Top 5 Cod Dishes in Greater Boston
While Atlantic cod—vital to New England’s early economy—has been overfished, the imported variety is delicious, too. Taste history with these five excellent dishes.
Baleia’s cod. / Photo by Emily Kan
New England’s history is filled with Atlantic cod: It’s a revolution-starting, prosperity-driving, delicious fish. Unfortunately, present-day New England isn’t full of Atlantic cod—it’s been overfished. That means that when you see cod on menus, it’s usually imported (often from Iceland). Still delicious, and not overfished. For our Ultimate Guide to New England Seafood, we rounded up five excellent cod dishes in and around the city, from classic Portuguese salt fritters to modern Greek cod cheeks.
1
Salt Cod Bolinhos and Seared Cod at Baleia
Order a cod double-header at this date-night Portuguese spot, dunking the former (fritters) into saffron mayonnaise before diving into the main course, plated with a crispy potato cake in a flavorful chouriço-studded caldo verde.
264 E Berkeley St., South End, Boston, 617-505-3243, baleiaboston.com.
2
Fish and Chips at the Druid
Enjoy cod in the form of classic fish and chips—the best in town, in our humble opinion—at this petite Irish pub, with a side of handcut fries and traditional music.
1357 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-497-0965, druidpub.com.
3
Crab-Crusted Cod at Bostonia Public House
This fan-favorite dish has popped on and off the menu in various guises over the years, always with creative accompaniments. Currently: forbidden rice, sautéed squash and artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, and elderberry beurre blanc.
131 State St., Downtown Boston, 617-948-9800, bostoniapublichouse.com.
4
Cod Cheeks at Kaia
The South End’s beachy Greek stunner serves meaty, tender cod cheeks with Aegean flavors: seaweed trahanas (a pasta-like grain product), kritamo (a coastal herb), and a foamy, smoked avgolemono (egg and lemon) sauce.
380 Harrison Ave. (the Quinn), South End, Boston, kaiasouthend.com.
5
Cod Cakes at Alma Nove
A year before launching the now-international Wahlburgers chain, chef Paul Wahlberg (and brothers Donnie and Mark) opened this Mediterranean gem on the Hingham waterfront. The cod cakes here get jazzed up with global influences: a sweet-and-sour chutney and curried-tomato butter sauce.
22 Shipyard Dr., Hingham, 781-749-3353, almanovehingham.com.
A version of this guide was first published in the print edition of the August 2025 issue as part of a feature titled: “The New England Seafood Bible Unabridged.”
