North Face jackets in winter when it's 20* outside. So as I'm arguing there and asking why the hell can't I go up there, and her telling me it's really busy, another server joins in the conversation, a little older and obviously knows what the hell she's doing. She goes "What's going on?" Me: "I'm just trying to get to the 3rd floor", her "Oh it's open just go right up on ahead." And I'm thinking "Wtf, she just told me I can't?" We get up there, there's literally 2 people in the corner sitting, i.e., it is the antithesis to "packed". That really rubbed me the wrong way. Then about hour and a half into hanging out, we're on our I guess 3rd round of drinks (everyone is ordering at different times since we all drink at different paces). So I order my 2nd drink, which actually turned out to be terrible. My mistake. So rather than whine about it and ask for a refund I ask for the server to order a new one and give the old one to my friend since she didn't mind the taste. The server then gets really testy and says we've already had too much and she's going to have to stop us now. When I explain to her that my drink sucks and I need a replacement she finally gives in. She spent most of the evening trying to avoid our table, and when we were finally ready to order sushi she was nowhere to be found. We weren't causing a rackus, we were not loud, we didn't look like scum in fact we were quite nicely dressed. Maybe we weren't the standard cougar clientele and that's what rubbed her the wrong way, or the fact that she's ~24 and most she's done with her life is work at Legal Harborside. Though I will say just an hour prior to this we all had an amazing dinner at LTK across the street. So I don't know what was the deal with these two girls. My friends ended up picking up the tab for me so I didn't see the final tally but I know for a fact all 5 were quite displeased and she did not get much of a tip. Too bad, such a fantastic view, some of best drinks in town, but we were treated so pi$$-poor.
(2)Nicole S.
I would give no stars if I could- fine dining on the 2nd floor is a joke. The menu is limited, overpriced and ultimate got me ill. We had an 8:30 reservation, and everything started out fine. We ordered a cold soup and calamari app, which came out in a normal amount of time, maybe 10 min from the order...and then we waited over an hour for the entrees from the time the apps were delivered- we didn't get the entrees til after 10pm after being sat at 8:30!!! The waiter never came back to check on us, we had to flag him down to order any drinks, and when we complained about how long it was taking he seemed indifferent. We waited longer, and were pretty upset, we had to ask for a manager, who tried to make it right and ultimately comped the whole bill- thank goodness for that. The filet which was supposed to be MR, came out rare, scallops undercooked and the burger we ordered without cheese came out as a cheeseburger. I ultimately couldn't keep any of the food down.....terrible service, terrible experience. Place was a joke- wasn't even busy. Ruined our nice night out visiting Boston from NYC. Terrible.
(1)Jeff C.
I've been to a lot of different sushi restaurants in the past 8 years, but I have to say that the sushi here is the freshest and tastiest that I've ever had. I went to this place with a few friends and we sat on the rooftop with a gorgeous view overlooking the harbor. We ordered a ton of sushi and it all came out in a very timely manner. The sushi was served in a beautiful wooden boat and the presentation was stunning. The sushi chef did an AMAZING job preparing the food - it looked just like a piece of art. As for the food itself, like I said, I've never had better sushi. The quality of the ingredients was outstanding and each roll was packed with delicious seafood - they definitely don't skimp on the portions. My group was so impressed by this place that we asked to meet the chef. He came out, introduced himself as Harold, and asked us how we enjoyed the food. He seemed so proud when we told him that this was the best sushi we've ever eaten and told us that he carefully makes every roll to perfection. The wait staff was extremely friendly and graciously accommodated our group. I will definitely be going back soon!
(5)Mike D.
Seafood in Boston is risky business sometimes. I often try to venture out to the other great seafood spots in town but Ive been let down oh so often. I consider this place my security blanket when it comes to seafood and here's why: In the 2 dozen times that I have been here, I have never been let down. I've been up and down the menu and honestly have experienced some of the best seafood I have ever had. The service has always been great and never spotty. The food preparation is always on point and the views are to die for. What a winning combination. Now if you are reading this and saying to yourself, well Ive been to other legals and the experience has just been ehh, trust me, there is something different about this one, they take the extra step to make sure everything is perfect for you. Stop thinking and just go!
(4)Kris E.
Great drinks and food! Definitely worth the trip, but a bit pricey. The views are really nice. The oysters were fresh and they have a nice selection. Our waiter was terrific. Giving 4 stars because the hostess was less than friendly and because it is a bit overpriced. Still a good experience.
(4)Chris R.
Friendly place - great food and service. There's a giant variety Vibe is relaxed and friendly. Recommend scallops, chowder and lobster rolls Ill be back!
(4)Lala I.
the dinner lasted almost 3 hours because of extremely slow service. the food is def better than your average legal seafood and the view was very enjoyable, but the it still has the average sucky chain restaurant service. very rude, chaotic, slow service. they even brought us the wrong food. wine was not so good either. it's a good place to bring a date, but i'd def explore more places in the seaport district before i return to this one.
(3)Bethany B.
This is a great spot for enjoying the Boston summer. There's a beautiful view, and good food and drinks. I highly recommend the coconut lemonade cocktail. It sounds weird but trust me, it's delicious.
(4)Albert B.
The food was fantastic, as were the views of the water. Staff was attentive and friendly. My friends 7 month year old baby was dining with us, and at least 6 members of the staff came to our table to say "hi" to her- it was a nice touch. Definitely recommend. Rainbow trout is phenomenal.
(4)Jake C.
Incredible rooftop bar with the best view of Boston Harbor I've ever seen. On a sunny summer afternoon, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and ceiling of the huge bar space retract to provide long panoramic sight lines and the experience of looming above Boston Harbor. Expansive lounge environment is relaxed and peaceful with patio decks on either side of the central bar/lounge space, one overlooking the World Trade Center Boston, the other overlooking the B of A Pavilion -- consequently, can get very loud out on this deck during a live show. The line (forms outside building's first floor side entrance, early on weekends!) can appear intimidating, but don't be discouraged: this rooftop bar is THE place to be on a relaxing sunny summer afternoon or hot summer night in Boston!!
(5)Tessa M.
I've been here three times since it opened, to mixed experiences. The positives: -The service here is really good. Every waiter I've had has been accommodating and very friendly; checking in when they need to and leaving us in peace for a good part of our meal. -The raw bar. The Cherrystones here are scrumptious!! They are huge, and I often end up eating at least five before my meal. I seriously have considered only ordering these and foregoing my meal because they are so refreshing and good! The negatives: -The location. If you are coming from north of Boston around rush hour, be prepared to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for a good forty-five minutes. There are very few ways to get into the seaport district, and Boston's asinine street plan does nothing to help matters. With the onslaught of building projects coming to this area, I cannot see matters improving unless the city creates some new measures of driving here. -The ambience. Same problem here as at Temazcal: If you sit outside, you will be surrounded by people holding loud conversations next to you, preventing you from getting up, and sticking their butts in your faces. The managers here should ban bar customers from bringing their drinks outside, as it is extremely rude to those seated outdoors. Also, it is very hard to move around in this restaurant in general. There are waiters and bars everywhere, meaning huge crowds congregate in the middle of the restaurant, making it difficult to navigate around all the people. -The menu. After two trips here, I was already bored by the menu. There was little that appealed to me on it; most of it consisted of ordinary fish dishes that I could prepare at home. I ordered the lobster roll twice here and both times it was puny and overpriced. The salmon pizza is good, and the clam chowder is too. I can't remember what I ordered the other time I came, not a good omen. I love spinach and orzo salad, but the way they are prepared here ruin the side dishes for me. The spinach has pine nuts and raisins, while the orzo salad is light and citrusy- the flavors do not really work well in either of these dishes. Bottom line: if you are looking for a good seafood meal, avoid this place unless you are desperate, have money to spend, and don't intend on driving here.
(2)Haley C.
The place is amazing. The roof deck, is well pretty perfect... but to get in?! Plan on going super early... and really working it if you want a seat! Also, you can make a reservation downstairs, but that's limited. So far I have eaten downstairs--- not bad and on the roof deck. (limited menu on the roof deck, but good). Staff have always been fantastic and I like that they valet. Great place to bring out of town guests.
(4)Margot L.
I never write yelp reviews but since I have had two bad experiences at the second floor fine dining at legal harborside I felt compelled. The two times I have been here I made a reservation. Each time my party and I were shuffled to the bar upon arriving and assured our table would be ready soon but have a drink at the bar while you wait. Each time I waited 45 minutes for my table to be ready. This past time I complained. The hostess was very gracious in buying us an appetizer after finally seating us at 9:15pm for a 8:30pm reservation I even called to confirm a reservation I had made on open table earlier in the week. Having this exact same thing happen twice I think they need to figure out a better reservation process. Food was good but wait was not worth it. I will never go here again.
(1)Dan S.
I can't hear my brain! I went to Legal Harborside for the second time in a week this past Saturday. Both times, I went early enough at lunch to land a prime seat outside, under the overhang. Parking was easy, we were seated right away. BAM!!! RIGHT UNDER A SPEAKER PLAYING THE WORST MUSIC EVER! Sorry, that was jarring. So was our table location. All the outdoor tables had the same problem. In fact, we saw two other people complain. We were told that the "manager couldn't be located" to turn the music down. Apparently, the complexity of the volume knob requires that only someone trained at the management level could do anything about the problem Next problem - service. They didn't remember anything. My wife got up 3 times. 1st, to get milk for our baby. We ordered it, got everything else, but not her milk. Good policy for parents - complement the baby, even if it's butt ugly, and get it fed so everyone else can relax. Then she forgot silverware. Then she forgot a refill. It was early and our waitress was watching TV with other servers. We interrupted her doing nothing to get what we asked for. The food - typical Legal. The first visit I thought it was a cut above. This time, my scallops were bordering on raw and the portions were tiny. My wife's pasta with clams was really heavy on the wine, in fact the wine tasted uncooked, almost like someone just dumped a glass on a bowl of pasta. And she got a few broken shells in her mouth. It happens, but not as much as it did. Over all, Legal needs to TURN IT DOWN, focus on service and have this gorgeous, perfectly located restaurant live up to potential.
(2)Scott H.
Yes, it's a chain. Yes, it's super expensive. Yes, you pay more for the location. But Legal is still some of the best, freshest seafood to be found, and in Boston that is saying a lot! We went on a weekday afternoon around lunch time and only waited about 5 minutes for a patio seat. Inside seating was available immediately. Our server was nice, but perhaps a bit overwhelmed. I chose the fried whole bellied clam roll with onion rings (of course) and seaweed salad as sides. The clams were perfectly done and just the right amount for the $17 price tag. Rings were tasty and the seaweed salad was good as well. Simple, with a drizzle of vinegarette. My wife got a cup of chowder, which she really enjoyed. and a lobster roll. She loved it, but the market price was about $25. She also got the seaweed and a side of jalapeno polenta, which was very good. Sure you can get cheaper and seafood at about the same level at some of the mom and pop shops around town but don't dismiss Legal if you are nearby because you will not be disappointed. Helpful hint to travelers. If you are flying out of terminal C at Logan airport, legal has a very nice restaurant right before you go through security so you can get a last minute fix before your flight.
(4)Patrick M.
Great view, fun crowd & the rooftop bar with retractable roof is very cool. Food was good. Busy, busy place. $16 to valet with validation.
(3)Angelica B.
Loved this place. Found it on yelp and it was recommended by the concierge at my hotel. Food was great! Don't wait for a table unless you want to be outside on the deck. Take a seat at the back counter overlooking the water, it's mesmerizing! Great beers on tap and lots of small plates. I shared a lobster and wild mushroom pizza, quite tasty. The fried clams and steamer were both terrific. I enjoyed so much I came back two days later for oysters on the half shell with prosecco. Perfection!
(4)Jonathan M.
The list of some of the most anticipated births in history: 1. Jesus 2. Brangelina's first child (isn't this one the girl who looks like a boy?) 3. Brangelina's twins 4. Legal's Harborside Few restaurants in this city have been as anticipated as this restaurant. Months before it was opened, it was spoken about in hushed tones in the Boston Globe. The week before opening an entire two page article was devoted the restaurant, exploring the ins and outs of the massive preparations for this new space on the Waterfront. Needless to say this place has enormous expectations, and it really doesn't disappoint. Singlehandedly, this place has helped bring much needed foot traffic to the floundering Waterfront area, and I firmly believe it will help reshape the neighborhood into the Back Bay of the 21st century that it's been trying to be for the past 10 years. The location is pleasant. If you're a plane watcher, you won't be disappointed: Logan Airport is so close you can make out the numbers of planes landing and taking off. It's beautiful next to the water, but the area is still heavily reliant on industry. Those looking for an idyllic New England waterfront dining experience would be better off in Chatham or Marblehead than coming here. The interior is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. I felt richer just by breathing the air in there. The bar area is perfectly rounded so that if you're sitting next to someone you still feel like you're more face to face than exactly next to them, making conversation easier. The food is high quality and delicious, but didn't send me into the stratosphere. Be sure to try either the pita chips with your choice of sides (the red pepper was especially memorable) or the crostini for an appetizer (the egg salad variety was particularly tasty). The appetizers were surprisingly good as well; usually desserts are outsourced and no special attention is paid to them. However, in this case it's evident the restaurant cares about all sections of the menu. Their take on the Boston Cream Pie will forever make you rethink just buying one at Shaws and eating the whole thing with a plastic fork in the parking lot (not that I've ever done that). All in all, this is the place to see, be seen, enjoy good food, and will especially be happening in the summer when the roofdeck opens.
(4)Ivan M.
Great location, great views, great food but getting reservation is really tough.
(4)Lee M.
Great location, view, food. Definitely arm yourself with a reservation. But two concerns: first, this place is LOUD. Be ready to yell at other people in your party the whole time. Second, the cool piping in the ceiling looks great but the condensation drips, drips, drips on the diners. And nowhere seems to be safe. Eat outside if you can to solve both problems!
(3)Glutenfree G.
Calling all celiacs and gluten free dieters... Legal Harborside has gluten free rolls and gluten fish and chips. It's been about 5 years since I was diagnosed and this is the first time I've been to a seafood restaurant that did it for me. They said they can turn any fried items on the menu gluten free. The taste was a bit bland but honestly it was so exciting to try gluten free fish and chips. I'll definitely go back to try calamari and other fried seafood items. Thanks Legal Harborside for letting me eat something "normal" again.
(4)Jenifer W.
Let me start by saying I've hated seafood my whole life... I made a vow when my children were born that I'd learn to eat it because I wanted THEM to eat it. I've been working on it, begrudingly, for 4 long years. When we planned our trip to Boston, my boss said "Don't miss Legal Harborside". ATMOSPHERE: Unbeliveably busy - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the place was absolutely crammed with people, and had a wait outside the door. The atmosphere itself is very lovely. Minimalistic with decor (save for the "water wall"), and features a wide open view of the Boston Harbor which was breaktaking at sunset. We got lucky enough to sit right at the windows (outside = too cold on a May night), and the girls were enchanted watching the boats. We got up and walked along the pier while waiting for food to arrive, and it was fantastic. FOOD: Back to my story... I hate seafood :). I looked at their menu before actually going, and had no clue what I was going to order which would "look like" fish, but saved me from actually eating it. On arrival, our server made a few suggestions, and when I told her my dilemna, she recommended an OFF MENU item that chef makes for the servers. It was grilled haddock on a bed of lobster and mushroom risotto. Must have been the wine, but in a freak moment I went for the off menu dinner "balls in". My hubs had grilled sea scallops, and the girls had pizza and spaghetti. We had calamari for an appetizer, and it was fantastic. Just the right amount of breading and seasoning, and the dipping sauce was scratch made and really complimentary. When the food arrived, I woefully tried a baby bite, only to realize this dish may have been the best seafood I've ever had. The fish was perfectly cooked, very fresh, and had a great flavor. The risotto was incredible, with funky teeny weeny mushrooms mixed in and not fishy tasting at all. There were gorgeous chunks of pink lobster, but without the yuck flavor you get when a lobster is not fresh. This place made me a believer - I'd consider moving to Boston just to be close. My husband's scallops were good, and the girls had generous portions of food which they both loved (THANK YOU Legal for making flavorful kids food, where most restaurants feel it's okay to serve crap). We had Bon Bons for dessert, and they were a unique and welcome finish to an unforgettable experience. SERVICE: Our server was fantastic. She was helpful, there when we needed her, and spot on about the food. She and the server in the next section were SOOOO sweet to our girls - chatted them up, played with them for a few seconds here and there, and made them feel very special. Where normally I am tough on servers because I so rarely get a good one, our server here was really amazing. In a rare moment for me, I walked the floor to find a shift manager so I could let them know just how wonderful both girls were. VALUE: Great. We viewed the menu beforehand, so we walked in expecting to pay a higher price than most other options. The quality of the food was top notch, and couldn't have been any better than it was. We paid around $165 for an app, 2 entrees, 2 kids, and a dessert. I plan to go back again whenever I can.
(5)Scott C.
I actually dined on the second floor but it could have been in a dungeon and still have been phenomenal. Pig head and heirloom tomato salad appetizers started off an evening of seafood nirvana. Service, wine, and entrees were equally fantastic. Very accommodating to my Aussie companion food allergies as well. A great evening out in Beantown!
(5)Jatte B.
First off, this listing needs to be clarified. The LEGAL SEAFOODS at 270 Northern Ave is different than the LEGAL HARBORSIDE that is upstairs from LSF (correct me if I am wrong). The menus are VERY different... the ground floor is the standard LSF everyone has grown to love. The upstairs LHS is a bit more experimental and adventurous. We rolled into the joint on a Friday night and it was very apparent that the wait for a table at LSF was 2+ hours... so we thought we'd give the fancier upstairs a whirl. We were dressed in t-shirts and jeans... I am assuming that may be frowned upon once LHS is up and running a few more weeks (judging by the decor, menu, other guests' attire). The menu was mainly seafood... and lots of fun: Chutneys, spices, exotic fish/preparations, oddball/fun apps/bites that you would not find on the more "staple"-centric LSF menu. The cost for 4 of us... with was about $400 (incl tax/tip)... but we did go off the deep end with 5 apps + 2 bites for the table plus two bottles worth of wine. I highly recommend this place for any foodie who wants something delicious and different with a great view of the harbor (inside/outside seating available).
(5)Matt G.
5 stars for location and service - our waiter sat with our 9 year old and showed him how to shell his lobster. 4 stars for food as a whole. Great local Sam Adams special beer
(4)Shannon E.
Beautiful location. Draws big crowds. Waitresses work really hard and manage large crowds well. Food is good, if you're in the mood for what they're serving. 3rd floor menu, where the drinking crowd is, leaves a lot to be desired if you just want to drink & snack. And unfortunately big, bad, bald 3rd floor "bouncer" has an inflated ego, using aggressive and threatening tactics to intimidate patrons for no good reason. I would expect this from some of the establishments in Faneuil Hall or Back Bay or even if deserved here if people were getting rowdy, but to come up to a table of friends having a nice night and good, mellow conversation and start accusing and threatening and being aggressive is out of line. Seriously, get over yourself and find something productive to do like help the waitresses clear glasses from the tables. Probably won't go back at the risk of having to deal with this a-hole. There are plenty of other great spots on the areas.
(2)Jess C.
SOOO I came here because I wanted a classy place to take the parentals before dragging them to watch the Redbull Cliff Diving. The menu is different from other Legal Sea Foods, which is nice, but sometimes you want a LITTLE more. For example, the grilled shrimp only comes with lemon... no lemon chive butter or cajun spices like we all know and love from all the other Legals!! The roof deck is not something I have ventured up to yet, simply because it was not open at the hour we were there. I hear it's very "Miami" and being from there, I obviously have to investigate. Food was good, and I must say.. I love the view this place offers.
(4)David H.
I get it that this place regularly gets five stars, great location, vibey, noisey, and almost always full.....but unlike my wife, I have never been a big fan of Legal Seafoods. We were there for a bar side dinner this week, and again several weeks before....but there is a common theme with each visit...the front desk is manned by immature young ladies who really haven't grasped the concept of a well run front desk. There is no structure, or consistency....and on a recent visit by a mature British friend of ours, she was turned away from the rooftop lounge, because her British drivers license, which clearly illustrated her age, was an unacceptable form of identification. The second issue I have is the value of the food...the portions are small, yet overpriced, and no greater illustration of that fact was the bruschetta appetizers.....two tiny slices of crostini toast, spread with a small quantity of gorgonzola creamy cheese, and an even smaller dollop of fig jam. Admittedly, you cannot get much these days for $3.50, but this was a real slap in the face. Legal Seafoods you can only fool the public for so long as to the quality and caliber of your establishments....spend some money and train your staff to execute their duties professionally....and stop believing you are being so clever and overcharging for overhyped dishes, that represent no value to the average diner, for the quantities that are being served
(1)Stacy R.
We hope the owner will read this review. We arrived at 5:00 and were told we could get a table at 5:30 at the restaurant on the 2nd floor. At 5:30 we went up to the 2nd floor and were told that all the tables were reserved and we could eat at the bar. We were at the bar for 90 minutes and most of the tables in the restaurant remained empty the entire time. The service at the bar was awful; we had to ask the bartender 3 times before he took our order. We ordered 3 appetizers. The octopus was very tough and almost inedible. The seared tuna had a stale taste. The trio of tartar was fine. We have been loyal and frequent Legal customers for decades and are very disappointed. The location is striking It's an abuse to loyal customers to assume that service and food don't matter - that people will come back despite the poor service, unappetizing food, and high prices. They won't.
(1)Sam A.
Amazing restaurant. Dined on Floor 2 on a Sunday evening. From the friendly and courteous valet to the exceptional front and back of the house, this was a great experience and one that we'll be sure to repeat. The California abalone was such an outstanding dish and pairing a large Halibut portion with steakhouse-style spinach was an excellent touch. We were delighted with the complimentary amuse bouche and the peppermint fudge at the beginning and end of the meal. The wine list was exceptional and reasonable, and contrary to what a lot of other reviews say, the quality of the food and service definitely justifies the price.
(5)Simi S.
delicious. delicious! really great bloody mary's.
(5)Food G.
Disclaimer: this review is based on the top floor, lounge menu not the regular menu. Recently attended a company event up on the 4th floor of Legal Harborside where the "lounge menu" was served buffet style. I was excited to try it out as I have had good meals at the Legals near the aquarium...boy was I dissapointed. The waitstaff was good and attentive, but they were only dealing with drinks, so they get a little bit of a pass. The food on the other hand, was way, way below expectations. I started with the Clam Chowder which was ok, but really lacked seasoning. I dont find it a good sign when a seafood place cant do a good chowder. The trooper I am, I moved on to the Lobster Risotto. Sadly this was almost completely tasteless (again, where's seasoning?) and cold... not cool, cold. Strike two. Maybe the Chicken Satay skewers will be better I thought? Wrong. I could tell with the first bite I tried that it was barely on the side of properly cooked. Strike three. A normal person would stop after three strikes, but I then noticed the shrimp. I love shrimp and surely that must be good, I thought to myself. Wrong again! Its not hard to tell frozen shrimp from fresh and these were definitely previously frozen. Add to that the fact they are drowning in some "cocktail type" sauce by default and you have a recipe for sub-par. I'm an adult, give me fresh shrimp with sauce on the side and let me decide how I want to sauce them. This shouldn't be too much to ask of a famous seafood restaurant.
(2)Terri C.
Unimpressed with the 2nd Floor, all we kept hearing about was how the 2nd floor was different from all the other Legals - this being highlighted when we asked to be sat our table that we had reserved 2 months ago. I explained our friends we running late -it was pouring rain out -and I mentioned my OpenTable acct and again was told this Legal is different. The treatment was so poor, I don't care where you are located, it's all about the treatment - get over yourselves. We dine in all in price ranges but expect firs class treatment wherever we go. If they had read our OpenTable profile "like the other Legals" they would have noticed we dine at Legal's OFTEN and don't skim on what we order. NO MORE. We were not able to get the beverages ordered on the first floor or order Fried Oysters - those were ONLY available on the first floor. I have never taken the time to write a negative review after dropping $300 between the 2 floors, I needed to air my grievances. Oh the food was good, I will give them that - in fact it was delicious but its also about the experience and for us -it was not a positive one.
(1)Susan J.
I've been a few times to this legals and have tried the sushi and some of the other dishes on all different floors. My boyfriend and I went over the weekend and he was in the mood for fish and I was in the mood for sushi so we thought it was the perfect spot! But they really could not accomidate us because they only serve certain things on certain floors. If we wanted to get the actual dishes we wanted, my boyfriend and I would have had to sit on different floors!!! It's really like 3 different restaurants. We ended up sitting on the 2nd floor where i was able to get a rare tuna appetizer as my dinner, but left pretty hungry. Dissapointed that they cannot find a way to offer similar things throghout the restaurant.
(3)Fred Y.
Fish tacos! That's all you need to know!
(4)Janina T.
I've been here a few times, heading straight for the roofdeck for drinks. I generally come pretty late in the evenings on either Thursday or Saturday nights so by that time dinner has long passed and/or the kitchen has closed. They get an A++++++ for ambiance and decor. The roofdeck view is GORGEOUS beyond belief, overlooking the water. I love that they have both covered and uncovered seating so you can take your pick. Music's not bad either, from what I could hear. I heard a mixture of hip hop and classic/alternative rock. I like that they play it at a level that isn't overbearing to the point that you can't hear whoever you're speaking to but it's loud enough for your to enjoy at the same time. Drinks are pretty good (and strong) here. They're a bit pricier than they might be at the other bars down the street but I'm pretty sure it's because you're paying more to be in a swankier place. I haven't tried the food yet although I'm assuming it's equal if not the same as what's at Legal Sea Foods. I've booked my birthday dinner here so I'm hoping for the best!
(4)Jessica P.
First the good: -The food was excellent, and we did not have to wait long. The view is also quite nice. Now the cons: -The service was inattentive. We did not get any rolls and my father had to ask our server 4 times before she finally brought him the class of water he wanted. -The atmosphere was a bit meh. It was loud enough that we could barely hear each other, and it wouldn't have killed some of the other patrons to take a bath and put on something other than ratty sweats and cut-offs. This isn't as swanky as some Boston restaurants, but it's not a dive bar either. Dress like a grown-up and observe basic hygiene or stick with McDonald's.
(3)Neill K.
I promise if I come back and have the same experience I will give you five stars! I tell people that I'm not one to go to a legal seafood unless there is a visitor who's requesting. In my book there is better fine dining and better seafood at other locations around our fair city...with that said, I WILL be back to the Harborside location. I had lunch with a great friend on the first floor (duh, that's all that's open for lunch) I love the layout! We sat one table away from the water, although the rest of the facility looked beautiful even if we weren't staring at the water the whole time. The food was great! We started with the calamari, which was crispy and delicious. We each then had a salad, me the shrimp and my friend the crab. Both salads were of decent portion and very flavorful! My only complaint was that mine had very few shrimp? Whatever...like I said...I was busy staring at the water most the time. Service...top notch. Right when we walked in we were greeted by a team of people who were there to help us! I did first take my friend up to show him the different levels, which they were more than happy to let us explore. Our server was awesome as we took way to long and ordered everything just a little different than original. Fun, relaxing, good food...will be back.
(4)Hilary A.
We were attending a show at the BoA Pavilion next door, so we opted to dine here due to its awesomely close proximity. Not being from the area, this was a gamble. We chose dinner on the 2nd floor, which was the only floor taking reservations. This is like 3 businesses in one: 1st floor raw bar/pub fare, 2nd floor finer dining and 3 floor is an upscale, open-air bar. When we arrived there were TONS of people and the establishment is huge; I thought I made a huge mistake. To my surprise, we were whisked up out of the chaos to a lovely, private table on the deck, overlooking the harbor. Our waiter was perfection. He paid close attention to detail, made sure to get us served in time to catch our show, polite, not overly chatty, but friendly. He even gave us a little complimentary grab-and-go dessert because we didn't have time to have one otherwise. The food was delicious. The menu wasn't enormous, but has enough offerings for everyone to find something. I had the lobster ($50) and my husband chose two appetizers (due to dietary restrictions) soft-shell crab ($14) and scallops ($14). It wasn't cheap, but I wanted a nice experience and was willing to pay. It was the perfect start to a great night.
(4)Mitchell F.
The first floor deck is right on the water looking over the harbor with Logan in the background. Very nice setting. I had the oyster slider app and it was great. Good portions, moist and not overpowering. A good value for the price. For a main course I had the fried fisherman's trio however I requested it wood fired so I could taste the seafood. The best decision I ever made. The wood firing really brought out the flavors. The staff handled the change flawlessly from the server who said cheerfully "no problem" to the request,to the cooks who took the shrimp, sea scallops, and haddock and wood fired them instead of coating them in batter and frying them, and did so without tearing up the fish. Now for the reason I didn't give 5 stars. The side dishes were bland and small. My Ceasar salad had no flavor with 3 soggy croutons, and greens filmed with a light layer of tasteless cream sauce. My cole slaw was just cabbage and carrots coated in a tiny bit of mayo and no seasoning. Worst was my desert. I had the lemon coconut something. It was a flavorless spongy lemon cakelike substance with a hint of coconut flavor on top in a rock hard pastry shell which served as a bowl. A total disappointment. Still the seafood,service, and views were great and that's what it was all about.
(4)Monique W.
The roof deck is amazing!! The staff and Manager are great.. They were very helpful. The drinks fabulous!! I can not wait to come back again!!
(4)Debbie C.
This review is for Legals Harborside, Floor 2. First of all, when we entered the lobby was mobbed and a line snaked from a hostess stand to the door. We got in line behind many disappointed diners without reservations. When we got to the front and told them we had a reservation for Floor 2, the hostess said, "Go right up the stairs." Some signage or announcement would save a lot of people some time. But up we went, to a quieter and more elegant 2nd floor. We were meeting 2 other people for dinner, so we went to the bar. The host/hostess stand on Floor 2 is a bit cold and professional - no warm greeting or smile. In fact the bespectacled host never looked up at us during any of our comings and goings. His job seemed to be to tell the hostess, "They can go to 37." Chilly. The bar was warmer with friendly bartenders and the view, which is why you're there in the first place. Dinner was a mixed bag. My husband's shrimp cocktail was "the best he's ever had in his life" (He's given to exageration.) The shrimp (3 for $20) were huge. And his tuna wrapped in prosciutto was wonderful. My cod was crispy (I like that) and delicious (also nice), but perched atop a strange and bitter melange of little clamlike shells (cockles, they said) mixed with overcooked sugar snap peas which were olive green and stringy and other tasteless and murky colored things in a green sauce described as "green garlic sauce" which was not too tasty. Our out of town guests insited that the view was wonderful which I think meant that dinner was just ok. The oysters were terrific. They serve a cool, paper-thin flatbread with spices that everyone loved. I had a very hard time finding a white wine I liked. They do, fortunately, let you try the wine before making a commitment. I finally asked if they had a nice Pinot Noir (they do) and settled on red.
(3)Cassandra S.
I wish I had a better review to give. I love this place and the food HOWEVER I made a reservation for 7:30. My party of 4 arrived at 7:05 we understood it may not be possible to be seated early but we checked in and headed to the bar. At 7:35 we asked if we could be sat as our reservation time had passed; the hostess told us that all reservations were sat within 15 mins of the actual time (odd I thought I was making a reservation to eat at the time I wanted) at 8 pm we were paged A WHOLE HALF HOUR after our reservation. The waiter was very nice and we did receive a free appetizer for our trouble but then our meal took OVER AN HOUR to get to our table. Absolutely ridiculous! It's really too bad because I love that the restaurant is on the water, and the food is great!
(1)Geoff A.
Great seafood with a great view. Ambience: This is for Floor 2 which is not to be confused with other areas in the same restaurant which offer different menus and cater to different price levels and needs. The view up here was superb and the place is quiet and perfect for a nice date night. Service: Veru friendly waiters and barstaff. I really appreciated the fact that our waiter was attentive but never came over to interrupt with constant "How are things here then?" which you often get bugged by at other restaurants. We never had to wait for anything and the staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Food: Great wine list. The food was very well conceived and tasty. Not huge portions (which I appreciate) but the highest quality. It's often nice to have the problem of many items on the menu which you'd like to try. In this case I was with some other people who I could sample from and we found everything to be delicious. Price: Okay, so it's not cheap but as I said you get what you pay for which is high quality all round. I'll be going back.
(5)Casie G.
My dad was visiting from out of town and wanted to "eat some form of seafood". I have never been to any Legals as I'd rather not go to a chain but I figured we could try the new one on the waterfront...we were not disappointed. It was a Friday night so we probably waited an hour for our table but we were more than happy to stand by the bar. Even though the place was packed, the bartenders did a great job getting to everyone (sure made that hour wait much better). Once we sat, we were able to get a table outside and everything was just wonderful - the view, the service & most importantly, the food. The steamers & calamari were absolutely delicious (definitely get the steamers, you will want to drink the broth) & the seafood stew was packed with seafood. There wasn't a thing that came out that was bad. I definitely recommend this location for anyone who has folks in visiting as the location is cool, the food is good and if you stay on the first floor, it's not too expensive.
(4)Jenna H.
I have wanted to try this legal since I heard my friends chattering about what great food they had and what a great location it was. The location is beautifully set in the new and recently booming seaport district. We decided to eat on the first floor as that is what we were dressed for. Plus I had to see this fishing pond. While it is a great idea, I had a vision in my head of it being a bit bigger haha. On to the important stuff - eats! We sat at the bar while we waited for a table and found a great wine and drink list. Here we started with some Kumamoto oysters, my favorite - which were nice and fresh. Next we tried some of the small plate bruschetta's - my favorites were the tuna, and the fig and with warm gorgonzola. The last app we had at the bar was a Rhode Island Stuffie. A What?? A Stuffie. No I had never heard of this. It was Amazing! My favorite thing we had on the menu. It was basically a stuffed clam with a kick of spice - yum! I was not as impressed with the dinner however. My Salmon lacked flavor and was not memorable. For sides, I picked the Soba noodles - I don't know why but I was not expecting them to be cold, and the spinach was just ok. My husband got the mashed taters - those were great - I would go with those if I come back! For Desert we had the bon bons - yummy. How can you screw up ice cream balls dipped in chocolate though! I knew they would be a safe bet, and I was right. Service both at the bar and our table was great. While I had a good / fair dining experience, I don't think I was wowed to come back. I am glad I tried it though, and would recommend others to try it too.
(3)Valerie V.
Wow, this place really lives up to the hype! Ate on the first floor with three other people on a Tuesday evening. It would so lively you would have thought it was Friday night! Unfortunately, that did mean that we were seating 35 minutes after our actual reservation time...But that being said, we were given an amazing table that was sort of half inside half outside. The feel of the restaurant is wonderful because it completely opens out onto the harbor, its gorgeous. The main event, at least for us, were the oysters. There were many varieties available and chefs devoted to shucking them where you can watch. We got 2 dozen of four varieties and they were all completely delectable. We also tried the steamed mussels and the clam steamers which were both plump and yummy too. By the time we reached entrees, we were fairly full so we didn't get too much. But we did try to wood planked scallops and a lobster roll that were shared. Again, YUM. The service was pretty good, not fantastic but not terrible either. What I was very impressed with was the free -large- dessert we were given to share because it was my birthday. It was a huge bowl of apple crisp with a bowl of vanilla ice cream on the side....mmmm. I'll be back as soon as physically possible.
(5)Amy R.
I have been to Legal Harborside - Floor 1 a couple of times in the past few weeks. Both have been pretty tremendous experiences. The first time, I was able to score a last minute reservation on Open Table during an optimal dinner time (7pm). Score. The boyfriend and I arrived and we were sat immediately upon arrival. Double score. We had incredible seating on a pseudo-picnic style table right out on the dock - the view was amazing and the weather was perfection. We split some oysters (Wellfleet, Cotuit, and Kumamoto). All were extremely tasty. We also split the Gorgonzola & Fig Bruschetta which was surprisingly delicious. The last time I had Figs was in Newton form as a child. The bruschetta seemed like an odd flavor profile to me at first, but definitely worked. The boyfriend got standard seared scallops and I tried one of Inman Square's original - the Fish in Foil (steamed haddock and veggies). The fish and most of the veggies were extremely good, but I could have done without the steamed tomatoes. Dessert, we tried their summer special - strawberry & rhubard crisp *drool* No complaints here! My last outing to Floor 1 was on Friday 7/15. This time, no rezzy, but I was able to secure 2 seats within 15 minutes of arrival time. My sister and I split the Wellfleet and Cotuit oysters (couldn't resist). However, they were out of all of the Washington State oysters that night, but the bartender surprised us with his selections and were equally as good as the others I've tried from Floor 1. We also split the calamari and steamers - mouthwatering. The only complaint I would have about my last experience was the slowness of the bar. It took awhile for any of the bartenders to mosey over to our section of the bar, but in their defense, the place was bumpin' with Peter Frampton fans - no lie... Very pleased with this addition to the Seaport!
(5)Amanda L.
Wowie zowie. I can't wait to get someone to take me on a date here so I can order the $57 lobster. :D I just stopped in for a drink with a friend, we sat in the lounge on the second floor, and after peeking at the menu we decided to order the carpaccio & the crispy crab. The carpaccio was deeeeelicious, just mouthwatering-ly perfect, spritzed with truffle oil, seasoned with sea salt and garnished with cilantro. The crispy crab things were ok, like cold spring rolls filled with crab salad. Interesting and tasty but overshadowed by our other dish. Drinks were perfect (one each) and our bill was over $50. Oh well! Fantastic view, amazing service, delicious eats. See you soon, LHS!
(5)Dave V.
Great location. Love the smaller tapas-like portions. Scallops are always incredible as are the cherrystones and oysters. Personally I would not highly recommend the fried clams - scallops are way better IMO (and I love fried clams). Rest of the menu is really enjoyable - can't go wrong here.
(5)Karmen W.
I was iffy on not being able to secure a reservation online (my friend said it's better to reserve via the phone but I was being lazy, heh) for 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. But the real trouble was just finding parking- not the waiting (for the table). Their restaurant's lot was full when I got there, so I had to circle around trying to fish for a meter spot ..but I was pretty unlucky in that area. After 15, 20 or so minutes, the lot was open again and the service there was pretty quick and the guy was very friendly. My friend and I were almost immediately seated by our hostess. I guess 3pm's a good time to go for lunch here if you're not willing to wait :) The atmosphere is great, and the scene you're able to get of the waterfront is a pleasure to have while dining. We got ourselves an order of their French Kiss oysters from the raw bar, which were delicious with the sauce that accompany them. Super fresh and delectable. A must try! We weren't all too hungry so we each got salads- she got the caesar salad with a custom add-on of a tuna burger on top (it's not on the menu, but if you ask nicely they can make it happen!), and I got myself a simple "Big Salad" with chicken. The salad was okay, but the chicken was good. But yeah, I'm totally reading your mind because you must be like, "Who orders a chicken salad at Legal SEAFOODS anyway?" Overall, I'd definitely go back to try out some more things on the menu while enjoying the waterfront.
(4)Kat T.
My friends and I were at the Legal Harborside's patio the day it opened. It had a lovely view of the Harbor and an unpretentious atmosphere despite the trendy decor. The three-tiered dining concept, with the first floor being casual, the 2nd with fine dining and the 3rd floor/patio with small bites, is brilliant! Since it was the opening day, the patio didn't serve food though they did pass some free tasty apps around. The Tuna tartare was muy delicioso! We waited about an hour and a half for a table of 5 which was a bummer but our patio bar server was very attentive and kept serving us with the free apps. The manager was very apologetic for the wait, which we sort of expected would be the case on a Saturday night. Overall, the place was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out at the patio more frequently this Summer.
(4)Ann C.
This was my first time at this location so I will say upfront that I only enjoyed a single meal here. (I used to come here back when it was Jimmy Harborside! I also still had legitimate friends from Southie back then too...) I guess I was only sort of expecting the imposing feel of this particular Legal's. But I'm not gonna lie though - I enjoyed how far they went with this one. There's like 6 floors or something. Nicely designed and laid out with a circular bar and sprawling pseudo-eating-areas (is it just a drinks seat?...or can I actually eat a meal here? omg I can eat here too!? :D) There's something about the atmosphere that is practically begging for lunch break yuppies and adorable tourists to infiltrate at high volume. I'm glad they're doing well - the waterfront is too picturesque to not set up a destination area like this. Yeah it's kinda sterile and corprate, but soon everwhere in the world will be merely shades of such. I don't mind - plus they kept the lovely aquatic mosaic wall from the Jimmy days in Legal's interior. Anyways, I ordered a lobster roll that was positively delicious (crap,now I want one). Everything was served in a most timely manner by this guy Curtis something. Omg he was soooooo cute - kinda looks like Kurt Cobain. I recommend him :D My only complaint is that many might mistake the menu entry for the tuna sandwhich as tuna SALAD sandwich - the description is kinda vague. It's actually huge pieces of mildy seared tuna. I found that out the hard way but Curtis was most gracious and patient and didn't mind taking it back so I could get a lobster roll. (omg seriously so cute) I paid for the sushi-ish tuna sandwhich anyways, mostly because of his adorableness...and because it's a classy thing to do :D btw, who remembers when there was that epic chinese food restaurant like right across the street? holy crap I'm totally dating myself now...
(4)Jeff M.
My wife and I took a client of mine last Sunday night. We did have reservations and were seated right away. The restaurant was very busy, as it was a beautiful night and the back of the restaurant opens to the harbor. My client being from LA had to have the Chowder and some fried clams for an app. When eating one of the clams I bite down on a nice size piece of shell. When I told the waitress about it, she asked if I was OK and when I said yes, she said OK then and went about her business. I had Anna's Boston Scrod and it was as good as I remember. I'm sure we will give it another try.
(3)Anik M.
So if you are going to go to the first two floors then I would mark this place much higher - the second floor is definitely 5 star. Now on to the review of the third floor...AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! Where do I start - here is basically how the meal turned out: 1. Asked the server which sake she would recommend - she chose the most expensive which we obliged given our experience on the second floor. Big mistake - it was a plum juice sake blend which had the feel of desert wine. The waitress had no idea what she was speaking about. To top it off our sake was served in wine glasses which just doesn't fit the drink. 2. The edamame was probably cooked by Captain Crunch - pretty much raw. 3. I didn't realize crab was served with the shell on in sushi. My wife found several pieces of crab shell in her California roll including one the size of a quarter. 4. The service: a. Our waitress was hard to track down even though there were 2 servers and a bartender and the place was 25% full. When she did come over and we informed her of the shell in the sushi she reached down to try and remove it with her HANDS from our plate which had another type of roll (which we weren't going to eat anyways - but who does that!). She then brought us the bill and charged us for the roll we had sent back - which after I pointed, she removed. There was also a complete lack of an apology for their horrendous food. b. On our way out the the door man had asked how our food was and we said not very good. He asked us to elaborate and we politely declined - he pushed a few more times and we finally described out experience. His response was "Well at least come back for drinks" to which I responded "You can get a drink anywhere." Absolutely clueless to the quality of their food. I have to say that this was a huge let down and am shocked that they had such little care for their drinks, food and service. There are may better places to go for an after work cocktail and snack in the city...actually ANY PLACE would be better.
(1)B R.
I was fully prepared to hate it here. I've been to a lot of Legal's locations over the years. They are always delicious but overpriced. We had the luck of being out on a friends boat and docked right under the restaurant. We had reservations for the bar area. So the caveat is simple, you have to have reservations. No way I'm waiting insanely long times to eat here. Now, I really liked this place. Great people watching, the bar area menu was reasonably priced. The food was delicious and the atmosphere on a beautiful warm day was awesome. I had the wood grilled shrimp with soba noodles and orzo salad. You get to pick two small sides with certain dishes. My only complain is they do not have the sugar snap peas in oyster sauce, a fan favorite. The alcoholic raspberry lime rickey was tasty but a bit watered down and too much ice for the price. Switched to beer for the better value. I would go again. definitely. with a reservation :) but first I would explore all the other restaurants in this newly vibrant part of town.
(4)Katrina H.
This review is particularly for Legal Harborside - Floor 2. This floor is considered more fine dining, and they even mention on the website that it is for "special occasions." After moving to the area, I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday, and I am so glad I did! The food and drinks were delicious. For our entree, we both ordered Butter Poached Lobster and it was to die for. Just melt in your mouth deliciousness. We had a beautiful seat overlooking the water. And the waitstaff was great - very accommodating. The manager even escorted us up to Floor 3 after our dinner (the line was around the block) since we wanted to have some after dinner cocktails. I can't wait to come back here. It is on the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)Erica C.
I loved this place! Came there with family and started with the calamari lobster roll, and bloody Marys. All were great! It was my first lobster roll so I can't really say if it was the "best" but I definitely enjoyed every bite. I also had the crab salad which was amazing! A huge mound of yummy crab. Can't really beat that. My husband had the fish and chips which he loved. Go here!
(5)Megan M.
This review is for floor 2. My dining experience was okay. The atmosphere and view was definitely the best part. The view of the harbor and the city is one of the best you can get. The decor is tasteful and modern. Our server was good, knowledgeable on the wine and also got the chef to prepare a special salad. However, there was only a need to prepare a special salad because the selection was so limited. I think every dinner menu should have some type of green salad to start with. For entrees we had the prosciutto wrapped tuna and the cod over clams. The tuna was good, I think the prosciutto would have been better if it was more rare like the tuna. I thought I would love the combo but wasn't a big fan. The cod was nothing special either. We also had the lobster gnocchi app, which was probably the best part of the food. Also the most inexpensive bottle of chardonnay was still around $50. So all in all, for the price I was not impressed. Would prefer Atlantic Fish Co or Oceanaire.
(3)Scott C.
Sushi is mediocre. Seemed fresh, but not well made. Not much ingenuity in the menu. Just ok. Service on 3rd floor was uninterested. Legal is my favorite seafood place, but I'll be staying away from the sushi. Rec you do also.
(3)Sara F.
Can't rate the restaurant yet, since when I tried to get in one Tuesday night a couple of weeks ago, there was a two and a half hour wait. I shouldn't have been surprised -- it's been getting a lot of attention, and then there's all the tourist traffic. So we headed up to the Roof Deck on the 3rd floor, which was absolutely packed. Unfortunately it was raining pretty hard, because the deck has an amazing view of the harbor. It would be a fantastic place to hang out on a sunny day. It got quieter after about 7:30, as the after-work crowd dispersed, so I think next time I'd try for a late arrival, to enjoy the deck or the dining room without quite so many crowds. Definitely make a reservation if you want to have dinner here without a crazy-long wait.
(3)Gloria L.
We went to the third floor bar, and it was fun! It was a clear night but still a little chilly for a spring night, so their heat lamps were really nice to have. We tried the strawberry and white sangrias, and they were delicious! Not "authentic", but yummy drinks. We also ordered some food - the sushi was okay (didn't expect too much from Legal), and the lobster and crab rolls came with chips (chips were kind of weird). Food is decent, but expensive (but again, it's Legal). Good experience, though, because of the view, the drinks, and the service! Our server was nice and relatively attentive, even though there were a TON of other people there. Would come back for the strawberry sangria.
(4)Wade L.
Not quite good the 1st try. So crowded on Sunday night. The service are slow.
(3)Patricia F.
We (party party of 10) visited this establishment mid week. The atmosphere and view were beautiful. The waitstaff professional and attentive, not very engaging though, however that maybe something that is liked by some and not others. The food was very good and cooked as ordered.
(4)Lani I.
Beautiful view. Our waitress was very personable and helpful. She suggested types of oysters for us to try since we never had any before. The food came out very quickly. The sangria was perfect.
(5)K S.
Reviews that rate this place under 4 starts speak to fried clams and other seafood dishes (some that lacked vegetables with them) that are too basic to really be impressed by. How many times have you actually been impressed by fried clams? If you are heading to this place, you are going here to try seafood that has been prepared in a unique way. You don't rate a restaurant like this based on something simple, like French Fries (ie, fried clams). Understand where you are before judging. Do you go to McDonald's and rate their fish? Fried clams and a lack of vegetables? C'mon. For those intending to try the food here that costs more than $5, allow me to introduce the second floor. The oysters were great. The abalone entree was fantastic and one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. The fish tasted like veal - how is that even possible? The waiter helped select some really impressive Pinot Noir bottles which certainly helped make an impression as well. The after dinner ambush of sweetness was certainly a great way to end the evening. It's expensive, but what in Boston isn't? Best of luck and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
(4)Maura G.
What a beautiful location - great on a hot and humid day. The food is also very good. The mussels were delicious and definitely need more bread to soak up the broth. The fried clams were great, not over breaded (wish they were larger belly, but as I get older it is hard to find a place that serves them). The waitstaff was attentive and overall had a great time (just a little noisy) - but that is ok because of the view
(4)K M.
Made reservations for 7:15 for a 70th birthday for my out of town mother- in-law, requested a window seat. Was seated immediately with a window seat, all the wait staff, host staff and the Maître D greeted her with birthday wishes, Kevin the Maître D made 2 appearances at the table to make sure that everything was going well. Our waitress Meredith was more than accommodating. Order'd steaks, they were wonderful, cooked to perfection, potato's were delicious. The dessert was so/so, overall experience was great!
(4)Jeanne T.
Would rate higher but for the price, did not expect to get a sarcastic waiter who treated us as if we were hillbillies! Whatever you do, do not ask if the seafood is fresh. I have never asked any server that in my life. I meant to ask if there was a seafood special as I saw someone eating a lovely light white fishmthat I could not seem to find on the menus. Not having memorized the Legal Seafood mission statement, he laughed and said " have you never eaten here before? In a very condescending tone." Yeah I get it, embarrassed, bla, bla, bla. Your fish is so fresh and your clams have different pedigrees with briney, kind of briney, brine less, sweet clean and buttery with no hint of brine , some were from Canadian islands, all raised with love and nurtured and Fresh! Our server made my husband feel like it was his first time eating in such a cultured establishment as he explained the varieties and their differences as if he was explaining to a child. He later asked my husband how he liked his choices, with a fake "wide eyed" look of feigned interest. My husband stated he did, was unsure if he tasted much of a difference in his two choices but that both were very good. Snide guy then laughed and said " we'll I guess it's all the same when you put Tabasco sauce all over it" ( which my husband asked for but which came with it anyway) The food? great! the prices? High! The service? passive aggressive, fake and snotty. To top it off, they deliver along with your check, a one page statement explaining their freshness policy" They are very proud of this.... Very proud. We laughed so hard. I know my question of " do you have fresh fish" is the joke of the evening there. It started us off on the wrong foot with our surely waiter. Please let me apologize for I too was in the service industry for half my life. We are not worthy to dine with you. perhaps we will see if there is a Red Lobster nearby. We were the family sitting in the bar area by fish tank, late evening, myself, son and husband., so to our waiter whose name I did not catch, thanks for making us endure a very uncomfortable experience. It did give us a lot to laugh about though!
(3)Beth R.
My family & I went to Legal Harborside for my birthday dinner this past summer and it was just as I heard/expected. While we waited for our table, we had some drinks and apps at the bar...delicious. I had a cup of my favorite clam chowder, my mother got a fried clams app to share and my father ordered a Shellfish Platter. The crab legs were huge and the fam raved about the rest of the platter. It was a little over an hour wait, but to be expected in the middle of beautiful summer weekend in July. Our table was pretty much, right on the dock, overlooking the boats. Our waiter was very nice and gave recommendations to those of us who were indecisive about our meal choices. The bathrooms are all the way down past the kitchen to the left of the restaurant and they're all single stalls with large individual doors...if they're all taken, you wait in the hallway, for some reason, other diners were confused by this. I could hear them outside as they waited. Legal Harborside is pretty pricey and nice for a special occasion dinner or drink. The place is huge, I've heard the top floor gives great scenic views of the harbor and there's a bar up there and they serve bar food only.
(4)Keem H.
Great place! I would go again. Food was very delicious. The view is amazing.
(5)Ashley K.
Good location, average food. One of the worst Legals in the city, aside from the great views and venue- which is the only thing that sets this location apart from other Legals. LTK and C Bar concepts have a much better and broader menu, would have preferred those or an original Legals to this menu. Menu is VERY limited for non seafood joiners in your party. Turn and burn atmosphere with cheap food, limited options and poor quality. Decent service and cocktails but salmon (requested well done) was medium at best. Water glasses left empty while several staff sat and mingled by the bathroom. Won't be back for food, maybe to the roof deck for drinks, but that's about all this location has going for it. Save your money, eat somewhere else and go there for drinks on the third floor.
(2)Samantha S.
Really good :-) Out of all the legals in Boston, this one is my favorite. I like the interior, the roof deck (although gets crowded so go early) and the food/staff are great. Can't go wrong.
(4)Vanae T.
i give it to these guys...the view of the water is really great! the ambiance and service was good! but let's talk food here for a sec... the good: -the oysters (beach blondes) were very fresh and delicious. -clam chowder was ok. i've had better at SF soup company and expected more from a boston joint. the not-so-good: -all of our pasta orders (i ordered the fedilini + shrimp) came out very salty! i dont think i've ever had a pasta dish at a restaurant that was that heavy on the salt. made us drink extra glasses of water, as we were dehydrating. in fact, i had to add water to my pasta dish to dilute how salty it was. even though the view and feel was great, the salty food was bad enough that i don't think i'll return to eat here....maybe just for drinks.
(2)Deb c.
Dined here with an out-of-town friend last night and had an unpleasant experience. We each got lobster; however, my friend's was woefully undercooked, with disgusting black matter (raw tomally or something) oozing out. This resulted in a 15 minute wait while a new lobster was prepared. Very uncomfortable, as one of us had been served already. OK, these things happen, but the floor manager came by and said "your food will be out shortly, sorry for the wait" but should have also, at the very least, offered my friend a dessert on the house. Have dined at Legal, first Inman Square, then Chestnut Hill, since the 70s, scores of times. This branch seems, sadly, more of a tourist trap. Best part of the experience: Our server, Megan, was terrific, and the location iis great.
(2)Brittany S.
The ambience is incredible, and dinner on the patio overlooking the harbor is quite an experience, especially at sunset. I'm fortunate enough to dine at seafood restaurants in San Francisco regularly, and Seattle and Hawaii are two other amazing spots I love for local fish. That said, paying Legal's premium prices for imported seafood is disappointing at best. The one thing I'd recommend hitting Legal Seafood for is their jumbo shrimp cocktail - the shrimp are far bigger than any I've ever seen before. My recommendation: skip the seafood altogether in Boston and head to the North End for some delicious Italian food instead.
(3)Kevin L.
I've never been disappointed with a Legal's experience and Harborside continued to support this statement. I came here on a Thusrday night at 9pm and there was still a wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. Luckily there were some empty chairs at the bar and the Pats were playing, so that was a no brainer. The bartender was friendly and knew the menu really well. I ordered the fried clams, crab roll, and crab and pepperoni pizza. Although the clams were sweet, I wasn't a fan of the batter and the clams were a little small. The batter seemed a little soggy and didn't have a nice, crisp crunch to it. The crab roll was filled with fresh crab meat and the roll was nicely buttered and toasted. Surprisingly, the biggest highlight of the night was the pizza. It was a flatbread pizza with crab, tomatoes, and pepperoni. Seems like a weird combo, but the flavors blended together so nicely. You gotta try it!
(4)Neelam P.
Can I not rate 10 stars? We had a group of 15 and anytime you go with a large group anywhere, it tends to get complicated, but Santiago handled us well. The food at Legal was awesome, I simply ate out of everyone else's plates because I wanted to order everything on the menu. A few amazing things I tasted and left there extremely satisfied were the Lobster Bisque, Linguini & Clams, Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, Oysters, Lobster Pot Pie...I am sure anything you order will be simply satisfying. Santiago was our waiter and if you go, request him. I am sure everyone else was great, but he really made our experience awesome. PS - THE VIEW, oh it's amazing!
(5)Sharon L.
I would like to give it a 3.5 5 for the atmosphere 5 for the crab roll on a hot dog roll 2 for the chips 2 for the non functional basket its served in
(4)Angela L.
Rooftop review: Wow. What a VIEW. They have lots of seating around the bar area and outdoor patio seating as well. I went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty packed. They have fun music, but not much dancing going on- just drinks and hanging out. Drinks are STRONG. So you will definitely get your money's worth when getting a drink. Bartenders were nice. Overall, I'd come back! Get here early because otherwise rooftop will be full. They do make you wait for awhile before getting in if you get there later.
(4)Patti M.
The food here is tasty but no means the best. There are other places to have a great (not to mention cheaper) seafood meal. That being said, their clam chowder is good but by far not the best I have tasted. The lobster roll was fresh, tasty, and a decent sized portion and they didn't skimp on the truffle fries in the silly basket. They were pretty tasty as well. The Boston cream pie was excellent, though not as much for its flavor as for the fact it was NOT sickening sweet. The atmosphere is pretty, with a great view of the water and the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating.
(4)Kelly O.
It's a Legal, with all that entails- consistently prepared fresh seafood (although I'm becoming less of a fan of their fried clams over time, they're just not as delicious as I remember them), decent beer/mediocre cocktail list (why all the vodka?), reasonable service, mid-to-highish prices. That being said, this spot in particular has lovely waterside views on all 3 floors, but you will wait for them- this place gets craaaazy packed, especially if there's a concert on next door. But don't limit this place to just summer- I had a blast at a private company holiday party, where the food/booze/service was top notch and the views coupled with the cozy fireplaces made the night quite lovely.
(4)Khristina D.
Had tacos and fried green beans. There was a long wait but the food was great. Now...I ordered the green bloody Mary. It's not for everyone, me included. The texture of the drink was more like a badly mixed smoothy. Our waiter looks like Turtle from Entourage. ..and sounds like Matt Damon: only in Boston, right! Obviously, I love this place. Boston or Warwick. ..no matter...great calamari. ..always and ways winner.
(4)Steven T.
Fun place to hangout. It has a great view of the water. It gets crowded fast on Saturday afternoons. Pros: -Clean and comfortable. -Fabulous view of the water. -Quick and friendly staff.
(4)Kike M.
This restaurant is amazing in every sense: its location in the harbor, the fantastic food, fresh products, fresh seafood, lovely staff. Must to try: their lobster roll, with fries and salad. Kinda pricey but totally worth it. If you can get a table outside with the sea view, do it.
(4)Ashley C.
*This review is for the upstairs bar. Got in line around 11 pm and waited half an hour to get up there. Surprisingly, they don't have a strict dress code - I was in shorts, tank and running shoes and they still let me in. The view was of the harbor was decent. There was a good amount of seating and tables upstairs, along with a nice breeze in the open air. Drinks were pretty expensive (cranberry vodka $15!!!), but that's expected. It was a good time, but I expected a bigger, more spacious/open rooftop bar. It was more of just a bar upstairs with no windows.
(3)Tyrie D.
Great oysters fantastic drinks and a help full service at the bar. Loved the selection of oysters they have with the discretion of them all.
(4)Alan C.
Just finished the Harpoon Brewery tour so crew and I wanted to have a nice Saturday lunch at Legal Harborside. It was packed but there is bar seating all around first floor and we got seats near the waterfront side. Gorgeous view. Food: Crab Roll - This was a bit pricey but well worth it. The toasted buttered bun was packed with succulent crab meat. It was well seasoned with just enough mayo to give it flavor but definitely did not drown it like other places I've been to. It tasted fresh and before I knew it, finished the whole thing. The fries on the side was really nothing special, average. The cole slaw that came in tiny cup was ok. Service: Super busy Saturday but waitress did check on us often but that's probably because we sat in a high traffic area.
(5)Alison Y.
Legal harbor side came highly recommended and did not disappoint! Food was excellent! We ate down stairs on the patio. Wonderful views there is also a sushi and raw bar upstairs. They even have a small togo counter with pre made meals, sushi and some frozen speciality dishes ( lobster mac n cheese)... Oysters were shucked perfectly and probably the best I have ever had! Cool spot to take in Boston while enjoying a tasty lunch or dinner!
(4)Bilal A.
We've been there three. We asked to have a table right next to sea. They made us wait for one hour. It is too long. I tried fish in foil. It was delicious. If you do not want to eat with bacon, you should tell them before placing order. Feel free to ask anything because they are quite kind and nice I put this place into my list. I prefere to go in the future.
(4)David C.
It may be dressed up like the swanky place to be on a happening summer night, but Legal Harborside (the first floor, that is) is still Legal Seafoods at heart, which means the food is mediocre at best. The tuna burgers, lobster mac and cheese, and Portuguese stew ordered by my table all required a little extra seasoning (the mac and cheese was particularly bland, which was most disappointing of all), but the shrimp and scallop stuffed artichokes and lobster/bacon pizza were a bit better. Service is great, however, friendly and professional, and the views simply can't be beat. I'd probably suggest skipping the food, save for a few raw bivalves, and kicking back with some drinks so that you can enjoy the sunset in style.
(3)Jowanna G.
Mediocre overpriced food in a nice setting, I think that sums up my experience at harborside legals. I am a self proclaimed foodie that loves to indulge in good foodie no matter what the cost may be. But when I received 1 piece of fish, 2 scallops, and 2 shrimps with one shrimp tail as a fishermen platter for $33.95 that is just completely unacceptable. The seafood was soggy, & I had to build my own fishermen platter because this location does not offer one, I never thought that I would have this experience with legals seafood. The highlight of my experience here was leaving! Don't waste your time or money with this restaurant, it has become a step below red lobster and just another over priced chain restaurant.
(1)Kaveh Z.
Good for seafood. Not being so much of a seafood fan I ordered the Swordfish Gyro and have to say loved it. The white sangria was good too. In another visit I decided to have steak and although meat was good but the vegetables were not that good. I still recommend this place. Food is good and view is great.
(4)Amir F.
By far favorite restaurant in Boston. We always take friends from our hometown in Orlando who visit. Fair but expected higher prices, great quality, and never had bad service
(5)Stefanie A.
Such a great open air, rooftop bar with amazing views of the water & boats! Came here for some apps and drinks while we were in town visiting our Boston friends (we're from Chicago). We each had some good cocktails and for apps we shared the oysters, little necks, and three different sushi rolls. All delicious!
(5)Jeff M.
Legal "don't ever call us a friggin chain" Harborside never really feels chainy and is a delight when we take out of towners here who want to experience both the water and great seafood at a relatively good price. I've always stayed on the first floor. I remember hearing about a fishing pond when they first opened, is that actually still upstairs? When we've been in the summer, we like to go outside on the deck to take in the beautiful breeze which is flowing most of the time. If the raw bar is offered to you on a busy night in the dead of winter and you don't want to wait 30+ minutes, take it! I've never really gotten the almighty entrée here as I tend to graze. Maybe some bluefish pate and a cup of chowder. Or another small appetizer and the white clam pizza, another personal favorite here at just $10. You can keep the bill easily below $50 for two people and still leave completely stuffed. Want 3 lb lobsters for each of you? Sure, you'll be hitting the higher three figure bill. But the clam chowder is cheap and very delicious at about $7. My wife loves the fish tacos which are $15 for three. You can get as few raw oysters as you'd like, I almost hate wasting that huge dish of ice but a half dozen is usually good enough for us. They are carefully arrayed for you and always fresh and delicious. The ambiance is very modern and sleek. They tend to pull in a yuppie crowd on the first floor and then I see the senior citizens in suits coming down off the elevator from upstairs. It doesn't have the feel of other Legals and that seems to be the intention here. I rarely walk into a mall location but easily think of this spot every time we are craving the full Boston sea creature experience. Again, I think it's simply perfect for tourists and locals alike. It can be loud and break your budget if you let it but control your costs and still come out happy for repeat performances. Clearly though, don't ever call them a chain.....
(4)Kaitlin H.
This review is on the third floor roof deck. We decided to stop here during our trip to Boston, but what we didn't realize was that it was graduation weekend for pretty much every university AND Harpoon was hosting a 5K race, so it was BUSY! There was a 2 hour wait for the seating on the first floor, so we opted for the roof deck. There was a line just to get up to the 3rd floor, so we waited for at least 30 minutes. Then once we got up there, it was first come first serve for tables, so we were eyeing the tables like hawks. It took over an hour to finally sit and order lunch. Once we sat and looked over the menu, we realized the menu is totally different than the menu downstairs. It was mostly sushi, rather than your typical seafood. However, it was affordable and very tasty. They had fun drinks, and accidentally gave us a large pitcher of sangria instead of a small, so we couldn't complain. Even though it was a pain to get a table, it was great food and a beautiful view. It's definitely a scene, and not somewhere i would come often, but it was fun. My recommendation is to come early, like right when they open, to beat the crowd.
(4)Gabriela L.
When I was recently in town, I was craving Oysters and what better location than the original Legal Seafoods on the Boston Harbor. It was one of the first few weekends with nice weather, and after getting slammed with snow all winter you can imagine how packed this place was. It took us about 30 minutes, but we jumped on a group as they were leaving to snag their booth on the 3rd floor. The menu up here is limited but of course we ordered lots of oysters to start, which were fabulous. We become more hungry the more we ate... (and the more we drank) so we also ordered some sushi and an avocado salad as well. The array of sushi we got was great but the avocado salad was pretty heavy on the spicy mayo, so not great. Overall, it's a good time to get together with friends have a few drinks, share a few small plates and enjoy the view.
(4)Karina B.
FIRST FLOOR REVIEW: Amazing service, amazing food ( highly recommend the lobster mac and cheese). I also tried the clam chowder which was DELICIOUS! the caesar salad i feel like was too expensive for what we got but still good! My family ordered the clam with linguini i tasted a bite and it was really good and there are a bunch of tiny clams in the shell which they give you a plate where you can dispose of them! The fresh oysters were delicious I recommend either the cape cod ones or the duxbury MA ones! Definitely coming back! Someone around us got the lobster rolls which looked amazing
(5)Richard J.
Great friendly staff, amazing food. Tuna Burger is incredible Buffalo Shrimp is pure perfection
(5)Crystal M.
Don't bother unless you are an American with an American driving license or stupid enough to carry your passport with you. At the old age of 32 we were not allowed wine with our dinner unless we had passport's which of course I would only carry around if I was silly enough. Loose your passport and spend 2 months waiting for a replacement in a country you're not from, just not worth the risk, for any lobster roll. Legal is so legal it will only accept US driving licenses, no international's allowed. In a hugely tourist plagued city this is just plain ignorant.
(1)Elisha T.
I was introduced to this restaurant on my first travel to Boston and I'm really satisfied with the quality of food here. Portion of food is more than you can eat in one go and it was around $20/person. We were a party of 5 people visiting here on Friday for lunch. There were good number of tables available to get seated immediately. The view of lake is great over large windows on the lakeside. Interior of restaurant is also nice if you want to take some photo together with friends and families. If you have a chance to dine here, be sure to try clam chowder, mussels, and calamari as an appetizer because you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lane L.
Just spent way too much money on bad food. I love sea food. Which is why when I come to a city like Boston, I get all excited. This place was a let down. Definitely don't get the lobster. I didn't know what people were taking about when they called seafood stringy until I had their lobster. The service was all fine and the server was helpful with our party of 7 but the service can't make the food taste better, can it?
(2)Guillem L.
The view is amazing but the food is not so good. I had tasty oysters but the salmon had nothing exceptional, after two hours waiting my friends and I were skeptical... However, the waitress was friendly and smiling all the dinner.
(3)Yelena W.
We went to the restaurant at 12 pm on Sunday for a good meal but... As soon we got in, FOUR young people upfront looked at us and asked us if we had a reservation. The minute they heard that we didn't make a reservation , they told us that we have to wait for a table outside for 45 minutes but they were ready to give us a table inside so we can see traffic on Northern street istead of enjoying a nice view of Boston Harbor. :) It was kind of surprising because while we walked outside we saw at least five emply tables in the Patio. Believe it or not, it was our third attempt to get to this restaurant without a reservation. We learned our lesson, either make a reservation or watch traffic. My advice would be "Make a reservation" prior going to this restaurant if you want to have a nice view while you are eating your meal. Also, you will get a "special look" or actually "four special looks" if you didn't make a reservation to this elite place. Something like "Who are you? and you don't belong to be here!"
(1)K R.
First floor review: I've eaten here many times and always enjoyed my meal and the service. Plenty to pick from and the view is amazing! Everyone who I have brought here has loved it. I went there this past weekend and was incredibly impressed. I was dining with a few people with different allergies and the staff did an excellent job at offering excellent substitutions and keeping our order straight. Everyone loved what they ordered!
(5)Rach E.
Food and service were fantastic. We sat at the bar with Stephanie last night. Her recommendations were great. We had then lobster pizza and tuna tacos. Great portions and reasonably priced! Definitely a must see.
(5)Zoila V.
Gorgeous view!! The location of this restaurant is perfect, right on the water by finishing pier. Boats can dock right up to the restaurant which is pretty darn cool for being right in the city! Even late on a Monday night this place was super busy...always a good sign! The restaurant itself is very modern looking, nice 360 bar on the 1st floor! We got the legal sangria...yum! For those that like a sweet sangria i would recommend this! We got grilled scallops and fried clams for entrees...market price wasn't bad! Average $23 for each plate. Portions were good size too especially for an upscale restaurant. Service was pleasant, and pretty fast. We really enjoyed our dinner here, food was great but the view and ambience really make the place!
(4)Sonia N.
For a chain, I've always liked Legal's but this time I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and I don't have a bad thing to say. My Sapphire Gimlet was superb and having it served in a nicely chilled glass was an added bonus. For our starter, we decided to try out the wild mushroom and lobster pizza and it was definitely worth trying. Very tasty and the combo of mushroom and lobster mixed well together. Our entrees also did not disappoint. Our bartender hard sold us the swordfish calling it the "best dish in the house" so even though we weren't in the mood for it, we ordered it at her insistence and WOW, it was the softest tastiest cut of fish I've eaten in a while. The eggplant side we got with it was yummy as well. My taste buds were singing! It was offered at a hefty $30 but trust me, it is worth the splurge. The fried clams were equally delicious. The clam bellies were plump and neither the clams or the fries were overcooked as it sometimes can be at other places. Looking forward to returning at some point. Love that this location has great food and great views.
(5)A P.
Beautiful view, fabulous food! 2nd Floor was perfect! We enjoyed a filet and the blackened sunburst trout. Also the lobster bisque... So Good! Request to sit near the windows and watch the setting sun!
(4)Kathleen D.
The idea of eating a sea animal generally makes me cringe. In the past decade, I can probably count how many fish I've consumed on one hand. It really makes no sense, I know. I eat chicken or red meat with no problem... yet when it comes to a fish, I just picture its little eyes staring me down and can't stomach it. I made an exception at Legal Harborside this week. We headed in for lunch and were seated in the first floor dining room near one of the big glass windows peering out onto the harbor. The menu was, obviously, overwhelmingly fish-based... because, you know, it's a seafood restaurant. Still: they have some land options too, like a hamburger or turkey burger. Nonetheless, I chatted with our sweet server about my lack of adventure into seafood territory, and told her that I've been kind of wanting to try swordfish. I had it once before... in Italy four years ago, and remembered liking it. She replied that it was a great fish to try since it's the "chicken of the sea." Sold. I ordered the gyro. It came out not resembling a fish much at all! It didn't even taste all too fishy. With a squirt of lemon, mixed with the pita and the tzatziki sauce, it was the perfect gateway fish. I think I may be ready to try others! Maybe. I really enjoyed my time at Legal Harborside. It was a casual lunch, but I heard (from a trolley guide, ahem -- I was a tourist!) that the place turns classy at night.
(5)lizzie b.
Crowded bar... Nice view if you can get a seat. Music too loud to be relaxing. Sangria is gross and way too sweet. Downstairs is unbearably loud. Service just okay. Waiter took selfies with friend's phone that she asked him to please charge. I love the scrod, but they wouldn't serve a baked potato in this location. Sides weren't good. And there's only one side included in this dinner versus two at other Legals. Left with no voice due to screaming at friend all night so she could hear me. Basically love the view and the fish itself but the rest is chaos.
(2)Jen W.
SECOND FLOOR REVIEW: for a restaurant that rejects the idea that it's a chain, it seems highly audacious and counterintuitive to put three different restaurants (or concepts) in one building AND across the street from another Legal's (LTK). That aside, let me help you. If you want an upscale (read: pricey) dining experience, then you can get that here. If you want a truly memorable, can't-wait-to-return experience, look elsewhere. During our experience, our waiter told one half of our party (10 of us at a long table) that we ordered the seafood tower. We did not. We told him to check with him before we ordered items from the raw bar without knowing everyone's comfort level. $90 later we discovered that no one actually ordered the thing. Fast forward 90 minutes... No sign of our entrees (or the salad I ordered... Never did arrive). Nothing to hold us over. Not even an acknowledgement until the second (maybe third) time we asked what was going on with our food. They did right by us by reducing the final bill, but it wasn't enough to stop me from posting this review and it's not enough for me to go back. Whatever identity crisis this brand is going through, I hope it works out. Right now, this second floor restaurant/concept/thing isn't working. The menu feels like someone challenged Legal chefs to a game of "Chopped," and the staff doesn't have the same dedication to quality and customer service. Idk. Smh. Wtf.
(2)Manfred S.
The food has been fantastic during the past few visits and once we were finally served it was fantastic again. Food only would be a solid five star, but there were reservation issues. --- It is supposed to be fine dining, but they only manage fine food. The request for pescataria adjustments of our order was lost in translation. To the food: Oysters --- Okay. Wellfleets are hard to mess up. They were better than the Duxbury's that were also available. (Note: only two choices of very large oysters but good) Where the kitchen shined: oxtail ravioli (on the house) - not so good for my pescatarian wife but I liked it a lot despite being on the sweet side lobster tail salad (on the house) - lovely, once it registered that honey is a pescatarian abalone - fantastic, but could do without the bacon bits (note: pescatarians don't care for bacon). tuna - hugh piece, slightly over seared (without being asked, I mentioned that I like my tuna rare) dessert (on the house) - chocolate raspberry cake and some chocolate chip ice cream (sorry, but I don't like chocolate desserts so cannot comment) wine - Sancerre rose, light crispy, reasonably priced - perfect for any food, but especially for seafood Management's screw-up: We made the wedding anniversary reservation - 8:30 PM window seat - during a previous visit. We arrived early at 8:05. We were told that the window table was not ready, but would be available closer to the booked time. We were seated around 9:10. Notably, there was a walk-in line that seemed to get seated first. No one bothered to check on us until after I checked at 8:35 and then complained around 8:50. They told us that our table was ready and they walked us to a booth in the back --- far from a window seat. We probably could have had that table an hour earlier. Recommendation to the hosts (there were many): Don't upsell bad tables. Communicate if there is a problem. Don't wait until our night is spoiled!
(4)chanda d.
AMAZING, Grown and Sexy night out with my best girl friend! The Red Dragon Sushi was incredible! It's all about the ambiance. If you really want a great experience, call and reserve a table.
(5)Kevin C.
A good lively place with plenty of servers taking frequent visits to ensure no customer gets left out. I went there with my family and friends on vacation as part of our seafood craze. I ordered the Lobster Pot Pie. My understanding of any pot pie was that it either came in its own pie crust or a cup/bowl with a crust top. I've noticed a lot of restaurants took the shortcut and just settled with placing the pastry on top of the dish and called it a pie. The entrée itself was tasty, but I rather remove the pastry, throw some rice and call it something else, because I felt somewhat cheated when it came. Since it was my first time and night in Boston, I ordered the New England clam chowder to boot and that was quite flavourful. My mother ordered a classic fish and chips, but did not like how the fish was prepared, but it was out of personal taste. The appetizer platter was okay, but was still enjoyable. Would I go back? Perhaps, but compared to my later experiences, The Legal Harborside seems more of a fall back than a first pick.
(3)Beth M.
My sister loves this place, so we're here a lot lol! The seafood looks very fresh, being a non seafood eater I squally order the clam chowder light clams extra potato sit outside and enjoy a nice drink! Great view! Just wish they had more of a non seafood selection!
(4)Brittany E.
When in Boston, gotta try the seafood! This place was recommended by my friends family member who frequents Boston for business. We put in a reservation online so we were seated right away. We even were 5 minutes late because we had gotten lost, and we were still seated immediately. We sat on the first floor. Our waitress was really sweet and helpful. She helped my friend who was new to eating a whole lobster learn how to crack parts of the shell more easily. However, she was slow to fill our water glasses, and I noticed her standing around right near our table and never notice we needed it. The food though, was outstanding. The clam chowder was some of the best I've ever had. I'd highly recommend getting it. It could serve as a meal because it is quite filling. I got a 1.5 pound lobster and that was a LOT of food. I barely touched my sides of rice and eggplant because of the lobster. However, the rice I did eat was delicious and the eggplant had some form of Asian sauce on it that tasted great. The seafood paired nicely with the bottle of champagne. It's a little pricy, but worth the visit!
(4)Kate L.
Still not sure why there is such a long line on a Friday night. And the girls get extremely hooched for the occasion which is a shame for such a classy joint. If you're trying to get food late at night on the roof, good luck. We waited for a server for 30 min and had to leave and go to the first floor bar to eat. I will say the tuna bruschetta and corn/feta bruschetta were out of this world. Small 2 pieces each perfect size app if you order 2 kinds. Extremely flavorful and great consistency. Service at bar downstairs was also good!! Only food complaint are the pizzas. First we tried the white clam pizza and it was covered in arugula like basically more arugula than anything else. There were maybe 3 small chunks of clam and it was pretty fishy tasting. The bartender was nice enough to send it back and make us a new one. So we tried the pepperoni crab one per his recommendation. Eek. The crab was fresh but the combo was weird and there was hardly any cheese so it seemed like the dish was confused. I'll upload a pic. But keep in mind the pic is missing crust which was the only good part. Good prices and would go back for that bruschetta!!!
(3)Amanda L.
It makes me sad that this location only has 3 stars. I LOVE this location, despite the fact that it's a real pain in the butt to get to - especially in winter! The atmosphere in the downstairs dining room is awesome. The kitchen is open and you can see flames flare every now and then. You can also smell all of the delicious food running to different tables. It's casual, but not too casual and nice enough to enjoy an elegant seafood experience for lunch or dinner. The sangria is a must. So is the calamari. I can't put my finger on what exactly it is that is so friggen' awesome for both, but they're just that, awesome. I've enjoyed the lobster roll and other seafood dishes here on various occasions and haven't recalled anything being mediocre or terrible. The roof deck is a great place to hangout in the summer (if you get out of work early). If you show up during busy times then you'll have to wait in line and although the view on top is nice, it gets super stuffy up here. The roof deck also has a separate menu from the restaurant which includes pretty delicious sushi. Summer/Winter... I'm here. All too often. And I'll continue to come back.
(4)Mary E.
The only reason this gets 4 stars is because my dads dinner came out cold. Other than that this place was fantastic. I'm not normally a Legals fan (I'm kind of a chain snob), but the atmosphere and the food at this location was top notch. We all ordered various fish entrees and happily consumed 2 recommended bottles of white wine. The view was great and so was the food!
(4)Aleksandra S.
In Boston with a friend visiting from NYC... Heard great things about this rooftop by the water and decided to have a couple of drinks. The ambiance is really nice, however the blond girl bartender was very rude. I was waiting to order a drink at the bar that wasn't even busy, she looked at me and kept doing her thing. Then she came in front of me and said "WHAT YOU WANT?" Excuse me!? At a place like Legal Harborside this shouldn't be happening! Then she gave me the drinks, I paid and she didn't even said thank you or you're welcome when I paid and left a tip. Very unacceptable! The drinks on the other side are okay.
(3)Kristen D.
I love everything about this place! It's difficult to have a bad view anywhere here because everything is cool to look at. My favorite part about the view was certainly the lookout over the harbor. The huge glass windows and open-air area made it even cooler! We sat at the bar originally to wait for the rooftop to open. Instead, we ordered a raw seafood platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, etc) to share while we sipped on Bloody Mary's and beers. Now, I've had seafood before and have loved almost everything I've tried. However, I have NEVER in my life ever eaten something so fresh, delicious, and mouthwatering as what I ate at Legal Harborside. Perhaps it's because I'm a Chicagoan and haven't been exposed to "real" seafood before, but oh my GOSH. Who knew there was such a significant difference between seafood in Chi vs. seafood in Boston? I knew there would be a difference of course, but I was definitely not prepared for it to be that significant. I loved the garlic/shallot/vinegar stuff they give you to put on oysters. I was so mad that we only had a few left when I finally decided to try it! I can't wait to go back to Boston to experience this place again.
(5)J F.
The view here is lovely and a great place to sit and stare at the harbor. The food is what you'd expect from Legal Seafood, good quality and well prepared in general. Make sure you try some of the appetizers as this way you can try more dishes. The toasts with toppings ate fun. I had the olive and fig paste which was delicious, served on crispy baked pita. Of course you can go wrong with any of the seafood. It's all good here. This isn't a date night restaurant, that's for sure. It's crowded and loud and feels like dining in a warehouse, but I guess you go for the view and the seafood not to actually have a conversation!
(3)Moosa D.
Food: 4.5/5, Best sushi in Boston Service: 5/5, Staff was quick, attentive, and friendly. even with a large group right in the middle of the Friday evening rush Atmosphere: 5/5, One of the nicer views from the waterfront
(5)Jordan B.
Absolutely love this place - got the upcale-ish ambiance if you're looking for it, not CRAZY expensive, beautiful view, great staff, great food, great drinks, what else am I missing? When it's warm out, the experience of looking at the beautiful waterfront while enjoying your seafood and drink is just absolutely relaxing. It's a great get away place from work during your lunch hours to just unwind and not think about anything but a good life. The Portuguese Seafood Stew was incredibly rich and filled with different seafood flavor combined into one giant seafood delight. It tastes light yet rich at the same time - if you're a health nut and wants a rich yet "light" meal (and if you love seafood), you must try it. The cool thing about this place is that the three floors got different food and themes - if you want the typical seafood, go to the first floor. Second floor's got the more upscale feel with formal dining. And the top deck is a cool sushi/apps bar area. Either way, you're surrounded by an amazing view and great service.
(5)Tony C.
We arrived and were told a table would be over 2 hour wait!! we tried to get a seat at the bar but were unsuccessful, an assistant manager, Gabrielle Green asked if she could help and we explained we were headed to a show in Cambridge at the Oberon (that my girlfriend's son "Complete Destruction" was performing in) and Rose & I just wanted to try out a Legal Seafood location; having never been there before. Gabrielle found us a table with a water view immediately (in an area I was told by another manager was held for reservations) and I tried to tip her $10 but she wouldn't take it... She said the reservation for that table wasn't until 7pm and we would be gone by then. She "made " our nite to say the least. We enjoyed a Salmon Burger and Halibut both fantastic! But the real treat was how Gabrielle Green went out of her way to accommodate us, This is truly a valuable employee!! Thank you so much!
(5)Emilia T.
Food was top notch and a great location. We were particularly impressed by our waitress Holly who both had a lovely personality and gave great recommendations. If you can get a seat, I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Nina S.
If you're going to go to legal seafood in Boston, might as well go to the one in the water. I mean that view. Wow. There are four floors, first is like a market place you can purchase seafood and other stuff, second floor is the formal dining area, not sure what third floor was, but i think i heard just appetizers? And the fourth floor is the amazing rooftop bar. The view of the Boston seaport from up there is pretty sweet. But I digress. Came here tonight for a work celebration and we had selections which I'm honestly not sure if they were regular menu items or special items they made just for our event. I got the beet and arugula salad with candied walnuts and vinaigrette to start. It was a thoughtful salad with nice balance of flavors. Then I got the salmon with couscous and a puree of eggplant and then topped with tzatziki sauce which I wasn't too fond of. My salmon was a bit overcooked and the skin was soggy which was a sad situation. And then the accompaniments were interesting but just the flavors didn't go with the salmon, they were all too strong and so each component of the dish was fighting to be the star. The real star was the dessert. Mascarpone cheese cake.. to die for. The top was creme bruleed so you got that crunchiness factor, and then the filling was creamy and decadent, and then the Graham cracker business on the bottom anchoring the whole dessert. I cleaned that plate. All in all, would come back for the dessert and rooftop bar! Oh and the bread! How could I forget! There was the bacon mini biscuit and then a huge cheese cracker. With a price tag of free.99 it's a win.
(3)Jeremy S.
The 3rd floor sushi bar has a great view and had great raw oyster. It was unfortunate we couldn't get the full menu there, but I understand the logic. In the main restaurant I had the Portuguese Seafood Stew, and the flavors were great. The stew's shrimp and mussels were both overcooked, but my fiancee's Salmon and the clams in my stew were cooked to perfection. One member of our party had the lobster and throughly enjoyed it, but I can't remember what the other had. I think she enjoyed it though. Overall, it was one of the best meals we had in Boston.
(3)Brad F.
The food is unmistakably excellent, but the service is totally where 5 stars comes from. Our waiter, Conor, was perfect. This dude is calm, collected, took care of us without being annoyingly persistent in order to make sure his tip was decent, and was overall one of the most friendly and responsive people I've ever had take care of me/us at a restaurant. Thanks for the chit-chat about Somerville and some cool spots to hit in that area.
(5)Wafa A.
Amazing restaurant. In my 4 day stay in Boston I went to Legal 3 times! Service is great for being such a busy place & super nice/friendly waiters. They have lots of seating options( outside, inside, upper deck, bar, & upfront window seating). Food varies from bites to eat to big meals & is very worth the price. Is also kid friendly. Definitely recommend!
(5)Steven C.
Psst, Roger... It's a chain... bwahahaha Customer dinner at the Northern Ave location. I think Roger B is a brilliant businessman and this place is an awesome location. That being said, you can't swing a dead cat in the town without hitting a Legal anymore. I think they've done a nice job with the menu considering the challenges in the local fish stocks lately. I normally would have gone with Salmon but that nasty YouTube video on the Scottish farmed stuff has turned me off. The filet looked yummy so I went in that direction. First time eating beef at a legal. Started with some Duxbury oysters which were great. My west coast colleagues freak out at the size. Filet was perfectly cooked, nice presentation and a piece of king crab on top. The other details: Second floor, great decor with vistas of the harbor. Service was outstanding and the only downside was the lights keep going up and down.
(4)Alycia R.
Perfect place to get drunk on a Sunday! Best view of the harbor, great music, awesome drinks. Can't vouch for the food but this place is fun...
(4)Richard G.
This is for the lunch service.... I came here because I was told they have the best clam chowder in Boston. Have in mind I heard this from several local natives. My was I was extremely disappointed. My girl and I came here with high hopes and unfortunately a national chain restaurant serves better than these guys. Service was slow. We asked for water and bread. Waited about 15 minutes and we saw our server cleaning tables. It seemed like she was more concerned filling tables than serving the ones she has. Also yes we were dressed a,little under for the occasion but that shouldn't matter. I never write reviews about service unless it's over the top or really bad and, well you can be your judge at this point.... OK back to the chowder... very runny,no flavor,not many clams or, anything for that matter. I added a ton of salt & pepper & still no bueno.i was hyping this place all week to my girl & I was right ALL HYPE! Lesson learned.
(1)Diana L.
Great place to come on the weekend and just walk along the dock and take in the views. The venue is super spacious with lots of natural lighting and window thats open up during the warm weather. There's many levels of seating, next time we will try the rooftop for an even more scenic experience. | l o b s t e r b i s q u e | - great seafood flavour that's silky smooth and not starchy or salty garnished with fresh green onions & chunks of lobster meat. | c o c k t a i l s h r i m p | - succulent shrimps tossed in spicy cocktail sauce, extremely refreshing and a great palette cleanser. | f i s h t a c o s | - fresh and enjoyable, maybe a tad to dry and needed some simpler complements such as guacamole/cabbage (date seemed to like it - he usually goes for the swordfish gyro which he swears by) | c r i s p y c a l a m a r i | - perfectly fried and garnished with crispy lemon & spicy peppers, dunk them in the tasty dijon creamy aioli. (appetizer portion - great portion!) Presentation is spot on. Date pleaser. Great for groups. Great service. Seated right away on a busy Saturday afternoon. Had my eye on the lobster roll & grilled shrimp salad going to the other tables - I'll be coming back for ya ! Walking over to Harpoon Brewery now.......
(4)Lyndsey C.
I didn't want this to be the case but I have to lower my rating based on overall experiences.... First, they get a high rating for the three different levels, especially the rooftop patio, which is great, although can be super busy and when this happens, the waitresses usually start to get extremely slow and rare... also, we had it happen when a waitress tried to just take the large amount of change after we paid as a tip... The location is great, love the atmosphere, other restaurants surrounding this one, and the pavilion next door. The sushi looked good and the oysters were great, other than how long they took to get to us. The reason for my lowering my review is the past two reservations I have made, I have asked for nice tables and even came early to get a nicer one... twice, I have been sat in crappy locations. The first time, they at least allowed me to ask for a table outside or nicer one and we ended up great... but the second one, we are celebrating our anniversary with another couple, put the reservation in weeks before, called the day before to confirm, then showed up early for a good table... and it wasn't peak time... they assured us it would be a great table, then we were stuck out in the open (not a good table against the window or out of the way), right next to a bus station where they kept hitting our table. Our waitress didn't keep our drinks full and rarely took plates away... Food is good but can be hit or miss on the heat of it... for being able to see the kitchen from our latest table, my lobster bisque was cold and pizza was no longer hot... I am willing to try again but I don't like the first floor right now... due to the service issues... The rooftop out with friends or a date would be nice.
(2)Kevin S.
If you're from out of town, you have to go to Legal's at least once. However, if you're a local...go elsewhere. My wife and I go to Legal when its been long enough that we've forgotten how disappointing our last meal there was.. example...we had the lobster fritter...it was under cooked and we were concerned about the safety of eating it. The "stuffie" a RI staple, was inedible because of over seasoning, and lastly my wife's white wine had "something" black floating in the glass. Try it once, but if you're local, go somewhere else... OH, and the roofdeck...overrated beyond belief
(2)NavRaj S.
Good food and great location.. Loved their cocktails.. The service was very good and servers were very friendly!!! Good place to hangout..
(4)Dawn H.
*****FIRST FLOOR REVIEW***** I went there a week ago with a friend. I had not been to this place in a while prior to this visit but I will say, I am writing a review because I generally enjoyed this visit. I believe it was a Monday after work that I went and the place was packed! We were luck to get a spot closer to the server station but still overlooked the people below at the tables AND the water (with views of the Xfinity Center to our right). The seating was a bit squished but good. We were greeted by our waiter who mentioned the wine special list that was supposedly Northern Italy inspired or something like that but I started with a Citrus Sangria and friend ordered the Strawberry Sangria. It is not a a traditional sangria but luckily we could taste the alcohol (yum). When it came time to order food, an idea by the waiter was brought up to split our order (even the soup). The smile on my face was ear to ear to hear this and the display was great! Order... The Asparagus with egg shavings was alright (the veggie seems a bit on the wilting side and at least 3-4 was left). The Lobster Bisque (**split**) was warm at first when we ordered it but kindly and quickly given a fresh batch and it was so good! The Shrimp Pad Thai (**split**) was tasty and had added flavor bonus' of ginger and spicy pepper! Our portions were great! I saw the desserts but was really full. It is something I'd return to definitely have next time. I ended up looking at the wine inspired menu and ordered this Sauvignon Blanc which was nearly tasteless comparable to water - something happened IDK. I let our waiter know and got the Riesling (which is my fav white) and it was great! So, although we might have been slightly troublesome guests (not our faults!) the overall experience and level of professionalism and continued attentiveness of our waiter helped make this experience good :)
(4)Jeff B.
Where did the light clam chowder go?!?!? Am I the only one who likes it? Where did the crab cakes entry go? Am I the only one who liked it? The appetizer portion was good, but seems to have changed, too. Service was fine. She did even try to hunt down story on light clam chowder. Apparently, you can sort of special order it. Weird. Overall, my experience was ok. I used to look forward to a Legals visit or two during every business trip visit - not sure after this experience. We'll see....
(3)Nicole T.
Wait was unreal for a Monday night at 9 pm so we sat street side vs. harbor side. The service was great but food was just OK. Location is great for a taste of Boston.
(3)Karen C.
Great View and perfect for a fun weekend brunch!!
(4)Julia H.
really not sure what the hype is all about. it's more of a 3.5 stars, but will give it four stars. Luckily on a Saturday night they were able to seat a table of 6 within 5 mins on the main floor. ordered the cold seafood platter and the lobster roll. the cold seafood platter, maybe cause they don't really have to season and cook it, it was quite good! the snow crab legs are very salty though - so beware! the lobster roll - could be better. really you could go somewhere else to get a better roll. i guess it's worth to come here once every so often, but definitely not sure what the hype is all about.
(4)Carielle C.
My friends and I went here for dinner last night and it was fantastic. One of my friends had been there before and she highly recommends the lobster roll. She has a gluten allergy and they have lots of gluten-free options. I don't eat seafood, but I got the Big Bowl sald with chicken and it was one of the best salads I've ever had. Just the right amount of dressing and the chicken was juicy and tender. My friends all raved about their food. Gluten-free clam strips, gluten-free lobster rolls with gluten-free fries, and another lobster roll that wasn't gluten-free. One of my other friends got a stuffie, which I tried (even though I don't like seafood), and it was tasty and had a kick to it! We also had an appetizer with the bruschetta with braised short rib. Delicious! For dessert, we shared bon bons and the salted caramel pie. Yum! Fantastic food and a great view. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Bill Z.
I felt like I should be able to order bison, antelope, and boar here, because on a Friday night the place can be a zoo. But here, the animals typically have gills. And it is a very well run zoo, with a staff that meshes together well like a fine machine. If you are lucky to get a table on the harbor side of the restaurant, you will have a great view. If it's busy, and if you are in a small group, by all means consider barside dining. They have a lot of space all over the restaurant, and again, a lot of it has a harbor view. Once you are seated, service is prompt everywhere, and those little devices the wait staff carry expedite your order ever faster. Drinks are expensive, but quite strong for the money, so I don't mind dishing out some $$ for one. I enjoyed my glass of red sangria ($11), but I understand the white comes across as a bit sweeter and slightly more diluted. Some of the sides or vegetables included in some of the dishes are less traditional and more interesting. For example, my seafood and sausage pasta dish also contained roasted cauliflower and broccoli rabe. One of the fish dishes came with a side of barley mixed with tomato and feta. One thing I would suggest if you order trout is to be familiar with it. The meat of trout can come in several shades from white to deep pink. We didn't have room for dessert, but I'm sure the desserts and after dinner drinks here are quite good.
(4)Judy S.
Let's start by saying that regardless of the fact that we had a dinner reservation that had been made months in advance, our party had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The hostesses at the front desk were rude and set a poor tone for our evening. That said, our table, our waitress and our food made up for the ironic lack of hospitality from the hostesses. The food is good. Nothing you've never had before, but it is good, and the space and views are gorgeous.
(3)Jason A.
596 reviews, and a 3.5 star rating for Legal Harborside is reasonably accurate. A consistent theme for the restaurant, that I will kindly summarize for you so that you do not have to read through all 500+ reviews: 5 star rating for the views. You're on the harbor, and facing Logan Airport. The views are eye-gasm worthy. 3 star rating for the food. It really is not that much better than something I can find pretty much anywhere in Boston. The seafood platter is overpriced for what it is, the lobster bisque tasted like heavily sugared cream (and not in a good way), and the "famous" clam chowder tastes straight out of a Campbell's can. 1-3 star rating for the service. It's a big ass restaurant, and the turnover in staff is consistent. Meaning it is hit or miss, and though the servers may mean well, if you are there to be taken care of by your server... well you're going to be sadly disappointed. Moral of the story: come for the views, and leave before you leave disappointed after dinner.
(3)Mike F.
Wow is all I can say. We hosted clients here last week (late July), beautiful view from the deck on the 2nd floor. The shrimp cocktail were the largest I've ever seen, same with oysters. Lobster rolls perfect and unexpectedly very very good sushi. I forget some of the other stuff I ate but those we're the standouts. A++ and all super fresh
(5)Susan R.
Continues to be great. Lobster bisque, bellied fried clams, swordfish, crab salad, and Buffalo fried shrimp were all excellent. Great location overlooking the pier and water. Perky staff.
(4)Scott S.
Delicious and a great ambiance. Can't beat the view. From the upper level bar to the tables right on the dock, it is easy to spend the whole day here.
(4)Jenny M.
Food is overpriced and unappetizing, particularly the lobster mac n cheese, overdressed crab cakes and stale pita appetizer. Service leaves little to be desired, especially when compared with other Seaport district restaurants. Only positive would be Harbor view. Recommendation would be to grab a cocktail, enjoy view and eat elsewhere.
(2)Danny R.
Great drinks and great atmosphere. Definitely more of a WASPy crowd here. The view on the rooftop is great. Just make sure you have enough to drink that you can ignore the stanky water smell. I always get the Cisco Grey Lady. The White Sangria is top notch according to my fiancé. Plenty of bathrooms for all of your bathroom needs.
(5)Serena P.
View is A Sushi is C. Service is B. On the roof, basically only sushi is on the menu. Eating at a bunch of sushi places where the cooks are Asian, I feel when I bite into the legal seafoods sushi, I can just tell they're made by a non-Asian person. Edamame is great. Service: just felt there was quite a bit of empty glasses on our table.
(3)J J.
Went here with a large group of work friends. Arrived after the main group (who was already seated upstairs) with an international colleague. The tough guy who worked there would not let us all go upstairs where our friends were waiting. He would not accept her foreign drivers license, copy of passport, or any other credentials. The ultra superior Legal Seafood employee would not let us in due to his strict irrational guidelines and possibly prejudice taste. I went right upstairs, got my group of work colleagues before they could order anything, and went next door to eat and drink. Lost revenue, anyone?
(1)G L R.
First off, the view here is just beautiful! It can't be beat. I had a very good lobster roll and fries here. Also, their oysters. I selected 2 kinds and they were very fresh tasting. They have a decent wine selection. Prices are a little high, but not insane for fresh seafood either. Service was good. I would recommend.
(4)Joe G.
Went to Legal Harborside after attending a conference at the Boston Convention Center. Had to walk about 1/2 mile from the convention center to get to the place. On a Friday night, the place was pretty busy. My friends and I ended up seating on the counter. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure everything was ok. I ordered the Tuna Burger, which was very tasty and filling. The Tuna was basically packed together and grilled, so if you're looking for a "fishy" kind of taste, you won't really taste it. It tasted alot like a greasy fish burger, which was fine with me. All in all, a pretty decent meal at Legal Haborside.
(3)Blaire H.
Tasty place, with good lunch options. The roof is not open till four on week days, but they serve sushi! They have outdoor seating on the water though.
(4)Rob C.
What a mistake. I tend to forget this company, let alone location is an up-scaled RED LOBSTER. I had the tuna-burger today. I think I want to vomit, as it's a few hours later and things aren't going to hot. The Tuna burger, is basically ground up tuna remnants and what not - and no where is it stated that it's F'n ground up. Fries tasted like they were dusted in flour before frying and had no flavour. Fish Taco - had a bite, meh. Bottom line: over priced and classic with the rest of the Seafood spots in Boston. SH*t quality and just serving the masses of suits and tourists here for marginal food. Don't go.
(1)J B.
Not sure a place with a 2 hour Saturday wait-time needs a review, so I'll be brief... Their fried clams, steamers, and stuffies are the best in the city. They are akin to the RI institutions that my wife grew up on, which we travel specifically for. I know the "big chain" name might scare you (and I ordinarily would agree), but those items are honestly as good as any of those RI shacks. Yes, the 3rd floor is a bit of a meat market. Don't expect craft cocktails or good service up there; same as you wouldn't at a night club.
(4)Joshua B.
2nd floor review. Beautiful place, amazing waiter. Solid bar tender. Taste/quality of food was 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Atmosphere was great. Had a great time here!
(5)Mr. And Mrs. R.
We stopped in here for drinks this past weekend (Sat night) after eating dinner at a nearby steakhouse....and we wish we came here at the start of the night. This was probably our 4th time sitting at this bar, and we have always loved it. Whether just having drinks, apps, or a full dining experience, each time we've sat at this bar it's been lights out good. Great staff (and some potential rap stars), great scenery and ambience, great food and drink. Awesome wine selection and killer martinis. Our top spot hands down in the Seaport. See you soon.
(5)Pat K.
This is about the third or fourth time I have been to this location. The views are amazing and the food is great. I love sitting outside, it has great views of the harbor and the people coming and going. The cool part about this location is its 3 different types of restaurants in one. Lower level (where I love to sit) is laid back typical seafood. The second floor is more upscale and formal dinning, and lastly the top deck is a very cool sushi/apps bar area. On Saturday April 18th my wife surprised me took me here on my birthday. I had the lobster roll ( a bit pricey) compared to some of the other places in the area (Sullivans). It was full of a TON of claw meat, and it was great. We shared an order of Calamari and my wife had fish and chips. We braved the cold and sat outside in the sun. Legal says they are not a chain in their ads on TV and I agree with them. They are not, especially at this location. With the menu changes and the different feels in the different levels it can be a lot of fun !
(4)J. L.
This review is for the rooftop bar on the 3rd floor. The views of Boston Harbor are AMAZING. Simply awesome. The bar itself is pretty cool. I could not believe how rude the staff was. It was around 1:15 AM. They close at 1am. These men in sport jackets and ear pieces (I'm assuming bouncers or similar) were yelling at everyone to get out. Treating us like animals. It was so uncalled for. I can't understand why we were being yelled at and treated so poorly. Politeness that they are closed would have been fine and acceptable. I was so turned off by this. I wanted to like this place and now I have mixed feelings.
(3)Deborah G.
I eat all over the place, all the time. And I can honestly chalk this up to one of my worst experiences. I usually eat on the first floor and have had great experiences there. I heard the second floor was nicer and higher end so we booked reservations to there. My waiter Was Taulant. He was nice but our service was terrible. Not only were our drinks taking 15 to 30 min a piece with some completely forgotten about (mind you the second floor was clearly NOT busy, restaurant or bar) our appetizers did not out, served forcing people at our table to eat without us. And then wait for our food. When we were finally able to put in our entree. We has asked what was taking so long and the floor managers response was they working with the pace of our table. If you looked back our table we had all empty drinks, still waiting, empty bread when we asked for more (because food was taking so long) and again 3 tables total in entire dining room. Our pork chop was delicious in flavor however the service and poor management will never have my business again. And worth of mouth spreads fast especially when u dine out 3-4 times a week! Mind you my friends and I dine at other places on the same street and have never been treated this way.
(2)Diana K.
I am a huge fan of this enormous location overlooking Boston Harbor. We sat on the third floor deck with the wind in our hair and ordered two clam chowdas...what else?! The clam chowder was delicious and perfectly chunky, and went really well with our beers. The server even gave us a free drink after one of the beers took a little bit too long. I was impressed at the service regardless, seeing as how there were hundreds of people here, and they all were happy and fed. They have a special Mango IPA from Harpoon that was amazing. I think they mentioned they are the exclusive buyer of it. So good!
(4)Layla B.
The dessert game is weak! Seasonal crisp was missing the crisp and was basically a warm bowl of fruit with ice cream on top. Tea was good and has a nice roof deck for chilling with friends.
(3)Jyoti H.
Ha. Don't bother wasting your time coming here for the food or the rooftop lounge. Terrible service and rude people. You are better off staying in the Copley area and going out for drinks and food.
(1)Terrance R.
I'm just leaving this place now, and I was blown away by how terrible the food was. Boston is supposed to be an excellent place to eat anything out of the sea, but I couldn't even finish my plate. Only one person at our table had a descent meal. He ordered the Asian inspired tuna which looked delicious. My crab roll was underwhelming, and it came with underwhelming coleslaw. This place was no more than an overpriced seafood diner with a view. My suggestion... Go for the drinks and view (amazing in the summer). Please please please skip on the meal. My only highlight: great service. When you're in Boston, find a better seafood place.
(2)Jarrod G.
My family & I came here to celebrate my graduation from law school yesterday. We arrived 50 minutes late for our reservation on the first floor, but yet we were sat immediately and no mention was made of our lack of punctuality, which was great. The service was excellent and the food was perfect. All in all, I would highly recommend others to come to this restaurant to celebrate life's various celebrations. There was only one issue. My brother has Cerebral Palsy, and as such, is bound to a wheelchair. Upon checking in with the host, she immediately began to walk us to our table. Without even thinking about it she lead us up a two-step staircase. We all stopped at the staircase as she kept going. She eventually looked back and realized that none of us had followed her. I walked up to her and explained that my handicapped brother could not merely drive his wheelchair up a two-step staircase and that we would have to take the elevator. Upon doing so we were then lead to the least handicapped accessible table in the entire restaurant. In order to dodge a second two-step flight of stairs downward we had to drive thru the kitchen area, down a long ramp, and then back through the entire restaurant - bumping every single table along the way. Multiple times we had to ask guests to actually get up so we could make our way through. Half way through our journey the host actually stopped leading us to our table and began speaking with the manager. Seeing as how we were following her, it made the experience even more frustrating that we now had no idea which table we were going to be sitting at. At the conclusion of the meal, I asked the server if it would be okay for us to exit via the doors on the boardwalk-side of the restaurant since it would allow us to avoid the embarrassment of trying to navigate our way through the entire restaurant again. He was very helpful and made a path for us to do so. Like I said at the outset of this review, all in all, I would highly recommend this place for others. But I think Legal Harborside really needs to re-evaluate its protocol in order to make their guests that require special accommodations feel more welcome.
(3)Bb D.
Nice place, with nice wait staff. Just a bit too crowded. Needs reservations, otherwise be ready to wait for a long time to get seated. Great food.
(4)Kisha T.
I'll preface this with the following: I only came for drinks, a light snack and only experienced the roof deck. This location is beautiful and it's the most perfect place to have a few drinks on a warm summer day...that is, if you can ever order your drinks/actually get the drinks. I came here on a Friday afternoon for some drinks and snacks. We ended up staying for about two hours and in those two hours, we were able to order a drink, edamame and 3 oysters. The food wasn't terrible and drinks were sufficient. For 4 pm on Friday, the roof deck was hoppin'. It felt like a Miami bar/lounge, which is awesome if you dig that kind of environment. Service was pretty blah which is expected for a lounge but it's still part of the restaurant so there is still that expectation when it comes to service. Would I go back? Sure. But it's not a place to go if you don't like a large crowd and bad service.
(2)Tenisha W.
If you want to enjoy the view of Boston harbor, this place has amazing views...BUT you have to make a reservation or else you can forget about that view you had hoped for. I speak from experience, we walked in the line was ridic and the wait for a table with a view was 1-11/2 hours, so we settled for a first come first serve table because we we hungry. The service was friendly and quick. Although it was very busy our server was very attentive. The food came out quick. We ordered the fried calamari and tempura green beans as appetizers. Both were really good. However they provided a spoon to divi up the green beans, that doesn't work too well. May I suggest thongs. For my meal I had the lobster roll it was absolutely delicious. The lobster tasted fresh and was cooked to perfection. The default side is French fries, which I wasnt a fan of I would have preferred something else maybe a vegetable. My husband had the tuna sandwich he really enjoyed it.. He said it was cooked well and very well seasoned. I tried the strawberry sangria which was different and it was good, although I must say it was strong for sangria. Overall I would go here again, next time with a reservation to get the full experience.
(4)Xerxes N.
Three stories up with a beautiful water view. Smoking hot waitresses. Strong Chronic Iced Tea drinks. A buzz at 5pm and a pretty awesome nightlife atmosphere for a Monday. Thank you, Boston. Did I mention smoking hot waitresses? I didn't try the food but whatever sushi they were slinging looked pretty darn good!
(4)Janet C.
The ambience was lovely, made even nicer by sitting by the window with a view of he harbor. Our meals were delicious and perfectly executed. The timing of the dishes were just as you would like them to be. The service was wonderful. It is a bit pricey but for a special dinner you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)Katie J.
Usually I'm very critical of seafood, but this was hands-down incredible. Made a reservation for a special occasion and were not disappointed. Our party was seated at a table overlooking the water and it was stunning! Fresh breeze then followed by good food and wonderful service. For appetizers we had the fried calamari, oysters, mussels, and tuna crostini. The calamari and tuna were good, average. The oysters were so fresh and tasty! As for the mussels- good, but the curry sauce was a bit odd. We loved dipping our bread in it. For entrees we got an assortment. I had the fisherman's stew. They accidentally left out the white fish-- but were very quick to fix! It was delicious. We also got the char-grilled scallops with two sides (we chose spinach and eggplant). I had scallops at a place next door and was so disappointed...but these were SO GOOD. It's hard to find someone who can actually cook scallops right! Highly highly highly recommend! The clams & linguine were a hit, and the fish tacos were a hit with the teenager. Also had the cake with the ice cream bon-bons for dessert. We all left completely satisfied, full, and happy. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)Murad B.
Food, which is mainly a seafood is really amazing, delicious and tasty. That from starters to the main course!!! Highly recommended!
(5)Anna G.
My favorite, go-to restaurant in Boston! Firstly, the view - especially in the summer - is delightful. It is so nice being on the water with the boats coming in and sunny skies above. I always find the service here top-notch. I highly recommend waiting a few extra minutes to guarantee a table outside. I do not understand coming here and sitting near the street... sitting on the water is the whole reason to come here! I think the cocktails are pretty good and for food I recommend oysters, the famous bisque or chowdahh, lobster pizza, and soft belly clams (if they have it). Pass on the swordfish gyro. Overall, the ambiance here during nice weather is perfect - boisterous, festive, people enjoying summer in NE. Do not mistake this review for all Legal Seafoods as this is specific to Legal Harborside.
(5)Holly B.
Wow. Awesome service beginning with the charming, beautiful Kate. She is genuinely interested in why you are visiting and where you want to sit. With the lineup out the door, she may have the most stressful job in Boston! She never loses her cool and makes everyone feel special. Up to the second floor where Sarah and Maryann await. Beautiful and talented, they are the sweetest bartenders ever. Have a wedding or function coming up? Sarah also is an expert at updos! Maryanne is a mixologist - best martinis ever! Great night! Now, to the food! We had the ahi tuna and pacific salmon. Both were fresh and incredibly delicious. We can't wait to go back.
(5)Niki K.
We sat in the first come area since the ding room was full. The lobster bisque was more lobster than bisque, sweet and tender. The fried calamari had fried veggies with it. The fried lemons were amazing. I had fried clams, which were good but not in the half shell as expected. My friend had the lobster mac and cheese which she demolished. I was a little freaked out that the menu only said market prices but didn't have actual prices anywhere. We shared the bon bons, which were 2-3 bites of thick chocolate shells, and an assortment of chocolate, coffee, strawberry, or mint ice cream.
(5)Vince D.
Great place to hangout during the summer. Place was jammed but was able to grab a seat at the bar with my girlfriend. Had the more than fortunate pleasure of having Tanya serve us. My girlfriend had accidentally tipped over her fresh Paloma on the bar and she was more than accommodating at replacing it. The food was on point we had the squid ink pasta and the octopus terrine but more importantly the service was phenomenal. Food came out super fast and staff was very knowledgeable. Will be back soon!
(5)Danielle B.
The location is nice and the view is amazing. My mom and I ordered a lobster roll, fish and chips andclam chowder. The fish and chips were excellent! Light, fresh, flakey and well worth the price. The clam chowder was also very good. The lobster roll was a huge disappointment. The lobster was chewy and lacked flavor. The market price was $30. I'm really sad that I wasted $30 on that lobster roll.
(3)Nicole L.
The staff was very accommodating with my food allergy. I appreciated the knowledge and extra steps the staff took to ensure my meal was free from cross contamination. The grilled shrimp was to die for!
(5)Sarah S.
My review is for Floor 1. I went here with a group of 10 people from a conference I was attending. It was a quick walk from the Westin Waterfront. While waiting for my group, I had a glass of wine at the bar. Service is a little slow, but they were PACKED, so I understood. When I got to the restaurant the girl at the front said she had given someone in our group the buzzer to let us know when our table was ready. After about 20 minutes or so and all talking to each other, we realized that no one had the buzzer. I wonder how long our table had been ready before we finally asked about it. I got the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I also wanted to try the lobster bisque, but since I was already set on the lobster roll, I decided against it. Although, someone else got it, and it smelled absolutely amazing. Someone got the fried clams and passed them around to the whole table. Whoa - melt in your mouth deliciousness! The lobster roll looked small, but it was filling. It comes with fries and coleslaw. The lobster dishes are all market price, which was $23 when I was there (early May 2014). A lot of people in my group got some combo from the 'Wood Burning Grill' section. Everything looked great. I had the soup, lobster roll, and two beers (one of the Harpoon specialty brews) - total was $46. If I lived in Boston, I'd come back here over and over. Super nice staff, quick service for how busy they were and for the size of our table, and no complaints about splitting a check 10(!) ways.
(5)Robert S.
We had reservations for 5PM and our table, overlooking the ocean was ready as promised. John, our waiter was great, polite, knowledgeable, courteous, perfect. I ordered the crabmeat salad...a big scoop of real crabmeat mixed with a light dressing over a half avocado, accompanied of boiled eggs, tomatoes and cucumbers. YUM. My BF got the baked scrod and it was light, fresh and tasty. Very good choice as much of the Legal Seafood sister companies.
(4)Michael M.
Really unimpressed relative to some of the other "Legal" restaurants. Service is fantastic. Food is above average. I prefer LTk.
(3)Scott H.
In town for business and wanted local seafood for dinner. Was also by myself so I preferred to eat at the bar. Using those two criteria this place hit the mark. They stir their martinis which is the right way and the shrimp cocktail was served in a globe made of ice. Pretty cool. Be sure to try the seared ahi. Also had the grilled octopus, which was the best I've ever had although portions were small and a bit expensive. I only had appetizers so I can't say if meals were subsets tail, but the apps were on the light side. The bar tender was really friendly and conversational, which was nice. Kept me from staring at my phone. She also had a few suggestions of local things to do. Prices were on the high side, but I'll likely be back.
(4)Bob B.
Very busy place - tourist trap. Fried clam appetizer was overpriced and looked as though they had not changed the oil in the fryer in quite a while. The scrod was good size, but could use some seasoning. Service was good.
(2)John I.
This is a very nice restaurant. There are three floors. The street level is standard Legal fare; the second floor Legal upscale, and the third a cocktail bar with deck. All have impressive views of the harbor, the fish pier, Logan Airport, and the "pavilion" concert venue. We entertained business guests on the second floor as a party of nine. We had a wonderful seafood tower appetizer with oysters, clams, crab and shrimp. It was presented nicely with multiple sauces. The seafood was, undeniably, fresh and awesome. Legal's trademark clam chowder was noticeably absent from the short menu but provided on request for our guests. Entrees included lobster and spare ribs, scallops, abalone, steak and shrimp. All were excellently prepared and tasty, if a bit pricey. The service was impressively adequate. We were intermittently swarmed with attention as plates were cleared or served and then left for long periods without anyone checking for needs. A wonderful but forgettable dinner was enjoyed by all.
(4)Dylan C.
Corporate, touristy, and overpriced. What you would expect, I guess. Not an ounce of warmth in the place.
(1)Brian A.
Stuffed artichokes!! Great atmosphere outside. Julien is an absolute all-star waiter.
(5)Don M.
Good food,but the service i"was horrible!!!!The waitress was so negative and I can say rough!!!!!Bad experience!!!!!
(2)Lilly S.
This review is based mainly on the outdoor seating on a nice day. I have only been here once and didn't spend any time inside. I like this place because of the roof top patio! WONDERFUL view of the water and such a great place to spend a sunny day! We got a pitcher of sangria and some light food. The waitress was really nice and everything was tasty. Perhaps a bit pricey but not ridiculous. We got there around 2 on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy yet. It did get pretty packed by 4 and service got a lot slower but what can you really expect? They can't possibly keep up with that. I recommend hanging out here for a bit when you're not in a hurry and you'll have a nice time, for sure!
(4)T.M. C.
Our dinner started off okay down stairs on the first level. I'd to give it 5 stars for the first level but 2 stars for our experience on the third floor club. We ordered sangria and drinks at the bar on the first floor. Crab cake not cakes, just one was not worth $16. The fried green beans were great! Also ordered a kalamata and fig spread that was ok. Great service from our bartender. We continued our night by going up to the roof top bar. It was filled with a good mix of people but mostly 20 something's. We waited a bit and got a booth right on the water. After what seemed to be a good night, a 43 year old guy named Tom, who was married with 4 kids, and his hook up for the night, Ashley, who was a 24 yr old department store buyer, just randomly took over our booth. Ashley offered me a klonopin or an adderall. Offer illegal prescription drugs to an off duty cop? Omg. Hope Tom got it in with Ashley cause they ruined our night. There was also a discrepancy in our bills even though we ordered the same drinks at the bar and the same at our booth. Oh well....
(3)Nancy G.
I have dined here many times. Great views and food. I was very disappointed at lunch yesterday. The server spilled 5 glasses of water on a client. Not her fault and we all felt terrible for her. The disappointment was that a manager never came over to apologize We had to suggest moving to another table. The new server acted annoyed that we moved and we experienced very slow service. The restaurants at liberty harbor are getting too complacent. Where is the customer service?
(2)Lillian C.
Review for the first floor - dinner on a Sunday. This is the first of the Legal Seafood chain of restaurants I've tried. Service was on point. Menu was decent. I like how there are 3 different floors serving three different menus - it's like having three restaurants in one. I heard good things about the rooftop so I may return just for that once it starts to warm up. As for the food - it was just ok. I had some oysters and they were fresh but not much different from some $1 oyster places in Boston. I also had the Portuguese seafood stew, which was very delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and the stew had a lot of flavor. I also tried a little of the swordfish salad. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, but the salad was lacking flavor. The food was pretty good and the view is pretty nice. I also like the open floor plan since it reminds me of places in LA. The prices are pretty decent for what you get but I think fine dining is on the second floor if that's what you're looking for...
(3)Chris L.
Went looking forward to a fabulous dinner. The Hostess was very kind and accommodating and seated us on the outdoor deck which was the best part of our night. The weather was fabulous and the atmosphere was perfect. The food arrived and the portions were average-small. The salad I received was wiltered and flavorless, the grilled scallops were small and bland. My date had the salmon and it was ok but just ok. We have had much better at other restaurants. So If you are looking for a great fish dinner look somewhere else but it you want a up beat atmosphere and a nice location give this place a try.... Definitely don't go for the food, you can do much better at many other places.
(3)Emily H.
This was a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view of the water. I was here with a girlfriend on a road trip and we really needed a nice meal. She doesn't eat fish, but had an awesome steak and I tried the Portuguese seafood stew. We also shared the mixed bowl salad and some hummus with pita chips. Everything was delicious and the waiter was extremely knowledgable about the food and origins of the restaurant. Don't be thrown off by the front exterior (kind of looks like a cafe). The magic happens when you walk to the back, leading to a gorgeous restaurant!
(5)Phil W.
Erin ate oysters, y'all!!!!!!!! (She's a vegematarian) Btw they have 14 kinds of oysters. Straightforward fish, but good. White sangria yes!
(4)Diana M.
Third floor has amazing view. The drinks were very good. My man had the big boy Boston, he loved it.
(5)Allen R.
The reason I gave this place only two stars is the NOISE LEVEL. We were there on a beautiful warm day. Fortunately were seated right at the edge of the deck and the glass doors were folded back so that one side of the restaurant was open from floor to ceiling. If they are closed the sound would bounce off the glass and it would be intolerably noisy--a place where you would have to shout and lean toward each other just to be heard. We were lead through the restaurant to this table and I was glad we were not seated toward the center of the restaurant. Even with the harborside wall open it was really noisy at the other tables. The only thing that doesn't reflect sound are people's bodies! If you go when the weather isn't great, plan to communicate via American Sign Language or be a very good lip reader. Even then, expect some temporary hearing loss after you leave this restaurant. In good weather call ahead and see if you can reserve a table outside on their deck. I don't believe the other Legal Seafoods or their second floor here are as noisey as this one.
(2)Jillian T.
Fun sitting on the roof deck enjoying the sun but the sushi was so-so, our waitress was a bit removed as it was very busy but at least she had a smile on her face the whole time. The reason I give it fewer stars is due to more how people hover around you if you have a seat or table and the discomfort of the stools- I hadn't realized this was more of a bar than restaurant before coming. Also, the menu for the roof is limited and few snack items are available beyond sushi and lobster rolls.
(2)Stacey K.
We made reservations for 1st floor dining about a week in advance for this past Friday night, we had 6 people for dinner and it was amazing to say the least! We had a seat right near the water and bar. The view is obviously stunning and the atmosphere is great, not super loud or over crowded, we could actually talk and hear each other. Our waiter was FABULOUS, his name was Mike and he was super helpful with recommendations as well as accommodations for someone with allergies! The food was to die for, I had a salmon special and fish tacos to share with my husband and we loved both dishes. Everything was prompt, warm and delicious. This is by far one of the best dining experiences I have had in the city! I will absolutely be retuning!
(5)C D.
Vibrant ambience with a coveted waterfront view but disappointingly mediocre food and completely lacking in presentation. If your looking for tourist-inspired New England cuisine, this place is for you. Otherwise, don't bother. Pretty good wine list.
(1)Annie B.
Amazing bar on the 3rd floor, good ambience!
(5)Megan A.
I loved this place! The view from the bottom was amazing! The clam chowder was velvety and delicious. The server was really pleasant!
(4)Robert W.
Great oysters, 14 types, seafood was well prepared. Good value.
(4)Mj A.
We chose to eat here based on other reviews & we made a good choice. I had the lobster & it was delicicious & hubby had the steak & shrimp which was also very good. the waiter (Cody) was excellent. The only thing they need to improve is their baked potato. It was dry & flavorless. Even with extra sour cream it was still bland. The cole slaw was good. They could expand & improve their dessert menu. My dinner came with a cinnamon cocoa cake that was just OK. Hubby got the chocolate cake with a lava like pudding center & it was good. Their background music is loud & somewhat annoying. But all in all we really enjoyed eating there & will be back if we ever get to Boston again.
(4)Carrie T.
We had to have lobster in Boston. On a recommendation, we went here. Nice location, right by the Aquarium. It was very crowded for a late afternoon but it's summer and it's tourist season. We got a seat by the window facing the street. We ordered 2 small lobsters (1 1/2 lbs) and just devoured it. It was tasty. We had sides that we barely touched cause we were working on our lobsters. We did order the crabcake which had nice big pieces of crab, not just bread mix. I think we scared our waitress the way we just tore into the lobsters and sucked it dry! Still she was pleasant when she filled my sister's ginger ale with water accidentally. She got her another one quickly. Price is not any higher or lower than some of the other places I checked out like the Union or Charter that is close by.
(3)Tom G.
I had heard that the quality of the food and customer care had gone down hill and I should have headed the warning! It started with overdone fried clams that were small dark and chewy, continues with a stuffed artichoke that was waaaay to rich and a bit burnt as well, and ended with a very mediocre lobster roll. The chowder was the best part of the meal and when I told the bartender how bad the clams were his response was "oh". I will not return and believe that many will not go there based on " how it used to be" many years ago. Good luck to them!
(1)Caroline M.
I went here with my boyfriend recently for our "six months" date. I am not a huge seafood person, but I was persuaded by my boyfriend's love of oysters and the promises of a view. We arrived around 9pm on a hot Monday night. I am glad we had a reservation, there were about 15 people waiting, but we were taken straight to a table on the 1st floor. The place was packed, and we were seated against a wall next to a raised bar area. The windows were pulled back, but the massive ceiling fans did their job. We started with tap beers, pleasantly surprised to find Pretty Things Jack D'Or on tap. Appetizer was bruchetta topped with artichoke puree, anchovy, and lemon. I only ate half of one, very lemon, with a nice texture of smooth topping and crunchy bread. I just couldn't get over eating an anchovy. Boyfriend loved it! Had to talk him down from ordering more. Instead he ordered oysters, only four, but he said each was perfectly delicious. He recommended the French Kiss and the Wellfleet. We each ordered from the wood fired grill. Out waitress was quite kind with my hopelessness choosing, and recommended the yellowfin tuna. It was cooked perfectly to medium well, and surprisingly, astonishingly delicious! My sides of mashed potatoes and jasmine rice were also perfect. My dining companion ordered the swordfish (medium rare) with mashed potatoes and spinach&pine nuts; he cleaned his plate, and declared everything perfect. To finish, we each had a glass of the extremely delicious white sangria and shared a Boston cream pie. Perfection. The fare on the 1st floor was typical Legal, as was the dining set up. Cloth napkins, but a paper table cloth. It was extremely noisy, and our table was wider than it was long, making conversation for us somewhat difficult. And elbow room for eating was scarce. The food was great, as was the sangria, but all a bit pricey, especially drinks. The view was great as well. However, for the view, next time we will probably try the upstairs for drinks after work instead of a full meal.
(4)John P.
Of the restaurants in the area, this is one of the more reasonably priced joints. Went for a quick lunch, but place was packed so all hopes for a quick lunch went out the door. Not a bad thing as the staff was attentitive. Ordered the chowder, as it is required for all tourists, and was satisified with the taste and consistency. Not too thick, yet not too soupy. Also went with their salad, which was well dressed and the chicken was freshly grilled. Would go back again... and probably will as my work per diem won't afford the other restaurants in the area (ie. Del Frisco's!).
(4)Mike B.
Mr. Berkowitz, sir, you are a genious! Whatever I said about Legal Seafoods in the past...i'm sorry. I've grown and clearly didn't see the big picture. You however did and continue to. So, he builds a pier. Yes a brand new pier! Why? Because he can. And it's in a pristine location...right next door to the Bank of America Pavillion. Don't you want to drink cocktails and cold beer and eat fried clams right on the waterfront with nothing but water and boats in view? Then he builds one of the biggest restaurants (Legal Harborside) including a killer circular bar on the 1st floor (all good seats) with enormous seating capacity of casual dining on with clear view of the centrally located open kitchen. There's fine dining on 2nd floor and a killer party-scene roof deck up top (with a smartly built glass roof with doors to extend the party rain or shine). Legal Harborside is a monstrosity. They had 24 servers on hand last night...so no waiting for beverages if you have a seat! One of the three hostesses said they can seat up to 800 guests. Insane. The place has it all. So does Walmart but this place is really good. Something about a place like this brings in a lot of attractive people, too! Suggestion: Go early to get the good seats and a parking spot. Get a minimum of one mojito per visit! Bonus: Because of Berkowitz' genius, he offers a gluten free menu...yep, even the fried clams, oyster sliders, dinner rolls and a pretty good beer. In fact, anything fried is gluten free. I eat everything but I tried it since my friend didn't... these didn't seem like other crappy gluten free stuff i've had before. I was very impressed!
(5)Barbara W.
Excellent food, superb service and attention to my food allergies! Love this place!!
(5)Carol C.
Excellent service at bar but mussels tough and chowder under seasoned. Disappointed.
(3)Kasey F.
Legals is a good stand by for their chowder (official chowder served at presidential inaugurations). I went to this one twice in one weekend as it was nice to view the harbor while dining. The first time my mother ordered a battered shrimp dish but received the open white fish sandwich, not sure how the mix up happened there! But she tried it and enjoyed it. I had the fish tacos which were good, a little sweetened for my taste. The second time I mixed it up and got the tuna burger which was delicious ground tuna with a mix of spices and cilantro. We also tried the slice of chocolate mocha cake. Even with two of us it was so rich and sweet I couldn't finish my half!
(3)Cami F.
Went to legal harborside with a friend for drinks and apps on the roof (top floor) and loved it! Perfect portioned food and menu made specifically for light snacking/dinner. Also their pitchers of cocktails were great and the view amazing. The only downside was the wait to get upstairs.
(4)Sandy W.
I've always been a fan of Legal Seafood, and decided to give Legal Harborside a try for the New Year's with the family. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess was not happy. My nephew who is 2 years old said "Happy New Year" to her twice, and totally ignored him. STRIKE ONE! We asked the hostess for a booster seat for my nephew, it never delivered. STRIKE TWO! Let's talk about the food here... the clam chowder is $6.50, which was the size of a small mug. All the portions here are smaller and more expensive than the regular Legal Seafoods. The special I had was the grilled tuna coated with panko with a side of soba noodles. The noodles were very salty, couldn't finish half of it. The fish was dry, and the fish was over fried! STRIKE THREE! My brother had the Fisherman's Trio, at $15.95 ~ 3 shrimps, 3 scallops and a teeny piece of scrod! STRIKE FOUR! The mussels with curry was full of sand! STRIKE FIVE! A side of jasmine rice about a half cup ~ $3.95! STRIKE SIX! Now, onto the service.... our waitress was not attentive, our table was filled with finished appetizers, chowders and it was not cleared off. I had to ask her to take those away before our main entrees arrive, I had to ask her to refill everyone's glasses of water, and she was yapping away with the other waiters/waitresses at the corner! STRIKE SEVEN! One of the waiters came over and took my mom's cup away when she asked for a refill! STRIKE EIGHT! Get the picture? Overall, HUGE disappointment - not going back! On one last note, the view of the harbor was awesome!!!
(1)Tom V.
Good, not great seafood. Nice atmosphere and great harbor views.
(3)Dick S.
I have eaten at several legal sea foods. This is the best of any of them. I had oysters, clam chowder and a lobster roll. The service was great and the view was really good as well. I will come back here again and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it was a little noisy and pricey.
(4)Janet W.
This review is for June 8th 2013 Saturday night. The place was packed with a two hour wait for dinning and a 45 min for the rooftop. Just by chance a couple was leaving a table by the window. They are first come first serve. We ordered the fresh oysters. 4 different kinds and they were all excellent. We ordered a second dozen of the small ones I forget what they were called. When they arrived they looked different and are server assured us they were they same. She checked with the kitchen and sure enough they were wrong. Without even asking they were taking off the bill. I must say they were very good. The shrimp cocktail was excellent, spicy and sweet very good. The mussels had a nice spicy, coconut milk with slight red peppers. The fried clams are the best clams I have ever had anywhere. I order fried whole clams at most seafood restaurants just to see how they are prepared. We also had the fried scallops. Whoever was on the deep fryer for the night did an excellent job. Perfectly done! After dinner we went to the rooftop to check out the crowed. It was way to busy. Very loud and crowed. We left for the 2nd floor bar. Had one drink on the 2nd floor and called it a night. I would return. Think ahead and try to make a reservation for outside on the water would be very nice. It is a very big place but very well run.
(5)Ann B.
Wow! Go here! This is nothing like your parent's Legal Seafood! The downstairs has a great dressed up seafood market feel, lots of bar and water side indoor/ outdoor table seating. One long wall essentially opens up completely making the entire space feel like it's outside, harborside. The bar is a circle shape nestled into an all glass corner allowing great views from all seats! The staff was very friendly, and despite only being open a few weeks, really seemed to know the menu and work well together. Now for the food - I had a FANTASTIC lobster roll! Really light mayo, big pieces of meat and a nice seasoning. The menu in general is pretty broad with some old standards (fish + chips) and a fantastic selection of oysters! I can't wait to visit again!!
(4)Paul G.
2nd floor is a huge disappointment and a rip-off. I had the cobia which was prepared asian style with bok choy, asian BBQ sauce and peanuts etc.....it literally was disgusting with BBQ sauce that tasted like unsweetened ketchup...almost not edible...and $42!! My wife had the stuffed dover sole which was cold on the outside and way too salty. The service was sub-par as well with long waits between drinks and it took way to long to get the check. In conclusion, NOT WORTH IT!! Just stick with the fish/chips or tuna burger on the 1st floor
(2)Jessica G.
We have been twice since it has opened. Food seems remarkably fair priced for waterfront Boston dining (sandwiches and pizza in the 10-15 dollar range and full dinners 20-25). Both times we ordered the white clam pizza. One of us isn't a huge fan of clams, nor pizza with clams - and that one of us lived in New Haven for 5 years. But both of us really LOVED the white clam pizza. Although the consistency of the pizza has been lacking, it has been great both times! They have plenty of servers for the number of tables. Our food has always arrived within 15 mins of ordering. Everything we have had has been great! The cocktail list is a little disappointing. They have a thorough beer list (most of which are reasonably priced), and many wines by the glass (although not as reasonably priced). All in all, a good value and a great harbor view.
(4)Samantha H.
Always loved Legals, but this location is the best. Friendly fun staff but yet professional. We were running late due to really bad traffic (students moving in/out) so I called the hostess and she said it was no problem. She did give away our table and directed us to the bar. The bartender was funny, friendly, and knowledgeable. He knew his craft that's for sure. He made me a D Street Sour aka a fancy lemonade (includes raw egg whites). They were so good, I had about 5 more throughout dinner. The decor was fresh and new and inviting. The view was breathtaking. And for the most important part: the FOOD! My boyfriend and I shared a dozen raw Wellfleet oysters, and the shrimp cocktail. The oysters were tasty, and probably could have eaten another dozen. The shrimp cocktail is five of the biggest shrimp (size of lobster tails) I have ever seen displayed in a huge ice ball. I had one of the most expensive plates listed: Butter poached lobster ($54) with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. Literally the best meal I've ever eaten. My boyfriend had filet mignon ($42) with alaskan king crab, mashed potatoes, spring vegetables, sauce béarnaise. He let me try some and it was also very good. As far as the parking situation, there is a parking garage directly across the street. When we arrived, it was full. We found smaller parking lot that was kind of like valet (you leave them the keys). If you validated your ticket at the desk, it's cheaper (billed hourly). After dinner, the boyfriend and I decided to check out the roof deck. It was packed and busy. There is only a bar that serves small things/apps. It seemed to be like a club: loud music and a bunch of young adults. Overall, I had the best experience and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Eric H.
This place has really turned into a tourist trap- first clue if you are in a tourist trap if the waiter asks if you have ever been here before and you reply yes and he has a shocked look. The wait staff is a mess here. They are constantly bumping into each other (maybe the flow of the dining room needs help) or you see them walking with food not sure which table to bring it to. We expect a wait and were told 2 hours. We went to the bar, grabbed a seat and had some appetizers while waiting. An hour later, our table was ready. The same thing happened on our last visit. The front desk seems to double the expected wait time, almost hoping that you will walk out rather than wait. Seems odd.
(3)Ben D.
Gorgeous location. I'd definitely go back solely for the harborside view. The food portions were smaller than I was expecting based on price, but quite tasty. Great drink menu as well. I liked that there was a bar on the third floor where we were able to wait before our table was ready. Nice relaxing atmosphere
(4)Michael H.
We dined outside at the Floor 1 restaurant. We were seated promptly for our reservation and our outside table gave us a beautiful harbor view away from the noisy inside! I always enjoy Legal Seafood and our night at harbor side was no exception. Their chowder is great and we enjoyed portugese stew, calamari, shrimp cocktail and a very delicious tomato/peach salad!!! Price range is very good for floor 1 and wine list has some good options! A great spot to enjoy a great meal and view. We had hoped to try the roof deck but the line was very long and the crowd young enough to be our kids!!!
(4)Ash C.
I was on the 2nd fl with my boyfriend the other night. The server recommended abalone from California for their signature dish so I ordered it. I usually eat raw abalone which offers the best natural flavor but wanted to try sautéed one to see how it would taste different. It wasnt worth $48.. Was deep fried instead of sauteed.. Very greasy and bland. Highly NOT recommended
(2)Michele P.
We had hummus/olive oil and Catamala/fig with oita for an appatizer. The olive/fig combo was supurb. The hummus was bland. Our server was super friendly and gave excellent suggestions. Our course was the grilled scallops with chard and slaw. The chard was ok, the slaw a bit heavy, but neither was bad. The scallops were amazing!! We loved every bite! Dessert was Boston Cream Pie. Interesting take on an old Boston staple. Serive was great, food was great overall. Had a nice dinner!
(4)Angel L.
Review for rooftop deck (floor 3) Atmosphere: The ambiance is perfect whether you're looking for an informal or a formal night. I've come casually dressed while the table next to me was all in dresses and suits but the atmosphere is always the same...fun. Whether you're there just to drink and have appetizers or have an actual meal, I've always been comfortable. The waiters and waitresses do what they can to accommodate you even when it's busy so I can't complain. Seafood: For eating sushi for most of my life and working at a sushi restaurant, I can say that hands down this is one of the best sushi I've had in a VERY long time. You can immediately tell from every roll the chef makes that he uses only fresh fish and perfect proportions of every ingredient. My friends and I ordered a couple of rolls and including Unagi (Eel) Roll, Rainbow Roll, Red Dragon, Hawaiian Roll, Orange Dragon Roll, and I must say they were all delicious. I'm a tuna person so I'm a bit biased when choosing my rolls but I didn't have one complaint for any of them. My all times favorites however were 2 items that were not on the menu. We were able to put in a request for two AMAZING dishes. One was sushi pizza and the other an inverted crab Rangoon (as seen in the picture). The sushi pizza consisted of a thin seaweed rice sandwich that was lightly fried to make it crunchy. It was then topped with either salmon or tuna and garnished with a red/green pepper and tempura flakes. IT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Indeed it was very creative. Overall, I'd love to return when the weather is nicer to dress up and take pictures outside or just another Friday when I'm craving the amazing sushi I've had.
(5)Piyush P.
Good stuff. From a Texan. Wasn't busy. Was close to the hotel. Food was great. Fajitas. Mmmm
(5)Taylor K.
We came to the first floor for dinner. It was very very good! We went to the bar first and the bartender was super friendly and very helpful with guiding us through the menu. Had good beer and wine variety. Our waiter was also great. We got the lobset and mushroom pizza for an app. IT WAS AMAZZINNNNNGNGNGNG I highly recommend! We got a variety of meals but everyone was extremely pleased with literally EVERYTHING we ate. The view and ambience is gorgeous and perfect. There are also lots of places near by! HIGHLY recommend Legal Harborside.
(5)Michelle S.
Was here on business in early October '13 and had one of the best dinner experiences due to the fantastic service I had and the oysters were to die for! I had 8-10 in one evening.... about 4-5 different type. The chowder was some of the best I had while touring New England over 10 days. Also the lobster roll was amazing. Plus sitting there with full views of the harbor is just amazing ambiance. Rooftop bar is pretty cool too. Even better views and seemed pretty hipster. Overall a great experience and fantastically superb oysters!
(5)Jackie R.
Terrible service. They wouldn't let my friend in after we waited for 20 minutes because they thought she wasn't sober enough but (she was and) it's been raining all night. Really messed up.
(1)Sarah B.
Great place on the harbor for business dinners! food is always phenomenal and the Oysters are huge!
(5)Jeff D.
The same review I give every Legal Seafoods. The quality of the seafood is excellent and something the owners (who I know personally) truly care about. Your best bet (IMO) is to go with the wood-grilled items. Great fish, prepared simply over open flames just can't be beat. Except maybe by a few raw oysters. And the beef lettuce wraps...those kicked ass.
(4)Rhonda C.
I don't give a place 5 stars unless it is over the top great. Went there in early October with some friends for a late lunch. The waitstaff was awesome and seated us near the window. The wine list was great, and the seafood was so fresh! I loved my lobster. My husband loved his oyster selection. My friend ordered the mussels, and they were incredible. Can't think of a better seafood place in Boston.
(5)Pam D.
Love this place. Dined on the second floor. The food was excellent and the waitstaff superb. The top bar patio has great views. If it is busy, seats are hard to find, as well as the waitstaff; they did not seem very experienced. But I went for the second floor dining and that is what gets the 5-star review.
(5)Mindy M.
Have been to the rooftop bar twice. Service is always crap. I don't understand the criteria for being waited on properly up there but if you can put up with that fact, it's really a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the water. I'd give the upstairs bar one and a half stars. Have also dined downstairs and the food and service were great. The fall drink right now, Apple Sangria, is delicious and I'm not one of those sweet specialty drink people. Also had the House salad and wood-fired scallops. Pass on the Japanese eggplant. It's over seasoned. Would give my dining experience 4 stars.
(3)Edward M.
I made a reservation for the first floor for early on a Wednesday evening. Its 3 floors and a generally huge place. Got there at 5.30pm and the place was jammed. I asked the waitress if this is normal and she said it was the after work crowd combined with the concert next door later on that evening. I guess the lesson here is make sure you make reservations even if you don't think you'll need them. If I'm not mistaken the second floor is a fancier restaurant and the third floor is a rooftop that overlooks Boston Harbor and mostly serves drinks and apps. So we picked the first floor for dinner. I'll call it "energetic" but others might call it just plain noisy. Its big, wide-open and busy. I wouldn't come here if you're looking for a romantic dinner. The second floor might be better for that but will probably cost you more too. The food, at least on the 1st floor where I was, is pretty straight-up Legal Seafood. Which is to say tasty if basic seafood dishes. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy most people and portions are about average. In other words if you like the food at Legal you'll like the food here. If you don't then you won't. Simple as that. If you're in from out of town and never been to an LSF and you're looking for a decent seafood place this isn't a bad choice. Which is what I can say about the other aspects of Legal Harborside. It looks and feels like most other LSF locations. You will get solid if not eclectic seafood dishes, professional service in a reasonably attractive and busy physical location. This LSF is also like the others in that I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get. Honestly I had heard about this enormous LSF location and frankly I was hoping for something more "special". I wasn't disappointed per se but I wanted (or at least hoped for) more than a normal LSF. Maybe I should have booked a reservation the 2nd floor instead and found what I was looking for. It's a nice place with tasty seafood dishes and good service, just don't expect to be blown away. 3.5 starss for the food, 4 for the location on the water and 4 for the service. That rounds up to 4 stars.
(4)Anne S.
Having had about 100 lobster rolls in my life, I have never paid $30 for one. They are usually about $17-$22. But I was feeling the warm weather and went with it. Save your $30 and order something else. The .25c hot dog bun looked like it was stepped on and not $30 worth of lobster. This reminded my why I don't come here.
(3)Karen C.
We were here for Valentine's day and the food was amazing. The sashimi and sushi was incredibly fresh. The chef was very cute and came out to greet us to make sure everything was prefect. It wasn't too crowded when we were there because we started the night early and did get crowded later when we were done with dinner. Everyone was really polite and helpful.
(5)Paul C.
Just awesome. Pretty much a sure thing if youre looking for good food, service, atmosphere, great view. Its a no brainer!
(5)Jiyea C.
The second flood doesn't even look like any other Legal Sea Foods! It almost looks like a fine dining restaurant...almost. Good for celebrations, family dinners, group gatherings...just make a reservation! Food was 3.5 stars but the view persuaded me to bump it up to 4 stars. We got to the restaurant early for our 8pm reservation, so we decided to go to the 2nd floor bar to have a drink while we waited. Drinks try to be fancy, with French liquors and whimsical names. They were pricey at $11-$12 a pop, but tasted pretty good. Beer is served in goblets that look like less than a pint. Would not recommend. We had the tasting menu, and all of it was delicious though I found everything a little saltier than I prefer. the complimentary bread spread comes with different kinds of pastries and was beautifully presented (as was everything else). We thought it was a little interesting that filet mignon was the main dish in the tasting as we were expecting seafood given the venue, but nevertheless it was well executed. Notes: The top floor rooftop deck does not take reservations, and there is usually a line on the side of the restaurant on the ground floor to get to the third floor. If you make a reservation on OpenTable, the email confirmation tells you to call the restaurant by noon the day of your reservation, otherwise they will release your table for other diners. I don't know how strict they are about this, but just an FYI. It would suck if you forgot to make this phone call and showed up on time only to find out that your table is no longer reserved for you..
(4)Meredith V.
We arrived for our 7:30 reservation and were immediately walked back to our table. The weather was beautiful so they had opened the entire first floor to the waterfront. What a great view! We ordered a few different types of bruschetta to start. My favorite ended up being the tuna crudo, fresh and just a little bit spicy. I had the lobster roll which is made to order, so I had them hold the mayo and bring me a side of melted butter. The lobster was sweet and pleasing. One of my friends ordered the fritto misto which was a huge platter of fried seafood and pickled veggies. He let me try a piece of the cauliflower and it was delish. Our server, Chelsey F made the experience even better. She was funny and efficient and covered a few little timing issues with the kitchen honestly and professionally. All in all it was a very nice experience.
(4)Ramin S.
I am giving a 5 here because I've been there multiple times and have never had a bad experience. Food is great, server was friendly and we were seated at a great table outside. I must say, however, we were not checked on once after having been brought the food. They weren't too busy so I was a bit surprised. They did add a complimentary dessert as it was my fathers birthday! Overall, id go back, this place is great.
(5)Inci K.
I thought it was dark, industrial looking, loud. I was going for a waterfront view, light, open and bright atmosphere for my guests. The food was fine, but I was too floored by how loud/echo-ey dark and industrial looking it was. It was an open kitchen plan - which may sound nice, to a point but it just adds to the noise and the industrial looking feel. Unless you have/ask for a waterfront seat this is what you're up against as well.
(3)Chris L.
Nice swanky restaurant. Only went for a company event. They have three levels and the harbor/water views are great on the top floor. The top floor has an open-air deck ... which would be closed for winter / cold / bad weather. Top level was nicely laid out with couches and bar stools and we had some very tasty food and drinks. I think we had hand-made potato chips, crab cakes, mini lobster rolls, grass fed beef mini burgers, sangria, and a bunch of other stuff. (Highly recommend those mini lobster rolls, it tasted like there was a bit of lemon zest and lemon vinaigrette?) The rest of the top level was covered. There were two floors below that, and a nice spiral staircase and elevator access. I liked their decor and layout. They had pretty steady patronage (i.e., it was popular) but I never felt like I couldn't move around or that it was stuffed to or beyond capacity. As with most Legal-related restaurants, I wouldn't go there regularly. You at least know you are getting pretty good food (good quality) but it tends to be pricy.
(4)Annalisa B.
I was in Boston to celebrate my birthday with some friends. On one of the trolly tours the guide told us that Legal Seafood was a fancy and upscale restaurant which was a little intimidating. We explored other options which turned out to be not the kind of place a girl wants to have a birthday dinner. Luckily Legal was in sight so we decided on taking up the upscale challenge. Maybe in Boston it's upscale but for someone who lives in Manhattan, it's a regular non-chain four star restaurant. The food was awesome. We ordered clams for appetizers and honestly I've never seen clams disappeared that fast. My lobster pot pie was a wonderful surprise. I had the option of having the crust since it wasn't covering the filling like most pot pies do. The staff was so friendly and attentive. I would definitely go there again.
(4)Kim Y.
Im a huge fan of legals! I came here with my bf and I made a mistake by making my RSVP for 2nd floor dining cause I actually wanted 1st floor dining, the staff was just sooo polite and accommodating! there were no open RSVP but we got bench seating :) I'm addicted to oysters and they had katama bays! Yumm! I ordered the lobster roll and asked for it to be warmed with butter instead of mayo and they did that no problem but they were lacking on the lobster meat! My sister did the same thing at the legals in Braintree and they packed that roll full of lobster!!! My bf ordered the rigatoni and shrimp...not good..but that's his fault, I told him not to order it but he wanted to try something new. He ended up eating half of my lobster roll!
(4)A D.
***BUYER BEWARE*** - The bartender on the roofdeck ALTERED MY RECEIPT to increase her tip, after being EXTREMELY rude to my party! Management will not help me and I have to go through my credit card company - Keep your receipt or pay cash!
(1)Raisa S.
I'm really never eating at a chain restaurant, even if it's a small local chain I always lean towards visiting a one of a kind type of place. Because of their extended gluten free options and the high quality meal I have enjoyed at every LSF that I've been to I am a fan as well as a consistent customer. This time Joe and I decided to try Legal Harborside. He had a gift card so we figured we'd treat ourselves a little bit and dine upstairs at the formal dining area. I didn't really think to check the menu, because at this point I'm familiar with LSF's FANTASTIC calamari (I'm not gluten free) and delicious entree options. I know this is awful as a Bostonian BUT I'm not a HUGE seafood fan. So the fact that I LOVE lsf for the steak, says a lot about their tasty food. I only really eat shrimp and calamari as far as seafood goes. So anyways, everything about the more formal atmosphere was AMAZING. They only had late reservations open on a Friday night since we waited until last minute, so we figured we'd head in early and sit at the bar until 9:30. The bartender was very attentive, drinks were great, and we split a crab salad appetizer which was really tasty (my first time trying crab). The hostess was really nice and came over a little before 9:30 to let us know our table was ready. The most amazing part of the night was that it was a random night in August, but there were fireworks over the harbor! They happened to seat us RIGHT next to the window during the fireworks so we had some of the best seats in the house. This made the whole fine dining experience even finer. Our waiter was very attentive and really nice. Everything service-wise was 5 stars. The reason I only give it 3 is because I felt like this menu wasn't really as good as the regular LSF menu. It has less on it, which would be expected in finer dining, but they just really didn't have as much for gluten free options besides the dinner rolls. I also felt like the quality wasn't THAT much better for the price difference. The ambiance, etc. made it a special night but I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the extra money if we didn't have a gift card.
(3)Whitney R.
Friends recommended to eat here when visiting Boston. We loved it. Lots to choose from on both the drinks and food menus. We both tried the clam chowder which is a must. Nice spot and lots of choices on where to sit.
(4)Mindy T.
Love this location! 3 different floors.. all with different vibes. Went on the Roof Deck first for some drinks while we waited for our table. There was no wait, but when we got upstairs, the place was packed. The windows were closed because it had rained earlier so it wasn't too warm out but there was still daylight! You can see boats driving by. Awesome view. Strawberry sangria and white sangria is really good here! Went back down (took elevator instead of climbing down all those flights in heels) when it was almost our reservation time to grab drinks at downstairs bar instead. Ended up just sitting there instead of waiting for our table. Love the round bar even though you can't really people watch as much if you get stuck behind the giant beams. Started with some oysters. The Kumamoto oysters are the best!!! They are small in size but packed with flavor. I love Legal's mignonette.. it's load with whole black peppercorns that give it a good kick. I wasn't too hungry so I ended up getting 2 appetizers as my meal. Rosemary Scallops. Two large scallops skewered on a stick of rosemary served on top of a bed of chickpeas and chorizo. Cooked perfectly, loved the flavors of the chickpeas cooked with chorizo. The sauce was delicious. Baked Stuffed Artichokes are AMAZING! You have to try them. Three large pieces of artichoke hearts stuffed with a scallop and shrimp stuffing. It was creamy and cheesy and the seafood was so fresh. Just the perfect amount of browning on top from the melted cheese. So good! Made everyone try this and they loved it. Caesar salad is really good here too. I love their dressing. Croutons are a little on the sweet side. Seasonal Crisp was peaches and berries. Delicious! Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Boston Cream Pie was dry. Cake was too overcooked and the custard was dry. Ganache was good though. Service was a little on the slow side. It was not that busy either. I noticed that you get more attention when you are a group of "businessmen" than if you are a group of girls. Either way, you should give your customers the same service. You never know who works in the industry also. Service would get 2 stars.
(4)Jackie K.
How bad can sushi be? Very bad. Like amazingly bad. How much can you water down cocktails? A lot How can you eat such mediocre food and pay so much? Boston restaurants on the water can charge whatever they want. I've been here a few times both for food and drinks and its just pretentious, overpriced and has bad food. The food so bland--how is it so possible to make food so bland? Service has been friendly and good although the staff seems stretched thin over the tables. Sangria is bad--do not get it, you will regret it. I'd rather go to Margaritas in Waltham and that place is bad but also on the water and not as bad as this place.
(1)Lindsey H.
This is my go to spot.. the food is always great, and it's conveniently located right across from my apartment. It has a great view of the harbor making the atmosphere nice and relaxing no matter what the time of day. I've been here with family for dinner as well as for drinks with friends and I can't say I've ever been disappointed. I would highly recommend the clam pizza, the oysters (they have a great selection), and their margaritas are delicious. Reservations are always a good idea...
(4)terry b.
We really enjoyed our visit here, we had a great server Jared that made really good suggestions. This restaurant is right on the water with great view and a really nice vibe. We would return again.
(4)Brian B.
Great place to stop in for sea food. The location is amazxing sitting directly on Boston Harbor. A bit pricey but worth the stop. Highly recommend!
(4)Matt S.
I've been to both the restaurant and the rooftop area. Starting with the restaurant first, it is rather good and the atmosphere/decor pretty exciting and impressive. Legal seafood is pretty well known for having quality seafood so it's hard to argue there. The deck and seating area around there have a great view, but nothing beats the rooftop deck in that regards. Although the menu is more limited up there (just sushi and a couple of simple grill options), the view up there is excellent and is perfect for lunch on a nice day. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a bite to eat in the seaport area.
(5)Josephine L.
This is actually a review for floor 2 of the Legal Harborside complex, but Yelp doesn't seem to have a listing for that. The space is undoubtedly gorgeous and perfect for a night of fine dining. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't meet expectations. I had the Halibut with lobster and the portions were absolutely tiny. A small hunk of fish, a few fried cauliflowers and two tiny pieces of lobster. It was good but I was finished within 5 minutes and still hungry. And all this for $38? For that matter, almost every entree on the menu is in the $30s and yet the portion size is consistently small. I also had a cosmo and while it was tasty, it was also incredibly watered-down and sugary and tasted nothing like a traditional cosmo. Within our party, we had 3 orders of cosmos and no two drinks ever turned out the same. I would have expected better from the bar. The Maple Leaf was quite good, though. I will give props for the service. Our party had a lot of trouble getting together on time (out-of-towners stuck in traffic) and the staff let us keep our reservation even though we were an hour late when we were finally seated. Our waiter(s) were pretty attentive throughout the meal and were quite friendly. So kudos to them.
(3)Jay P.
Have been here three times. Each time it has been insanely crowded, noisy and pretentious (most restaurants in Boston I have found to be this way - not sure what that is about, but they need to get over it! ). The food is pretty ordinary - which is sad as they do seem to have some really quality sea food at hand. The recipes and dishes are just totally lacking in anything that resembles creativity or an awareness of what is happening in the American culinary scene. Service has always been spotty and rushed. Prices are not insane, but they are not a good value either. My last visit was a disaster. I pretty much had to wait on myself - getting up several times to ask for things like condiments and silverware. Wow. Skip it, head in to a neighborhood and get something better.
(2)Jeremy L.
Legal definitely lived up to the hype for me. Had probably the best plate of scallops I've ever had. Also the size of the order was quite large. Also had a very tasty cup of clam chowder. All in all great experience and would highly recommend checking out Legal Harborside.
(4)Kelsey C.
The longer I wait to review the 2nd Floor of Legal Harborside, the lower its rating gets. So I figured I should get on it before the rating dips to zero. With a breathtaking waterfront location, pristine dining room, tasty drinks, and a menu that screamed of quality seafood, this imposing structure stood full of promise. This promise was manifest in the saintly patience of the staff. Thanks to a couple of incompetent cabbies, our group ended up being 45 minutes late for our reservation, but the host and hostess showed no signs of irritation. Unfortunately, when it was time to order, Legal Harborside showed its true colors. The majority of my table of 8 wanted to order it, and the remainder of the table was fatally allergic to half the things on it, but we were informed that it was not possible to accommodate that. Translation: order from the regular menu or die. Great service. Truly. The entrees weren't much either. My Olive Oil Poached Tuna was totally bland though the tuna was perfectly seared. Seared but not salted... The Misty Knoll Farms Chicken was better, and I was told that the Alaskan king crab topping theFilet Mignon was incredible. The dessert was a so-called chocolate mousse that turned out to be more of a gooey indecision. Too moist to be a brownie, too dry to be a mousse. Weird... I feel some residual guilt writing a bad review since the hosts were so polite about our tardiness, but I imagine it's easier to be patient when only half the dining room is full at 7 PM on a Friday night. I think I'd jump into the harbor before I came here again.
(2)I M.
Got the oysters as apps, really good selection can't complaint. The grilled swordfish was on the dry side, probably trying something different next time. Fries were ok, there are better options for sides on the menu.
(4)Michel D.
This is a review of the second-floor "gourmet" restaurant. I came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday with my wife and my in--laws - we were six in total and we all know our food and our wine. We have long been fans of Legal Seafoods, and have eaten in multiple locations throughout the Boston area, so we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this one. I have to say, it started well. The decor of the restaurant and the bar is nice, there is a galley where you can see the food being prepared, the tables are far enough from one another to provide privacy, there is nice view of the water and the lighting is well done. We had a drink at the bar before our meal, and the bartender made excellent cocktails and had detailed knowledge of the wines on hand. Then we were seated. The menu is dysfunctional. At first glance, there was nothing I wanted on it - I wanted to suggest we just go to the normal Legal on the first floor. It is a completely misguided attempt to be high end and gourmet. Everything is too complex, overdone and has too many things going on. It's alright to have some dishes like that, but on the seafood front, there was nothing that was not just a premium piece of fish, cooked to perfection with maybe just some lemon-butter-parsely on top of it and a side of super fresh vegetables. To be honest, most items made me think of a winter menu despite the fact that it was a beautiful August day. I don't think the staff here spends enough time on local markets to find the best in-season produce. We ordered oysters as appetizers, and the presentation was highly lacking. There were no small forks brought with the dish. The waiter messed up on our wines and we had to re-iterate who had ordered what wine before he went back to the bar to re-place our order. We had to ask for bread to be brought to the table, and the bread dish itself was ridiculous. The bread plate here consists of a few cuts arranged to look like some sort of sailboat, and at best enough for two people, never mind six. The main courses came out and did not deliver any "wow" factor. They were good, but nothing special and did not deserve the price tag they came with. Everyone ordered fish, and we all agreed that for the most part, the fish at the regular Legal is better at a fraction of the cost! We ordered our desserts and the order was blotched. The waiter had to go back to the kitchen to fix it. When our bill arrived, it was of course substantial, but we were expecting that. What we did not expect was the poor quality of our experience at that price. The service is amateurish and disorganized at best, and what's coming out of the kitchen is far from memorable. For the price, there are far better places to go for a memorable, satisfying experience. At least we had a beautiful view on the water throughout our meal!
(2)Erik O.
Roof deck review only It's nice, very trendy. Your own privet bathrooms. Decent drinks, a little pricy, and decent appetizer sized foods. The view is ok, but I must say that since it is n the otherwise of the WTC, ABG and whiskey priest have it beat, by a long shot. Cool spot though. Only complaint: it gets kinda crowded with douchy after workers.
(3)Richard R.
Lobster roll skimpy and only claws when compared to other Legal locations. Mussels and lobster pizza outstanding. Great outdoor patio on the water.
(4)Silvia V.
I ended up at Legal Harborside last Sunday (Mother's Day) with two friends for lunch. It was a lovely sunny day and eating by the water only made sense. We didn't have reservations and even though the restaurant was full, we ended up being seated at the bar overlooking the ocean as we walked in. We ordered a sample of 12 local oysters to share. They were fresh, juicy and very delicious. I had the grilled swordfish for lunch which came with barely any veggies even though the menu said it came with cucumber, tomato, chickpeas, fennel, basil, lemon olive oil dressing. The swordfish was good, but I was still hungry after lunch. My friend doesn't eat onions, so before ordering Yellowfin Tuna with orzo salad and sweet & sour Japanese eggplant she asked whether the side dishes contain any onions, the waitress said no. When our entrees very delivered both her side dishes were full of onions. We complained and got some ice cream free of charge. The ice cream was good even though it was plain old vanilla. Being there on a busy day we were surprised by how many times one of the waiters kept bringing food that other people ordered to us. It was a bit odd. Anyway, when you go to any of the waterfront restaurants you know that you are paying for the location and not necessarily for the quality or quantity of food. Go to Legal Harborside for oysters if not for anything else.
(3)Jessica W.
Best ever, their menu is totally different from the other legal seafood, the price is quite reasonable, but every dish has special creativity and good tasty. Totally love it.
(5)TinoX T.
Awesome View,Good Food
(4)Katherine D.
This review is strictly for a few experiences drinking on the upper floor. We got comfy seats, but if we hadn't it would have been way too crowded. The drinks were overpriced across the board. I know its the Seaport, but mixed drinks at over $10 is bad business. The crowd was rowdy for sure, and not really my scene. Our server was visibly agitated when I ordered a water. I'm sorry that I'm not made of money to take down an overpriced, and not very creative martini. I ended up with an alcoholic libation later, but she was resentful of the party for taking her prime real estate, even though the rest of us were indulging heavily. Pros, the space is nice. The view is great. I enjoyed the seating we snagged. The music was good, albeit a bit loud, and the door staff were very polite and pleasant.
(3)Jane H.
Eh, Legal is Legal. You probably won't be disappointed and it won't knock your socks off. I had some sort of fish taco thingie, liked my cocktail - a ginny//lemonady something or other. See what I mean? I liked everything, but nothing was truly memorable.
(3)Kim T.
2nd floor of Legal Harborside. I love the way this place is setup. 1st floor casual dining. 2nd fine dining. 3rd outside bar. There was a concert going on next store, score for us! I was visiting the home town and decided to come here for a nice dinner with my girlfriends. The waiters are so attentive, and so helpful with their food selections. It was a long dinner, but an exceptional one. We left with home made mini cookie instead of mints. :) I definitely will be back. Food: - Bread plate: ridiculous!! :) The corn bread, I think I had more than my share. Sorry, I love corn bread. - Melon Soup with Shrimp Salsa - Chef's surprise. Wasn't sure how this would taste, but wow! - Steamed Mussels: not too bad, but didn't wow me. Plus was that they were out of the shell - Butter Poached Lobster: holy crap. Yay for being completely de-shelled. The flavor was ridiculous!!! So sweet, and juicy. - Desserts: all were good! Don't remember what I ordered, but I left happy. Maybe I'll try the first floor this time, since they offer different food.
(5)Nathan S.
Was at the Boston Convention Center for a long weekend and the Legal Harborside was worth a repeated visit (3 Legal visits in two days). About me: live in western NY (I used to live in Boston), so being at the coast I wanted to consume as much seafood as possible. (Also strange, while living in Boston for 6 years, I never ate at a Legal, I suppose it was always available and therefore was never a significant priority for dining out). The seafood and views are very good with lots of great seats including bar/window seats that are perfect if dining by oneself. I'd have no complaints, but I also ate at the Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill location had 1) cheaper prices for oysters and little-necks; 2) a more extensive menu; and 3) a much larger lobster roll. Which makes me think maybe the restaurants are franchised? Regardless, I had a great overall experience, friendly and helpful staff, and surprisingly, I didn't feel the least bit ill after consuming lots of fish and raw seafood. Legal's lobster roll is one of the best you'll find anywhere. The clam chowder was good, but didn't blow my expectations out of the water. And of course, the oysters and little-necks were great, but my ability to compare quality is limited.
(4)Joe T.
We had two minor issues last night. The first: the bouncer checking id's to get to the third floor was rude. I'm from out of town (Pennsylvania) and I was simply showing him where my birthday was on my ID and he snapped saying "I know where it is!" Okay I was just trying to be helpful. After we hung out at the bar, we sat down at our table on the first floor. Our waiter, Santiago, was wonderful! The second issue: the crab legs were not fresh. We told our waiter and he was mortified. The manager came over, profusely apologized, and offered a more expensive substation at no charge, even after he comped the dish. We declined because, in all honesty, we were stuffed. When they brought the check they brought us over two comped and delicious desserts and apologized again. It was a great meal and great time. The customer service was amazing. I will definitely return. Also, get the swordfish gyro.
(4)Laurie L.
This is a great place to eat and also buy your seafood in bulk at an amazing price. I usually buy my lobster tails and shrimp and then have my waitress serve it to me .. So fresh!! Pure love .. I like there drinks and the oysters there. The only down fall is the service. Very slow and it takes a while to get seated.
(4)Matt F.
I was very skeptical of this place because they had so many of them around Boston (even at the terminal where we arrrived at Boston-Logan airport). I thought it might be too "chainy", but I was wrong ... Went to the Harborside location in the Seaport District for lunch on a very hot Saturday (without reservations). Got there around 11:00, and were able to get a couple seats at the 1st floor bar to watch the British Open. As a beer connoisseur, I was happy to see some local craft beer choices ("Cambridge Amber" from Cambridge Brewing Co. was my 1st choice ... "Beer of the Gods" from High & Mighty Beer Co. was my 2nd choice ... both were excellent). We ordered the Shellfish Platter to start things off, and this is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. The oysters were sooo small, you could barely enjoy them. Shrimp and crablegs were good, but I was really looking forward to some sizeable oysters on that platter. For my entree, I had the Lobster Roll ... hands down the best thing I had during my ENTIRE trip up to Boston. The combination of the chunks of lobster on a perfectly toasted brioche roll cannot be described. I could not stop talking about how good this lobster roll tasted. I may have had a dream about it for 2-3 nights straight upon my return to Charlotte, NC. The fries/cole slaw that came alongside it were pretty good, but the bar was set too high for anything else after I devoured the lobster roll. The price was fair ... it says "market price" on the menu, which may scare some people. I think it ended up being around $16/$17 for the lobster roll w/ fries ... if I had known how good it would taste, I would have paid triple the "market price". Did not get a chance to walk around (or go upstairs), but it looked really neat. On a final note, I did visit the Legal Sea Food at the airport after my flight was delayed. It was too early for a lobster roll (10:00 am), but I did grab another beer while watching the final round of the British Open. I was curious as to why they were able to serve beer before noon on a Sunday (the FoxSports bar across the gate told us alcohol could not be sold before noon on Sundays). However, no one at the Legal Sea Foods bar was complaining, as you could see Bloody Mary's, Screwdrivers, Mimosas, and Beers lined up all down the bar. In summary: Definitely go to Legal Sea Foods ... order the Lobster Roll, a local craft beer, and enjoy!
(4)Dean O.
Went there this passed weekend. I ordered six oysters and they were awesome. My Wife ordered steamers and they were under cooked and looked like someone ran over them with their car. The main course was OK at best. One thing I can say is that the service was top notch. They promptly gave us a huge discount and apologized over and over again. I guess the simplest way to say it is it is just a little better than a Red Lobster. We stopped at Salmon Run Fishhouse in Lee and got a great meal.
(2)Camellia I.
As a vegetarian I was surprised to find such an amazing veg friendly salad. lots of greens and with chickpeas. a perfect and complete meal. Four stars because my sisters food (the seafood trio) looked and tasted (in her opinion) of low quality. Tip: It's worth it to come to this LSF vs the one by the Aquarium on State st., this one has a great view of the harbor from all three floors!
(4)Van N.
Disappointed. Have always enjoyed prior Legal dining experiences and was excited to try Harborside. Food was mediocre at best and service was horrible. Slow and rude.
(1)Jennifer H.
I love Legal, and I have never been disappointed by them. I truly thought this would be an easy five-star review, but I have to drop a star for service and price. My friend and I chose to enjoy a Friday night on the second floor -- fine dining. So, I can understand the food being a bit spendy, but I thought many of the prices were over the top, especially given the service faux-pas. When you charge that much, everything should be perfect. Instead, I felt incredibly rushed by our waiter, who kept returning to the table when we had dropped many a subtle hint that we had not had a chance to look at the menu and wanted a leisurely meal where we could talk and relax. This frustrates me at a fine restaurant. Ok, enough of the bad, and on to the amazing! The building is incredible; you cannot miss the stunning glass and wood structure on the waterfront. Inside, everything is wide open, and the view is the star with floor-to-ceiling windows. We got a seat right next to the window on the water side, and the gracious hostess (Gina) was thoughtful enough to offer me a pashmina should my light sweater not be warm enough next to the glass. Nice touch. The food was perfection, and I will give the waiter a point for recommending the perfect white for my fish and the perfect red for my companion's steak -- and also for offering the half bottle solution when we were at a loss for how to select a compromise wine to complement both of our meals. We were offered an amuse bouche of, I believe, a potato and turnip soup -- very good. I also enjoyed a cucumber gimlet, which was a well balanced, slightly sweet and refreshing drink. I started with the steamed mussels ($13) with smoked tomato sauce , dried olives and lemon a brioche. It was the perfect starter for a chilly, windy Boston night -- very comforting. My companion chose the king crab ($12) with wasabi mayo, trout roe and ginger foam. The foam was humorous since it resembled soap suds, but the crap was outstanding. For entrees, I had the sauteed halibut with lobster, romanesco cauliflower puree, roasted heirloom radish and limoncello foam (more soap suds, $38). I also got to sample my companion's tomahawk steak with smoked bone marrow, cauliflower puree and creamed spinach ($56). This steak was perfectly charred on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. It was smoky and salty... like the most indulgent bacon you have ever had. My halibut was awesome. The saute resulted in a crispy exterior with a nice brown color, but the inside was moist and flaky. I'm normally not a fan of either califlower or radish, but the flavors were incredible and bounced off the halibut well. I wiped the plate clean. Will I go back? Most likely, but for that price, only on special occasion.
(4)J W.
Amazing atmosphere - from fine dining, casual dining to hip raw bar - excellent. 3 stories - a place for everyone. We headed to the top floor and had sushi on the open deck. They had a few heat lamps, but the view and the atmosphere was excellent. Service was good, food was solid, place was the bomb.
(5)Tom S.
Have eaten at Legal Harborside several times. Last night was disappointing. Arrived at 7 (no reservation) we were told it would be a 1.5 - 2 hour wait, but the tables in the market place were open to anyone... Low and behold there was a couple finishing up at a 4 top, and just paying their bill... we were in business. We sat down at about 7:15PM. It became apparent that the server (who was VERY friendly), was completely overwhelmed. I don't think that we got our drink order for 30 minutes after ordering them. EVERYTHING took forever. Drinks, bread, apps (chowder- how long does that take to make?) Finally when my dinner came out, the lobster claws were cold, and the tail was only warm. For spending $40 on a dish (lobster bake), I was super disappointed in both food and in service. I didn't bother to send it back, because at that point, I just wanted it to be over. In all, it took between 2:15 and 2:30 from start to finish. Probably won't go back for a while. Will definitely not sit in their marketplace again.
(2)Anna C.
Wow. This place is phenomenal. We came just to have some New England Clam Chowder, but ended up staying for a while to soak up the gorgeous view. Then got sucked into ordering some sushi as well, which was very fresh. Everything was amazing -- food, service, atmosphere, view... even the price wasn't bad (not cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced either).
(5)Melissa D.
Don't get me wrong- if you are able to get to the roof deck - it was amazing but a limited menu, staff rushing to get you out and snobby service turned me off. The first and second floors I have had their menu and it was good! Your standard but nothing blew me away. Views are amazing and it can get packed so open table it 2 weeks in advance to get the best times. The restaurant is very touristy. Prices are okay - city prices of 15-25 for a dinner entree. We went to the rooftop bar and it can get very hot up there with the furniture on a summer day so be prepared to get sunburned. They have delicious pitcher drinks which are more affordable than single serve drinks. However, when it was time to eat - not a lot of variety for the rooftop bar menu. Our server seemed more irritated than accommodating when our party grew. You would think she would be excited when a larger group equates a larger bill which equates a larger tip but she wasn't having it. This is a good place for Friday after work drinks and a great way to start the night but I don't see myself rushing to come back.
(3)Debra L.
Loved the 3rd floor for an afternoon snack on a sunny winter afternoon. Beautiful space and view and wonderful service. I imagine in the summer this place would be insane, but it was perfect in February. I had a glass of Prosecco and my husband had a delicious Bloody Mary. I had a sip and regretted not getting one myself. The upstairs menu is limited but we were fine with that. We shared a dozen delicious oysters and a spicy tuna roll. It wasn't like a typical spicy tuna roll. It was more like a plain tuna roll with a mildly spicy sauce drizzled on top. I kind of liked it that way. You could really taste the tuna which was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back here! PS - It KILLS me that this place didn't open until after I left Fort Point Channel. Booo!
(5)Mark W.
Very good food and service. Recommend the lobster Pizza
(4)Sarah E.
Last night I had dinner at Legal Harborside and I literally hate it!!! First, the host was really unprofessional and received us with a little joke that the waiting time would be approximately 2hours. It wasn't funny at all because we were starving and we walked under rain to get there! Second, I had a $23 boring tiny swordfish with rice and mashed potatoes which I did not enjoy and I swear I could make something much better for 5 bucks!!! Or I could be the Legal Seafood chef!!! Either one!! Third, by the time we were leaving, one of the hosts shouted "Enjoy the weather"!!! That was so sarcastic and very unappropriated because it was raining and snowing and we had to walk to the parking a block away. Further more, you pay for public parking!!! Conclusion...Legal Harborside has awful services, boring food and unprofessional staff. Don't even waste your time and money there!!
(1)Lesley P.
I am giving it a two to get your attention. All in all we had a good time, enjoyed the food, service and view. But the three of us had terrific sticker shock. We looked up the Legal Seafoods menus but this one is different so check the menu before you go. It differs per floor within the restaurant and NONE are the same as regular Legal Seafoods menus. They do a lot of a la carte and market pricing which really adds up. We had a dog with us so we were able to tie her up right outside the patio which was nice. We won't go back. The one upside is that we scored free Sunday parking at a nearby meter since parking can be expensive down there.
(2)Burgess N.
We started in the top floor bar for cocktails. Only real complaint about that was the volume of the TV was deafening, and I am already practically deaf. Menu is a bit pricey, but that's to be expected in Boston. I had some delicious and very fresh oysters for an appetizer, then moved on to the Lobster Roll. It was very good. Chunky lobster meat with minimal garnishes. The service was great, even though our waiter was busy with other tables he spent plenty of time with us explaining the dishes, we didn't feel rushed at all. The main reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars was because of the noise level throughout the restaurant. It was crowded noise polluted from people and music, that in my opinion, was turned up too loud.
(4)Nicole C.
We went for the oysters but got so much more. I wanted to bring my parents, from NY, for some fresh oysters. We ended up there for lunch because we were going to head over to Harpoon. I knew they would have good oysters, but didn't expect what we got. Diego was our server and he was awesome from the moment we sat down. He made some suggestions, we took them and we were not dissapointed. We started with a dozen oysters (Diego helped select the varieties), cups of chowder and a soup of the day all around. They oysters were fresh, clean and delicious. Their chowder was creamy and flavorful without being too thick. Next, my parents and I shared a lobster roll, the steamers, and the seafood stuffed artichokes. My husband got the skirt steak. Everything was perfectly done and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively, not to mention the nice view of the water up by the big windows, which open up to the dock during the warmer months. I can't wait to go back! P.S. get the sangria!
(5)Chao D.
I love the sea food bere...recipient service is nlt that good..but the lobster is amazing...I like that
(5)Ellen H.
Came on New Years Eve and could only get a 4:30pm reservation, but they did seat us at 4:30 despite only having 2 of 4 from our party there. **NOTE: This menu is NOT the same as other Legal Seafoods restaurants.** The menu itself is pretty small: a one-sheeter with extensive seafood options (duh) and almost NO "turf" options -- a skirt steak salad and one other steak option were the only meat options to be had. It is a seafood restaurant on the water, but I did expect a bit more variety. I had the clam chowder - delish! SUPER hot but scrumptious nonetheless. I ordered the buffalo shrimp as my meal; I expected a shrimp cocktail with some kind of buffalo rub, but what I got was deep-fried shrimp SWIMMING in buffalo sauce. Just ok, not great. The shrimp were huge which was really the only plus. We had to ask for bread about 5 times -- she would only bring one roll per person at the table and only when prompted. That was a little annoying in terms of service. The drinks were good, especially the mojito. Prices were lower than other Legal's, and lower than I'd expect, especially in Boston. I'd come back if I had a major hankering for seafood -- or clam chowder -- but it's not top on my list (maybe in summer -- great views!)
(3)John B.
Great place. Fresh seafood and really not expensive (except for floor 2). First floor gets really busy, but you can always go to their take out counter. Second floor is amazing; shrimp cocktail is the best I've ever had, and the swordfish chop was astounding. Way to go guys!
(5)Bob S.
This place is constantly busy, busy, busy!! I like the way the interior is arranged so that each seat gets a view of the harbor. The waitstaff is knowledgable and profesional (we've been here multiple times), the menu is very diverse giving customer's plenty of options to choose. I had the wood grilled sea scallops (outstanding) that came with two side dishes. I chose sauteed spinach with pine nuts and sweet and sour japanese eggplant. The meal was excellent, the portions were really enough to split if you weren't crazy hungry and again, service outstanding.
(4)Rossi F.
Food and location were great but overall wasn't super impressed with the service. Two weeks ago I made a reservation for a party of 7 people for Sat 3/23. I called a few days before hand to tell them it was going to be 9 people, they had to bump our reservation from 8:30 to 9:00 in order to accomodate us. I understand that. But then when we got there at 8:50pm on Saturday they handed us a pager and said they were not sure when our table would be ready. After I checked in with a manager twice, complaining that we were celebrating a birthday and had plans after dinner, we were finally sat at 9:45. My girlfriend ran into a friend from work at the bar who was still waiting at 9:30pm for her 8:30pm reservation. They sent over a couple of free apps to the table but that was that. Our server was very informal and almost came across as rude. After waiting 45 minutes for a reservation and receiving less than mediocre service, I don't plan on going back. Maybe during a less busy time, but certainly not on a Saturday night.
(3)Alireza S.
Being a local who lives in the neighborhood, have been here many times to show what Boston's seaport district has to offer. While the location and the view is unbeatable, regretfully, I have to say the staff has one of the worst attitudes you can find in Boston. The food is mediocre at best, the ambience is mixed and in a nutshell, if you are a tourist who doesn't know his/her way around or doesn't care or know much about great service or food quality and would just like to spend a night in "any" restaurant with a harbor view, this is your pick. If they want to maintain the legacy of the Legal Seafood brand/franchise, they better step up their game as competition is in the corner and having just a beautiful waterfront view wouldn't cut it.
(1)jamie l.
The rooms were very nice (nice design and great view)...but the restaurant is huge and feels that way. The food was just okay. Nothing to get excited about - just a big factory for tourists. We won't go back.
(2)Erin C.
On Saturday night around 6:30 my date and I headed down to try to grab a table for dinner on the 2nd floor. There was about a 30-40 minute wait so we just hopped up to the 3rd floor for some drinks. We split some oysters and a small pitcher of the White Sangria. Both were good, but nothing outstanding. I was a little disappointed that the bartender seemed to forget who we were and what we ordered every time he tried to give us someone else's order. He was nice though so that kind of made upf or it. Our experience on the 2nd floor was expensive but tasty. We split the mussels which was enough for both of us to have about 2 bites each. For my entree I had the sable and my date had the salmon. Both were cooked perfectly and super tasty. Our dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with cranberry sauce was sweet and tangy plus the perfect size for two people. The only thing that drove me nuts was our server. He was a bit of a pain and didn't seem pleased that we weren't ordering multiple appetizers. After we ordered he actually didn't stop by once to ask us how our meal was, fill up water or anything. I'd definitely be back to try the first floor and check out the 3rd floor when the place is opened up.
(3)Diana Y.
--------LUNCH ONLY-------- This particular restaurant has a really nice setting in terms of ambiance. But that's pretty much it. NOTE** Neptune's was my first stop in Boston so that set the (high) standard of what all lobster rolls should be. Ordered the
(3)Brittany H.
i hate chain restaurants... i''ll repeat.... HATE them.... BUT i suppose the only reason why i've been dragged here is to check out the amazing view of the waterfront and to hang out with my amazing friend. otherwise... i've been conned. flipside...we had a table for two outside. the view was breathtakingly beautiful on a saturday afternoon. the downside... food was mediocre and downright terrible. calamari would have been better if the batter wasn't so soggy. i had the tuna burger... and sadly, wish i would have ordered the lobster roll instead. also, the only oysters worth ordering were OUT that day!!!! :( flipside... our waitress was extremely patient and funny with us. i was a pain in the ass and frowned at everything... however, she graced us with her humor. had their sangrias...not as good as it used to be, but still enjoyable on a hot, dry day. let's face it... i paid for the experience...not the food. gladly come back to sit outside on the patio for drinks and apps only.
(2)Michelle M.
I absolutely love Legal Seafoods! Because I have recently been diagnosed with gluten and dairy allergy I am quite limited in my options. Not to worry fellow non-gluten eaters. They have a gluten free menu and gluten free rolls to die for!! I am serious!! I have never tasted anything so delicious AND gluten free at the same time. I can even go as far as saying that those rolls are better than any gluten bread. I do remember the clam chowder which was the best but I had to be OK with the gluten free version which is nothing to compare but still OK. Any seafood you chose is beyond delicious, grilled shrimp is delish, all done a la perfection. They have a policy to serve clients with any allergies by their managers. Always attentive, pleasant servers, quick service, 5 star food= happy always returning customers! I give LSF a five star!
(5)Brad E.
We started out with a terrific wine Cakebread chardonnay. Always a plus. We asked our waiter to recommend some oysters for an appetizer. He selected 4 different oyseters: Wianno XL, Glidden Pt, Kumamoto, and the wellfleet all of which were fantastic. We both liked the Wianno XL's best. For entrees, I had the grilled swordfish and my wife had the ahi. Both were cooked perfectly. The fish was the star of the show without sauces or other items to cover the taste of the fish. We had some interesting sides: soba noodles and orzo salad. Both dishes were interesting and went well with the fresh fish. For dessert, we had the boston creme pie, coffee tres leche, and chocolate mocha cake. The boston creme pie was not great. It was fine but wasn't something I'd have again. The coffee tres leche was light and simply melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. My wife's favorite was the chocolate mocha cake. The flavor was good and the texture was smooth and creamy. I am a fan.
(4)Morgan D.
Went here for some birthday celebration cocktails and it was beauuuutiful!! As a visitor, I was blown away by the gorgeous view. I live near a waterfront city and man, I have never seen a place like this in Baltimore. This is one of those spots where you feel that 'grown and sexy' cliche. AND I ENJOYED IT. It's nice to be around peers that are dressed up for the night out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the OMG I need to be decked out for tonight types...but it definitely is nice to go out all glammed up with the girls. And rarely do I want to feel like an 'adult', but it was a nice change. Met some great people, had a great time. Boston, I love you!
(4)Michael C.
Holy smokes is this place a zoo on a beautiful Friday night in August. Do not even think about arriving without a reservation or be prepared to wait, and wait and wait some more. Floor 1: As with the entire restaurant, it has killer views with a great decor but God All Mighty is this place crowded. Floor 3: 25 years ago I would have loved this floor. Again, absolutely killer views of the harbor and Logan. The area has wonderful outdoor seating, a great bar and is I suspect a gold mine.....the drinks were flowing and the cash was rolling in. Back to the 25 years ago; the average age was well south of mine and my wife's and the noise level well north of what I regard as normal. Beating a hasty retreat we head to floor 2. Ahhhh...now this is my kind of place. The bar again has to die for views with wonderfully comfortable chairs and beyond competent bartenders. Passing on my usual Martini, I ordered a Manhattan. So good I ordered a second....after a cold stare from my wife I reluctantly passed on the third one. We had diner with friends sitting outside. On an a perfect 80 degree no humidity night, it does not get much better than this. The menu is surprisingly light on fish offerings however what they have is excellent. Portions are a bit small, I think they need to be a bit more generous. What they do serve is fresh and wonderfully presented. The staff are as well trained as I have ever experience anywhere. I am not sure how they do it but all staff are polite and obviously well trained. Valet park your car; it is only 12 bucks. That makes up a bit for the expense. Granted we had 2 bottles of wine and desert however dinner for 4 was $345.00 before tip so bring the wallet.
(4)Craig Z.
My second meal here (on the first floor) was better than my first. Steamers were the best I have ever had, I love the seaonsal crisp dessert every time--though I wish it had a little less crisp and a little more ice cream--and the crab and pepperoni pizza was incredible! Service is a little clueless, but nice.
(5)Jules H.
I'm a longtime customer of Legal's, but this was my first trip to the new location. I have to say, I've always been a fan of LS because the seafood is fresh and simply prepared, so you can really enjoy the quality. The staff are always really well-trained and friendly, and the drinks are strong. All of this held true at the Harborside spot. We started with some killer drinks and edamame on the 3rd floor, and I have to second what a lot of folks here are saying - the third floor is too small. It's only going to get more crowded as this neighborhood develops, too. But there was a private party blocking off half the space, so that was an added factor. The view is awesome, being there after dark made Eastie look almost majestic :) Also, a free coat check (and shout out to the very friendly ID-check dude) made the whole bar experience WAY easier. We ate on the first floor, and I loved the shrimp corndog, a really creative starter that came with a DELICIOUS mango mustard. I had scallops and fried for my main, and they were as good as always - the sides (especially the mashed potatoes) at LS are always REALLY good, simple and fresh. And they're very easygoing about customizations - many times I've requested or had someone in my party request something that's not on the menu, and they've never said no or made it feel like a hassle.
(4)Sheila B.
So I love this place. This our family dinner spot, with a toddler, it's fancy enough for my husband and myself and my toddler gets to eat some really good chicken tenders and french fries. What's not to like, NOTHING... I have been here probably 10x in the last year. I love, the atmosphere, the view, the service is top notch, it's not pretentious, the bathrooms are clean (and they have a changing table). I can always find a meter spot down the street. They have very attentive staff. The food, I haven't' eaten one bad thing here, my favorites, are the tuna special I had last night crusted in panko, with wasabi cream sauce, the lobster dinner stuffed tail, every piece of fish, oyster, crab, scallop, mussel and shrimp this place brings to the table is of high quality. I can't say enough good things. True story, we bought $200 worth of gift cards to give as x-mas gifts and we kept them for ourselves, we love you LHS !! Thank you for being so awesome as always.. see you soon !
(5)Raphael D.
Ocean scallops are fussy creatures on the grill or in the pan. Five seconds too early and you have an undercooked scallop. Ten seconds too long and you have a rubbery nugget that could have been a decadent morsel as soft as butter. Here they're somewhere in between. Gonna stick with the lobster or the filets next time. Other than that they have a great beer selection, clams and oysters were super fresh and delicious, amazing view if your table is near the water and the service was pretty spot-on.
(3)Melissa M.
First off, I do not eat seafood. In fact, I pretty much despise it. OK moving on...I come here for one reason only- the view from the roof deck. I used to also come here for their Coconut Lemonade but they no longer have it on their cocktail menu :( The first floor is loud, the second floor looks pretty but I've never actually seen anyone eating there or heard of anyone who ate there. The roof is where it's at. I prefer to walk all the way to the end on the right, away from the bar and the covering. The bar area is really packed and I like to have enough elbow room just in case I feel the need to break out into the chicken dance. I feel the crowd is at its best after work or late afternoon/early evening on the weekend. Late night can get a little weird. They have a decent wine list, although it takes roughly 35 minutes to actually get your drink. The wait staff have always been very pleasant, but they are soooooo slow. Going to the restroom can be a bit tricky, especially if you are on the right end of the deck. You must walk through the bar area. Now, although I should be flattered since I am in my mid 30's, I really don't think it's necessary to be groped by drunk business men every time I have to pee. You have to squeeze by them and not once have I made a successful bathroom trip without getting brushed up upon or goosed. It reminds me of The Purple Shamrock in 1998...anyways...the bathroom situation itself can be fun, especially if you witness first timers who are a little tipsy. The bathrooms are single stall rooms and the "womens" and "mens" stalls are not separated. AND to make it even more exciting, there is a mirror on the wall that makes it appear as though there are more stalls and I have seen several people walk into the mirror thinking it was part of the hallway. I know this is hard to visualize but if you do go to this location and use the restroom you will know exactly what I am talking about. So overall, Legal Harborside has a great view of the water and the fancy boats, nice-yet slow wait staff and good drinks.
(3)I.m M.
To the manager at Legal Harborside: I never got to thank you for the complimentary Boston Cream Pies you sent to my table because my raw seafood platter was a little late. That's ok, you're all right! It really made my final day in Boston very pleasant. Thanks! Take a look at the presentation of the raw seafood platter: somone commented that they didn't think Legal Seafood could be so fancy. It's like the crab is attacking the oysters. See photo above.
(5)Jessica B.
This was our second visit with a reservation in hand, on our first attempt we couldn't get a table. If you like to see and be seen, I guess this might be a good place to plant your twenty-year-old, daddy's credit card carrying, casually faded jeans-clad booty. If you're an aging curmudgeon sitting outside with the Flaming Lips blasting from the Bank of America Pavilion, maybe not so much. It's very loud outdoors when a band is playing, although the view is pretty. We sat on the first floor and may have gotten some kind of reduced cafe menu. My shrimp cocktail had medium sized shrimp jammed in a jar, rather than the large cocktail shrimp I am used to at Legals. My husband ordered a lobster roll and it was half the size of a normal one at Legals. What. The food was just plain bad. Our waitress was surly. The food didn't live up to the usual mall Legal's fare. I suspect things are swanker on the second floor, but I don't think I will be back to find out. There is a reduced fare parking lot across the street.
(2)Monica B.
My girl friends and I, planned a girls night out starting out at this place, on a Saturday night. We went to the Third Floor, actually. First, it took the "hostess" close to 5 minutes to check our four IDs, they have to run them at this ID verification scanner and he didn't know how to use it... We weren't seated, we had to find a table and when we finally did, it was dirty and it wasn't until we asked them is when they cleaned it. The employee poured some liquid on the table and I thought it was going to spill all over me because it was so much.... The waitress was really pleasant to talk to and friendly but, it took them forever to take our drinks order, maybe 20 minutes. We had a purple Jesus and a Senor Coconut, they were both fantastic. It took them 30 minutes more, to take our order for food and another 30 minutes to serve the food. We all order sushi! I've been to sushi places before and they have never taken this long, even when we ordered a sushi boat! The sushi tasted good and everything tasted very fresh - I'll give them that - but, the rolls were falling apart! We ALL are sushi lovers and we know how to use chop sticks but, in some cases my friends even had to grab the pieces with their hands because it was ridiculous. We also ordered the only dessert available, chocolate cake. It was dry and just plain bad. I've been to other Legal Sea Foods and it's been so much better than this place. The atmosphere was weird too, it seem as though the manager isn't sure what market he is aiming at and you have a combination of young professionals feeling awkward, singles in their late 40's and 50's looking to "catch" young women in their 20's (such as myself and friends) and families who want to enjoy family dinner. The only two things I liked about this place in particular is obviously the gorgeous view and the drinks. Nothing else was good.
(2)Robert W.
We sat at the bar, which was great for people watching. Super service, food was ok, trying some food we hadn't tried before. Staff was wonderful. Night, so didn't see how it looked during the daytime. We'll try it again next time we're in Boston!
(4)Liz L.
Review is only for rooftop bar. The problem with Boston is that we have SO many awesome bars with so few roof decks. With that in mind, if you're looking for a bar with a rooftop view of the harbor, Legal Harborside is the place to be. It's also the place to be if you want to spend $10+ on well drinks, rub elbows with a whole bunch of people who think they need to be seen, and practice your funny accents - you'll be saying "Nope, we're not leaving" at least 200 times while you're there. Service was wonderful, view was beautiful... everything else made me feel like I was in a reality tv show.
(2)Sonia D.
I was there a few days ago and had oyster and bubbly at the bar downstairs and then headed upstairs for drinks on the roofdeck. It was all around a great experience and I would love to have an event on the roof deck someday. The area upstairs is beautiful and the drinks are great as well. I will definitely be back for dinner and will be able to rate better on the food. Keep up the good work Legal's!!
(4)Mary P.
While visiting Boston recently, we made reservations at Legal Seafood Harborside. This location of Legal Seafood has a very different menu from the other Legals in which we have had meals. This location is not for children. The menu is extremely limited and nearly every option includes some food with which the average person has never been acquainted. Two in our party ordered steak in this seafood restaurant because not one of the other options sounded appealing. If you are fond of very artistically designed foods on your plate and you don't mind spending a medium sized fortune, and you do not have children with you, then you might enjoy. We believe that Legal Seafood should not have it's name on this establishment since it is so wildly different from every one of the other locations. Look at menu before making reservations.
(2)John M.
Mrs M. and myself spent a slow afternoon here in the bar people watching and water gazing while gorging ourselves on food and wine before a concert next door. The place is jamming at 3 PM on a Wednesday afternoon. We got a few spots at a bar facing outwards to enjoy the great view. I demolished two plates of oysters that were super fresh and wifey had the calamari which came with a wonderful dipping sauce and a few fried peppers that he said were awesome. Then we both had fish and chips which were very tasty and fresh. The service was great, the atmosphere was fantastic and the food was on par with what you'd typically expect from Legal's. All in all is was fantastic and I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Kelly C.
Here's my tip. MAKE A RESERVATION! I don't care when you are going, a Tuesday at 8pm, Reservation. Wednesday at 3pm, reservation. There was a 90 min wait on a pouring down rain Tuesday night. I would have turned around if it hadn't been my husbands birthday. It's not worth a 90 min wait, but I can't think of anywhere in Boston that really is. We did get to take advantge of the roof deck(3rd level) but since it was raining, it wasn't as nice since it was closed in and it was EXTREMEMLY loud from the people, music and the rain bainging on the flat roof. The food on level 1 was tasty and didn't disappoint. Pretty quick service too.
(4)Mrs H.
I am writing an update from the review i posted in 7/1/13 The review I left I forwarded directly to customer service at Legals. That day I received an email from their Manager of Guest Services, JoAnne O'Neill. Ms O'Neill apologized for our experience and followed up her e-mail with a phone call from their Manager of Customer Relations. At this point they had spoken with the staff and wanted to hear my side. Asking people to vacate tables due to how long they have been there is NOT their policy. My guess is the manager and bouncers do this to receive quiet tips, much the way a doorman does so that you do not have to wait in line. They handled my complaint with seriousness, concern and diplomacy. Ms O'Neill also sent a hand written apology to me, completely unexpected and yes, it impressed as well as touched me. Due to how responsive Legal Seafood was I have raised my rating by one star. I will absolutely go back and I am hoping to give it five :-)
(3)Robert L.
Sat on deck facing harbor on a beautiful night. Dinner was great. Service was fantastic.
(5)Paul S.
The view and decor is great. Services was steller. Now lets talk food. Well I'm not impressed. I ordered the mug of New England clam chowder and it was filled with potatoes. I think I bit into maybe 4-5 clams at max. It was also lacking some flavor. I had a better bowl at the Dallas/FT Worth terminal on the same day. Now forth clam steamers. They were a nice size clams, but filled with grit. I think I still have sand in my teeth. The flavor was just ok. The only thing good here was my drink.
(1)Carolina N.
This was the second time I went here. I thought the first time was great, but this time was mediocre at best. We were a large party (8) and arrived on time and were seated on time. However, the rest of the service was very slow. A lot of time passed between our drink order and appetizer order, and we waited 30+ min for our entrees. The waiter avoided contact with our table, probably because he knew it was taking so long. Drinks: The white sangria with St. Germaine and the top shelf margarita are great. Appetizers: We had oysters from Wellfleet and BC which were great, as were the bruschettas (1. tuna, 2. gorgonzola with fig). Entrees: I had a swordfish special with brussel sprouts and potatoes, which was ok. The people in our party who ordered the yellowfin tuna said it was bland. All in all, it was an underwhelming experience, which was particularly disappointing because of my previous good experience.
(3)Jaclyn N.
The rooftop lounge has gorgeous views of the water. The sushi is good, the sangria was too sweet.
(4)Colleen H.
Definitely my favorite restaurant on this strip of Seaport lovelies! The decor is perfect, oyster selection makes me smile, the Sauv Blanc they have ON TAP is pretty reasonable. It's crazy, I know, I'm drinking keg wine? But if Legal's pushing it -- it's gotta be ok. And it is. They have a swordfish and basil salad that's delicious. A little small in portion, but perfectly balanced flavors. My gf loved the margaritas too. Definitely a go-to for our office lunches!
(4)Jenna P.
MMMMM. This place has 3 awesome things that I can't really put thumbs down to. OYSTERS, Hendrick's Gin, Waterfront views. This place is absolutely beautiful inside and has multiple floors. There's a few different levels with different vibes as well. Good for a dinner date, drink with friends, a nice light meal before a show at the pavilion, or just because. Pretty expensive but what can you expect for the location? Awesome seafood, great drinks and can't beat the view! A MUST TRY!
(4)Mindy L.
So um...I have a bone to pick with the bartenders here. I think that they are attempting to deliberately get me completely and totally sh1t-faced on a regular basis. I have two, sometimes three white sangria's (arguably the best sangria I have had in the Boston area) and I get bombed. This has happened on multiple occasions so I feel justified in calling them out at this point. What the heck do you put in there? Grain alcohol? Whatever it is. I like it. Please keep on erasing my memories of the evenings I spend with you.
(4)Anthony L.
The raw bar downstairs is excellent with lots of selection of local New England tasties. Upstairs has a beautiful dining room but the service is horrible. I'll just say that most of the team was young and inattentive and aloof. The Shrimp coctail was impressive, the filet was good, the cod was great. i probably wouldn't recommend it because the service was so bad.
(3)Dan P.
My girlfriend works right across the street, so we tend to hit this place up right after work. Its always packed. When our friends from out of town come in, we bring them here since we know we'll get a good meal. To date, we've only had one problem with a special, Seafood Mac and Cheese, which they left the tails on the shrimp. This was quickly taken care of, and I even had a manager come out and apologize and offer me another meal. Our go to is the Tuna Burger, sooooo good.
(5)Edward B.
Not sure what all the hype is about, so they're on the water, so is the airport. Went last week with colleagues for a holiday lunch. There were 5 of us, sat us on a table that was really a 4 top. Had to ask for another table to be connected. Maybe I'm just not as impressed as others. No water served at the table, waiter was okay, and way to hyper. It's just an overpriced, fast casual dining experience. I ordered a shrimp dish, med-small, which blew my mind. Save your money and pull over to a seafood shack up north or down on the cape.
(2)Theresa M.
I went to Legal Harborside the other day dinner with some friends, as we happened to be in the area. What a lovely place that has been doing a booming business...i.e. lines around the building and a two hour wait. We were lucky and got seated on the deck outside. The service was superb. Our waiter was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We had a few drinks (try the Razz Lime Ricky), and we each had a crab cake app. Yum. Our entrées were also very good. Although next time I plan to try the pasta and shrimp dish over the fisherman's trio...but it was very good. My dining companions were also very happy with their meal selections. No complaints. We even tried the ice cream bon bon's, which were ok, but I probably would not bother with them again. Save a little money off the check. The prices were what you expect at Legal's. Oh yea, the décor was lovely and everything was very clean and neat. Anyway, I love the area, so I will definitely be back...hopefully next time we'll check out the 3rd floor roof deck for some cocktails. P.S. Floor 1 is casual, Floor 2 is fine dining...
(4)Sandra J.
Celebrated my son's 15th birthday at Legal's Harborside yesterday afternoon. Experience was excellent! We sat on the deck, loved the view. The two adults of the group were pleased with the Yum Berry Sangria and the Legal Sangria...thank you! Given Legal Seafoods is a chain restaurant, Legal Seafoods Harborside does not have that feel. To avoid an unpleasantly long wait (it is highly poplular), I recommend you make a reservation. As a group, we ordered the calamari and oysters for appetizers and my sons each ate and raved about the clam chowder. I was very pleased that with the help of our exceptional server, Kevin, my sons tried oysters for the first time. They were fresh and delicious (although the birthday boy decided they aren't meant to be eaten unless you are on an island, starving to death -- but he tried one!). Everyone enjoyed their meals, and while I don't recommend yesterday's wild salmon special (I strayed from my normal much loved meals to try something new), the food is always delicious.
(5)Amy N.
Tall Ships weekend. Rooftop lounge review. Great drinks. We had a pitcher of Purple Jesus sangria and a few plates of sushi for lunch. smaller menu up here. Very good for not super authentic sushi. Grab a table by the window with couches around a coffee table. The view and the breezes are worth the trip alone. The room is airy, sunny and fun. Music is a bit club-like. I would have preferred some steel drums in this space at lunch time. There are outdoor deck areas on top and an indoor spot with AC if it's a scorcher of a day. Staff was attentive and not rushing us out. Many of them have radio head sets on and some serious bouncer types in suits gave a "men in black" vibe. That was all I would change... the music and the suits. The top floor should be like a tropical get away... a Margarita-ville of the North. Put those dudes in white untucked linen shirts and shorts and lose the Rap. Fair prices. The first and second floors look fantastic too. I would love to come back and try every level. Even though it is part of a chain, it does not feel that way here. The first floor looks very family friendly. There is a fishing pool for the little kids to try to catch something in. They were loving that!!
(4)Winnie K.
Came here for lunch last week, before I started my shift @ my p/t job. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I decided to have lunch on open the roof deck. I had a great view of Boston Harbour. I ordered the Spider Maki roll (soft shell crab,& avocado, cucumber, tobiko, spicy mayo, teriyaki) & a order of Maguro Tuna nigiri (2 pieces). So fresh & yummy. It is a great place to take sit, relax & take in the great view. Almost like a little slice of heaven up here.
(5)Steve L.
Went there for lunch and enjoyed the view and the great service. Upstairs not open for lunch. Great clam chowder, lobster roll, crab salad, scallops - I guess anything seafood. Can't wait for my next visit!
(4)Lee P.
We love Legal Seafood in general. The Harborside location is the best design they have come up with yet. [We are talking about the first floor restaurant here, not the pricey second floor or the rooftop hipster bar.] Had a great table right on the water with perfect weather. Mike was a super waiter and very well versed in the menu and wines. Our meals were perfectly prepared and delicious. The wine list is only slightly over retail - with great choices and lots by the glass. You can't do wrong at Legal. They beat all the other seafood restaurants.
(5)Robert M.
This review is for the design and vibe of the place. This is definitely playa stuff and whomever came up with the amazing idea of the level is of entertainment is brilliant. First floor is family-friendly, second floor a step up in service, and the third floor is all out over-the-top party.
(5)Brandon T.
What a phenomenal place! Hard to know where to begin when writing my review. First off the place is seemingly brand new inside and out. Beautiful patio for a romantic dinner on a warmer night then late september. Suprised they dont have heaters out there yet. Food to match any budget depending on the level you are on. There are several different menus ranging from grilled haddock to sea bass and foie. Perfect for a date night, or any night out for that matter. Wish I lived closer so I could be there more often! We had a great bottle of chardonnay, several outstanding oysters, and some nice fish dishes. I would recommend coming here to anyone! Also a bonus: There is a music venue close by that you can hear on nice nights. Possibly a great idea to see if someone you or your date really likes is playing, and make a reservation that same evening?? Cant think of a better suprise date night.
(5)Donna D.
Very good $$$ food service very speedy with the handheld computers. Valet parking $20 w/o validation $12 w/stamp. Throwback section on menu interesting offerings.
(4)Tina L.
My first dining experience here with 3 close friends after work to celebrate a birthday. Restaurant was warm inviting and the view was just awesome. However the service and food was another story. Hate to say it but our waitress was too new to be on her own. Had no clue of anything on the menu or bar. She was nice and very pleasant but that was just NOT enough. 2 of my friends ordered the chicken lobster and both was not cooked properly. When we open the head the tomalley was still black which meant it was not cooked enough to eat. Another friend had the swordfish special; I was told the fish was bland and sat in a wilty tasteless mush. I order the protégées seafood stew; not too impressed. Our waitress never showed to see if we were ok; by the time she did come by we were done. We wanted another round of drinks so we asked what kind of tequila they had; she had no idea and started to poke at her order machine frantically. She got so frustrated that she shoved it in my face and told me to pick one from her list. At this point were just trying to make the best of it since it is a celebration and all. We kept waiting for someone to come back so we can order a cake/dessert for the birthday girl ... Waitress never came by but to drop off our check.
(1)Jen G.
Go to place for sushi
(5)Juls B.
I'm giving this 5 stars mostly because of our waitress. It was my husband's birthday, and they seated us at a really nice table on the first floor next to the window with a view of the harbor. It was a bit noisy, but the ambience was just perfect for the two of us. My husband ordered the oysters on the half shell and absolutely loved them. He also ordered the yellowfin tuna medium rare, however he'd wished he had ordered it rare as it was a bit overdone for his liking. I had the salmon with the mashed potatoes and garlic green beans, it was fabulous. We were too full for dessert but the waitress insisted on bringing my husband birthday dessert which they comped us. Excellent service. I would highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions.
(5)Travis B.
so i was visiting the in-laws in boston, and they always, always, ALWAYS treat us to Legals. i am never disappointed. this new locale, as many other reviewers have already stated, consists of 3 levels...level 1 for the regular folks (although at Legals prices, i say that with much chagrin), level 2 is apparently like life....for the upper class. and level 3 i heard was a bar/lounge. we had reservations at 5pm and were seated at a magnificent table facing the habah. the air was cool and damp and the atmosphere was just splendid. we split a lobstah pizza and although skeptical at first, with that initial bite i was sold. cheesy and lobster-y, without tasting fishy. we downed it immediately. i had an open faced tuna sandwich and wound up not even eating the bread. my tuna was fine, but not as grand as other Legal experiences. everyone else at the table remarked how much they enjoyed their food. the ma in law noted however that her steamed spinach side dish was very oily (which it was). i also had a cup of chowdah and although it was hot as lava, i relished every rich, creamy bite. our server was an absolute doll. she was attentive and smiled as if she loved working there. i think we all appreciated her work. i was a bit miffed at the door staff....they had a very aloof personality. overall, great views and atmosphere, but hopefully next time we're in town, we'll hit up one of the other traditional menu'd Legals.
(4)Daniel L.
I came to Boston for seafood and Legal Harborside is certainly a required stop. The raw oysters were as sweet and tasty as I have ever had. The rare ahi tuna melted in your mouth.
(5)Nicole M.
Wasn't very impressed with my meal and neither was anyone else in my group of five. The place was packed with people and quite noisy. The food really isn't flavorful. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(2)Amy C.
Wow! We came here on a (very busy) Thursday night. We were significantly late for our reservation due to traffic, and I had called to let them know. I completely expected to wait upon arriving, but to our surprise they still had a table for us, outside like I had requested, and perhaps one of the best tables in the restaurant. And the hostess was super pleasant. We had clam chowder and steamers to start, and then yellowfin tuna and a seafood pasta dish for entrees. Everything was fantastic. And then for dessert, we shared a chocolate cake that was absolutely to die for. Our waiter was fantastic- very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. All of this combined with one of the best views in Boston- can't beat it. We'll be back!
(5)Bryn B.
Lobster roll was awesome! I have never had a lobster that fresh in my life! I thought the lobster hopped right out of the water into my sandwich! Definitely worth it!
(5)Jocelyn E.
Meh. The thing this place has going for them is their location. The view on the back patio is pretty nice. Who doesn't want to eat overlooking water? This is also the only waterfront seating restaurant on the dock that didn't resemble a bar. We have a one year old, so a place with a kid's menu and high chairs are a must. The hostesses were nice and accommodating. They did a great job seating us where we wanted to be seated. When we first got out back on the patio they had seated us in the corner... Where there was sun. The girl who had taken us to our table had no issues reseating us to another spot in the back, away from the sun. Our waitress was nice, but flaky. I mean, really flaky. She would consistently forget things and we rarely saw her. If you asked for something you she wouldn't remember it until she came back out, saw you, and then would apologize for what she had forgotten and go and come back right away (Tip: Maybe you should do it right away so you don't forget.). Her excuse to another table was that she had too many tables to wait, both inside and out. The food was okay. We had the clam chowder (that was good), I had the lobster roll (good, not great), my son had the Wooden Grilled Shrimp (WAY TOO SALTY!), and my hubby had the fried clam basket (which would have tasted better, had it not sat under a heat lamp for too long before being served). Everything came with a pile of fries. If you ever want just fries, this is the place for you. Our bill was a little under $60 when we were done, including tax (and before tip). I would've tipped less, but understanding that tips are typically split and the rest of the staff still deserved something despite our waitress's lackluster service, we still left about 15%. Hubby pretty much said the same thing. Plus let's be honest, my kid threw most of his not-very-good food all over the deck and someone is going to have to clean that up...
(2)Michael C.
Legal Harborside is a welcome addition to Boston but is far from as perfect as it looks. Each floor is technically considered a separate restaurant, here is my breakdown: Floor 1: The typical Legal seafood dining experience. All of the menu selections you know and love (or not). We sat at the bar and had bunch of oysters, our favorite were the Wianno XL's and Wellfleet's. The Sangria is also pretty tasty. The big selling point for this place is the open air dining the wharf offers when they open their retractable windows. They also have a fish market on this floor. Floor 2: The second floor is their fine dining restaurant. One major problem is they make it a huge pain to get up to the second floor, you have to get your ID checked by a host (bouncer?) to get up there, even during the day. It is gorgeous, like downstairs has an expansive open kitchen, a private dining room for functions, and a small area for patio dining. Floor 3: This is the fun floor. Retractable roof, good bar/lounge set up, a good crowd, and good music. This is a perfect spot for a summer day. Really amazing views of Boston!
(4)Mark O.
This review is strictly pertaining to the 2nd/3rd floor bar life on weekends. MA residents pride themselves on being welcoming, tolerant individuals. But when a bouncer on the decks bounces the one Indian man in the bar, without reason or circumstance, it makes me never want to come back again; I've never been so embarrassed for a colleague. I can guarantee that I will never, ever, return to this bar. If you're paid to "watch the bar" that doesn't attain to discrimination. Don't expect any more business from me, or my company, ever again.
(1)Kimberley S.
This review is for the 3rd floor outdoor roof deck. Boyfriend and I came here for a very warm marathon Monday. We walked throughout Faneuil and South Boston hoping to sate our beer and lobster craving. Rather than sit outside on park benches and eat an inexpensive roll from a nice fish shack, we opted to try legal. I was skeptical at first. The new legal harborside had always seemed a little trendy, and I was concerned that in coming here we would be paying for the atmosphere and not the food. I was worried - nothing worse than a mayo-drenched lobster roll. Not to worry - Legal harborside does it right. We both got the lobster rolls we were craving, which were perfect. A wonderful buttery grilled bun, chock-full of very sweet and flavorful lobster. Barely discernable mayo. The roll was pure, sweet, and meaty. It was a wonderful treat for such a hot and sunny day. The chips that came with it were fantastic. We saw about 100 sushi rolls walk by and the raw tuna looked amazing. We'll be trying that next. Boyfriend commented how recently we'd hit a spot of bad luck as it pertained to service, and we were a little down about it. The service this afternoon was spot-on. Fast, friendly, attentive. "Very refreshing," as boyfriend put it. The food is great. The atmosphere can't be beat. Not a bad seat in the house overlooking the water. Service was impressive. We can't wait to come back. (love)
(5)Anna T.
This review is only for the 3rd floor roof deck! This place was great for casual Saturday day drinking with friends. We had some out-of-towners with us and thought this would be a great place for them to see some amazing views of the city and harbor! While a little bit pricey, it is well worth it on a warm summer day. I would suggest their red sangria, it is some of the best I have ever had and you can get a glass, small pitcher or large pitcher to accommodate yourself or your party of 5. We also had some small plates of food including the Avocado salad and the Spicy Salmon Roll, both of which were super tasty! It is unfortunate that I really only came here at the end of summer because I would have made this my summer day drinking spot for sure! Oh well, there's always next summer, Legal!
(4)Tim M.
Great food and drinks. The staff is great and they pay attention to the customers.
(5)Thuy L.
This review is for the Rooftop bar only. What an incredible view--and when I say view, I mean the people. The actual scenery isn't bad either as you are looking right out into the harbor. The Legal rooftop is the only Legal that I know that serves sushi. Sushi is okay (definitely not the best) but you are coming here for the atmosphere anyway, which is hella-awesome! The drinks are good (but a little $$$). Get there early so that you 1) Don't have to wait in that ridiculous line and 2) to snag one of the lounge chairs. Try the Strong Man cocktail...it's quite tasty. Their sangria is a little too sweet for my taste but the other drinks are decent.
(4)Molly M.
****Good ole New England clam chowda!! Best in Boston! The food is great, the harbor-side patio seating is relaxing, and the service is unbelievable! Our waitress Becky was AWESOME! Extremely personable, quick for service, and very attentive to detail! She's able to remember your full order while still chatting and cracking jokes with other customers. Once again, very personable! Great food, great service!
(5)Julie N.
When: Saturday 3:00pm Where: 3rd floor What: Drinks This place was PACKED. The view was fantastic, the decor was cool, and a lovely couple got our attention and gave us their waterfront seats when they took off. I was afraid that Legal would've jacked up the drink prices for such a spot, but surprisingly a Bud Light was only $5.50 and their limited menu (mostly raw-bar and sushi) weren't overpriced either. I took a quick tour of the first floor and loved how open the space is. This is, by far, the most well designed Legal's I've ever been in. Tip: If you're driving here, there's a parking garage across the street for about $10 an hour so you might as well valet park and save some money if you're staying for awhile.
(4)Boston A.
The view of the water is outstanding. The view of scantily-clad women of all ages trawling for rich husbands is even better. Wherever you sit, you'll be close to both.
(3)Jennifer S.
Truly disappointing! Great location on the water and our servers were nice, but didn't communicate well considering they were supposed to be working as a team. The worst part was the food - a friend of mine and I both tried the big bowl salad...me with chicken and he tried it with lobster. The lettuce was cheap, iceberg lettuce and there were hardly any beans etc. in the salad as advertised. My chicken was dry, but apparently the lobster meat was good - actually the only good part of his salad. I hope this was just an exception to a normal experience because I was not impressed.
(2)Lauren W.
This might be one of my favorite restaurants ever. The atmosphere is amazing. I felt like i was on the set of a romantic comedy. it was just too cute and there were adorable people everywhere. We got a drink while waiting (i loved the white sangria - holy yum!), but the wait wasn't too bad at all. we got an awesome location - right by the outside. The food was all excellent, especialy the raw bar items - some of the best oysters ever! our waiter, aaron was awesome too. we were a bit rowdy but he handled us really well. i want to go back - soon.
(5)Stephanie P.
WORST SERVICE EVER!!! I hate to say this, because I love Legal in general, and have great times at other locations, but the Legal Harborside experience was dead wrong. We had a party of 5, seated on the first level. Our server was the worst. He was inattentive to say the least, but then he spilled a beer on my friend and I and did not even help to clean it up!! Nor did he replace the beer or the charge for the beer! He did not even replace our napkins let alone touch a napkin to clean it up!! Completely unprofessional. Then, later, we tried to go up to the roofdeck, which based on previous experience you can go right to after spending $$$ on dinner. The hostess said we had to wait in line. Okay. An hour later, we still weren't let in. We get to the front of the line and watch as the bouncer lets every other party in front of him go after flirting with him or handing him bribes. A half hour later we decide to ask for the manager, who tells us we should have been let up ASAP for eating dinner. No offer for free drinks, no apology, nothing. Never wasting my time again.
(1)Barisa J.
Fabulous roofdeck with interesting cocktails and a very decent wine list. This is a very cool spot.
(4)Jason L.
3.5 stars As someone who rarely frequents Legal Seafoods, I was drawn to the new and beautiful Waterfront outpost, which promised oceanfront views and fresh seafood. The multi-floor concept is a little convoluted at first, so check out the website. I dined on Floor 1 with a couple friends, and we had a primo table next to the big windows. The menu has minor variations from the other Legals, but all the mainstays remain. We had some delicious small spreads to start, and I really liked the fishy smoked bluefish with grilled pita. Most of the entrees were run of the mill, with your typical assortment of seafood. I went with a fried platter, which was heavy (my fault obviously for ordering that). Otherwise, no big surprises, fresh seafood with simple preparations. The 2nd floor's more fine dining menu looks more interesting, but hey the view and atmosphere itself is worth the trip. Be sure to take a trip to the 3rd floor after dinner for drinks on their spacious open patio bar. Food (6/10) Service (3.5/5) Decor (5/5) Value (4/5)
(4)Nathalie U.
Went for my anniversary and it did not disappoint. legal sangria was fantastic. Streamers so fresh a And Brussels sprouts were yummy. Service was good not such a fan of the pumpkin mousse pie.
(4)Molly Y.
This is the third Legal I've visited, and it was definitely a disappointment. Don't come here if you're expecting the full menu or a nice dining experience. You won't get either. It's more of a seaside bar - which hey, if that's what you're expecting, there's nothing wrong with it. My biggest problem was the food. Yuck-o. I got fish tacos, my partner got crab roll. Mine was edible only soaked in ketchup (a sin against fish tacos), and my partner's been sick to his stomach since we got home. Not coming back here again. What a thorough disappointment.
(2)Luckie D.
Great location, beautiful view, friendly service. The food was fine and I must add light years ahaed of the Leagal Seafood in Atlanta which is one hush puppy away from being a Long John Silver. So with that said I'd go back
(3)Allison M.
Had to come onto here and rave about our server tonight, Diego. Really knew his stuff, had great recommendations, and was a great server overall!
(5)Alison F.
I was very disappointed by my experience here, I dined here last night for mothers day, for the price I paid for the prix fix menu I expected a lot better. The service was very slow, until it came time for the check, which could not have been taken care of faster! My main course came out cold, and when I asked for it to be warmed up (very nicely) the server did not apologize at all, just took it away, and then brought it back, "this should be more to your liking". We were never offered refills on our drinks. My friend got food poisoning from the oysters, and still paid full price for her meal. In fact nothing was taken off our bill at all (after having cold food, and food poisoning). When paying $300 for dinner I would expect to have a much better experience!!
(1)Brendan S.
I love Legal Seafoods and have been to this one about 6 times in the past year. From that I can say that my experiences here have tended to be better the less crowded it is there. People have said the menu is limited, but if you're coming for seafood (after all it is a seafood restaurant), there are many choices and the specials are always good. Atmosphere is great! The servers are always very friendly and knowledgeable and with the exception of one visit, my fish has always been excellent. As I said, though the two times I went when it was really busy, my experiences have been somewhat sub-par for what I'm used to from Legal. On the 1st of these we arrived on time for our reservation. We requested a table by the water yet were brought to a tiny table by the bathrooms despite empty tables by the water. We then waited 15 minutes without anyone coming over to even fill out water glasses, before I finally asked a passing by server for a manager to come over. After waiting another 5-10 minutes, she came over and I explained our situation. After apologizing, she did seat us at a table by the water and we were given a complimentary appetizer. The service and food was fine after that, but I was still mad about the way I was treated. On my second bad experience, I arrived without a reservation on a busy Thursday night, so we sat at the bar to avoid an hour wait. I know it was busy, but it was still incredibly noisy, and talking to each other was worthless. When my grilled salmon (my usual) came out, it was terrible. It was an oddly-shaped bad cut of fish that was slobbered all over with butter (I'm dairy-free btw). All the other times there was never butter on my fish; usually a light amount of olive oil. After a few bites I told my server I couldn't eat it and he kindly took it off my bill. I still like this restaurant, but I'd recommend going to the Legal C Bar in Dedham; same menu, better food, less noisy, and more relaxing.
(3)Divya B.
I can come back to this place just for the mussels. Their mussels in yellow curry with pineapple and cilantro is out of this world! Don't miss out on them. I took one star out of the ratings because the food taste isnt consistent. It wont disappoint you but I felt it fluctuates between "good" and "great". I also love their veggie bruschetta and sweet red pepper dip. They go so well with a glass (or more?) of white sangria. The harborside view\seating adds a sense of calmness to this otherwise noisy and always busy place. Great place to hang out with friends on a beautiful summer day.
(4)Aman S.
Always good and always consistent. I love the scallops and shrimp cocktail apps. I had a 2+ pound lobster and was totally content. The prices were reasonable and the service was impeccable. I ate here 2 nights in a row while in Boston on business last week.
(5)Michael M.
Arghh! This is what I call FPF, or fat peoples's food. Everything's thick and sweet (why so much sugar with my fruit de mer?) It's like an Applebee's. You can do SO much better in Boston.
(1)samsara w.
Horrendous experience. DO.NOT.GO.HERE. We had reservations for dinner last night at 4 pm. Early evening for us as we have a 6 month old, and my mother-in-law was here from Texas. When I checked in with the hostess, she did not smile, wasn't in the least bit welcoming, and handed me a buzzer saying there was a wait, as others had checked in before us. The 'wait' turned out to be long, and many people were seated before us (some without reservations) who she referred to by name and seemed very familiar with. I am Indian, and I can't help but think that race had something to do with her behavior. When we finally got our table, after I went up there and asked how much longer, we were seated in the only spot in the entire restaurant where it was hard to see the water (right behind the cash register), this despite my requesting an outside table near the water. Oh well... The lobsters were rubbery and tough, badly prepared. We had to ask for rolls, while other tables had theirs well before us. My salmon was gross, and the noodles as the side were COLD and drenched in a sweet, inedible dressing. We were out $130 for a terrible meal, with no class or substance for three people, with no alcohol. To make things worse, it was so LOUD that we couldn't carry on a conversation without shouting. We ended up looking at each other defeatedly, poking the TERRIBLE food on our plates, in silence. Not exactly the special evening we had planned. Legal you disappointed me and broke my heart. Again, don't waste your money and time on this TOURIST TRAP, SUBPAR dining experience. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)Macy A.
A great place to hang out in the summer. Pretty crowded in the weekend so you might want to go there earlier if you plan to be able to enter before it closes. By the way it is open until 1am. If there is a concert or an event in the hall across the street, you can watch/listen for free at the bar on the third floor. A good place to have a drink. Would recommend it.
(4)Melissa M.
Spring time is my favorite time in Boston simply because we finally get to start eating lunch outside.... Legal Harborside has a great oyster menu, wine selection, and beautiful views no matter where you sit. Its always busy so be prepared to wait or make a reservation. I have always had amazing service and the specialty drinks are always yummy. Great place for Lunch or dinner on the water.
(5)Bill W.
Being from Boston I am not overly impressed by Seafood restaurants in general and I also have had some unpleasant experiences at the "other" Legal Seafood in Boston. I vowed never to visit another Legal Seafood establishment and have been vocal about it. But a co-worked visited Legal Harborside and had good experiences so we decided to give Legal one more shot Wine selection is fairly limited unless you buy by the bottle but my wife had a very nice 2009 JM Raffault "Les Galuches" Cabernet Franc. At $9.00 per glass and the pour was good. I chose the Darkhorse "Cabernet at $10 per glass. Being wine drinkers, we do not mind trying wines we haven't had. Both were excellent. For the meal we both selected Fish in Foil (16.95) steamed haddock, cheese and veggies but asked to hold the cheese. Our server (Chad) was accommodating, entertaining, attentive and informative. Despite my persistent "whining" about needing "healthy" foods, Chad never waivered in his mission to satisfy us. He offered unique opportunities and was sincere in his efforts to please us. I changed up to the Sav Blanc Henry Natter Sancerre (Loire) 2011 at $14 per glass (pricy...but nice.) When the meal came...it was a disappointment. My fish (Haddock) was not cooked. By that I mean it was raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone elsewhere. So once again I was disappointed by Legal Seafood. So I needed to tell the server. Here's where the story is better at Harborside than the "other" Legal place. The manager (Peter Barker) came over immediately. He apologized and explained that our dish would need to be made from the start. It would take at least 8 minutes to steam. He provided shrimp cocktail at no charge while we waited. I am not looking for a free meal and could easily got one, but was happy with the attention that Peter and Chad provided. I was also delighted that Peter stated the meal would be made over...and not simply re-heated (as my previous experience at the Marriott Long Wharf site was) Chad made it his mission to pay special attention to us for the duration of our stay. But what made the day was... the meal. It was simply outstanding. The Legal staff did not re-heat. They made the plate and it was apparent to me that care was given to ensure our meals were perfect. Although the meal we originally ordered was poorly prepared, Legal Harborside's Peter Barker and our guy Chad, went out of their way to make sure we were happy. I will never go back to the other Legal and will never have a good word to say (and am quite vocal about it) I will be back to Legal Harborside and thank these 2 gentlemen for their attention. Oh - the view is spectacular
(4)Nicki B.
Fun and nice place. Good food, good drinks.
(4)Vince D.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Place was packed. Great atmosphere. The food was just ok though. It didn't live up to other Legal seafood locations we've dined at. The service was slow. We had to flag our waitress down for another drink and the check. I wouldn't go back.
(3)J P.
EXTREMELY RUDE SERVER!!!!!!!!!! Walked by our table four times and finally stopped when eventually acknowledging our signals (25-minutes.) We asked for menus, she walked away & returned only to literally throw the menus across the table and walk away without a word. The food was good, but the service was horrible. We were their ready to spend money and were treated like dirt!
(1)Kyla C.
I always eat at Legal's when in Boston so I had to check out the new Harborside restaurant. I had lunch with my sister on the first floor and it was good. We tried many things on the menu: oysters, red pepper spread with pita chips and crostini with different toppings - all good, especially the red pepper spread. I got the lobster roll and it was full of bigs chunks of lobster meat, yum. We shared a cupcake for dessert which was tasty as well. The waiter forgot a couple of small things but overall the service was good. All in all our meal was pretty expensive, espcially for lunch, so that threw me for a loop. Too bad it was a super crappy, rainy day when I was there because the view is great and can't be beat. Don't forget to stop on the 3rd floor for a drink before you leave, it's pretty cool up there!
(4)issy d.
Five star for service! I came here last Saturday for a friends birthday dinner. Every staff member we came across was great. The hostess at the front were so friendly and helpful. They put us on wait list and we got to go to the upstairs bar and the bartender was great made good recommendations and told us if we ordered drinks or food and our table came up that they can hold the table downstairs for us so we did a dozen oysters and a few rounds of drinks. Julian the guy at the door was my favorite! He helped us take epic model photos next to the flowers upstairs. he must of overheard us discussing a birthday and he relayed the message back downstairs where my hostess already knew before I could say anything and they relayed that to our server so they surprised the birthday boy with desert. The Server made great recommendations and the manager also helped us send the birthday boy a strong drink so we could finish the birthday boy off! probably isn't even strong.. I ordered a "one shot kill" Which is a drink I totally made up but it did the trick. end of dinner we all drew on a postcard that they attach to the receipt I addressed that to the birthday boy....I told myself that service was awesome and it would be even more awesome if they actually sent that to the birthday boy, and I forgot about it all. But today the post card actually arrived in his mail box! I loveeee the staff so much. It was a great first experience at legals harborside we will be back! I really loved that the staff was receptive to our jokes and that they made the experience that much more memorable just from how good the customer service was. I hope legals harborside management reads this and commends their staff for it!
(5)Mark L.
The biggest Legal I've ever seen with three distinct seating areas that makes this more like three+ separate restaurants under one banner. Expanded legal menu (food and drinks) was available but I had more bar food while catching the Bruins-Blackhawks game. Both the deep fried clams and the clam pizza were great. Decent crowd.
(4)Christopher H.
Have been here several times for a simple seafood dinner. Always a good time. Russel Is one of the best servers there and is real pleasant. Highly recommend
(4)BF K.
If I could give negative stars on how our party was treated on the third floor, I'd fly those non existent stars on a non existent banner high in the sky for all to see. We brought a group of forty people to the harbor side roof on a really nice, totally out of season night- it was beautiful out, and the crowd otherwise was really small, so the business we were bringing in (buying bottles, purple Jesus' for the group etc) was relevant. Sure we'd come from a party, and we may have had one or two people that probably needed to be cut off. Normally, if you see an issue with a patron, you A. Cut them off B. tell their friends you cut them off so they can deal with it C. Ask the patron to leave D. Tell the patron to leave E. kick the patron out the door. One or all of these. So I ask you.. Since when do you tell an entire party of FORTY that they're cut off because two people need to stop for the evening? When the entire other THIRTY EIGHT people are fine and having a great night? Yea- this place does. And when you politely talk to the manager and security team about asking if they can let you know who the issue is so you can put them in a cab and keep on having a good time and they won't tell you? And refuse to reason? Well that's when I say you just lost a shiz load of business. Thanks Legal Harborside, for exceeding my expectations on just how much more douchey your franchise has become. See you never.
(1)Stephen M.
The Chef's taster menu with wine recommendation was exquisite. Celebrated our silver wedding anniversay here and they made a special fuss of us, even writing congratulatory wishes in chocolate on our desert plate - it's the little things that make all the difference. Lovely view of the harbour while dining with constantly changing light as the sun sets.
(5)Brian C.
Visited the 3rd level on the Friday after the 4th figuring that a slow day in the city would allow us access to the typically very busy spot. Nabbed two stools at the railing in the outside area. Things were looking good. Things went downhill ....slowly. Two quick observations: One, nice view obviously of the harbor and airport, but not of the city. The adjacent building blocks the view to the west. Two, the speakers were really awful out there. The music was almost unrecognizable. Kind of shocking for a new facility. The deck was full but not jammed, but service was extremely slow. It took 20 mins to get glasses of water and 30 minutes for our first drink. By the way it was about 95 degrees up there. Food delivery was actually slower. We asked about our order and found out that it had been delivered to the wrong party. The reorder was taking just as long so we decided to bail out. Great start but horrible experience. Others around us told us that they had similar service. We spent an hour, eager to spend some $$ but left after one drink each. We crossed the street and had terrific service at Mortons bar.
(1)Caroline W.
This legals is a lot like the others but has a fabulous location. This location has three floors of bars and seating, including a roof top patio and deck area that has a retractable roof for the warm summer nights. The raw oysters we ordered were amazing and they had about 10 varieties available (many from Ma). The lunch portions we got were on the small side but fresh and flavorful. Between $12- $17 for a lunch entree. Our table had a view of the ocean and we could see the boats/planes going by. Very nice except for the loud kitchen area that is rather open because it is exposed to the customers. During the summer season (busy season) this place is bumpin and there is usually always a line for the rooftop patio and tables. The second floor of this legals offers a separate menu from the others and it is much pricier. Private parties: We asked to try and reserve tables for a cocktail hour later in the summer and they told us it was all first some first serve. Otherwise, to reserve a room for some our friends to mingle together and order appetizers they require a minimum $5000. Yeah right! Overall, a great spot. But assume you will have to wait for a table if you go at peak hours.
(4)Christian R.
Very relaxing atmosphere on the harbor. 3 floors with outdoor seating. Good (mostly local) beers on tap. Oysters and clams were excellent and very fresh.
(4)Stephanie I.
Great seafood options. Not so good for none fish eaters like my dad and brother who were kinda stuck with burgers. My fiance and mom ordered shrimp fra diavolo which they loved and I really liked the lobster roll I ordered. We were seated immediately on the night of July 4th because we opted to sit in the dining room area but not by the covetted windows which was perfectly fine with us because after dinner we simply walked over to the harbor and enjoyed the view.
(4)Denise B.
This is my favorite Legals. Great location! It's always busy in here and it does get crowded, but that is a good thing, it means people keep coming back. The food is delicious! I love to go here for dinner, but have a drink on the 2nd or 3rd floor to start. I have never had anything bad here and the service is alwasy fantastic.
(5)Lance S.
I actually just created an account so I could share my experience...my wife and I are on the rooftop right now and have literally been sitting here for 25mins on the railing without being served...the server continually walks but has only acknowledged us once (mind you it's still fairly early and not very busy)...still haven't even placed an order!!!! We were prepared for dinner/drinks but after this service we're leaving... Very cool spot but can't explain how bad this service is.........oh well, good try
(1)Marilyn S.
Great Service. Wonderful fresh lobster, clams and mussels. Good wine and a great day to eat on the wharf. You could smell the salty sea and the doors were open to feel the breeze. Food was something we are dreaming about now that we are back in the midwest. Wonderful! I ate at this restaurant years ago when they first opened. We ate on picnic tables. Same great food but the view was perfect.
(5)Stephanie P.
This newest Legals boasts amazing seaside views to rival their already fantastic menu. We started with drinks from the bar and the mixed cocktails didn't disappoint at double the usual size!. My mom had to share hers. The lobster pizza app was incredible!!! Thin, crispy crust with cheese, lobster, a soft egg in the center (sounds a little odd, but it was oh so right!). I went with fresh Wellfleet oysters on the half shell. They were deliciously briny, albeit small. I had never had oysters served with their champagne-vinegar and it was a wonderful compliment. My sister and I split a bottle of wine (she ordered oysters as well), and my husband and mom enjoyed their fish sandwiches while dad kept his face buried in his fried clams until reaching the bottom of the plate. I agree with my husband on the service, I was unimpressed with the 3 staff members we encountered at the door and hostess stand. Without as much as a smile they slapped the beeper in our hands even though we had a reservation. um, ok thanks. At least we had a beautiful table by the open wall. We got to relish in the fresh sea air and watch the boats pass through the harbor. However, 3 cheers for our server who was always checking on us and had a great smile and attitude. I was certain my mom was going to ask her to join us. Although Legal's seafood doesn't disappoint no matter which location you visit, this one is a must for the views. Especially for us desert dwellers who don't ever get to dine by the ocean!
(5)Blair H.
An amazing way to spend an afternoon. I had a fisherman's stew, solely based on the fact that for $15.95, I thought I was getting more for my money compared to the clam linguine. The stew, aka cioppino, could have used a bit more fishy punch (or clammy kick). I also didn't like that it tasted a lot like canned, diced tomatoes. Also also, if that waiter got any closer to me and asked me if I wanted another drink again, I'da shoved my spoon in his nose. But the view and the atmosphere! There are few places I'd rather lunch in Boston. P.S., make a reservation! There was a 1.5h wait for the informal dining room at 5pm on a Saturday. Got lucky and found a couple of bar seats.
(4)Amanda G.
Officially OBSESSED. Finally, a place that serves the consistently fresh and delicious Legal food I know and love, but with added twists, and an AMAZING space and view. Where to begin... The food was a mix of old faithfuls (Tuna Burger a la LTK, and grilled Scallops with two sides) and fun surprises! Gorgonzola and fig jam on bruschetta (yummmm x3) and a long list of oysters from the raw bar, including Wellfleet Oysters, my fav and they did not disappoint! We ate on the first floor - the more "affordable" of the two floors, the second being ultra fine dining, beautiful space but $$$$ meals - and it was wonderful. Right by the water with an insane view, next to the open kitchen, surrounded by people dressed up for a night out and near a long seated bar area where couples and singles ate and stared out at the water. I felt like I was in NYC but NOT because we were definitely not land locked. After a fab dinner, we went up to the third floor to get a load of the roof deck bar. In a word: awesome. There's a big bar in the center of the roof deck, covered, and it's planked by open seating areas uncovered and with great views of the water and city (and Pavilion). If you like seafood, great views. Boston, America, fun, and Summer - go! P.s. Re: service, it was OK, I think they're still figuring out how to deal with so many people in one space (make a reservation), but everything else more than made up for any failings on the wait staff...
(5)Eliot C.
I visited Legals (floor 1) with four other friends on Saturday. It was a gorgeous evening. The doors to the deck were open for outside dining. There was a blue sky and the temperature was perfect. We were lucky enough to score a table on the deck (which I thought was one of the best seats in the house). Very relaxing atmosphere being outside, there was a public boat dock right below us, and we had a great view of the harbor/airport. The waitress was awesome. She was very personable, knew the menu and had several good suggestions for both food and drink. We started with Raw Oysters, Calamari and Buffalo Shrimp along with a few mixed drinks and beer, We then moved onto the the main meal of sword fish, salmon, scallops and crabless/peperoni pizza (for the seafood challenged member of the group). We ended the meal with a smooth glass of scotch. All the food was good. I don't think we left a thing on any of plates.
(3)Ken S.
Delicious: the maki rolls are beautiful though not tightly wrapped. The lobster roll is flavorful though they are a bit generous with the mayonnaise. The cocktails are good. I recommend that you hit this place on a cool weekday for lunch. It's quieter, you can find a seat, and you can really enjoy your meal.
(4)H T.
Really great seafood, especially for the price. I ordered the crabcake combo platter and loved everything on in. The scallops were amazing. I also ordered a dozen local oysters. They were the biggest oysters I've ever seen and they were very flavorful. I would definitely rely on this chain in the future to serve me high quality seafood at a reasonable price. I think it is a good place to take out-of-towners because you know you can count on the quality.
(4)Susan B.
The roofdeck bar has a spectacular view...but that is it. The menu is strictly sushi and not very good sushi at that, overly very sweet rice and not so fresh fish. The only other offering are chowder (good) and some kind of crab salad that did not look like crab salad. Service was awful, a bunch of young brunette (female only) clones standing around not paying attention to customers. 30 minutes to get a cup of chowder, 45 minutes to get a crappy crab salad and even longer to get the sushi. We had to get our most of our beverages at the bar and God forbid you ask for a water. This is the 3rd time I've been here now and have had the same experience each time. The first floor has really good food and service and a varied menu, but usually has a really long wait.
(2)Kris R.
this place is ginorm! as an out of towner, came here with a bunch of drunk folk on a bar crawl - my absolute fave spot by far. super huge, like 3 ridic floors, awesome view of the ocean on the roofdeck, a bit of swag, fo' sho'. shared the lobster pizza and some oysters with a friend. super good. great cocktails, too. i'd definitely come back. awesome place for visitors.
(4)Annmarie A.
With Legal Seafood's, you always know what you're going to get. Or will you? Legal Harborside is definitely a bit of a different take on the Legal Seafood restaurants we've all come to know and love. This location is ideal, right out on the water, with full-wall windows which can easily be opened and pushed back to enjoy the lovely sea breeze. But it is LOUD. At a table of six, I could only hear the ones seated directly in front and beside me. This is partially due to the open windows and proximity to the airport, but also due to the wooden deck-like floors, high ceilings, and somewhat excessive use of concrete. I am used to the thick carpeting, cozy chairs, and quiet atmosphere of the other locations. Speaking of cozy chairs, half of the seating is benches, and the other half splits between table and pub height versions of patio furniture type chairs. A bit uncomfortable, and a surprise considering the elderly crowd. The oyster bar is up on a platform, and faces the ocean while overlooking the dining room. There is seating outside, but there are no awnings or umbrellas yet, so it can get a bit hot in the direct sun. The main bar is a beautiful creation, but is pushed to one side so the view can be the star (rightly so, at least in the summer). The staff was pleasant, if a bit harried in the lunchtime rush. However, we were sat promptly despite half of our party was 45 minutes late, and we were never made to feel as though we were a bother, which I greatly appreciated. Our waitress took our oyster and appetizer oysters promptly, returning for drink refills, and showing up right away when the rest of our party arrived. Drinks: Delicious! A surprisingly good micro-brew selection, and inventive cocktail menu. The only downsides were that the wine was predictably overpriced, and I was disappointed that they took away the wine-flights. Food: Again, delicious. Legal's stopped short of changing the basics of their menu, with chowders and lobsters front and center. They switched the chowder cup & bowl options for a single mug, which is a fine size for not filling up before the meal. The prices on the first floor seem in line with the other restaurants, so they are not charging these prices for the location alone. All in all, a solid visit.
(4)Ann M.
Once again, Legal Seafoods delivers a guest experience that makes the grade. At Legal Harborside you'll enjoy Boston's new view in the emerging Seaport neighborhood. Tenured Bostonians will appreciate how beautifully the Berkowitz Family has carried on the heritage of Jimmy's Harborside. And, out of towners should beat a path to the best fried clams anywhere. The gleaming, exposed kitchen is nothing short of an operational marvel, and a fitting visual balance to your Boston Harbor vista. There's really no bad seat in the place. And, weather permitting, you can opt to dine al fresco on the deck/dock. Maureen is captain of the front desk and manages a team of hosts to seat the room fearlessly. Our server Gabrielle was pure sunshine, and took great care of our multigenerational party. The food is everything you would expect: fresh, delicious, and generous in proportion. Honestly, it's one of those menus where you want to eat everything. We had fun sharing plates of Truffled Egg Salad, Whipped Gorgonzola & Fig Jam Bruschetta and Kalamata Spread with Grilled Pita. My entree of White Clam Pizza with Arugula was innovative and over the top yum. It's hard to imagine the place getting any better, but it's about to. In early June they'll open the 2nd floor formal restaurant & a roof top lounge. I call that 3 stories of happiness. youtube.com/user/HotelAd…
(5)Courtney M.
I have been to several Legal Seafoods and you never can go wrong. We ordered apps and drinks before catching the "T" back to the airport. Once again the food was wonderful!!
(5)H S.
Enjoyed the food (the Icelandic tasting menu) especially the braised lamb, also enjoyed the lobster raviolini. The bar program could use some updating though. I asked the 2nd floor bartenders for 7 different liqueurs, all pretty standard at the better craft cocktail bars around town, and not only did they not have them, they hadn't even heard of them. Some training could be in order.
(3)Emily P.
The first floor is really amazing! Love the fish and chips, the oysters, the clam pizza! Beer is pretty cold and drinks are really tasty! Warning: don't sit behind the concrete pole; barthenders may not see you...Third floor; getting a table in the summer can be a nightmare (Legal suggestion; have a waitlist for table for those who would like one- this will make the experience more enjoyable). We had some tourists pretty much bounce us as we tried to pay our tab....Bus boy spilled an entire plate of oyters into purse and was not apologetic- very annoying :( Also; some peopl BUT the view is amazing and a great spot to meet friends!
(4)Joo L.
Location: The view was beautiful, right in front of the water. Service: I went to Legal Harborside on a Thursday morning at 11:00am (opening time), so we were one of the first ones to be seated near the water. The hostess was slow in walking us to our table (I noticed that all guests were slowly walked to their tables...must be a rule). We were greeted by our server who was very confusing to me. She was nice one minute, and then cold and annoyed the next minute. She had an awful hearing problem as well, as we tried to flag her down multiple times as she walked past us, but she never acknowledged us. There were hoards of servers, but many of them were socializing and flirting with each other, rather than focusing on the customers. It felt like we were watching some sort of MTV reality show. Food: The food is not that cheap. Because I have a shell fish food allergy, I was unable to eat 75% of what was on the menu, so I ordered their Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. It was pretty basic. Our server was pretty accommodating with my request to cook everything on separate cookware. However, my family thought the lobster roll was very good, and the steamed lobster so-so (they thought it was overpriced). The bread, however, was very delicious...warm, soft and satisfying.
(3)Tim H.
Legal Seafood means only the best finest fresh seafood and lobster. Best New England Chowder. Excellent Lobster and mussels. In season oysters vary per location. Excellent raw bar offerings. If you do not live in Boston or near a Legal Seafood then it is hard to get past the lobster and chowder to other fish dishes. Legl Seafood Harborside is the flagship and is special. Great dining on the porch at the Harbor and spectacular bar with aquarium and large screen TVs for watching sports. If you happen to miss Harborside you can enjoy Legal Seafood at Logan Airport with little decrease in quality.
(5)michael l.
Food was excellent. Our server Matthew P was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some great suggestions. Views of the harbor
(5)Di B.
We went today for lunch and the food was very good, but not great. My Rhode Island Stuffy had shell in it, which was difficult to get out of my teeth. And my friend shrimp still had the veins in it. I was pretty grossed out by that. You cannot get past the awesome view and the service was excellent. Would go again, but VERY disappointed that a seafood restaurant like Legal would not devein shrimp. My husband had the oysters rockefeller and friend clams and loved them.
(3)Tim H.
2 stars for the location and the actual space, its beautiful. If you like your drinks filled with lots of ice and very little alcohol, this is your spot. And no bottle beer, only tap, better profit margins. RB keepin on it on the cheap.
(2)Sarah O.
LOVE! Generally not a huge Legal Seafoods fan but I love Legal Harborside (have only eaten at the first floor restaurant). Good quality seafood and decent prices. SO many different and creative options. I have sampled a good amount of this menu and everything I has been delicious. A great place to go to share try out different items. Brought friends from out of town here and they also loved it. It's loud and busy but right on the water and very pretty and cool atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone, whether a tourist or a local! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed.
(5)Gaven H.
This review is for the Legal Harborside - Floor 2 . Yelp does not have a area to review F2. I had been to Floor 3 for drinks and Floor 1 for dinner with a group of family/friends. I enjoyed the time I had spent on both floors. So this past weekend my girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary. I knew we would enjoy the second floor. The oysters are the only thing you will find on any other Legal menu. I have eaten at other restaurants in the area and you seem to pay for the atmosphere and views. You might pay for these on the other floors, but on F2 it's all about the food. This is a place I could gorge myself time and time again. You start eating and want more. The problem is you also can not wait to try what's going to be put in front of you next. This is a pricey meal, but I have paid the same or more for less enjoyable meals. Starters: $11-$22 per plate We went with the oysters. Sweet, crisp, and clean Raspberry Points. The Glidden Point's were good, but nothing new with flavor. Next the seared foie gras, rich in the best of ways. This was done with chocolate brioche and cherries, which work well with the smoky flavor from the sear of the foie gras. The candied ginger on the plate (to me) is not needed. Main courses: $28-$56 per plate She had the butter poached lobster. This is served over corn, chorizo, mussels, and potatoes. Another rich plate. But hey it's an anniversary. I did not try this, but she says it was a great dish. The reason I did not try the lobster was because I was engrossed in the sauteed hiramasa. The smoky eggplant puree goes perfectly with the herbs used to season the hiramasa. The fish was cooked perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone, and hope to copy it for home use. Dessert: $8- $11 per plate Now here is where I lost track: I'm still thinking about the main course. She had the toffee pudding. I had the goat cheese napoleon. I'm sure that these were both great desserts, but the main courses overwhelmed them. The flavor and taste were good and enjoyable, but as I write this review I could have forgot to put them in. The wait staff was very well trained. Exceptionally polite and very informative. Our waiter even gave some recommendations as to better alternatives on the menu and the reasons he liked them more. So I say "Go to Legal Harborside Floor 2". If it's a special night or any night this is a perfect meal. Well worth it.
(5)stephanie b.
Roofdeck: Gorgeous roof deck. However, we ordered oysters and shrimp cocktail and had to beg to get a napkin, silverware, etc. Ashley waited on us, very nice but when she finally brought us ONE napkin and there were 5 of us, i was kind of irritated. She was very sweet but raw oysters with no napkins, side plates or anything seems a bit clueless... Floor 2: A bit overpriced for the portions. Also if you are going to charge $30 for a very small piece of fish be sure to have SIDE ORDERS. We kept asking for extra food...can we have a side of Polenta etc. They need to just go ahead and bite the bullet and be a la carte, why not, the prices already reflect that type of menu. We had the sablefish, salmon, and hen - all of which were delicious but we were starving AND we had already had appetizers on the roofdeck and had ordered tuna as an appetizer (very small). The staff was amazing, fine dining quality but not at all stuffy. The hostess was very nice and professional as well and kept moving our reservation b/c we were waiting for the damn napkins on the roofdeck so we could eat our apps!
(3)Adrian H.
Since the renovation of the wharf (and the loss of one of my favorite seafood restaurants to the renovation), I had hoped to return to equally good food and an even better experience. Alas, I was more than disappointed. I started with the calamari which was fine, but the presentation was not what I would expect for the cost. My entree was the crab salad. My impression of a salad included greens, but there were none. The crab was in a half avocado, with tasteless tomatoes, hard boiled egg and thickly cut cucumber. Again, the food was simply not well prepared, considered, presented, or cooked. My wife had the tuna burger because she had the same meal at the Legal C in Dedham and had enjoyed it. This burger, however, lacked any taste. My mother had the fish and chips and she was less than pleased. Finally, the service was cheerful, but slow. I was relieved to step out into the wharf's night air.
(2)Rick M.
I must say that I was sorely disappointed with our experience at this place. We took some out of town relatives here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. First of all, it was really noisy. Unless you had your ear three inches away from the person who was speaking to you, you could not hear a word. Second, the waitstaff was terrible. I mean, I have had better service at a gas staion. We waited over 15 minutes just to order drink. Then, the beer came and was warm. We tried to send the drinks back, but could not flag down our waitress. The food finally came and was luke warm as well. I will say that the person who was responsible for clearing tables was over attentive, as we felt like we were being pushed out early to make room for the next customer. I do not understand anyone's fascinaton with this chain of restaraunts. Food was terrible, service was bad and the atmosphere is akin to a rugby match. Never going back ever again.
(1)D B.
Went to dinner Friday night and place was very busy. There was an hour plus wait for seating on the 1st level with a water view. Seeing we were hungry we found a table in the bar area. Bar area was not very loud and overlooked street. This was kinda nice as we were away from the crowd. Michael was our waiter and the service was quite good. Mike was well versed on the wine and dinner menus. Started with a bunch of oysters and for dinner had grilled Blue fin tuna. Fish was excellent. The deserts sounded good but passed this time. Will be back again!
(3)Erika W.
Tried cotuit oysters, very nice with a medium brine. Moonstone, which had a very briney sea flavor, were delish. The best were the naked cowboy - dive caught with a bold briney flavor and a perfect, more firm texture. The two spreads we tried were both delicious. One being the salt cod brandade and the other smoked bluefish, accompanied by toasted pita. Next we tried the fried clams and the oven roasted clams. I know, bivalve overload. The oven roasted clams were good, but not great. I'd go for something else next time. The fried clams, however, were fantastic. Small, juicy & tender. Perfectly fried, not greasy at all, I would definitely get them again. One of the bar staff was really helpful & knowledgeable and gave us some recs for the next visit.
(4)Johanna G.
Awesome! Great view, great curry mussels appetizer .Perfect on a beautiful day or night. I had a crab salad for lunch that was excellent. I will definitely go back.
(5)George K.
Great place, amazing view, delicious drinks and food BUT why everything plastic on the roof deck? Forks and plates are plastic. Only the drinks were served in glass! Wasteful, unnecessary, annoying and it ruined the whole nice feelings about the place. I hope it will change SOON!
(2)Chaim T.
You can't beat the rooftop view on the third floor, but don't let the view fool you. We ate on the first floor and with a so-so experience. My wife had to send her wood grilled salmon back TWICE since it was way undercooked (think medium rare for tuna). She opted for the wood grilled trout the third time which was better if not a tad too salty. I had the same and although I enjoyed the dish I was put off by the sloppy plating. The trout was atop two side dishes of room temperature jasmine rice and buckwheat noodles. It looked thrown together. The service was good and attentive with many apologies from the manager for the undercooked salmon. We're not rushing back.
(3)Dorothy R.
Loved the rooftop bar!! Great drink menu - definitely try the St Germaine cocktail! Great summer drink!
(5)Johnny U.
Heard from locals this was the only chain they would eat at. This was close to the airport, so we thought one last meal at a water front place. We expected inflated prices, but they were only a few dollars more than others. Great staff. Great food. Clam chowder was well stocked. The rest of the food was great as well. A bit chilly to sit outside? I expected Boston to be warm and muggy. It felt like a early sring evening....in June? So we took a table by the window. Fun, great people watching, good food.
(4)Laura C.
Legal was recommended by locals via friends. We loved the ambiance of the bar (3rd floor) and the meal on the first floor. The clam chowder was the BEST - very non-west coast meaning it was not so gloppy thick, but more subtle and with intense clam nectar flavor. The fried fish plate was too salty, however. Too bad, otherwise would have given 5 stars.
(4)Gonzalo B.
Exhibit #274 on Why They Need More Restaurants in Boston. Talk about your Masses of Asses. Whoa, baby! You're goin' to a casting call, a cattle call, you're gonna shoot some fish in a barrel, only you're the fish and you're in the barrel and...hey. I'm gettin' carried away here. it's crowded. Been to many of the Legal locations over the years, many times. Always thought of this as kind of a 10%-90% kinda place - ten per cent locales, 90% tourists/conventioneers/etc...never real blown away by them, always pretty mezza-mezza, some things pretty strong, other...not so much. Been to this location, location, location twice now. The 1st was fine, the second, uh, nahhhh. We had a 45 minute (surprise!!!) wait for a 1st fl table with some out of town guests. We elevated to the deck and got some bar seats, some good sushi, decent shrimp cocktail...weather-wise, as Frank used to say, it's such...a lovely view... Back downstairs, nice table window-side, good, young, energetic waiter. Everybody liked their meals, including my seafood trio. The sizes here seem to have been downsized about a 1/4 or a 1/3rd. The trick is, nobody ssems to notice. I noticed. Next time the building was bursting more than usual, we slid into 2 seats at the round bar. Nice that they have Pretty Things beer, it's pretty %$#@ good! We ordered fried oyster sliders, and got mostly fried clams. Why they send out 3 of anything just sucks. Mostly people eat in two's, in four's...3 of an app is just wrong. I get one, you get one, we arm wrestle for the third. Clams not oysters, 10 feet from the oyster bar.There's a big difference, we mentioned it to the bartender, and a manager came by and apologized, took it off the bill. A fine move, and a good guy. He listened too to what we had to say about the curry mussels, the mussels were big and meaty and delicious, as was the sauce...too bad no bread for sopping up the bottom/sauce, that's part of the whole thing. And, they could give you a soup spoon...you'd use it. At the bar, no bread forthcoming, maybe if you ask...also, no water offered...you imbibe more beer that way... Biggest letdown was the great-sounding lobster/mushroom pizza. The crust is the same as the dipping chips you get for the small app dips, like the excellent bluefish we also got...this was a soppin', sloppy, difficult to eat liquid mess -and, more onion pie than other ingredients. we ate maybe a 3rd. She didn't ask if we wanted the rest - I think she knew. So. Like I said earlier, some things pretty damn good, others...no so much. But it's a scene, if you like to be in the herd, go.
(3)Nadeen H.
From my previous experiences at Legal I was skeptical that this would be any different. LTK was always the exception, but they were a different concept all together. The new Harborside location is a Legal's I will definitely go back to. The energy was fun, the restaurant is beautifully done, clean, no snoozy music and the food and drinks were awesome. The servers were all attentive and friendly. The mussels were by far my favorite as well as the ham salad small plate. They had a lot of fun drinks and a good beer selection. Make sure you save room for dessert. We tried the coconut cream pie, rhubarb cobbler and the boston cream pie (not the same old standby as all the other boring Legal's). I couldn't pick a favorite, they were that good. I hope they add specials as well as a few more entrees, to keep me interested.
(5)Ted K.
Stopped in for a late lunch on Monday afternoon of a beer and some oysters and other apps. We sat at the bar. The view is incredible. We loved the oysters. We loved the special Sam Adams and Harpoon beers available on tap. The service was miserable. I don't know if the bartender was having a bad day or what. No smile. No welcome. When we told her we would like to order some oysters, we were told to "hold on," then we watched her wander off to do apparently nothing. There were two other guests sitting at the enormous bar. Maybe after thirteen years in restaurants, I still can't see the subtle but onerous obligations weighing on a bartender at 3pm on a Monday. Or maybe she just wanted to throw a little attitude. Either way, we couldn't believe she still had a job at such a place. The rest of the experience was great, so it didn't totally put us off entirely, but we're not in a rush to go back.
(3)Ken W.
After reading great reviews, I decided to have a mid-afternoon meal. Service is the only thing I can rate. Warning sign number one, hostess was helping a customer and she walked away with no explanation. The gentleman and lady had to defer to someone else. To decide to try the roof top lounge. It appeared not to be busy for the time of day. I was greeted and set at one of the high tops table inside. Then i was amazed how the wait staff ignored me the entire time I was there. When asked who was covering my area, a waitress was pointed out a co-worker. Noted I had made eye contact several times with this person, she had failed to acknowledge me. So after taking 30 minutes out of my day and getting nothing to eat I felt it was best to leave. And seek nourishment at another restaurant.
(1)Kiarash Z.
Because I wanted to eat seafood by the water and I needed a table for 12 and because my cousin was paying for it, I had a great time at Legal Harborside. The cocktails in the third-floor lounge (with a great harbor view) were awful, but the food on the first floor was amazing. My favorite: the stuffed artichoke appetizer, which is loaded with scallops and shrimp. I prayed it never would end. Also, the staff was kind enough to keep the kitchen open for members of the family who arrived late. Classy.
(4)Jessica G.
I can only write about the 3rd floor as I usually end up across the street for my Legal dining. The bar and lounge area provides amazing views of the city and a great reprieve from indoor bars in the summertime. You can hear the concerts right from your seat as well. Getting a seat is the hard part. Be prepared to be a vulture and divide your party up to stalk open seats. Once you are lucky and find one, the drinks are on the pricier side, but pretty tasty. The food menu is limited, but tasty and worth ordering. In short, visit, but expect crowds and finding seats to be difficult.
(3)Thomas G.
I'll definite come back to this place next time I'm in Boston, one night oysters on the half shell, another night the waiter recommended the tuna burger...Everything was so good!
(4)Oz L.
I have been there a few times and if it was not for the location and the long lines to get up there in the evenings I would not be eating there at all. If you go to Legal Harborside's Roofdeck - Go for view and the ambiance. Their menu on the roof deck is mainly sushi and maki rolls. The food is fair at best. We tried the soft shell crab and it was breaded... awful. The sashimi was not fresh. The rice used for the maki rolls was hard... Enough said. 3 stars for the view and the location on the water!
(3)Pat O.
The roofdeck at Legal Harborside is one of the best designed and laid out spaces I've ever encountered. The views are phenomenal and the service is great. The only downside is the limited sushi menu.
(5)Maggie M.
Pretty good food but pricey. We stopped in after the brewery tour and order two harpoon beers but they had no selection even though they are right next to the brewery!!!! I had the lobster roll which was 2:1 bread to lobster... Meh! But the meat was nice. My boyfriend had the fish and chips which he liked a lot. Overall it was a beautiful view, very busy, good service, and okay food for the price. $55 for lunch with beer including tip...
(3)Josie G.
A friend and I came here during the week on a Tuesday for lunch. A perfect day to be sitting in the sun on the deck - HEAVEN. We started with margaritas from hell, a coconut water drink (delicious) and then settled down with cucumber drinks - (the best). Everything we ordered was great- oysters, crab salad, lobster roll. It really was just a great lunch. Service was outstanding- his name was Mike!
(5)David K.
The 3rd Floor is AWESOME. Reasonable prices, super comfortable seating, beautiful location and the best waterfront view Ive seen. Fun times right here, but big crowds.
(5)Tony D.
Never had a bad meal, service is always great. No complaints, highly recommended. A little expensive, but not bad for great seafood. You get what you pay for and this is a great value.
(5)Mike L.
Food was awful and way overpriced. I basically had a plate full of crab shells. Won't ever go back to this overrated pathetic excuse for a restaurant again. Don't fall for the hype and go to a nice mom and pop place in the South End or walk across the bridge to the Barking Crab or something.
(1)Charlie T.
Rooftop bar also has a bar menu. Best tuna sushi I've ever had. The lobster maki (or whatever it's called) was a bit rubbery. Great drinks and view on the roof.
(3)Leah A.
My experiences here have been on the roof deck and not inside the restaurant. The food is great, though the roof deck choices are not as extensive as inside (no crab cake!). The location and view are fabulous, the people watching can be fascinating, but the service stinks. If you want your table wiped down or some napkins, prepare to wait awhile and ask everyone you see when they walk by. And maybe, just maybe, someone will finally do it.
(3)Karishma R.
The rooftop of Legal Harborside is my favorite bar in Boston. The view is spectacular, and its proximity to the Bank of America Pavilion makes it a great place to have a drink and listen to the concerts next door. The only problem is the often lengthy lines that can form very early. I prefer to come here on weekdays after work, as on the weekends the wait is a deterrent. The other problem is that this bar can often get very crowded, which can sometimes be a nuisance. However, that being said, the food and drinks are great. Harpoon actually make a special beer just for them (Harpoon Harborside) which is pretty good. And you definitely can't beat that view. Every person I've brought here has loved it!
(4)Stephanie S.
Amazing service! Very good food & just an amazing atmosphere. Defiantly will be back in the near future. Server was very friendly & knowledgeable.
(5)John B.
I went here on a date and the food was great and the atmosphere was up beat. The service we had at the table was ok, but when we went to the bar after for a martini they refused to serve us. Considering we only had one or two drinks with dinner and were not driving I felt this was a bit strange, but other then that it was as expected - delicious seafood.
(3)Marisa R.
This is a typical Legal Sea Foods joint that serves sushi on its roof deck. The sushi is actually pretty decent. The only reason to go to this place is because of the roof deck bar. The cocktails are okay, but the view is the reason why people stand in line. One of the better views of Boston that you can find.
(3)Carmel I.
If you get the seafood trio, be prepared to have fries with a side of seafood, not seafood with a side of fries! I was a bit disappointed with that, but overall, this location is a great place to dine.
(4)Caro C.
I'm a born and raised Bostonian and have been to Legals many many times. This location needs help. Server forgot chowder, oysters took almost 45 minutes and came out right before our meal, which was not what we wanted as they ran out of the special. It's a special chef, order accordingly. Also we ordered a bottle of wine and that took so much time that the waiter actually came by and asked if we wanted more drinks. Hello! Wine? Roger, this location needs help.
(2)Skoolly T.
Great staff! Lobster roll was pretty good, a bit on the mayo side, could have been more lil on nakid side
(4)anne c.
I would give it no stars but that is not a choice. The place is beautiful and the bartenders very nice!! We are locals and have been to Legal Seafoods all over Boston and other states as well so know what to expect. We arrived at 5:00 on a Wed night and went to the hostess desk where there were 3 women. Asked for dinner for 2. She stated it would be 45- an hour or we could eat downstairs. No--we wanted dinner. This restaurant is set up on 3 floors--the first being raw bar, bar and tables with paper table covers and casual food. The 2nd floor is fine dining which is where we intended to be. After we waited an hour and half---she said no one was leaving so took longer! We were seated at a table on the first floor. Asked for manager who explained we would have had to go to second floor to that hostess desk for a seat up there. @ managers could not quite figure out why we were not happy and kept asking what they should do? We left!! Valet service was 20 min for getting your car at that point! I did resolve the issue by calling corporate and she was very understanding about the fact no one ever asked where we wanted to eat! If they don't do better on customer service, they will not last long in this area!
(1)Sarah D.
I had the fish.
(3)Lindsey D.
The food is way too overpriced. I've had better seafood for less. The clam chowder isn't as amazing as everyone claims. I would skip it.
(2)Rhea K.
Came here while waiting for a flight out of Boston.. had about 2 hours to kill, so we decided to get some last minute seafood before leaving the city. Oysters are really good, and very fresh. Clam chowder was also good, but I'm not really a good judge of chowder. Ended up getting the lobster roll here which was pretty good! It was served on a buttery, thick brioche slice, and tasted great. Fries were slightly sweet(?) and really crispy. Also got the bucatini pasta... it was okay. I guess you don't go to a seafood restaurant to get vegetarian bucatini, but it was only just ok. Our server, Julie D, was extremely nice and didn't rush us at all. I felt a little bad sitting there for so long, but there wasn't really a wait and she didn't make us feel weird.
(4)Jason F.
Great spot. Super fresh food. I was not lead astray when I asked for an assortment of oysters. The striped bass special was boss. Great bar staff on second floor.
(4)Jean B.
First of all we chose this restaurant for its location, and the location was beautiful. We sat at bar stools overlooking the water but where wasn't a bad seat in the house. Also the service was very good. Unfortunately my positive reviews end there. The food was mediocre at best. At a place called legal seafood I had certain expectations in regards to the seafood. The shrimp cocktail was small deshelled shrimp in a soup of cocktail sauce served in a jar like glass. The crispy fish taco was soggy and not tasty at all and the shortrib bruschetta was made with a dry stewed beef. Ever the ceasar salad that we shared was tasteless yet sopping with dressing. Great place for drinks and view but don't decomend it for dinner.
(2)Erika G.
This review is for Floor 2- not your average Legal! A chilly Christmas day dinner, we were whisked up the winding staircase past a waterfall to be met by a wonderful hostess dressed as mrs. claus. She tells us our table is not ready yet and to step into the bar, but we know already it will be worth the wait- she is preparing a booth table overlooking the harbor for us. Our waiter comes by and is as adorable and friendly as ever, he quickly shows his knowledge of the wine list and helps us select a celebratory bottle. We peruse the $55 price fixed menu and I find myself completely conflicted- there are too many things to decide! Glancing back at the shiny, polished kitchen with its quiet and masterful chefs- I know I can't go wrong. Course 1: Mixed greens with blue cheese, candied pecans, and sugared cranberries. Course 2: Hiramasa with pink peppercorns (my favorite) and preserved limes Course 3: a perfectly cooked, generous portion of salmon with a delicious glaze and bitter greens Course 4: Stick toffee pudding (it is Christmas after all) deconstructed. The sticky toffee pudding balls stick to the top of my mouth, but are quickly washed down with little bites of butter pecan ice cream. I cannot wait to return- especially for a special occasion tasting menu!
(5)Kerry C.
I took my mother here for mother's day and we had a great experience. Hostess who sat us I think the manager was super friendly and attentive to my mother. The server was pleasant and the food was excellent. Loved the local oysters. I got the special (steelhead trout) it was great! Server was very knowledgeable too about the fish. We had a great view of the harbor. Good for special events as long as you plan in advance.
(5)Ryan O.
I really enjoy every visit to Legal Harborside. Actually, I have only been twice and usually my last meal before heading back to Europe. Both times we ate on the first floor near the large open doors...nice and relaxing views on a nice afternoon. The staff has always been really great - with lots of suggestions for both drinks and food. I must say that they never recommended anything that we didn't like. There are some very creative cocktails (the cucumber and coconut drinks are worth trying) and food options, as well as the traditional Legal Seafood necessary items - clam chowder, fried clams and lobster rolls. Try the tuna bruschetta...awesome. All three floors seem busy with different menus...the outdoor patio on the third floor was very active and is likely a great place for after work drinks. Really need to get back soon... There is a convenient parking lot across the street, plus valet parking right in front of the restaurant.
(4)Karyn V.
My boyfriend and I ate on the second floor dining room at Legal Harborside and we will definitely be back! Note, if you want the typical Legal Seafoods menu, this is not the same. In fact, nothing from their menu is on this menu. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful. The design of the restaurant takes full advantage of the harbor view and is reminiscent of a ship's dining room, with curved rosewood ceiling and glossy black columns inspired by the mast of a ship that anchor the space. There is also an outdoor patio equipped with an outdoor fireplace that allows you to eat dinner over the ocean below. The menu offers modern seafood and has a unique selection of artisan wines, each produced from a specific terroir representing some of the world's most classic regions from family-owned vineyards. In addition, they offer many normal size bottles with a half bottle option, which is great since a bottle is too much for the two of us. Many great wines are available this way including Paul Hobbs' wines. For dinner, we ordered the crispy pig's head with fried clams, sauce ravigote, and pink peppercorn as an appetizer. For our main course, I ordered the misty knoll farms chicken with spring sweet pea and egg ravioli, artichokes, favas, and pea shoots, and my boyfriend ordered the butter poached lobster with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. All were extremely good although next time we will probably forgo the crispy pig head and try some other appetizer from the menu. While pricey, Legal Harborside definitely does not leave you disappointed. We will be back! The second time we went we ordered the clam chowder, which is not listed on the menu. It is the typical Legal's chowder dressed up with a few fried clams and a few steamed cockles.
(5)DD T.
My friend is a huge fan of oysters and each time I take her to a Legal's restaurant, she's never disappointed. Anytime of the year, whether the name of the month has an 'R' in it or not, they have a fresh collection of oysters from both coasts and also Canada, which has basically made me give up my ambition of shucking oysters myself at home. Because what I buy can never be as fresh and yummy. =) The view is awesome, this is really good for a date and also bar-hopping. You should do that some weekend nights before it gets cold. For me, I'd just get a seat facing the waters, whistling to myself: "sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time..."
(4)Matthew B.
Are you an ostentatious git? If so, you may enjoy Legal Harborside. This restaurant, though billed as the crown jewel of the Legal franchise, is by far the worst. As a family, we have been patronizing Legal Sea Foods for decades; however our meal here tonight has made us reconsider our devotion to this local chain. Let's talk food. The selection is very limited as the entire menu takes up just one page. Upon first glance, you'll notice that most starters are over $15 and most entries over $40. Before placing our order, our waiter notified us that we were entitled to a "complimentary" bottle of water (sparkling or flat). Wow. Complimentary water. After placing our order, our waiter returned to the table to inform us that the kitchen had just run out of salmon. Really? Legal running our of salmon? Strike One. Before our appetizers were served, we each received (another) "complimentary" bowl of squash soup. But to call it a bowl would really be too kind; it was more like a thimbleful. Our appetizers arrived and were quite good. Then, after they were cleared and the table was crumbed, we eagerly awaited our entrees. And we waited... Strike Two. When the food arrived, we were all generally pleased with the quality. However, we've enjoyed most of our dishes at the various Legals we've patronized over the years; while the food here good, it was by no means a step above the others. One member of our party ordered a chicken entree. For roughly $30, he received 1/4 of a chicken. Sorry, but no matter what you do to it, no 1/4 chicken is worth $30. Strike Three. So to review, this place is all about ambiance (dark wood paneling and harbor views) and ostentation. In that regard, it fits in very well with the whole milieu of the Seaport District. As long-time Legal fans, we all gave this place a resounding thumbs down! p.s. To add insult to injury, the third floor was reserved for a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch get together. Sorry, but didn't you guys just get bailed out by us (the taxpayer)? How bout you drag your sorry bloated asses to the 99 next time?
(1)Trisha A.
Went here last Friday with some friends for dinner last week for Valentine's day, and both the food and the service were excellent! The waitress was very attentive and took into account the fact that a few people were a bit late when bringing out the food. She also checked in on us consistently to make sure we had everything we needed. My friends and I had the clam chowder, which is always a favorite, as well as a sushi boat filled with selections from the chef and other items not necessarily on the menu. The sushi chef was kind enough to meet us and explain the various sushi rolls, as well as ask us of our opinion of things not yet on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they only use real crab meat in their sushi, even in the California rolls. The sushi boat had a great variety - there were rolls with both shrimp and lobster tempura, tuna, avocado, salmon, even eel, among other things. Since we let them know that one of our friends was allergic to crab and lobster, the sushi chef made sure there were selections to accommodate her and made sure to point out which rolls were okay for her to eat. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the sushi chef's take on a crab rangoon, which I believe was a mixture of crab topped with avocado and spicy mayo on top of what looked like a crispy wonton wrapper. Also, we ate on the roof deck, and I'm not sure if it's different in the day time but at night when we went it was 21+. I definitely recommend this place and would come back again.
(5)Brandi J.
LOVE this place. The atmosphere and view on the roof top is perfect - service was great, food was great, pricing is reasonable. The outside deck is still open even in the chilly weather AND they give you blankets - too cute and too fun. only complaint was the sangria.... it wasn't sangria... but, that didn't/doesn't change my opinion on how fabulous this place is - the top floor is great for a date night, a ladies night out, a group gathering... you won't be disappointed
(5)Fred W.
All in all we enjoyed the dinner. One of had a lobster which was enjoyed by that person. I ordered a Lobster Roll which was touted by another Yelp reviewer, the lobster parts were fine , but overall it wasn't what I expected.. and sorry that I ordered it. The Fish and chips were OK, but one piece was dark, which isn't very appetizing. We also had shrimp cocktail and Fried Calamari, both were done well and of good quality The place is well run, head sets on most servers and wireless transmitters for taking orders, Finally it was noisy and too busy,, but funny enough , we all enjoyed it. Would I go back? probably,
(4)Adam P.
Went here tonight for dinner on floor one. Decor is cool and the view is outstanding! For appetizer I had the smoked salmon pizza which was great. For dinner I had the crispy fish sandwich which was okay but could have used more seasoning. However, the plate it was served on was poorly designed for eating. Dessert was key lime pie which was also good. Service was excellent and the location was great.
(4)Paula A.
The space is great. The view is spectacular. Our server was top notch. The hostess was nice & we were seated w/in minutes of our scheduled reservation time. However ---- I didn't love my meal, I got the halibut, cheese & veggies in tin foil - it was meh. BF got the seared yellow fin tuna - which he liked. The crowd was a bit on the cheesy side, the bar was a total mob scene. if i walked by some night & it wasn't a complete cluster f%ck, i'd probably try it again.
(3)Colleen G.
I love going to the roof deck on a beautiful day. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are delicious. My favorite is their red sangria.
(5)Steve T.
(email sent to Main Office) I am a regular customer at legal seafood as I am for Maine and lover fish. I just want to let you know about my experience at Long Wharf last night. We were met outside by Gwendelym (spelling) outside. She simply looked at me and said nothing like "welcome to legal Seafoods. I told her I had 8 pm reservations. She proceeded by telling me "you need to go inside". My roommate noticed the lack of customer service coming from her that we did not expect. This resturant is in a vistor area, and very popular. He spoke to Chris the inside Manager about her. We were told it would take 16 minutes before we were seated. There was no place to stand a wait, and we asked later of a place to wait. The hostess then said "sorry there is no place to wait". We were standing near the entrance and felt uncomfortable as the staff kept saying excuse me. So, haven a stroke two years ago I decided to wait outside leaning on the pole. The pole was near the outside hostess table. Again, after being spoken to Gwendlym told the other three staff members and amongst other patrions was just transpired. After she finish I told her "that was more unprofessional". She began telling me things that would be expected from a stranger. "I was not rude to him". That is really confortational, and after the event I personally would not have said anything. That is only an expample of what she said. I procceded going in to tell Chris again. Upon going in to speak to me she proceeded along with others to Laugh at me. Yes, Laugh. Chris took her off the floor and I express the situitation to Chris and told him that I eat at 4 pm so 8 pm I am hungry and it was earlier I would left. Chris was outstanding in listening, and taking action. He did not make me pay my meal along with my roommate that spoke with him. I did tell Chris I was going to tell you of my experience
(3)Tracy S.
Love the location view etc. food was average. Long time legal fan. Just not impressed with first floor menu at this location.
(3)H H.
The best outdoor rooftop place for drinks in Boston that I've found so far. A bit out of the way, but the view of great, and the atmosphere is lively... The rooftop serves sushi and a limited seafood menu (chowder, lobster roll, etc.). To my surprise, the sushi is actually quite good! I liked the rolls, and I've seen bigger groups getting sushi boats that looked pretty impressive too. Drinks are not too special though, and pretty light on alcohol.
(4)Carter D.
The clams were good, but i've had better. They served me a bloody mary when i was already drunk in the middle of the night. Maybe it wasn't that late, just december, I don't know. Big place, slow service, decent quality, not too expensive. It's just average, maybe worth going to if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)J P.
Had dinner at Legal Seafood with my 10-year old son while visiting from California, to pass the time while my husband and older sons attended the Bruin's playoff game! I have been here in the past, and recalled that I had a pretty good experience. We arrived on a Friday night at about 6 pm and were seated immediately. I started with a perfect Russian Standard martini with hand stuffed blue cheese olives. I love blue cheese olives but they are not very common on the west coast where I live so it was a treat! We shared a bowl of the yummy clam chowder as an appetizer, along with a couple of delicious oysters for me. Both the oysters and chowder were excellent! I suggested to my son that he should order seafood since that was their specialty (and since we were in Boston) so he ordered the FISH SHAPED cheese ravioli off of the children's menu. Great twist for a seafood establishment! I usually only order cioppino when I am in San Francisco, but decided to give it a try at Legal Seafood. You will not be disappointed! It had a ton of fresh mussels, clams, shrimp and a nice large crab leg in the middle. The broth was super tasty and it came with a nice piece of fresh bread to soak up the goodness. To top off my meal I had a glass of Cakebread Sauvignion Blanc. It is almost unheard of to be able to order a Cakebread wine by the glass so this was a super nice surprise! My son finished his meal with a brownie/ice-cream creation (also off the children's menu). I had a little taste and it was excellent as well. I cannot comment on the parking as we walked from our hotel. But our server was super attentive and we had everything we needed at the right time to make this a really enjoyable meal! I will definitely be back when I return to Boston!
(4)Tom D.
The good: gorgeous roofdeck, good sushi, the sake is awesome, The bad: line for the roof is always long, service (although friendly) is slowww. we waited about 15 minutes for our drinks.
(4)Kallie F.
The 3rd floor of Legal Harborside has some spectacular views and in the summer months the roof retracts and all the windows can be folded to make this setting like an outdoor roof deck. The menu only has sushi and some appetizers, but a full bar. We went on a Tuesday evening to avoid the weekend crowds. However, tis the Season there were two private parties taking place. The downstairs host sent us to the third floor without any mention of the two parties taking place. When we arrived, the next host mentioned the private parties but offered us seats at the bar. This was not our first choice, but we took a seat anyway. We thought we would have to bail since we couldn't seem to get any service. In the nick of time however Matt, our bartender, came to the rescue. The sushi was AMAZING, and extremely fresh with great creations from the Sushi chef. We loved the Red Dragon roll and the avocado salad was delicious. The prices were as expected for Sushi in this area ($10-14 for "fancier" rolls). Matt was also very friendly and described some of their "bar creation" recipes like the Sailor Moon. Thankfully the great service from Matt and the food made up for the earlier missteps. We will certainly come back, especially in the warmer months. They are also hosting a New Year's Eve party which should prove to be pretty spectacular considering they have a front row seat of the harbor and fireworks.
(4)Alexis J.
In the past I had heard a lot of bad things about Legal Seafood but I figured that I had to try it at least once while living in Boston so we went to Legal Harborside. We went on a Monday and it was still fairly crowded around dinner time, but not so crowded that we had to wait for a table. The service, I thought, was great and the food was even better. I got the fried clams and the person I was with got the fried shrimp. They were both absolutely delicious. For dessert we got the seasonal cobbler which was apple and cranberry and honestly that was the best part of the meal. It was amazing. I also got the apple sangria and the person with me got the Legal sangria (or whatever their house sangria is called) and that was delicious too. I will admit, the food is a bit overpriced but you still get a lot of good quality food for the amount you pay for so I didn't think it was too bad. I will definitely be back here again.
(5)Twain S.
Liked the food, and service. But not going back. I only eat out less than 10 times a year. That combined with the fact that there are hundreds of places to eat, means that any little thing will ensure I don't come back. From the web page: You'll find a nod to our heritage on the first floor hull, with a casual menu of seafood favorites with a twist, an oyster bar and an old-fashioned fish market. The second floor dining room offers cuisine prepared with sensible creativity for celebratory eating and private dining events. And those that visit the third floor promenade deck will enjoy a four-season rooftop lounge... So from that description I decided that eating on the first floor made the most sense. That being said I have no idea what they mean by "an old-fashioned fish market". I totally missed that. Although I did find the "catch-and-release" fishing spot. Food was good, I had clam chowder, and the Portuguese Seafood Stew The service was also good. The waiter filled up my water without having to ask, some thing I like. The seating was cramped. There was at best a one person wide between the tables. So the waiters were constantly having to squeeze by. It was too noisy. You had speak into the ear of the person sitting next to you, and yell to the person on the other side of the table. When I go out to eat I want to be able to have a conversation. To top it off they were playing music at the same time. The menu offered a very, very limited selection. I kept turning it over assuming there was more to choose to from on the other side. (The menu is online, check it out before you decide to go eat there.) And to top it off I slammed my head getting up from the toilet. Each bathroom had it's own toilet and sink. For some reason there were two hand soap dispensers, one near the sink, and the other on the wall in front of the toilet. I didn't look up, as I stood, and the wall in front was so close that I hit my head on the hand soap dispenser. I had to sit back down for a couple of minutes, it wasn't a glancing blow. My significant other pointed that the entire building was less than a year old. But for some reason they were not able to figure out how much room they needed to fit a toilet. A silly aside was the catch-and-release "pond". There was what looked like a wishing pond, which had a sign which indicated that kids were allowed to "fish". As in hold a pole, and catch a fish. But they were suppose to "release" what ever it was that they caught. Just really silly. How about you take that extra space and give people more room to eat? No reason to go back.
(1)Erin B.
We had a reservation for 5 pm on Christmas day. The notes on the reservation requested a High chair. We arrive, and the hostess seems troubled, but since we had to wait for my husband to park the car, she had time. When he finally arrived, I tell them and she says "well we are just trying to rearrange because of the high chair". As if they didn't know I was coming with a kid. Finally a different hostess tells us our table is ready. She brings us over & smiles. I say, Do you have a high chair? (My son is 2, it's pretty obvious he needs a high chair and not a bench seat) She says "oh you need a high chair?". Yes. Oh Ok. then she stutters about 3 times and says, "we're going to move you someplace else where it's easier for the high chair. Where would you like to wait?" Awkward. So I say "where would you like us to wait?" She says "oh you can sit here, just don't order anything". Awkward #2. Then a DIFFERENT manager comes over & says "ok here is the high chair" . ??? OK, so I guess we aren't moving? He looks at me like I have 10 heads. Once that was all settled our waitress was fantastic and the food was great. My only other complaint is that this is a summer restaurant. We've gone for the past 2 christmas's, but it's always cold and not cozy. I asked about the heat but nothing changed. In fact I think she might have forgotten that I asked. If you do decide to go, don't expect a high chair, and wear an extra sweater.
(3)Katarina G.
There are three floors to this place, each a different restaurant, so I am not sure which restaurant everyone else is reviewing. I ate at Floor 2 with my husband while visiting Boston. Floor 2 is the "fine dining" restaurant. It was date night so we decided to be fancy. :o) The service was wonderful and our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. And the view was breathtaking. We shared a half-bottle of cabernet which was delicious. We were greeted with a shrimp and melon introductory dish that was refreshing and left me wanting more. Our appetizers included a lobster soup and short rib raviolis with truffle sauce. OMG...these were amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered the scallops (he wanted to try the abalone but they were all out which sucked). The server recommended the scallops prepared the same way and my husband was happy. He said it was the best scallop dish he had ever had. I ordered the fillet with king crab on top. This was bay far the most tender fillet I have ever had. I literally cut it with a butter knife. We closed our night off with espresso before heading upstairs. (It did take a while to get our bill though...like a super long while.) This is where Legal Harborside lost a star. The Floor 3 bar didn't fit the Floor 2 experience we just had. The server on Floor 3 had that look on her face like she just wanted to go home for the night. Sorry lady, you work here and we are paying for drinks, so that means you have to be friendly. It's your job. The wine I ordered was disappointing, but it was my only option by the glass. I almost considered sending it back. I couldn't tell if it was skunked or just extremely low quality. Whatever, we left after one round. Overall though, we had a great night and loved our dinner!
(4)Jeff H.
Second-best seafood I had while in Boston. What really shone for us was the service, though. Had a baby with us for early dinner who had a stomach upset. The wait staff didn't bat an eye, just helped us clean up and kept the food and drink coming for the rest of us. Salmon was good, not spectacular, but appetizers were top of the line: I especially liked the PEI mussels.
(4)L N.
Dined here last evening with out of town family. It was packed but fun. We were promptly seated ( A +). We placed our drink order and that is were the bumps started. Our cocktails were so watered down that instead ordering a second "soda," my husband actually switched to soda (F-). Disappointing given that bar is huge and looks absolutely amazing. Our server continued to be scattered. I ordered six oysters (which I prefer my oysters in the small side but this took it almost to the microscopic level), and was served five. I was offered to have this taken care of but let go since you pay "per piece." (C) The actual entree's were fabulous (no famous onion strings at this location) (A) Then when it came time to pay, a portion was being paid in cash with the balance on my husbands credit card. That was also mixed up which was tacking on an evtra $100 to the bill (good try) but promptly corrected. (C) Maybe the chaos contributed to the up and down experience but given it's Legal's and it's a busy holiday weekend for Boston restaurants, they know this and I expected them to be on their game.
(3)Jan D.
Was very disappointed with our meals at the Harborside location. Everything was bland, nothing had any punch to it, and scrod didn't seem fresh as it had absolutely no flavor. Wellfleet oysters were good, but that was only positive note. Would not return to this location tho other Legals have been ok in the past.
(2)BOB R.
Dined at the first floor raw bar. Nice few of the habour on a summer eve, We had drinks, lobster rolls and 6 wellfleet and 6 french kiss oysters. Everything was delicious and fresh. A little crowded and noisy but had a fun time before a rock concert.
(4)Annonymous N.
The location is beautiful! The restaurant it self has a great atmosphere! I happen to dine in with my family on a Tuesday night! When we arrive at 6:30pm there was a wait for a minimal of 45min. We were about to walk out and they called us back and told us they had a table. We were brought to the main floor right by the window with a beautiful view of the deck! The place was half full which we wondered why the 45min wait. The waiter was dull and a bit snippy! We felt li,e he had too much on his hand and could not handle 4 tables. We were celebrating my fiance's birthday and we felt rush.. Needless to say we took our time, after a $250 check you want to rush people out! I've had better experience in other locations.
(2)David B.
Love this place but if you are looking for quiet and intimate, go somewhere else. It is a bit noisy but the scene is fun and lively, the food fantastic and the staff very helpful and friendly. We changed are order based on the waiter's recommendations and had an amazing meal. And you can't beat dining on the deck on a beautiful summer evening.
(4)Mari R.
I am not one to eat at chain restaurants. However, this one was amazing. The food was very fresh and delicious. I would go here again, and again, and again.
(4)Ann O.
My husband and I went to Legal Harborside, had lunch on the first floor on a Saturday afternoon a couple of months ago. No real wait to get a table, I had the fish stew (whatever they call it on the menu) and it was fabulous. Definitely would go back again. We went to the dining room Friday night, waiting for a daughter coming in from NYC, so we decided to have a leisurely dinner there. We had to wait about 15 minutes for our Opentable reservation but they set us up with a beautiful booth overlooking the water, so it was worth it. The service was great, the meals seem to be slow to come once we finally ordered, but no complaints because we always delay ordering because the meals always seem to come out so fast and we like to relax and talk for a while. I digress--my husband ordered the tuna and said it was "good" but he didn't say great, I ordered the halibut, which was cooked perfectly, nice crust on the outside, and I enjoyed the unusal accompaniments, though I can't say that I liked them - but that's not the chef's problem. I liked the fact that they were using unusual ingredients, not your typical veggies. I probably would have ordered the lobster, but at $54 that was just ridiculous. I especially liked the fact that I said to the wait person that I wanted to start with a cup of chowder, which was not on the 2nd floor menu but was clearly in the building, and she took the request without any issue. Overall, the dining experience was about 2 hours long, so plan accordingly, but we will definitely be back again. Only we're more likely to visit the first floor, as the menu seemed to have more variety than the dining room.
(4)Tom B.
CAUTION, the validated parking IS NOT ACROSS THE STREET from the restaurant, the parking across the street will cost you $20.00! The parking that is validated is down the street in the next block and, yes, across the street. Otherwise everything was great, service, food, drinks, and the view. I will definitely go back...now that I know where to parkl
(4)Kristin Q.
This is an amazing gem of a restaurant. The manager Justin is so professional and helpful. We love coming here and enjoying not only the food but the service and the view!
(5)dennis n.
We thought we would try the new place out for a late lunch --1pm on a Wednesday. We were impressed with the fabulous harber view and the ambience. It has only been open for a few weeks and only the 1st flloor is operating right now for casual dining and bar. Fine dining on second story and rooftop to come soon. They have a small free parking lot, which will probably be full most of the time. We had the bluepoint oysters on half shell, which were as fresh and tasty as I've ever had anywhere, washed down with a nice Tanqueray Martini. Wife had the lobster roll ($17) and I ordered the Fish n Chips ($11). Both were scrumptuous. Fries could have been crispier, but no complaints. If you want to try it out there was plenty of seating at 1:30 and if you can find an open meter on the street (bring quarters) it will only cost you a two bucks instead of 12 for valet. We are definitely going back there! PS if you need to GPS, Address is on NORTHERN Ave (mispelled in Yelp)
(4)Gail S.
We really enjoy Legal Harborside -- the food is consistently good and the service is always fast, professional and friendly. First, the restaurant is beautiful -- all three floors have a stunning view of Boston Harbor. You can find nice healthy and vegetarian options -- their Big Salad is fabulous (fresh greens, tomatoes, asparagus, chick peas, olives in a balsamic dressing) as is their swordfish salad. Of course, they serve Legal staples like an incredible lobster roll, fish & chips, baked schrod, fresh lobster, homemade chowder, crabmeat salad, etc. There are plenty of options for seafood haters too -- in fact, their burger is pretty terrific. Lastly, they sell fresh fish, lobster and other goodies at their market on the first floor. The third floor --with its expansive outdoor deck and gorgeous view -- attracts a hopping crowd at night and on the weekends when the weather is nice.
(5)Carol C.
Shame on you Legal Seafood!!!!! Been going for years here even when out of state. Brought a nephew there last weekend who was visiting from Iceland. We ordered whole belly clams and got a bunch of clam strips with just 3 whole bellys. That's unacceptable at those prices. What a huge disappointment this trip was. We should have stayed on the Cape where we get a full order of whole bellys when thats what we order.
(3)Betsey N.
We got tired of waiting 1/2 hour past our reservation time. The music blasting away and the servers and diners shouting over it to be heard made conversation impossible. After standing crammed against the others waiting to be seated for what felt like forever -- dodging harried servers who were forced to wind their precarious way through the crowd-- two of our party had headaches that completely spoiled our appetites. No food could possibly be good enough to warrant suffering the horrible atmosphere in that place. We will not bother to return.
(1)Vince R.
EXPERIENCE: We had reservations for Floor 1 at Haborside on Valentine's Day for 7PM, due to terrible traffic, we arrived 45 minutes late. I fully expected them to turn us away or out us in the back of the line and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated almost immediately ahead of others who were waiting. As a added plus we were seated at the window at a small four person picnic style table and were away from the other more cramped tables for two. We've previously been to floor 2 and enjoyed that experience very much. People have mentioned the noise on Floor 1, and it was a bit noisy, but it felt more lively and fun versus way too loud, our conversation was no problem. FOOD: We had the clam chowder mugs and steamers to start -- both excellent! We split the lobster special for the entree and it was also fantastic. Our waitress was readily available when we needed attention and left us alone as we lingered over our initial Wine and later Irish Coffees. You can't go wrong, Floor 2 is nicer and more quite but if you are wanting something more casual, floor 1 fits the bill!
(5)Lili M.
When i came here we got a seat right by the window so it was a great view and unique dining experience. I ordered their pasta with clams and my friend ordered chicken fingers and fries I believe. The food wasn't anything special but we also probably just ordered the wrong things (after all it is a seafood restaurant so if you go try to stick to that!) But the window dining was great and the service was good too.
(3)Vanessa B.
Before arriving in Boston we were told that this place is a must. The chowder would be something that we'd be wanting second helpings of. We went for dinner on a Friday night, and I'm sure they are always busy on the weekends, but add the fact that the Boston Marathon was taking place that Monday and their expo was just down the street didn't help. Because of the 2 1/2 hour wait we opted to dine at the bar. We missed out on the view that we were hoping for but it was still a great experience. Our server was great. Very attentive and made sure we were good with everything we ordered...she knew it was our first time there. We started with the clam chowder and it definitely did not disappoint. One of the top 2 that we had while in Boston. For my meal I had the crab meat roll with a side of fries and mashed potatoes. The fries were pretty normal, but the mashed potatoes were heavenly. The crab meat roll came out like a sandwich which I wasn't entirely suspecting. I didn't eat the bread, scared It would take up too much room and leave me too full to eat all the crab meat. The crab meat was delicious and so fresh. Like I said, this place was beyond busy. I'm not sure if it's normally that busy on a Friday night or if it was the Boston Marathon that made it a madhouse. I'd love to go back and try to dine during a slower time so we can have the view we were hoping for.
(4)Kim T.
I came in yesterday with a friend for lunch, service was excellent, our waitor was friendly and extremely attentive, also the food was great...I got the white sangria (super delicious) and a tuna burger and my friend got the lobster roll ...also we started with a white clam pizza ... if you go here definitely get it, it was unbelievable! Best lunch Ive had in a long time ... Not to mention the place is beautiful the ambiance is great ... i love the lighting and the big fans as well! Great job ... Will be back very soon!!
(5)Dee L.
Went this past Monday it was our 2nd visit in just a few weeks. Location, Location, Location, great spot on a beautiful day. Both times went for lunch 30 minute wait this past Monday but fine with that waited outside with a great view of the harbor. The food is good got cod 1st time grilled shrimp this time both good. I like that they have unusual sides not the standard fries, baked or coleslaw. The only problem I have and it seems others have is the service. It's not fine dining but for $60 for lunch (no cocktails) I expect prompt service. It appears they hire younger servers which is fine but the last time we went the service was painfully slow. He might have been new because he seemed to struggle with the handheld device that the orders are taken on and when our order came out - brought by a "runner" the sides were wrong. He took the sides back and we waited a lot longer than we should have with our grilled shrimp and grilled scallops looking lonely while waiting for the correct sides to be brought out. They need to work on the service and then they will be in firmly in the 4 star range. It's a great place on a nice day not sure how they'll do once the New England Winter hits.
(3)Kalliope K.
Must have been a bad day. Rooftop deck at Legal Harborside. Lousy service. Clam Chowder, watery and absent clams. Expensive. C'mon Legal.... this did not get you to where you are today.
(2)Tom W.
I hate giving Legal a bad review since I've had very good experiences at other Legal Seafood restaurants in the past. I'm originally from the Boston area and always look forward to some good fried clams when I get a chance to be in New England. This was our first time at Harborside and we ate on the first floor restaurant. Great layout and location and the service was pretty good although our waiter did forget to bring us our drink order. However, I hate to be picky about service or location; most of us go to restaurants for the food, and this time we were very disappointed. My daughter and I had steamers for an appetizer - pretty good. My wife had mussels for her Entre - also pretty good but nothing special. My daughter had Tuna for her Entre - it should have been sent back. I didn't realize how bad it was until half way through the meal when I noticed that she ate very little of it. It was overcooked and dry. My fried clams were very disappointing. The clams themselves were in pieces; at first, I thought I got strips, but they were just bits and pieces, like they came from the bottom of the bucket. I could have lived with that if they had been crisp, but they were not. My wife had onion soup - terrible. She also had a caesar salad - also not very good. All in all, not a very good dining experience. The location will not save this restaurant unless they get their kitchen act together. There are too many good restaurant options in Boston - don't think I'll every go back to this one.
(2)Alex Z.
best roof deck bar in boston ive found. great for summers. mostly late 20s and up.
(4)Barbara B.
Just ate at the new Legals on the water - in their fancier dining room. Thought it was a little stuffy and pretensive Although the food did live up to Legals promise of excellence I also thought it was a bit overt priced . I am not in a hurry to return.
(3)Kent M.
Pretty place, beautiful water views, fine attentive friendly service. BUT small almost nouvelle cuisine portions -- scallops appetizer @ $13 delivers one (yes, one) scallop -- and very expensive. Food was very well prepared & tasty, but if you go, skip next month's mortgage and bring them the cash.
(4)Shannon C.
This place is fabulous. We did not have a reservation at 7p on a Saturday & were told a 2 hour wait - there was also an hour long wait to get onto the roofdeck just for a drink - however, within 5 minutes of arriving we were ushered to a lovely table next to the open windows overlooking the water (I'm attributing this to my date's unbelievable charm with front of house staff). Our waiter Matthew was great & suggested perfect oysters for us since we were undecided. We had the tuna crudo and the roasted clams - the grilled scallops and striped bass. The crudo was my favorite -the clams were good though & came in a spicy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the grilled scallop dish came with 7 scallops! I expected maybe 4. They were grilled perfectly - the striped bass was a special that night & had a grilled peach salad that was delicious. The food & ambiance here are amazing - the cucumber cooler cocktail was also to die for.
(5)Just S.
They lie. The wait is forever; at least 30 minutes longer than the hour they tell you and way over priced Yankee Lobster down the street is much better if you you would rather good food and don't care about ambiance. Plus on nights there's a concert at the pavilion you can hear the show from their patio.
(1)J F.
Great atmosphere! The views are amazing...by far one of my new standard go to places!
(4)Helen B.
Legal has been a mainstay for me for years, but the Northern Ave restaurant is truly a beautiful building. I had lunch recently in the ground level floor overlooking the water - very pleasant. I had a salad with lobster meat that was very delicious. This seems a little more upscale than other Legal places. My only complaint is the music is too load.
(4)Cailyn K.
I just went to Legal Harborsides (Third Floor) with a friend to grab drinks. The atmosphere is wonderful but there pitchers of sangria and margaritas are horrible. We bought two pitchers (each between $20-$30 each) and all we got was flavored ice cubes. There is absolutely no alcohol in these pitchers and they were horrible. Honestly, you can find the same view with better drinks at Atlantic Beer Garden and Whiskey Priest. Don't waste your time!
(1)Roseann S.
Overall my experience was favorable even though we had 7:15pm reservations and didn't get seated until 8:00pm. They seem to be struggling with the velocity of interest and it is completely chaotic at the hostess stand with a lot of miss communication. But once we were seated our server was excellent as was the menu and the food. I have a gluten allergy and for the first time in 3 years was able to eat fried clams again. If you can be patient with being seated it is a great location and the food is delicious.
(4)Bill G.
1st off we went on a Sunday(10/9) evening, and faced an "estimated wait" of 45 minutes. We languished out on the pier (nice views)for almost 90minutes before we got buzzed that our table was ready. The First floor was excruciatingly loud! The fact that the canned music was stuck on the same jazz piece didn't help. The waitress was perky, but not too good. She initially entered our dinner order as an appetizers. She adjusted, but not before waiting 20 minutes for 2 clam chowders. I have eaten at many Legal Seafoods before and the chowder was superb. The chowder was mediocre at best here;tons of potatoes and minimum clams; a disappointment. We asked for rolls and they came after 2 repeat requests,again about 20 minutes later. The main course came another 20 minutes later; fried clams that were all stuck together and rubbery and to top it off not even hot. Cold fried seafood is not what I hoped for! My dining companion had the Portuguese seafood stew and found it hot but not much better. It was a thin, almost campbell soup-like broth with mostly mussels and a few shrimp. Things seem to run in 20 minute segments here. We dined for 20 minutes, then ordered dessert; a cup of frozen custard. That arrived 20 minutes later. Keep in mind now that we waited 90 minutes to get a table! The check arrived and our waitress vanished off the floor for 30 MINUTES! When she came back she told us a really involved story about having to go upstairs to get a new HH computer 'cause hers froze; No apology, mind you, just a story! To be fair, we did try to flag down a floor manager and pay him so we could leave, but they disappeared too. In sum, we wasted about 4 hours between waiting for a table, waiting for service, and waiting to pay so we could leave, And then the food wasn't nearly as good as other Legal Seafood restaurants we've eaten in lately(Long Wharf. Oh, and $8 to park too. Roger Berkowitz, you got a lot of 'splaining to do!
(1)Ed B.
My parents were in town for a conference and staying at the Renaissance. It was raining and my parents had just arrived from driving in the rain storm so we didn't want to have to go very far for dinner. Having never been here and interestred in trying it out, I made a reservation for 5:30PM but with parking, we didn't get there utnil 5:50PM. Luckily they didn't give away our table and we were sat immediately. I like the space and I'm sure its really nice in the summer. But it is LOUD. We could barely hear each other. Our water, Mario (?) came over to us and right off the back had 'personal' suggestions for wine, beers, food and was able to tell us a little about what he thought would be considered good. To start we shared the steamers, which were pretty good. They weren't gritty as I thought they would be. The broth was really tasty. My dad was just eating it up like it was soup. I had a mug of their clam chowder, which is still to me one of the better clam chowders I've had. Not a lot of potatoes, creamy, you can taste the clams. For my entree I got the tuna burger, not really knowing what to expect. It was good. The chipotle mayo gave it a nice kick. My mom got fried clams. I love whole belly clams that just burst in your mouth. I wouldn't consider Legal's to have the best. Their clams are small, but not greasy. SOmetimes they taste a bit, bordering on burnt. My dad enjoyed his portuguese stew. For dessert we split a Bananas Foster Bread pudding. it was okay. Very sweet. Our check with tip ended up about $104 for three people. Overall, it was good, but not great. If you've been to other Legal Seafood's its pretty much the same, except the location. would I go back? Probably, but only when I'm in the area. I live outside of the city, so I would have to be for a special occasion, like my parents in town.
(3)Lesley P.
I am giving it a two to get your attention. All in all we had a good time, enjoyed the food, service and view. But the three of us had terrific sticker shock. We looked up the Legal Seafoods menus but this one is different so check the menu before you go. It differs per floor within the restaurant and NONE are the same as regular Legal Seafoods menus. They do a lot of a la carte and market pricing which really adds up. We had a dog with us so we were able to tie her up right outside the patio which was nice. We won't go back. The one upside is that we scored free Sunday parking at a nearby meter since parking can be expensive down there.
(2)Melissa D.
Don't get me wrong- if you are able to get to the roof deck - it was amazing but a limited menu, staff rushing to get you out and snobby service turned me off. The first and second floors I have had their menu and it was good! Your standard but nothing blew me away. Views are amazing and it can get packed so open table it 2 weeks in advance to get the best times. The restaurant is very touristy. Prices are okay - city prices of 15-25 for a dinner entree. We went to the rooftop bar and it can get very hot up there with the furniture on a summer day so be prepared to get sunburned. They have delicious pitcher drinks which are more affordable than single serve drinks. However, when it was time to eat - not a lot of variety for the rooftop bar menu. Our server seemed more irritated than accommodating when our party grew. You would think she would be excited when a larger group equates a larger bill which equates a larger tip but she wasn't having it. This is a good place for Friday after work drinks and a great way to start the night but I don't see myself rushing to come back.
(3)Debra L.
Loved the 3rd floor for an afternoon snack on a sunny winter afternoon. Beautiful space and view and wonderful service. I imagine in the summer this place would be insane, but it was perfect in February. I had a glass of Prosecco and my husband had a delicious Bloody Mary. I had a sip and regretted not getting one myself. The upstairs menu is limited but we were fine with that. We shared a dozen delicious oysters and a spicy tuna roll. It wasn't like a typical spicy tuna roll. It was more like a plain tuna roll with a mildly spicy sauce drizzled on top. I kind of liked it that way. You could really taste the tuna which was fresh and delicious. I will definitely be back here! PS - It KILLS me that this place didn't open until after I left Fort Point Channel. Booo!
(5)Mark W.
Very good food and service. Recommend the lobster Pizza
(4)Sarah E.
Last night I had dinner at Legal Harborside and I literally hate it!!! First, the host was really unprofessional and received us with a little joke that the waiting time would be approximately 2hours. It wasn't funny at all because we were starving and we walked under rain to get there! Second, I had a $23 boring tiny swordfish with rice and mashed potatoes which I did not enjoy and I swear I could make something much better for 5 bucks!!! Or I could be the Legal Seafood chef!!! Either one!! Third, by the time we were leaving, one of the hosts shouted "Enjoy the weather"!!! That was so sarcastic and very unappropriated because it was raining and snowing and we had to walk to the parking a block away. Further more, you pay for public parking!!! Conclusion...Legal Harborside has awful services, boring food and unprofessional staff. Don't even waste your time and money there!!
(1)Burgess N.
We started in the top floor bar for cocktails. Only real complaint about that was the volume of the TV was deafening, and I am already practically deaf. Menu is a bit pricey, but that's to be expected in Boston. I had some delicious and very fresh oysters for an appetizer, then moved on to the Lobster Roll. It was very good. Chunky lobster meat with minimal garnishes. The service was great, even though our waiter was busy with other tables he spent plenty of time with us explaining the dishes, we didn't feel rushed at all. The main reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars was because of the noise level throughout the restaurant. It was crowded noise polluted from people and music, that in my opinion, was turned up too loud.
(4)Nicole C.
We went for the oysters but got so much more. I wanted to bring my parents, from NY, for some fresh oysters. We ended up there for lunch because we were going to head over to Harpoon. I knew they would have good oysters, but didn't expect what we got. Diego was our server and he was awesome from the moment we sat down. He made some suggestions, we took them and we were not dissapointed. We started with a dozen oysters (Diego helped select the varieties), cups of chowder and a soup of the day all around. They oysters were fresh, clean and delicious. Their chowder was creamy and flavorful without being too thick. Next, my parents and I shared a lobster roll, the steamers, and the seafood stuffed artichokes. My husband got the skirt steak. Everything was perfectly done and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively, not to mention the nice view of the water up by the big windows, which open up to the dock during the warmer months. I can't wait to go back! P.S. get the sangria!
(5)Chao D.
I love the sea food bere...recipient service is nlt that good..but the lobster is amazing...I like that
(5)Ellen H.
Came on New Years Eve and could only get a 4:30pm reservation, but they did seat us at 4:30 despite only having 2 of 4 from our party there. **NOTE: This menu is NOT the same as other Legal Seafoods restaurants.** The menu itself is pretty small: a one-sheeter with extensive seafood options (duh) and almost NO "turf" options -- a skirt steak salad and one other steak option were the only meat options to be had. It is a seafood restaurant on the water, but I did expect a bit more variety. I had the clam chowder - delish! SUPER hot but scrumptious nonetheless. I ordered the buffalo shrimp as my meal; I expected a shrimp cocktail with some kind of buffalo rub, but what I got was deep-fried shrimp SWIMMING in buffalo sauce. Just ok, not great. The shrimp were huge which was really the only plus. We had to ask for bread about 5 times -- she would only bring one roll per person at the table and only when prompted. That was a little annoying in terms of service. The drinks were good, especially the mojito. Prices were lower than other Legal's, and lower than I'd expect, especially in Boston. I'd come back if I had a major hankering for seafood -- or clam chowder -- but it's not top on my list (maybe in summer -- great views!)
(3)John B.
Great place. Fresh seafood and really not expensive (except for floor 2). First floor gets really busy, but you can always go to their take out counter. Second floor is amazing; shrimp cocktail is the best I've ever had, and the swordfish chop was astounding. Way to go guys!
(5)Matt D.
Good service, knowledgable bartenders. The lack of 5 stars is only for the line on the summer weekends. Nobody likes to wait in line. I usually say I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member (Groucho Marx). This place is worth it for the views alone.
(4)Maggie N.
Love the roofdeck! Sushi and white sangeria a must!
(5)Caitlin M.
This place is well worth the money. They honored my request to sit by the window, and the view is so nice! The shrimp are giant. The scallop dish was amazing. The chef also will bring out some complimentary tasters. It is such a fun, romantic, warm environment. I would definitely go here again.
(5)Tihomir D.
Another great night at legals roof top. Love that place and Didi took great care of us.
(5)Alex D.
Best seafood restaurant yet. Perfect place for Caviar. Oyster fans, here is your place. Believe it or not they have Alaskan King crab. 5 stars all the way.
(5)Alison Y.
Legal harbor side came highly recommended and did not disappoint! Food was excellent! We ate down stairs on the patio. Wonderful views there is also a sushi and raw bar upstairs. They even have a small togo counter with pre made meals, sushi and some frozen speciality dishes ( lobster mac n cheese)... Oysters were shucked perfectly and probably the best I have ever had! Cool spot to take in Boston while enjoying a tasty lunch or dinner!
(4)Bilal A.
We've been there three. We asked to have a table right next to sea. They made us wait for one hour. It is too long. I tried fish in foil. It was delicious. If you do not want to eat with bacon, you should tell them before placing order. Feel free to ask anything because they are quite kind and nice I put this place into my list. I prefere to go in the future.
(4)Kevin L.
I've never been disappointed with a Legal's experience and Harborside continued to support this statement. I came here on a Thusrday night at 9pm and there was still a wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. Luckily there were some empty chairs at the bar and the Pats were playing, so that was a no brainer. The bartender was friendly and knew the menu really well. I ordered the fried clams, crab roll, and crab and pepperoni pizza. Although the clams were sweet, I wasn't a fan of the batter and the clams were a little small. The batter seemed a little soggy and didn't have a nice, crisp crunch to it. The crab roll was filled with fresh crab meat and the roll was nicely buttered and toasted. Surprisingly, the biggest highlight of the night was the pizza. It was a flatbread pizza with crab, tomatoes, and pepperoni. Seems like a weird combo, but the flavors blended together so nicely. You gotta try it!
(4)Neelam P.
Can I not rate 10 stars? We had a group of 15 and anytime you go with a large group anywhere, it tends to get complicated, but Santiago handled us well. The food at Legal was awesome, I simply ate out of everyone else's plates because I wanted to order everything on the menu. A few amazing things I tasted and left there extremely satisfied were the Lobster Bisque, Linguini & Clams, Lobster Macaroni & Cheese, Oysters, Lobster Pot Pie...I am sure anything you order will be simply satisfying. Santiago was our waiter and if you go, request him. I am sure everyone else was great, but he really made our experience awesome. PS - THE VIEW, oh it's amazing!
(5)Sharon L.
I would like to give it a 3.5 5 for the atmosphere 5 for the crab roll on a hot dog roll 2 for the chips 2 for the non functional basket its served in
(4)Angela L.
Rooftop review: Wow. What a VIEW. They have lots of seating around the bar area and outdoor patio seating as well. I went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty packed. They have fun music, but not much dancing going on- just drinks and hanging out. Drinks are STRONG. So you will definitely get your money's worth when getting a drink. Bartenders were nice. Overall, I'd come back! Get here early because otherwise rooftop will be full. They do make you wait for awhile before getting in if you get there later.
(4)Patti M.
The food here is tasty but no means the best. There are other places to have a great (not to mention cheaper) seafood meal. That being said, their clam chowder is good but by far not the best I have tasted. The lobster roll was fresh, tasty, and a decent sized portion and they didn't skimp on the truffle fries in the silly basket. They were pretty tasty as well. The Boston cream pie was excellent, though not as much for its flavor as for the fact it was NOT sickening sweet. The atmosphere is pretty, with a great view of the water and the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating.
(4)Kelly O.
It's a Legal, with all that entails- consistently prepared fresh seafood (although I'm becoming less of a fan of their fried clams over time, they're just not as delicious as I remember them), decent beer/mediocre cocktail list (why all the vodka?), reasonable service, mid-to-highish prices. That being said, this spot in particular has lovely waterside views on all 3 floors, but you will wait for them- this place gets craaaazy packed, especially if there's a concert on next door. But don't limit this place to just summer- I had a blast at a private company holiday party, where the food/booze/service was top notch and the views coupled with the cozy fireplaces made the night quite lovely.
(4)Khristina D.
Had tacos and fried green beans. There was a long wait but the food was great. Now...I ordered the green bloody Mary. It's not for everyone, me included. The texture of the drink was more like a badly mixed smoothy. Our waiter looks like Turtle from Entourage. ..and sounds like Matt Damon: only in Boston, right! Obviously, I love this place. Boston or Warwick. ..no matter...great calamari. ..always and ways winner.
(4)Steven T.
Fun place to hangout. It has a great view of the water. It gets crowded fast on Saturday afternoons. Pros: -Clean and comfortable. -Fabulous view of the water. -Quick and friendly staff.
(4)Kike M.
This restaurant is amazing in every sense: its location in the harbor, the fantastic food, fresh products, fresh seafood, lovely staff. Must to try: their lobster roll, with fries and salad. Kinda pricey but totally worth it. If you can get a table outside with the sea view, do it.
(4)Ashley C.
*This review is for the upstairs bar. Got in line around 11 pm and waited half an hour to get up there. Surprisingly, they don't have a strict dress code - I was in shorts, tank and running shoes and they still let me in. The view was of the harbor was decent. There was a good amount of seating and tables upstairs, along with a nice breeze in the open air. Drinks were pretty expensive (cranberry vodka $15!!!), but that's expected. It was a good time, but I expected a bigger, more spacious/open rooftop bar. It was more of just a bar upstairs with no windows.
(3)Tyrie D.
Great oysters fantastic drinks and a help full service at the bar. Loved the selection of oysters they have with the discretion of them all.
(4)Alan C.
Just finished the Harpoon Brewery tour so crew and I wanted to have a nice Saturday lunch at Legal Harborside. It was packed but there is bar seating all around first floor and we got seats near the waterfront side. Gorgeous view. Food: Crab Roll - This was a bit pricey but well worth it. The toasted buttered bun was packed with succulent crab meat. It was well seasoned with just enough mayo to give it flavor but definitely did not drown it like other places I've been to. It tasted fresh and before I knew it, finished the whole thing. The fries on the side was really nothing special, average. The cole slaw that came in tiny cup was ok. Service: Super busy Saturday but waitress did check on us often but that's probably because we sat in a high traffic area.
(5)David C.
It may be dressed up like the swanky place to be on a happening summer night, but Legal Harborside (the first floor, that is) is still Legal Seafoods at heart, which means the food is mediocre at best. The tuna burgers, lobster mac and cheese, and Portuguese stew ordered by my table all required a little extra seasoning (the mac and cheese was particularly bland, which was most disappointing of all), but the shrimp and scallop stuffed artichokes and lobster/bacon pizza were a bit better. Service is great, however, friendly and professional, and the views simply can't be beat. I'd probably suggest skipping the food, save for a few raw bivalves, and kicking back with some drinks so that you can enjoy the sunset in style.
(3)Jowanna G.
Mediocre overpriced food in a nice setting, I think that sums up my experience at harborside legals. I am a self proclaimed foodie that loves to indulge in good foodie no matter what the cost may be. But when I received 1 piece of fish, 2 scallops, and 2 shrimps with one shrimp tail as a fishermen platter for $33.95 that is just completely unacceptable. The seafood was soggy, & I had to build my own fishermen platter because this location does not offer one, I never thought that I would have this experience with legals seafood. The highlight of my experience here was leaving! Don't waste your time or money with this restaurant, it has become a step below red lobster and just another over priced chain restaurant.
(1)Jeff M.
Legal "don't ever call us a friggin chain" Harborside never really feels chainy and is a delight when we take out of towners here who want to experience both the water and great seafood at a relatively good price. I've always stayed on the first floor. I remember hearing about a fishing pond when they first opened, is that actually still upstairs? When we've been in the summer, we like to go outside on the deck to take in the beautiful breeze which is flowing most of the time. If the raw bar is offered to you on a busy night in the dead of winter and you don't want to wait 30+ minutes, take it! I've never really gotten the almighty entrée here as I tend to graze. Maybe some bluefish pate and a cup of chowder. Or another small appetizer and the white clam pizza, another personal favorite here at just $10. You can keep the bill easily below $50 for two people and still leave completely stuffed. Want 3 lb lobsters for each of you? Sure, you'll be hitting the higher three figure bill. But the clam chowder is cheap and very delicious at about $7. My wife loves the fish tacos which are $15 for three. You can get as few raw oysters as you'd like, I almost hate wasting that huge dish of ice but a half dozen is usually good enough for us. They are carefully arrayed for you and always fresh and delicious. The ambiance is very modern and sleek. They tend to pull in a yuppie crowd on the first floor and then I see the senior citizens in suits coming down off the elevator from upstairs. It doesn't have the feel of other Legals and that seems to be the intention here. I rarely walk into a mall location but easily think of this spot every time we are craving the full Boston sea creature experience. Again, I think it's simply perfect for tourists and locals alike. It can be loud and break your budget if you let it but control your costs and still come out happy for repeat performances. Clearly though, don't ever call them a chain.....
(4)Kaitlin H.
This review is on the third floor roof deck. We decided to stop here during our trip to Boston, but what we didn't realize was that it was graduation weekend for pretty much every university AND Harpoon was hosting a 5K race, so it was BUSY! There was a 2 hour wait for the seating on the first floor, so we opted for the roof deck. There was a line just to get up to the 3rd floor, so we waited for at least 30 minutes. Then once we got up there, it was first come first serve for tables, so we were eyeing the tables like hawks. It took over an hour to finally sit and order lunch. Once we sat and looked over the menu, we realized the menu is totally different than the menu downstairs. It was mostly sushi, rather than your typical seafood. However, it was affordable and very tasty. They had fun drinks, and accidentally gave us a large pitcher of sangria instead of a small, so we couldn't complain. Even though it was a pain to get a table, it was great food and a beautiful view. It's definitely a scene, and not somewhere i would come often, but it was fun. My recommendation is to come early, like right when they open, to beat the crowd.
(4)Gabriela L.
When I was recently in town, I was craving Oysters and what better location than the original Legal Seafoods on the Boston Harbor. It was one of the first few weekends with nice weather, and after getting slammed with snow all winter you can imagine how packed this place was. It took us about 30 minutes, but we jumped on a group as they were leaving to snag their booth on the 3rd floor. The menu up here is limited but of course we ordered lots of oysters to start, which were fabulous. We become more hungry the more we ate... (and the more we drank) so we also ordered some sushi and an avocado salad as well. The array of sushi we got was great but the avocado salad was pretty heavy on the spicy mayo, so not great. Overall, it's a good time to get together with friends have a few drinks, share a few small plates and enjoy the view.
(4)Karina B.
FIRST FLOOR REVIEW: Amazing service, amazing food ( highly recommend the lobster mac and cheese). I also tried the clam chowder which was DELICIOUS! the caesar salad i feel like was too expensive for what we got but still good! My family ordered the clam with linguini i tasted a bite and it was really good and there are a bunch of tiny clams in the shell which they give you a plate where you can dispose of them! The fresh oysters were delicious I recommend either the cape cod ones or the duxbury MA ones! Definitely coming back! Someone around us got the lobster rolls which looked amazing
(5)Richard J.
Great friendly staff, amazing food. Tuna Burger is incredible Buffalo Shrimp is pure perfection
(5)Crystal M.
Don't bother unless you are an American with an American driving license or stupid enough to carry your passport with you. At the old age of 32 we were not allowed wine with our dinner unless we had passport's which of course I would only carry around if I was silly enough. Loose your passport and spend 2 months waiting for a replacement in a country you're not from, just not worth the risk, for any lobster roll. Legal is so legal it will only accept US driving licenses, no international's allowed. In a hugely tourist plagued city this is just plain ignorant.
(1)Elisha T.
I was introduced to this restaurant on my first travel to Boston and I'm really satisfied with the quality of food here. Portion of food is more than you can eat in one go and it was around $20/person. We were a party of 5 people visiting here on Friday for lunch. There were good number of tables available to get seated immediately. The view of lake is great over large windows on the lakeside. Interior of restaurant is also nice if you want to take some photo together with friends and families. If you have a chance to dine here, be sure to try clam chowder, mussels, and calamari as an appetizer because you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lane L.
Just spent way too much money on bad food. I love sea food. Which is why when I come to a city like Boston, I get all excited. This place was a let down. Definitely don't get the lobster. I didn't know what people were taking about when they called seafood stringy until I had their lobster. The service was all fine and the server was helpful with our party of 7 but the service can't make the food taste better, can it?
(2)Kaveh Z.
Good for seafood. Not being so much of a seafood fan I ordered the Swordfish Gyro and have to say loved it. The white sangria was good too. In another visit I decided to have steak and although meat was good but the vegetables were not that good. I still recommend this place. Food is good and view is great.
(4)Amir F.
By far favorite restaurant in Boston. We always take friends from our hometown in Orlando who visit. Fair but expected higher prices, great quality, and never had bad service
(5)Stefanie A.
Such a great open air, rooftop bar with amazing views of the water & boats! Came here for some apps and drinks while we were in town visiting our Boston friends (we're from Chicago). We each had some good cocktails and for apps we shared the oysters, little necks, and three different sushi rolls. All delicious!
(5)Guillem L.
The view is amazing but the food is not so good. I had tasty oysters but the salmon had nothing exceptional, after two hours waiting my friends and I were skeptical... However, the waitress was friendly and smiling all the dinner.
(3)Yelena W.
We went to the restaurant at 12 pm on Sunday for a good meal but... As soon we got in, FOUR young people upfront looked at us and asked us if we had a reservation. The minute they heard that we didn't make a reservation , they told us that we have to wait for a table outside for 45 minutes but they were ready to give us a table inside so we can see traffic on Northern street istead of enjoying a nice view of Boston Harbor. :) It was kind of surprising because while we walked outside we saw at least five emply tables in the Patio. Believe it or not, it was our third attempt to get to this restaurant without a reservation. We learned our lesson, either make a reservation or watch traffic. My advice would be "Make a reservation" prior going to this restaurant if you want to have a nice view while you are eating your meal. Also, you will get a "special look" or actually "four special looks" if you didn't make a reservation to this elite place. Something like "Who are you? and you don't belong to be here!"
(1)K R.
First floor review: I've eaten here many times and always enjoyed my meal and the service. Plenty to pick from and the view is amazing! Everyone who I have brought here has loved it. I went there this past weekend and was incredibly impressed. I was dining with a few people with different allergies and the staff did an excellent job at offering excellent substitutions and keeping our order straight. Everyone loved what they ordered!
(5)Rach E.
Food and service were fantastic. We sat at the bar with Stephanie last night. Her recommendations were great. We had then lobster pizza and tuna tacos. Great portions and reasonably priced! Definitely a must see.
(5)Zoila V.
Gorgeous view!! The location of this restaurant is perfect, right on the water by finishing pier. Boats can dock right up to the restaurant which is pretty darn cool for being right in the city! Even late on a Monday night this place was super busy...always a good sign! The restaurant itself is very modern looking, nice 360 bar on the 1st floor! We got the legal sangria...yum! For those that like a sweet sangria i would recommend this! We got grilled scallops and fried clams for entrees...market price wasn't bad! Average $23 for each plate. Portions were good size too especially for an upscale restaurant. Service was pleasant, and pretty fast. We really enjoyed our dinner here, food was great but the view and ambience really make the place!
(4)Sonia N.
For a chain, I've always liked Legal's but this time I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and I don't have a bad thing to say. My Sapphire Gimlet was superb and having it served in a nicely chilled glass was an added bonus. For our starter, we decided to try out the wild mushroom and lobster pizza and it was definitely worth trying. Very tasty and the combo of mushroom and lobster mixed well together. Our entrees also did not disappoint. Our bartender hard sold us the swordfish calling it the "best dish in the house" so even though we weren't in the mood for it, we ordered it at her insistence and WOW, it was the softest tastiest cut of fish I've eaten in a while. The eggplant side we got with it was yummy as well. My taste buds were singing! It was offered at a hefty $30 but trust me, it is worth the splurge. The fried clams were equally delicious. The clam bellies were plump and neither the clams or the fries were overcooked as it sometimes can be at other places. Looking forward to returning at some point. Love that this location has great food and great views.
(5)A P.
Beautiful view, fabulous food! 2nd Floor was perfect! We enjoyed a filet and the blackened sunburst trout. Also the lobster bisque... So Good! Request to sit near the windows and watch the setting sun!
(4)Kathleen D.
The idea of eating a sea animal generally makes me cringe. In the past decade, I can probably count how many fish I've consumed on one hand. It really makes no sense, I know. I eat chicken or red meat with no problem... yet when it comes to a fish, I just picture its little eyes staring me down and can't stomach it. I made an exception at Legal Harborside this week. We headed in for lunch and were seated in the first floor dining room near one of the big glass windows peering out onto the harbor. The menu was, obviously, overwhelmingly fish-based... because, you know, it's a seafood restaurant. Still: they have some land options too, like a hamburger or turkey burger. Nonetheless, I chatted with our sweet server about my lack of adventure into seafood territory, and told her that I've been kind of wanting to try swordfish. I had it once before... in Italy four years ago, and remembered liking it. She replied that it was a great fish to try since it's the "chicken of the sea." Sold. I ordered the gyro. It came out not resembling a fish much at all! It didn't even taste all too fishy. With a squirt of lemon, mixed with the pita and the tzatziki sauce, it was the perfect gateway fish. I think I may be ready to try others! Maybe. I really enjoyed my time at Legal Harborside. It was a casual lunch, but I heard (from a trolley guide, ahem -- I was a tourist!) that the place turns classy at night.
(5)Jen W.
SECOND FLOOR REVIEW: for a restaurant that rejects the idea that it's a chain, it seems highly audacious and counterintuitive to put three different restaurants (or concepts) in one building AND across the street from another Legal's (LTK). That aside, let me help you. If you want an upscale (read: pricey) dining experience, then you can get that here. If you want a truly memorable, can't-wait-to-return experience, look elsewhere. During our experience, our waiter told one half of our party (10 of us at a long table) that we ordered the seafood tower. We did not. We told him to check with him before we ordered items from the raw bar without knowing everyone's comfort level. $90 later we discovered that no one actually ordered the thing. Fast forward 90 minutes... No sign of our entrees (or the salad I ordered... Never did arrive). Nothing to hold us over. Not even an acknowledgement until the second (maybe third) time we asked what was going on with our food. They did right by us by reducing the final bill, but it wasn't enough to stop me from posting this review and it's not enough for me to go back. Whatever identity crisis this brand is going through, I hope it works out. Right now, this second floor restaurant/concept/thing isn't working. The menu feels like someone challenged Legal chefs to a game of "Chopped," and the staff doesn't have the same dedication to quality and customer service. Idk. Smh. Wtf.
(2)Manfred S.
The food has been fantastic during the past few visits and once we were finally served it was fantastic again. Food only would be a solid five star, but there were reservation issues. --- It is supposed to be fine dining, but they only manage fine food. The request for pescataria adjustments of our order was lost in translation. To the food: Oysters --- Okay. Wellfleets are hard to mess up. They were better than the Duxbury's that were also available. (Note: only two choices of very large oysters but good) Where the kitchen shined: oxtail ravioli (on the house) - not so good for my pescatarian wife but I liked it a lot despite being on the sweet side lobster tail salad (on the house) - lovely, once it registered that honey is a pescatarian abalone - fantastic, but could do without the bacon bits (note: pescatarians don't care for bacon). tuna - hugh piece, slightly over seared (without being asked, I mentioned that I like my tuna rare) dessert (on the house) - chocolate raspberry cake and some chocolate chip ice cream (sorry, but I don't like chocolate desserts so cannot comment) wine - Sancerre rose, light crispy, reasonably priced - perfect for any food, but especially for seafood Management's screw-up: We made the wedding anniversary reservation - 8:30 PM window seat - during a previous visit. We arrived early at 8:05. We were told that the window table was not ready, but would be available closer to the booked time. We were seated around 9:10. Notably, there was a walk-in line that seemed to get seated first. No one bothered to check on us until after I checked at 8:35 and then complained around 8:50. They told us that our table was ready and they walked us to a booth in the back --- far from a window seat. We probably could have had that table an hour earlier. Recommendation to the hosts (there were many): Don't upsell bad tables. Communicate if there is a problem. Don't wait until our night is spoiled!
(4)lizzie b.
Crowded bar... Nice view if you can get a seat. Music too loud to be relaxing. Sangria is gross and way too sweet. Downstairs is unbearably loud. Service just okay. Waiter took selfies with friend's phone that she asked him to please charge. I love the scrod, but they wouldn't serve a baked potato in this location. Sides weren't good. And there's only one side included in this dinner versus two at other Legals. Left with no voice due to screaming at friend all night so she could hear me. Basically love the view and the fish itself but the rest is chaos.
(2)chanda d.
AMAZING, Grown and Sexy night out with my best girl friend! The Red Dragon Sushi was incredible! It's all about the ambiance. If you really want a great experience, call and reserve a table.
(5)Kevin C.
A good lively place with plenty of servers taking frequent visits to ensure no customer gets left out. I went there with my family and friends on vacation as part of our seafood craze. I ordered the Lobster Pot Pie. My understanding of any pot pie was that it either came in its own pie crust or a cup/bowl with a crust top. I've noticed a lot of restaurants took the shortcut and just settled with placing the pastry on top of the dish and called it a pie. The entrée itself was tasty, but I rather remove the pastry, throw some rice and call it something else, because I felt somewhat cheated when it came. Since it was my first time and night in Boston, I ordered the New England clam chowder to boot and that was quite flavourful. My mother ordered a classic fish and chips, but did not like how the fish was prepared, but it was out of personal taste. The appetizer platter was okay, but was still enjoyable. Would I go back? Perhaps, but compared to my later experiences, The Legal Harborside seems more of a fall back than a first pick.
(3)Anne E.
Great light lunch here before heading to Harpoon. We sat at their bar and had excellent service, drinks, and food. Definitely recommend the mussels and the stuffie. Great view of the harbor in a beautiful restaurant.
(5)Gina B.
Had the opportunity try Legal recently after a work trip took me up to Beantown again. It's surprising large inside, 3 stories I believe and quite contemporary inside. Given the size of our group, we opted for a prix fix meal (soup/salad, entree and dessert). I'm gluten-free and asked the server if they could make an accommodation, which they did. They even had gluten-free bread, though it was hard as a rock. They offered sorbet as an alternative for a gluten-free dessert option. Unfortunately, it had terrible freezer burn. They finally brought out some fresh sorbet, but I felt this should had been caught before it was brought out. Other than that, I thought the food was good and I liked the ambience.
(4)Emily S.
I feel like I don't give out a ton of five stars, but we had a flawless and magical night here from start to finish! Atmosphere: We sat by the tall floor to ceiling glass windows/doors leading to the outdoor deck that looked out over the harbor and it was stunning. The ceiling and bar looked industrial chic. This is a cool place to bring family, a date, or friends! Love the heavy wood table. Service: I think our Waitress's name was Liz? She had long brown hair and a flower in it! She was charismatic, charming, funny, kind and perfectly timed. She was available when needed and not intrusive either. We kicked it off with her and she made an amazing meal an awesome experience. Food: We ordered the tempura battered green beans and lobster/wild mushroom pizza for appetizers along with a few oysters (can't remember which, sorry! I'm the non-oyster eater of the party of 3). They green beans were accompanied by two delicious tangy and zesty aiolis. I dipped in both before popping those veggies as if they were fries- SO crisp and such rich flavor! The pizza was perfectly toasted and there were large, fresh chunks of lobster meat that melted in our mouths. For dinner I had the most tender cheeseburger cooked medium rare on a big soft bun that came with fries and a pickle. Others in my party enjoyed the Swordfish special with a cup of classic New England clam chowder (just the warm, creamy, traditional type you may be looking for!) and the Salmon. They were so satisfied and happy with their meals and said they were perfect! We ended with a berry crisp and unexpected chocolate creme brulee that was so well done... We were licking our spoons clean. I read many of these other reviews before we decided on this place and we came out with no regrets. This night at Legal's beat out a fancy meal from the night before spent at Grill 23 with its experimental pink, smoky, highly salted chowder they should call a bisque and it's calamari that was more onion than sea critter.
(5)Andrew P.
I usually have a good experience here, but I think this restaurant has gotten a bit too big for it's britches. I went with two friends on a Wednesday night in hopes of getting a table. I was quoted an hour and a half wait time. Seemed long, and we were about to go elsewhere but found seats at the bar. Out of curiosity I checked OpenTable on my phone and there was a reservation for 8pm available. It was 7:30pm! Why would the hostess quote me a time 3 times as long as one available online for a customer that may or may not happen? When approached about this the hostess had no excuse and actually had no words. Definitely not good customer service. If you choose to go here, make sure you check OpenTable first as they clearly like reservations better than customers standing in front of them!
(2)Luna D.
Best lobster ever, chowder is perfect with reasonable price, much better than daily catch ever
(5)Guillermo M.
Nice place to come with somebody from out of town. Good food, nice view of the harbor, quick service, not cheap but not extremely expensive. This time we got fried oysters, a Harpoon seasonal beer, clam chowder, lobster roll and closed with a seasonal fruit crisp and all was really good.
(4)Idan H.
Perfect! The food is amazing. Everything is treated with great care. The service is like nothing else.
(5)Michael Z.
We have been fans of Legal Seafood for years and today we tried Legal Harborside First Floor. Our food overall was well prepared and the service was excellent. We particularly like the door that open to deck and you sit almost outdoor. Great place to visit
(4)Milly R.
The roof deck bar is a fun place to watch people. Young crowds who wants to be seen!
(4)Sarah W.
Lovely location. Amazing views and a serious crowd lined up to view them. I'm usually a bit of a snob about chain restaurants (and chain restaurants with airport locations? come ON), but I have always had good experiences at Legal. Had the lobster bisque on my last visit. In middle America, lobster bisque is usually a rich, creamy soup with a great lobster flavor from the shells they use for the stock. At Legal, lobster bisque is that same thing, only your bowl is filled about half way with honest to God lobster. It's Boston. The water is right there. You expect them to bring their A game with the seafood, but this was definitely above and beyond. The non-seafood appetizers we tried were perfectly adequate, but don't mess around. Let them do what they do best.
(4)Ann H.
My sister & I went here for our last night of our trip to Boston. We had heard mixed reviews, such as: They are not as good as they once were. And: You will not be disappointed. We made 8:00 reservations, got seated early & had a great table by the water. Our waitress, Emily, could not have been nicer. We split a salad & she brought it in two bowls & it was plenty per person. We ordered the seafood combo but the combo had changed unbeknownst to Emily & did not contain what we wanted. We changed to an appetizer order of crab legs & two lobsters. When the crab legs came, they had a very distinct odor of ammonia. We went ahead and tasted & YUCK! They were gooey & my sister was convinced they were undercooked. They took them back & heated them up. In the meantime, they brought us a complimentary cup of chowder which was very good. When our crab legs came back, the reheating totally enhanced the AMMONIA smell & taste. I called the waitress & (I think) manager over when I could get their attention - the man said he was 'stuffed up' & couldn't smell them. Emily said she doesn't eat crab legs so she doesn't know what they are suppose to taste like. SERIOUSLY???? Even if you NEVER had crab legs before, would you serve ANYthing that smelled like AMMONIA? They, of course, took them off our order. The lobsters were pretty much ok but I think I could taste a more faint ammonia taste in the small legs so I couldn't eat them. Maybe because they were cooked in the same pot as the crab legs? I guess the most disappointing thing was what I felt was their dishonesty about not admitting they had served us in edible crab legs. I'll not go back next time I'm in Boston nor will I ever recommend this restaurant to any of my friends.
(1)Lisa V.
Great choice of a restuarant for seafood! The only negative was the shrimp cocktail. It was served in cocktail sauce with a strong cucumber taste. I like to dip my shrimp into plain cocktail sauce. Also, the shrimp were smaller than I expected. The calamari, oysters, clam white pizza and clam chowder were to die for. Also, the lobster bisque contained the biggest piece of lobster which was a delight. Our party of four had a waitress named Lisa who was phenomenal. I would definitely request her on our next visit!
(4)Brian H.
Two colleagues and myself had dinner here on a Wednesday evening, we ordered a bottle of wine and calamari to start. All is well in the beginning with the wine and calamari being very tasty, Sharon our server recommended the panko crusted tuna, so two of us ordered that and the other ordered the swordfish. All three fish came out overcooked, it didn't take much for our server Sharon to realize this and correct the problem immediately by putting in new orders and delivering them in short time, they came out perfect the second time. Legal owned the mistake and fairly compensated our bill, not what we were looking for but it was a nice gesture.
(4)Michael H.
We dined outside at the Floor 1 restaurant. We were seated promptly for our reservation and our outside table gave us a beautiful harbor view away from the noisy inside! I always enjoy Legal Seafood and our night at harbor side was no exception. Their chowder is great and we enjoyed portugese stew, calamari, shrimp cocktail and a very delicious tomato/peach salad!!! Price range is very good for floor 1 and wine list has some good options! A great spot to enjoy a great meal and view. We had hoped to try the roof deck but the line was very long and the crowd young enough to be our kids!!!
(4)Ash C.
I was on the 2nd fl with my boyfriend the other night. The server recommended abalone from California for their signature dish so I ordered it. I usually eat raw abalone which offers the best natural flavor but wanted to try sautéed one to see how it would taste different. It wasnt worth $48.. Was deep fried instead of sauteed.. Very greasy and bland. Highly NOT recommended
(2)Michele P.
We had hummus/olive oil and Catamala/fig with oita for an appatizer. The olive/fig combo was supurb. The hummus was bland. Our server was super friendly and gave excellent suggestions. Our course was the grilled scallops with chard and slaw. The chard was ok, the slaw a bit heavy, but neither was bad. The scallops were amazing!! We loved every bite! Dessert was Boston Cream Pie. Interesting take on an old Boston staple. Serive was great, food was great overall. Had a nice dinner!
(4)Jeff D.
The same review I give every Legal Seafoods. The quality of the seafood is excellent and something the owners (who I know personally) truly care about. Your best bet (IMO) is to go with the wood-grilled items. Great fish, prepared simply over open flames just can't be beat. Except maybe by a few raw oysters. And the beef lettuce wraps...those kicked ass.
(4)Rhonda C.
I don't give a place 5 stars unless it is over the top great. Went there in early October with some friends for a late lunch. The waitstaff was awesome and seated us near the window. The wine list was great, and the seafood was so fresh! I loved my lobster. My husband loved his oyster selection. My friend ordered the mussels, and they were incredible. Can't think of a better seafood place in Boston.
(5)Angel L.
Review for rooftop deck (floor 3) Atmosphere: The ambiance is perfect whether you're looking for an informal or a formal night. I've come casually dressed while the table next to me was all in dresses and suits but the atmosphere is always the same...fun. Whether you're there just to drink and have appetizers or have an actual meal, I've always been comfortable. The waiters and waitresses do what they can to accommodate you even when it's busy so I can't complain. Seafood: For eating sushi for most of my life and working at a sushi restaurant, I can say that hands down this is one of the best sushi I've had in a VERY long time. You can immediately tell from every roll the chef makes that he uses only fresh fish and perfect proportions of every ingredient. My friends and I ordered a couple of rolls and including Unagi (Eel) Roll, Rainbow Roll, Red Dragon, Hawaiian Roll, Orange Dragon Roll, and I must say they were all delicious. I'm a tuna person so I'm a bit biased when choosing my rolls but I didn't have one complaint for any of them. My all times favorites however were 2 items that were not on the menu. We were able to put in a request for two AMAZING dishes. One was sushi pizza and the other an inverted crab Rangoon (as seen in the picture). The sushi pizza consisted of a thin seaweed rice sandwich that was lightly fried to make it crunchy. It was then topped with either salmon or tuna and garnished with a red/green pepper and tempura flakes. IT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Indeed it was very creative. Overall, I'd love to return when the weather is nicer to dress up and take pictures outside or just another Friday when I'm craving the amazing sushi I've had.
(5)Piyush P.
Good stuff. From a Texan. Wasn't busy. Was close to the hotel. Food was great. Fajitas. Mmmm
(5)Taylor K.
We came to the first floor for dinner. It was very very good! We went to the bar first and the bartender was super friendly and very helpful with guiding us through the menu. Had good beer and wine variety. Our waiter was also great. We got the lobset and mushroom pizza for an app. IT WAS AMAZZINNNNNGNGNGNG I highly recommend! We got a variety of meals but everyone was extremely pleased with literally EVERYTHING we ate. The view and ambience is gorgeous and perfect. There are also lots of places near by! HIGHLY recommend Legal Harborside.
(5)Michelle S.
Was here on business in early October '13 and had one of the best dinner experiences due to the fantastic service I had and the oysters were to die for! I had 8-10 in one evening.... about 4-5 different type. The chowder was some of the best I had while touring New England over 10 days. Also the lobster roll was amazing. Plus sitting there with full views of the harbor is just amazing ambiance. Rooftop bar is pretty cool too. Even better views and seemed pretty hipster. Overall a great experience and fantastically superb oysters!
(5)Jackie R.
Terrible service. They wouldn't let my friend in after we waited for 20 minutes because they thought she wasn't sober enough but (she was and) it's been raining all night. Really messed up.
(1)Sarah B.
Great place on the harbor for business dinners! food is always phenomenal and the Oysters are huge!
(5)Pam D.
Love this place. Dined on the second floor. The food was excellent and the waitstaff superb. The top bar patio has great views. If it is busy, seats are hard to find, as well as the waitstaff; they did not seem very experienced. But I went for the second floor dining and that is what gets the 5-star review.
(5)Mindy M.
Have been to the rooftop bar twice. Service is always crap. I don't understand the criteria for being waited on properly up there but if you can put up with that fact, it's really a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the water. I'd give the upstairs bar one and a half stars. Have also dined downstairs and the food and service were great. The fall drink right now, Apple Sangria, is delicious and I'm not one of those sweet specialty drink people. Also had the House salad and wood-fired scallops. Pass on the Japanese eggplant. It's over seasoned. Would give my dining experience 4 stars.
(3)Edward M.
I made a reservation for the first floor for early on a Wednesday evening. Its 3 floors and a generally huge place. Got there at 5.30pm and the place was jammed. I asked the waitress if this is normal and she said it was the after work crowd combined with the concert next door later on that evening. I guess the lesson here is make sure you make reservations even if you don't think you'll need them. If I'm not mistaken the second floor is a fancier restaurant and the third floor is a rooftop that overlooks Boston Harbor and mostly serves drinks and apps. So we picked the first floor for dinner. I'll call it "energetic" but others might call it just plain noisy. Its big, wide-open and busy. I wouldn't come here if you're looking for a romantic dinner. The second floor might be better for that but will probably cost you more too. The food, at least on the 1st floor where I was, is pretty straight-up Legal Seafood. Which is to say tasty if basic seafood dishes. The menu isn't huge but big enough to satisfy most people and portions are about average. In other words if you like the food at Legal you'll like the food here. If you don't then you won't. Simple as that. If you're in from out of town and never been to an LSF and you're looking for a decent seafood place this isn't a bad choice. Which is what I can say about the other aspects of Legal Harborside. It looks and feels like most other LSF locations. You will get solid if not eclectic seafood dishes, professional service in a reasonably attractive and busy physical location. This LSF is also like the others in that I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get. Honestly I had heard about this enormous LSF location and frankly I was hoping for something more "special". I wasn't disappointed per se but I wanted (or at least hoped for) more than a normal LSF. Maybe I should have booked a reservation the 2nd floor instead and found what I was looking for. It's a nice place with tasty seafood dishes and good service, just don't expect to be blown away. 3.5 starss for the food, 4 for the location on the water and 4 for the service. That rounds up to 4 stars.
(4)Anne S.
Having had about 100 lobster rolls in my life, I have never paid $30 for one. They are usually about $17-$22. But I was feeling the warm weather and went with it. Save your $30 and order something else. The .25c hot dog bun looked like it was stepped on and not $30 worth of lobster. This reminded my why I don't come here.
(3)Jiyea C.
The second flood doesn't even look like any other Legal Sea Foods! It almost looks like a fine dining restaurant...almost. Good for celebrations, family dinners, group gatherings...just make a reservation! Food was 3.5 stars but the view persuaded me to bump it up to 4 stars. We got to the restaurant early for our 8pm reservation, so we decided to go to the 2nd floor bar to have a drink while we waited. Drinks try to be fancy, with French liquors and whimsical names. They were pricey at $11-$12 a pop, but tasted pretty good. Beer is served in goblets that look like less than a pint. Would not recommend. We had the tasting menu, and all of it was delicious though I found everything a little saltier than I prefer. the complimentary bread spread comes with different kinds of pastries and was beautifully presented (as was everything else). We thought it was a little interesting that filet mignon was the main dish in the tasting as we were expecting seafood given the venue, but nevertheless it was well executed. Notes: The top floor rooftop deck does not take reservations, and there is usually a line on the side of the restaurant on the ground floor to get to the third floor. If you make a reservation on OpenTable, the email confirmation tells you to call the restaurant by noon the day of your reservation, otherwise they will release your table for other diners. I don't know how strict they are about this, but just an FYI. It would suck if you forgot to make this phone call and showed up on time only to find out that your table is no longer reserved for you..
(4)Meredith V.
We arrived for our 7:30 reservation and were immediately walked back to our table. The weather was beautiful so they had opened the entire first floor to the waterfront. What a great view! We ordered a few different types of bruschetta to start. My favorite ended up being the tuna crudo, fresh and just a little bit spicy. I had the lobster roll which is made to order, so I had them hold the mayo and bring me a side of melted butter. The lobster was sweet and pleasing. One of my friends ordered the fritto misto which was a huge platter of fried seafood and pickled veggies. He let me try a piece of the cauliflower and it was delish. Our server, Chelsey F made the experience even better. She was funny and efficient and covered a few little timing issues with the kitchen honestly and professionally. All in all it was a very nice experience.
(4)Ramin S.
I am giving a 5 here because I've been there multiple times and have never had a bad experience. Food is great, server was friendly and we were seated at a great table outside. I must say, however, we were not checked on once after having been brought the food. They weren't too busy so I was a bit surprised. They did add a complimentary dessert as it was my fathers birthday! Overall, id go back, this place is great.
(5)Inci K.
I thought it was dark, industrial looking, loud. I was going for a waterfront view, light, open and bright atmosphere for my guests. The food was fine, but I was too floored by how loud/echo-ey dark and industrial looking it was. It was an open kitchen plan - which may sound nice, to a point but it just adds to the noise and the industrial looking feel. Unless you have/ask for a waterfront seat this is what you're up against as well.
(3)Karen C.
We were here for Valentine's day and the food was amazing. The sashimi and sushi was incredibly fresh. The chef was very cute and came out to greet us to make sure everything was prefect. It wasn't too crowded when we were there because we started the night early and did get crowded later when we were done with dinner. Everyone was really polite and helpful.
(5)Paul C.
Just awesome. Pretty much a sure thing if youre looking for good food, service, atmosphere, great view. Its a no brainer!
(5)Chris L.
Nice swanky restaurant. Only went for a company event. They have three levels and the harbor/water views are great on the top floor. The top floor has an open-air deck ... which would be closed for winter / cold / bad weather. Top level was nicely laid out with couches and bar stools and we had some very tasty food and drinks. I think we had hand-made potato chips, crab cakes, mini lobster rolls, grass fed beef mini burgers, sangria, and a bunch of other stuff. (Highly recommend those mini lobster rolls, it tasted like there was a bit of lemon zest and lemon vinaigrette?) The rest of the top level was covered. There were two floors below that, and a nice spiral staircase and elevator access. I liked their decor and layout. They had pretty steady patronage (i.e., it was popular) but I never felt like I couldn't move around or that it was stuffed to or beyond capacity. As with most Legal-related restaurants, I wouldn't go there regularly. You at least know you are getting pretty good food (good quality) but it tends to be pricy.
(4)Annalisa B.
I was in Boston to celebrate my birthday with some friends. On one of the trolly tours the guide told us that Legal Seafood was a fancy and upscale restaurant which was a little intimidating. We explored other options which turned out to be not the kind of place a girl wants to have a birthday dinner. Luckily Legal was in sight so we decided on taking up the upscale challenge. Maybe in Boston it's upscale but for someone who lives in Manhattan, it's a regular non-chain four star restaurant. The food was awesome. We ordered clams for appetizers and honestly I've never seen clams disappeared that fast. My lobster pot pie was a wonderful surprise. I had the option of having the crust since it wasn't covering the filling like most pot pies do. The staff was so friendly and attentive. I would definitely go there again.
(4)Kim Y.
Im a huge fan of legals! I came here with my bf and I made a mistake by making my RSVP for 2nd floor dining cause I actually wanted 1st floor dining, the staff was just sooo polite and accommodating! there were no open RSVP but we got bench seating :) I'm addicted to oysters and they had katama bays! Yumm! I ordered the lobster roll and asked for it to be warmed with butter instead of mayo and they did that no problem but they were lacking on the lobster meat! My sister did the same thing at the legals in Braintree and they packed that roll full of lobster!!! My bf ordered the rigatoni and shrimp...not good..but that's his fault, I told him not to order it but he wanted to try something new. He ended up eating half of my lobster roll!
(4)Raisa S.
I'm really never eating at a chain restaurant, even if it's a small local chain I always lean towards visiting a one of a kind type of place. Because of their extended gluten free options and the high quality meal I have enjoyed at every LSF that I've been to I am a fan as well as a consistent customer. This time Joe and I decided to try Legal Harborside. He had a gift card so we figured we'd treat ourselves a little bit and dine upstairs at the formal dining area. I didn't really think to check the menu, because at this point I'm familiar with LSF's FANTASTIC calamari (I'm not gluten free) and delicious entree options. I know this is awful as a Bostonian BUT I'm not a HUGE seafood fan. So the fact that I LOVE lsf for the steak, says a lot about their tasty food. I only really eat shrimp and calamari as far as seafood goes. So anyways, everything about the more formal atmosphere was AMAZING. They only had late reservations open on a Friday night since we waited until last minute, so we figured we'd head in early and sit at the bar until 9:30. The bartender was very attentive, drinks were great, and we split a crab salad appetizer which was really tasty (my first time trying crab). The hostess was really nice and came over a little before 9:30 to let us know our table was ready. The most amazing part of the night was that it was a random night in August, but there were fireworks over the harbor! They happened to seat us RIGHT next to the window during the fireworks so we had some of the best seats in the house. This made the whole fine dining experience even finer. Our waiter was very attentive and really nice. Everything service-wise was 5 stars. The reason I only give it 3 is because I felt like this menu wasn't really as good as the regular LSF menu. It has less on it, which would be expected in finer dining, but they just really didn't have as much for gluten free options besides the dinner rolls. I also felt like the quality wasn't THAT much better for the price difference. The ambiance, etc. made it a special night but I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the extra money if we didn't have a gift card.
(3)Whitney R.
Friends recommended to eat here when visiting Boston. We loved it. Lots to choose from on both the drinks and food menus. We both tried the clam chowder which is a must. Nice spot and lots of choices on where to sit.
(4)Sam J.
Visiting from Zürich, took a taxi across town for our reservation but refused entry because we don't carry passports to get access to restaurants over there, especially not at age 35. Peter (the manager) was particularly antisocial about it, hence warning you about the service you can expect. Went to LTK across the road (apparently owned by the same company, which makes their "company policy" even more insane), where the service was fantastic. Don't bother with the harborside - duck across the road for the same product but with good service.
(1)Mindy T.
Love this location! 3 different floors.. all with different vibes. Went on the Roof Deck first for some drinks while we waited for our table. There was no wait, but when we got upstairs, the place was packed. The windows were closed because it had rained earlier so it wasn't too warm out but there was still daylight! You can see boats driving by. Awesome view. Strawberry sangria and white sangria is really good here! Went back down (took elevator instead of climbing down all those flights in heels) when it was almost our reservation time to grab drinks at downstairs bar instead. Ended up just sitting there instead of waiting for our table. Love the round bar even though you can't really people watch as much if you get stuck behind the giant beams. Started with some oysters. The Kumamoto oysters are the best!!! They are small in size but packed with flavor. I love Legal's mignonette.. it's load with whole black peppercorns that give it a good kick. I wasn't too hungry so I ended up getting 2 appetizers as my meal. Rosemary Scallops. Two large scallops skewered on a stick of rosemary served on top of a bed of chickpeas and chorizo. Cooked perfectly, loved the flavors of the chickpeas cooked with chorizo. The sauce was delicious. Baked Stuffed Artichokes are AMAZING! You have to try them. Three large pieces of artichoke hearts stuffed with a scallop and shrimp stuffing. It was creamy and cheesy and the seafood was so fresh. Just the perfect amount of browning on top from the melted cheese. So good! Made everyone try this and they loved it. Caesar salad is really good here too. I love their dressing. Croutons are a little on the sweet side. Seasonal Crisp was peaches and berries. Delicious! Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Boston Cream Pie was dry. Cake was too overcooked and the custard was dry. Ganache was good though. Service was a little on the slow side. It was not that busy either. I noticed that you get more attention when you are a group of "businessmen" than if you are a group of girls. Either way, you should give your customers the same service. You never know who works in the industry also. Service would get 2 stars.
(4)Bob R.
We were very disappointed in our meal. Mussels served in s bad pineapple broth... Mussels belong in garlic, butter, white wine. My scrod was small and dry. The Portuguese. Seafood stew was so mediocre. We always look forward to Legal Seafood but no more. It gets mass produced is the feeling i got. Sorry i usually love Legal Seafood. a year ago I ate upstairs and it was much better. The service was fine, but food was not.
(1)Nat A.
Service is so slow & kinda rude for an empty bar. food was ok & not amazing & overpriced.
(2)lindsey f.
Great Job! Our company recently sent a few young girls into the city for a special evening out as they are experiencing a recent diagnosis of cancer within their family. I called a few places and none were as accommodating as Legal Harborside. One of the managers, Sean, helped us weeks in advance, holding a special table when they do not normally do so, going out of his way to have sparkling cider from an outside vendor on the table. Sean and his team went above and beyond to help us give two teens a memorable night, feeling like royalty. Good food, better people! Thanks guys!!
(5)Jackie K.
How bad can sushi be? Very bad. Like amazingly bad. How much can you water down cocktails? A lot How can you eat such mediocre food and pay so much? Boston restaurants on the water can charge whatever they want. I've been here a few times both for food and drinks and its just pretentious, overpriced and has bad food. The food so bland--how is it so possible to make food so bland? Service has been friendly and good although the staff seems stretched thin over the tables. Sangria is bad--do not get it, you will regret it. I'd rather go to Margaritas in Waltham and that place is bad but also on the water and not as bad as this place.
(1)Grace M.
i'd never associated legal with sushi as it's always been a fish and chowder kinda place to me, but harborside's got really fresh, perfect sushi. the view of course is as good as it gets and the open breeze is really pleasant while dining. easily the best legal location :)
(5)The R.
I went to the legal harborside this evening with a group of friends. The staff was very polite and did not rush you out like most restaurants. I had the fish and chips, it was light flakey and everything you could ask in a meal of fish and chips. Overall me and my friends really enjoyed the visit and will probably be back.
(4)Ryan R.
Great food & service other than the downstairs hostesses. Upon checking in for a reservation, they couldn't find it & we almost left - they offered nothing but a sorry. We looked up the reservation on opentable app, showed it to them, and they pointed out it was for the second floor (same restaurant, but different reservation system). Never suggested that might be the case - again, we almost left & they said nothing!!!
(3)Katie S.
I'm upgrading. Had a couple of really great meals here lately. The fish is sooo fresh, the service is great and I love the wine list.
(4)J C.
Will never return. I usually like Legals, but I visited this location for my 27th birthday and got a nasty case of food poisoning. We sat on the roofdeck and had oysters and 3 rolls of sushi. Legals would be the last place I would ever imagine getting sick from, and thats why I thought they would at least respond to the e-mail I sent them about my illness. No response. My guess is they have such a low-rate of illness from the fish because they refuse to acknowledge anyone who actually does get sick.
(1)Thomas S.
They use to be good . Very expensive and way over crowded. Small portions .i guess its more for hanging out socializing . Legal sea food was the best but i dont think so anymore .they forgot there roots .
(2)A D.
***BUYER BEWARE*** - The bartender on the roofdeck ALTERED MY RECEIPT to increase her tip, after being EXTREMELY rude to my party! Management will not help me and I have to go through my credit card company - Keep your receipt or pay cash!
(1)Anita C.
*This review is for the Rooftop Deck (3rd floor)* Number of visits: 2 I am continually impressed by this venue's food and service! This is an ideal location for any special occasion, after-work drinks, or any night when you're craving real seafood! Food: I would definitely recommend trying any of their sushi and sashimi. You can taste the freshness in their fish and the portions are decent. For the quality of the food, their prices are justified. I particularly enjoyed the Avocado Salad and the Hawaiian Roll. Their sushi appetizers and specialty rolls are simple yet the ingredients compliment each other well, making each bite flavorful and refreshing. Ambiance: Just google Legal Harborside Rooftop deck and it'll speak for itself (although photos does not do it justice). The room is open and spacious so you can see the harbor from any seat. And for those semi chilly nights, their patio is warmed with heaters! Service: Their service is fantastic each time I've gone! Our most recent waitress was friendly and was always there when we needed her. Fun fact: They use REAL crab in all of their dishes, even in the California Roll, which is a rare find. So if you think you know what a California Roll tastes like, wait till you try it with real crab!
(5)Jim D.
Bar staff and table staff was great. Front door and 2nd floor greeting staff was poor. We arrived at 5:30, wait was 45 min, no problem But no offer to just put us at bar to wait. 2nd floor was wide open but no offer for table there---we would have paid for up menu. Personally went to 2nd floor but 3 girls just standing there also looked at me like I was lost and no help, even when u asked them for help. Seemed odd, entire kitchen was standing tree perched to prepare.
(2)Maurice P.
Wonderful setting, service and sushi. However, the menu upstairs where it's the most fun is a bit limited.
(4)Elena E.
Had dinner on the second floor restaurant. Great place to come for seafood and enjoy the waterfront view. I didn't have such high expectations since the regular Legal Seafood restaurants are ok but nothing special. Floor 2 is a different restaurant completely. All of the table face towards the windows but unfortunately we didn't get a booth right against a window, even though I requested one on opentable. Service was very good the whole time there. When our dinners came, they accidentally brought the lobster and short rib entree, which none of us had ordered. They acknowledged the mistake and gave us the lobster on the house as they quickly brought out the correct dish. Pretty nice to get a $52 entree for free!
(4)Morgan P.
Went here for dinner on a trip to Boston. The service was awesome and the view was unbelievable. It was very reasonably priced and I enjoyed everyone else's meal. Mine was the fried scallops which I would have liked a lot more had they not been fried - I wasn't aware of that. The oysters we had were phenomenal and the chowder was A+ - I am still craving it today. Highly recommend!
(4)Laila B.
I have to give 4 stars because the oysters here changed my life. See, I'm from Louisiana and I just love our warm-water oysters from the bayou. I've tried oysters all over (Seattle, San Francisco and even the coast of France!) but I still prefer our homegrowns. So I thought I should at least give the New England oysters a try and selected 4 different kinds. I called my husband at work after I ate the first one. I took pictures of all of them. So cold. So briny. So delightful. I actually started looking at real estate in Boston and considered moving there after eating those oysters. Amazing. I also got some bruschetta with gorgonzola and fig (ok but wouldn't order again) and grilled swordfish with an orzo-grapefruit-fennel salad. The fish was very good but the salad literally tasted like nothing. That was a disappointment. Service was great. So was the view. So I probably wouldn't go back unless it was eat oyster after oyster. And at $2.25 each, they were the cheapest I paid anywhere in Boston.
(4)Ann I.
Great restaurant with a wonderful view! The menu was vast and had lots of great foods to choose from. We ordered the Lobster roll, Calamari, and Lobster Bisque soup. All were flavorful and service was nice and accommodating. Our waiter was very patient as we looked at the menus for a while since there was so much to choose from. The manager stopped by once to ask us how the meal was and the drinks were constantly filled by various wait staff. Would for sure make reservations as this place is packed every night of the week.
(4)Juan M.
The food and service was good! One of my favorite places in Boston! Very lively place!
(3)Huy N.
What else can I say about Legals Harborside that hasn't already been said? The waitress service was excellent and attentive. They even moved us to a bigger table when they thought our table was too crowded on a Friday night. We ate on the 3rd floor on the roof deck. The view was excellent, I just hope I can come back again when it's warmer to stay on the deck. I solely ordered sushi and that was fantastic. I got 2 sushi boats with my friends and it was all delicious. It was quite nice of the chef to come out and talk to us, asking for feedback. The sushi tasted fresh and we got such a wide variety on the sushi boat so we were really able to try a bunch of different things. My only complaint, which is nit-picking really, is that the the waitress did take long with our drinks, but it was a crowded and packed Friday night so that was expected. Overall I would come back again, maybe not on a Friday night when its crowded because the food was great and i would love to try more items on the menu.
(5)Prinya S.
Roof top staff is horrible and service sucks. Very packed and food selection is limited.
(1)Tina S.
Dined I the rooftop great atmosphere. They had the fireplace on so you didn't feel like you were on a rooftop in November. The sushi was fresh and tasty. Will have to come again
(4)Michele H.
Legal's, you do some things so well. Like ahi tuna in a wasabi aoli with seaweed salad. Or lobster bisque, or buttery stuffed lobster. But sometimes the easy things escape you. Like wood plank salmon. I understand letting natural flavors shine through. But this was bland. No sauce, no herbs, no creativity, no nothing. It was rare but gummy. It was $30 of rare, gummy, blandness. Can you get a great meal here? Absolutely. But the chances of getting something just okay or worse while also shelling out $xxx is not a gamble I'd like to take anytime soon, especially when better (and cheaper) seafood places abound.
(3)Malisa S.
Went here for Valentines Day with a couple of friends and it was great! Got there before the dinner rush at 7:30 so we were able to get a table for the six of us at the rooftop deck. Great service from both the waitress and the sushi chef. We had a sushi boat and some of the chef's selections were new rolls not on the menu yet, and talked with us to get feedback, which was sweet of him. One thing not on the menu yet was the BLT, aka bacon, lettuce, and tuna in a crispy shell and some sauce, which was crazy good. The food was delicious and the fish fresh, so overall a really good experience!
(5)Lauretta L.
I agree with many of the previous reviewers - come here for the gorgeous view and exciting setting. We came for a late dinner and sat on the first floor patio, which provided us with a great view of the docked boats and city lights. There's a lot to take in here and if you find yourself bored, there is probably something wrong with you. Service and food alone would not urge me to return here. The service, while attentive, wasn't impressive. Our server was a bit rough around the edges and our interactions felt rushed. The Fried Whole Belly Clams were delicious, although there were small thin pieces of...fried lemon(?) included in the basket. We couldn't figure out what they were but I ate them anyway...the clams themselves were delicious. However, I would suggest not piling them into a small basket because the bottom got soggy. The Wellfleet and Kumamoto oysters were fresh and delicious - I ate them w/o any toppings :). Yum! The Portuguese Fish Stew was average. It could have used a richer broth. While you're supposed to wait in line to get to the rooftop deck, we managed to get in w/o doing so :). This was the highlight of our experience! Be sure to get up here.
(3)julie n.
Very busy restaurant right on the water. We had a reservation for 7 but changed it to 8 last minute and there was no issue. We were seated at a table by the large open windows so had a great breeze. It was so very loud in the restaurant. Sister and I shared a lobster bake. They split the plate for us and we both had plenty of lobster. The corn was so good. It was juicy and sweet, had so much flavor. The clam chowder was also very good. The rolls were delicious. They have a 100 year old 12lb lobster available for about $250, it was massive! Enjoyed the food and experience very much.
(4)Lauren P.
We had drinks on the rooftop and it was great! We also had the sushi and that was really good as well. You really can't beat the view of the water.
(4)Sherrie C.
I met some friends on the first floor for lunch. It was amazing food and the oysters were sooooo FRESH! Views are spectacular but prices were a little high. Our waitress was very busy so it was difficult to flag her down the few times we needed things but the location and people watching more than made up for it! I would love to check out the roof top patio...it was too windy when we were there. Maybe later this summer...
(4)Sarah K.
The evening started out poorly; I had made reservations and yet over 25 minutes later after our reservation time, we still weren't seated. The on shift manager (I believe her name is Megan) really turned the evening around for us. She found us a great, quiet table and ensured we got clam chowder and rolls immediately (I was starving and raving about the chowder). I didn't realize that this place has a different menu than other Legal Sea Foods, as this is Legal Sea Foods "Harborside". The chowder is the same across all LSF, so that was tasty. We also tried the gluten free muffins. Not as good as the regular roll, but good for gluten free. I got the baked haddock but was expecting the 'regular' one served at other LSF and didn't like the Harborside one as much as the regular. My bf got the Portuguese seafood stew and really liked it.
(4)Gregory D.
I had dinner at Legal Seafoods Harborside tonight, one of my favorite restaurants! But not tonight. I know it's tough to eat out due to my dairy allergy but usually this place is great with allergies. My server told me that the dish I ordered had dairy and she couldn't have it made but it was Rosemary skewered scallops! So I told her to make it without dairy. Our dinner came out and it delicious! I ordered a burger to go and asked for Brussels sprouts and fries and got nothing! It was unacceptable. On the way out the door, neither the manager or the host said thank you or have a good night. Instead they looked at me and walked away in silence. For such a great place I didn't feel it was up to par to my standards.
(3)Stephanie K.
Please note: this review is for the 3rd floor only. The rooftop bar at Legal Harborside is a pretty space with views to match. Unfortunately, the staff are well aware of this and take advantage of knowing they have a captive audience. The atmosphere is very loud, the drinks average, and the sushi subpar. Honestly, I expected that going in because I'd heard this lounge was more of a scene than anything else. But what really earned this one-star review was the staff's appalling unprofessionalism. From the doorman to the manager, everyone who works here has an attitude and should rethink their decision to work in the hospitality industry. What's funny is the managers give an air of professionalism and seriousness (the Secret Service called: they want their suits and earpieces back!), but it's all a façade. For all their blustering, this bar is chaotic and their waitstaff make far too many mistakes for a place that's gotten too big for their britches. Our waitress was not only abrupt and unfriendly, she made multiple errors and never apologized. It took close to an hour for our small food order to arrive. When it finally came, part of the order was incorrect and we had to send it back. The sushi was ok but nothing special, and it was obvious the rolls were made hastily because one fell apart and the other one had pieces that were uneven (some were so big it was impossible to fit them in your mouth). But the icing on the cake was that the waitress charged the wrong amount to our credit cards despite the fact that we clearly wrote it all out on the receipt (the mixup was that two people in my party had last names that start with the same letter...really?!). What's more, she then accused us of leaving $70 on our tab. We'd been a group and some people had left early, but no one left without paying. Knowing that it was a busy place, I gave the waitress the benefit of the doubt and politely asked if we could see the earlier receipts from the members of our party who had left in order to compare them to the original. She sent over the manager who said there was nothing he could do re: showing us the receipts from our table. Look, I used to work in a restaurant and I know that there are groups of dishonest people who try to skip out of places without paying the full tab. That's wrong, and I feel badly for restaurants that have to deal with bad patrons. However, this did not happen with my group. I know errors happen and we gladly would have made up the difference if we'd actually made a mistake, but the manager wasn't even willing to work with us to go through the prior receipts and check. He insisted that we had to split the remainder among us, even though we were not in the wrong. Finally, we got so tired of arguing with him that we agreed to have the difference split among our cards. The manager put the wrong amounts on two people's cards. When we pointed it out, he said it was too late and there was nothing we could do. When we asked to speak to his supervisor, he rolled his eyes and walked away.
(1)Julie A.
Large parties can be a huge pain in the ass, and when I'm part of a big group, I always expect something to go wrong. Not here. This was an absolutely flawless treatment of a large party. Our group of eleven arrived a few minutes late for a 6:30 reservation, and our table wasn't quite ready. Instead of making us stand around, they swept us up to the stunning roofdeck (which I can only imagine is even more spectacular in warm weather), moved a bunch of tables around to accommodate the group, and sent a complementary appetizer or two to our table to tide us over during the wait. A few minutes later, we were escorted downstairs to a lovely high-top table right by the windows. We had two waitresses, each with a handheld electronic notepad thingy, so nobody had to shout across the table and no order was misplaced. Logistics aside, the food was stellar. One of the while-you're-waiting appetizers was shrimp cocktail, served dangling on an ICE GLOBE. I can't even. Apparently it is one of the items on the middle-floor, "fancy" menu. Drinks were also impressive, both in size and content. I am always a sucker for a bleu cheese stuffed olive. Sangria (particularly the apple variety) was tasty and unique. Back downstairs, I loved the assorted oysters and lobster and mushroom pizza. The only downside was that my entree, the tuna special of the night, was a little overcooked - next time I'll specify and order it rare. Looking forward to experiencing Legal again, perhaps next time with a smaller crew and warmer weather!
(4)Greg W.
So I heard a lot about this place. We had reservations but it took forever to get seated and the hostesses did not seem to care. Finally after getting a manager (Megan) things started to look up. She was super nice and very friendly. She deserves a raise :) Anyways the menu is different then their test kitchen across the street and from the other location but still very good. Each floor of this location is a whole differnt them (like say fancier level, normal level, sushi level). They have a real gluten free menu if that is your thing. The normal rolls are super good though (pigg pigg). I got the Portuguese stew and it was really good. I would happily come back here anytime IF the reservation thing works out as they get super busy.
(3)Mary F.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have always enjoyed it. This time was no exception. I ordered the appetizer of fried clams and a cup of clam chowder. I also ordered a glass of Cakebread Savignon Blanc. Everything was excellent. The service started slow but ended well. I normally try not to go to large commercial restaurants when I travel but Legal Seafood Harborside is the exception. Great food and an amazing view of the harbor.
(5)Ken C.
This location has great views of the harbor. Yes I know its a chain but its quite a good one. Def try the NE clam chauudah it has actual fresh clams in it. Food here is real good, and so is the service. I tried lobstah roll, and it was well worth it. This spot is def on the fancier side attracting a lot of visitors to city. Worth stopping by. Bit pricey but nothing crazy. its also close to Harpoon brewery which is a nice trip also
(4)Jenni K.
We were on floor 1 of this restaurant. It was really packed and pretty loud, so I wasn't sure how much fun we'd have. Fortunately, we were seated in the back and able to have decent conversation. The waiter was great! super helpful, providing recommendations and helping us all choose things. We ended up sharing a lobster special, which was twice baked with some sort of stuff on top of it. I thought it was good, not amazing, some pieces seemed too baked and I almost would have rather gotten the plain lobster to dip in melted butter. Everyone also had a salad, which was great. The Baked Artichokes with shrimp and scallop stuffing was SOO GOOD. Order it. All in all, it was good. Nice to be near the water, but I prefer smaller restaurants that aren't as loud, nor a drinking scene on their upper floors.
(4)Victoria S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! My staples are the Tuna burger and the Portuguese Stew! The burger is better than any tuna burger I've had before! Their large bowl salad has amazing dressing too! Its really fun to go during a concert at Bank of America Pavilion and sit outside - its like you have a free ticket to the arena next door!
(4)Sydney G.
Warning to all. I got the oysters and I must say they do not taste any better coming back up than they do going down. Food is expensive and subpar to boot. Drinks are off the charts priced and again are not worth what you're spending. My mother who ordered a different meal ended up getting food poisoning too, long story short, sale yourself some money and time in the bathroom.
(1)Aaron K.
World Class Seafood. Legal Harborside is the flagship of this popular NE restaurant chain and has a completely different menu then the rest of the restaurants. It also has a well known executive chef at the helm. I have been saying since this place opened that the first floor has the best seafood in Boston. It is simple, well priced and extremely fresh. They do mostly everything you could ask for and do it well. Recently we had the chance to splurge on ourselves and decided to try Floor 2 for the feast of the seven fishes tasting menu. Superb. I could go pescatarian if I could always eat like this. Every single dish was well executed, unique and delicious (excluding the monkfish, so one miss). We were brought tiny forks, spoons, and even chopsticks to eat our seven + course meal. You get everything at this restaurant that the first floor is lacking; excellent service, beautifully plated dishes, and an even better view of the harbor. There are also a couple freebies along the way. This is gourmet seafood on the second floor and the chef comes up with some exciting combinations. We loved the pickled quince mignonette and smoked foam on the oysters. All the broths and sauces complemented each dish wonderfully. We were truly in heaven and wouldn't hesitate to come back next year to see what the chef comes up with for the feast (even with the hefty price tag). If you are looking to please a seafood lover, look no further than Legal Harborside.
(5)JeNnIfEr S.
I had the Lobster Bisque and the White Clam Pizza. Both were good (though a bit pricey). *** Legal Harborside- Floor 1 ***
(3)Michele W.
Great view, excellent service, and delicious food. A word of advice: share a mug of clam chowder. Theres no way you can have a mug of it AND eat anything else. This chowder has a 1:1 ratio of soup to stuff. i also had 2 oysters from the raw bar and they were very fresh. I also had some of the lobster roll and fried scallops. The lobster roll was so tasty. The bread was very crunchy, but not so hard that you couldn't bite into it, and the lobster was tender, fresh, and sweet. I feel they put the perfect amount of mayo (I'm anti mayo). The Scallops. Oh my gosh. Its been too long since I've had them anywhere they've been cooked properly. The breading didn't overpower delicate sweetness of it. The scallop was soo soft. It wasnt chewy and rubbery like I'm used to. Skip the wait, make reservations. Also, find street parking. Otherwise pay $16 for parking WITH validation.
(5)Jeff F.
This review is for the 2nd level. Great spot if you want a 4 top with a water view. I think it's great that Legal developed a finer dining concept on the 2nd level, but ultimately it slightly misses the mark. They need to revamp the entrees since although Cobia and Abalone are interesting fish, they aren't that great. Also - Lobster shouldn't be smoked. If you do find yourself having dinner here, the salmon is the call since the beet emulsion is memorable. The apps were interesting, but nothing memorable enough to highly recommend. Here's a stack-ranking of best to worst: - King Crab Salad - coconut noodle was creative; fantastic w/ the King Crab - Octopus - solid - Seared Scallop over braised pork belly - ok - Tartare Trio - only the tuna was worth it - wish I could have had triple tuna instead of salmon & hiramasa Probably worth checking out once if you're a Legal fan, but if you're in from out of town, I wouldn't put this on your shortlist.
(3)Evan S.
One of my favorite go-to spots in Boston! This place is reasonably priced if you sit on the first floor and their food is great! The best part about Legal Harborside is it's location and view! This is a great place to grab a casual dinner and cocktails!
(4)Kalyn H.
Dined here a couple of months ago while visiting Boston from Chicago...best restaurant I have ever eaten at. Can't wait to go back! Service - A+ we were accommodated even with calling only a couple of hours ahead on a Saturday night, our view was amazing, right on the harbor! Food - A+ Ordered 6 oysters, scallops, lobster Mac and cheese and the lobster roll. The lobster roll is to die for, the bread and spread combo is so tasty. We even spent $75 to order the lobster Mac and cheese shipped in dry ice last month, delicious!!!
(5)NikkeyNDon C.
We ate at the bar and it was a great time. Friendly bartenders who were more than willing to help us with any tourist questions. We made to happy hour where they had $1 oysters which were very tasty "naked cowboys" is what they called them. Over all great atmosphere and good oysters.
(4)Bill L.
We were served bad oysters. They didn't taste fresh. One actually had a bad smell. My wife was sick later that evening after dinner. Our guest was visiting from Dallas. Her comment? "Great view! But the food? Lets skip this place the next time I'm in town."Legal Seafoods? Have YOU gone tourist trap on us?
(2)Elvin M.
I know that Legals aren't necessarily where Bostonians go to treat themselves but I've been to Harborside twice now and as recent implant I got to say that I've been nothing but impressed with the quality of food I've had. I'm in love with this place, really.
(5)Kurt S.
Great view, Legals food and service always great. Always a thumbs up for Legal's. Could it be better? Add a "Captain Mary" and make a killer bloody mary with clam juice... I mean, you ARE Legal Seafood so clam juice should be a natural... maybe that's just me though.
(4)Sarah F.
Had an awesome time there tonight. Great food, great service, very nice upscale experience. Loved it! Russell is an awesome waiter, be sure to ask for him, really knows his stuff. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Vince F.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in over a decade. Upon arrival and attempt at getting seated, our guest host on the main floor was incompetent and unwelcoming. Once seated, our waitress on the main floor was also extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming. We realized after looking through the menu that we were not seated in the correct part of the restaurant to order sushi. We were then sent to the 3rd floor where we were greeted by another incompetent group of guest hosts. Before allowing us to be seated, we were asked for ID. I presented my Alberta driver's license (I am over 40 years old) and my companion presented her NEXUS card (she is over 30). We were told that they are unable to accept international ID cards and told that we needed to present our passports. As our passports were in our hotel room several blocks away, we politely declined and left. What a waste of a great location and well appointed decor. Recommendation: Stay away from this place as it is clear that a positive customer experience is not a priority.
(1)Olive D.
UPDATE! guest services got in touch, spoke to a very polite professional lady. Informed her that we still had a great time despite the awful service I would return. She apologized and I just received a gift card to return! Customer service at it finest ! Everyone has an "off" night. I don't normally complain , but it's one way to improve. There's ways to handle a situation. I though about complaining that night ,after a few sangrias thought it was a bad idea, couldn't get my friends to take me seriously , let alone a manager ! So kudos to legals! See you all soon to dine outdoors one more time before snow arrives!!
(5)Laurel W.
Amazing Meal- Legal really is the top when it comes to working with food allergic guests and this location is simply outstanding- (I have allergies to gluten, corn, tree nuts, shellfish, citrus and nightshade sensitivities) Even with these, there is quite the variety to choose from! Fish was fresh and perfectly cooked and the brussels sprouts with bacon were amazing-They even brought out warm gf dinner rolls (made locally by Something Sweet Without Wheat)- Our server was friendly, personable and very helpful- I cannot recommend Legal Harborside enough!
(5)Erich B.
My wife and I went to the first floor dining area which is the casual dining area. We went on Tuesday abt 530. it was not that busy and we did not have to wait. The view is excellent of the harbor and the atmospher is fun and casual. We saw falies and couples there. The food as very good. My wife had the lobster which was perfectly cooked. I had the gumbo which was also tasty. Over all it was not the best food we had in Boston during our trip, but we would certainly come again if we were in boston.
(4)Lillie A.
Came here with my close friend on her birthday, we sat outside which was an amazing view but please I advice you if it's a little windy STAY INSIDE - the food was delish. The service was great however I preordered a surprise bday cake for my friend and it was a NONO don't waste your money I'd suggest that you walk with your own cake .
(4)vinny o.
Was here for dinner tonight, when we first walked in it was awkward, I said 2 for dinner and they both seem puzzled, hi I said it slowly and clearly. Then I was asked if I wanted to sit upstairs downstairs or-rooftop, I know the rooftop doesn't offer a full menu with only a partial of some sort so we said upstairs. Hostess upstairs seemed sweet and brought us to a table overlooking the ocean. Beautiful! Server comes over asked us for drinks and told us about the menu very extensively. Shrimp cocktail for our app was phenomenal with an amazing presentation! Onto dinner we both ordered the cod which really lacked flavor although again the presentation was nice with a seafood foam, definitely not what I expected, it was just so bland and my husband also thought so. Dessert was good pineapple upside down. I'll try again but not rushing back not with so many other options in Boston. The service was the strongest point of the night. Props to the waiter!
(3)Joelle K.
I would have rated this closer to a 3, had it not been for the view. This Legal Sea Foods is right on the harbor and we sat at the bar facing out onto the water, which was pretty awesome. I have heard that the roof deck is awesome, but we decided against the long wait and sat right down at the bar. I would highly recommend the clam chowder. the food and chips and fish tacos were just ok.
(4)brad h.
Flew up from Atlanta to see Boston and eat some seafood. We tried a few places, Legal was recommended and was on the Harbor next to our hotel. Great view of the water from our table both nights. Yep, we went two nights in a row, so that says a lot. The place is crowded, if you want quiet - this is not the place. Get reservations. Well organized, they got us seated quickly. Wait staff was friendly but knew how to leave us alone with each other. We had their wood fired Scallop Skewer and Clam Chowder to start. The wood smoke taste was a bit more than I would have preferred, but then, I enjoy some variety. I would order them again. We spit a skewer. The Chowder was as good as it gets. Perfection, would be my opinion. Lobsters - we had two with Swiss Chard... I had mashed potatoes, My wife Brussels Sprouts (She said they were good)... All was done to perfection. There is not much more that you can do to a good seafood dining experience. SECOND NIGHT: Their Cod and Lobster served on Spaghetti Squash was the main dish... By this time we were suffering from food overload, so we went lighter. Excellent meal with a light fish, covered in a lobster sauce. They serve about a dozen different varieties of oysters, that would have been on this list if we had another night. If you are anywhere near this place while in Boston, go.
(5)Karsten W.
We actually wanted to go the Yankee Lobster Fish Market due to its promising rating but unfortunately it was totally crowded and we were too hungry to wait for a free table. The Legal Harborside is in the close neighbourhood and made a promising impression. We took the macaroni with lobster. It was delicious, but we missed the huge amount of lobster which the waiter had promised. So the price wasn't appropriate. I definitely wouldn't go there again for dinner with friends but I would recommend the restaurant for business occasions. The view on the waterside is great and the menu offers a wide range of upper class sea food and drinks.
(3)Phil O.
I'm ranking this based on Legal Harborside's night life, and not the food. You'd be hard pressed to find a better female-to-male ratio in Boston in the summer months. The place has an unenforced classy dress code, it's clean and the decor is spectacular, and it overlooks the Boston Harbor. Drinks are expensive but you'd expect that for a place like this.
(4)Dan L.
Service is fairly good. Food is good. There was a piece of bamboo in my meal, good thing I noticed it while chewing on it. They did remove it from the bill. The young women standing near us drove me crazy, as she seemed to keeping close watch as to each bite people were taking to try to figure out when the table would be free. Very annoying Also, there were a couple of boats backed into the pier and sending noxious fumes into the restaurant.
(2)F V.
For some reason, the crab meat sandwich I ordered did not taste like real crab. It tasted processed because it's too uniform almost like imitation crab meat. I have ordered crab meat sandwich in Maine and it tasted better. My friend ordered their special sole fish and he complained it was not seasoned properly. I have eaten in other Legal Seafood locations but this place is a bummer. Maybe it's just what we ordered.
(2)Kris S.
Just. AMAZING!!! So I'm a fan of the Legal chain anyway, but my hubby thinks it's just above avg. Therefore, he was quite skeptical about Legal Harborside. I think, however, he has seen the light! The scallops with pork belly was phenomenal and a good-sized portion. The chicken was delish, as was the black pepper linguine. Drinks were a little light on the pours, but our charismatic waiter made up for it. Add in the amuse bouche, surprise banana choco complimentary mini-dessert, and stunning views, and we have a winner.
(5)Mitra S.
Just wow. The scenes alone give this a good review-- right on the harbor. At this place you can eat at different floors, which vary in levels of" class". I ate on the first floor which was the most popular. We had the stuffed artichoke and buffalo shrimp for appetizers, the tuna, swordfish, and shrimp and sausage as meals, and the creme brûlée and Boston cream pie for dessert. Oh my god. Knock out. The only meal that I wouldn't recommend whole heartedly is the shrimp and sausage. Besides that I would ABSOLUTELY come again. Best places for seafood on the harbor!
(5)Jessica D.
My husband and I took my mother in-law to Legal Harborside for her 60th birthday. I had requested a window seat for the view. We arrived to the restaurant they seated us on the deck where we had a beautiful view of the harbor, just as requested. The service was phenomenal, as well as the food. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner with a upscale atmosphere.
(5)Rob H.
Awesome place for dinner. Three of us sat at the bar overlooking the harbor and had steamers and mussels to start with. Both dishes were fantastic. I proceeded to have swordfish and a side of scallops. As good as any fresh fish I have ever had. A must try if you are in the Boston area. Get there early as the place was packed by 6:30 with an hour wait for a table.
(5)Abbie M.
Went to lunch with a friend and her mom to celebrate a birthday. I'm eating gluten-free for a week, so I'm always nervous at restaurants because they like to hide flour in places it doesn't belong, like chowder. I found out, after the fact, that they offer a gluten-free menu and I wish they had mentioned it before (as I said I wasn't eating wheat). Ordering here was extremely difficult off the regular menu - I could eat maybe 7 things on the menu. Most of the things that I could eat, were the most expensive things on the menu (or I don't like them). I wasn't sure about the chowder so I stayed away, and went with the caesar salad, no croutons. It arrived with croutons. Sigh, eye roll, pick them off, not that big a deal. The caesar itself was only ok, the dressing was a little bland and watery. I picked off my friend's grilled scallops with mashed potatoes and swiss chard - all of which were VERY good. They both had the chowder which they said was great. Service-wise, we had two waiters? This was confusing to me. When we didn't need them, they were constantly checking on us. Short on time, we didn't have the chance for dessert. Then when we needed the check, they had all disappeared. Despite the fact that it was a very large space, it was really loud and hard to hear inside. The people I came with made the lunch incredibly enjoyable, not so much the ambiance or food. The normal entrees and things with wheat in them all looked good. Get the gluten free menu though, or you'll be sorry... I left hungry. :(
(3)Samantha N.
We were from out of town and some locals recommended legal harbor side 3rd floor for sushi and drinks. The lobster roll was recommended for its presentation which was nothing less than it was described to us. Our bartender Lisa was more than accommodating and very friendly and professional. I will 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves sushi!
(5)Shelby R.
Loved the scallops (grilled and fried), and the legal sangria was amazing! Trout the lobster roll didn't have enough lobster or seasoning, but I'm not an expert at that dish. Had a great time, will definitely recommend you try it.
(4)Tom G.
Rooftop bar review only: meat market, gorgeous views, passable but expensive appetizers, terrible service, super watered down and expensive cocktails. It's hard to get a spot outside unless you're there around 4pm. It fills up and you'll wait in line. I've been up there a few times over the summer with coworkers but, in the end, we always vow to never go back...yet apparently do.
(2)Krista D.
Great night out with the girls! Sat on the second floor deck overlooking the harbor. Used Opentable for reservations without a hitch. Loved Katy our server. She had excellent recommendations and explanations. She was so warm and friendly. We had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked. Great wine selections and we were never rushed. A perfect night out! We'll be back!
(5)Reagan S.
The oyster selection was amazing. I think they had 10 different oysters to pick from. I had the lobster roll that was really good.
(5)Larry A.
I always felt the usual Legal's were overpriced. This more casual version of Legal's (downstairs) is in a reasonable range and the food is just as good. Great views of the water, fun and vibrant atmosphere even if it is a bit noisy. Spare yourself some $ and skip the old time Legal's and treat yourself to this fun place.
(4)Bryan R.
Excellent roofdeck. Leaving this review a little sparse for now so I can add it to a list. Beautiful settings. Great drinks (Boston Strong Boy is an absolute top ten drink to drink outside anywhere). Lots of nice touches everywhere. Superb private changing room-like bathrooms. Good sushi. Only downsides are the likelihood of standing in line for a long time to get in and the lack of food options. I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to see a few non-sushi, reasonably priced items.
(4)Matt C.
I don't think I have ever been more surprised by a 5 star experience. I have been to the waterfront many times and the view and ambiance is always 5 stars but I had never experienced Legal Seafood in that location. I assumed that due to the decent but underwhelming experience at other legal seafood's around Boston that 3 star quality in a 5 star location was going to leave me disappointed. However, this Legal Seafood is unlike the rest. The menu is unique and the restaurant feels very little like the other chain locations that bare the same name. We started with the Spread plate to share and opted for the bluefish, ham salad, and the hummus varieties. Although the container was difficult to work with the product was great. We moved on to split the seasonal salad and then the salmon entree. The best part was the fact that everything seemed to work and there were many items that looked enticing enough to guarantee a return visit. Be sure to check out the 3rd floor when you visit for the view but don't miss out on the dinning experience on the first floor, it was definitley worth it.
(5)Damien S.
Beyond impressed at the look and feel of what could arguably be the flagship location in the Legal family. Covering three floors, most of the dining room tables have harbor views, so don't be surprised to see a humpback surface while you're mowing down on a hot&crusty roll or thirty. Alas on this, our virgin voyage to the polished and sparkly locale, we aimed to drink in the views... and the booze. So, the elliptical bar on the first floor is where we stayed. Maddening crowds did nothing to shake the nerve of our proficient bar team, whipping up a mimosa, pulled Guinness and an Old Fashioned with the quickness. Mama S wasn't crazy for the house Cava used in the mimosa; however, the replacement bubbles received the chug-a-lug treatment. What can I say, she fears scurvy. Totally dig the open kitchen and hyperactive raw bar. Papa S asked the fast and furious shucker about the total shift half-shell count. Without looking up, he laughed and said, "You've gotta be kidding me." Serious business. For drinks, it's aces. A few novelty cocktails - skinny pina coladas, cucumber vodka drinks, something called the Purple Jesus - that might be worth a sip, but nothing that screams creative superplus. And although I didn't eat this go-around, I will be back as the expected Legal menu ain't here. The food list is chock full of new stuff not present at their other locations, even going a step further to have unique menus on each floor. Boom bobba. First on the docket? Poor Man's Surf & Turf - a stuffed quahog and a 1/4lb hot dog for $12.
(4)Lauren J.
Fine dining on the second floor was out of this world and their diver scallops with peaches was the best meal I've ever had in my life. Fine dining is pricey but is worth it! The service treats you like royalty and each meal was a seafood lover's dream come true.
(5)Les C.
There were 10 of us who dined here on a Sunday night. We had a reservation and when we arrived our table was ready, and set in a fabulous location. We had a lovely view of the water. If you're looking to dine at Legal Seafood while in Boston, please go to this location. It's stunning. We ordered a number of food items, our absolute favourites included: lobster bake, crab salad, lobster and wild mushroom pizza, lobster Mac and cheese, oysters and clam chowder. Two items that tasted 'OK' but we probably wouldn't order again were the lobster pot pie and the white clam pizza. Our server, Lisa, was fantastic and very helpful with menu suggestions, accommodating with our requests and very friendly. The staff overall were all welcoming and helpful. Kudos to all staff at his location. We hope to be able to visit again someday.
(5)John D.
Besides fresh seafood they actually make a great burger too. This place is simply awesome with professional service with the best location to boot. Its a must visit in the warm weather when they open the whole wall facing the water very kool indeed. Never had a bad experience here in any way. Only thing is you have to pay for valet parking but i find it totally worth it considering the location.
(5)Israel H.
Came here one evening with a business associate. I got here via the water taxi, and has a great presence from the water. This place was jammed so we waited downstairs at the bar and had a drink till our table was ready.. The drinks took a while to be served.... and hence the only 4 stars... When we were finally called upstairs, we had to wait again, till the table was formally ready. However, once we were seated, the ambience and the food was incredible. The fish was fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. It was expensive.. but well worth it.. Ask for a table by the windows upstairs.. great view!
(4)C R.
Me: NOISY. Guest: WHAT? Me: I SAID THAT IT IS NOISY IN HERE? Guest: NOISY? Me: (Covering my ears and mouthing the word: N O I S Y) Guest: YEAH. The restaurant itself is in a nice location - very crowded and all kinds of things to navigate in order to get to a table. This is full contact eating - note: I did not say dining. Everyone screaming, eating, gulping. This is not a place to have a relaxing lunch or dinner. If you hate your spouse, partner, etc., and have long-since lost any desire to talk with them, go here and watch them eat. The food is good - which is to say creative, flavorful and presented somewhat artfully. But the ambiance detracts from anything and everything else. The staff heard you in and out - their voices hoarse from barking over the din. I'm officially launcing the quiet or din-free dining movement. No TVS, No thumping soundsystems, no phones on the table; just you, me the food and maybe a drink. Let's talk, eat, enjoy each other's company and the food. Anybody?
(2)Lily W.
love the setting! 3 stories. bar and tables. lots of windows. very fresh seafood. great seafood roll. light on the sauce to highlight lobster flavor. service can use a little help. I stopped in in between a conference and I noticed the server didn't give me bread while the couple next to me did. And he was really slow with my check. I saw him taking the time for orders for a large group. just poor form. he was friendly though. 4 stars because of atmosphere and food!
(4)Kelsey H.
I was visiting friends in Boston over the weekend and picked this place for dinner Saturday night. We ate on the first floor, which is nice-casual. The second floor is swanky and the top floor is the rooftop bar that specializes in cocktails, sushi and small bites. I'd say the first floor is a happy medium. First plus, right off the bat: We came in about an hour before our reservation. Our earlier activity didn't take as long as we anticipated, so we thought it was worth a shot to let them know we were there. Rather than have us wait, they went ahead and seated us. The waiter was nice and personable and didn't mind that it took us a while to sort out what we wanted. We had hot fresh rolls that arrived with our drink order (a cocktail and two beers) and kept coming. We ended up splitting a pizza as an appetizer, with cheese, arugula, pancetta and clams. I'm not big on clams but it was very good and had a nice crust. The portion was just enough to be a good starter and kept us filled up until our food came. The mains were lovely. One of my friends had classic fish and chips with big pieces of fish (cod?) and my other friend had seafood stew that had an abundance of shellfish, vegetables and large chunks of sausage. I had salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. The fish was great, almost a perfect portion. I'm finicky about cooked spinach, but it was wilted just right and had pine nuts and a nice glaze. But what really got me was dessert. Only two of us had dessert. One friend ordered frozen custard that came in a generous portion with a candle (it was her birthday). I, meanwhile, had a chocolate espresso cake that could've easily fed three people. I thought that, given that we each had drinks and basically a three-course meal, the prices were also reasonable. I really enjoyed this place and would love to try it again when I get back to Boston.
(5)Rachel G.
It was really good! They patiently and correctly served my group of 12. Everything was delicious and there were no errors. Also, we had two allergies, peanut and tree nut, and they took every precaution to make sure that their food was safe for them. Would definitely go again when I'm in Boston next. It's also a beautiful place to eat and it was an excellent environment, on the waterfront and with the lighting.
(4)Rachel N.
A slightly overly generous 4 star designation given that I only went for drinks, and extra nice in light of the fact that I thought that the waitresses were dressed like hookers and it felt kind of like a meat market -- but I digress -- the view of the harbor is gorgeous, and if the B-52s happen to be playing next store, you get a free concert as well (Love Shack has never sounded so good)! We stayed mostly on the patio area, which was loud, but def quieter inside, which had kind of a pumping-clurb vibe going on. Strong selection of wines by the glass (bonus points for having an Alcatian Reisling, rather than the overly sweet German ones), and I've heard that the cocktails are delicious, though flagging down a waitress can be a challenge. The sush is priced reasonably -- most rolls were btwn $4.5-10 -- they also have a lobster roll ($18) and something else not raw, for those who are more Legal traditionalists. Be prepared to wait -- we rolled in pretty early (6:30p) on a weeknight and had to sweat it out for a bit -- but once we were up there, we were golden. If you're a man looking to get laid, be attractive in that New England way. If you're a girl, throw on some eyeliner and a cute silk dress and you're golden. Wouldn't take a first date here unless I really just wanted to spend the rest of the time checking other people out and having to lip read to make conversation, but if that's your thing, then it's a perfect place to do that casual summer "I'm so trendy and I'm impressing you by taking you to the up and coming Seaport area" thing. Or just go with girlfriends, my personal choice for champions.
(4)Sara M.
What a beautiful roof deck! We showed up around lunchtime and scored some sofas to lounge on and enjoy the view. Our server, Michelle, was very professional and took very good care of us. The sushi is good, and the bottle of wine we had was delicious. Michelle even brought us samples of two when we couldn't decide. Looking forward to more fabulous roof deck days!
(5)S P.
Second floor dining experience. Just perfect. Staff: exceptional, on the ball, friendly, knowledgeable from the minute we walked in to the moment we left. Kitchen: I'm celiac, and they did everything to accommodate and more, including serving a small complimentary item on a beet instead of a cracker :) The food was simply wonderful and worth every dime. Atmosphere: gorgeous view of the harbor. Tasteful decorations. Definitely recommend. Definitely will be back.
(5)Eunice E.
I've been here for many different occasions (both the second and third floors), and I've got to say, my experience with Legal Harborside has been very much like a fine wine--better with time. I've been to the third floor the most, and for good reason. It's gorgeous up there on the rooftop deck. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll hear live music from the Pavilion, and that's awesome. Not that you need very much more when you're here. There are spectacular views of the harbor, a full bar, and tons of seating options, ranging from high top bar stools to wicker chairs and round tables, to plush couches with pillows. You're free to lounge around and enjoy a drink or two (or three) while you're there. It used to be that it was only open from 4 p.m. onward, and served only drinks (last summer, when it first opened), but they wised up and started opening it at noon for lunch AND drinks this season. The menu's limited to sushi and sandwiches (crab and lobster rolls), but that's all you really need while you're enjoying the views from the roof! Highly, highly recommended. The second floor is Legal's fine dining area, and the menu here's also different from their standard Legal fare (case in point: they don't have clam chowda... nope, here they offer the more refined lobster soup, complete with oloroso sherry). It's all exceptional, though, as you'd expect... I mean, any place with "caviar service" is bound to be amazing, right? It'll set you back a pretty penny to eat here, for sure, but it's a phenomenal treat, and their cocktails are just as lovely as their cuisine. Last summer, because we ate dinner on the second floor, we were actually escorted upstairs to the third floor (skipping the enormous line outside) for drinks. Pretty swanky. I have yet to eat on the first floor, but I'm sure it'd be enjoyable, to say the least. I definitely think whoever came up with the sectional flooring (first--informal, second--fine dining, third--drinks and small bites) was brilliant. Kudos! This is definitely THE place to come for the summer, whether to grab a bite with a girlfriend, a drink with a date, or simply to enjoy the scenery.
(5)Steph A.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in the area! The place is beautiful and the wait staff is very well trained. Had the apple sangria and loved every sip it it. The white clam pizza was amazing and I would definitely get it again. The sea scallops were very good as well. Love love love! Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(5)Yasa E.
Every single thing i've tried here is amazing. Legals definitely goes out of their way to make every guest's experience special. This place is packed always, but there is a huge bar and some side rail seating, so it's usually not a problem to grab a seat at one of those for some drinks and dinner (unless it's a friday or saturday). Oysters are the freshest in the city, hands down. The variety changes with seasons, which is great (they also have more oyster varieties on the menu than any other restaurant in the city). The wine list is extensive and ohhh sooooo affordable! There is no way you can get a bottle of silver oak or sonoma cutrer for such a low price anywhere else. All of the food i've ever tried here has been exceptional! Try the stuffie. it will change your life.
(5)Jenny L.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the sushi! It's a true hidden gem in the midst of a huge chain like Legals. The creativity of the rolls made our sushi experience so memorable! We had a variety of rolls and all were fresh and simply delicious. Having tried most of the sushi restaurants around the greater Boston area, I must say this might be the best one I have had! We came here on a Friday night and though it was quite busy, the server was always within reach and periodically checked in with us. Not only was the service great, the sushi absolutely delicious, the view was breath taking as well. Will definitely be one of my go to spots now for sushi!
(5)Marc Z.
We went out for a Saturday night and wanted to go to the Legal Harborside rooftop since we had seen the enticing venue the evening before. When arriving, we were told to wait in line to enter the the rooftop. Without adding any adjectives, there was a dumb and stupid "stairman" (as opposed to doorman) waiting to make sure that only a limited number of people came upstairs. Totally unnecessary, since the upstairs was only sizzling, not buzzing and a lot more space was available. At any case, two girls showed up and laid their arms around him - yes, they went upstairs. We mentioned this to Justin Lisonbee, the manager. He rectified the situation immediately without any buts/excuses. "Not acceptable", since there were many more patrons waiting outside. He handled the situation fantastically since he really knows his trade. Legal Seafoods is a professional outfit, we have enjoyed their awesomely fresh seafood all over Boston and Justin reconfirmed that Legal Seafoods would like to stay that way - he has the experience since he told me that he managed the wharf location before. We are hopeful that we dont find the same "stairman" the next time - really, it is not a hard job: let the people wait in line equally until space is available and then send them up and while doing that get paid! Justin, because of you we are writing this, we dont know you personally but you should us again what restaurant you are working for.
(5)Chad C.
Stopped by for happy hour on a Thursday and it was a great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the water. Drinks were delicious and food was good, we sat on the first floor of Legal Harborside. We really enjoyed the oysters and lobster roll. Legal is a chain so keep that in mind but with that said we are always happy with the food, drinks and service. This location has the best atmosphere and view of all the Legals in Boston.
(4)Bill W.
Being from Boston I am not overly impressed by Seafood restaurants in general and I also have had some unpleasant experiences at the "other" Legal Seafood in Boston. I vowed never to visit another Legal Seafood establishment and have been vocal about it. But a co-worked visited Legal Harborside and had good experiences so we decided to give Legal one more shot Wine selection is fairly limited unless you buy by the bottle but my wife had a very nice 2009 JM Raffault "Les Galuches" Cabernet Franc. At $9.00 per glass and the pour was good. I chose the Darkhorse "Cabernet at $10 per glass. Being wine drinkers, we do not mind trying wines we haven't had. Both were excellent. For the meal we both selected Fish in Foil (16.95) steamed haddock, cheese and veggies but asked to hold the cheese. Our server (Chad) was accommodating, entertaining, attentive and informative. Despite my persistent "whining" about needing "healthy" foods, Chad never waivered in his mission to satisfy us. He offered unique opportunities and was sincere in his efforts to please us. I changed up to the Sav Blanc Henry Natter Sancerre (Loire) 2011 at $14 per glass (pricy...but nice.) When the meal came...it was a disappointment. My fish (Haddock) was not cooked. By that I mean it was raw. If I wanted sushi, I would have gone elsewhere. So once again I was disappointed by Legal Seafood. So I needed to tell the server. Here's where the story is better at Harborside than the "other" Legal place. The manager (Peter Barker) came over immediately. He apologized and explained that our dish would need to be made from the start. It would take at least 8 minutes to steam. He provided shrimp cocktail at no charge while we waited. I am not looking for a free meal and could easily got one, but was happy with the attention that Peter and Chad provided. I was also delighted that Peter stated the meal would be made over...and not simply re-heated (as my previous experience at the Marriott Long Wharf site was) Chad made it his mission to pay special attention to us for the duration of our stay. But what made the day was... the meal. It was simply outstanding. The Legal staff did not re-heat. They made the plate and it was apparent to me that care was given to ensure our meals were perfect. Although the meal we originally ordered was poorly prepared, Legal Harborside's Peter Barker and our guy Chad, went out of their way to make sure we were happy. I will never go back to the other Legal and will never have a good word to say (and am quite vocal about it) I will be back to Legal Harborside and thank these 2 gentlemen for their attention. Oh - the view is spectacular
(4)Nicki B.
Fun and nice place. Good food, good drinks.
(4)Vince D.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Place was packed. Great atmosphere. The food was just ok though. It didn't live up to other Legal seafood locations we've dined at. The service was slow. We had to flag our waitress down for another drink and the check. I wouldn't go back.
(3)J P.
EXTREMELY RUDE SERVER!!!!!!!!!! Walked by our table four times and finally stopped when eventually acknowledging our signals (25-minutes.) We asked for menus, she walked away & returned only to literally throw the menus across the table and walk away without a word. The food was good, but the service was horrible. We were their ready to spend money and were treated like dirt!
(1)Kyla C.
I always eat at Legal's when in Boston so I had to check out the new Harborside restaurant. I had lunch with my sister on the first floor and it was good. We tried many things on the menu: oysters, red pepper spread with pita chips and crostini with different toppings - all good, especially the red pepper spread. I got the lobster roll and it was full of bigs chunks of lobster meat, yum. We shared a cupcake for dessert which was tasty as well. The waiter forgot a couple of small things but overall the service was good. All in all our meal was pretty expensive, espcially for lunch, so that threw me for a loop. Too bad it was a super crappy, rainy day when I was there because the view is great and can't be beat. Don't forget to stop on the 3rd floor for a drink before you leave, it's pretty cool up there!
(4)issy d.
Five star for service! I came here last Saturday for a friends birthday dinner. Every staff member we came across was great. The hostess at the front were so friendly and helpful. They put us on wait list and we got to go to the upstairs bar and the bartender was great made good recommendations and told us if we ordered drinks or food and our table came up that they can hold the table downstairs for us so we did a dozen oysters and a few rounds of drinks. Julian the guy at the door was my favorite! He helped us take epic model photos next to the flowers upstairs. he must of overheard us discussing a birthday and he relayed the message back downstairs where my hostess already knew before I could say anything and they relayed that to our server so they surprised the birthday boy with desert. The Server made great recommendations and the manager also helped us send the birthday boy a strong drink so we could finish the birthday boy off! probably isn't even strong.. I ordered a "one shot kill" Which is a drink I totally made up but it did the trick. end of dinner we all drew on a postcard that they attach to the receipt I addressed that to the birthday boy....I told myself that service was awesome and it would be even more awesome if they actually sent that to the birthday boy, and I forgot about it all. But today the post card actually arrived in his mail box! I loveeee the staff so much. It was a great first experience at legals harborside we will be back! I really loved that the staff was receptive to our jokes and that they made the experience that much more memorable just from how good the customer service was. I hope legals harborside management reads this and commends their staff for it!
(5)Mark L.
The biggest Legal I've ever seen with three distinct seating areas that makes this more like three+ separate restaurants under one banner. Expanded legal menu (food and drinks) was available but I had more bar food while catching the Bruins-Blackhawks game. Both the deep fried clams and the clam pizza were great. Decent crowd.
(4)Christopher H.
Have been here several times for a simple seafood dinner. Always a good time. Russel Is one of the best servers there and is real pleasant. Highly recommend
(4)Oz L.
I have been there a few times and if it was not for the location and the long lines to get up there in the evenings I would not be eating there at all. If you go to Legal Harborside's Roofdeck - Go for view and the ambiance. Their menu on the roof deck is mainly sushi and maki rolls. The food is fair at best. We tried the soft shell crab and it was breaded... awful. The sashimi was not fresh. The rice used for the maki rolls was hard... Enough said. 3 stars for the view and the location on the water!
(3)Pat O.
The roofdeck at Legal Harborside is one of the best designed and laid out spaces I've ever encountered. The views are phenomenal and the service is great. The only downside is the limited sushi menu.
(5)Maggie M.
Pretty good food but pricey. We stopped in after the brewery tour and order two harpoon beers but they had no selection even though they are right next to the brewery!!!! I had the lobster roll which was 2:1 bread to lobster... Meh! But the meat was nice. My boyfriend had the fish and chips which he liked a lot. Overall it was a beautiful view, very busy, good service, and okay food for the price. $55 for lunch with beer including tip...
(3)Josie G.
A friend and I came here during the week on a Tuesday for lunch. A perfect day to be sitting in the sun on the deck - HEAVEN. We started with margaritas from hell, a coconut water drink (delicious) and then settled down with cucumber drinks - (the best). Everything we ordered was great- oysters, crab salad, lobster roll. It really was just a great lunch. Service was outstanding- his name was Mike!
(5)David K.
The 3rd Floor is AWESOME. Reasonable prices, super comfortable seating, beautiful location and the best waterfront view Ive seen. Fun times right here, but big crowds.
(5)Tony D.
Never had a bad meal, service is always great. No complaints, highly recommended. A little expensive, but not bad for great seafood. You get what you pay for and this is a great value.
(5)Mike L.
Food was awful and way overpriced. I basically had a plate full of crab shells. Won't ever go back to this overrated pathetic excuse for a restaurant again. Don't fall for the hype and go to a nice mom and pop place in the South End or walk across the bridge to the Barking Crab or something.
(1)Charlie T.
Rooftop bar also has a bar menu. Best tuna sushi I've ever had. The lobster maki (or whatever it's called) was a bit rubbery. Great drinks and view on the roof.
(3)Leah A.
My experiences here have been on the roof deck and not inside the restaurant. The food is great, though the roof deck choices are not as extensive as inside (no crab cake!). The location and view are fabulous, the people watching can be fascinating, but the service stinks. If you want your table wiped down or some napkins, prepare to wait awhile and ask everyone you see when they walk by. And maybe, just maybe, someone will finally do it.
(3)Karishma R.
The rooftop of Legal Harborside is my favorite bar in Boston. The view is spectacular, and its proximity to the Bank of America Pavilion makes it a great place to have a drink and listen to the concerts next door. The only problem is the often lengthy lines that can form very early. I prefer to come here on weekdays after work, as on the weekends the wait is a deterrent. The other problem is that this bar can often get very crowded, which can sometimes be a nuisance. However, that being said, the food and drinks are great. Harpoon actually make a special beer just for them (Harpoon Harborside) which is pretty good. And you definitely can't beat that view. Every person I've brought here has loved it!
(4)Stephanie S.
Amazing service! Very good food & just an amazing atmosphere. Defiantly will be back in the near future. Server was very friendly & knowledgeable.
(5)John B.
I went here on a date and the food was great and the atmosphere was up beat. The service we had at the table was ok, but when we went to the bar after for a martini they refused to serve us. Considering we only had one or two drinks with dinner and were not driving I felt this was a bit strange, but other then that it was as expected - delicious seafood.
(3)Marisa R.
This is a typical Legal Sea Foods joint that serves sushi on its roof deck. The sushi is actually pretty decent. The only reason to go to this place is because of the roof deck bar. The cocktails are okay, but the view is the reason why people stand in line. One of the better views of Boston that you can find.
(3)Carmel I.
If you get the seafood trio, be prepared to have fries with a side of seafood, not seafood with a side of fries! I was a bit disappointed with that, but overall, this location is a great place to dine.
(4)Caro C.
I'm a born and raised Bostonian and have been to Legals many many times. This location needs help. Server forgot chowder, oysters took almost 45 minutes and came out right before our meal, which was not what we wanted as they ran out of the special. It's a special chef, order accordingly. Also we ordered a bottle of wine and that took so much time that the waiter actually came by and asked if we wanted more drinks. Hello! Wine? Roger, this location needs help.
(2)Skoolly T.
Great staff! Lobster roll was pretty good, a bit on the mayo side, could have been more lil on nakid side
(4)anne c.
I would give it no stars but that is not a choice. The place is beautiful and the bartenders very nice!! We are locals and have been to Legal Seafoods all over Boston and other states as well so know what to expect. We arrived at 5:00 on a Wed night and went to the hostess desk where there were 3 women. Asked for dinner for 2. She stated it would be 45- an hour or we could eat downstairs. No--we wanted dinner. This restaurant is set up on 3 floors--the first being raw bar, bar and tables with paper table covers and casual food. The 2nd floor is fine dining which is where we intended to be. After we waited an hour and half---she said no one was leaving so took longer! We were seated at a table on the first floor. Asked for manager who explained we would have had to go to second floor to that hostess desk for a seat up there. @ managers could not quite figure out why we were not happy and kept asking what they should do? We left!! Valet service was 20 min for getting your car at that point! I did resolve the issue by calling corporate and she was very understanding about the fact no one ever asked where we wanted to eat! If they don't do better on customer service, they will not last long in this area!
(1)Sarah D.
I had the fish.
(3)Lindsey D.
The food is way too overpriced. I've had better seafood for less. The clam chowder isn't as amazing as everyone claims. I would skip it.
(2)Rhea K.
Came here while waiting for a flight out of Boston.. had about 2 hours to kill, so we decided to get some last minute seafood before leaving the city. Oysters are really good, and very fresh. Clam chowder was also good, but I'm not really a good judge of chowder. Ended up getting the lobster roll here which was pretty good! It was served on a buttery, thick brioche slice, and tasted great. Fries were slightly sweet(?) and really crispy. Also got the bucatini pasta... it was okay. I guess you don't go to a seafood restaurant to get vegetarian bucatini, but it was only just ok. Our server, Julie D, was extremely nice and didn't rush us at all. I felt a little bad sitting there for so long, but there wasn't really a wait and she didn't make us feel weird.
(4)Jason F.
Great spot. Super fresh food. I was not lead astray when I asked for an assortment of oysters. The striped bass special was boss. Great bar staff on second floor.
(4)Jean B.
First of all we chose this restaurant for its location, and the location was beautiful. We sat at bar stools overlooking the water but where wasn't a bad seat in the house. Also the service was very good. Unfortunately my positive reviews end there. The food was mediocre at best. At a place called legal seafood I had certain expectations in regards to the seafood. The shrimp cocktail was small deshelled shrimp in a soup of cocktail sauce served in a jar like glass. The crispy fish taco was soggy and not tasty at all and the shortrib bruschetta was made with a dry stewed beef. Ever the ceasar salad that we shared was tasteless yet sopping with dressing. Great place for drinks and view but don't decomend it for dinner.
(2)Erika G.
This review is for Floor 2- not your average Legal! A chilly Christmas day dinner, we were whisked up the winding staircase past a waterfall to be met by a wonderful hostess dressed as mrs. claus. She tells us our table is not ready yet and to step into the bar, but we know already it will be worth the wait- she is preparing a booth table overlooking the harbor for us. Our waiter comes by and is as adorable and friendly as ever, he quickly shows his knowledge of the wine list and helps us select a celebratory bottle. We peruse the $55 price fixed menu and I find myself completely conflicted- there are too many things to decide! Glancing back at the shiny, polished kitchen with its quiet and masterful chefs- I know I can't go wrong. Course 1: Mixed greens with blue cheese, candied pecans, and sugared cranberries. Course 2: Hiramasa with pink peppercorns (my favorite) and preserved limes Course 3: a perfectly cooked, generous portion of salmon with a delicious glaze and bitter greens Course 4: Stick toffee pudding (it is Christmas after all) deconstructed. The sticky toffee pudding balls stick to the top of my mouth, but are quickly washed down with little bites of butter pecan ice cream. I cannot wait to return- especially for a special occasion tasting menu!
(5)Kerry C.
I took my mother here for mother's day and we had a great experience. Hostess who sat us I think the manager was super friendly and attentive to my mother. The server was pleasant and the food was excellent. Loved the local oysters. I got the special (steelhead trout) it was great! Server was very knowledgeable too about the fish. We had a great view of the harbor. Good for special events as long as you plan in advance.
(5)Ryan O.
I really enjoy every visit to Legal Harborside. Actually, I have only been twice and usually my last meal before heading back to Europe. Both times we ate on the first floor near the large open doors...nice and relaxing views on a nice afternoon. The staff has always been really great - with lots of suggestions for both drinks and food. I must say that they never recommended anything that we didn't like. There are some very creative cocktails (the cucumber and coconut drinks are worth trying) and food options, as well as the traditional Legal Seafood necessary items - clam chowder, fried clams and lobster rolls. Try the tuna bruschetta...awesome. All three floors seem busy with different menus...the outdoor patio on the third floor was very active and is likely a great place for after work drinks. Really need to get back soon... There is a convenient parking lot across the street, plus valet parking right in front of the restaurant.
(4)Stephanie I.
Great seafood options. Not so good for none fish eaters like my dad and brother who were kinda stuck with burgers. My fiance and mom ordered shrimp fra diavolo which they loved and I really liked the lobster roll I ordered. We were seated immediately on the night of July 4th because we opted to sit in the dining room area but not by the covetted windows which was perfectly fine with us because after dinner we simply walked over to the harbor and enjoyed the view.
(4)Karyn V.
My boyfriend and I ate on the second floor dining room at Legal Harborside and we will definitely be back! Note, if you want the typical Legal Seafoods menu, this is not the same. In fact, nothing from their menu is on this menu. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful. The design of the restaurant takes full advantage of the harbor view and is reminiscent of a ship's dining room, with curved rosewood ceiling and glossy black columns inspired by the mast of a ship that anchor the space. There is also an outdoor patio equipped with an outdoor fireplace that allows you to eat dinner over the ocean below. The menu offers modern seafood and has a unique selection of artisan wines, each produced from a specific terroir representing some of the world's most classic regions from family-owned vineyards. In addition, they offer many normal size bottles with a half bottle option, which is great since a bottle is too much for the two of us. Many great wines are available this way including Paul Hobbs' wines. For dinner, we ordered the crispy pig's head with fried clams, sauce ravigote, and pink peppercorn as an appetizer. For our main course, I ordered the misty knoll farms chicken with spring sweet pea and egg ravioli, artichokes, favas, and pea shoots, and my boyfriend ordered the butter poached lobster with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. All were extremely good although next time we will probably forgo the crispy pig head and try some other appetizer from the menu. While pricey, Legal Harborside definitely does not leave you disappointed. We will be back! The second time we went we ordered the clam chowder, which is not listed on the menu. It is the typical Legal's chowder dressed up with a few fried clams and a few steamed cockles.
(5)DD T.
My friend is a huge fan of oysters and each time I take her to a Legal's restaurant, she's never disappointed. Anytime of the year, whether the name of the month has an 'R' in it or not, they have a fresh collection of oysters from both coasts and also Canada, which has basically made me give up my ambition of shucking oysters myself at home. Because what I buy can never be as fresh and yummy. =) The view is awesome, this is really good for a date and also bar-hopping. You should do that some weekend nights before it gets cold. For me, I'd just get a seat facing the waters, whistling to myself: "sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time..."
(4)Matthew B.
Are you an ostentatious git? If so, you may enjoy Legal Harborside. This restaurant, though billed as the crown jewel of the Legal franchise, is by far the worst. As a family, we have been patronizing Legal Sea Foods for decades; however our meal here tonight has made us reconsider our devotion to this local chain. Let's talk food. The selection is very limited as the entire menu takes up just one page. Upon first glance, you'll notice that most starters are over $15 and most entries over $40. Before placing our order, our waiter notified us that we were entitled to a "complimentary" bottle of water (sparkling or flat). Wow. Complimentary water. After placing our order, our waiter returned to the table to inform us that the kitchen had just run out of salmon. Really? Legal running our of salmon? Strike One. Before our appetizers were served, we each received (another) "complimentary" bowl of squash soup. But to call it a bowl would really be too kind; it was more like a thimbleful. Our appetizers arrived and were quite good. Then, after they were cleared and the table was crumbed, we eagerly awaited our entrees. And we waited... Strike Two. When the food arrived, we were all generally pleased with the quality. However, we've enjoyed most of our dishes at the various Legals we've patronized over the years; while the food here good, it was by no means a step above the others. One member of our party ordered a chicken entree. For roughly $30, he received 1/4 of a chicken. Sorry, but no matter what you do to it, no 1/4 chicken is worth $30. Strike Three. So to review, this place is all about ambiance (dark wood paneling and harbor views) and ostentation. In that regard, it fits in very well with the whole milieu of the Seaport District. As long-time Legal fans, we all gave this place a resounding thumbs down! p.s. To add insult to injury, the third floor was reserved for a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch get together. Sorry, but didn't you guys just get bailed out by us (the taxpayer)? How bout you drag your sorry bloated asses to the 99 next time?
(1)Trisha A.
Went here last Friday with some friends for dinner last week for Valentine's day, and both the food and the service were excellent! The waitress was very attentive and took into account the fact that a few people were a bit late when bringing out the food. She also checked in on us consistently to make sure we had everything we needed. My friends and I had the clam chowder, which is always a favorite, as well as a sushi boat filled with selections from the chef and other items not necessarily on the menu. The sushi chef was kind enough to meet us and explain the various sushi rolls, as well as ask us of our opinion of things not yet on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they only use real crab meat in their sushi, even in the California rolls. The sushi boat had a great variety - there were rolls with both shrimp and lobster tempura, tuna, avocado, salmon, even eel, among other things. Since we let them know that one of our friends was allergic to crab and lobster, the sushi chef made sure there were selections to accommodate her and made sure to point out which rolls were okay for her to eat. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the sushi chef's take on a crab rangoon, which I believe was a mixture of crab topped with avocado and spicy mayo on top of what looked like a crispy wonton wrapper. Also, we ate on the roof deck, and I'm not sure if it's different in the day time but at night when we went it was 21+. I definitely recommend this place and would come back again.
(5)Denise B.
This is my favorite Legals. Great location! It's always busy in here and it does get crowded, but that is a good thing, it means people keep coming back. The food is delicious! I love to go here for dinner, but have a drink on the 2nd or 3rd floor to start. I have never had anything bad here and the service is alwasy fantastic.
(5)Lance S.
I actually just created an account so I could share my experience...my wife and I are on the rooftop right now and have literally been sitting here for 25mins on the railing without being served...the server continually walks but has only acknowledged us once (mind you it's still fairly early and not very busy)...still haven't even placed an order!!!! We were prepared for dinner/drinks but after this service we're leaving... Very cool spot but can't explain how bad this service is.........oh well, good try
(1)Marilyn S.
Great Service. Wonderful fresh lobster, clams and mussels. Good wine and a great day to eat on the wharf. You could smell the salty sea and the doors were open to feel the breeze. Food was something we are dreaming about now that we are back in the midwest. Wonderful! I ate at this restaurant years ago when they first opened. We ate on picnic tables. Same great food but the view was perfect.
(5)Adam P.
Went here tonight for dinner on floor one. Decor is cool and the view is outstanding! For appetizer I had the smoked salmon pizza which was great. For dinner I had the crispy fish sandwich which was okay but could have used more seasoning. However, the plate it was served on was poorly designed for eating. Dessert was key lime pie which was also good. Service was excellent and the location was great.
(4)Paula A.
The space is great. The view is spectacular. Our server was top notch. The hostess was nice & we were seated w/in minutes of our scheduled reservation time. However ---- I didn't love my meal, I got the halibut, cheese & veggies in tin foil - it was meh. BF got the seared yellow fin tuna - which he liked. The crowd was a bit on the cheesy side, the bar was a total mob scene. if i walked by some night & it wasn't a complete cluster f%ck, i'd probably try it again.
(3)Colleen G.
I love going to the roof deck on a beautiful day. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are delicious. My favorite is their red sangria.
(5)Steve T.
(email sent to Main Office) I am a regular customer at legal seafood as I am for Maine and lover fish. I just want to let you know about my experience at Long Wharf last night. We were met outside by Gwendelym (spelling) outside. She simply looked at me and said nothing like "welcome to legal Seafoods. I told her I had 8 pm reservations. She proceeded by telling me "you need to go inside". My roommate noticed the lack of customer service coming from her that we did not expect. This resturant is in a vistor area, and very popular. He spoke to Chris the inside Manager about her. We were told it would take 16 minutes before we were seated. There was no place to stand a wait, and we asked later of a place to wait. The hostess then said "sorry there is no place to wait". We were standing near the entrance and felt uncomfortable as the staff kept saying excuse me. So, haven a stroke two years ago I decided to wait outside leaning on the pole. The pole was near the outside hostess table. Again, after being spoken to Gwendlym told the other three staff members and amongst other patrions was just transpired. After she finish I told her "that was more unprofessional". She began telling me things that would be expected from a stranger. "I was not rude to him". That is really confortational, and after the event I personally would not have said anything. That is only an expample of what she said. I procceded going in to tell Chris again. Upon going in to speak to me she proceeded along with others to Laugh at me. Yes, Laugh. Chris took her off the floor and I express the situitation to Chris and told him that I eat at 4 pm so 8 pm I am hungry and it was earlier I would left. Chris was outstanding in listening, and taking action. He did not make me pay my meal along with my roommate that spoke with him. I did tell Chris I was going to tell you of my experience
(3)Tracy S.
Love the location view etc. food was average. Long time legal fan. Just not impressed with first floor menu at this location.
(3)H H.
The best outdoor rooftop place for drinks in Boston that I've found so far. A bit out of the way, but the view of great, and the atmosphere is lively... The rooftop serves sushi and a limited seafood menu (chowder, lobster roll, etc.). To my surprise, the sushi is actually quite good! I liked the rolls, and I've seen bigger groups getting sushi boats that looked pretty impressive too. Drinks are not too special though, and pretty light on alcohol.
(4)J P.
Had dinner at Legal Seafood with my 10-year old son while visiting from California, to pass the time while my husband and older sons attended the Bruin's playoff game! I have been here in the past, and recalled that I had a pretty good experience. We arrived on a Friday night at about 6 pm and were seated immediately. I started with a perfect Russian Standard martini with hand stuffed blue cheese olives. I love blue cheese olives but they are not very common on the west coast where I live so it was a treat! We shared a bowl of the yummy clam chowder as an appetizer, along with a couple of delicious oysters for me. Both the oysters and chowder were excellent! I suggested to my son that he should order seafood since that was their specialty (and since we were in Boston) so he ordered the FISH SHAPED cheese ravioli off of the children's menu. Great twist for a seafood establishment! I usually only order cioppino when I am in San Francisco, but decided to give it a try at Legal Seafood. You will not be disappointed! It had a ton of fresh mussels, clams, shrimp and a nice large crab leg in the middle. The broth was super tasty and it came with a nice piece of fresh bread to soak up the goodness. To top off my meal I had a glass of Cakebread Sauvignion Blanc. It is almost unheard of to be able to order a Cakebread wine by the glass so this was a super nice surprise! My son finished his meal with a brownie/ice-cream creation (also off the children's menu). I had a little taste and it was excellent as well. I cannot comment on the parking as we walked from our hotel. But our server was super attentive and we had everything we needed at the right time to make this a really enjoyable meal! I will definitely be back when I return to Boston!
(4)Tom D.
The good: gorgeous roofdeck, good sushi, the sake is awesome, The bad: line for the roof is always long, service (although friendly) is slowww. we waited about 15 minutes for our drinks.
(4)Kallie F.
The 3rd floor of Legal Harborside has some spectacular views and in the summer months the roof retracts and all the windows can be folded to make this setting like an outdoor roof deck. The menu only has sushi and some appetizers, but a full bar. We went on a Tuesday evening to avoid the weekend crowds. However, tis the Season there were two private parties taking place. The downstairs host sent us to the third floor without any mention of the two parties taking place. When we arrived, the next host mentioned the private parties but offered us seats at the bar. This was not our first choice, but we took a seat anyway. We thought we would have to bail since we couldn't seem to get any service. In the nick of time however Matt, our bartender, came to the rescue. The sushi was AMAZING, and extremely fresh with great creations from the Sushi chef. We loved the Red Dragon roll and the avocado salad was delicious. The prices were as expected for Sushi in this area ($10-14 for "fancier" rolls). Matt was also very friendly and described some of their "bar creation" recipes like the Sailor Moon. Thankfully the great service from Matt and the food made up for the earlier missteps. We will certainly come back, especially in the warmer months. They are also hosting a New Year's Eve party which should prove to be pretty spectacular considering they have a front row seat of the harbor and fireworks.
(4)Alexis J.
In the past I had heard a lot of bad things about Legal Seafood but I figured that I had to try it at least once while living in Boston so we went to Legal Harborside. We went on a Monday and it was still fairly crowded around dinner time, but not so crowded that we had to wait for a table. The service, I thought, was great and the food was even better. I got the fried clams and the person I was with got the fried shrimp. They were both absolutely delicious. For dessert we got the seasonal cobbler which was apple and cranberry and honestly that was the best part of the meal. It was amazing. I also got the apple sangria and the person with me got the Legal sangria (or whatever their house sangria is called) and that was delicious too. I will admit, the food is a bit overpriced but you still get a lot of good quality food for the amount you pay for so I didn't think it was too bad. I will definitely be back here again.
(5)Caroline W.
This legals is a lot like the others but has a fabulous location. This location has three floors of bars and seating, including a roof top patio and deck area that has a retractable roof for the warm summer nights. The raw oysters we ordered were amazing and they had about 10 varieties available (many from Ma). The lunch portions we got were on the small side but fresh and flavorful. Between $12- $17 for a lunch entree. Our table had a view of the ocean and we could see the boats/planes going by. Very nice except for the loud kitchen area that is rather open because it is exposed to the customers. During the summer season (busy season) this place is bumpin and there is usually always a line for the rooftop patio and tables. The second floor of this legals offers a separate menu from the others and it is much pricier. Private parties: We asked to try and reserve tables for a cocktail hour later in the summer and they told us it was all first some first serve. Otherwise, to reserve a room for some our friends to mingle together and order appetizers they require a minimum $5000. Yeah right! Overall, a great spot. But assume you will have to wait for a table if you go at peak hours.
(4)Christian R.
Very relaxing atmosphere on the harbor. 3 floors with outdoor seating. Good (mostly local) beers on tap. Oysters and clams were excellent and very fresh.
(4)Stephanie P.
This newest Legals boasts amazing seaside views to rival their already fantastic menu. We started with drinks from the bar and the mixed cocktails didn't disappoint at double the usual size!. My mom had to share hers. The lobster pizza app was incredible!!! Thin, crispy crust with cheese, lobster, a soft egg in the center (sounds a little odd, but it was oh so right!). I went with fresh Wellfleet oysters on the half shell. They were deliciously briny, albeit small. I had never had oysters served with their champagne-vinegar and it was a wonderful compliment. My sister and I split a bottle of wine (she ordered oysters as well), and my husband and mom enjoyed their fish sandwiches while dad kept his face buried in his fried clams until reaching the bottom of the plate. I agree with my husband on the service, I was unimpressed with the 3 staff members we encountered at the door and hostess stand. Without as much as a smile they slapped the beeper in our hands even though we had a reservation. um, ok thanks. At least we had a beautiful table by the open wall. We got to relish in the fresh sea air and watch the boats pass through the harbor. However, 3 cheers for our server who was always checking on us and had a great smile and attitude. I was certain my mom was going to ask her to join us. Although Legal's seafood doesn't disappoint no matter which location you visit, this one is a must for the views. Especially for us desert dwellers who don't ever get to dine by the ocean!
(5)Blair H.
An amazing way to spend an afternoon. I had a fisherman's stew, solely based on the fact that for $15.95, I thought I was getting more for my money compared to the clam linguine. The stew, aka cioppino, could have used a bit more fishy punch (or clammy kick). I also didn't like that it tasted a lot like canned, diced tomatoes. Also also, if that waiter got any closer to me and asked me if I wanted another drink again, I'da shoved my spoon in his nose. But the view and the atmosphere! There are few places I'd rather lunch in Boston. P.S., make a reservation! There was a 1.5h wait for the informal dining room at 5pm on a Saturday. Got lucky and found a couple of bar seats.
(4)Amanda G.
Officially OBSESSED. Finally, a place that serves the consistently fresh and delicious Legal food I know and love, but with added twists, and an AMAZING space and view. Where to begin... The food was a mix of old faithfuls (Tuna Burger a la LTK, and grilled Scallops with two sides) and fun surprises! Gorgonzola and fig jam on bruschetta (yummmm x3) and a long list of oysters from the raw bar, including Wellfleet Oysters, my fav and they did not disappoint! We ate on the first floor - the more "affordable" of the two floors, the second being ultra fine dining, beautiful space but $$$$ meals - and it was wonderful. Right by the water with an insane view, next to the open kitchen, surrounded by people dressed up for a night out and near a long seated bar area where couples and singles ate and stared out at the water. I felt like I was in NYC but NOT because we were definitely not land locked. After a fab dinner, we went up to the third floor to get a load of the roof deck bar. In a word: awesome. There's a big bar in the center of the roof deck, covered, and it's planked by open seating areas uncovered and with great views of the water and city (and Pavilion). If you like seafood, great views. Boston, America, fun, and Summer - go! P.s. Re: service, it was OK, I think they're still figuring out how to deal with so many people in one space (make a reservation), but everything else more than made up for any failings on the wait staff...
(5)Eliot C.
I visited Legals (floor 1) with four other friends on Saturday. It was a gorgeous evening. The doors to the deck were open for outside dining. There was a blue sky and the temperature was perfect. We were lucky enough to score a table on the deck (which I thought was one of the best seats in the house). Very relaxing atmosphere being outside, there was a public boat dock right below us, and we had a great view of the harbor/airport. The waitress was awesome. She was very personable, knew the menu and had several good suggestions for both food and drink. We started with Raw Oysters, Calamari and Buffalo Shrimp along with a few mixed drinks and beer, We then moved onto the the main meal of sword fish, salmon, scallops and crabless/peperoni pizza (for the seafood challenged member of the group). We ended the meal with a smooth glass of scotch. All the food was good. I don't think we left a thing on any of plates.
(3)Ken S.
Delicious: the maki rolls are beautiful though not tightly wrapped. The lobster roll is flavorful though they are a bit generous with the mayonnaise. The cocktails are good. I recommend that you hit this place on a cool weekday for lunch. It's quieter, you can find a seat, and you can really enjoy your meal.
(4)H T.
Really great seafood, especially for the price. I ordered the crabcake combo platter and loved everything on in. The scallops were amazing. I also ordered a dozen local oysters. They were the biggest oysters I've ever seen and they were very flavorful. I would definitely rely on this chain in the future to serve me high quality seafood at a reasonable price. I think it is a good place to take out-of-towners because you know you can count on the quality.
(4)Susan B.
The roofdeck bar has a spectacular view...but that is it. The menu is strictly sushi and not very good sushi at that, overly very sweet rice and not so fresh fish. The only other offering are chowder (good) and some kind of crab salad that did not look like crab salad. Service was awful, a bunch of young brunette (female only) clones standing around not paying attention to customers. 30 minutes to get a cup of chowder, 45 minutes to get a crappy crab salad and even longer to get the sushi. We had to get our most of our beverages at the bar and God forbid you ask for a water. This is the 3rd time I've been here now and have had the same experience each time. The first floor has really good food and service and a varied menu, but usually has a really long wait.
(2)Kris R.
this place is ginorm! as an out of towner, came here with a bunch of drunk folk on a bar crawl - my absolute fave spot by far. super huge, like 3 ridic floors, awesome view of the ocean on the roofdeck, a bit of swag, fo' sho'. shared the lobster pizza and some oysters with a friend. super good. great cocktails, too. i'd definitely come back. awesome place for visitors.
(4)Annmarie A.
With Legal Seafood's, you always know what you're going to get. Or will you? Legal Harborside is definitely a bit of a different take on the Legal Seafood restaurants we've all come to know and love. This location is ideal, right out on the water, with full-wall windows which can easily be opened and pushed back to enjoy the lovely sea breeze. But it is LOUD. At a table of six, I could only hear the ones seated directly in front and beside me. This is partially due to the open windows and proximity to the airport, but also due to the wooden deck-like floors, high ceilings, and somewhat excessive use of concrete. I am used to the thick carpeting, cozy chairs, and quiet atmosphere of the other locations. Speaking of cozy chairs, half of the seating is benches, and the other half splits between table and pub height versions of patio furniture type chairs. A bit uncomfortable, and a surprise considering the elderly crowd. The oyster bar is up on a platform, and faces the ocean while overlooking the dining room. There is seating outside, but there are no awnings or umbrellas yet, so it can get a bit hot in the direct sun. The main bar is a beautiful creation, but is pushed to one side so the view can be the star (rightly so, at least in the summer). The staff was pleasant, if a bit harried in the lunchtime rush. However, we were sat promptly despite half of our party was 45 minutes late, and we were never made to feel as though we were a bother, which I greatly appreciated. Our waitress took our oyster and appetizer oysters promptly, returning for drink refills, and showing up right away when the rest of our party arrived. Drinks: Delicious! A surprisingly good micro-brew selection, and inventive cocktail menu. The only downsides were that the wine was predictably overpriced, and I was disappointed that they took away the wine-flights. Food: Again, delicious. Legal's stopped short of changing the basics of their menu, with chowders and lobsters front and center. They switched the chowder cup & bowl options for a single mug, which is a fine size for not filling up before the meal. The prices on the first floor seem in line with the other restaurants, so they are not charging these prices for the location alone. All in all, a solid visit.
(4)Ann M.
Once again, Legal Seafoods delivers a guest experience that makes the grade. At Legal Harborside you'll enjoy Boston's new view in the emerging Seaport neighborhood. Tenured Bostonians will appreciate how beautifully the Berkowitz Family has carried on the heritage of Jimmy's Harborside. And, out of towners should beat a path to the best fried clams anywhere. The gleaming, exposed kitchen is nothing short of an operational marvel, and a fitting visual balance to your Boston Harbor vista. There's really no bad seat in the place. And, weather permitting, you can opt to dine al fresco on the deck/dock. Maureen is captain of the front desk and manages a team of hosts to seat the room fearlessly. Our server Gabrielle was pure sunshine, and took great care of our multigenerational party. The food is everything you would expect: fresh, delicious, and generous in proportion. Honestly, it's one of those menus where you want to eat everything. We had fun sharing plates of Truffled Egg Salad, Whipped Gorgonzola & Fig Jam Bruschetta and Kalamata Spread with Grilled Pita. My entree of White Clam Pizza with Arugula was innovative and over the top yum. It's hard to imagine the place getting any better, but it's about to. In early June they'll open the 2nd floor formal restaurant & a roof top lounge. I call that 3 stories of happiness. youtube.com/user/HotelAd…
(5)Courtney M.
I have been to several Legal Seafoods and you never can go wrong. We ordered apps and drinks before catching the "T" back to the airport. Once again the food was wonderful!!
(5)H S.
Enjoyed the food (the Icelandic tasting menu) especially the braised lamb, also enjoyed the lobster raviolini. The bar program could use some updating though. I asked the 2nd floor bartenders for 7 different liqueurs, all pretty standard at the better craft cocktail bars around town, and not only did they not have them, they hadn't even heard of them. Some training could be in order.
(3)Emily P.
The first floor is really amazing! Love the fish and chips, the oysters, the clam pizza! Beer is pretty cold and drinks are really tasty! Warning: don't sit behind the concrete pole; barthenders may not see you...Third floor; getting a table in the summer can be a nightmare (Legal suggestion; have a waitlist for table for those who would like one- this will make the experience more enjoyable). We had some tourists pretty much bounce us as we tried to pay our tab....Bus boy spilled an entire plate of oyters into purse and was not apologetic- very annoying :( Also; some peopl BUT the view is amazing and a great spot to meet friends!
(4)Joo L.
Location: The view was beautiful, right in front of the water. Service: I went to Legal Harborside on a Thursday morning at 11:00am (opening time), so we were one of the first ones to be seated near the water. The hostess was slow in walking us to our table (I noticed that all guests were slowly walked to their tables...must be a rule). We were greeted by our server who was very confusing to me. She was nice one minute, and then cold and annoyed the next minute. She had an awful hearing problem as well, as we tried to flag her down multiple times as she walked past us, but she never acknowledged us. There were hoards of servers, but many of them were socializing and flirting with each other, rather than focusing on the customers. It felt like we were watching some sort of MTV reality show. Food: The food is not that cheap. Because I have a shell fish food allergy, I was unable to eat 75% of what was on the menu, so I ordered their Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. It was pretty basic. Our server was pretty accommodating with my request to cook everything on separate cookware. However, my family thought the lobster roll was very good, and the steamed lobster so-so (they thought it was overpriced). The bread, however, was very delicious...warm, soft and satisfying.
(3)Bethany B.
This is a great spot for enjoying the Boston summer. There's a beautiful view, and good food and drinks. I highly recommend the coconut lemonade cocktail. It sounds weird but trust me, it's delicious.
(4)Tessa M.
I've been here three times since it opened, to mixed experiences. The positives: -The service here is really good. Every waiter I've had has been accommodating and very friendly; checking in when they need to and leaving us in peace for a good part of our meal. -The raw bar. The Cherrystones here are scrumptious!! They are huge, and I often end up eating at least five before my meal. I seriously have considered only ordering these and foregoing my meal because they are so refreshing and good! The negatives: -The location. If you are coming from north of Boston around rush hour, be prepared to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for a good forty-five minutes. There are very few ways to get into the seaport district, and Boston's asinine street plan does nothing to help matters. With the onslaught of building projects coming to this area, I cannot see matters improving unless the city creates some new measures of driving here. -The ambience. Same problem here as at Temazcal: If you sit outside, you will be surrounded by people holding loud conversations next to you, preventing you from getting up, and sticking their butts in your faces. The managers here should ban bar customers from bringing their drinks outside, as it is extremely rude to those seated outdoors. Also, it is very hard to move around in this restaurant in general. There are waiters and bars everywhere, meaning huge crowds congregate in the middle of the restaurant, making it difficult to navigate around all the people. -The menu. After two trips here, I was already bored by the menu. There was little that appealed to me on it; most of it consisted of ordinary fish dishes that I could prepare at home. I ordered the lobster roll twice here and both times it was puny and overpriced. The salmon pizza is good, and the clam chowder is too. I can't remember what I ordered the other time I came, not a good omen. I love spinach and orzo salad, but the way they are prepared here ruin the side dishes for me. The spinach has pine nuts and raisins, while the orzo salad is light and citrusy- the flavors do not really work well in either of these dishes. Bottom line: if you are looking for a good seafood meal, avoid this place unless you are desperate, have money to spend, and don't intend on driving here.
(2)Dan S.
I can't hear my brain! I went to Legal Harborside for the second time in a week this past Saturday. Both times, I went early enough at lunch to land a prime seat outside, under the overhang. Parking was easy, we were seated right away. BAM!!! RIGHT UNDER A SPEAKER PLAYING THE WORST MUSIC EVER! Sorry, that was jarring. So was our table location. All the outdoor tables had the same problem. In fact, we saw two other people complain. We were told that the "manager couldn't be located" to turn the music down. Apparently, the complexity of the volume knob requires that only someone trained at the management level could do anything about the problem Next problem - service. They didn't remember anything. My wife got up 3 times. 1st, to get milk for our baby. We ordered it, got everything else, but not her milk. Good policy for parents - complement the baby, even if it's butt ugly, and get it fed so everyone else can relax. Then she forgot silverware. Then she forgot a refill. It was early and our waitress was watching TV with other servers. We interrupted her doing nothing to get what we asked for. The food - typical Legal. The first visit I thought it was a cut above. This time, my scallops were bordering on raw and the portions were tiny. My wife's pasta with clams was really heavy on the wine, in fact the wine tasted uncooked, almost like someone just dumped a glass on a bowl of pasta. And she got a few broken shells in her mouth. It happens, but not as much as it did. Over all, Legal needs to TURN IT DOWN, focus on service and have this gorgeous, perfectly located restaurant live up to potential.
(2)Scott H.
Yes, it's a chain. Yes, it's super expensive. Yes, you pay more for the location. But Legal is still some of the best, freshest seafood to be found, and in Boston that is saying a lot! We went on a weekday afternoon around lunch time and only waited about 5 minutes for a patio seat. Inside seating was available immediately. Our server was nice, but perhaps a bit overwhelmed. I chose the fried whole bellied clam roll with onion rings (of course) and seaweed salad as sides. The clams were perfectly done and just the right amount for the $17 price tag. Rings were tasty and the seaweed salad was good as well. Simple, with a drizzle of vinegarette. My wife got a cup of chowder, which she really enjoyed. and a lobster roll. She loved it, but the market price was about $25. She also got the seaweed and a side of jalapeno polenta, which was very good. Sure you can get cheaper and seafood at about the same level at some of the mom and pop shops around town but don't dismiss Legal if you are nearby because you will not be disappointed. Helpful hint to travelers. If you are flying out of terminal C at Logan airport, legal has a very nice restaurant right before you go through security so you can get a last minute fix before your flight.
(4)Jonathan M.
The list of some of the most anticipated births in history: 1. Jesus 2. Brangelina's first child (isn't this one the girl who looks like a boy?) 3. Brangelina's twins 4. Legal's Harborside Few restaurants in this city have been as anticipated as this restaurant. Months before it was opened, it was spoken about in hushed tones in the Boston Globe. The week before opening an entire two page article was devoted the restaurant, exploring the ins and outs of the massive preparations for this new space on the Waterfront. Needless to say this place has enormous expectations, and it really doesn't disappoint. Singlehandedly, this place has helped bring much needed foot traffic to the floundering Waterfront area, and I firmly believe it will help reshape the neighborhood into the Back Bay of the 21st century that it's been trying to be for the past 10 years. The location is pleasant. If you're a plane watcher, you won't be disappointed: Logan Airport is so close you can make out the numbers of planes landing and taking off. It's beautiful next to the water, but the area is still heavily reliant on industry. Those looking for an idyllic New England waterfront dining experience would be better off in Chatham or Marblehead than coming here. The interior is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. I felt richer just by breathing the air in there. The bar area is perfectly rounded so that if you're sitting next to someone you still feel like you're more face to face than exactly next to them, making conversation easier. The food is high quality and delicious, but didn't send me into the stratosphere. Be sure to try either the pita chips with your choice of sides (the red pepper was especially memorable) or the crostini for an appetizer (the egg salad variety was particularly tasty). The appetizers were surprisingly good as well; usually desserts are outsourced and no special attention is paid to them. However, in this case it's evident the restaurant cares about all sections of the menu. Their take on the Boston Cream Pie will forever make you rethink just buying one at Shaws and eating the whole thing with a plastic fork in the parking lot (not that I've ever done that). All in all, this is the place to see, be seen, enjoy good food, and will especially be happening in the summer when the roofdeck opens.
(4)Ivan M.
Great location, great views, great food but getting reservation is really tough.
(4)Albert B.
The food was fantastic, as were the views of the water. Staff was attentive and friendly. My friends 7 month year old baby was dining with us, and at least 6 members of the staff came to our table to say "hi" to her- it was a nice touch. Definitely recommend. Rainbow trout is phenomenal.
(4)Jake C.
Incredible rooftop bar with the best view of Boston Harbor I've ever seen. On a sunny summer afternoon, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and ceiling of the huge bar space retract to provide long panoramic sight lines and the experience of looming above Boston Harbor. Expansive lounge environment is relaxed and peaceful with patio decks on either side of the central bar/lounge space, one overlooking the World Trade Center Boston, the other overlooking the B of A Pavilion -- consequently, can get very loud out on this deck during a live show. The line (forms outside building's first floor side entrance, early on weekends!) can appear intimidating, but don't be discouraged: this rooftop bar is THE place to be on a relaxing sunny summer afternoon or hot summer night in Boston!!
(5)Jenifer W.
Let me start by saying I've hated seafood my whole life... I made a vow when my children were born that I'd learn to eat it because I wanted THEM to eat it. I've been working on it, begrudingly, for 4 long years. When we planned our trip to Boston, my boss said "Don't miss Legal Harborside". ATMOSPHERE: Unbeliveably busy - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the place was absolutely crammed with people, and had a wait outside the door. The atmosphere itself is very lovely. Minimalistic with decor (save for the "water wall"), and features a wide open view of the Boston Harbor which was breaktaking at sunset. We got lucky enough to sit right at the windows (outside = too cold on a May night), and the girls were enchanted watching the boats. We got up and walked along the pier while waiting for food to arrive, and it was fantastic. FOOD: Back to my story... I hate seafood :). I looked at their menu before actually going, and had no clue what I was going to order which would "look like" fish, but saved me from actually eating it. On arrival, our server made a few suggestions, and when I told her my dilemna, she recommended an OFF MENU item that chef makes for the servers. It was grilled haddock on a bed of lobster and mushroom risotto. Must have been the wine, but in a freak moment I went for the off menu dinner "balls in". My hubs had grilled sea scallops, and the girls had pizza and spaghetti. We had calamari for an appetizer, and it was fantastic. Just the right amount of breading and seasoning, and the dipping sauce was scratch made and really complimentary. When the food arrived, I woefully tried a baby bite, only to realize this dish may have been the best seafood I've ever had. The fish was perfectly cooked, very fresh, and had a great flavor. The risotto was incredible, with funky teeny weeny mushrooms mixed in and not fishy tasting at all. There were gorgeous chunks of pink lobster, but without the yuck flavor you get when a lobster is not fresh. This place made me a believer - I'd consider moving to Boston just to be close. My husband's scallops were good, and the girls had generous portions of food which they both loved (THANK YOU Legal for making flavorful kids food, where most restaurants feel it's okay to serve crap). We had Bon Bons for dessert, and they were a unique and welcome finish to an unforgettable experience. SERVICE: Our server was fantastic. She was helpful, there when we needed her, and spot on about the food. She and the server in the next section were SOOOO sweet to our girls - chatted them up, played with them for a few seconds here and there, and made them feel very special. Where normally I am tough on servers because I so rarely get a good one, our server here was really amazing. In a rare moment for me, I walked the floor to find a shift manager so I could let them know just how wonderful both girls were. VALUE: Great. We viewed the menu beforehand, so we walked in expecting to pay a higher price than most other options. The quality of the food was top notch, and couldn't have been any better than it was. We paid around $165 for an app, 2 entrees, 2 kids, and a dessert. I plan to go back again whenever I can.
(5)Scott C.
I actually dined on the second floor but it could have been in a dungeon and still have been phenomenal. Pig head and heirloom tomato salad appetizers started off an evening of seafood nirvana. Service, wine, and entrees were equally fantastic. Very accommodating to my Aussie companion food allergies as well. A great evening out in Beantown!
(5)Jatte B.
First off, this listing needs to be clarified. The LEGAL SEAFOODS at 270 Northern Ave is different than the LEGAL HARBORSIDE that is upstairs from LSF (correct me if I am wrong). The menus are VERY different... the ground floor is the standard LSF everyone has grown to love. The upstairs LHS is a bit more experimental and adventurous. We rolled into the joint on a Friday night and it was very apparent that the wait for a table at LSF was 2+ hours... so we thought we'd give the fancier upstairs a whirl. We were dressed in t-shirts and jeans... I am assuming that may be frowned upon once LHS is up and running a few more weeks (judging by the decor, menu, other guests' attire). The menu was mainly seafood... and lots of fun: Chutneys, spices, exotic fish/preparations, oddball/fun apps/bites that you would not find on the more "staple"-centric LSF menu. The cost for 4 of us... with was about $400 (incl tax/tip)... but we did go off the deep end with 5 apps + 2 bites for the table plus two bottles worth of wine. I highly recommend this place for any foodie who wants something delicious and different with a great view of the harbor (inside/outside seating available).
(5)Matt G.
5 stars for location and service - our waiter sat with our 9 year old and showed him how to shell his lobster. 4 stars for food as a whole. Great local Sam Adams special beer
(4)Shannon E.
Beautiful location. Draws big crowds. Waitresses work really hard and manage large crowds well. Food is good, if you're in the mood for what they're serving. 3rd floor menu, where the drinking crowd is, leaves a lot to be desired if you just want to drink & snack. And unfortunately big, bad, bald 3rd floor "bouncer" has an inflated ego, using aggressive and threatening tactics to intimidate patrons for no good reason. I would expect this from some of the establishments in Faneuil Hall or Back Bay or even if deserved here if people were getting rowdy, but to come up to a table of friends having a nice night and good, mellow conversation and start accusing and threatening and being aggressive is out of line. Seriously, get over yourself and find something productive to do like help the waitresses clear glasses from the tables. Probably won't go back at the risk of having to deal with this a-hole. There are plenty of other great spots on the areas.
(2)Haley C.
The place is amazing. The roof deck, is well pretty perfect... but to get in?! Plan on going super early... and really working it if you want a seat! Also, you can make a reservation downstairs, but that's limited. So far I have eaten downstairs--- not bad and on the roof deck. (limited menu on the roof deck, but good). Staff have always been fantastic and I like that they valet. Great place to bring out of town guests.
(4)David H.
I get it that this place regularly gets five stars, great location, vibey, noisey, and almost always full.....but unlike my wife, I have never been a big fan of Legal Seafoods. We were there for a bar side dinner this week, and again several weeks before....but there is a common theme with each visit...the front desk is manned by immature young ladies who really haven't grasped the concept of a well run front desk. There is no structure, or consistency....and on a recent visit by a mature British friend of ours, she was turned away from the rooftop lounge, because her British drivers license, which clearly illustrated her age, was an unacceptable form of identification. The second issue I have is the value of the food...the portions are small, yet overpriced, and no greater illustration of that fact was the bruschetta appetizers.....two tiny slices of crostini toast, spread with a small quantity of gorgonzola creamy cheese, and an even smaller dollop of fig jam. Admittedly, you cannot get much these days for $3.50, but this was a real slap in the face. Legal Seafoods you can only fool the public for so long as to the quality and caliber of your establishments....spend some money and train your staff to execute their duties professionally....and stop believing you are being so clever and overcharging for overhyped dishes, that represent no value to the average diner, for the quantities that are being served
(1)Stacy R.
We hope the owner will read this review. We arrived at 5:00 and were told we could get a table at 5:30 at the restaurant on the 2nd floor. At 5:30 we went up to the 2nd floor and were told that all the tables were reserved and we could eat at the bar. We were at the bar for 90 minutes and most of the tables in the restaurant remained empty the entire time. The service at the bar was awful; we had to ask the bartender 3 times before he took our order. We ordered 3 appetizers. The octopus was very tough and almost inedible. The seared tuna had a stale taste. The trio of tartar was fine. We have been loyal and frequent Legal customers for decades and are very disappointed. The location is striking It's an abuse to loyal customers to assume that service and food don't matter - that people will come back despite the poor service, unappetizing food, and high prices. They won't.
(1)Food G.
Disclaimer: this review is based on the top floor, lounge menu not the regular menu. Recently attended a company event up on the 4th floor of Legal Harborside where the "lounge menu" was served buffet style. I was excited to try it out as I have had good meals at the Legals near the aquarium...boy was I dissapointed. The waitstaff was good and attentive, but they were only dealing with drinks, so they get a little bit of a pass. The food on the other hand, was way, way below expectations. I started with the Clam Chowder which was ok, but really lacked seasoning. I dont find it a good sign when a seafood place cant do a good chowder. The trooper I am, I moved on to the Lobster Risotto. Sadly this was almost completely tasteless (again, where's seasoning?) and cold... not cool, cold. Strike two. Maybe the Chicken Satay skewers will be better I thought? Wrong. I could tell with the first bite I tried that it was barely on the side of properly cooked. Strike three. A normal person would stop after three strikes, but I then noticed the shrimp. I love shrimp and surely that must be good, I thought to myself. Wrong again! Its not hard to tell frozen shrimp from fresh and these were definitely previously frozen. Add to that the fact they are drowning in some "cocktail type" sauce by default and you have a recipe for sub-par. I'm an adult, give me fresh shrimp with sauce on the side and let me decide how I want to sauce them. This shouldn't be too much to ask of a famous seafood restaurant.
(2)Terri C.
Unimpressed with the 2nd Floor, all we kept hearing about was how the 2nd floor was different from all the other Legals - this being highlighted when we asked to be sat our table that we had reserved 2 months ago. I explained our friends we running late -it was pouring rain out -and I mentioned my OpenTable acct and again was told this Legal is different. The treatment was so poor, I don't care where you are located, it's all about the treatment - get over yourselves. We dine in all in price ranges but expect firs class treatment wherever we go. If they had read our OpenTable profile "like the other Legals" they would have noticed we dine at Legal's OFTEN and don't skim on what we order. NO MORE. We were not able to get the beverages ordered on the first floor or order Fried Oysters - those were ONLY available on the first floor. I have never taken the time to write a negative review after dropping $300 between the 2 floors, I needed to air my grievances. Oh the food was good, I will give them that - in fact it was delicious but its also about the experience and for us -it was not a positive one.
(1)Susan J.
I've been a few times to this legals and have tried the sushi and some of the other dishes on all different floors. My boyfriend and I went over the weekend and he was in the mood for fish and I was in the mood for sushi so we thought it was the perfect spot! But they really could not accomidate us because they only serve certain things on certain floors. If we wanted to get the actual dishes we wanted, my boyfriend and I would have had to sit on different floors!!! It's really like 3 different restaurants. We ended up sitting on the 2nd floor where i was able to get a rare tuna appetizer as my dinner, but left pretty hungry. Dissapointed that they cannot find a way to offer similar things throghout the restaurant.
(3)Fred Y.
Fish tacos! That's all you need to know!
(4)Margot L.
I never write yelp reviews but since I have had two bad experiences at the second floor fine dining at legal harborside I felt compelled. The two times I have been here I made a reservation. Each time my party and I were shuffled to the bar upon arriving and assured our table would be ready soon but have a drink at the bar while you wait. Each time I waited 45 minutes for my table to be ready. This past time I complained. The hostess was very gracious in buying us an appetizer after finally seating us at 9:15pm for a 8:30pm reservation I even called to confirm a reservation I had made on open table earlier in the week. Having this exact same thing happen twice I think they need to figure out a better reservation process. Food was good but wait was not worth it. I will never go here again.
(1)Patrick M.
Great view, fun crowd & the rooftop bar with retractable roof is very cool. Food was good. Busy, busy place. $16 to valet with validation.
(3)Angelica B.
Loved this place. Found it on yelp and it was recommended by the concierge at my hotel. Food was great! Don't wait for a table unless you want to be outside on the deck. Take a seat at the back counter overlooking the water, it's mesmerizing! Great beers on tap and lots of small plates. I shared a lobster and wild mushroom pizza, quite tasty. The fried clams and steamer were both terrific. I enjoyed so much I came back two days later for oysters on the half shell with prosecco. Perfection!
(4)Janina T.
I've been here a few times, heading straight for the roofdeck for drinks. I generally come pretty late in the evenings on either Thursday or Saturday nights so by that time dinner has long passed and/or the kitchen has closed. They get an A++++++ for ambiance and decor. The roofdeck view is GORGEOUS beyond belief, overlooking the water. I love that they have both covered and uncovered seating so you can take your pick. Music's not bad either, from what I could hear. I heard a mixture of hip hop and classic/alternative rock. I like that they play it at a level that isn't overbearing to the point that you can't hear whoever you're speaking to but it's loud enough for your to enjoy at the same time. Drinks are pretty good (and strong) here. They're a bit pricier than they might be at the other bars down the street but I'm pretty sure it's because you're paying more to be in a swankier place. I haven't tried the food yet although I'm assuming it's equal if not the same as what's at Legal Sea Foods. I've booked my birthday dinner here so I'm hoping for the best!
(4)Jessica P.
First the good: -The food was excellent, and we did not have to wait long. The view is also quite nice. Now the cons: -The service was inattentive. We did not get any rolls and my father had to ask our server 4 times before she finally brought him the class of water he wanted. -The atmosphere was a bit meh. It was loud enough that we could barely hear each other, and it wouldn't have killed some of the other patrons to take a bath and put on something other than ratty sweats and cut-offs. This isn't as swanky as some Boston restaurants, but it's not a dive bar either. Dress like a grown-up and observe basic hygiene or stick with McDonald's.
(3)Neill K.
I promise if I come back and have the same experience I will give you five stars! I tell people that I'm not one to go to a legal seafood unless there is a visitor who's requesting. In my book there is better fine dining and better seafood at other locations around our fair city...with that said, I WILL be back to the Harborside location. I had lunch with a great friend on the first floor (duh, that's all that's open for lunch) I love the layout! We sat one table away from the water, although the rest of the facility looked beautiful even if we weren't staring at the water the whole time. The food was great! We started with the calamari, which was crispy and delicious. We each then had a salad, me the shrimp and my friend the crab. Both salads were of decent portion and very flavorful! My only complaint was that mine had very few shrimp? Whatever...like I said...I was busy staring at the water most the time. Service...top notch. Right when we walked in we were greeted by a team of people who were there to help us! I did first take my friend up to show him the different levels, which they were more than happy to let us explore. Our server was awesome as we took way to long and ordered everything just a little different than original. Fun, relaxing, good food...will be back.
(4)Jess C.
SOOO I came here because I wanted a classy place to take the parentals before dragging them to watch the Redbull Cliff Diving. The menu is different from other Legal Sea Foods, which is nice, but sometimes you want a LITTLE more. For example, the grilled shrimp only comes with lemon... no lemon chive butter or cajun spices like we all know and love from all the other Legals!! The roof deck is not something I have ventured up to yet, simply because it was not open at the hour we were there. I hear it's very "Miami" and being from there, I obviously have to investigate. Food was good, and I must say.. I love the view this place offers.
(4)Hilary A.
We were attending a show at the BoA Pavilion next door, so we opted to dine here due to its awesomely close proximity. Not being from the area, this was a gamble. We chose dinner on the 2nd floor, which was the only floor taking reservations. This is like 3 businesses in one: 1st floor raw bar/pub fare, 2nd floor finer dining and 3 floor is an upscale, open-air bar. When we arrived there were TONS of people and the establishment is huge; I thought I made a huge mistake. To my surprise, we were whisked up out of the chaos to a lovely, private table on the deck, overlooking the harbor. Our waiter was perfection. He paid close attention to detail, made sure to get us served in time to catch our show, polite, not overly chatty, but friendly. He even gave us a little complimentary grab-and-go dessert because we didn't have time to have one otherwise. The food was delicious. The menu wasn't enormous, but has enough offerings for everyone to find something. I had the lobster ($50) and my husband chose two appetizers (due to dietary restrictions) soft-shell crab ($14) and scallops ($14). It wasn't cheap, but I wanted a nice experience and was willing to pay. It was the perfect start to a great night.
(4)Mitchell F.
The first floor deck is right on the water looking over the harbor with Logan in the background. Very nice setting. I had the oyster slider app and it was great. Good portions, moist and not overpowering. A good value for the price. For a main course I had the fried fisherman's trio however I requested it wood fired so I could taste the seafood. The best decision I ever made. The wood firing really brought out the flavors. The staff handled the change flawlessly from the server who said cheerfully "no problem" to the request,to the cooks who took the shrimp, sea scallops, and haddock and wood fired them instead of coating them in batter and frying them, and did so without tearing up the fish. Now for the reason I didn't give 5 stars. The side dishes were bland and small. My Ceasar salad had no flavor with 3 soggy croutons, and greens filmed with a light layer of tasteless cream sauce. My cole slaw was just cabbage and carrots coated in a tiny bit of mayo and no seasoning. Worst was my desert. I had the lemon coconut something. It was a flavorless spongy lemon cakelike substance with a hint of coconut flavor on top in a rock hard pastry shell which served as a bowl. A total disappointment. Still the seafood,service, and views were great and that's what it was all about.
(4)Monique W.
The roof deck is amazing!! The staff and Manager are great.. They were very helpful. The drinks fabulous!! I can not wait to come back again!!
(4)Erin B.
We had a reservation for 5 pm on Christmas day. The notes on the reservation requested a High chair. We arrive, and the hostess seems troubled, but since we had to wait for my husband to park the car, she had time. When he finally arrived, I tell them and she says "well we are just trying to rearrange because of the high chair". As if they didn't know I was coming with a kid. Finally a different hostess tells us our table is ready. She brings us over & smiles. I say, Do you have a high chair? (My son is 2, it's pretty obvious he needs a high chair and not a bench seat) She says "oh you need a high chair?". Yes. Oh Ok. then she stutters about 3 times and says, "we're going to move you someplace else where it's easier for the high chair. Where would you like to wait?" Awkward. So I say "where would you like us to wait?" She says "oh you can sit here, just don't order anything". Awkward #2. Then a DIFFERENT manager comes over & says "ok here is the high chair" . ??? OK, so I guess we aren't moving? He looks at me like I have 10 heads. Once that was all settled our waitress was fantastic and the food was great. My only other complaint is that this is a summer restaurant. We've gone for the past 2 christmas's, but it's always cold and not cozy. I asked about the heat but nothing changed. In fact I think she might have forgotten that I asked. If you do decide to go, don't expect a high chair, and wear an extra sweater.
(3)Twain S.
Liked the food, and service. But not going back. I only eat out less than 10 times a year. That combined with the fact that there are hundreds of places to eat, means that any little thing will ensure I don't come back. From the web page: You'll find a nod to our heritage on the first floor hull, with a casual menu of seafood favorites with a twist, an oyster bar and an old-fashioned fish market. The second floor dining room offers cuisine prepared with sensible creativity for celebratory eating and private dining events. And those that visit the third floor promenade deck will enjoy a four-season rooftop lounge... So from that description I decided that eating on the first floor made the most sense. That being said I have no idea what they mean by "an old-fashioned fish market". I totally missed that. Although I did find the "catch-and-release" fishing spot. Food was good, I had clam chowder, and the Portuguese Seafood Stew The service was also good. The waiter filled up my water without having to ask, some thing I like. The seating was cramped. There was at best a one person wide between the tables. So the waiters were constantly having to squeeze by. It was too noisy. You had speak into the ear of the person sitting next to you, and yell to the person on the other side of the table. When I go out to eat I want to be able to have a conversation. To top it off they were playing music at the same time. The menu offered a very, very limited selection. I kept turning it over assuming there was more to choose to from on the other side. (The menu is online, check it out before you decide to go eat there.) And to top it off I slammed my head getting up from the toilet. Each bathroom had it's own toilet and sink. For some reason there were two hand soap dispensers, one near the sink, and the other on the wall in front of the toilet. I didn't look up, as I stood, and the wall in front was so close that I hit my head on the hand soap dispenser. I had to sit back down for a couple of minutes, it wasn't a glancing blow. My significant other pointed that the entire building was less than a year old. But for some reason they were not able to figure out how much room they needed to fit a toilet. A silly aside was the catch-and-release "pond". There was what looked like a wishing pond, which had a sign which indicated that kids were allowed to "fish". As in hold a pole, and catch a fish. But they were suppose to "release" what ever it was that they caught. Just really silly. How about you take that extra space and give people more room to eat? No reason to go back.
(1)Carter D.
The clams were good, but i've had better. They served me a bloody mary when i was already drunk in the middle of the night. Maybe it wasn't that late, just december, I don't know. Big place, slow service, decent quality, not too expensive. It's just average, maybe worth going to if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)Katarina G.
There are three floors to this place, each a different restaurant, so I am not sure which restaurant everyone else is reviewing. I ate at Floor 2 with my husband while visiting Boston. Floor 2 is the "fine dining" restaurant. It was date night so we decided to be fancy. :o) The service was wonderful and our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. And the view was breathtaking. We shared a half-bottle of cabernet which was delicious. We were greeted with a shrimp and melon introductory dish that was refreshing and left me wanting more. Our appetizers included a lobster soup and short rib raviolis with truffle sauce. OMG...these were amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered the scallops (he wanted to try the abalone but they were all out which sucked). The server recommended the scallops prepared the same way and my husband was happy. He said it was the best scallop dish he had ever had. I ordered the fillet with king crab on top. This was bay far the most tender fillet I have ever had. I literally cut it with a butter knife. We closed our night off with espresso before heading upstairs. (It did take a while to get our bill though...like a super long while.) This is where Legal Harborside lost a star. The Floor 3 bar didn't fit the Floor 2 experience we just had. The server on Floor 3 had that look on her face like she just wanted to go home for the night. Sorry lady, you work here and we are paying for drinks, so that means you have to be friendly. It's your job. The wine I ordered was disappointing, but it was my only option by the glass. I almost considered sending it back. I couldn't tell if it was skunked or just extremely low quality. Whatever, we left after one round. Overall though, we had a great night and loved our dinner!
(4)Brandi J.
LOVE this place. The atmosphere and view on the roof top is perfect - service was great, food was great, pricing is reasonable. The outside deck is still open even in the chilly weather AND they give you blankets - too cute and too fun. only complaint was the sangria.... it wasn't sangria... but, that didn't/doesn't change my opinion on how fabulous this place is - the top floor is great for a date night, a ladies night out, a group gathering... you won't be disappointed
(5)Fred W.
All in all we enjoyed the dinner. One of had a lobster which was enjoyed by that person. I ordered a Lobster Roll which was touted by another Yelp reviewer, the lobster parts were fine , but overall it wasn't what I expected.. and sorry that I ordered it. The Fish and chips were OK, but one piece was dark, which isn't very appetizing. We also had shrimp cocktail and Fried Calamari, both were done well and of good quality The place is well run, head sets on most servers and wireless transmitters for taking orders, Finally it was noisy and too busy,, but funny enough , we all enjoyed it. Would I go back? probably,
(4)Jeff H.
Second-best seafood I had while in Boston. What really shone for us was the service, though. Had a baby with us for early dinner who had a stomach upset. The wait staff didn't bat an eye, just helped us clean up and kept the food and drink coming for the rest of us. Salmon was good, not spectacular, but appetizers were top of the line: I especially liked the PEI mussels.
(4)BF K.
If I could give negative stars on how our party was treated on the third floor, I'd fly those non existent stars on a non existent banner high in the sky for all to see. We brought a group of forty people to the harbor side roof on a really nice, totally out of season night- it was beautiful out, and the crowd otherwise was really small, so the business we were bringing in (buying bottles, purple Jesus' for the group etc) was relevant. Sure we'd come from a party, and we may have had one or two people that probably needed to be cut off. Normally, if you see an issue with a patron, you A. Cut them off B. tell their friends you cut them off so they can deal with it C. Ask the patron to leave D. Tell the patron to leave E. kick the patron out the door. One or all of these. So I ask you.. Since when do you tell an entire party of FORTY that they're cut off because two people need to stop for the evening? When the entire other THIRTY EIGHT people are fine and having a great night? Yea- this place does. And when you politely talk to the manager and security team about asking if they can let you know who the issue is so you can put them in a cab and keep on having a good time and they won't tell you? And refuse to reason? Well that's when I say you just lost a shiz load of business. Thanks Legal Harborside, for exceeding my expectations on just how much more douchey your franchise has become. See you never.
(1)Stephen M.
The Chef's taster menu with wine recommendation was exquisite. Celebrated our silver wedding anniversay here and they made a special fuss of us, even writing congratulatory wishes in chocolate on our desert plate - it's the little things that make all the difference. Lovely view of the harbour while dining with constantly changing light as the sun sets.
(5)Brian C.
Visited the 3rd level on the Friday after the 4th figuring that a slow day in the city would allow us access to the typically very busy spot. Nabbed two stools at the railing in the outside area. Things were looking good. Things went downhill ....slowly. Two quick observations: One, nice view obviously of the harbor and airport, but not of the city. The adjacent building blocks the view to the west. Two, the speakers were really awful out there. The music was almost unrecognizable. Kind of shocking for a new facility. The deck was full but not jammed, but service was extremely slow. It took 20 mins to get glasses of water and 30 minutes for our first drink. By the way it was about 95 degrees up there. Food delivery was actually slower. We asked about our order and found out that it had been delivered to the wrong party. The reorder was taking just as long so we decided to bail out. Great start but horrible experience. Others around us told us that they had similar service. We spent an hour, eager to spend some $$ but left after one drink each. We crossed the street and had terrific service at Mortons bar.
(1)Kat T.
My friends and I were at the Legal Harborside's patio the day it opened. It had a lovely view of the Harbor and an unpretentious atmosphere despite the trendy decor. The three-tiered dining concept, with the first floor being casual, the 2nd with fine dining and the 3rd floor/patio with small bites, is brilliant! Since it was the opening day, the patio didn't serve food though they did pass some free tasty apps around. The Tuna tartare was muy delicioso! We waited about an hour and a half for a table of 5 which was a bummer but our patio bar server was very attentive and kept serving us with the free apps. The manager was very apologetic for the wait, which we sort of expected would be the case on a Saturday night. Overall, the place was great. I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out at the patio more frequently this Summer.
(4)Ann C.
This was my first time at this location so I will say upfront that I only enjoyed a single meal here. (I used to come here back when it was Jimmy Harborside! I also still had legitimate friends from Southie back then too...) I guess I was only sort of expecting the imposing feel of this particular Legal's. But I'm not gonna lie though - I enjoyed how far they went with this one. There's like 6 floors or something. Nicely designed and laid out with a circular bar and sprawling pseudo-eating-areas (is it just a drinks seat?...or can I actually eat a meal here? omg I can eat here too!? :D) There's something about the atmosphere that is practically begging for lunch break yuppies and adorable tourists to infiltrate at high volume. I'm glad they're doing well - the waterfront is too picturesque to not set up a destination area like this. Yeah it's kinda sterile and corprate, but soon everwhere in the world will be merely shades of such. I don't mind - plus they kept the lovely aquatic mosaic wall from the Jimmy days in Legal's interior. Anyways, I ordered a lobster roll that was positively delicious (crap,now I want one). Everything was served in a most timely manner by this guy Curtis something. Omg he was soooooo cute - kinda looks like Kurt Cobain. I recommend him :D My only complaint is that many might mistake the menu entry for the tuna sandwhich as tuna SALAD sandwich - the description is kinda vague. It's actually huge pieces of mildy seared tuna. I found that out the hard way but Curtis was most gracious and patient and didn't mind taking it back so I could get a lobster roll. (omg seriously so cute) I paid for the sushi-ish tuna sandwhich anyways, mostly because of his adorableness...and because it's a classy thing to do :D btw, who remembers when there was that epic chinese food restaurant like right across the street? holy crap I'm totally dating myself now...
(4)Jeff M.
My wife and I took a client of mine last Sunday night. We did have reservations and were seated right away. The restaurant was very busy, as it was a beautiful night and the back of the restaurant opens to the harbor. My client being from LA had to have the Chowder and some fried clams for an app. When eating one of the clams I bite down on a nice size piece of shell. When I told the waitress about it, she asked if I was OK and when I said yes, she said OK then and went about her business. I had Anna's Boston Scrod and it was as good as I remember. I'm sure we will give it another try.
(3)Anik M.
So if you are going to go to the first two floors then I would mark this place much higher - the second floor is definitely 5 star. Now on to the review of the third floor...AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! Where do I start - here is basically how the meal turned out: 1. Asked the server which sake she would recommend - she chose the most expensive which we obliged given our experience on the second floor. Big mistake - it was a plum juice sake blend which had the feel of desert wine. The waitress had no idea what she was speaking about. To top it off our sake was served in wine glasses which just doesn't fit the drink. 2. The edamame was probably cooked by Captain Crunch - pretty much raw. 3. I didn't realize crab was served with the shell on in sushi. My wife found several pieces of crab shell in her California roll including one the size of a quarter. 4. The service: a. Our waitress was hard to track down even though there were 2 servers and a bartender and the place was 25% full. When she did come over and we informed her of the shell in the sushi she reached down to try and remove it with her HANDS from our plate which had another type of roll (which we weren't going to eat anyways - but who does that!). She then brought us the bill and charged us for the roll we had sent back - which after I pointed, she removed. There was also a complete lack of an apology for their horrendous food. b. On our way out the the door man had asked how our food was and we said not very good. He asked us to elaborate and we politely declined - he pushed a few more times and we finally described out experience. His response was "Well at least come back for drinks" to which I responded "You can get a drink anywhere." Absolutely clueless to the quality of their food. I have to say that this was a huge let down and am shocked that they had such little care for their drinks, food and service. There are may better places to go for an after work cocktail and snack in the city...actually ANY PLACE would be better.
(1)B R.
I was fully prepared to hate it here. I've been to a lot of Legal's locations over the years. They are always delicious but overpriced. We had the luck of being out on a friends boat and docked right under the restaurant. We had reservations for the bar area. So the caveat is simple, you have to have reservations. No way I'm waiting insanely long times to eat here. Now, I really liked this place. Great people watching, the bar area menu was reasonably priced. The food was delicious and the atmosphere on a beautiful warm day was awesome. I had the wood grilled shrimp with soba noodles and orzo salad. You get to pick two small sides with certain dishes. My only complain is they do not have the sugar snap peas in oyster sauce, a fan favorite. The alcoholic raspberry lime rickey was tasty but a bit watered down and too much ice for the price. Switched to beer for the better value. I would go again. definitely. with a reservation :) but first I would explore all the other restaurants in this newly vibrant part of town.
(4)Katrina H.
This review is particularly for Legal Harborside - Floor 2. This floor is considered more fine dining, and they even mention on the website that it is for "special occasions." After moving to the area, I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday, and I am so glad I did! The food and drinks were delicious. For our entree, we both ordered Butter Poached Lobster and it was to die for. Just melt in your mouth deliciousness. We had a beautiful seat overlooking the water. And the waitstaff was great - very accommodating. The manager even escorted us up to Floor 3 after our dinner (the line was around the block) since we wanted to have some after dinner cocktails. I can't wait to come back here. It is on the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)Erica C.
I loved this place! Came there with family and started with the calamari lobster roll, and bloody Marys. All were great! It was my first lobster roll so I can't really say if it was the "best" but I definitely enjoyed every bite. I also had the crab salad which was amazing! A huge mound of yummy crab. Can't really beat that. My husband had the fish and chips which he loved. Go here!
(5)Megan M.
This review is for floor 2. My dining experience was okay. The atmosphere and view was definitely the best part. The view of the harbor and the city is one of the best you can get. The decor is tasteful and modern. Our server was good, knowledgeable on the wine and also got the chef to prepare a special salad. However, there was only a need to prepare a special salad because the selection was so limited. I think every dinner menu should have some type of green salad to start with. For entrees we had the prosciutto wrapped tuna and the cod over clams. The tuna was good, I think the prosciutto would have been better if it was more rare like the tuna. I thought I would love the combo but wasn't a big fan. The cod was nothing special either. We also had the lobster gnocchi app, which was probably the best part of the food. Also the most inexpensive bottle of chardonnay was still around $50. So all in all, for the price I was not impressed. Would prefer Atlantic Fish Co or Oceanaire.
(3)Scott C.
Sushi is mediocre. Seemed fresh, but not well made. Not much ingenuity in the menu. Just ok. Service on 3rd floor was uninterested. Legal is my favorite seafood place, but I'll be staying away from the sushi. Rec you do also.
(3)Sara F.
Can't rate the restaurant yet, since when I tried to get in one Tuesday night a couple of weeks ago, there was a two and a half hour wait. I shouldn't have been surprised -- it's been getting a lot of attention, and then there's all the tourist traffic. So we headed up to the Roof Deck on the 3rd floor, which was absolutely packed. Unfortunately it was raining pretty hard, because the deck has an amazing view of the harbor. It would be a fantastic place to hang out on a sunny day. It got quieter after about 7:30, as the after-work crowd dispersed, so I think next time I'd try for a late arrival, to enjoy the deck or the dining room without quite so many crowds. Definitely make a reservation if you want to have dinner here without a crazy-long wait.
(3)Chris L.
Went looking forward to a fabulous dinner. The Hostess was very kind and accommodating and seated us on the outdoor deck which was the best part of our night. The weather was fabulous and the atmosphere was perfect. The food arrived and the portions were average-small. The salad I received was wiltered and flavorless, the grilled scallops were small and bland. My date had the salmon and it was ok but just ok. We have had much better at other restaurants. So If you are looking for a great fish dinner look somewhere else but it you want a up beat atmosphere and a nice location give this place a try.... Definitely don't go for the food, you can do much better at many other places.
(3)Emily H.
This was a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view of the water. I was here with a girlfriend on a road trip and we really needed a nice meal. She doesn't eat fish, but had an awesome steak and I tried the Portuguese seafood stew. We also shared the mixed bowl salad and some hummus with pita chips. Everything was delicious and the waiter was extremely knowledgable about the food and origins of the restaurant. Don't be thrown off by the front exterior (kind of looks like a cafe). The magic happens when you walk to the back, leading to a gorgeous restaurant!
(5)Phil W.
Erin ate oysters, y'all!!!!!!!! (She's a vegematarian) Btw they have 14 kinds of oysters. Straightforward fish, but good. White sangria yes!
(4)Diana M.
Third floor has amazing view. The drinks were very good. My man had the big boy Boston, he loved it.
(5)Allen R.
The reason I gave this place only two stars is the NOISE LEVEL. We were there on a beautiful warm day. Fortunately were seated right at the edge of the deck and the glass doors were folded back so that one side of the restaurant was open from floor to ceiling. If they are closed the sound would bounce off the glass and it would be intolerably noisy--a place where you would have to shout and lean toward each other just to be heard. We were lead through the restaurant to this table and I was glad we were not seated toward the center of the restaurant. Even with the harborside wall open it was really noisy at the other tables. The only thing that doesn't reflect sound are people's bodies! If you go when the weather isn't great, plan to communicate via American Sign Language or be a very good lip reader. Even then, expect some temporary hearing loss after you leave this restaurant. In good weather call ahead and see if you can reserve a table outside on their deck. I don't believe the other Legal Seafoods or their second floor here are as noisey as this one.
(2)Jillian T.
Fun sitting on the roof deck enjoying the sun but the sushi was so-so, our waitress was a bit removed as it was very busy but at least she had a smile on her face the whole time. The reason I give it fewer stars is due to more how people hover around you if you have a seat or table and the discomfort of the stools- I hadn't realized this was more of a bar than restaurant before coming. Also, the menu for the roof is limited and few snack items are available beyond sushi and lobster rolls.
(2)Stacey K.
We made reservations for 1st floor dining about a week in advance for this past Friday night, we had 6 people for dinner and it was amazing to say the least! We had a seat right near the water and bar. The view is obviously stunning and the atmosphere is great, not super loud or over crowded, we could actually talk and hear each other. Our waiter was FABULOUS, his name was Mike and he was super helpful with recommendations as well as accommodations for someone with allergies! The food was to die for, I had a salmon special and fish tacos to share with my husband and we loved both dishes. Everything was prompt, warm and delicious. This is by far one of the best dining experiences I have had in the city! I will absolutely be retuning!
(5)C D.
Vibrant ambience with a coveted waterfront view but disappointingly mediocre food and completely lacking in presentation. If your looking for tourist-inspired New England cuisine, this place is for you. Otherwise, don't bother. Pretty good wine list.
(1)Annie B.
Amazing bar on the 3rd floor, good ambience!
(5)Megan A.
I loved this place! The view from the bottom was amazing! The clam chowder was velvety and delicious. The server was really pleasant!
(4)Robert W.
Great oysters, 14 types, seafood was well prepared. Good value.
(4)Mj A.
We chose to eat here based on other reviews & we made a good choice. I had the lobster & it was delicicious & hubby had the steak & shrimp which was also very good. the waiter (Cody) was excellent. The only thing they need to improve is their baked potato. It was dry & flavorless. Even with extra sour cream it was still bland. The cole slaw was good. They could expand & improve their dessert menu. My dinner came with a cinnamon cocoa cake that was just OK. Hubby got the chocolate cake with a lava like pudding center & it was good. Their background music is loud & somewhat annoying. But all in all we really enjoyed eating there & will be back if we ever get to Boston again.
(4)Carrie T.
We had to have lobster in Boston. On a recommendation, we went here. Nice location, right by the Aquarium. It was very crowded for a late afternoon but it's summer and it's tourist season. We got a seat by the window facing the street. We ordered 2 small lobsters (1 1/2 lbs) and just devoured it. It was tasty. We had sides that we barely touched cause we were working on our lobsters. We did order the crabcake which had nice big pieces of crab, not just bread mix. I think we scared our waitress the way we just tore into the lobsters and sucked it dry! Still she was pleasant when she filled my sister's ginger ale with water accidentally. She got her another one quickly. Price is not any higher or lower than some of the other places I checked out like the Union or Charter that is close by.
(3)Lee M.
Great location, view, food. Definitely arm yourself with a reservation. But two concerns: first, this place is LOUD. Be ready to yell at other people in your party the whole time. Second, the cool piping in the ceiling looks great but the condensation drips, drips, drips on the diners. And nowhere seems to be safe. Eat outside if you can to solve both problems!
(3)Glutenfree G.
Calling all celiacs and gluten free dieters... Legal Harborside has gluten free rolls and gluten fish and chips. It's been about 5 years since I was diagnosed and this is the first time I've been to a seafood restaurant that did it for me. They said they can turn any fried items on the menu gluten free. The taste was a bit bland but honestly it was so exciting to try gluten free fish and chips. I'll definitely go back to try calamari and other fried seafood items. Thanks Legal Harborside for letting me eat something "normal" again.
(4)Sam A.
Amazing restaurant. Dined on Floor 2 on a Sunday evening. From the friendly and courteous valet to the exceptional front and back of the house, this was a great experience and one that we'll be sure to repeat. The California abalone was such an outstanding dish and pairing a large Halibut portion with steakhouse-style spinach was an excellent touch. We were delighted with the complimentary amuse bouche and the peppermint fudge at the beginning and end of the meal. The wine list was exceptional and reasonable, and contrary to what a lot of other reviews say, the quality of the food and service definitely justifies the price.
(5)Simi S.
delicious. delicious! really great bloody mary's.
(5)Tom G.
I had heard that the quality of the food and customer care had gone down hill and I should have headed the warning! It started with overdone fried clams that were small dark and chewy, continues with a stuffed artichoke that was waaaay to rich and a bit burnt as well, and ended with a very mediocre lobster roll. The chowder was the best part of the meal and when I told the bartender how bad the clams were his response was "oh". I will not return and believe that many will not go there based on " how it used to be" many years ago. Good luck to them!
(1)Barbara W.
Excellent food, superb service and attention to my food allergies! Love this place!!
(5)Carol C.
Excellent service at bar but mussels tough and chowder under seasoned. Disappointed.
(3)Kasey F.
Legals is a good stand by for their chowder (official chowder served at presidential inaugurations). I went to this one twice in one weekend as it was nice to view the harbor while dining. The first time my mother ordered a battered shrimp dish but received the open white fish sandwich, not sure how the mix up happened there! But she tried it and enjoyed it. I had the fish tacos which were good, a little sweetened for my taste. The second time I mixed it up and got the tuna burger which was delicious ground tuna with a mix of spices and cilantro. We also tried the slice of chocolate mocha cake. Even with two of us it was so rich and sweet I couldn't finish my half!
(3)Caroline M.
I went here with my boyfriend recently for our "six months" date. I am not a huge seafood person, but I was persuaded by my boyfriend's love of oysters and the promises of a view. We arrived around 9pm on a hot Monday night. I am glad we had a reservation, there were about 15 people waiting, but we were taken straight to a table on the 1st floor. The place was packed, and we were seated against a wall next to a raised bar area. The windows were pulled back, but the massive ceiling fans did their job. We started with tap beers, pleasantly surprised to find Pretty Things Jack D'Or on tap. Appetizer was bruchetta topped with artichoke puree, anchovy, and lemon. I only ate half of one, very lemon, with a nice texture of smooth topping and crunchy bread. I just couldn't get over eating an anchovy. Boyfriend loved it! Had to talk him down from ordering more. Instead he ordered oysters, only four, but he said each was perfectly delicious. He recommended the French Kiss and the Wellfleet. We each ordered from the wood fired grill. Out waitress was quite kind with my hopelessness choosing, and recommended the yellowfin tuna. It was cooked perfectly to medium well, and surprisingly, astonishingly delicious! My sides of mashed potatoes and jasmine rice were also perfect. My dining companion ordered the swordfish (medium rare) with mashed potatoes and spinach&pine nuts; he cleaned his plate, and declared everything perfect. To finish, we each had a glass of the extremely delicious white sangria and shared a Boston cream pie. Perfection. The fare on the 1st floor was typical Legal, as was the dining set up. Cloth napkins, but a paper table cloth. It was extremely noisy, and our table was wider than it was long, making conversation for us somewhat difficult. And elbow room for eating was scarce. The food was great, as was the sangria, but all a bit pricey, especially drinks. The view was great as well. However, for the view, next time we will probably try the upstairs for drinks after work instead of a full meal.
(4)Mike B.
Mr. Berkowitz, sir, you are a genious! Whatever I said about Legal Seafoods in the past...i'm sorry. I've grown and clearly didn't see the big picture. You however did and continue to. So, he builds a pier. Yes a brand new pier! Why? Because he can. And it's in a pristine location...right next door to the Bank of America Pavillion. Don't you want to drink cocktails and cold beer and eat fried clams right on the waterfront with nothing but water and boats in view? Then he builds one of the biggest restaurants (Legal Harborside) including a killer circular bar on the 1st floor (all good seats) with enormous seating capacity of casual dining on with clear view of the centrally located open kitchen. There's fine dining on 2nd floor and a killer party-scene roof deck up top (with a smartly built glass roof with doors to extend the party rain or shine). Legal Harborside is a monstrosity. They had 24 servers on hand last night...so no waiting for beverages if you have a seat! One of the three hostesses said they can seat up to 800 guests. Insane. The place has it all. So does Walmart but this place is really good. Something about a place like this brings in a lot of attractive people, too! Suggestion: Go early to get the good seats and a parking spot. Get a minimum of one mojito per visit! Bonus: Because of Berkowitz' genius, he offers a gluten free menu...yep, even the fried clams, oyster sliders, dinner rolls and a pretty good beer. In fact, anything fried is gluten free. I eat everything but I tried it since my friend didn't... these didn't seem like other crappy gluten free stuff i've had before. I was very impressed!
(5)Cami F.
Went to legal harborside with a friend for drinks and apps on the roof (top floor) and loved it! Perfect portioned food and menu made specifically for light snacking/dinner. Also their pitchers of cocktails were great and the view amazing. The only downside was the wait to get upstairs.
(4)John P.
Of the restaurants in the area, this is one of the more reasonably priced joints. Went for a quick lunch, but place was packed so all hopes for a quick lunch went out the door. Not a bad thing as the staff was attentitive. Ordered the chowder, as it is required for all tourists, and was satisified with the taste and consistency. Not too thick, yet not too soupy. Also went with their salad, which was well dressed and the chicken was freshly grilled. Would go back again... and probably will as my work per diem won't afford the other restaurants in the area (ie. Del Frisco's!).
(4)Sandy W.
I've always been a fan of Legal Seafood, and decided to give Legal Harborside a try for the New Year's with the family. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess was not happy. My nephew who is 2 years old said "Happy New Year" to her twice, and totally ignored him. STRIKE ONE! We asked the hostess for a booster seat for my nephew, it never delivered. STRIKE TWO! Let's talk about the food here... the clam chowder is $6.50, which was the size of a small mug. All the portions here are smaller and more expensive than the regular Legal Seafoods. The special I had was the grilled tuna coated with panko with a side of soba noodles. The noodles were very salty, couldn't finish half of it. The fish was dry, and the fish was over fried! STRIKE THREE! My brother had the Fisherman's Trio, at $15.95 ~ 3 shrimps, 3 scallops and a teeny piece of scrod! STRIKE FOUR! The mussels with curry was full of sand! STRIKE FIVE! A side of jasmine rice about a half cup ~ $3.95! STRIKE SIX! Now, onto the service.... our waitress was not attentive, our table was filled with finished appetizers, chowders and it was not cleared off. I had to ask her to take those away before our main entrees arrive, I had to ask her to refill everyone's glasses of water, and she was yapping away with the other waiters/waitresses at the corner! STRIKE SEVEN! One of the waiters came over and took my mom's cup away when she asked for a refill! STRIKE EIGHT! Get the picture? Overall, HUGE disappointment - not going back! On one last note, the view of the harbor was awesome!!!
(1)Tom V.
Good, not great seafood. Nice atmosphere and great harbor views.
(3)Dick S.
I have eaten at several legal sea foods. This is the best of any of them. I had oysters, clam chowder and a lobster roll. The service was great and the view was really good as well. I will come back here again and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it was a little noisy and pricey.
(4)Janet W.
This review is for June 8th 2013 Saturday night. The place was packed with a two hour wait for dinning and a 45 min for the rooftop. Just by chance a couple was leaving a table by the window. They are first come first serve. We ordered the fresh oysters. 4 different kinds and they were all excellent. We ordered a second dozen of the small ones I forget what they were called. When they arrived they looked different and are server assured us they were they same. She checked with the kitchen and sure enough they were wrong. Without even asking they were taking off the bill. I must say they were very good. The shrimp cocktail was excellent, spicy and sweet very good. The mussels had a nice spicy, coconut milk with slight red peppers. The fried clams are the best clams I have ever had anywhere. I order fried whole clams at most seafood restaurants just to see how they are prepared. We also had the fried scallops. Whoever was on the deep fryer for the night did an excellent job. Perfectly done! After dinner we went to the rooftop to check out the crowed. It was way to busy. Very loud and crowed. We left for the 2nd floor bar. Had one drink on the 2nd floor and called it a night. I would return. Think ahead and try to make a reservation for outside on the water would be very nice. It is a very big place but very well run.
(5)Ann B.
Wow! Go here! This is nothing like your parent's Legal Seafood! The downstairs has a great dressed up seafood market feel, lots of bar and water side indoor/ outdoor table seating. One long wall essentially opens up completely making the entire space feel like it's outside, harborside. The bar is a circle shape nestled into an all glass corner allowing great views from all seats! The staff was very friendly, and despite only being open a few weeks, really seemed to know the menu and work well together. Now for the food - I had a FANTASTIC lobster roll! Really light mayo, big pieces of meat and a nice seasoning. The menu in general is pretty broad with some old standards (fish + chips) and a fantastic selection of oysters! I can't wait to visit again!!
(4)Debbie C.
This review is for Legals Harborside, Floor 2. First of all, when we entered the lobby was mobbed and a line snaked from a hostess stand to the door. We got in line behind many disappointed diners without reservations. When we got to the front and told them we had a reservation for Floor 2, the hostess said, "Go right up the stairs." Some signage or announcement would save a lot of people some time. But up we went, to a quieter and more elegant 2nd floor. We were meeting 2 other people for dinner, so we went to the bar. The host/hostess stand on Floor 2 is a bit cold and professional - no warm greeting or smile. In fact the bespectacled host never looked up at us during any of our comings and goings. His job seemed to be to tell the hostess, "They can go to 37." Chilly. The bar was warmer with friendly bartenders and the view, which is why you're there in the first place. Dinner was a mixed bag. My husband's shrimp cocktail was "the best he's ever had in his life" (He's given to exageration.) The shrimp (3 for $20) were huge. And his tuna wrapped in prosciutto was wonderful. My cod was crispy (I like that) and delicious (also nice), but perched atop a strange and bitter melange of little clamlike shells (cockles, they said) mixed with overcooked sugar snap peas which were olive green and stringy and other tasteless and murky colored things in a green sauce described as "green garlic sauce" which was not too tasty. Our out of town guests insited that the view was wonderful which I think meant that dinner was just ok. The oysters were terrific. They serve a cool, paper-thin flatbread with spices that everyone loved. I had a very hard time finding a white wine I liked. They do, fortunately, let you try the wine before making a commitment. I finally asked if they had a nice Pinot Noir (they do) and settled on red.
(3)Cassandra S.
I wish I had a better review to give. I love this place and the food HOWEVER I made a reservation for 7:30. My party of 4 arrived at 7:05 we understood it may not be possible to be seated early but we checked in and headed to the bar. At 7:35 we asked if we could be sat as our reservation time had passed; the hostess told us that all reservations were sat within 15 mins of the actual time (odd I thought I was making a reservation to eat at the time I wanted) at 8 pm we were paged A WHOLE HALF HOUR after our reservation. The waiter was very nice and we did receive a free appetizer for our trouble but then our meal took OVER AN HOUR to get to our table. Absolutely ridiculous! It's really too bad because I love that the restaurant is on the water, and the food is great!
(1)Jon R.
I went on a Monday expecting a subtle crowd. I was wrongly informed. This playrd was pretty crowded but yet enjoyable. I sat by the raw bar and the service was good. I had clam chowder and a crab roll. They were both satisfying and tasty.
(4)Kate H.
No,no. We were looking forward and expecting something good and what a disappointment ! First we waited for over 90 minutes for our farmed,fresh salmon and when it arrived it was stone cold. On the second round it was hot but mostly raw. What a waste of time. If you value your time and have other options don't go here.
(1)Geoff A.
Great seafood with a great view. Ambience: This is for Floor 2 which is not to be confused with other areas in the same restaurant which offer different menus and cater to different price levels and needs. The view up here was superb and the place is quiet and perfect for a nice date night. Service: Veru friendly waiters and barstaff. I really appreciated the fact that our waiter was attentive but never came over to interrupt with constant "How are things here then?" which you often get bugged by at other restaurants. We never had to wait for anything and the staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Food: Great wine list. The food was very well conceived and tasty. Not huge portions (which I appreciate) but the highest quality. It's often nice to have the problem of many items on the menu which you'd like to try. In this case I was with some other people who I could sample from and we found everything to be delicious. Price: Okay, so it's not cheap but as I said you get what you pay for which is high quality all round. I'll be going back.
(5)Casie G.
My dad was visiting from out of town and wanted to "eat some form of seafood". I have never been to any Legals as I'd rather not go to a chain but I figured we could try the new one on the waterfront...we were not disappointed. It was a Friday night so we probably waited an hour for our table but we were more than happy to stand by the bar. Even though the place was packed, the bartenders did a great job getting to everyone (sure made that hour wait much better). Once we sat, we were able to get a table outside and everything was just wonderful - the view, the service & most importantly, the food. The steamers & calamari were absolutely delicious (definitely get the steamers, you will want to drink the broth) & the seafood stew was packed with seafood. There wasn't a thing that came out that was bad. I definitely recommend this location for anyone who has folks in visiting as the location is cool, the food is good and if you stay on the first floor, it's not too expensive.
(4)Lindsay G.
new&sexy scene in Boston. the nightlife of the 3rd floor had a beautiful view& chill atmosphere. RReeaallyy well made drinks, superior table and BAR service!! reasonably priced drinks from $11 mixed $5 beer. loved the vibe of the 3rd floor. very chic and modern. definitely an A-list place to hit in Boston!
(5)Robyn R.
I was actually on the second floor...
(4)Renita K.
Haven't had dinner here but I did get in a fight with a cougar the other night while getting a drink at the bar. The drinks were good and took the edge off the overly pretentious crowd... lots of cougars chasing after it. The rooftop bar had an amazing view though and was worth the wait!
(3)Jenna H.
I have wanted to try this legal since I heard my friends chattering about what great food they had and what a great location it was. The location is beautifully set in the new and recently booming seaport district. We decided to eat on the first floor as that is what we were dressed for. Plus I had to see this fishing pond. While it is a great idea, I had a vision in my head of it being a bit bigger haha. On to the important stuff - eats! We sat at the bar while we waited for a table and found a great wine and drink list. Here we started with some Kumamoto oysters, my favorite - which were nice and fresh. Next we tried some of the small plate bruschetta's - my favorites were the tuna, and the fig and with warm gorgonzola. The last app we had at the bar was a Rhode Island Stuffie. A What?? A Stuffie. No I had never heard of this. It was Amazing! My favorite thing we had on the menu. It was basically a stuffed clam with a kick of spice - yum! I was not as impressed with the dinner however. My Salmon lacked flavor and was not memorable. For sides, I picked the Soba noodles - I don't know why but I was not expecting them to be cold, and the spinach was just ok. My husband got the mashed taters - those were great - I would go with those if I come back! For Desert we had the bon bons - yummy. How can you screw up ice cream balls dipped in chocolate though! I knew they would be a safe bet, and I was right. Service both at the bar and our table was great. While I had a good / fair dining experience, I don't think I was wowed to come back. I am glad I tried it though, and would recommend others to try it too.
(3)Valerie V.
Wow, this place really lives up to the hype! Ate on the first floor with three other people on a Tuesday evening. It would so lively you would have thought it was Friday night! Unfortunately, that did mean that we were seating 35 minutes after our actual reservation time...But that being said, we were given an amazing table that was sort of half inside half outside. The feel of the restaurant is wonderful because it completely opens out onto the harbor, its gorgeous. The main event, at least for us, were the oysters. There were many varieties available and chefs devoted to shucking them where you can watch. We got 2 dozen of four varieties and they were all completely delectable. We also tried the steamed mussels and the clam steamers which were both plump and yummy too. By the time we reached entrees, we were fairly full so we didn't get too much. But we did try to wood planked scallops and a lobster roll that were shared. Again, YUM. The service was pretty good, not fantastic but not terrible either. What I was very impressed with was the free -large- dessert we were given to share because it was my birthday. It was a huge bowl of apple crisp with a bowl of vanilla ice cream on the side....mmmm. I'll be back as soon as physically possible.
(5)Lien H.
We are pretty close to many Legal Seafood restaurants but we choose to come to this one because of its ocean view. Not only that, this place is spacial with tall ceiling, you don't get the fishy smell in the dining area. Service is not consistent, especially on maintaining our table with clean plates.
(4)Amy R.
I have been to Legal Harborside - Floor 1 a couple of times in the past few weeks. Both have been pretty tremendous experiences. The first time, I was able to score a last minute reservation on Open Table during an optimal dinner time (7pm). Score. The boyfriend and I arrived and we were sat immediately upon arrival. Double score. We had incredible seating on a pseudo-picnic style table right out on the dock - the view was amazing and the weather was perfection. We split some oysters (Wellfleet, Cotuit, and Kumamoto). All were extremely tasty. We also split the Gorgonzola & Fig Bruschetta which was surprisingly delicious. The last time I had Figs was in Newton form as a child. The bruschetta seemed like an odd flavor profile to me at first, but definitely worked. The boyfriend got standard seared scallops and I tried one of Inman Square's original - the Fish in Foil (steamed haddock and veggies). The fish and most of the veggies were extremely good, but I could have done without the steamed tomatoes. Dessert, we tried their summer special - strawberry & rhubard crisp *drool* No complaints here! My last outing to Floor 1 was on Friday 7/15. This time, no rezzy, but I was able to secure 2 seats within 15 minutes of arrival time. My sister and I split the Wellfleet and Cotuit oysters (couldn't resist). However, they were out of all of the Washington State oysters that night, but the bartender surprised us with his selections and were equally as good as the others I've tried from Floor 1. We also split the calamari and steamers - mouthwatering. The only complaint I would have about my last experience was the slowness of the bar. It took awhile for any of the bartenders to mosey over to our section of the bar, but in their defense, the place was bumpin' with Peter Frampton fans - no lie... Very pleased with this addition to the Seaport!
(5)Amanda L.
Wowie zowie. I can't wait to get someone to take me on a date here so I can order the $57 lobster. :D I just stopped in for a drink with a friend, we sat in the lounge on the second floor, and after peeking at the menu we decided to order the carpaccio & the crispy crab. The carpaccio was deeeeelicious, just mouthwatering-ly perfect, spritzed with truffle oil, seasoned with sea salt and garnished with cilantro. The crispy crab things were ok, like cold spring rolls filled with crab salad. Interesting and tasty but overshadowed by our other dish. Drinks were perfect (one each) and our bill was over $50. Oh well! Fantastic view, amazing service, delicious eats. See you soon, LHS!
(5)Dave V.
Great location. Love the smaller tapas-like portions. Scallops are always incredible as are the cherrystones and oysters. Personally I would not highly recommend the fried clams - scallops are way better IMO (and I love fried clams). Rest of the menu is really enjoyable - can't go wrong here.
(5)Karmen W.
I was iffy on not being able to secure a reservation online (my friend said it's better to reserve via the phone but I was being lazy, heh) for 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. But the real trouble was just finding parking- not the waiting (for the table). Their restaurant's lot was full when I got there, so I had to circle around trying to fish for a meter spot ..but I was pretty unlucky in that area. After 15, 20 or so minutes, the lot was open again and the service there was pretty quick and the guy was very friendly. My friend and I were almost immediately seated by our hostess. I guess 3pm's a good time to go for lunch here if you're not willing to wait :) The atmosphere is great, and the scene you're able to get of the waterfront is a pleasure to have while dining. We got ourselves an order of their French Kiss oysters from the raw bar, which were delicious with the sauce that accompany them. Super fresh and delectable. A must try! We weren't all too hungry so we each got salads- she got the caesar salad with a custom add-on of a tuna burger on top (it's not on the menu, but if you ask nicely they can make it happen!), and I got myself a simple "Big Salad" with chicken. The salad was okay, but the chicken was good. But yeah, I'm totally reading your mind because you must be like, "Who orders a chicken salad at Legal SEAFOODS anyway?" Overall, I'd definitely go back to try out some more things on the menu while enjoying the waterfront.
(4)Ben D.
Gorgeous location. I'd definitely go back solely for the harborside view. The food portions were smaller than I was expecting based on price, but quite tasty. Great drink menu as well. I liked that there was a bar on the third floor where we were able to wait before our table was ready. Nice relaxing atmosphere
(4)Gloria L.
We went to the third floor bar, and it was fun! It was a clear night but still a little chilly for a spring night, so their heat lamps were really nice to have. We tried the strawberry and white sangrias, and they were delicious! Not "authentic", but yummy drinks. We also ordered some food - the sushi was okay (didn't expect too much from Legal), and the lobster and crab rolls came with chips (chips were kind of weird). Food is decent, but expensive (but again, it's Legal). Good experience, though, because of the view, the drinks, and the service! Our server was nice and relatively attentive, even though there were a TON of other people there. Would come back for the strawberry sangria.
(4)Wade L.
Not quite good the 1st try. So crowded on Sunday night. The service are slow.
(3)Patricia F.
We (party party of 10) visited this establishment mid week. The atmosphere and view were beautiful. The waitstaff professional and attentive, not very engaging though, however that maybe something that is liked by some and not others. The food was very good and cooked as ordered.
(4)Lani I.
Beautiful view. Our waitress was very personable and helpful. She suggested types of oysters for us to try since we never had any before. The food came out very quickly. The sangria was perfect.
(5)K S.
Reviews that rate this place under 4 starts speak to fried clams and other seafood dishes (some that lacked vegetables with them) that are too basic to really be impressed by. How many times have you actually been impressed by fried clams? If you are heading to this place, you are going here to try seafood that has been prepared in a unique way. You don't rate a restaurant like this based on something simple, like French Fries (ie, fried clams). Understand where you are before judging. Do you go to McDonald's and rate their fish? Fried clams and a lack of vegetables? C'mon. For those intending to try the food here that costs more than $5, allow me to introduce the second floor. The oysters were great. The abalone entree was fantastic and one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. The fish tasted like veal - how is that even possible? The waiter helped select some really impressive Pinot Noir bottles which certainly helped make an impression as well. The after dinner ambush of sweetness was certainly a great way to end the evening. It's expensive, but what in Boston isn't? Best of luck and enjoy the food and atmosphere.
(4)Maura G.
What a beautiful location - great on a hot and humid day. The food is also very good. The mussels were delicious and definitely need more bread to soak up the broth. The fried clams were great, not over breaded (wish they were larger belly, but as I get older it is hard to find a place that serves them). The waitstaff was attentive and overall had a great time (just a little noisy) - but that is ok because of the view
(4)K M.
Made reservations for 7:15 for a 70th birthday for my out of town mother- in-law, requested a window seat. Was seated immediately with a window seat, all the wait staff, host staff and the Maître D greeted her with birthday wishes, Kevin the Maître D made 2 appearances at the table to make sure that everything was going well. Our waitress Meredith was more than accommodating. Order'd steaks, they were wonderful, cooked to perfection, potato's were delicious. The dessert was so/so, overall experience was great!
(4)Sarah O.
LOVE! Generally not a huge Legal Seafoods fan but I love Legal Harborside (have only eaten at the first floor restaurant). Good quality seafood and decent prices. SO many different and creative options. I have sampled a good amount of this menu and everything I has been delicious. A great place to go to share try out different items. Brought friends from out of town here and they also loved it. It's loud and busy but right on the water and very pretty and cool atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone, whether a tourist or a local! Make a reservation b/c it's always packed.
(5)Kent M.
Pretty place, beautiful water views, fine attentive friendly service. BUT small almost nouvelle cuisine portions -- scallops appetizer @ $13 delivers one (yes, one) scallop -- and very expensive. Food was very well prepared & tasty, but if you go, skip next month's mortgage and bring them the cash.
(4)Jeanne T.
Would rate higher but for the price, did not expect to get a sarcastic waiter who treated us as if we were hillbillies! Whatever you do, do not ask if the seafood is fresh. I have never asked any server that in my life. I meant to ask if there was a seafood special as I saw someone eating a lovely light white fishmthat I could not seem to find on the menus. Not having memorized the Legal Seafood mission statement, he laughed and said " have you never eaten here before? In a very condescending tone." Yeah I get it, embarrassed, bla, bla, bla. Your fish is so fresh and your clams have different pedigrees with briney, kind of briney, brine less, sweet clean and buttery with no hint of brine , some were from Canadian islands, all raised with love and nurtured and Fresh! Our server made my husband feel like it was his first time eating in such a cultured establishment as he explained the varieties and their differences as if he was explaining to a child. He later asked my husband how he liked his choices, with a fake "wide eyed" look of feigned interest. My husband stated he did, was unsure if he tasted much of a difference in his two choices but that both were very good. Snide guy then laughed and said " we'll I guess it's all the same when you put Tabasco sauce all over it" ( which my husband asked for but which came with it anyway) The food? great! the prices? High! The service? passive aggressive, fake and snotty. To top it off, they deliver along with your check, a one page statement explaining their freshness policy" They are very proud of this.... Very proud. We laughed so hard. I know my question of " do you have fresh fish" is the joke of the evening there. It started us off on the wrong foot with our surely waiter. Please let me apologize for I too was in the service industry for half my life. We are not worthy to dine with you. perhaps we will see if there is a Red Lobster nearby. We were the family sitting in the bar area by fish tank, late evening, myself, son and husband., so to our waiter whose name I did not catch, thanks for making us endure a very uncomfortable experience. It did give us a lot to laugh about though!
(3)Beth R.
My family & I went to Legal Harborside for my birthday dinner this past summer and it was just as I heard/expected. While we waited for our table, we had some drinks and apps at the bar...delicious. I had a cup of my favorite clam chowder, my mother got a fried clams app to share and my father ordered a Shellfish Platter. The crab legs were huge and the fam raved about the rest of the platter. It was a little over an hour wait, but to be expected in the middle of beautiful summer weekend in July. Our table was pretty much, right on the dock, overlooking the boats. Our waiter was very nice and gave recommendations to those of us who were indecisive about our meal choices. The bathrooms are all the way down past the kitchen to the left of the restaurant and they're all single stalls with large individual doors...if they're all taken, you wait in the hallway, for some reason, other diners were confused by this. I could hear them outside as they waited. Legal Harborside is pretty pricey and nice for a special occasion dinner or drink. The place is huge, I've heard the top floor gives great scenic views of the harbor and there's a bar up there and they serve bar food only.
(4)Keem H.
Great place! I would go again. Food was very delicious. The view is amazing.
(5)Ashley K.
Good location, average food. One of the worst Legals in the city, aside from the great views and venue- which is the only thing that sets this location apart from other Legals. LTK and C Bar concepts have a much better and broader menu, would have preferred those or an original Legals to this menu. Menu is VERY limited for non seafood joiners in your party. Turn and burn atmosphere with cheap food, limited options and poor quality. Decent service and cocktails but salmon (requested well done) was medium at best. Water glasses left empty while several staff sat and mingled by the bathroom. Won't be back for food, maybe to the roof deck for drinks, but that's about all this location has going for it. Save your money, eat somewhere else and go there for drinks on the third floor.
(2)Samantha S.
Really good :-) Out of all the legals in Boston, this one is my favorite. I like the interior, the roof deck (although gets crowded so go early) and the food/staff are great. Can't go wrong.
(4)Vanae T.
i give it to these guys...the view of the water is really great! the ambiance and service was good! but let's talk food here for a sec... the good: -the oysters (beach blondes) were very fresh and delicious. -clam chowder was ok. i've had better at SF soup company and expected more from a boston joint. the not-so-good: -all of our pasta orders (i ordered the fedilini + shrimp) came out very salty! i dont think i've ever had a pasta dish at a restaurant that was that heavy on the salt. made us drink extra glasses of water, as we were dehydrating. in fact, i had to add water to my pasta dish to dilute how salty it was. even though the view and feel was great, the salty food was bad enough that i don't think i'll return to eat here....maybe just for drinks.
(2)Deb c.
Dined here with an out-of-town friend last night and had an unpleasant experience. We each got lobster; however, my friend's was woefully undercooked, with disgusting black matter (raw tomally or something) oozing out. This resulted in a 15 minute wait while a new lobster was prepared. Very uncomfortable, as one of us had been served already. OK, these things happen, but the floor manager came by and said "your food will be out shortly, sorry for the wait" but should have also, at the very least, offered my friend a dessert on the house. Have dined at Legal, first Inman Square, then Chestnut Hill, since the 70s, scores of times. This branch seems, sadly, more of a tourist trap. Best part of the experience: Our server, Megan, was terrific, and the location iis great.
(2)Brittany S.
The ambience is incredible, and dinner on the patio overlooking the harbor is quite an experience, especially at sunset. I'm fortunate enough to dine at seafood restaurants in San Francisco regularly, and Seattle and Hawaii are two other amazing spots I love for local fish. That said, paying Legal's premium prices for imported seafood is disappointing at best. The one thing I'd recommend hitting Legal Seafood for is their jumbo shrimp cocktail - the shrimp are far bigger than any I've ever seen before. My recommendation: skip the seafood altogether in Boston and head to the North End for some delicious Italian food instead.
(3)Jamie G.
So I'm giving the: Downstairs- 5 stars Roofdeck -1.5-2ish stars for an average of 3 stars. Here's why: We started downstairs, waiting for a place to open up for us on the roofdeck. We sat at the bar and has a great view of the harbor through the open windows. There was a cute fishing pond for kids to catch and release fish inside. We ordered martinis and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. He said they didnt have any more made, and we asked if someone could make them for us. He seemed slightly hesitant, which bothered me, so someone did make them for us, and they and the martinis were delicious (mine hendricks and hers ketel one). Our buzzer finally buzzed so we headed upstairs with our drinks. The roofdeck was gorgeous and spacious and with a wonderful view. But they dont have ANY food upstairs, just spreads with pita, and drinks. Very disappointing, as I wanted to try the fried calamari. We did order two spreads: Hummus, za'atar spice and olive oil - which was delicious, and the Kalamata and fig- which was more like a paste and had a nasty flavor. Both came with good spiced pita chips. I ordered water and it took FOREVER to come- ugh-- seriously, how long does it take to pour a glass of water? And my friend ordered another martini, but they did not have blue cheese stuffed olives and couldnt make them for us, and the martini tasted funny, so she ordered a different, and it still tasted funny. So we loved the ambiance of the roofdeck, but we were very disappointed in the lack of food, bad service, and low quality drinks. If I were to go back again, I might order a drink downstairs, bring it up to roofdeck, enjoy it for awhile and then head back downstairs for dinner. Which is complicated and unfortunate. Hope they shape up that roofdeck!!
(3)Beverly M.
I dined on Floor 2 on a recent Saturday evening. Must make reservations well in advance. especially if you prefer outdoor dining. Dining on Floor 2 is an absolutely amazing experience. I was fortunate to snag an outdoor table. There are only a few outdoor tables overlooking the harbor which makes you feel like you are at a private dining event. The menu as well as the wine list is totally different than the other Legal menus. There is a clear focus on creativity with the entrees. Service was impeccable and never rushed. It is expensive but for a special occasion it is worth the splurge. I would also recommend a pre-dinner cocktail in the Floor 2 bar. Very quiet and intimate compared to the bars on floor 1 and roof top. Spectacular view.
(5)Sheila T.
Location, decor and view are excellent. It is very loud. Oysters were very good. Service was excellent. I had the linguine and clams it was okay. I would go back again for oysters and drinks.
(3)Beth M.
My sister loves this place, so we're here a lot lol! The seafood looks very fresh, being a non seafood eater I squally order the clam chowder light clams extra potato sit outside and enjoy a nice drink! Great view! Just wish they had more of a non seafood selection!
(4)Brittany E.
When in Boston, gotta try the seafood! This place was recommended by my friends family member who frequents Boston for business. We put in a reservation online so we were seated right away. We even were 5 minutes late because we had gotten lost, and we were still seated immediately. We sat on the first floor. Our waitress was really sweet and helpful. She helped my friend who was new to eating a whole lobster learn how to crack parts of the shell more easily. However, she was slow to fill our water glasses, and I noticed her standing around right near our table and never notice we needed it. The food though, was outstanding. The clam chowder was some of the best I've ever had. I'd highly recommend getting it. It could serve as a meal because it is quite filling. I got a 1.5 pound lobster and that was a LOT of food. I barely touched my sides of rice and eggplant because of the lobster. However, the rice I did eat was delicious and the eggplant had some form of Asian sauce on it that tasted great. The seafood paired nicely with the bottle of champagne. It's a little pricy, but worth the visit!
(4)Kate L.
Still not sure why there is such a long line on a Friday night. And the girls get extremely hooched for the occasion which is a shame for such a classy joint. If you're trying to get food late at night on the roof, good luck. We waited for a server for 30 min and had to leave and go to the first floor bar to eat. I will say the tuna bruschetta and corn/feta bruschetta were out of this world. Small 2 pieces each perfect size app if you order 2 kinds. Extremely flavorful and great consistency. Service at bar downstairs was also good!! Only food complaint are the pizzas. First we tried the white clam pizza and it was covered in arugula like basically more arugula than anything else. There were maybe 3 small chunks of clam and it was pretty fishy tasting. The bartender was nice enough to send it back and make us a new one. So we tried the pepperoni crab one per his recommendation. Eek. The crab was fresh but the combo was weird and there was hardly any cheese so it seemed like the dish was confused. I'll upload a pic. But keep in mind the pic is missing crust which was the only good part. Good prices and would go back for that bruschetta!!!
(3)Amanda L.
It makes me sad that this location only has 3 stars. I LOVE this location, despite the fact that it's a real pain in the butt to get to - especially in winter! The atmosphere in the downstairs dining room is awesome. The kitchen is open and you can see flames flare every now and then. You can also smell all of the delicious food running to different tables. It's casual, but not too casual and nice enough to enjoy an elegant seafood experience for lunch or dinner. The sangria is a must. So is the calamari. I can't put my finger on what exactly it is that is so friggen' awesome for both, but they're just that, awesome. I've enjoyed the lobster roll and other seafood dishes here on various occasions and haven't recalled anything being mediocre or terrible. The roof deck is a great place to hangout in the summer (if you get out of work early). If you show up during busy times then you'll have to wait in line and although the view on top is nice, it gets super stuffy up here. The roof deck also has a separate menu from the restaurant which includes pretty delicious sushi. Summer/Winter... I'm here. All too often. And I'll continue to come back.
(4)Mary E.
The only reason this gets 4 stars is because my dads dinner came out cold. Other than that this place was fantastic. I'm not normally a Legals fan (I'm kind of a chain snob), but the atmosphere and the food at this location was top notch. We all ordered various fish entrees and happily consumed 2 recommended bottles of white wine. The view was great and so was the food!
(4)Aleksandra S.
In Boston with a friend visiting from NYC... Heard great things about this rooftop by the water and decided to have a couple of drinks. The ambiance is really nice, however the blond girl bartender was very rude. I was waiting to order a drink at the bar that wasn't even busy, she looked at me and kept doing her thing. Then she came in front of me and said "WHAT YOU WANT?" Excuse me!? At a place like Legal Harborside this shouldn't be happening! Then she gave me the drinks, I paid and she didn't even said thank you or you're welcome when I paid and left a tip. Very unacceptable! The drinks on the other side are okay.
(3)Kristen D.
I love everything about this place! It's difficult to have a bad view anywhere here because everything is cool to look at. My favorite part about the view was certainly the lookout over the harbor. The huge glass windows and open-air area made it even cooler! We sat at the bar originally to wait for the rooftop to open. Instead, we ordered a raw seafood platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, etc) to share while we sipped on Bloody Mary's and beers. Now, I've had seafood before and have loved almost everything I've tried. However, I have NEVER in my life ever eaten something so fresh, delicious, and mouthwatering as what I ate at Legal Harborside. Perhaps it's because I'm a Chicagoan and haven't been exposed to "real" seafood before, but oh my GOSH. Who knew there was such a significant difference between seafood in Chi vs. seafood in Boston? I knew there would be a difference of course, but I was definitely not prepared for it to be that significant. I loved the garlic/shallot/vinegar stuff they give you to put on oysters. I was so mad that we only had a few left when I finally decided to try it! I can't wait to go back to Boston to experience this place again.
(5)J F.
The view here is lovely and a great place to sit and stare at the harbor. The food is what you'd expect from Legal Seafood, good quality and well prepared in general. Make sure you try some of the appetizers as this way you can try more dishes. The toasts with toppings ate fun. I had the olive and fig paste which was delicious, served on crispy baked pita. Of course you can go wrong with any of the seafood. It's all good here. This isn't a date night restaurant, that's for sure. It's crowded and loud and feels like dining in a warehouse, but I guess you go for the view and the seafood not to actually have a conversation!
(3)Moosa D.
Food: 4.5/5, Best sushi in Boston Service: 5/5, Staff was quick, attentive, and friendly. even with a large group right in the middle of the Friday evening rush Atmosphere: 5/5, One of the nicer views from the waterfront
(5)Jordan B.
Absolutely love this place - got the upcale-ish ambiance if you're looking for it, not CRAZY expensive, beautiful view, great staff, great food, great drinks, what else am I missing? When it's warm out, the experience of looking at the beautiful waterfront while enjoying your seafood and drink is just absolutely relaxing. It's a great get away place from work during your lunch hours to just unwind and not think about anything but a good life. The Portuguese Seafood Stew was incredibly rich and filled with different seafood flavor combined into one giant seafood delight. It tastes light yet rich at the same time - if you're a health nut and wants a rich yet "light" meal (and if you love seafood), you must try it. The cool thing about this place is that the three floors got different food and themes - if you want the typical seafood, go to the first floor. Second floor's got the more upscale feel with formal dining. And the top deck is a cool sushi/apps bar area. Either way, you're surrounded by an amazing view and great service.
(5)Tony C.
We arrived and were told a table would be over 2 hour wait!! we tried to get a seat at the bar but were unsuccessful, an assistant manager, Gabrielle Green asked if she could help and we explained we were headed to a show in Cambridge at the Oberon (that my girlfriend's son "Complete Destruction" was performing in) and Rose & I just wanted to try out a Legal Seafood location; having never been there before. Gabrielle found us a table with a water view immediately (in an area I was told by another manager was held for reservations) and I tried to tip her $10 but she wouldn't take it... She said the reservation for that table wasn't until 7pm and we would be gone by then. She "made " our nite to say the least. We enjoyed a Salmon Burger and Halibut both fantastic! But the real treat was how Gabrielle Green went out of her way to accommodate us, This is truly a valuable employee!! Thank you so much!
(5)Emilia T.
Food was top notch and a great location. We were particularly impressed by our waitress Holly who both had a lovely personality and gave great recommendations. If you can get a seat, I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Nina S.
If you're going to go to legal seafood in Boston, might as well go to the one in the water. I mean that view. Wow. There are four floors, first is like a market place you can purchase seafood and other stuff, second floor is the formal dining area, not sure what third floor was, but i think i heard just appetizers? And the fourth floor is the amazing rooftop bar. The view of the Boston seaport from up there is pretty sweet. But I digress. Came here tonight for a work celebration and we had selections which I'm honestly not sure if they were regular menu items or special items they made just for our event. I got the beet and arugula salad with candied walnuts and vinaigrette to start. It was a thoughtful salad with nice balance of flavors. Then I got the salmon with couscous and a puree of eggplant and then topped with tzatziki sauce which I wasn't too fond of. My salmon was a bit overcooked and the skin was soggy which was a sad situation. And then the accompaniments were interesting but just the flavors didn't go with the salmon, they were all too strong and so each component of the dish was fighting to be the star. The real star was the dessert. Mascarpone cheese cake.. to die for. The top was creme bruleed so you got that crunchiness factor, and then the filling was creamy and decadent, and then the Graham cracker business on the bottom anchoring the whole dessert. I cleaned that plate. All in all, would come back for the dessert and rooftop bar! Oh and the bread! How could I forget! There was the bacon mini biscuit and then a huge cheese cracker. With a price tag of free.99 it's a win.
(3)Jeremy S.
The 3rd floor sushi bar has a great view and had great raw oyster. It was unfortunate we couldn't get the full menu there, but I understand the logic. In the main restaurant I had the Portuguese Seafood Stew, and the flavors were great. The stew's shrimp and mussels were both overcooked, but my fiancee's Salmon and the clams in my stew were cooked to perfection. One member of our party had the lobster and throughly enjoyed it, but I can't remember what the other had. I think she enjoyed it though. Overall, it was one of the best meals we had in Boston.
(3)Brad F.
The food is unmistakably excellent, but the service is totally where 5 stars comes from. Our waiter, Conor, was perfect. This dude is calm, collected, took care of us without being annoyingly persistent in order to make sure his tip was decent, and was overall one of the most friendly and responsive people I've ever had take care of me/us at a restaurant. Thanks for the chit-chat about Somerville and some cool spots to hit in that area.
(5)Wafa A.
Amazing restaurant. In my 4 day stay in Boston I went to Legal 3 times! Service is great for being such a busy place & super nice/friendly waiters. They have lots of seating options( outside, inside, upper deck, bar, & upfront window seating). Food varies from bites to eat to big meals & is very worth the price. Is also kid friendly. Definitely recommend!
(5)Steven C.
Psst, Roger... It's a chain... bwahahaha Customer dinner at the Northern Ave location. I think Roger B is a brilliant businessman and this place is an awesome location. That being said, you can't swing a dead cat in the town without hitting a Legal anymore. I think they've done a nice job with the menu considering the challenges in the local fish stocks lately. I normally would have gone with Salmon but that nasty YouTube video on the Scottish farmed stuff has turned me off. The filet looked yummy so I went in that direction. First time eating beef at a legal. Started with some Duxbury oysters which were great. My west coast colleagues freak out at the size. Filet was perfectly cooked, nice presentation and a piece of king crab on top. The other details: Second floor, great decor with vistas of the harbor. Service was outstanding and the only downside was the lights keep going up and down.
(4)Alycia R.
Perfect place to get drunk on a Sunday! Best view of the harbor, great music, awesome drinks. Can't vouch for the food but this place is fun...
(4)Richard G.
This is for the lunch service.... I came here because I was told they have the best clam chowder in Boston. Have in mind I heard this from several local natives. My was I was extremely disappointed. My girl and I came here with high hopes and unfortunately a national chain restaurant serves better than these guys. Service was slow. We asked for water and bread. Waited about 15 minutes and we saw our server cleaning tables. It seemed like she was more concerned filling tables than serving the ones she has. Also yes we were dressed a,little under for the occasion but that shouldn't matter. I never write reviews about service unless it's over the top or really bad and, well you can be your judge at this point.... OK back to the chowder... very runny,no flavor,not many clams or, anything for that matter. I added a ton of salt & pepper & still no bueno.i was hyping this place all week to my girl & I was right ALL HYPE! Lesson learned.
(1)Diana L.
Great place to come on the weekend and just walk along the dock and take in the views. The venue is super spacious with lots of natural lighting and window thats open up during the warm weather. There's many levels of seating, next time we will try the rooftop for an even more scenic experience. | l o b s t e r b i s q u e | - great seafood flavour that's silky smooth and not starchy or salty garnished with fresh green onions & chunks of lobster meat. | c o c k t a i l s h r i m p | - succulent shrimps tossed in spicy cocktail sauce, extremely refreshing and a great palette cleanser. | f i s h t a c o s | - fresh and enjoyable, maybe a tad to dry and needed some simpler complements such as guacamole/cabbage (date seemed to like it - he usually goes for the swordfish gyro which he swears by) | c r i s p y c a l a m a r i | - perfectly fried and garnished with crispy lemon & spicy peppers, dunk them in the tasty dijon creamy aioli. (appetizer portion - great portion!) Presentation is spot on. Date pleaser. Great for groups. Great service. Seated right away on a busy Saturday afternoon. Had my eye on the lobster roll & grilled shrimp salad going to the other tables - I'll be coming back for ya ! Walking over to Harpoon Brewery now.......
(4)Lyndsey C.
I didn't want this to be the case but I have to lower my rating based on overall experiences.... First, they get a high rating for the three different levels, especially the rooftop patio, which is great, although can be super busy and when this happens, the waitresses usually start to get extremely slow and rare... also, we had it happen when a waitress tried to just take the large amount of change after we paid as a tip... The location is great, love the atmosphere, other restaurants surrounding this one, and the pavilion next door. The sushi looked good and the oysters were great, other than how long they took to get to us. The reason for my lowering my review is the past two reservations I have made, I have asked for nice tables and even came early to get a nicer one... twice, I have been sat in crappy locations. The first time, they at least allowed me to ask for a table outside or nicer one and we ended up great... but the second one, we are celebrating our anniversary with another couple, put the reservation in weeks before, called the day before to confirm, then showed up early for a good table... and it wasn't peak time... they assured us it would be a great table, then we were stuck out in the open (not a good table against the window or out of the way), right next to a bus station where they kept hitting our table. Our waitress didn't keep our drinks full and rarely took plates away... Food is good but can be hit or miss on the heat of it... for being able to see the kitchen from our latest table, my lobster bisque was cold and pizza was no longer hot... I am willing to try again but I don't like the first floor right now... due to the service issues... The rooftop out with friends or a date would be nice.
(2)Kevin S.
If you're from out of town, you have to go to Legal's at least once. However, if you're a local...go elsewhere. My wife and I go to Legal when its been long enough that we've forgotten how disappointing our last meal there was.. example...we had the lobster fritter...it was under cooked and we were concerned about the safety of eating it. The "stuffie" a RI staple, was inedible because of over seasoning, and lastly my wife's white wine had "something" black floating in the glass. Try it once, but if you're local, go somewhere else... OH, and the roofdeck...overrated beyond belief
(2)NavRaj S.
Good food and great location.. Loved their cocktails.. The service was very good and servers were very friendly!!! Good place to hangout..
(4)J J.
Went here with a large group of work friends. Arrived after the main group (who was already seated upstairs) with an international colleague. The tough guy who worked there would not let us all go upstairs where our friends were waiting. He would not accept her foreign drivers license, copy of passport, or any other credentials. The ultra superior Legal Seafood employee would not let us in due to his strict irrational guidelines and possibly prejudice taste. I went right upstairs, got my group of work colleagues before they could order anything, and went next door to eat and drink. Lost revenue, anyone?
(1)Dawn H.
*****FIRST FLOOR REVIEW***** I went there a week ago with a friend. I had not been to this place in a while prior to this visit but I will say, I am writing a review because I generally enjoyed this visit. I believe it was a Monday after work that I went and the place was packed! We were luck to get a spot closer to the server station but still overlooked the people below at the tables AND the water (with views of the Xfinity Center to our right). The seating was a bit squished but good. We were greeted by our waiter who mentioned the wine special list that was supposedly Northern Italy inspired or something like that but I started with a Citrus Sangria and friend ordered the Strawberry Sangria. It is not a a traditional sangria but luckily we could taste the alcohol (yum). When it came time to order food, an idea by the waiter was brought up to split our order (even the soup). The smile on my face was ear to ear to hear this and the display was great! Order... The Asparagus with egg shavings was alright (the veggie seems a bit on the wilting side and at least 3-4 was left). The Lobster Bisque (**split**) was warm at first when we ordered it but kindly and quickly given a fresh batch and it was so good! The Shrimp Pad Thai (**split**) was tasty and had added flavor bonus' of ginger and spicy pepper! Our portions were great! I saw the desserts but was really full. It is something I'd return to definitely have next time. I ended up looking at the wine inspired menu and ordered this Sauvignon Blanc which was nearly tasteless comparable to water - something happened IDK. I let our waiter know and got the Riesling (which is my fav white) and it was great! So, although we might have been slightly troublesome guests (not our faults!) the overall experience and level of professionalism and continued attentiveness of our waiter helped make this experience good :)
(4)Jeff B.
Where did the light clam chowder go?!?!? Am I the only one who likes it? Where did the crab cakes entry go? Am I the only one who liked it? The appetizer portion was good, but seems to have changed, too. Service was fine. She did even try to hunt down story on light clam chowder. Apparently, you can sort of special order it. Weird. Overall, my experience was ok. I used to look forward to a Legals visit or two during every business trip visit - not sure after this experience. We'll see....
(3)Nicole T.
Wait was unreal for a Monday night at 9 pm so we sat street side vs. harbor side. The service was great but food was just OK. Location is great for a taste of Boston.
(3)Karen C.
Great View and perfect for a fun weekend brunch!!
(4)Julia H.
really not sure what the hype is all about. it's more of a 3.5 stars, but will give it four stars. Luckily on a Saturday night they were able to seat a table of 6 within 5 mins on the main floor. ordered the cold seafood platter and the lobster roll. the cold seafood platter, maybe cause they don't really have to season and cook it, it was quite good! the snow crab legs are very salty though - so beware! the lobster roll - could be better. really you could go somewhere else to get a better roll. i guess it's worth to come here once every so often, but definitely not sure what the hype is all about.
(4)Carielle C.
My friends and I went here for dinner last night and it was fantastic. One of my friends had been there before and she highly recommends the lobster roll. She has a gluten allergy and they have lots of gluten-free options. I don't eat seafood, but I got the Big Bowl sald with chicken and it was one of the best salads I've ever had. Just the right amount of dressing and the chicken was juicy and tender. My friends all raved about their food. Gluten-free clam strips, gluten-free lobster rolls with gluten-free fries, and another lobster roll that wasn't gluten-free. One of my other friends got a stuffie, which I tried (even though I don't like seafood), and it was tasty and had a kick to it! We also had an appetizer with the bruschetta with braised short rib. Delicious! For dessert, we shared bon bons and the salted caramel pie. Yum! Fantastic food and a great view. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Bill Z.
I felt like I should be able to order bison, antelope, and boar here, because on a Friday night the place can be a zoo. But here, the animals typically have gills. And it is a very well run zoo, with a staff that meshes together well like a fine machine. If you are lucky to get a table on the harbor side of the restaurant, you will have a great view. If it's busy, and if you are in a small group, by all means consider barside dining. They have a lot of space all over the restaurant, and again, a lot of it has a harbor view. Once you are seated, service is prompt everywhere, and those little devices the wait staff carry expedite your order ever faster. Drinks are expensive, but quite strong for the money, so I don't mind dishing out some $$ for one. I enjoyed my glass of red sangria ($11), but I understand the white comes across as a bit sweeter and slightly more diluted. Some of the sides or vegetables included in some of the dishes are less traditional and more interesting. For example, my seafood and sausage pasta dish also contained roasted cauliflower and broccoli rabe. One of the fish dishes came with a side of barley mixed with tomato and feta. One thing I would suggest if you order trout is to be familiar with it. The meat of trout can come in several shades from white to deep pink. We didn't have room for dessert, but I'm sure the desserts and after dinner drinks here are quite good.
(4)Judy S.
Let's start by saying that regardless of the fact that we had a dinner reservation that had been made months in advance, our party had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The hostesses at the front desk were rude and set a poor tone for our evening. That said, our table, our waitress and our food made up for the ironic lack of hospitality from the hostesses. The food is good. Nothing you've never had before, but it is good, and the space and views are gorgeous.
(3)G L R.
First off, the view here is just beautiful! It can't be beat. I had a very good lobster roll and fries here. Also, their oysters. I selected 2 kinds and they were very fresh tasting. They have a decent wine selection. Prices are a little high, but not insane for fresh seafood either. Service was good. I would recommend.
(4)Jason A.
596 reviews, and a 3.5 star rating for Legal Harborside is reasonably accurate. A consistent theme for the restaurant, that I will kindly summarize for you so that you do not have to read through all 500+ reviews: 5 star rating for the views. You're on the harbor, and facing Logan Airport. The views are eye-gasm worthy. 3 star rating for the food. It really is not that much better than something I can find pretty much anywhere in Boston. The seafood platter is overpriced for what it is, the lobster bisque tasted like heavily sugared cream (and not in a good way), and the "famous" clam chowder tastes straight out of a Campbell's can. 1-3 star rating for the service. It's a big ass restaurant, and the turnover in staff is consistent. Meaning it is hit or miss, and though the servers may mean well, if you are there to be taken care of by your server... well you're going to be sadly disappointed. Moral of the story: come for the views, and leave before you leave disappointed after dinner.
(3)Mike F.
Wow is all I can say. We hosted clients here last week (late July), beautiful view from the deck on the 2nd floor. The shrimp cocktail were the largest I've ever seen, same with oysters. Lobster rolls perfect and unexpectedly very very good sushi. I forget some of the other stuff I ate but those we're the standouts. A++ and all super fresh
(5)Susan R.
Continues to be great. Lobster bisque, bellied fried clams, swordfish, crab salad, and Buffalo fried shrimp were all excellent. Great location overlooking the pier and water. Perky staff.
(4)Scott S.
Delicious and a great ambiance. Can't beat the view. From the upper level bar to the tables right on the dock, it is easy to spend the whole day here.
(4)Jenny M.
Food is overpriced and unappetizing, particularly the lobster mac n cheese, overdressed crab cakes and stale pita appetizer. Service leaves little to be desired, especially when compared with other Seaport district restaurants. Only positive would be Harbor view. Recommendation would be to grab a cocktail, enjoy view and eat elsewhere.
(2)Danny R.
Great drinks and great atmosphere. Definitely more of a WASPy crowd here. The view on the rooftop is great. Just make sure you have enough to drink that you can ignore the stanky water smell. I always get the Cisco Grey Lady. The White Sangria is top notch according to my fiancé. Plenty of bathrooms for all of your bathroom needs.
(5)Serena P.
View is A Sushi is C. Service is B. On the roof, basically only sushi is on the menu. Eating at a bunch of sushi places where the cooks are Asian, I feel when I bite into the legal seafoods sushi, I can just tell they're made by a non-Asian person. Edamame is great. Service: just felt there was quite a bit of empty glasses on our table.
(3)Danielle B.
The location is nice and the view is amazing. My mom and I ordered a lobster roll, fish and chips andclam chowder. The fish and chips were excellent! Light, fresh, flakey and well worth the price. The clam chowder was also very good. The lobster roll was a huge disappointment. The lobster was chewy and lacked flavor. The market price was $30. I'm really sad that I wasted $30 on that lobster roll.
(3)Nicole L.
The staff was very accommodating with my food allergy. I appreciated the knowledge and extra steps the staff took to ensure my meal was free from cross contamination. The grilled shrimp was to die for!
(5)Terrance R.
I'm just leaving this place now, and I was blown away by how terrible the food was. Boston is supposed to be an excellent place to eat anything out of the sea, but I couldn't even finish my plate. Only one person at our table had a descent meal. He ordered the Asian inspired tuna which looked delicious. My crab roll was underwhelming, and it came with underwhelming coleslaw. This place was no more than an overpriced seafood diner with a view. My suggestion... Go for the drinks and view (amazing in the summer). Please please please skip on the meal. My only highlight: great service. When you're in Boston, find a better seafood place.
(2)J B.
Not sure a place with a 2 hour Saturday wait-time needs a review, so I'll be brief... Their fried clams, steamers, and stuffies are the best in the city. They are akin to the RI institutions that my wife grew up on, which we travel specifically for. I know the "big chain" name might scare you (and I ordinarily would agree), but those items are honestly as good as any of those RI shacks. Yes, the 3rd floor is a bit of a meat market. Don't expect craft cocktails or good service up there; same as you wouldn't at a night club.
(4)Vince D.
Great place to hangout during the summer. Place was jammed but was able to grab a seat at the bar with my girlfriend. Had the more than fortunate pleasure of having Tanya serve us. My girlfriend had accidentally tipped over her fresh Paloma on the bar and she was more than accommodating at replacing it. The food was on point we had the squid ink pasta and the octopus terrine but more importantly the service was phenomenal. Food came out super fast and staff was very knowledgeable. Will be back soon!
(5)Blaire H.
Tasty place, with good lunch options. The roof is not open till four on week days, but they serve sushi! They have outdoor seating on the water though.
(4)Pat K.
This is about the third or fourth time I have been to this location. The views are amazing and the food is great. I love sitting outside, it has great views of the harbor and the people coming and going. The cool part about this location is its 3 different types of restaurants in one. Lower level (where I love to sit) is laid back typical seafood. The second floor is more upscale and formal dinning, and lastly the top deck is a very cool sushi/apps bar area. On Saturday April 18th my wife surprised me took me here on my birthday. I had the lobster roll ( a bit pricey) compared to some of the other places in the area (Sullivans). It was full of a TON of claw meat, and it was great. We shared an order of Calamari and my wife had fish and chips. We braved the cold and sat outside in the sun. Legal says they are not a chain in their ads on TV and I agree with them. They are not, especially at this location. With the menu changes and the different feels in the different levels it can be a lot of fun !
(4)J. L.
This review is for the rooftop bar on the 3rd floor. The views of Boston Harbor are AMAZING. Simply awesome. The bar itself is pretty cool. I could not believe how rude the staff was. It was around 1:15 AM. They close at 1am. These men in sport jackets and ear pieces (I'm assuming bouncers or similar) were yelling at everyone to get out. Treating us like animals. It was so uncalled for. I can't understand why we were being yelled at and treated so poorly. Politeness that they are closed would have been fine and acceptable. I was so turned off by this. I wanted to like this place and now I have mixed feelings.
(3)Deborah G.
I eat all over the place, all the time. And I can honestly chalk this up to one of my worst experiences. I usually eat on the first floor and have had great experiences there. I heard the second floor was nicer and higher end so we booked reservations to there. My waiter Was Taulant. He was nice but our service was terrible. Not only were our drinks taking 15 to 30 min a piece with some completely forgotten about (mind you the second floor was clearly NOT busy, restaurant or bar) our appetizers did not out, served forcing people at our table to eat without us. And then wait for our food. When we were finally able to put in our entree. We has asked what was taking so long and the floor managers response was they working with the pace of our table. If you looked back our table we had all empty drinks, still waiting, empty bread when we asked for more (because food was taking so long) and again 3 tables total in entire dining room. Our pork chop was delicious in flavor however the service and poor management will never have my business again. And worth of mouth spreads fast especially when u dine out 3-4 times a week! Mind you my friends and I dine at other places on the same street and have never been treated this way.
(2)Diana K.
I am a huge fan of this enormous location overlooking Boston Harbor. We sat on the third floor deck with the wind in our hair and ordered two clam chowdas...what else?! The clam chowder was delicious and perfectly chunky, and went really well with our beers. The server even gave us a free drink after one of the beers took a little bit too long. I was impressed at the service regardless, seeing as how there were hundreds of people here, and they all were happy and fed. They have a special Mango IPA from Harpoon that was amazing. I think they mentioned they are the exclusive buyer of it. So good!
(4)Layla B.
The dessert game is weak! Seasonal crisp was missing the crisp and was basically a warm bowl of fruit with ice cream on top. Tea was good and has a nice roof deck for chilling with friends.
(3)Jyoti H.
Ha. Don't bother wasting your time coming here for the food or the rooftop lounge. Terrible service and rude people. You are better off staying in the Copley area and going out for drinks and food.
(1)Jarrod G.
My family & I came here to celebrate my graduation from law school yesterday. We arrived 50 minutes late for our reservation on the first floor, but yet we were sat immediately and no mention was made of our lack of punctuality, which was great. The service was excellent and the food was perfect. All in all, I would highly recommend others to come to this restaurant to celebrate life's various celebrations. There was only one issue. My brother has Cerebral Palsy, and as such, is bound to a wheelchair. Upon checking in with the host, she immediately began to walk us to our table. Without even thinking about it she lead us up a two-step staircase. We all stopped at the staircase as she kept going. She eventually looked back and realized that none of us had followed her. I walked up to her and explained that my handicapped brother could not merely drive his wheelchair up a two-step staircase and that we would have to take the elevator. Upon doing so we were then lead to the least handicapped accessible table in the entire restaurant. In order to dodge a second two-step flight of stairs downward we had to drive thru the kitchen area, down a long ramp, and then back through the entire restaurant - bumping every single table along the way. Multiple times we had to ask guests to actually get up so we could make our way through. Half way through our journey the host actually stopped leading us to our table and began speaking with the manager. Seeing as how we were following her, it made the experience even more frustrating that we now had no idea which table we were going to be sitting at. At the conclusion of the meal, I asked the server if it would be okay for us to exit via the doors on the boardwalk-side of the restaurant since it would allow us to avoid the embarrassment of trying to navigate our way through the entire restaurant again. He was very helpful and made a path for us to do so. Like I said at the outset of this review, all in all, I would highly recommend this place for others. But I think Legal Harborside really needs to re-evaluate its protocol in order to make their guests that require special accommodations feel more welcome.
(3)Bb D.
Nice place, with nice wait staff. Just a bit too crowded. Needs reservations, otherwise be ready to wait for a long time to get seated. Great food.
(4)Kisha T.
I'll preface this with the following: I only came for drinks, a light snack and only experienced the roof deck. This location is beautiful and it's the most perfect place to have a few drinks on a warm summer day...that is, if you can ever order your drinks/actually get the drinks. I came here on a Friday afternoon for some drinks and snacks. We ended up staying for about two hours and in those two hours, we were able to order a drink, edamame and 3 oysters. The food wasn't terrible and drinks were sufficient. For 4 pm on Friday, the roof deck was hoppin'. It felt like a Miami bar/lounge, which is awesome if you dig that kind of environment. Service was pretty blah which is expected for a lounge but it's still part of the restaurant so there is still that expectation when it comes to service. Would I go back? Sure. But it's not a place to go if you don't like a large crowd and bad service.
(2)Sarah S.
My review is for Floor 1. I went here with a group of 10 people from a conference I was attending. It was a quick walk from the Westin Waterfront. While waiting for my group, I had a glass of wine at the bar. Service is a little slow, but they were PACKED, so I understood. When I got to the restaurant the girl at the front said she had given someone in our group the buzzer to let us know when our table was ready. After about 20 minutes or so and all talking to each other, we realized that no one had the buzzer. I wonder how long our table had been ready before we finally asked about it. I got the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I also wanted to try the lobster bisque, but since I was already set on the lobster roll, I decided against it. Although, someone else got it, and it smelled absolutely amazing. Someone got the fried clams and passed them around to the whole table. Whoa - melt in your mouth deliciousness! The lobster roll looked small, but it was filling. It comes with fries and coleslaw. The lobster dishes are all market price, which was $23 when I was there (early May 2014). A lot of people in my group got some combo from the 'Wood Burning Grill' section. Everything looked great. I had the soup, lobster roll, and two beers (one of the Harpoon specialty brews) - total was $46. If I lived in Boston, I'd come back here over and over. Super nice staff, quick service for how busy they were and for the size of our table, and no complaints about splitting a check 10(!) ways.
(5)Robert S.
We had reservations for 5PM and our table, overlooking the ocean was ready as promised. John, our waiter was great, polite, knowledgeable, courteous, perfect. I ordered the crabmeat salad...a big scoop of real crabmeat mixed with a light dressing over a half avocado, accompanied of boiled eggs, tomatoes and cucumbers. YUM. My BF got the baked scrod and it was light, fresh and tasty. Very good choice as much of the Legal Seafood sister companies.
(4)Michael M.
Really unimpressed relative to some of the other "Legal" restaurants. Service is fantastic. Food is above average. I prefer LTk.
(3)Scott H.
In town for business and wanted local seafood for dinner. Was also by myself so I preferred to eat at the bar. Using those two criteria this place hit the mark. They stir their martinis which is the right way and the shrimp cocktail was served in a globe made of ice. Pretty cool. Be sure to try the seared ahi. Also had the grilled octopus, which was the best I've ever had although portions were small and a bit expensive. I only had appetizers so I can't say if meals were subsets tail, but the apps were on the light side. The bar tender was really friendly and conversational, which was nice. Kept me from staring at my phone. She also had a few suggestions of local things to do. Prices were on the high side, but I'll likely be back.
(4)Bob B.
Very busy place - tourist trap. Fried clam appetizer was overpriced and looked as though they had not changed the oil in the fryer in quite a while. The scrod was good size, but could use some seasoning. Service was good.
(2)John I.
This is a very nice restaurant. There are three floors. The street level is standard Legal fare; the second floor Legal upscale, and the third a cocktail bar with deck. All have impressive views of the harbor, the fish pier, Logan Airport, and the "pavilion" concert venue. We entertained business guests on the second floor as a party of nine. We had a wonderful seafood tower appetizer with oysters, clams, crab and shrimp. It was presented nicely with multiple sauces. The seafood was, undeniably, fresh and awesome. Legal's trademark clam chowder was noticeably absent from the short menu but provided on request for our guests. Entrees included lobster and spare ribs, scallops, abalone, steak and shrimp. All were excellently prepared and tasty, if a bit pricey. The service was impressively adequate. We were intermittently swarmed with attention as plates were cleared or served and then left for long periods without anyone checking for needs. A wonderful but forgettable dinner was enjoyed by all.
(4)Dylan C.
Corporate, touristy, and overpriced. What you would expect, I guess. Not an ounce of warmth in the place.
(1)Brian A.
Stuffed artichokes!! Great atmosphere outside. Julien is an absolute all-star waiter.
(5)Don M.
Good food,but the service i"was horrible!!!!The waitress was so negative and I can say rough!!!!!Bad experience!!!!!
(2)Lilly S.
This review is based mainly on the outdoor seating on a nice day. I have only been here once and didn't spend any time inside. I like this place because of the roof top patio! WONDERFUL view of the water and such a great place to spend a sunny day! We got a pitcher of sangria and some light food. The waitress was really nice and everything was tasty. Perhaps a bit pricey but not ridiculous. We got there around 2 on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy yet. It did get pretty packed by 4 and service got a lot slower but what can you really expect? They can't possibly keep up with that. I recommend hanging out here for a bit when you're not in a hurry and you'll have a nice time, for sure!
(4)T.M. C.
Our dinner started off okay down stairs on the first level. I'd to give it 5 stars for the first level but 2 stars for our experience on the third floor club. We ordered sangria and drinks at the bar on the first floor. Crab cake not cakes, just one was not worth $16. The fried green beans were great! Also ordered a kalamata and fig spread that was ok. Great service from our bartender. We continued our night by going up to the roof top bar. It was filled with a good mix of people but mostly 20 something's. We waited a bit and got a booth right on the water. After what seemed to be a good night, a 43 year old guy named Tom, who was married with 4 kids, and his hook up for the night, Ashley, who was a 24 yr old department store buyer, just randomly took over our booth. Ashley offered me a klonopin or an adderall. Offer illegal prescription drugs to an off duty cop? Omg. Hope Tom got it in with Ashley cause they ruined our night. There was also a discrepancy in our bills even though we ordered the same drinks at the bar and the same at our booth. Oh well....
(3)Joe G.
Went to Legal Harborside after attending a conference at the Boston Convention Center. Had to walk about 1/2 mile from the convention center to get to the place. On a Friday night, the place was pretty busy. My friends and I ended up seating on the counter. The wait staff was very friendly and made sure everything was ok. I ordered the Tuna Burger, which was very tasty and filling. The Tuna was basically packed together and grilled, so if you're looking for a "fishy" kind of taste, you won't really taste it. It tasted alot like a greasy fish burger, which was fine with me. All in all, a pretty decent meal at Legal Haborside.
(3)Mr. And Mrs. R.
We stopped in here for drinks this past weekend (Sat night) after eating dinner at a nearby steakhouse....and we wish we came here at the start of the night. This was probably our 4th time sitting at this bar, and we have always loved it. Whether just having drinks, apps, or a full dining experience, each time we've sat at this bar it's been lights out good. Great staff (and some potential rap stars), great scenery and ambience, great food and drink. Awesome wine selection and killer martinis. Our top spot hands down in the Seaport. See you soon.
(5)Nancy G.
I have dined here many times. Great views and food. I was very disappointed at lunch yesterday. The server spilled 5 glasses of water on a client. Not her fault and we all felt terrible for her. The disappointment was that a manager never came over to apologize We had to suggest moving to another table. The new server acted annoyed that we moved and we experienced very slow service. The restaurants at liberty harbor are getting too complacent. Where is the customer service?
(2)Lillian C.
Review for the first floor - dinner on a Sunday. This is the first of the Legal Seafood chain of restaurants I've tried. Service was on point. Menu was decent. I like how there are 3 different floors serving three different menus - it's like having three restaurants in one. I heard good things about the rooftop so I may return just for that once it starts to warm up. As for the food - it was just ok. I had some oysters and they were fresh but not much different from some $1 oyster places in Boston. I also had the Portuguese seafood stew, which was very delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and the stew had a lot of flavor. I also tried a little of the swordfish salad. The swordfish was cooked perfectly, but the salad was lacking flavor. The food was pretty good and the view is pretty nice. I also like the open floor plan since it reminds me of places in LA. The prices are pretty decent for what you get but I think fine dining is on the second floor if that's what you're looking for...
(3)Holly N.
Been many times and no complaints about the food. We dined last evening on the first floor and once again we felt rushed with spending over $170. We also wanted to have an after dinner drink on the third floor and were told to go outside and wait in line - really? And yes, management supported this ridiculous process. On our first outing to dining on the second floor, the valet could not locate my car. Well folks, it is not only about the food!
(2)Michelle T.
Huge fan of the curry mussels! Packed with flavor, however, I thought the mussels were a little over cooked causing them to become smaller/dried up and a little tougher. Maybe better luck next time. Tried two different oysters, ordered 3 of each. I'm forgetting which ones exactly, our waiter recommended them. Always fun to try something new. Really fresh and tasty. Tried to clam "chowda," hearty and generous with the clams.
(4)J P.
Was going to a concert next door so decided to eat here before the concert. First time at this location. Made reservations and was a half hour early, they sat us right away. Had a great view of the waterfront. Waiter was Sean he was the best. Very attentive and friendly. Also liked he was not the Phony type very sincere. . Food was very good both my husband and I got the Lobster Bake. This has everything Chowder, steamers , mussles, lobster and corn on the cob. Glass of wine is a good serving. Was hoping to see a manager to comment on the great service we had by Sean, but sadly there was none in sight.
(5)Wendy F.
This is by FAR my favorite Legal Sea Foods. It is not like any of the others. The space and view are amazing at the seaport. Three different floors for dining and cocktails. The white sangria is amazing. Also i had a tuna special that was great. I do not recommend the shrimp that come in a mason jar. Not very good and too small. Great for groups!!!
(4)Robert C.
Was at Harborside on the upper deck Sunday July 26th at around 10:30 pm and witnessed a young restaurant manager and a bouncer loudly screaming and cursing at a table of patrons. The table seemed to have been quietly enjoying themselves prior. It was the most disgraceful display of unprofessional behavior I have ever witnessed by restaurant staff. Both should be immediately fired. I will never go back and will certainly share my experience.
(1)Carrie L.
5 stars for the view and location. I was lucky enough to find a table for my party within 5 minutes on the 3rd floor rooftop deck. The wait downstairs was 2 hours. This review is solely based on the 3rd floor. Friday early evening, noise level was off the roof. Although the waterfront view was gorgeous, I can not hear any of my friends across from me. At all. Ordered the strawberry sangria, A-OK. For food, we decided to split 2 lobster rolls, a crab roll, and 3 sushi rolls between five girls. The chips that came on the side of the lobster & crab rolls were pretty good. Lobster roll is typical. Crab roll was not popular with us. The crab meat tasted fake. The 3 sushi rolls were orange dragon (spicy salmon with salmon), red dragon (spicy tuna with tuna) , and caterpillar (eel with avocado on top). The food was very average at best. Environment was too lively to enjoy the average food. I will be making reservations next time I come in.
(3)Tina B.
Great rooftop view. Great sushi. They don't normally take reservations but if you have a big enough group and call ahead they may be able to accommodate you :)
(4)S R.
I would like to give this place a worse review for being overcrowded and slow and expensive but the food is too good. Lots of healthy options. They will make certain items gluten free for you as marked on the menu. Seafood is prepared well without excess sauces and seasonings. Staff is generally friendly and doing their best to manage the volume of clients. The drinks are pretty bad though so stick with wine or beer.
(4)Theresa A.
I have always had a great experience here! My standby is the wood grilled swordfish and the clam chowder is amazing! Consistently have had good service here weather I have a table inside,outside or sitting at the bar. I love that while Legals is becoming more of a chain restaurant they are not losing any of their excellent service or quality of food. I always take out of town guest here for seafood, can't go wrong!
(5)Michelle S.
Yes, I know. Everyone knows about Legals' in New England, and I think everyone has either been there a million times or purposely avoiding it due to it's mainstream reputation. I guess I have fit into the second of those categories as I always strive to try something new. I also have a bad taste in my mouth based on my VERY sub-par experiences at the renovation-ready location in Chestnut Hill. However, my friend and I had a great dinner night out here on Friday worth reviewing. I'm also officially ready for summer... We came in around 7 and put our name in for a table for two. Then we headed to the first floor bar for a drink. Great wine selection - I got the Cabernet Franc for $9. I guess it's worth mentioning I had a second glass with my meal, so I was impressed. Bartender was super friendly, and so was our waiter once we did sit down, about 25 minutes later. For dinner, we were seated at a cozy (bit cramped) table on the first floor. It's so cool how they use brown paper with the Legal stamped logo for a table cloth! Our server was friendly, patient, and unpretentious. We were at no point rushed, but always attentively helped. My girlfriend and I had a bit of trouble deciding what to order since everything looked so good - but we both ended up settling on the fish tacos. And for $12, I ended up spending a lot less money than I expected. I also ordered the $6 seasonal salad for a starter. The salad was phenomenal - walnuts, goat cheese, and cranberries over baby greens with a balsamic, glazey dressing. Our food came out promptly after I finished my salad, and we were served two, overstuffed, fresh fish tacos. They were outrageously good! After dinner, we headed up to the third floor bar to finish our drinks and look out on the harbor. I can't wait to come back come May for a late, festive dinner with my girlfriends and a couple drinks out on the roof deck!
(4)Alex C.
Awesome place! Met Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots!!!!!! def come. It's a fun place and great drinks. Great aura.
(5)Sara E.
Legal harborside was amazing at hosting our 10-guest function. Everyone is very kind and helpful and hospitable! Love this place!
(5)Tom J.
Good food and nice environment. Got the fish in foil (halibut) and wife got the lobster pot pie. If I had rice or a starch it would have made my meal complete. Was kind of expensive for what you got left kind of hungry still. However what was served was delicious.
(3)Karl F.
A nice place for seafood in Boston, good view, good food, lively & fun. I came here with a group for a business dinner. We first went to the bar upstairs, I had a virgin bloody Mary, no complaints, the others enjoys the variety of beers. There is a nice view of the Boston harbor up here. Then when our table was ready downstairs in the dinning area we went back down and ordered dinner. There is a good selection of dishes from casual mid priced items to more $$$ priced dishes, I had some steamers and oysters, they we delicious, then a lobster roll for main course. It was good. The staff was great, my associate thoroughly enjoyed their food. The main thing about Legal Harborside is the atmosphere, Trendy night life place with a great view and good place to hang out with friends.
(4)Amy S.
Best Service. Best Food. Best View! We came for dinner, so we couldn't enjoy the view as much as the people who come during the day or for the sunset, but even with it being dark outside, this was an impeccable view of the harbor! I immediately felt like I was in good hands. We started off with a variety of oysters - mainly East Coast. These were the best oysters I've ever had in my life, literally. I know the polar vortex helped contribute to the meatiness of the oysters, but these were incredibly fresh and well taken care of. Next, I got the Arctic Char special with a side of saffron wild rice/mushrooms. So incredibly delicious and fresh! The char was paired with grapefruit for that hint of acidity. The saffron wild rice and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment to this entree. Ordered a Allagash White, which tasted pretty fresh. They have a solid beer and wine list, which is always appreciated. The service was beyond amazing and everyone was super friendly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Gloria F.
Beautiful views with very decent food. Ya. I'm spoiled and live in New York. So food is nothing particularly special but I'd definitely come here for drinks and dinner again. I highly recommend drinks on the third floor. The water and city scape views are stunning. We went to the formal restaurant and split oysters and the swordfish special. If seAfood is not your thing it's probably best to skip this joint. Otherwise dig in to light and tasty fare. It's best to come here on expense account as I'm not sure id want to pay on my own dime, but expense account is a definite yes!
(4)Dalya N.
This place is Great. We have reservations for the 2nd floor, but we decided to go to the 3rd floor because of the Sushi Menu. They don't take reservations for the 3rd unless you take to the manager. We told the manager is was our anniversary and he was a GEM!! Not only he made sure that we get a table next to the water but he also brought us 2 special Rolls on the house!! Amazing service wish I can remember the manager's name to give him recognition. Food was amazing and atmosphere was great! Loud for a romantic dinner but we liked it a lot.
(5)Kaverne A J L.
Great atmosphere. Reservations should be made in advanced! Otherwise wait for the free seating! Good clam chowder and fresh oysters! Lobster was alright and the service staffs were really busy!
(4)Kimberly L.
Came here with a party of 8! We were seated by the bar and ended up getting a table before 7:30pm which was great! I ordered the stuffed artichoke hearts and the lobster roll. Both dishes were good but nothing spectacular. The lobster roll reminds me of Luke's lobster in NYC. The stuffed artichokes were super cheesy and creamy but good. Our waiter josh was awesome! He was really attentive and got us the hookup with the rooftop. Overall, this chain is pretty consistent and I would go back!
(3)Jay S.
I tried. Really, I tried not to visit Legal for seafood. I was trying other places in the area. I was trying to avoid what I consider a borderline chain restaurant. However, this was without a doubt the best seafood preparation I had this trip. I had a Panko crusted tuna, berry crisp and a coffee. Pricey at $50 but an excellent meal. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the cost.
(4)M. Alan B.
I see a bunch of positive reviews here, so perhaps my experience was an anomaly (or the reviewers are "friends and family"?) but my experience was not worth the time, effort and travel. From the moment we walked in to the minute we left I was deeply underwhelmed. While the building itself is new and "well appointed" there is little interesting about it, the location (which adds to the detraction) or view. The feel of it was a giant yawn. It was July 4th weekend and the place was practically empty (our first clue?) so we decided on the first floor outdoors (because there was no full menu on the deck, really are you kidding me!? and were seated quickly.. When our waiter came I asked about the menu relative to other locations and was told that: "as our flagship location we have a different menu and are more special than the others" AND that I'd "be impressed with them" (a boastful claim not knowing who I was or what my expectations might be). My dining partner ordered a swordfish dish and I started out with a simple order of Duxbury Oysters (the Oyster menu was generally incipid). I was told the Swordfish was Excellent but when I tasted it I thought it was "ok". The Oysters were very good but with preparation consisting of shucking them and sticking them on a plate not exactly a culinary achievement. When my main dish arrive it was small tasteless and OVERPRICED. I ate it all because I was starving and being stuck in the wasteland that is convention visitor hell I didn't have the patience to "try" elsewhere. The service and attention was acceptable but in no way distinguishing for a Flagship location. Legals is a very good, typically reliable restaurant and I've eaten at most locations on numerous occasions (just had lunch at the Copley location last week). It is one of the first places I recommend to out of Townes but the Harborside is a place I would discourage people from. It was OVERPRICED AND UNDERWHELMING.
(2)Kevin J.
Service - really good. Our waiter knew his stuff and was very friendly. I had the swordfish gyro which was great - the char on the fish and the pita balanced perfect with the cucumber sauce. Very satisfying. There was a 30 min wait, but the seats by the entrance (without the cool view) had a zero min wait so we went for that option. All food here is fresh and local. Best thing - 5 mins after leaving the building a hostess managed to track us down - we had left a bag of books and whatnot in there. I thought that was a really decent thing for them to do. Good people. Good food.
(4)Patrick B.
1. Terrible, slow service 2. Waiters and staff act like you're bothering them by asking for food and drinks 3. Overpriced 4. Rude management staff that roll their eyes at you when you have a problem with them.
(1)Jake C.
Really great! The food was fantastic, and service perfect. Really enjoyed the evening, and the environment, on a beautiful night.
(5)Maureen M.
We had a small sampling of bar fare last night on the second floor at Legal Harborside. The food was good tasting and presented well. The lobster soup was amazing and calamari and seasonal salad were very good. The only thing that irked me and made we write this review is, when asked what I wanted to drink I said a glass of chardonnay, house will be fine. I knew they had an extensive wine menu and I didn't want to get into it. Just a plain ole glass of house chard please! When the bill came we quickly realized my 2 glasses of wine were $18.50 EACH. Me thinks I didn't get the house wine.......When we asked about it, the waiter went on and on about their wines and how great they are...blah blah blah. A word of warning. If you are ordering wine. Pick out a specific one and tell the waiter what you want! I won't make that mistake again. (the wine was good....but not $18.50 good)
(3)Sylvia C.
Finally checked the roof top out. Went there on Friday right after work around 5:30pm and the place was already packed (luckily no lines yet - whew). I thought it was a bit weird that after checking your ID - they stamp you then before you get onto the stairs they use a black light to check your stamp (almost like a club). The view from the rooftop is nice - sleek and chic patio furniture. Definitely, looked like a happening place. Noticed some tables had the reserve signs (thought seating was first come first serve). Nevertheless - we lucked out seating (moving a chair and there from other tables). A bummer for the Legal Seafood regulars is that the menu for the roof deck is mainly sushi. Though many options for the sushi - can't say they were spectacular. Service was pretty good given the place was packed - bartender takes your drink order pretty quickly and servers check up quite frequently on how we're doing. The place overall is great - just a bit on the pricey side but guess that's Seaport District.
(4)Ty W.
Interesting fun dessert with popcorn!! Filet was cooked perfectly. My husband loved his flounder!
(4)Emily L.
Nice area for rooftop drinks and seafood towers. Good for dinner with groups. 3 levels to the restaurant. The 2nd floor is more upscale.
(4)Frank N.
This Legal is my favorite spot when I want an impromptu lazy weekend bar-side. Never have a problem grabbing a seat at the circular bar--seems most of the tourists gravitate towards the upstairs or to the tables by the open windows. It's a busy spot, but the service attentive and the kitchen keeps up. The oysters are always local, Merry, Wianno, and Katama Bay, tasty and briny goodness! The crabmeat roll and lobster rolls always accompany our lunch meals. Also good, fresh and tasty. For drinks, there are usually some interesting cocktails but the Sam Adams crafted especially for Legal's is my favorite.
(5)Gricel G.
Just flew in from Sunny Ft. Lauderdale, to a lovely 18 degrees. Staying at the Seaport, they recommend this restaurant. Staff was fantastic! James the bartender, extremely attentive. Very comforting when traveling alone on business. Great cosmo and he helped me pick a terrific dish. 2 thumbs up on the Lobster Bisque. Will definitely recommend.
(5)Rob C.
What a mistake. I tend to forget this company, let alone location is an up-scaled RED LOBSTER. I had the tuna-burger today. I think I want to vomit, as it's a few hours later and things aren't going to hot. The Tuna burger, is basically ground up tuna remnants and what not - and no where is it stated that it's F'n ground up. Fries tasted like they were dusted in flour before frying and had no flavour. Fish Taco - had a bite, meh. Bottom line: over priced and classic with the rest of the Seafood spots in Boston. SH*t quality and just serving the masses of suits and tourists here for marginal food. Don't go.
(1)Tenisha W.
If you want to enjoy the view of Boston harbor, this place has amazing views...BUT you have to make a reservation or else you can forget about that view you had hoped for. I speak from experience, we walked in the line was ridic and the wait for a table with a view was 1-11/2 hours, so we settled for a first come first serve table because we we hungry. The service was friendly and quick. Although it was very busy our server was very attentive. The food came out quick. We ordered the fried calamari and tempura green beans as appetizers. Both were really good. However they provided a spoon to divi up the green beans, that doesn't work too well. May I suggest thongs. For my meal I had the lobster roll it was absolutely delicious. The lobster tasted fresh and was cooked to perfection. The default side is French fries, which I wasnt a fan of I would have preferred something else maybe a vegetable. My husband had the tuna sandwich he really enjoyed it.. He said it was cooked well and very well seasoned. I tried the strawberry sangria which was different and it was good, although I must say it was strong for sangria. Overall I would go here again, next time with a reservation to get the full experience.
(4)Xerxes N.
Three stories up with a beautiful water view. Smoking hot waitresses. Strong Chronic Iced Tea drinks. A buzz at 5pm and a pretty awesome nightlife atmosphere for a Monday. Thank you, Boston. Did I mention smoking hot waitresses? I didn't try the food but whatever sushi they were slinging looked pretty darn good!
(4)Janet C.
The ambience was lovely, made even nicer by sitting by the window with a view of he harbor. Our meals were delicious and perfectly executed. The timing of the dishes were just as you would like them to be. The service was wonderful. It is a bit pricey but for a special dinner you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)Katie J.
Usually I'm very critical of seafood, but this was hands-down incredible. Made a reservation for a special occasion and were not disappointed. Our party was seated at a table overlooking the water and it was stunning! Fresh breeze then followed by good food and wonderful service. For appetizers we had the fried calamari, oysters, mussels, and tuna crostini. The calamari and tuna were good, average. The oysters were so fresh and tasty! As for the mussels- good, but the curry sauce was a bit odd. We loved dipping our bread in it. For entrees we got an assortment. I had the fisherman's stew. They accidentally left out the white fish-- but were very quick to fix! It was delicious. We also got the char-grilled scallops with two sides (we chose spinach and eggplant). I had scallops at a place next door and was so disappointed...but these were SO GOOD. It's hard to find someone who can actually cook scallops right! Highly highly highly recommend! The clams & linguine were a hit, and the fish tacos were a hit with the teenager. Also had the cake with the ice cream bon-bons for dessert. We all left completely satisfied, full, and happy. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)Murad B.
Food, which is mainly a seafood is really amazing, delicious and tasty. That from starters to the main course!!! Highly recommended!
(5)Joshua B.
2nd floor review. Beautiful place, amazing waiter. Solid bar tender. Taste/quality of food was 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Atmosphere was great. Had a great time here!
(5)Anna G.
My favorite, go-to restaurant in Boston! Firstly, the view - especially in the summer - is delightful. It is so nice being on the water with the boats coming in and sunny skies above. I always find the service here top-notch. I highly recommend waiting a few extra minutes to guarantee a table outside. I do not understand coming here and sitting near the street... sitting on the water is the whole reason to come here! I think the cocktails are pretty good and for food I recommend oysters, the famous bisque or chowdahh, lobster pizza, and soft belly clams (if they have it). Pass on the swordfish gyro. Overall, the ambiance here during nice weather is perfect - boisterous, festive, people enjoying summer in NE. Do not mistake this review for all Legal Seafoods as this is specific to Legal Harborside.
(5)Holly B.
Wow. Awesome service beginning with the charming, beautiful Kate. She is genuinely interested in why you are visiting and where you want to sit. With the lineup out the door, she may have the most stressful job in Boston! She never loses her cool and makes everyone feel special. Up to the second floor where Sarah and Maryann await. Beautiful and talented, they are the sweetest bartenders ever. Have a wedding or function coming up? Sarah also is an expert at updos! Maryanne is a mixologist - best martinis ever! Great night! Now, to the food! We had the ahi tuna and pacific salmon. Both were fresh and incredibly delicious. We can't wait to go back.
(5)Niki K.
We sat in the first come area since the ding room was full. The lobster bisque was more lobster than bisque, sweet and tender. The fried calamari had fried veggies with it. The fried lemons were amazing. I had fried clams, which were good but not in the half shell as expected. My friend had the lobster mac and cheese which she demolished. I was a little freaked out that the menu only said market prices but didn't have actual prices anywhere. We shared the bon bons, which were 2-3 bites of thick chocolate shells, and an assortment of chocolate, coffee, strawberry, or mint ice cream.
(5)Anne J.
Legal Harborside First Floor. Legal Harborside Second Floor. Legal Harborside Third Floor. How ridiculous to separate a restaurant into different parts managed separately. It creates confusion. Then disappointment on learning that you can have a conversation on the second floor but only a limited menu. OR you can have the broader Legal menu on the first floor but at a noise level where you have to shout to be heard. You have another shouting opportunity on the third floor over drinks, against a thumping background of technomusic. Travesty.
(1)Chris And Michelle R.
My husband and I stayed in Boston recently to celebrate his birthday. The Innkeeper at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at suggested Harborside when we asked for an upscale experience that would be appropriate for the clothing we would be wearing for a day of hiking through the city. She said she would not normally recommend a "chain", but because of the location, the reviews she has heard and the fact that they have an executive chef she felt comfortable enough to recommend. Let me tell you...she was spot on! We spent more than 3 hours here, enjoying everything from the patio seating in the seafood district to the service. Our server, Pedro "Pete", was phenominal. Held to high standards by our neighboring servers, Santiago and Diego, he went above and beyond to ensure our visit was more than pleasant. His personality was fun and edgy, exactly what we appreciate =) We explained that we were in no rush and wanted to enjoy multiple different offerings at a very slow pace and he never made us feel rushed. Our food was delicious, from the appetizers to the dessert and everything in between. The service we experienced, and heard on either side of us from Diego and Santiago, was so exceptional that we were sure to call a manager over to our table and recognize the great quality we witnessed. Thank you, Harborside, for making our stay and birthday dinner everything we were hoping for!
(5)Nicole B.
I was with a party of 6 and we came to the 3rd floor bar for the beautiful views, but it was not equipped to handle the crowd. We wanted food along with our drinks and had to eat on our lap in the lounge area because the tables and bar were too crowded. The sangria was delicious (I tried both the red and white) but the crab roll was just too rich for my taste. Even the chips that came with it were thick and oily, though the coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. Under different circumstances I might give this 4 stars.
(3)Alison R.
We arrived around 6:45 on a Friday night. It was packed in there and we didn't really expect to get a table but we were offered a table outside right away! score! It was somewhat rainy but there was an overhang so it was perfectly fine. We informed our server Brittney W (who was amazing!) that we were heading next door for a show so were looking for a quick dinner. She took our order for drinks, oysters and dinners at once. Two of our group are gluten free so the fact that the menu indicates what is or can be made gluten free is such a bonus for us. The service could not have been more impeccable. It was quick, efficient, everything was excellent and I think we we were out of there by 7:20. Brittney was warm, bubbly and super quick. She was the epitome of the perfect server. We would be lucky to be seated in her section next time!
(5)Philip C.
While touring around Faneuil Hall and the North End we stopped at Legal Seafoods for lunch. The service was excellent and the seafood very enjoyable. Prices were comparable to most surrounding establishments, but the overall quality was much better. We had a window seat and had a nice view of the Harbor activities as we ate....
(4)Jonah K.
New huge legal on the water, you know you'll get good quality food here normally. Our visit was nothing different. The striper caught off the cape was fresh and delicious, the Caesar salad is always one of my personal favorites and the eggplant side dish was also excellent. I would normally suggest to get the specials at Legal, they normally have something which stands out from the touristy menu and is very fresh and well done.
(4)Craig S.
I have been here a few times and it has always been pretty good. The location is amazing, it is well set up but always absurdly busy. Went in this Holiday Monday and lucked out with two seats at the bar. Starving, I decided to order most of the menu as I could not decide -- always a fan of tapas style. I got Buffalo Shrimp - good and classy but tasted a little old. Short rib and tuna crudo bruscetta - both awesome. Chowda..of coarse ever better with buffalo sauce in it. Oysters always on point. and the biggest disappointment the Coconut milk mussels. They were old and deformed -- very sad as my craving for good mussels is what attracted me here in the first place. The flavors were good enough that it covered up how old they actually were - but later when I ate the leftovers I almost threw up. She got the presumptively safest thing on the menu, Fish and Chips- they were not safe. It was presented as if they had just dumped the remnants of the fry tray onto her plate - as the fish looked half eaten and there were random bits of tentacle. She was too nice to complain but I'm not. Besides a good place should know when they make a mistake so they can correct it --and not charge me for it. Drinks were very good as was the bartender - I will be back but I do expect a nice place like this to be perfect ... Step up your game Legals
(2)Sergio M.
Loved the seafood. Swordfish gyro was awesome ! The fish was cooked perfect charred and very moist. We had mussels and oyster for an app and they were delicious, have have been here a few time and I will keep going back for food and drinks !
(4)Jeff C.
I've been to a lot of different sushi restaurants in the past 8 years, but I have to say that the sushi here is the freshest and tastiest that I've ever had. I went to this place with a few friends and we sat on the rooftop with a gorgeous view overlooking the harbor. We ordered a ton of sushi and it all came out in a very timely manner. The sushi was served in a beautiful wooden boat and the presentation was stunning. The sushi chef did an AMAZING job preparing the food - it looked just like a piece of art. As for the food itself, like I said, I've never had better sushi. The quality of the ingredients was outstanding and each roll was packed with delicious seafood - they definitely don't skimp on the portions. My group was so impressed by this place that we asked to meet the chef. He came out, introduced himself as Harold, and asked us how we enjoyed the food. He seemed so proud when we told him that this was the best sushi we've ever eaten and told us that he carefully makes every roll to perfection. The wait staff was extremely friendly and graciously accommodated our group. I will definitely be going back soon!
(5)Sanel S.
Ugh, where to begin. I guess at the beginning... Actually I don't have time for this, I have to get going, but in short. I came here with a group of friends for my birthday on a cold winter night in early March. I was here back in November for another birthday and loved the drinks. First thing I get at the door is some pretentios little chick telling me I can't go upstairs to the third floor and that me and my company should hang out in the lobby instead. Maybe it was because I wasn't dressed head to toe in Armani suits, I don't know. Color me weird but I like wearing North Face jackets in winter when it's 20* outside. So as I'm arguing there and asking why the hell can't I go up there, and her telling me it's really busy, another server joins in the conversation, a little older and obviously knows what the hell she's doing. She goes "What's going on?" Me: "I'm just trying to get to the 3rd floor", her "Oh it's open just go right up on ahead." And I'm thinking "Wtf, she just told me I can't?" We get up there, there's literally 2 people in the corner sitting, i.e., it is the antithesis to "packed". That really rubbed me the wrong way. Then about hour and a half into hanging out, we're on our I guess 3rd round of drinks (everyone is ordering at different times since we all drink at different paces). So I order my 2nd drink, which actually turned out to be terrible. My mistake. So rather than whine about it and ask for a refund I ask for the server to order a new one and give the old one to my friend since she didn't mind the taste. The server then gets really testy and says we've already had too much and she's going to have to stop us now. When I explain to her that my drink sucks and I need a replacement she finally gives in. She spent most of the evening trying to avoid our table, and when we were finally ready to order sushi she was nowhere to be found. We weren't causing a rackus, we were not loud, we didn't look like scum in fact we were quite nicely dressed. Maybe we weren't the standard cougar clientele and that's what rubbed her the wrong way, or the fact that she's ~24 and most she's done with her life is work at Legal Harborside. Though I will say just an hour prior to this we all had an amazing dinner at LTK across the street. So I don't know what was the deal with these two girls. My friends ended up picking up the tab for me so I didn't see the final tally but I know for a fact all 5 were quite displeased and she did not get much of a tip. Too bad, such a fantastic view, some of best drinks in town, but we were treated so pi$$-poor.
(2)Nicole S.
I would give no stars if I could- fine dining on the 2nd floor is a joke. The menu is limited, overpriced and ultimate got me ill. We had an 8:30 reservation, and everything started out fine. We ordered a cold soup and calamari app, which came out in a normal amount of time, maybe 10 min from the order...and then we waited over an hour for the entrees from the time the apps were delivered- we didn't get the entrees til after 10pm after being sat at 8:30!!! The waiter never came back to check on us, we had to flag him down to order any drinks, and when we complained about how long it was taking he seemed indifferent. We waited longer, and were pretty upset, we had to ask for a manager, who tried to make it right and ultimately comped the whole bill- thank goodness for that. The filet which was supposed to be MR, came out rare, scallops undercooked and the burger we ordered without cheese came out as a cheeseburger. I ultimately couldn't keep any of the food down.....terrible service, terrible experience. Place was a joke- wasn't even busy. Ruined our nice night out visiting Boston from NYC. Terrible.
(1)Mike D.
Seafood in Boston is risky business sometimes. I often try to venture out to the other great seafood spots in town but Ive been let down oh so often. I consider this place my security blanket when it comes to seafood and here's why: In the 2 dozen times that I have been here, I have never been let down. I've been up and down the menu and honestly have experienced some of the best seafood I have ever had. The service has always been great and never spotty. The food preparation is always on point and the views are to die for. What a winning combination. Now if you are reading this and saying to yourself, well Ive been to other legals and the experience has just been ehh, trust me, there is something different about this one, they take the extra step to make sure everything is perfect for you. Stop thinking and just go!
(4)Kris E.
Great drinks and food! Definitely worth the trip, but a bit pricey. The views are really nice. The oysters were fresh and they have a nice selection. Our waiter was terrific. Giving 4 stars because the hostess was less than friendly and because it is a bit overpriced. Still a good experience.
(4)Chris R.
Friendly place - great food and service. There's a giant variety Vibe is relaxed and friendly. Recommend scallops, chowder and lobster rolls Ill be back!
(4)Lala I.
the dinner lasted almost 3 hours because of extremely slow service. the food is def better than your average legal seafood and the view was very enjoyable, but the it still has the average sucky chain restaurant service. very rude, chaotic, slow service. they even brought us the wrong food. wine was not so good either. it's a good place to bring a date, but i'd def explore more places in the seaport district before i return to this one.
(3)Salena M.
This is a review for the nicer, gourmet dining section. View is gorgeous with the high vast windows and elegant dining area. Food was okay... had abalone with lemon risotto that tasted mediocre even though the description sounds amazing. My husband got the grilled cobia (a type of white fish) with pomegranate bbq sauce and that was delicious. For kids - they are able to cook something simple like grilled chicken or salmon and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes were a hit with the kids served in "cute" little stainless steel pots If you're up to try another Legal Seafood restaurant, go for it, at least you can enjoy the view from the 2nd floor and drink some wine.
(3)Jill G.
gorgeous roofdeck view- one of my favorite spots for a "sunday funday". always packed with somewhat of a yuppy crowd, but a great place to go with friends. its actually different from the typical legal chain- they even have beers that Sams and Harpoon brew for them uniquely. Really great food- fresh fish!
(4)Mikaela H.
I dined at a window table on Floor 1. The view was incredible. I had never been to a Legal Seafood before and I appreciated our server telling us about the company history. I was very happy with the gluten free rolls and the crabmeat salad was simple and dleicious. If we left then I would have given Legal Harborside 5 stars. But then the entrees arrived... I ordered the fish in foil with no bacon, which unfortunately meant they had to leave off the mushrooms too because the bacon and mushrooms are apparently cooked together. This was disappointing because I love mushroms but don't eat pork. Anyway, when the fish came I opened the foil to find that the fish was literally SWIMMING IN BUTTER. To be fair, some people probably enjoy this but in my opinion, being served what must have been an entire stick of butter is REVOLTING and on the menu it just said "steamed haddock" so there was no warning. I literally could not eat it. My mom was willing to switch plates with me but her scallops were also far too heavy. Just thinking about the butter smell right now is making me nauseous. In summary, Legal Harborside has a lovely atmosphere and friendly staff but butter and salt are completely overused in an attempt to make rich dishes. Don't get be wrong, I enjoy flavorful food. But I do not enjoy food that is so intense I want to vomit because I can actually feel my arteries clogging. If you care at all about healthy food, do not eat here.
(2)Michelle P.
Usually I'm not into chain seafood restaurants but Legal is actually quite good and their seafood doesn't leave me screaming for the hills. Baked stuffed artichokes with scallops and shrimp. You must get this. I for one typically enjoy cheese and seafood together...if you don't, you probably should skip it. Their softshell crab BLT was good and my dining companions fish was delicious. I believe it was bass of some type. Overall service was good though prices are pretty high, but hey, the view was worth it....almost.
(4)Ira H.
I've been here twice in the past week. Last Wed on the roof deck at night. Awesome view and breeze. Good quick drink service. Went again this past Sunday for a family lunch. We tried for the roof deck but found out they only serve sushi and bar food up there. No problem. The host was very kind. We headed down to the 1st floor. Still had a great water view and breeze. It was a little more crowded. Service and food were great. Believe it or not, prices were reasonable for the 4 of us. Fish Tacos ($11), 2 kids lunches ($7 each,) small salad ($8) Fish tacos were excellent. I'll be back again.
(5)Daniel W.
The one star reviews of this restaurant are about as petty as petty gets. Downright laughable. The chowder is great and the Fisherman's stew is awesome. Yes, it will cost more than Red Lobster. Yes, it's busy and noisy. Yes, it's in a busy part of town near the convention center so there will trouble parking and parking fees.
(5)MyBroken J.
Wonderful service! Fantastic food! Beautiful ambience. The lobster soup is the best! The seafood was prepared to perfection! The filet was outstanding!
(5)Matt S.
I've been to both the restaurant and the rooftop area. Starting with the restaurant first, it is rather good and the atmosphere/decor pretty exciting and impressive. Legal seafood is pretty well known for having quality seafood so it's hard to argue there. The deck and seating area around there have a great view, but nothing beats the rooftop deck in that regards. Although the menu is more limited up there (just sushi and a couple of simple grill options), the view up there is excellent and is perfect for lunch on a nice day. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a bite to eat in the seaport area.
(5)Steve W.
This was a recommendation from my concierge. The wait was about 10 minutes before anyone came over to say hello. I was incorrectly placed in the wrong section by the hostess so I needed to move up 3 floors. The food offering was very limited and the service was not attentive. I was at the bar and needed to flag down the bartender on a few occasions to get anything, and he forgot to bring me my drink. The food was nothing special although the prices were on the high end. Definitely not worth the trip. Bad service, Bad food. Don't waste your time and money!
(1)Brian B.
Great place to stop in for sea food. The location is amazxing sitting directly on Boston Harbor. A bit pricey but worth the stop. Highly recommend!
(4)Josephine L.
This is actually a review for floor 2 of the Legal Harborside complex, but Yelp doesn't seem to have a listing for that. The space is undoubtedly gorgeous and perfect for a night of fine dining. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't meet expectations. I had the Halibut with lobster and the portions were absolutely tiny. A small hunk of fish, a few fried cauliflowers and two tiny pieces of lobster. It was good but I was finished within 5 minutes and still hungry. And all this for $38? For that matter, almost every entree on the menu is in the $30s and yet the portion size is consistently small. I also had a cosmo and while it was tasty, it was also incredibly watered-down and sugary and tasted nothing like a traditional cosmo. Within our party, we had 3 orders of cosmos and no two drinks ever turned out the same. I would have expected better from the bar. The Maple Leaf was quite good, though. I will give props for the service. Our party had a lot of trouble getting together on time (out-of-towners stuck in traffic) and the staff let us keep our reservation even though we were an hour late when we were finally seated. Our waiter(s) were pretty attentive throughout the meal and were quite friendly. So kudos to them.
(3)Jay P.
Have been here three times. Each time it has been insanely crowded, noisy and pretentious (most restaurants in Boston I have found to be this way - not sure what that is about, but they need to get over it! ). The food is pretty ordinary - which is sad as they do seem to have some really quality sea food at hand. The recipes and dishes are just totally lacking in anything that resembles creativity or an awareness of what is happening in the American culinary scene. Service has always been spotty and rushed. Prices are not insane, but they are not a good value either. My last visit was a disaster. I pretty much had to wait on myself - getting up several times to ask for things like condiments and silverware. Wow. Skip it, head in to a neighborhood and get something better.
(2)Jeremy L.
Legal definitely lived up to the hype for me. Had probably the best plate of scallops I've ever had. Also the size of the order was quite large. Also had a very tasty cup of clam chowder. All in all great experience and would highly recommend checking out Legal Harborside.
(4)Lindsey H.
This is my go to spot.. the food is always great, and it's conveniently located right across from my apartment. It has a great view of the harbor making the atmosphere nice and relaxing no matter what the time of day. I've been here with family for dinner as well as for drinks with friends and I can't say I've ever been disappointed. I would highly recommend the clam pizza, the oysters (they have a great selection), and their margaritas are delicious. Reservations are always a good idea...
(4)terry b.
We really enjoyed our visit here, we had a great server Jared that made really good suggestions. This restaurant is right on the water with great view and a really nice vibe. We would return again.
(4)Kelsey C.
The longer I wait to review the 2nd Floor of Legal Harborside, the lower its rating gets. So I figured I should get on it before the rating dips to zero. With a breathtaking waterfront location, pristine dining room, tasty drinks, and a menu that screamed of quality seafood, this imposing structure stood full of promise. This promise was manifest in the saintly patience of the staff. Thanks to a couple of incompetent cabbies, our group ended up being 45 minutes late for our reservation, but the host and hostess showed no signs of irritation. Unfortunately, when it was time to order, Legal Harborside showed its true colors. The majority of my table of 8 wanted to order it, and the remainder of the table was fatally allergic to half the things on it, but we were informed that it was not possible to accommodate that. Translation: order from the regular menu or die. Great service. Truly. The entrees weren't much either. My Olive Oil Poached Tuna was totally bland though the tuna was perfectly seared. Seared but not salted... The Misty Knoll Farms Chicken was better, and I was told that the Alaskan king crab topping theFilet Mignon was incredible. The dessert was a so-called chocolate mousse that turned out to be more of a gooey indecision. Too moist to be a brownie, too dry to be a mousse. Weird... I feel some residual guilt writing a bad review since the hosts were so polite about our tardiness, but I imagine it's easier to be patient when only half the dining room is full at 7 PM on a Friday night. I think I'd jump into the harbor before I came here again.
(2)I M.
Got the oysters as apps, really good selection can't complaint. The grilled swordfish was on the dry side, probably trying something different next time. Fries were ok, there are better options for sides on the menu.
(4)Michel D.
This is a review of the second-floor "gourmet" restaurant. I came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday with my wife and my in--laws - we were six in total and we all know our food and our wine. We have long been fans of Legal Seafoods, and have eaten in multiple locations throughout the Boston area, so we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this one. I have to say, it started well. The decor of the restaurant and the bar is nice, there is a galley where you can see the food being prepared, the tables are far enough from one another to provide privacy, there is nice view of the water and the lighting is well done. We had a drink at the bar before our meal, and the bartender made excellent cocktails and had detailed knowledge of the wines on hand. Then we were seated. The menu is dysfunctional. At first glance, there was nothing I wanted on it - I wanted to suggest we just go to the normal Legal on the first floor. It is a completely misguided attempt to be high end and gourmet. Everything is too complex, overdone and has too many things going on. It's alright to have some dishes like that, but on the seafood front, there was nothing that was not just a premium piece of fish, cooked to perfection with maybe just some lemon-butter-parsely on top of it and a side of super fresh vegetables. To be honest, most items made me think of a winter menu despite the fact that it was a beautiful August day. I don't think the staff here spends enough time on local markets to find the best in-season produce. We ordered oysters as appetizers, and the presentation was highly lacking. There were no small forks brought with the dish. The waiter messed up on our wines and we had to re-iterate who had ordered what wine before he went back to the bar to re-place our order. We had to ask for bread to be brought to the table, and the bread dish itself was ridiculous. The bread plate here consists of a few cuts arranged to look like some sort of sailboat, and at best enough for two people, never mind six. The main courses came out and did not deliver any "wow" factor. They were good, but nothing special and did not deserve the price tag they came with. Everyone ordered fish, and we all agreed that for the most part, the fish at the regular Legal is better at a fraction of the cost! We ordered our desserts and the order was blotched. The waiter had to go back to the kitchen to fix it. When our bill arrived, it was of course substantial, but we were expecting that. What we did not expect was the poor quality of our experience at that price. The service is amateurish and disorganized at best, and what's coming out of the kitchen is far from memorable. For the price, there are far better places to go for a memorable, satisfying experience. At least we had a beautiful view on the water throughout our meal!
(2)Erik O.
Roof deck review only It's nice, very trendy. Your own privet bathrooms. Decent drinks, a little pricy, and decent appetizer sized foods. The view is ok, but I must say that since it is n the otherwise of the WTC, ABG and whiskey priest have it beat, by a long shot. Cool spot though. Only complaint: it gets kinda crowded with douchy after workers.
(3)Richard R.
Lobster roll skimpy and only claws when compared to other Legal locations. Mussels and lobster pizza outstanding. Great outdoor patio on the water.
(4)Silvia V.
I ended up at Legal Harborside last Sunday (Mother's Day) with two friends for lunch. It was a lovely sunny day and eating by the water only made sense. We didn't have reservations and even though the restaurant was full, we ended up being seated at the bar overlooking the ocean as we walked in. We ordered a sample of 12 local oysters to share. They were fresh, juicy and very delicious. I had the grilled swordfish for lunch which came with barely any veggies even though the menu said it came with cucumber, tomato, chickpeas, fennel, basil, lemon olive oil dressing. The swordfish was good, but I was still hungry after lunch. My friend doesn't eat onions, so before ordering Yellowfin Tuna with orzo salad and sweet & sour Japanese eggplant she asked whether the side dishes contain any onions, the waitress said no. When our entrees very delivered both her side dishes were full of onions. We complained and got some ice cream free of charge. The ice cream was good even though it was plain old vanilla. Being there on a busy day we were surprised by how many times one of the waiters kept bringing food that other people ordered to us. It was a bit odd. Anyway, when you go to any of the waterfront restaurants you know that you are paying for the location and not necessarily for the quality or quantity of food. Go to Legal Harborside for oysters if not for anything else.
(3)Jessica W.
Best ever, their menu is totally different from the other legal seafood, the price is quite reasonable, but every dish has special creativity and good tasty. Totally love it.
(5)TinoX T.
Awesome View,Good Food
(4)Katherine D.
This review is strictly for a few experiences drinking on the upper floor. We got comfy seats, but if we hadn't it would have been way too crowded. The drinks were overpriced across the board. I know its the Seaport, but mixed drinks at over $10 is bad business. The crowd was rowdy for sure, and not really my scene. Our server was visibly agitated when I ordered a water. I'm sorry that I'm not made of money to take down an overpriced, and not very creative martini. I ended up with an alcoholic libation later, but she was resentful of the party for taking her prime real estate, even though the rest of us were indulging heavily. Pros, the space is nice. The view is great. I enjoyed the seating we snagged. The music was good, albeit a bit loud, and the door staff were very polite and pleasant.
(3)Jane H.
Eh, Legal is Legal. You probably won't be disappointed and it won't knock your socks off. I had some sort of fish taco thingie, liked my cocktail - a ginny//lemonady something or other. See what I mean? I liked everything, but nothing was truly memorable.
(3)Kim T.
2nd floor of Legal Harborside. I love the way this place is setup. 1st floor casual dining. 2nd fine dining. 3rd outside bar. There was a concert going on next store, score for us! I was visiting the home town and decided to come here for a nice dinner with my girlfriends. The waiters are so attentive, and so helpful with their food selections. It was a long dinner, but an exceptional one. We left with home made mini cookie instead of mints. :) I definitely will be back. Food: - Bread plate: ridiculous!! :) The corn bread, I think I had more than my share. Sorry, I love corn bread. - Melon Soup with Shrimp Salsa - Chef's surprise. Wasn't sure how this would taste, but wow! - Steamed Mussels: not too bad, but didn't wow me. Plus was that they were out of the shell - Butter Poached Lobster: holy crap. Yay for being completely de-shelled. The flavor was ridiculous!!! So sweet, and juicy. - Desserts: all were good! Don't remember what I ordered, but I left happy. Maybe I'll try the first floor this time, since they offer different food.
(5)Nathan S.
Was at the Boston Convention Center for a long weekend and the Legal Harborside was worth a repeated visit (3 Legal visits in two days). About me: live in western NY (I used to live in Boston), so being at the coast I wanted to consume as much seafood as possible. (Also strange, while living in Boston for 6 years, I never ate at a Legal, I suppose it was always available and therefore was never a significant priority for dining out). The seafood and views are very good with lots of great seats including bar/window seats that are perfect if dining by oneself. I'd have no complaints, but I also ate at the Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill location had 1) cheaper prices for oysters and little-necks; 2) a more extensive menu; and 3) a much larger lobster roll. Which makes me think maybe the restaurants are franchised? Regardless, I had a great overall experience, friendly and helpful staff, and surprisingly, I didn't feel the least bit ill after consuming lots of fish and raw seafood. Legal's lobster roll is one of the best you'll find anywhere. The clam chowder was good, but didn't blow my expectations out of the water. And of course, the oysters and little-necks were great, but my ability to compare quality is limited.
(4)Bob S.
This place is constantly busy, busy, busy!! I like the way the interior is arranged so that each seat gets a view of the harbor. The waitstaff is knowledgable and profesional (we've been here multiple times), the menu is very diverse giving customer's plenty of options to choose. I had the wood grilled sea scallops (outstanding) that came with two side dishes. I chose sauteed spinach with pine nuts and sweet and sour japanese eggplant. The meal was excellent, the portions were really enough to split if you weren't crazy hungry and again, service outstanding.
(4)Rossi F.
Food and location were great but overall wasn't super impressed with the service. Two weeks ago I made a reservation for a party of 7 people for Sat 3/23. I called a few days before hand to tell them it was going to be 9 people, they had to bump our reservation from 8:30 to 9:00 in order to accomodate us. I understand that. But then when we got there at 8:50pm on Saturday they handed us a pager and said they were not sure when our table would be ready. After I checked in with a manager twice, complaining that we were celebrating a birthday and had plans after dinner, we were finally sat at 9:45. My girlfriend ran into a friend from work at the bar who was still waiting at 9:30pm for her 8:30pm reservation. They sent over a couple of free apps to the table but that was that. Our server was very informal and almost came across as rude. After waiting 45 minutes for a reservation and receiving less than mediocre service, I don't plan on going back. Maybe during a less busy time, but certainly not on a Saturday night.
(3)Alireza S.
Being a local who lives in the neighborhood, have been here many times to show what Boston's seaport district has to offer. While the location and the view is unbeatable, regretfully, I have to say the staff has one of the worst attitudes you can find in Boston. The food is mediocre at best, the ambience is mixed and in a nutshell, if you are a tourist who doesn't know his/her way around or doesn't care or know much about great service or food quality and would just like to spend a night in "any" restaurant with a harbor view, this is your pick. If they want to maintain the legacy of the Legal Seafood brand/franchise, they better step up their game as competition is in the corner and having just a beautiful waterfront view wouldn't cut it.
(1)jamie l.
The rooms were very nice (nice design and great view)...but the restaurant is huge and feels that way. The food was just okay. Nothing to get excited about - just a big factory for tourists. We won't go back.
(2)Erin C.
On Saturday night around 6:30 my date and I headed down to try to grab a table for dinner on the 2nd floor. There was about a 30-40 minute wait so we just hopped up to the 3rd floor for some drinks. We split some oysters and a small pitcher of the White Sangria. Both were good, but nothing outstanding. I was a little disappointed that the bartender seemed to forget who we were and what we ordered every time he tried to give us someone else's order. He was nice though so that kind of made upf or it. Our experience on the 2nd floor was expensive but tasty. We split the mussels which was enough for both of us to have about 2 bites each. For my entree I had the sable and my date had the salmon. Both were cooked perfectly and super tasty. Our dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with cranberry sauce was sweet and tangy plus the perfect size for two people. The only thing that drove me nuts was our server. He was a bit of a pain and didn't seem pleased that we weren't ordering multiple appetizers. After we ordered he actually didn't stop by once to ask us how our meal was, fill up water or anything. I'd definitely be back to try the first floor and check out the 3rd floor when the place is opened up.
(3)Diana Y.
--------LUNCH ONLY-------- This particular restaurant has a really nice setting in terms of ambiance. But that's pretty much it. NOTE** Neptune's was my first stop in Boston so that set the (high) standard of what all lobster rolls should be. Ordered the
(3)Brittany H.
i hate chain restaurants... i''ll repeat.... HATE them.... BUT i suppose the only reason why i've been dragged here is to check out the amazing view of the waterfront and to hang out with my amazing friend. otherwise... i've been conned. flipside...we had a table for two outside. the view was breathtakingly beautiful on a saturday afternoon. the downside... food was mediocre and downright terrible. calamari would have been better if the batter wasn't so soggy. i had the tuna burger... and sadly, wish i would have ordered the lobster roll instead. also, the only oysters worth ordering were OUT that day!!!! :( flipside... our waitress was extremely patient and funny with us. i was a pain in the ass and frowned at everything... however, she graced us with her humor. had their sangrias...not as good as it used to be, but still enjoyable on a hot, dry day. let's face it... i paid for the experience...not the food. gladly come back to sit outside on the patio for drinks and apps only.
(2)Michelle M.
I absolutely love Legal Seafoods! Because I have recently been diagnosed with gluten and dairy allergy I am quite limited in my options. Not to worry fellow non-gluten eaters. They have a gluten free menu and gluten free rolls to die for!! I am serious!! I have never tasted anything so delicious AND gluten free at the same time. I can even go as far as saying that those rolls are better than any gluten bread. I do remember the clam chowder which was the best but I had to be OK with the gluten free version which is nothing to compare but still OK. Any seafood you chose is beyond delicious, grilled shrimp is delish, all done a la perfection. They have a policy to serve clients with any allergies by their managers. Always attentive, pleasant servers, quick service, 5 star food= happy always returning customers! I give LSF a five star!
(5)Brad E.
We started out with a terrific wine Cakebread chardonnay. Always a plus. We asked our waiter to recommend some oysters for an appetizer. He selected 4 different oyseters: Wianno XL, Glidden Pt, Kumamoto, and the wellfleet all of which were fantastic. We both liked the Wianno XL's best. For entrees, I had the grilled swordfish and my wife had the ahi. Both were cooked perfectly. The fish was the star of the show without sauces or other items to cover the taste of the fish. We had some interesting sides: soba noodles and orzo salad. Both dishes were interesting and went well with the fresh fish. For dessert, we had the boston creme pie, coffee tres leche, and chocolate mocha cake. The boston creme pie was not great. It was fine but wasn't something I'd have again. The coffee tres leche was light and simply melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. My wife's favorite was the chocolate mocha cake. The flavor was good and the texture was smooth and creamy. I am a fan.
(4)Morgan D.
Went here for some birthday celebration cocktails and it was beauuuutiful!! As a visitor, I was blown away by the gorgeous view. I live near a waterfront city and man, I have never seen a place like this in Baltimore. This is one of those spots where you feel that 'grown and sexy' cliche. AND I ENJOYED IT. It's nice to be around peers that are dressed up for the night out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the OMG I need to be decked out for tonight types...but it definitely is nice to go out all glammed up with the girls. And rarely do I want to feel like an 'adult', but it was a nice change. Met some great people, had a great time. Boston, I love you!
(4)Michael C.
Holy smokes is this place a zoo on a beautiful Friday night in August. Do not even think about arriving without a reservation or be prepared to wait, and wait and wait some more. Floor 1: As with the entire restaurant, it has killer views with a great decor but God All Mighty is this place crowded. Floor 3: 25 years ago I would have loved this floor. Again, absolutely killer views of the harbor and Logan. The area has wonderful outdoor seating, a great bar and is I suspect a gold mine.....the drinks were flowing and the cash was rolling in. Back to the 25 years ago; the average age was well south of mine and my wife's and the noise level well north of what I regard as normal. Beating a hasty retreat we head to floor 2. Ahhhh...now this is my kind of place. The bar again has to die for views with wonderfully comfortable chairs and beyond competent bartenders. Passing on my usual Martini, I ordered a Manhattan. So good I ordered a second....after a cold stare from my wife I reluctantly passed on the third one. We had diner with friends sitting outside. On an a perfect 80 degree no humidity night, it does not get much better than this. The menu is surprisingly light on fish offerings however what they have is excellent. Portions are a bit small, I think they need to be a bit more generous. What they do serve is fresh and wonderfully presented. The staff are as well trained as I have ever experience anywhere. I am not sure how they do it but all staff are polite and obviously well trained. Valet park your car; it is only 12 bucks. That makes up a bit for the expense. Granted we had 2 bottles of wine and desert however dinner for 4 was $345.00 before tip so bring the wallet.
(4)Craig Z.
My second meal here (on the first floor) was better than my first. Steamers were the best I have ever had, I love the seaonsal crisp dessert every time--though I wish it had a little less crisp and a little more ice cream--and the crab and pepperoni pizza was incredible! Service is a little clueless, but nice.
(5)Jules H.
I'm a longtime customer of Legal's, but this was my first trip to the new location. I have to say, I've always been a fan of LS because the seafood is fresh and simply prepared, so you can really enjoy the quality. The staff are always really well-trained and friendly, and the drinks are strong. All of this held true at the Harborside spot. We started with some killer drinks and edamame on the 3rd floor, and I have to second what a lot of folks here are saying - the third floor is too small. It's only going to get more crowded as this neighborhood develops, too. But there was a private party blocking off half the space, so that was an added factor. The view is awesome, being there after dark made Eastie look almost majestic :) Also, a free coat check (and shout out to the very friendly ID-check dude) made the whole bar experience WAY easier. We ate on the first floor, and I loved the shrimp corndog, a really creative starter that came with a DELICIOUS mango mustard. I had scallops and fried for my main, and they were as good as always - the sides (especially the mashed potatoes) at LS are always REALLY good, simple and fresh. And they're very easygoing about customizations - many times I've requested or had someone in my party request something that's not on the menu, and they've never said no or made it feel like a hassle.
(4)Sheila B.
So I love this place. This our family dinner spot, with a toddler, it's fancy enough for my husband and myself and my toddler gets to eat some really good chicken tenders and french fries. What's not to like, NOTHING... I have been here probably 10x in the last year. I love, the atmosphere, the view, the service is top notch, it's not pretentious, the bathrooms are clean (and they have a changing table). I can always find a meter spot down the street. They have very attentive staff. The food, I haven't' eaten one bad thing here, my favorites, are the tuna special I had last night crusted in panko, with wasabi cream sauce, the lobster dinner stuffed tail, every piece of fish, oyster, crab, scallop, mussel and shrimp this place brings to the table is of high quality. I can't say enough good things. True story, we bought $200 worth of gift cards to give as x-mas gifts and we kept them for ourselves, we love you LHS !! Thank you for being so awesome as always.. see you soon !
(5)Raphael D.
Ocean scallops are fussy creatures on the grill or in the pan. Five seconds too early and you have an undercooked scallop. Ten seconds too long and you have a rubbery nugget that could have been a decadent morsel as soft as butter. Here they're somewhere in between. Gonna stick with the lobster or the filets next time. Other than that they have a great beer selection, clams and oysters were super fresh and delicious, amazing view if your table is near the water and the service was pretty spot-on.
(3)Melissa M.
First off, I do not eat seafood. In fact, I pretty much despise it. OK moving on...I come here for one reason only- the view from the roof deck. I used to also come here for their Coconut Lemonade but they no longer have it on their cocktail menu :( The first floor is loud, the second floor looks pretty but I've never actually seen anyone eating there or heard of anyone who ate there. The roof is where it's at. I prefer to walk all the way to the end on the right, away from the bar and the covering. The bar area is really packed and I like to have enough elbow room just in case I feel the need to break out into the chicken dance. I feel the crowd is at its best after work or late afternoon/early evening on the weekend. Late night can get a little weird. They have a decent wine list, although it takes roughly 35 minutes to actually get your drink. The wait staff have always been very pleasant, but they are soooooo slow. Going to the restroom can be a bit tricky, especially if you are on the right end of the deck. You must walk through the bar area. Now, although I should be flattered since I am in my mid 30's, I really don't think it's necessary to be groped by drunk business men every time I have to pee. You have to squeeze by them and not once have I made a successful bathroom trip without getting brushed up upon or goosed. It reminds me of The Purple Shamrock in 1998...anyways...the bathroom situation itself can be fun, especially if you witness first timers who are a little tipsy. The bathrooms are single stall rooms and the "womens" and "mens" stalls are not separated. AND to make it even more exciting, there is a mirror on the wall that makes it appear as though there are more stalls and I have seen several people walk into the mirror thinking it was part of the hallway. I know this is hard to visualize but if you do go to this location and use the restroom you will know exactly what I am talking about. So overall, Legal Harborside has a great view of the water and the fancy boats, nice-yet slow wait staff and good drinks.
(3)I.m M.
To the manager at Legal Harborside: I never got to thank you for the complimentary Boston Cream Pies you sent to my table because my raw seafood platter was a little late. That's ok, you're all right! It really made my final day in Boston very pleasant. Thanks! Take a look at the presentation of the raw seafood platter: somone commented that they didn't think Legal Seafood could be so fancy. It's like the crab is attacking the oysters. See photo above.
(5)Jessica B.
This was our second visit with a reservation in hand, on our first attempt we couldn't get a table. If you like to see and be seen, I guess this might be a good place to plant your twenty-year-old, daddy's credit card carrying, casually faded jeans-clad booty. If you're an aging curmudgeon sitting outside with the Flaming Lips blasting from the Bank of America Pavilion, maybe not so much. It's very loud outdoors when a band is playing, although the view is pretty. We sat on the first floor and may have gotten some kind of reduced cafe menu. My shrimp cocktail had medium sized shrimp jammed in a jar, rather than the large cocktail shrimp I am used to at Legals. My husband ordered a lobster roll and it was half the size of a normal one at Legals. What. The food was just plain bad. Our waitress was surly. The food didn't live up to the usual mall Legal's fare. I suspect things are swanker on the second floor, but I don't think I will be back to find out. There is a reduced fare parking lot across the street.
(2)Monica B.
My girl friends and I, planned a girls night out starting out at this place, on a Saturday night. We went to the Third Floor, actually. First, it took the "hostess" close to 5 minutes to check our four IDs, they have to run them at this ID verification scanner and he didn't know how to use it... We weren't seated, we had to find a table and when we finally did, it was dirty and it wasn't until we asked them is when they cleaned it. The employee poured some liquid on the table and I thought it was going to spill all over me because it was so much.... The waitress was really pleasant to talk to and friendly but, it took them forever to take our drinks order, maybe 20 minutes. We had a purple Jesus and a Senor Coconut, they were both fantastic. It took them 30 minutes more, to take our order for food and another 30 minutes to serve the food. We all order sushi! I've been to sushi places before and they have never taken this long, even when we ordered a sushi boat! The sushi tasted good and everything tasted very fresh - I'll give them that - but, the rolls were falling apart! We ALL are sushi lovers and we know how to use chop sticks but, in some cases my friends even had to grab the pieces with their hands because it was ridiculous. We also ordered the only dessert available, chocolate cake. It was dry and just plain bad. I've been to other Legal Sea Foods and it's been so much better than this place. The atmosphere was weird too, it seem as though the manager isn't sure what market he is aiming at and you have a combination of young professionals feeling awkward, singles in their late 40's and 50's looking to "catch" young women in their 20's (such as myself and friends) and families who want to enjoy family dinner. The only two things I liked about this place in particular is obviously the gorgeous view and the drinks. Nothing else was good.
(2)Robert W.
We sat at the bar, which was great for people watching. Super service, food was ok, trying some food we hadn't tried before. Staff was wonderful. Night, so didn't see how it looked during the daytime. We'll try it again next time we're in Boston!
(4)Liz L.
Review is only for rooftop bar. The problem with Boston is that we have SO many awesome bars with so few roof decks. With that in mind, if you're looking for a bar with a rooftop view of the harbor, Legal Harborside is the place to be. It's also the place to be if you want to spend $10+ on well drinks, rub elbows with a whole bunch of people who think they need to be seen, and practice your funny accents - you'll be saying "Nope, we're not leaving" at least 200 times while you're there. Service was wonderful, view was beautiful... everything else made me feel like I was in a reality tv show.
(2)Sonia D.
I was there a few days ago and had oyster and bubbly at the bar downstairs and then headed upstairs for drinks on the roofdeck. It was all around a great experience and I would love to have an event on the roof deck someday. The area upstairs is beautiful and the drinks are great as well. I will definitely be back for dinner and will be able to rate better on the food. Keep up the good work Legal's!!
(4)Mary P.
While visiting Boston recently, we made reservations at Legal Seafood Harborside. This location of Legal Seafood has a very different menu from the other Legals in which we have had meals. This location is not for children. The menu is extremely limited and nearly every option includes some food with which the average person has never been acquainted. Two in our party ordered steak in this seafood restaurant because not one of the other options sounded appealing. If you are fond of very artistically designed foods on your plate and you don't mind spending a medium sized fortune, and you do not have children with you, then you might enjoy. We believe that Legal Seafood should not have it's name on this establishment since it is so wildly different from every one of the other locations. Look at menu before making reservations.
(2)John M.
Mrs M. and myself spent a slow afternoon here in the bar people watching and water gazing while gorging ourselves on food and wine before a concert next door. The place is jamming at 3 PM on a Wednesday afternoon. We got a few spots at a bar facing outwards to enjoy the great view. I demolished two plates of oysters that were super fresh and wifey had the calamari which came with a wonderful dipping sauce and a few fried peppers that he said were awesome. Then we both had fish and chips which were very tasty and fresh. The service was great, the atmosphere was fantastic and the food was on par with what you'd typically expect from Legal's. All in all is was fantastic and I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Kelly C.
Here's my tip. MAKE A RESERVATION! I don't care when you are going, a Tuesday at 8pm, Reservation. Wednesday at 3pm, reservation. There was a 90 min wait on a pouring down rain Tuesday night. I would have turned around if it hadn't been my husbands birthday. It's not worth a 90 min wait, but I can't think of anywhere in Boston that really is. We did get to take advantge of the roof deck(3rd level) but since it was raining, it wasn't as nice since it was closed in and it was EXTREMEMLY loud from the people, music and the rain bainging on the flat roof. The food on level 1 was tasty and didn't disappoint. Pretty quick service too.
(4)Mrs H.
I am writing an update from the review i posted in 7/1/13 The review I left I forwarded directly to customer service at Legals. That day I received an email from their Manager of Guest Services, JoAnne O'Neill. Ms O'Neill apologized for our experience and followed up her e-mail with a phone call from their Manager of Customer Relations. At this point they had spoken with the staff and wanted to hear my side. Asking people to vacate tables due to how long they have been there is NOT their policy. My guess is the manager and bouncers do this to receive quiet tips, much the way a doorman does so that you do not have to wait in line. They handled my complaint with seriousness, concern and diplomacy. Ms O'Neill also sent a hand written apology to me, completely unexpected and yes, it impressed as well as touched me. Due to how responsive Legal Seafood was I have raised my rating by one star. I will absolutely go back and I am hoping to give it five :-)
(3)Robert L.
Sat on deck facing harbor on a beautiful night. Dinner was great. Service was fantastic.
(5)Paul S.
The view and decor is great. Services was steller. Now lets talk food. Well I'm not impressed. I ordered the mug of New England clam chowder and it was filled with potatoes. I think I bit into maybe 4-5 clams at max. It was also lacking some flavor. I had a better bowl at the Dallas/FT Worth terminal on the same day. Now forth clam steamers. They were a nice size clams, but filled with grit. I think I still have sand in my teeth. The flavor was just ok. The only thing good here was my drink.
(1)Carolina N.
This was the second time I went here. I thought the first time was great, but this time was mediocre at best. We were a large party (8) and arrived on time and were seated on time. However, the rest of the service was very slow. A lot of time passed between our drink order and appetizer order, and we waited 30+ min for our entrees. The waiter avoided contact with our table, probably because he knew it was taking so long. Drinks: The white sangria with St. Germaine and the top shelf margarita are great. Appetizers: We had oysters from Wellfleet and BC which were great, as were the bruschettas (1. tuna, 2. gorgonzola with fig). Entrees: I had a swordfish special with brussel sprouts and potatoes, which was ok. The people in our party who ordered the yellowfin tuna said it was bland. All in all, it was an underwhelming experience, which was particularly disappointing because of my previous good experience.
(3)Jaclyn N.
The rooftop lounge has gorgeous views of the water. The sushi is good, the sangria was too sweet.
(4)Colleen H.
Definitely my favorite restaurant on this strip of Seaport lovelies! The decor is perfect, oyster selection makes me smile, the Sauv Blanc they have ON TAP is pretty reasonable. It's crazy, I know, I'm drinking keg wine? But if Legal's pushing it -- it's gotta be ok. And it is. They have a swordfish and basil salad that's delicious. A little small in portion, but perfectly balanced flavors. My gf loved the margaritas too. Definitely a go-to for our office lunches!
(4)Jenna P.
MMMMM. This place has 3 awesome things that I can't really put thumbs down to. OYSTERS, Hendrick's Gin, Waterfront views. This place is absolutely beautiful inside and has multiple floors. There's a few different levels with different vibes as well. Good for a dinner date, drink with friends, a nice light meal before a show at the pavilion, or just because. Pretty expensive but what can you expect for the location? Awesome seafood, great drinks and can't beat the view! A MUST TRY!
(4)Mindy L.
So um...I have a bone to pick with the bartenders here. I think that they are attempting to deliberately get me completely and totally sh1t-faced on a regular basis. I have two, sometimes three white sangria's (arguably the best sangria I have had in the Boston area) and I get bombed. This has happened on multiple occasions so I feel justified in calling them out at this point. What the heck do you put in there? Grain alcohol? Whatever it is. I like it. Please keep on erasing my memories of the evenings I spend with you.
(4)Anthony L.
The raw bar downstairs is excellent with lots of selection of local New England tasties. Upstairs has a beautiful dining room but the service is horrible. I'll just say that most of the team was young and inattentive and aloof. The Shrimp coctail was impressive, the filet was good, the cod was great. i probably wouldn't recommend it because the service was so bad.
(3)Dan P.
My girlfriend works right across the street, so we tend to hit this place up right after work. Its always packed. When our friends from out of town come in, we bring them here since we know we'll get a good meal. To date, we've only had one problem with a special, Seafood Mac and Cheese, which they left the tails on the shrimp. This was quickly taken care of, and I even had a manager come out and apologize and offer me another meal. Our go to is the Tuna Burger, sooooo good.
(5)Edward B.
Not sure what all the hype is about, so they're on the water, so is the airport. Went last week with colleagues for a holiday lunch. There were 5 of us, sat us on a table that was really a 4 top. Had to ask for another table to be connected. Maybe I'm just not as impressed as others. No water served at the table, waiter was okay, and way to hyper. It's just an overpriced, fast casual dining experience. I ordered a shrimp dish, med-small, which blew my mind. Save your money and pull over to a seafood shack up north or down on the cape.
(2)Theresa M.
I went to Legal Harborside the other day dinner with some friends, as we happened to be in the area. What a lovely place that has been doing a booming business...i.e. lines around the building and a two hour wait. We were lucky and got seated on the deck outside. The service was superb. Our waiter was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We had a few drinks (try the Razz Lime Ricky), and we each had a crab cake app. Yum. Our entrées were also very good. Although next time I plan to try the pasta and shrimp dish over the fisherman's trio...but it was very good. My dining companions were also very happy with their meal selections. No complaints. We even tried the ice cream bon bon's, which were ok, but I probably would not bother with them again. Save a little money off the check. The prices were what you expect at Legal's. Oh yea, the décor was lovely and everything was very clean and neat. Anyway, I love the area, so I will definitely be back...hopefully next time we'll check out the 3rd floor roof deck for some cocktails. P.S. Floor 1 is casual, Floor 2 is fine dining...
(4)Sandra J.
Celebrated my son's 15th birthday at Legal's Harborside yesterday afternoon. Experience was excellent! We sat on the deck, loved the view. The two adults of the group were pleased with the Yum Berry Sangria and the Legal Sangria...thank you! Given Legal Seafoods is a chain restaurant, Legal Seafoods Harborside does not have that feel. To avoid an unpleasantly long wait (it is highly poplular), I recommend you make a reservation. As a group, we ordered the calamari and oysters for appetizers and my sons each ate and raved about the clam chowder. I was very pleased that with the help of our exceptional server, Kevin, my sons tried oysters for the first time. They were fresh and delicious (although the birthday boy decided they aren't meant to be eaten unless you are on an island, starving to death -- but he tried one!). Everyone enjoyed their meals, and while I don't recommend yesterday's wild salmon special (I strayed from my normal much loved meals to try something new), the food is always delicious.
(5)Amy N.
Tall Ships weekend. Rooftop lounge review. Great drinks. We had a pitcher of Purple Jesus sangria and a few plates of sushi for lunch. smaller menu up here. Very good for not super authentic sushi. Grab a table by the window with couches around a coffee table. The view and the breezes are worth the trip alone. The room is airy, sunny and fun. Music is a bit club-like. I would have preferred some steel drums in this space at lunch time. There are outdoor deck areas on top and an indoor spot with AC if it's a scorcher of a day. Staff was attentive and not rushing us out. Many of them have radio head sets on and some serious bouncer types in suits gave a "men in black" vibe. That was all I would change... the music and the suits. The top floor should be like a tropical get away... a Margarita-ville of the North. Put those dudes in white untucked linen shirts and shorts and lose the Rap. Fair prices. The first and second floors look fantastic too. I would love to come back and try every level. Even though it is part of a chain, it does not feel that way here. The first floor looks very family friendly. There is a fishing pool for the little kids to try to catch something in. They were loving that!!
(4)Winnie K.
Came here for lunch last week, before I started my shift @ my p/t job. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I decided to have lunch on open the roof deck. I had a great view of Boston Harbour. I ordered the Spider Maki roll (soft shell crab,& avocado, cucumber, tobiko, spicy mayo, teriyaki) & a order of Maguro Tuna nigiri (2 pieces). So fresh & yummy. It is a great place to take sit, relax & take in the great view. Almost like a little slice of heaven up here.
(5)Donna D.
Very good $$$ food service very speedy with the handheld computers. Valet parking $20 w/o validation $12 w/stamp. Throwback section on menu interesting offerings.
(4)Robert M.
This review is for the design and vibe of the place. This is definitely playa stuff and whomever came up with the amazing idea of the level is of entertainment is brilliant. First floor is family-friendly, second floor a step up in service, and the third floor is all out over-the-top party.
(5)Brandon T.
What a phenomenal place! Hard to know where to begin when writing my review. First off the place is seemingly brand new inside and out. Beautiful patio for a romantic dinner on a warmer night then late september. Suprised they dont have heaters out there yet. Food to match any budget depending on the level you are on. There are several different menus ranging from grilled haddock to sea bass and foie. Perfect for a date night, or any night out for that matter. Wish I lived closer so I could be there more often! We had a great bottle of chardonnay, several outstanding oysters, and some nice fish dishes. I would recommend coming here to anyone! Also a bonus: There is a music venue close by that you can hear on nice nights. Possibly a great idea to see if someone you or your date really likes is playing, and make a reservation that same evening?? Cant think of a better suprise date night.
(5)Tina L.
My first dining experience here with 3 close friends after work to celebrate a birthday. Restaurant was warm inviting and the view was just awesome. However the service and food was another story. Hate to say it but our waitress was too new to be on her own. Had no clue of anything on the menu or bar. She was nice and very pleasant but that was just NOT enough. 2 of my friends ordered the chicken lobster and both was not cooked properly. When we open the head the tomalley was still black which meant it was not cooked enough to eat. Another friend had the swordfish special; I was told the fish was bland and sat in a wilty tasteless mush. I order the protégées seafood stew; not too impressed. Our waitress never showed to see if we were ok; by the time she did come by we were done. We wanted another round of drinks so we asked what kind of tequila they had; she had no idea and started to poke at her order machine frantically. She got so frustrated that she shoved it in my face and told me to pick one from her list. At this point were just trying to make the best of it since it is a celebration and all. We kept waiting for someone to come back so we can order a cake/dessert for the birthday girl ... Waitress never came by but to drop off our check.
(1)Travis B.
so i was visiting the in-laws in boston, and they always, always, ALWAYS treat us to Legals. i am never disappointed. this new locale, as many other reviewers have already stated, consists of 3 levels...level 1 for the regular folks (although at Legals prices, i say that with much chagrin), level 2 is apparently like life....for the upper class. and level 3 i heard was a bar/lounge. we had reservations at 5pm and were seated at a magnificent table facing the habah. the air was cool and damp and the atmosphere was just splendid. we split a lobstah pizza and although skeptical at first, with that initial bite i was sold. cheesy and lobster-y, without tasting fishy. we downed it immediately. i had an open faced tuna sandwich and wound up not even eating the bread. my tuna was fine, but not as grand as other Legal experiences. everyone else at the table remarked how much they enjoyed their food. the ma in law noted however that her steamed spinach side dish was very oily (which it was). i also had a cup of chowdah and although it was hot as lava, i relished every rich, creamy bite. our server was an absolute doll. she was attentive and smiled as if she loved working there. i think we all appreciated her work. i was a bit miffed at the door staff....they had a very aloof personality. overall, great views and atmosphere, but hopefully next time we're in town, we'll hit up one of the other traditional menu'd Legals.
(4)Daniel L.
I came to Boston for seafood and Legal Harborside is certainly a required stop. The raw oysters were as sweet and tasty as I have ever had. The rare ahi tuna melted in your mouth.
(5)Nicole M.
Wasn't very impressed with my meal and neither was anyone else in my group of five. The place was packed with people and quite noisy. The food really isn't flavorful. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(2)Amy C.
Wow! We came here on a (very busy) Thursday night. We were significantly late for our reservation due to traffic, and I had called to let them know. I completely expected to wait upon arriving, but to our surprise they still had a table for us, outside like I had requested, and perhaps one of the best tables in the restaurant. And the hostess was super pleasant. We had clam chowder and steamers to start, and then yellowfin tuna and a seafood pasta dish for entrees. Everything was fantastic. And then for dessert, we shared a chocolate cake that was absolutely to die for. Our waiter was fantastic- very attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. All of this combined with one of the best views in Boston- can't beat it. We'll be back!
(5)Bryn B.
Lobster roll was awesome! I have never had a lobster that fresh in my life! I thought the lobster hopped right out of the water into my sandwich! Definitely worth it!
(5)Jocelyn E.
Meh. The thing this place has going for them is their location. The view on the back patio is pretty nice. Who doesn't want to eat overlooking water? This is also the only waterfront seating restaurant on the dock that didn't resemble a bar. We have a one year old, so a place with a kid's menu and high chairs are a must. The hostesses were nice and accommodating. They did a great job seating us where we wanted to be seated. When we first got out back on the patio they had seated us in the corner... Where there was sun. The girl who had taken us to our table had no issues reseating us to another spot in the back, away from the sun. Our waitress was nice, but flaky. I mean, really flaky. She would consistently forget things and we rarely saw her. If you asked for something you she wouldn't remember it until she came back out, saw you, and then would apologize for what she had forgotten and go and come back right away (Tip: Maybe you should do it right away so you don't forget.). Her excuse to another table was that she had too many tables to wait, both inside and out. The food was okay. We had the clam chowder (that was good), I had the lobster roll (good, not great), my son had the Wooden Grilled Shrimp (WAY TOO SALTY!), and my hubby had the fried clam basket (which would have tasted better, had it not sat under a heat lamp for too long before being served). Everything came with a pile of fries. If you ever want just fries, this is the place for you. Our bill was a little under $60 when we were done, including tax (and before tip). I would've tipped less, but understanding that tips are typically split and the rest of the staff still deserved something despite our waitress's lackluster service, we still left about 15%. Hubby pretty much said the same thing. Plus let's be honest, my kid threw most of his not-very-good food all over the deck and someone is going to have to clean that up...
(2)Michael C.
Legal Harborside is a welcome addition to Boston but is far from as perfect as it looks. Each floor is technically considered a separate restaurant, here is my breakdown: Floor 1: The typical Legal seafood dining experience. All of the menu selections you know and love (or not). We sat at the bar and had bunch of oysters, our favorite were the Wianno XL's and Wellfleet's. The Sangria is also pretty tasty. The big selling point for this place is the open air dining the wharf offers when they open their retractable windows. They also have a fish market on this floor. Floor 2: The second floor is their fine dining restaurant. One major problem is they make it a huge pain to get up to the second floor, you have to get your ID checked by a host (bouncer?) to get up there, even during the day. It is gorgeous, like downstairs has an expansive open kitchen, a private dining room for functions, and a small area for patio dining. Floor 3: This is the fun floor. Retractable roof, good bar/lounge set up, a good crowd, and good music. This is a perfect spot for a summer day. Really amazing views of Boston!
(4)Mark O.
This review is strictly pertaining to the 2nd/3rd floor bar life on weekends. MA residents pride themselves on being welcoming, tolerant individuals. But when a bouncer on the decks bounces the one Indian man in the bar, without reason or circumstance, it makes me never want to come back again; I've never been so embarrassed for a colleague. I can guarantee that I will never, ever, return to this bar. If you're paid to "watch the bar" that doesn't attain to discrimination. Don't expect any more business from me, or my company, ever again.
(1)Jen G.
Go to place for sushi
(5)Juls B.
I'm giving this 5 stars mostly because of our waitress. It was my husband's birthday, and they seated us at a really nice table on the first floor next to the window with a view of the harbor. It was a bit noisy, but the ambience was just perfect for the two of us. My husband ordered the oysters on the half shell and absolutely loved them. He also ordered the yellowfin tuna medium rare, however he'd wished he had ordered it rare as it was a bit overdone for his liking. I had the salmon with the mashed potatoes and garlic green beans, it was fabulous. We were too full for dessert but the waitress insisted on bringing my husband birthday dessert which they comped us. Excellent service. I would highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions.
(5)Steve L.
Went there for lunch and enjoyed the view and the great service. Upstairs not open for lunch. Great clam chowder, lobster roll, crab salad, scallops - I guess anything seafood. Can't wait for my next visit!
(4)Lee P.
We love Legal Seafood in general. The Harborside location is the best design they have come up with yet. [We are talking about the first floor restaurant here, not the pricey second floor or the rooftop hipster bar.] Had a great table right on the water with perfect weather. Mike was a super waiter and very well versed in the menu and wines. Our meals were perfectly prepared and delicious. The wine list is only slightly over retail - with great choices and lots by the glass. You can't do wrong at Legal. They beat all the other seafood restaurants.
(5)Kimberley S.
This review is for the 3rd floor outdoor roof deck. Boyfriend and I came here for a very warm marathon Monday. We walked throughout Faneuil and South Boston hoping to sate our beer and lobster craving. Rather than sit outside on park benches and eat an inexpensive roll from a nice fish shack, we opted to try legal. I was skeptical at first. The new legal harborside had always seemed a little trendy, and I was concerned that in coming here we would be paying for the atmosphere and not the food. I was worried - nothing worse than a mayo-drenched lobster roll. Not to worry - Legal harborside does it right. We both got the lobster rolls we were craving, which were perfect. A wonderful buttery grilled bun, chock-full of very sweet and flavorful lobster. Barely discernable mayo. The roll was pure, sweet, and meaty. It was a wonderful treat for such a hot and sunny day. The chips that came with it were fantastic. We saw about 100 sushi rolls walk by and the raw tuna looked amazing. We'll be trying that next. Boyfriend commented how recently we'd hit a spot of bad luck as it pertained to service, and we were a little down about it. The service this afternoon was spot-on. Fast, friendly, attentive. "Very refreshing," as boyfriend put it. The food is great. The atmosphere can't be beat. Not a bad seat in the house overlooking the water. Service was impressive. We can't wait to come back. (love)
(5)Anna T.
This review is only for the 3rd floor roof deck! This place was great for casual Saturday day drinking with friends. We had some out-of-towners with us and thought this would be a great place for them to see some amazing views of the city and harbor! While a little bit pricey, it is well worth it on a warm summer day. I would suggest their red sangria, it is some of the best I have ever had and you can get a glass, small pitcher or large pitcher to accommodate yourself or your party of 5. We also had some small plates of food including the Avocado salad and the Spicy Salmon Roll, both of which were super tasty! It is unfortunate that I really only came here at the end of summer because I would have made this my summer day drinking spot for sure! Oh well, there's always next summer, Legal!
(4)Tim M.
Great food and drinks. The staff is great and they pay attention to the customers.
(5)Thuy L.
This review is for the Rooftop bar only. What an incredible view--and when I say view, I mean the people. The actual scenery isn't bad either as you are looking right out into the harbor. The Legal rooftop is the only Legal that I know that serves sushi. Sushi is okay (definitely not the best) but you are coming here for the atmosphere anyway, which is hella-awesome! The drinks are good (but a little $$$). Get there early so that you 1) Don't have to wait in that ridiculous line and 2) to snag one of the lounge chairs. Try the Strong Man cocktail...it's quite tasty. Their sangria is a little too sweet for my taste but the other drinks are decent.
(4)Molly M.
****Good ole New England clam chowda!! Best in Boston! The food is great, the harbor-side patio seating is relaxing, and the service is unbelievable! Our waitress Becky was AWESOME! Extremely personable, quick for service, and very attentive to detail! She's able to remember your full order while still chatting and cracking jokes with other customers. Once again, very personable! Great food, great service!
(5)Julie N.
When: Saturday 3:00pm Where: 3rd floor What: Drinks This place was PACKED. The view was fantastic, the decor was cool, and a lovely couple got our attention and gave us their waterfront seats when they took off. I was afraid that Legal would've jacked up the drink prices for such a spot, but surprisingly a Bud Light was only $5.50 and their limited menu (mostly raw-bar and sushi) weren't overpriced either. I took a quick tour of the first floor and loved how open the space is. This is, by far, the most well designed Legal's I've ever been in. Tip: If you're driving here, there's a parking garage across the street for about $10 an hour so you might as well valet park and save some money if you're staying for awhile.
(4)Boston A.
The view of the water is outstanding. The view of scantily-clad women of all ages trawling for rich husbands is even better. Wherever you sit, you'll be close to both.
(3)Jennifer S.
Truly disappointing! Great location on the water and our servers were nice, but didn't communicate well considering they were supposed to be working as a team. The worst part was the food - a friend of mine and I both tried the big bowl salad...me with chicken and he tried it with lobster. The lettuce was cheap, iceberg lettuce and there were hardly any beans etc. in the salad as advertised. My chicken was dry, but apparently the lobster meat was good - actually the only good part of his salad. I hope this was just an exception to a normal experience because I was not impressed.
(2)Lauren W.
This might be one of my favorite restaurants ever. The atmosphere is amazing. I felt like i was on the set of a romantic comedy. it was just too cute and there were adorable people everywhere. We got a drink while waiting (i loved the white sangria - holy yum!), but the wait wasn't too bad at all. we got an awesome location - right by the outside. The food was all excellent, especialy the raw bar items - some of the best oysters ever! our waiter, aaron was awesome too. we were a bit rowdy but he handled us really well. i want to go back - soon.
(5)Stephanie P.
WORST SERVICE EVER!!! I hate to say this, because I love Legal in general, and have great times at other locations, but the Legal Harborside experience was dead wrong. We had a party of 5, seated on the first level. Our server was the worst. He was inattentive to say the least, but then he spilled a beer on my friend and I and did not even help to clean it up!! Nor did he replace the beer or the charge for the beer! He did not even replace our napkins let alone touch a napkin to clean it up!! Completely unprofessional. Then, later, we tried to go up to the roofdeck, which based on previous experience you can go right to after spending $$$ on dinner. The hostess said we had to wait in line. Okay. An hour later, we still weren't let in. We get to the front of the line and watch as the bouncer lets every other party in front of him go after flirting with him or handing him bribes. A half hour later we decide to ask for the manager, who tells us we should have been let up ASAP for eating dinner. No offer for free drinks, no apology, nothing. Never wasting my time again.
(1)Barisa J.
Fabulous roofdeck with interesting cocktails and a very decent wine list. This is a very cool spot.
(4)Jason L.
3.5 stars As someone who rarely frequents Legal Seafoods, I was drawn to the new and beautiful Waterfront outpost, which promised oceanfront views and fresh seafood. The multi-floor concept is a little convoluted at first, so check out the website. I dined on Floor 1 with a couple friends, and we had a primo table next to the big windows. The menu has minor variations from the other Legals, but all the mainstays remain. We had some delicious small spreads to start, and I really liked the fishy smoked bluefish with grilled pita. Most of the entrees were run of the mill, with your typical assortment of seafood. I went with a fried platter, which was heavy (my fault obviously for ordering that). Otherwise, no big surprises, fresh seafood with simple preparations. The 2nd floor's more fine dining menu looks more interesting, but hey the view and atmosphere itself is worth the trip. Be sure to take a trip to the 3rd floor after dinner for drinks on their spacious open patio bar. Food (6/10) Service (3.5/5) Decor (5/5) Value (4/5)
(4)Nathalie U.
Went for my anniversary and it did not disappoint. legal sangria was fantastic. Streamers so fresh a And Brussels sprouts were yummy. Service was good not such a fan of the pumpkin mousse pie.
(4)Molly Y.
This is the third Legal I've visited, and it was definitely a disappointment. Don't come here if you're expecting the full menu or a nice dining experience. You won't get either. It's more of a seaside bar - which hey, if that's what you're expecting, there's nothing wrong with it. My biggest problem was the food. Yuck-o. I got fish tacos, my partner got crab roll. Mine was edible only soaked in ketchup (a sin against fish tacos), and my partner's been sick to his stomach since we got home. Not coming back here again. What a thorough disappointment.
(2)Luckie D.
Great location, beautiful view, friendly service. The food was fine and I must add light years ahaed of the Leagal Seafood in Atlanta which is one hush puppy away from being a Long John Silver. So with that said I'd go back
(3)Allison M.
Had to come onto here and rave about our server tonight, Diego. Really knew his stuff, had great recommendations, and was a great server overall!
(5)Alison F.
I was very disappointed by my experience here, I dined here last night for mothers day, for the price I paid for the prix fix menu I expected a lot better. The service was very slow, until it came time for the check, which could not have been taken care of faster! My main course came out cold, and when I asked for it to be warmed up (very nicely) the server did not apologize at all, just took it away, and then brought it back, "this should be more to your liking". We were never offered refills on our drinks. My friend got food poisoning from the oysters, and still paid full price for her meal. In fact nothing was taken off our bill at all (after having cold food, and food poisoning). When paying $300 for dinner I would expect to have a much better experience!!
(1)Brendan S.
I love Legal Seafoods and have been to this one about 6 times in the past year. From that I can say that my experiences here have tended to be better the less crowded it is there. People have said the menu is limited, but if you're coming for seafood (after all it is a seafood restaurant), there are many choices and the specials are always good. Atmosphere is great! The servers are always very friendly and knowledgeable and with the exception of one visit, my fish has always been excellent. As I said, though the two times I went when it was really busy, my experiences have been somewhat sub-par for what I'm used to from Legal. On the 1st of these we arrived on time for our reservation. We requested a table by the water yet were brought to a tiny table by the bathrooms despite empty tables by the water. We then waited 15 minutes without anyone coming over to even fill out water glasses, before I finally asked a passing by server for a manager to come over. After waiting another 5-10 minutes, she came over and I explained our situation. After apologizing, she did seat us at a table by the water and we were given a complimentary appetizer. The service and food was fine after that, but I was still mad about the way I was treated. On my second bad experience, I arrived without a reservation on a busy Thursday night, so we sat at the bar to avoid an hour wait. I know it was busy, but it was still incredibly noisy, and talking to each other was worthless. When my grilled salmon (my usual) came out, it was terrible. It was an oddly-shaped bad cut of fish that was slobbered all over with butter (I'm dairy-free btw). All the other times there was never butter on my fish; usually a light amount of olive oil. After a few bites I told my server I couldn't eat it and he kindly took it off my bill. I still like this restaurant, but I'd recommend going to the Legal C Bar in Dedham; same menu, better food, less noisy, and more relaxing.
(3)Divya B.
I can come back to this place just for the mussels. Their mussels in yellow curry with pineapple and cilantro is out of this world! Don't miss out on them. I took one star out of the ratings because the food taste isnt consistent. It wont disappoint you but I felt it fluctuates between "good" and "great". I also love their veggie bruschetta and sweet red pepper dip. They go so well with a glass (or more?) of white sangria. The harborside view\seating adds a sense of calmness to this otherwise noisy and always busy place. Great place to hang out with friends on a beautiful summer day.
(4)Aman S.
Always good and always consistent. I love the scallops and shrimp cocktail apps. I had a 2+ pound lobster and was totally content. The prices were reasonable and the service was impeccable. I ate here 2 nights in a row while in Boston on business last week.
(5)Michael M.
Arghh! This is what I call FPF, or fat peoples's food. Everything's thick and sweet (why so much sugar with my fruit de mer?) It's like an Applebee's. You can do SO much better in Boston.
(1)samsara w.
Horrendous experience. DO.NOT.GO.HERE. We had reservations for dinner last night at 4 pm. Early evening for us as we have a 6 month old, and my mother-in-law was here from Texas. When I checked in with the hostess, she did not smile, wasn't in the least bit welcoming, and handed me a buzzer saying there was a wait, as others had checked in before us. The 'wait' turned out to be long, and many people were seated before us (some without reservations) who she referred to by name and seemed very familiar with. I am Indian, and I can't help but think that race had something to do with her behavior. When we finally got our table, after I went up there and asked how much longer, we were seated in the only spot in the entire restaurant where it was hard to see the water (right behind the cash register), this despite my requesting an outside table near the water. Oh well... The lobsters were rubbery and tough, badly prepared. We had to ask for rolls, while other tables had theirs well before us. My salmon was gross, and the noodles as the side were COLD and drenched in a sweet, inedible dressing. We were out $130 for a terrible meal, with no class or substance for three people, with no alcohol. To make things worse, it was so LOUD that we couldn't carry on a conversation without shouting. We ended up looking at each other defeatedly, poking the TERRIBLE food on our plates, in silence. Not exactly the special evening we had planned. Legal you disappointed me and broke my heart. Again, don't waste your money and time on this TOURIST TRAP, SUBPAR dining experience. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)Macy A.
A great place to hang out in the summer. Pretty crowded in the weekend so you might want to go there earlier if you plan to be able to enter before it closes. By the way it is open until 1am. If there is a concert or an event in the hall across the street, you can watch/listen for free at the bar on the third floor. A good place to have a drink. Would recommend it.
(4)Melissa M.
Spring time is my favorite time in Boston simply because we finally get to start eating lunch outside.... Legal Harborside has a great oyster menu, wine selection, and beautiful views no matter where you sit. Its always busy so be prepared to wait or make a reservation. I have always had amazing service and the specialty drinks are always yummy. Great place for Lunch or dinner on the water.
(5)Kiarash Z.
Because I wanted to eat seafood by the water and I needed a table for 12 and because my cousin was paying for it, I had a great time at Legal Harborside. The cocktails in the third-floor lounge (with a great harbor view) were awful, but the food on the first floor was amazing. My favorite: the stuffed artichoke appetizer, which is loaded with scallops and shrimp. I prayed it never would end. Also, the staff was kind enough to keep the kitchen open for members of the family who arrived late. Classy.
(4)Jessica G.
I can only write about the 3rd floor as I usually end up across the street for my Legal dining. The bar and lounge area provides amazing views of the city and a great reprieve from indoor bars in the summertime. You can hear the concerts right from your seat as well. Getting a seat is the hard part. Be prepared to be a vulture and divide your party up to stalk open seats. Once you are lucky and find one, the drinks are on the pricier side, but pretty tasty. The food menu is limited, but tasty and worth ordering. In short, visit, but expect crowds and finding seats to be difficult.
(3)Thomas G.
I'll definite come back to this place next time I'm in Boston, one night oysters on the half shell, another night the waiter recommended the tuna burger...Everything was so good!
(4)Maryanne S.
If the check wasn't so high, I'd be amused by our dinner. One of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. (2nd floor) . Wrong drink orders, undercooked food and the rudest staff I've ever seen anywhere.
(1)Jason B.
Best overall spot in The bean.... Service, food, bar, fellow customers... The real Deal in Every Sense of The Word!!! Burkie you've outdone yourself bud!!
(5)Alan O.
Ate on the first floor. For a brand-new building in 2011 below acceptable on the handicap accessible front. Get in the front door and immediately have to take an elevator to get up less than 3 feet. What about a ramp? Or no need for an elevator or a ramp?!!! OK - now up to level - take a ramp down to the dining area - but have to ask other patrons to move in their chairs to get by. Fish choice: narrow. Service standards lacking: The one entre special is $8 more than anything else - but the server does not give the price unless asked. Multiple attempts to clear a plate when another person at the table is still eating. Clearly a policy to turn the table at the expense of hospitality.
(1)Keri D.
This was my second visit to Legal Harborside (my first visit being to Floor 2 a few weeks back). We were seated at an outdoor table and, as rain was in the forecast, we asked what would happen if it rained. The hostess told us to hope it didn't. Sangrias were well liked but multiple other drinks, including the cucumber cooler, had to be sent back for being overly sweet. We ordered the gorgonzola and fig bruschette as an app for a party of 5 and the server failed to mention it is two small crostinis and better meant for sharing between 2. Steamers were a bit gritty and half of our calamari was dumped on one of our guests with no apology and no assistance with cleanup. Entrees were OK. Selection of side dishes is strange with no plain steamed veggies available. "Sauteed spinach with pine nuts" included an abundance of raisins. Finally, we were disappointed that spending $300 plus on Floor 1 didn't even warrant placement near the front of the line to enjoy the roof deck. With regard to my experience on Floor 2 - it was very "stuffy". Despite an early reservation and empty dining room, our table was only made available to us after we ordered a drink at the bar. Food was delicious but the waiter's poor attitude was a put-off.
(2)Kerry H.
They get an A+ for ambiance! My new favorite! I love the location - right on the harbor - and I love how they have divided the venue into three different levels. The first floor is like a typical Legal and the food is just as delicious. The second floor is fine dining. The third floor is very cool! The third floor is a bar area with sushi and a limited menu. It is set up with couches and high top tables. There is a copper fireplace adding to the ambiance. The best part is the roof is retractable! I can't wait to return in the summer, especially when there is a concert going on! The views from all three levels is spectacular. Take the stairs up instead of the elevator. It gives you the feel for all three levels. it's a great place for out-of-towners as well. It's located in the Seaport District amongst many other great establishments. It makes me want to move down there!
(5)Di B.
We went today for lunch and the food was very good, but not great. My Rhode Island Stuffy had shell in it, which was difficult to get out of my teeth. And my friend shrimp still had the veins in it. I was pretty grossed out by that. You cannot get past the awesome view and the service was excellent. Would go again, but VERY disappointed that a seafood restaurant like Legal would not devein shrimp. My husband had the oysters rockefeller and friend clams and loved them.
(3)Mitchell P.
Went here yesterday for lunch, the building/view is awesome looking, unfortunately i cannot say the same for the food. I started with an appetizer the stuffed squid, it was disgusting, the sausage and squid and red sauce combo just didnt work, i could see this at the TEST kitchen, but not on someones real menu, oh and the best part it came with a 2 inch piece of plastic in the stuffed squid, must of been part of the special sauce or something. Any who main course Yellowfin tuna, it was decent, comes with some plain ole white rice like you would get at your local chinese food take out place, or from Shaw's lol.....just nothing really to wow about, a decent piece of tuna, but def not the best...I think they should go back to the normal legal seafoods menu, but even that is just ok
(1)Joseph C.
Male host blonde ...... DUMB! But other than that great food and atmosphere. A tad crowded but thats the name of the game I think.
(3)Zheng L.
the steamed lobster here is fantastic...never seen such a big lobster (1-1.5lb) costs less than 30 bucks! and it tastes great
(5)Jacqueline C.
We had dinner with some friends from out of town here last night. We were looking for a place to get good fish but would also be kind of cool. We were worried about it being touristy but the location seemed to help ward off that typical obnoxious crowd. The view is amazing. I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. I thought the bench-seating would be weird but it was totally fine and we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious!! Definitely perfect and delicious all around. We started off with a few appetizers and Legal turned some of your traditional seafood apps into upscale treats. The bbq shrimp was scrumptious and the braised pork tostada was fabulous. For dinner we all chose fish off of the grilled menu and everyones was cooked perfectly. The only downside was that our server was kind of weird. She wasn't exactly on her game and was a little awkward. Despite that, dinner was delicious, the location is amazing and we would definitely do dinner here again.
(4)Tim H.
2 stars for the location and the actual space, its beautiful. If you like your drinks filled with lots of ice and very little alcohol, this is your spot. And no bottle beer, only tap, better profit margins. RB keepin on it on the cheap.
(2)Tim H.
Legal Seafood means only the best finest fresh seafood and lobster. Best New England Chowder. Excellent Lobster and mussels. In season oysters vary per location. Excellent raw bar offerings. If you do not live in Boston or near a Legal Seafood then it is hard to get past the lobster and chowder to other fish dishes. Legl Seafood Harborside is the flagship and is special. Great dining on the porch at the Harbor and spectacular bar with aquarium and large screen TVs for watching sports. If you happen to miss Harborside you can enjoy Legal Seafood at Logan Airport with little decrease in quality.
(5)michael l.
Food was excellent. Our server Matthew P was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some great suggestions. Views of the harbor
(5)Bob C.
I have to admit that i was extremely disappointed with my visit to Legal Harborside last night. I had two coworkers in from out of town who were craving seafood. Of course the first thing that came to mind was Legal Seafoods. I mean how miss out... Well known brand with great seafood, a beautiful facility with Big Ass Fans located right on the Boston Harbor. Well needless to say i was wrong. It all started when i walked in the door and was told that it was a 15 minute wait. I could care less about the wait but i did ask what tables we were waiting for whether it was downstairs or upstairs. She sad " you are waiting for the tables downstairs" I followed up that statement with "what about upstairs. Her reponse was "that's the finer diner" Of course I said what we don't fit in with the fine dining? She kind of laughed and said well if you want to but its really expensive. Anyway i kind of laughed and just went to the bar to grab a drink. When we got seated we waited for about 10 minutes, no joke, before someone even came up to our table. I mean if the waiter said guys I'll be right with you that would have been totally fine but he just walked right by without even making eye contact. Finally he came and we orderd a few appetizers, shrimp cocktail and calamari. Well the shrimp cocktail came in this little Jar and were mini shrimp marinated in some sauce. I have to admit they were pretty good but not what i was expecting at all. As for the calamari they came in this little basket. Multiple times i took what i thought was either a fried calamari or pepper but no it was a fried lemon! I mean it's not a big deal that they breaded a lemon but to me those are the little details that matter especially in a reputable place like Legals. When the meal came it was pretty good but the size, presentation was to be desired especially for the price. The service ended up being pretty good once we finally got waited on but overall i was very very disappointed. For a company to spend as much money as they did to build this great place the quality of food and service did not live up to my expectations. Tonight i was at the Prudential Mall and walked by a Legal Seafood and actually walked inside to look at the menu. I did realize the menu at Legal Harborside was different but as a first time customer it was not expecting that to be the case. I have to admit that i hardly ever write a review but i did tonight because i was really that disappointed. Knowing the kind of care and quality Mr Burkowitz puts into his company i just feel he should know because he'd be the first to admit that the experience i had last night is unexectable. Please realize.....if this was a normal local seafood shop i'd have a totally different view.... but this is Legal Seafood and my expectations were so much higher. Oh well I'll probably be back when the weather is nice out but feel that i should express my thoughts.
(2)Robin L.
We had lunch on the first floor and thought it was very good. There's nothing fancy here, but Legal really knows how to do seafood. My husband said his clam chowder was excellent. Not too floury. We each had a fried plate, mine scallops his shrimp. Great light breading fried just right. Fries and Cole slaw also good. Legal has awesome rolls, so be sure to ask for some. I had a great Bloody Mary, but it's not for the faint of heart! Nice view of the harbor.
(4)Tom H.
Way to noisy. Went to dine saturday evening -1st & 3rd floor constant booming disco music- too loud for conversation what is the reason for that? I left with a head ache
(2)Joan M.
Stopped in Legal after a show last night. Beautiful night for a drink at Legals rooftop lounge. My friend went to the bar and order two drinks and one soda. We waited at the table for her for 20 min. Then I see her talking to a manager. Turns out she gave the bartender a $100 bill, the only bill she had on her and the bartender never came back with her change. Bartender gave her the 3 drinks, took the $100 and said he would be right back, then he ignored her as she stood at the bar waiting for him. She told the manager what happened and he said that was not possible, it must have been her mistake. No mistake about this. The bartender stole her $80.00. Absolutely no question about it. He stole her money and the manager sided with his bartender and told her to write to corporate if she wanted to complain. I give this a rating on one for the view. Careful of your money when ordering from the 3rd floor bar. I will never be back.
(1)Martina S.
Amazing food and amazing service. Oysters were to die for, great recommendations by our server Lisa on which oysters to choose. We will be returning!
(5)Christopher G.
We showed up there on wednesday night and they had a 2 hour wait. We were told to call in today and make reservation for tonight. Called today and I was told they have nothing for 2 adults and a highchair until 10pm. Ummmmmm my kid will be fast asleep by then. Not sure if they like kids or not but this place is a joke
(1)Cory G.
I would have given the restaurant a 5 star review but we were seated 35mins after our reservation. This was our 1st wedding anniversary which I had noted when making the reservation. There was about a 20 min break between our apps and entrees which wasn't that bad but we were wondering what was going on. Overall, the food really shined except ironically the amuse-bouche. It was some weird eggplant thing on a crustini. I got the trio of tartare special which was amazing and my husband got the bacon wrapped scallop. Both were exceptionally delicious. For entrees we ordered the cod and the filet. They were both excellent and beautifully prepared. For dessert we got the tort and the chocolate banana cup, which were a perfect finish. The view from our table was amazing. I would definitely go back.
(4)J P.
This review is for the first floor. The view was very good and service was OK. Table was small for the 5 of us. We ordered some oysters, they were fresh, but unfortunately some of them had some debris from shucking. Calamari appetizer was good. Kids meals were good. Clam chowder was good. Our entrees look so "blah"..they did nothing to make it presentable. The food itself is fresh, so you know the ingredients were good. But the presentation was bad, just a pile of veggie, piece of fish and pile of starch. Not even a spring of parsley! One would expect more when dining out. We were not able to find "free" street parking so we had to park in their lot, which was $5 with validation. After dinner we walked up to the different floors to check things out. People were friendly and the views were fantastic from each level. But I don't think it's a place we would revisit.
(3)Gaven H.
This review is for the Legal Harborside - Floor 2 . Yelp does not have a area to review F2. I had been to Floor 3 for drinks and Floor 1 for dinner with a group of family/friends. I enjoyed the time I had spent on both floors. So this past weekend my girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary. I knew we would enjoy the second floor. The oysters are the only thing you will find on any other Legal menu. I have eaten at other restaurants in the area and you seem to pay for the atmosphere and views. You might pay for these on the other floors, but on F2 it's all about the food. This is a place I could gorge myself time and time again. You start eating and want more. The problem is you also can not wait to try what's going to be put in front of you next. This is a pricey meal, but I have paid the same or more for less enjoyable meals. Starters: $11-$22 per plate We went with the oysters. Sweet, crisp, and clean Raspberry Points. The Glidden Point's were good, but nothing new with flavor. Next the seared foie gras, rich in the best of ways. This was done with chocolate brioche and cherries, which work well with the smoky flavor from the sear of the foie gras. The candied ginger on the plate (to me) is not needed. Main courses: $28-$56 per plate She had the butter poached lobster. This is served over corn, chorizo, mussels, and potatoes. Another rich plate. But hey it's an anniversary. I did not try this, but she says it was a great dish. The reason I did not try the lobster was because I was engrossed in the sauteed hiramasa. The smoky eggplant puree goes perfectly with the herbs used to season the hiramasa. The fish was cooked perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone, and hope to copy it for home use. Dessert: $8- $11 per plate Now here is where I lost track: I'm still thinking about the main course. She had the toffee pudding. I had the goat cheese napoleon. I'm sure that these were both great desserts, but the main courses overwhelmed them. The flavor and taste were good and enjoyable, but as I write this review I could have forgot to put them in. The wait staff was very well trained. Exceptionally polite and very informative. Our waiter even gave some recommendations as to better alternatives on the menu and the reasons he liked them more. So I say "Go to Legal Harborside Floor 2". If it's a special night or any night this is a perfect meal. Well worth it.
(5)stephanie b.
Roofdeck: Gorgeous roof deck. However, we ordered oysters and shrimp cocktail and had to beg to get a napkin, silverware, etc. Ashley waited on us, very nice but when she finally brought us ONE napkin and there were 5 of us, i was kind of irritated. She was very sweet but raw oysters with no napkins, side plates or anything seems a bit clueless... Floor 2: A bit overpriced for the portions. Also if you are going to charge $30 for a very small piece of fish be sure to have SIDE ORDERS. We kept asking for extra food...can we have a side of Polenta etc. They need to just go ahead and bite the bullet and be a la carte, why not, the prices already reflect that type of menu. We had the sablefish, salmon, and hen - all of which were delicious but we were starving AND we had already had appetizers on the roofdeck and had ordered tuna as an appetizer (very small). The staff was amazing, fine dining quality but not at all stuffy. The hostess was very nice and professional as well and kept moving our reservation b/c we were waiting for the damn napkins on the roofdeck so we could eat our apps!
(3)Adrian H.
Since the renovation of the wharf (and the loss of one of my favorite seafood restaurants to the renovation), I had hoped to return to equally good food and an even better experience. Alas, I was more than disappointed. I started with the calamari which was fine, but the presentation was not what I would expect for the cost. My entree was the crab salad. My impression of a salad included greens, but there were none. The crab was in a half avocado, with tasteless tomatoes, hard boiled egg and thickly cut cucumber. Again, the food was simply not well prepared, considered, presented, or cooked. My wife had the tuna burger because she had the same meal at the Legal C in Dedham and had enjoyed it. This burger, however, lacked any taste. My mother had the fish and chips and she was less than pleased. Finally, the service was cheerful, but slow. I was relieved to step out into the wharf's night air.
(2)Paul G.
2nd floor is a huge disappointment and a rip-off. I had the cobia which was prepared asian style with bok choy, asian BBQ sauce and peanuts etc.....it literally was disgusting with BBQ sauce that tasted like unsweetened ketchup...almost not edible...and $42!! My wife had the stuffed dover sole which was cold on the outside and way too salty. The service was sub-par as well with long waits between drinks and it took way to long to get the check. In conclusion, NOT WORTH IT!! Just stick with the fish/chips or tuna burger on the 1st floor
(2)Jessica G.
We have been twice since it has opened. Food seems remarkably fair priced for waterfront Boston dining (sandwiches and pizza in the 10-15 dollar range and full dinners 20-25). Both times we ordered the white clam pizza. One of us isn't a huge fan of clams, nor pizza with clams - and that one of us lived in New Haven for 5 years. But both of us really LOVED the white clam pizza. Although the consistency of the pizza has been lacking, it has been great both times! They have plenty of servers for the number of tables. Our food has always arrived within 15 mins of ordering. Everything we have had has been great! The cocktail list is a little disappointing. They have a thorough beer list (most of which are reasonably priced), and many wines by the glass (although not as reasonably priced). All in all, a good value and a great harbor view.
(4)Samantha H.
Always loved Legals, but this location is the best. Friendly fun staff but yet professional. We were running late due to really bad traffic (students moving in/out) so I called the hostess and she said it was no problem. She did give away our table and directed us to the bar. The bartender was funny, friendly, and knowledgeable. He knew his craft that's for sure. He made me a D Street Sour aka a fancy lemonade (includes raw egg whites). They were so good, I had about 5 more throughout dinner. The decor was fresh and new and inviting. The view was breathtaking. And for the most important part: the FOOD! My boyfriend and I shared a dozen raw Wellfleet oysters, and the shrimp cocktail. The oysters were tasty, and probably could have eaten another dozen. The shrimp cocktail is five of the biggest shrimp (size of lobster tails) I have ever seen displayed in a huge ice ball. I had one of the most expensive plates listed: Butter poached lobster ($54) with corn, mussels, chorizo, and fingerling potatoes. Literally the best meal I've ever eaten. My boyfriend had filet mignon ($42) with alaskan king crab, mashed potatoes, spring vegetables, sauce béarnaise. He let me try some and it was also very good. As far as the parking situation, there is a parking garage directly across the street. When we arrived, it was full. We found smaller parking lot that was kind of like valet (you leave them the keys). If you validated your ticket at the desk, it's cheaper (billed hourly). After dinner, the boyfriend and I decided to check out the roof deck. It was packed and busy. There is only a bar that serves small things/apps. It seemed to be like a club: loud music and a bunch of young adults. Overall, I had the best experience and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Eric H.
This place has really turned into a tourist trap- first clue if you are in a tourist trap if the waiter asks if you have ever been here before and you reply yes and he has a shocked look. The wait staff is a mess here. They are constantly bumping into each other (maybe the flow of the dining room needs help) or you see them walking with food not sure which table to bring it to. We expect a wait and were told 2 hours. We went to the bar, grabbed a seat and had some appetizers while waiting. An hour later, our table was ready. The same thing happened on our last visit. The front desk seems to double the expected wait time, almost hoping that you will walk out rather than wait. Seems odd.
(3)Laura C.
Legal was recommended by locals via friends. We loved the ambiance of the bar (3rd floor) and the meal on the first floor. The clam chowder was the BEST - very non-west coast meaning it was not so gloppy thick, but more subtle and with intense clam nectar flavor. The fried fish plate was too salty, however. Too bad, otherwise would have given 5 stars.
(4)Kristin Q.
This is an amazing gem of a restaurant. The manager Justin is so professional and helpful. We love coming here and enjoying not only the food but the service and the view!
(5)Ted K.
Stopped in for a late lunch on Monday afternoon of a beer and some oysters and other apps. We sat at the bar. The view is incredible. We loved the oysters. We loved the special Sam Adams and Harpoon beers available on tap. The service was miserable. I don't know if the bartender was having a bad day or what. No smile. No welcome. When we told her we would like to order some oysters, we were told to "hold on," then we watched her wander off to do apparently nothing. There were two other guests sitting at the enormous bar. Maybe after thirteen years in restaurants, I still can't see the subtle but onerous obligations weighing on a bartender at 3pm on a Monday. Or maybe she just wanted to throw a little attitude. Either way, we couldn't believe she still had a job at such a place. The rest of the experience was great, so it didn't totally put us off entirely, but we're not in a rush to go back.
(3)Ken W.
After reading great reviews, I decided to have a mid-afternoon meal. Service is the only thing I can rate. Warning sign number one, hostess was helping a customer and she walked away with no explanation. The gentleman and lady had to defer to someone else. To decide to try the roof top lounge. It appeared not to be busy for the time of day. I was greeted and set at one of the high tops table inside. Then i was amazed how the wait staff ignored me the entire time I was there. When asked who was covering my area, a waitress was pointed out a co-worker. Noted I had made eye contact several times with this person, she had failed to acknowledge me. So after taking 30 minutes out of my day and getting nothing to eat I felt it was best to leave. And seek nourishment at another restaurant.
(1)L N.
Dined here last evening with out of town family. It was packed but fun. We were promptly seated ( A +). We placed our drink order and that is were the bumps started. Our cocktails were so watered down that instead ordering a second "soda," my husband actually switched to soda (F-). Disappointing given that bar is huge and looks absolutely amazing. Our server continued to be scattered. I ordered six oysters (which I prefer my oysters in the small side but this took it almost to the microscopic level), and was served five. I was offered to have this taken care of but let go since you pay "per piece." (C) The actual entree's were fabulous (no famous onion strings at this location) (A) Then when it came time to pay, a portion was being paid in cash with the balance on my husbands credit card. That was also mixed up which was tacking on an evtra $100 to the bill (good try) but promptly corrected. (C) Maybe the chaos contributed to the up and down experience but given it's Legal's and it's a busy holiday weekend for Boston restaurants, they know this and I expected them to be on their game.
(3)Jan D.
Was very disappointed with our meals at the Harborside location. Everything was bland, nothing had any punch to it, and scrod didn't seem fresh as it had absolutely no flavor. Wellfleet oysters were good, but that was only positive note. Would not return to this location tho other Legals have been ok in the past.
(2)BOB R.
Dined at the first floor raw bar. Nice few of the habour on a summer eve, We had drinks, lobster rolls and 6 wellfleet and 6 french kiss oysters. Everything was delicious and fresh. A little crowded and noisy but had a fun time before a rock concert.
(4)Annonymous N.
The location is beautiful! The restaurant it self has a great atmosphere! I happen to dine in with my family on a Tuesday night! When we arrive at 6:30pm there was a wait for a minimal of 45min. We were about to walk out and they called us back and told us they had a table. We were brought to the main floor right by the window with a beautiful view of the deck! The place was half full which we wondered why the 45min wait. The waiter was dull and a bit snippy! We felt li,e he had too much on his hand and could not handle 4 tables. We were celebrating my fiance's birthday and we felt rush.. Needless to say we took our time, after a $250 check you want to rush people out! I've had better experience in other locations.
(2)David B.
Love this place but if you are looking for quiet and intimate, go somewhere else. It is a bit noisy but the scene is fun and lively, the food fantastic and the staff very helpful and friendly. We changed are order based on the waiter's recommendations and had an amazing meal. And you can't beat dining on the deck on a beautiful summer evening.
(4)Mari R.
I am not one to eat at chain restaurants. However, this one was amazing. The food was very fresh and delicious. I would go here again, and again, and again.
(4)Ann O.
My husband and I went to Legal Harborside, had lunch on the first floor on a Saturday afternoon a couple of months ago. No real wait to get a table, I had the fish stew (whatever they call it on the menu) and it was fabulous. Definitely would go back again. We went to the dining room Friday night, waiting for a daughter coming in from NYC, so we decided to have a leisurely dinner there. We had to wait about 15 minutes for our Opentable reservation but they set us up with a beautiful booth overlooking the water, so it was worth it. The service was great, the meals seem to be slow to come once we finally ordered, but no complaints because we always delay ordering because the meals always seem to come out so fast and we like to relax and talk for a while. I digress--my husband ordered the tuna and said it was "good" but he didn't say great, I ordered the halibut, which was cooked perfectly, nice crust on the outside, and I enjoyed the unusal accompaniments, though I can't say that I liked them - but that's not the chef's problem. I liked the fact that they were using unusual ingredients, not your typical veggies. I probably would have ordered the lobster, but at $54 that was just ridiculous. I especially liked the fact that I said to the wait person that I wanted to start with a cup of chowder, which was not on the 2nd floor menu but was clearly in the building, and she took the request without any issue. Overall, the dining experience was about 2 hours long, so plan accordingly, but we will definitely be back again. Only we're more likely to visit the first floor, as the menu seemed to have more variety than the dining room.
(4)Tom B.
CAUTION, the validated parking IS NOT ACROSS THE STREET from the restaurant, the parking across the street will cost you $20.00! The parking that is validated is down the street in the next block and, yes, across the street. Otherwise everything was great, service, food, drinks, and the view. I will definitely go back...now that I know where to parkl
(4)dennis n.
We thought we would try the new place out for a late lunch --1pm on a Wednesday. We were impressed with the fabulous harber view and the ambience. It has only been open for a few weeks and only the 1st flloor is operating right now for casual dining and bar. Fine dining on second story and rooftop to come soon. They have a small free parking lot, which will probably be full most of the time. We had the bluepoint oysters on half shell, which were as fresh and tasty as I've ever had anywhere, washed down with a nice Tanqueray Martini. Wife had the lobster roll ($17) and I ordered the Fish n Chips ($11). Both were scrumptuous. Fries could have been crispier, but no complaints. If you want to try it out there was plenty of seating at 1:30 and if you can find an open meter on the street (bring quarters) it will only cost you a two bucks instead of 12 for valet. We are definitely going back there! PS if you need to GPS, Address is on NORTHERN Ave (mispelled in Yelp)
(4)Gail S.
We really enjoy Legal Harborside -- the food is consistently good and the service is always fast, professional and friendly. First, the restaurant is beautiful -- all three floors have a stunning view of Boston Harbor. You can find nice healthy and vegetarian options -- their Big Salad is fabulous (fresh greens, tomatoes, asparagus, chick peas, olives in a balsamic dressing) as is their swordfish salad. Of course, they serve Legal staples like an incredible lobster roll, fish & chips, baked schrod, fresh lobster, homemade chowder, crabmeat salad, etc. There are plenty of options for seafood haters too -- in fact, their burger is pretty terrific. Lastly, they sell fresh fish, lobster and other goodies at their market on the first floor. The third floor --with its expansive outdoor deck and gorgeous view -- attracts a hopping crowd at night and on the weekends when the weather is nice.
(5)Carol C.
Shame on you Legal Seafood!!!!! Been going for years here even when out of state. Brought a nephew there last weekend who was visiting from Iceland. We ordered whole belly clams and got a bunch of clam strips with just 3 whole bellys. That's unacceptable at those prices. What a huge disappointment this trip was. We should have stayed on the Cape where we get a full order of whole bellys when thats what we order.
(3)Betsey N.
We got tired of waiting 1/2 hour past our reservation time. The music blasting away and the servers and diners shouting over it to be heard made conversation impossible. After standing crammed against the others waiting to be seated for what felt like forever -- dodging harried servers who were forced to wind their precarious way through the crowd-- two of our party had headaches that completely spoiled our appetites. No food could possibly be good enough to warrant suffering the horrible atmosphere in that place. We will not bother to return.
(1)Vince R.
EXPERIENCE: We had reservations for Floor 1 at Haborside on Valentine's Day for 7PM, due to terrible traffic, we arrived 45 minutes late. I fully expected them to turn us away or out us in the back of the line and was pleasantly surprised when we were seated almost immediately ahead of others who were waiting. As a added plus we were seated at the window at a small four person picnic style table and were away from the other more cramped tables for two. We've previously been to floor 2 and enjoyed that experience very much. People have mentioned the noise on Floor 1, and it was a bit noisy, but it felt more lively and fun versus way too loud, our conversation was no problem. FOOD: We had the clam chowder mugs and steamers to start -- both excellent! We split the lobster special for the entree and it was also fantastic. Our waitress was readily available when we needed attention and left us alone as we lingered over our initial Wine and later Irish Coffees. You can't go wrong, Floor 2 is nicer and more quite but if you are wanting something more casual, floor 1 fits the bill!
(5)Lili M.
When i came here we got a seat right by the window so it was a great view and unique dining experience. I ordered their pasta with clams and my friend ordered chicken fingers and fries I believe. The food wasn't anything special but we also probably just ordered the wrong things (after all it is a seafood restaurant so if you go try to stick to that!) But the window dining was great and the service was good too.
(3)Vanessa B.
Before arriving in Boston we were told that this place is a must. The chowder would be something that we'd be wanting second helpings of. We went for dinner on a Friday night, and I'm sure they are always busy on the weekends, but add the fact that the Boston Marathon was taking place that Monday and their expo was just down the street didn't help. Because of the 2 1/2 hour wait we opted to dine at the bar. We missed out on the view that we were hoping for but it was still a great experience. Our server was great. Very attentive and made sure we were good with everything we ordered...she knew it was our first time there. We started with the clam chowder and it definitely did not disappoint. One of the top 2 that we had while in Boston. For my meal I had the crab meat roll with a side of fries and mashed potatoes. The fries were pretty normal, but the mashed potatoes were heavenly. The crab meat roll came out like a sandwich which I wasn't entirely suspecting. I didn't eat the bread, scared It would take up too much room and leave me too full to eat all the crab meat. The crab meat was delicious and so fresh. Like I said, this place was beyond busy. I'm not sure if it's normally that busy on a Friday night or if it was the Boston Marathon that made it a madhouse. I'd love to go back and try to dine during a slower time so we can have the view we were hoping for.
(4)Kim T.
I came in yesterday with a friend for lunch, service was excellent, our waitor was friendly and extremely attentive, also the food was great...I got the white sangria (super delicious) and a tuna burger and my friend got the lobster roll ...also we started with a white clam pizza ... if you go here definitely get it, it was unbelievable! Best lunch Ive had in a long time ... Not to mention the place is beautiful the ambiance is great ... i love the lighting and the big fans as well! Great job ... Will be back very soon!!
(5)Dee L.
Went this past Monday it was our 2nd visit in just a few weeks. Location, Location, Location, great spot on a beautiful day. Both times went for lunch 30 minute wait this past Monday but fine with that waited outside with a great view of the harbor. The food is good got cod 1st time grilled shrimp this time both good. I like that they have unusual sides not the standard fries, baked or coleslaw. The only problem I have and it seems others have is the service. It's not fine dining but for $60 for lunch (no cocktails) I expect prompt service. It appears they hire younger servers which is fine but the last time we went the service was painfully slow. He might have been new because he seemed to struggle with the handheld device that the orders are taken on and when our order came out - brought by a "runner" the sides were wrong. He took the sides back and we waited a lot longer than we should have with our grilled shrimp and grilled scallops looking lonely while waiting for the correct sides to be brought out. They need to work on the service and then they will be in firmly in the 4 star range. It's a great place on a nice day not sure how they'll do once the New England Winter hits.
(3)Kalliope K.
Must have been a bad day. Rooftop deck at Legal Harborside. Lousy service. Clam Chowder, watery and absent clams. Expensive. C'mon Legal.... this did not get you to where you are today.
(2)Tom W.
I hate giving Legal a bad review since I've had very good experiences at other Legal Seafood restaurants in the past. I'm originally from the Boston area and always look forward to some good fried clams when I get a chance to be in New England. This was our first time at Harborside and we ate on the first floor restaurant. Great layout and location and the service was pretty good although our waiter did forget to bring us our drink order. However, I hate to be picky about service or location; most of us go to restaurants for the food, and this time we were very disappointed. My daughter and I had steamers for an appetizer - pretty good. My wife had mussels for her Entre - also pretty good but nothing special. My daughter had Tuna for her Entre - it should have been sent back. I didn't realize how bad it was until half way through the meal when I noticed that she ate very little of it. It was overcooked and dry. My fried clams were very disappointing. The clams themselves were in pieces; at first, I thought I got strips, but they were just bits and pieces, like they came from the bottom of the bucket. I could have lived with that if they had been crisp, but they were not. My wife had onion soup - terrible. She also had a caesar salad - also not very good. All in all, not a very good dining experience. The location will not save this restaurant unless they get their kitchen act together. There are too many good restaurant options in Boston - don't think I'll every go back to this one.
(2)Alex Z.
best roof deck bar in boston ive found. great for summers. mostly late 20s and up.
(4)Barbara B.
Just ate at the new Legals on the water - in their fancier dining room. Thought it was a little stuffy and pretensive Although the food did live up to Legals promise of excellence I also thought it was a bit overt priced . I am not in a hurry to return.
(3)Shannon C.
This place is fabulous. We did not have a reservation at 7p on a Saturday & were told a 2 hour wait - there was also an hour long wait to get onto the roofdeck just for a drink - however, within 5 minutes of arriving we were ushered to a lovely table next to the open windows overlooking the water (I'm attributing this to my date's unbelievable charm with front of house staff). Our waiter Matthew was great & suggested perfect oysters for us since we were undecided. We had the tuna crudo and the roasted clams - the grilled scallops and striped bass. The crudo was my favorite -the clams were good though & came in a spicy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, the grilled scallop dish came with 7 scallops! I expected maybe 4. They were grilled perfectly - the striped bass was a special that night & had a grilled peach salad that was delicious. The food & ambiance here are amazing - the cucumber cooler cocktail was also to die for.
(5)Just S.
They lie. The wait is forever; at least 30 minutes longer than the hour they tell you and way over priced Yankee Lobster down the street is much better if you you would rather good food and don't care about ambiance. Plus on nights there's a concert at the pavilion you can hear the show from their patio.
(1)J F.
Great atmosphere! The views are amazing...by far one of my new standard go to places!
(4)Helen B.
Legal has been a mainstay for me for years, but the Northern Ave restaurant is truly a beautiful building. I had lunch recently in the ground level floor overlooking the water - very pleasant. I had a salad with lobster meat that was very delicious. This seems a little more upscale than other Legal places. My only complaint is the music is too load.
(4)Cailyn K.
I just went to Legal Harborsides (Third Floor) with a friend to grab drinks. The atmosphere is wonderful but there pitchers of sangria and margaritas are horrible. We bought two pitchers (each between $20-$30 each) and all we got was flavored ice cubes. There is absolutely no alcohol in these pitchers and they were horrible. Honestly, you can find the same view with better drinks at Atlantic Beer Garden and Whiskey Priest. Don't waste your time!
(1)Roseann S.
Overall my experience was favorable even though we had 7:15pm reservations and didn't get seated until 8:00pm. They seem to be struggling with the velocity of interest and it is completely chaotic at the hostess stand with a lot of miss communication. But once we were seated our server was excellent as was the menu and the food. I have a gluten allergy and for the first time in 3 years was able to eat fried clams again. If you can be patient with being seated it is a great location and the food is delicious.
(4)Bill G.
1st off we went on a Sunday(10/9) evening, and faced an "estimated wait" of 45 minutes. We languished out on the pier (nice views)for almost 90minutes before we got buzzed that our table was ready. The First floor was excruciatingly loud! The fact that the canned music was stuck on the same jazz piece didn't help. The waitress was perky, but not too good. She initially entered our dinner order as an appetizers. She adjusted, but not before waiting 20 minutes for 2 clam chowders. I have eaten at many Legal Seafoods before and the chowder was superb. The chowder was mediocre at best here;tons of potatoes and minimum clams; a disappointment. We asked for rolls and they came after 2 repeat requests,again about 20 minutes later. The main course came another 20 minutes later; fried clams that were all stuck together and rubbery and to top it off not even hot. Cold fried seafood is not what I hoped for! My dining companion had the Portuguese seafood stew and found it hot but not much better. It was a thin, almost campbell soup-like broth with mostly mussels and a few shrimp. Things seem to run in 20 minute segments here. We dined for 20 minutes, then ordered dessert; a cup of frozen custard. That arrived 20 minutes later. Keep in mind now that we waited 90 minutes to get a table! The check arrived and our waitress vanished off the floor for 30 MINUTES! When she came back she told us a really involved story about having to go upstairs to get a new HH computer 'cause hers froze; No apology, mind you, just a story! To be fair, we did try to flag down a floor manager and pay him so we could leave, but they disappeared too. In sum, we wasted about 4 hours between waiting for a table, waiting for service, and waiting to pay so we could leave, And then the food wasn't nearly as good as other Legal Seafood restaurants we've eaten in lately(Long Wharf. Oh, and $8 to park too. Roger Berkowitz, you got a lot of 'splaining to do!
(1)Ed B.
My parents were in town for a conference and staying at the Renaissance. It was raining and my parents had just arrived from driving in the rain storm so we didn't want to have to go very far for dinner. Having never been here and interestred in trying it out, I made a reservation for 5:30PM but with parking, we didn't get there utnil 5:50PM. Luckily they didn't give away our table and we were sat immediately. I like the space and I'm sure its really nice in the summer. But it is LOUD. We could barely hear each other. Our water, Mario (?) came over to us and right off the back had 'personal' suggestions for wine, beers, food and was able to tell us a little about what he thought would be considered good. To start we shared the steamers, which were pretty good. They weren't gritty as I thought they would be. The broth was really tasty. My dad was just eating it up like it was soup. I had a mug of their clam chowder, which is still to me one of the better clam chowders I've had. Not a lot of potatoes, creamy, you can taste the clams. For my entree I got the tuna burger, not really knowing what to expect. It was good. The chipotle mayo gave it a nice kick. My mom got fried clams. I love whole belly clams that just burst in your mouth. I wouldn't consider Legal's to have the best. Their clams are small, but not greasy. SOmetimes they taste a bit, bordering on burnt. My dad enjoyed his portuguese stew. For dessert we split a Bananas Foster Bread pudding. it was okay. Very sweet. Our check with tip ended up about $104 for three people. Overall, it was good, but not great. If you've been to other Legal Seafood's its pretty much the same, except the location. would I go back? Probably, but only when I'm in the area. I live outside of the city, so I would have to be for a special occasion, like my parents in town.
(3)Rick M.
I must say that I was sorely disappointed with our experience at this place. We took some out of town relatives here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. First of all, it was really noisy. Unless you had your ear three inches away from the person who was speaking to you, you could not hear a word. Second, the waitstaff was terrible. I mean, I have had better service at a gas staion. We waited over 15 minutes just to order drink. Then, the beer came and was warm. We tried to send the drinks back, but could not flag down our waitress. The food finally came and was luke warm as well. I will say that the person who was responsible for clearing tables was over attentive, as we felt like we were being pushed out early to make room for the next customer. I do not understand anyone's fascinaton with this chain of restaraunts. Food was terrible, service was bad and the atmosphere is akin to a rugby match. Never going back ever again.
(1)D B.
Went to dinner Friday night and place was very busy. There was an hour plus wait for seating on the 1st level with a water view. Seeing we were hungry we found a table in the bar area. Bar area was not very loud and overlooked street. This was kinda nice as we were away from the crowd. Michael was our waiter and the service was quite good. Mike was well versed on the wine and dinner menus. Started with a bunch of oysters and for dinner had grilled Blue fin tuna. Fish was excellent. The deserts sounded good but passed this time. Will be back again!
(3)Erika W.
Tried cotuit oysters, very nice with a medium brine. Moonstone, which had a very briney sea flavor, were delish. The best were the naked cowboy - dive caught with a bold briney flavor and a perfect, more firm texture. The two spreads we tried were both delicious. One being the salt cod brandade and the other smoked bluefish, accompanied by toasted pita. Next we tried the fried clams and the oven roasted clams. I know, bivalve overload. The oven roasted clams were good, but not great. I'd go for something else next time. The fried clams, however, were fantastic. Small, juicy & tender. Perfectly fried, not greasy at all, I would definitely get them again. One of the bar staff was really helpful & knowledgeable and gave us some recs for the next visit.
(4)Johanna G.
Awesome! Great view, great curry mussels appetizer .Perfect on a beautiful day or night. I had a crab salad for lunch that was excellent. I will definitely go back.
(5)George K.
Great place, amazing view, delicious drinks and food BUT why everything plastic on the roof deck? Forks and plates are plastic. Only the drinks were served in glass! Wasteful, unnecessary, annoying and it ruined the whole nice feelings about the place. I hope it will change SOON!
(2)Chaim T.
You can't beat the rooftop view on the third floor, but don't let the view fool you. We ate on the first floor and with a so-so experience. My wife had to send her wood grilled salmon back TWICE since it was way undercooked (think medium rare for tuna). She opted for the wood grilled trout the third time which was better if not a tad too salty. I had the same and although I enjoyed the dish I was put off by the sloppy plating. The trout was atop two side dishes of room temperature jasmine rice and buckwheat noodles. It looked thrown together. The service was good and attentive with many apologies from the manager for the undercooked salmon. We're not rushing back.
(3)Dorothy R.
Loved the rooftop bar!! Great drink menu - definitely try the St Germaine cocktail! Great summer drink!
(5)Gonzalo B.
Exhibit #274 on Why They Need More Restaurants in Boston. Talk about your Masses of Asses. Whoa, baby! You're goin' to a casting call, a cattle call, you're gonna shoot some fish in a barrel, only you're the fish and you're in the barrel and...hey. I'm gettin' carried away here. it's crowded. Been to many of the Legal locations over the years, many times. Always thought of this as kind of a 10%-90% kinda place - ten per cent locales, 90% tourists/conventioneers/etc...never real blown away by them, always pretty mezza-mezza, some things pretty strong, other...not so much. Been to this location, location, location twice now. The 1st was fine, the second, uh, nahhhh. We had a 45 minute (surprise!!!) wait for a 1st fl table with some out of town guests. We elevated to the deck and got some bar seats, some good sushi, decent shrimp cocktail...weather-wise, as Frank used to say, it's such...a lovely view... Back downstairs, nice table window-side, good, young, energetic waiter. Everybody liked their meals, including my seafood trio. The sizes here seem to have been downsized about a 1/4 or a 1/3rd. The trick is, nobody ssems to notice. I noticed. Next time the building was bursting more than usual, we slid into 2 seats at the round bar. Nice that they have Pretty Things beer, it's pretty %$#@ good! We ordered fried oyster sliders, and got mostly fried clams. Why they send out 3 of anything just sucks. Mostly people eat in two's, in four's...3 of an app is just wrong. I get one, you get one, we arm wrestle for the third. Clams not oysters, 10 feet from the oyster bar.There's a big difference, we mentioned it to the bartender, and a manager came by and apologized, took it off the bill. A fine move, and a good guy. He listened too to what we had to say about the curry mussels, the mussels were big and meaty and delicious, as was the sauce...too bad no bread for sopping up the bottom/sauce, that's part of the whole thing. And, they could give you a soup spoon...you'd use it. At the bar, no bread forthcoming, maybe if you ask...also, no water offered...you imbibe more beer that way... Biggest letdown was the great-sounding lobster/mushroom pizza. The crust is the same as the dipping chips you get for the small app dips, like the excellent bluefish we also got...this was a soppin', sloppy, difficult to eat liquid mess -and, more onion pie than other ingredients. we ate maybe a 3rd. She didn't ask if we wanted the rest - I think she knew. So. Like I said earlier, some things pretty damn good, others...no so much. But it's a scene, if you like to be in the herd, go.
(3)Nadeen H.
From my previous experiences at Legal I was skeptical that this would be any different. LTK was always the exception, but they were a different concept all together. The new Harborside location is a Legal's I will definitely go back to. The energy was fun, the restaurant is beautifully done, clean, no snoozy music and the food and drinks were awesome. The servers were all attentive and friendly. The mussels were by far my favorite as well as the ham salad small plate. They had a lot of fun drinks and a good beer selection. Make sure you save room for dessert. We tried the coconut cream pie, rhubarb cobbler and the boston cream pie (not the same old standby as all the other boring Legal's). I couldn't pick a favorite, they were that good. I hope they add specials as well as a few more entrees, to keep me interested.
(5)Johnny U.
Heard from locals this was the only chain they would eat at. This was close to the airport, so we thought one last meal at a water front place. We expected inflated prices, but they were only a few dollars more than others. Great staff. Great food. Clam chowder was well stocked. The rest of the food was great as well. A bit chilly to sit outside? I expected Boston to be warm and muggy. It felt like a early sring evening....in June? So we took a table by the window. Fun, great people watching, good food.
(4)Joe T.
We had two minor issues last night. The first: the bouncer checking id's to get to the third floor was rude. I'm from out of town (Pennsylvania) and I was simply showing him where my birthday was on my ID and he snapped saying "I know where it is!" Okay I was just trying to be helpful. After we hung out at the bar, we sat down at our table on the first floor. Our waiter, Santiago, was wonderful! The second issue: the crab legs were not fresh. We told our waiter and he was mortified. The manager came over, profusely apologized, and offered a more expensive substation at no charge, even after he comped the dish. We declined because, in all honesty, we were stuffed. When they brought the check they brought us over two comped and delicious desserts and apologized again. It was a great meal and great time. The customer service was amazing. I will definitely return. Also, get the swordfish gyro.
(4)Laurie L.
This is a great place to eat and also buy your seafood in bulk at an amazing price. I usually buy my lobster tails and shrimp and then have my waitress serve it to me .. So fresh!! Pure love .. I like there drinks and the oysters there. The only down fall is the service. Very slow and it takes a while to get seated.
(4)Matt F.
I was very skeptical of this place because they had so many of them around Boston (even at the terminal where we arrrived at Boston-Logan airport). I thought it might be too "chainy", but I was wrong ... Went to the Harborside location in the Seaport District for lunch on a very hot Saturday (without reservations). Got there around 11:00, and were able to get a couple seats at the 1st floor bar to watch the British Open. As a beer connoisseur, I was happy to see some local craft beer choices ("Cambridge Amber" from Cambridge Brewing Co. was my 1st choice ... "Beer of the Gods" from High & Mighty Beer Co. was my 2nd choice ... both were excellent). We ordered the Shellfish Platter to start things off, and this is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. The oysters were sooo small, you could barely enjoy them. Shrimp and crablegs were good, but I was really looking forward to some sizeable oysters on that platter. For my entree, I had the Lobster Roll ... hands down the best thing I had during my ENTIRE trip up to Boston. The combination of the chunks of lobster on a perfectly toasted brioche roll cannot be described. I could not stop talking about how good this lobster roll tasted. I may have had a dream about it for 2-3 nights straight upon my return to Charlotte, NC. The fries/cole slaw that came alongside it were pretty good, but the bar was set too high for anything else after I devoured the lobster roll. The price was fair ... it says "market price" on the menu, which may scare some people. I think it ended up being around $16/$17 for the lobster roll w/ fries ... if I had known how good it would taste, I would have paid triple the "market price". Did not get a chance to walk around (or go upstairs), but it looked really neat. On a final note, I did visit the Legal Sea Food at the airport after my flight was delayed. It was too early for a lobster roll (10:00 am), but I did grab another beer while watching the final round of the British Open. I was curious as to why they were able to serve beer before noon on a Sunday (the FoxSports bar across the gate told us alcohol could not be sold before noon on Sundays). However, no one at the Legal Sea Foods bar was complaining, as you could see Bloody Mary's, Screwdrivers, Mimosas, and Beers lined up all down the bar. In summary: Definitely go to Legal Sea Foods ... order the Lobster Roll, a local craft beer, and enjoy!
(4)Dean O.
Went there this passed weekend. I ordered six oysters and they were awesome. My Wife ordered steamers and they were under cooked and looked like someone ran over them with their car. The main course was OK at best. One thing I can say is that the service was top notch. They promptly gave us a huge discount and apologized over and over again. I guess the simplest way to say it is it is just a little better than a Red Lobster. We stopped at Salmon Run Fishhouse in Lee and got a great meal.
(2)Camellia I.
As a vegetarian I was surprised to find such an amazing veg friendly salad. lots of greens and with chickpeas. a perfect and complete meal. Four stars because my sisters food (the seafood trio) looked and tasted (in her opinion) of low quality. Tip: It's worth it to come to this LSF vs the one by the Aquarium on State st., this one has a great view of the harbor from all three floors!
(4)Van N.
Disappointed. Have always enjoyed prior Legal dining experiences and was excited to try Harborside. Food was mediocre at best and service was horrible. Slow and rude.
(1)Jennifer H.
I love Legal, and I have never been disappointed by them. I truly thought this would be an easy five-star review, but I have to drop a star for service and price. My friend and I chose to enjoy a Friday night on the second floor -- fine dining. So, I can understand the food being a bit spendy, but I thought many of the prices were over the top, especially given the service faux-pas. When you charge that much, everything should be perfect. Instead, I felt incredibly rushed by our waiter, who kept returning to the table when we had dropped many a subtle hint that we had not had a chance to look at the menu and wanted a leisurely meal where we could talk and relax. This frustrates me at a fine restaurant. Ok, enough of the bad, and on to the amazing! The building is incredible; you cannot miss the stunning glass and wood structure on the waterfront. Inside, everything is wide open, and the view is the star with floor-to-ceiling windows. We got a seat right next to the window on the water side, and the gracious hostess (Gina) was thoughtful enough to offer me a pashmina should my light sweater not be warm enough next to the glass. Nice touch. The food was perfection, and I will give the waiter a point for recommending the perfect white for my fish and the perfect red for my companion's steak -- and also for offering the half bottle solution when we were at a loss for how to select a compromise wine to complement both of our meals. We were offered an amuse bouche of, I believe, a potato and turnip soup -- very good. I also enjoyed a cucumber gimlet, which was a well balanced, slightly sweet and refreshing drink. I started with the steamed mussels ($13) with smoked tomato sauce , dried olives and lemon a brioche. It was the perfect starter for a chilly, windy Boston night -- very comforting. My companion chose the king crab ($12) with wasabi mayo, trout roe and ginger foam. The foam was humorous since it resembled soap suds, but the crap was outstanding. For entrees, I had the sauteed halibut with lobster, romanesco cauliflower puree, roasted heirloom radish and limoncello foam (more soap suds, $38). I also got to sample my companion's tomahawk steak with smoked bone marrow, cauliflower puree and creamed spinach ($56). This steak was perfectly charred on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. It was smoky and salty... like the most indulgent bacon you have ever had. My halibut was awesome. The saute resulted in a crispy exterior with a nice brown color, but the inside was moist and flaky. I'm normally not a fan of either califlower or radish, but the flavors were incredible and bounced off the halibut well. I wiped the plate clean. Will I go back? Most likely, but for that price, only on special occasion.
(4)J W.
Amazing atmosphere - from fine dining, casual dining to hip raw bar - excellent. 3 stories - a place for everyone. We headed to the top floor and had sushi on the open deck. They had a few heat lamps, but the view and the atmosphere was excellent. Service was good, food was solid, place was the bomb.
(5)Tom S.
Have eaten at Legal Harborside several times. Last night was disappointing. Arrived at 7 (no reservation) we were told it would be a 1.5 - 2 hour wait, but the tables in the market place were open to anyone... Low and behold there was a couple finishing up at a 4 top, and just paying their bill... we were in business. We sat down at about 7:15PM. It became apparent that the server (who was VERY friendly), was completely overwhelmed. I don't think that we got our drink order for 30 minutes after ordering them. EVERYTHING took forever. Drinks, bread, apps (chowder- how long does that take to make?) Finally when my dinner came out, the lobster claws were cold, and the tail was only warm. For spending $40 on a dish (lobster bake), I was super disappointed in both food and in service. I didn't bother to send it back, because at that point, I just wanted it to be over. In all, it took between 2:15 and 2:30 from start to finish. Probably won't go back for a while. Will definitely not sit in their marketplace again.
(2)Anna C.
Wow. This place is phenomenal. We came just to have some New England Clam Chowder, but ended up staying for a while to soak up the gorgeous view. Then got sucked into ordering some sushi as well, which was very fresh. Everything was amazing -- food, service, atmosphere, view... even the price wasn't bad (not cheap, but not ridiculously overpriced either).
(5)Elisabeth F.
Came here on the last night of our trip to Boston because I was dying to try some clam chowda. We sat at a high top in the bar area because there was a 2 hour wait for anything else, but it was still totally awesome. Our waiter, John, was very nice and attentive. Plus he was local so had a pretty legit Boston accent. My boyfriend is literally deathly allergic to shellfish so we mentioned it when he first got to our table, and he was so attentive with making sure the kitchen took good care of separating all his food. Very impressive. He even tried to get us access to the incredibly popular rooftop bar without having to stand in the 1.5 hour line outside. It didn't work out, but it's the thought that counts! I tried my first oyster (the French kiss oyster I believe). Won't be eating those again but my bf's sister, who's an oyster fanatic, said it was delicious! Finally, the clam chowder I went there for definitely lived up to my expectations. I don't think I'm a big fan of the chowda, but it was pretty darn good! Overall, very wonderful way to wrap up the trip.
(4)Bob C.
Had an excellent lunch with Melise, Pat and Beth after doing the Fenway Park tour. Ihad the traditonal chowder and lobster roll, melise had some yummy fish tacos, Beth went with fish abd chips and Pat had a knock-out artichoke/crab appetizer that stole the show. Good service, nice people, very busy on a Thu lunch, a great location for an excellent meal, a little pricey. Enjoy!
(4)Kate O.
I wanted something on the water with this being my first time to Boston. So I literally asked a couple walking on the street for a place they would recommend and this was it. It is AWESOME inside. Each floor has a different menu. We sat on the roof top because I was dying to sit outside. Although it took quite some time to find a spot for three we ended up squishing at the outdoor bar table with three high chairs. After seeing the yummy drink next to me, I asked what she ordered and she said the strawberry sangria. 5 STARS!! Awesome!!! Although I really don't think the pitcher is the deal b/c you don't get the cute filled wine glass and there is a TON of ice in the pitcher but still good. On to the rolls. YUMMO. Surprisingly the shrimp tempura roll was the best (meaning literally order it as it was AMAZING), then the caterpillar roll, then the lobster roll, although for $26 would not order again but cute presentation. We also ordered the red dragon roll too. The service was okay. But the view and food made up for it.
(4)Stephanie F.
Three stories of awesomeness on the water. This is my favorite in the collection of Legal restaurants. There is something for everyone here and the best part if the quality control. The restaurant benefits from having the fish pier nearby and their processing plant down the block. First floor. - casual, relaxed dining with fresh quality options. Second floor - formal dining Third floor - rooftop bar. Love the sushi there. The sushi chef Haru is one of the nicest people you'll meet. An asset to this establishment. The best part for me is the ability to bring the same fresh ingredients to your home. They have a fish / seafood display. This is my top choice for raw seafood and I don't mind the extra trip after the supermarket to get their fresh ingredients. Like the motto sites, if its not fresh, it's not legal.
(5)April E.
Very fresh and delicious oysters. Service was good but a little slow. Had to ask for drink refills. I had the lobster roll and it was really good but sort of pricey. The menu said "market price" so I was warned!
(4)Kristine N.
Amazing staff, amazing view, and amazing food. We shared the lobster bake which came with a variety of shellfish. Everything was fresh and delicious. The corn was surprisingly one of the best corns I've had. Corn is corn, I know, but it was good! Other people at the table tried the chicken and fish tacos and seemed to really like them. The fried shrimp appetizer was so so good. It was crispy and had a great sweet & tangy sauce.
(4)David H.
Seafood is beyond nasty in my opinion. A beautiful upper roof deck with fantastic drinks isn't. Come just to hang out and drink, that's why I went.
(5)Jessica L.
I dined on the 2nd floor, but if I come back I'll stick with the rooftop bar. Legal Harborside definitely has gorgeous view. I found the service a bit mixed and the dishes hit or miss. Upon arrival, the hostess impatiently asked if our entire party was present (ie, 5 people for a birthday dinner). When all of us had arrived and found one another in the bar area (where they directed us to wait), the hostess was nowhere to be found and it took awhile to get seated. While the waitress refilling our water and folding our napkins throughout the evening was excellent (prompt and almost invisible), the rest of ther service was only so-so. The corn muffins in the bread basket were cold and some of the drinks came out slightly wrong. Not a huge deal, obviously, but given the somewhat "upscale" ambience that the restaurant tries to project and that it took over a month to get the reservation one would think the service would be a bit better. In terms of the menu, I found the appetizers and desserts more of a draw than the actual main courses. The Wellfleet oysters were exquisite! One of my friends ordered the octopus and lardo, and while some of us loved the lardo, others thought the dish got a bit salty and the octopus a bit tough. The lobster gnocchi with zucchini flowers was absolutely delicious, though it seemed to be in a lot of butter (lobster in butter is delish, but I think this was in a pool of almost pure butter). The filet mignon and cod dishes looked solid. For drinks, the French 75 was one of the best I've had, and the truffle blue cheese martini was great (though not for everyone). For the margaritas, the "smoky" one was a bit too smoky, while the other (Jalisco Smash) was delicious, though it had too much ice. In terms of desserts, the Popcorn Sundae was amazing. Somehow they combined rich, creamy ice cream with savory peanut brittle and buttery, salty popcorn. The chocolate chilli mousse was also great.
(4)Richard C.
I have been to this site 3-4 times, always had personable, attentive, interested, appropriately friendly wait staff; no exception this time. I have been eating at Legal restaurants since 1968 (college & med school); from Inman to Copley to Kendall to Chestnut Hill to Burlington to Long Wharf to Park Sq to Warwick to Crystal City, VA and beyond! I always experienced tremendous consistency in prep of fried clams and wait staff service. I always have fried clams for my dinner and sometimes appetizer and entree. Why? Because I moved to Hawaii, years ago, & Legal does not ship to Hawaii & because, for my taste, the right way to prep & cook fried clams is the Legal way (when not on the Cape)! Every trip I take to the Mainland, I look for fried clams at a Legal restaurant. BUT, this time is the only time (!) I have been disappointed in the clams; small with tiny, nearly non-existent bellies, very spotty breading (corn meal) coverage. The waitress apologized and apparently expected the manager to speak to us. The mgr never showed, but the waitress did her best to figure out what went wrong. The chowder was great as usual. This time Legal rates a 2 star because of the fried clams; 4 stars because of the waitress and servers; 0 stars for an uninterested manager!
(2)Andrew H.
Had a wonderful evening the entree was perfect. The lobster roll was delicious had just enough mayonnaise. The fries were perfect best fries I've ever had and don't get me started on the rolls. Over all would recommend it to anyone the environment was awesome.
(5)