Boston Other Cities

Welcome to Citysearch!

Find what you were looking for? (Hint: You can use the search box in the upper left-hand corner to track down anything you want. We're here to help, so click around.)
 | close

Best of Citysearch

Boston Nightlife 2008

More

Vote Sponsored By

Legal Sea Foods

255 State St
Boston, MA 02109-2617
Phone: (617) 742-5300

Ratings & Reviews Summary for Legal Sea Foods

What Users are Saying:

  • Prompt seating
  • Make reservations
  • Good for groups
5 Star Rating
 
(35 reviews)
4 Star Rating
 
(16 reviews)
3 Star Rating
 
(18 reviews)
2 Star Rating
 
(12 reviews)
1 Star Rating
 
(20 reviews)

User Reviews for Legal Sea Foods

Citysearch (84), InsiderPages (6), Trip Advisor (2), Fodor's (1), Dine.com (4), AOL CityGuide (4), All (101)

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

10/04/2008 Posted by dartmaster65

My friends and I each had a bowl of the New England Clam chowder and it was a major disappointment. One of my friends didn't even finish their bowl. The chowder had no flavor and it was watered down. I have had better clam chowder out of a can. The service was good, but I will try never try this restaurant again.

Pros: Service was good

Cons: The clam chowder was horrible

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/27/2008 Posted by PK2008

Ive eaten at most of the locations. The quality of the food is always consistent and the clam chowder is amazing. For lunch, try the spicy fish and chips. Its not too bad so dont worry. I took my friend here when he came to visit me from San Diego. He loved it. Had the baked scrod. If youre visiting here for the first time, you have to come here at least once. My favorite locations are the one on the waterfront near the Aquarium and the one near Park Plaza.

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

05/23/2008 Posted by Cashm

Appetizers were ok, ordered a $95 bottle of wine and had to ask 3 times for wine cooler. Finally got it. Ordered lobsters, husband's was cooked ok, but he said dry, not like when in Maine. Mine, was undercooked and I didn't realize it till I ate a few bites. Sent it back, and came back still undercooked. Was told I had to wait 8 - 12 hours if I'd be sick. Yes, they didn't charge, but who cares about the money, I wasn't looking for free food, I was looking to eat a nice dinner. Instead I spent the night worrying if I'd be sick. Thankfully I wasn't but the point is it should never have happened from a place that says it has high quality control standards.

Pros: if you are in the area, it's convenient

Cons: food is not great, can get better, undercooked food

4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/29/2008 Posted by Phenom22

Recently went and ordered oysters as an appetizer. Reasonably priced and delicious. The food came out in time and the champagne was great. Visited the P.F in The Prudential Center. Great music, great food. Plan on going back soon.

3 Star Rating: Average

01/13/2008 Posted by master_confucius

I went to Legal Seafood for the first time on a visit to Boston. My idea was to have some good fresh seafood near my hotel. The result was devastating. We ordered oysters and clams as appetizers and tuna and trout as main courses. To drink we had a nice Napa Sparkling Wine. The meal came down to this. We first received the main courses, then the oysters, and at last, when we were almost finish we had the wine... Then we get to pay at the table. Not only we had to input the tip but we even had to slide the credit card. Talk about fast food.... this is just to much. I wont go again even though the food was ok. Kumamoto oysters and raw tuna... how can you go wrong?

2 Star Rating: Below Average

12/04/2007 Posted by anastasia212121

I've been to other Legal Seafoods restaurants and they've been better. It looks like someone doesn't pay attention to the details here. Reservations are sometimes not met- you end up waiting for a table the same way if you hadn't called in adavance. People will be waiting and there will be plenty of empty tables but no waiters.. Many more things just like this. Also a general Legal Seafoods thing. I know these are supposed to be good seafood restaurants but I haven't found the food to be better than anywhere else. I've had lobster bakes here.. and they're so over priced and really not that good. Nothing really stands out. If you want good seafood don't go to a chain liek this

Pros: Good Location

Cons: Service/Food

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

11/15/2007 Posted by foxyfishy14

When I lived in Boston, I tried Legal Seafoods a number of times and each time it got worse. The clam chowder is tasteless and the steamers were something to laugh at. The prices are way too high for what they give you and the quality is just unacceptable. The service is less than great and the wait (even with a reservation) is just ridiculous. This place is a total tourist trap and I've stopped going.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/31/2007 Posted by jenmac30

Have to agree with the last poster, reservations mean nothing here. When I arrived on time for my reservation, I received a beeper, I asked why do I need this I am on time for my reservation. They stated it will be a few minutes. I was seated after all the other people in the front waiting where seated, which took 45 minutes. Food was very good, but not great. Good portions. Servers where going in and out of the front door where patrons go in to serve the patio guests, which I felt was a bit unprofessional for such a nice place.

Pros: Good food

Cons: Wait to get a seat isn't worth it

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

06/03/2007 Posted by meatfenway

I was relocated to Boston in Fall 2006 and this was selected as one of my first places to visit. Oh my God!! What a dissapointment!! Having reservations already, it took myself and a friend over two hours to be seated (what a joke !). I still did not give up since I was thinking the good food may be worth the long wait. The food was bad, totally average and nothing spectacular. The server had absolutely NO IDEA about wines and/or about the food. Both servers were not even familiar with the menu !! One entree was forgotten and it took another hour to get it. Not to mention, they brought a completely different entree that the original order. What a mess!! My dish said it had rice and it did not come with it and I decided to asked for it: What a surprise, the server came back after 30 minutes to tell me they don't have rice and brought bread instead. What the heck was that for?. Save yourself a trip and the agravation... DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE !!!

Pros: Absolutely NOTHING

Cons: Bad service, Bad food, High prices, Reservations mean nothing.

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

05/08/2007 Posted by bosfun

I had one of the worst dining experiences of my life at this restaurant. I had 6:15pm reservations on a Monday night and was seated upon arrival. But then.... we waited.... and waited..... and waited..... 15-20 minutes before a waiter came to our table at all! No water, no bread, no taking orders, no nothing! This is totally unacceptable, especially for a pricey restaurant!! You'd think that once a waiter realized we were getting no service that everything would be great from then on, wouldn't you? Nope!! The food did come in OK time, but water refills were completely slow or non-existent and getting the check took another 15-20 minutes and then waiting for the leftovers to be put in a paper box and returned to our table took another 10 minutes. Totally insane. (Oh and by the way it's a horrible date place because it was SUPER LOUD in there and totally crowded and the seating had everyone crammed in there -- all on top of the ridiculously bad service! And this was a weeknight to boot!) I will NEVER go back!!

Cons: horrendous service

Editor's Review

This waterside location of the world-famous seafood chain keeps tourists happy.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

The Extras

Amuse yourself with a predinner trip to the nearby New England Aquarium.

More Insider Tips

Restaurant Information for Legal Sea Foods

Smoking

  • No

Parking

  • Pay lot
  • Street

Hours

  • Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
  • Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
  • Sun 12pm-10pm

Dress Code

  • Casual to dressy

Payment Types

  • Diners Club
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Travelers Check
  • MasterCard
  • Visa
  • Gift Certificate

Cuisines

  • American (Traditional)
  • Seafood
  • Chowder

Meal Price

  • $$$

Amenities

  • Group Dining
  • Business Dining
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Kid Friendly
  • Waterfront Dining
  • Celeb Hangout
  • Dine at the Bar

Recognition for Legal Sea Foods

2004 Audience Winner - Clam Chowder
2004 Audience Winner - Seafood

Site Links:

Citysearch is a registered trademark of Bluefoot Ventures Inc., and is used under license.
© 2008 Citysearch.com All rights reserved.

Partner Sites: