Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in New Bedford
From fish-filled Portuguese cuisine to a beachside beer garden with stellar raw bar options, here’s where to dine in the Whaling City.
Lobster at the Black Whale. / Paul Clancy
New Bedford—now more accessible from Boston than ever thanks to the new South Coast commuter rail line—is the nation’s wealthiest commercial fishing port. So, when you visit, you should eat some seafood. Here are five top fish-focused restaurants to try. Related: Our A-to-Z New England seafood guide from our August 2025 issue has everything from the histories of New Bedford’s fishing industry, fried clam, and oyster crackers to the meaning of “scrod,” and lots more.
1
Fathoms Waterfront Bar & Grille
Talk about fresh: Owned by a local fisherman and seafood wholesaler, Fathoms goes deep on seafood options from its sister fleet of boats.
255 Popes Island, New Bedford, 508-993-3400, fathomsbarandgrille.com.
2
Antonio’s Restaurant
Waves of immigrants from the Portuguese-speaking world have influenced New Bedford since the 1800s. Antonio’s is where to go for classic Portuguese cuisine, from linguiça-stuffed clams and grilled sardines to shellfish sautéed in garlicky saffron sauce.
267 Coggeshall St., New Bedford, 508-990-3636, antoniosnewbedford.com.
3
The Black Whale
This sleek spot showcases New Bedford’s seafood industry not only on its massive menu but also in the views from its prime location on the working waterfront.
104 Co-Op Wharf, Pier 3, New Bedford, 508-990-7100, theblackwhale.com.
4
Cisco Kitchen + Bar
The Cisco experience may have started on Nantucket, but New Bedford has now perfected it, with a full-service restaurant and raw bar, not to mention a sandy beachside beer garden with frequent live music.
1482 East Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, 774-702-4726, ciscokitchenbar.com.
5
New Beige
New Beige is community-minded (with a Portuguese accent). Offering seafood options ranging from lobster nachos to piri-piri Gulf shrimp to pan-seared New Bedford scallops, the restaurant also has a grab-and-go café at the ferry terminal.
39 Union St., New Bedford, 508-742-6099, new-beige.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.”
