The Top Seafood Restaurants Around Boston
From Mediterranean-inspired hotspots to old-school clam shacks serving New England classics.
Row 34. / Photo by Paige Harding
Boston’s restaurant scene is constantly evolving, but this is also a city steeped in tradition. So when we chose the top seafood restaurants, we cast a wide net, touching on those casual New England classics, yes, but also fish-focused fine-dining destinations. From a quirky little spot serving lobster sandwiches to buzzy destinations for crudo and cocktails, we’ve got you covered. (Looking for sushi recs? They’re in a separate guide.)
This guide was last updated in August 2025; stay tuned for periodic updates.
Related: our ultimate guide to New England seafood, from A to Z; our guides to the area’s best lobster rolls, fried seafood, fish and chips, and chowder.
Alive & Kicking Lobsters
This no-frills joint looks like a fish out of water (pun fully acknowledged) in its residential Cambridge neighborhood. But that’s part of the cult appeal of Alive & Kicking Lobsters, where the small menu focuses on steamers, chowders, and a fairly famous lobster sandwich—don’t call it a roll!—of luscious, mayo-tossed meat on Italian-style scali bread. Gulp it down on the backyard picnic tables, or take some market-fresh fish selections home.
269 Putnam Ave., Cambridgeport, Cambridge, 617-876-0451, aliveandkickinglobsters.website.
Atlantic Fish Co.
A Back Bay anchor since 1978, this old-school surf-and-turf still delivers. It’s a place to power-lunch over a shellfish-stocked Captain’s Platter, or close a deal over a dinner of linguine with clams, crab-crusted haddock, or filet mignon. When it’s time to celebrate, uncork something from a smart wine list that includes selections from the restaurant group’s own proprietary label.
761 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-267-4000, atlanticfish.com.
Baleia’s seared cod with caldo verde, crispy potato, and chouriço. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Baleia
This celebration of Portuguese cuisine from the people behind Italian spots SRV, Gufo, and the Salty Pig showcases seafood in all its Iberian-inflected glory, from salt cod bolinhos (fritters) to shrimp Mozambique to whole roasted fish with charred lemon and a super-savory presunto (ham) and anchovy XO sauce. An all-Portuguese wine list accompanies, and you’ll want to save room for dessert, particularly the pão de ló (olive oil cake) or pastéis de nata (egg tarts). Great for date night.
264 E. Berkeley St., South End, Boston, baleiaboston.com.
The Banks Seafood and Steak
Owned by the same people behind Best of Boston hall-of-famer steakhouse Grill 23, the Banks offers elevated takes on classic New England seafood—like the award-winning chowder—and special-occasion-worthy entrees like grilled branzino with dill pesto and nectarines or the deliciously brown-buttery Dover sole meunière. Make the night extra-fancy with a seafood tower or caviar service. Or—why not?—both. Plus: an oyster vodka martini.
406 Stuart St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-399-0015, thebanksboston.com.
The Barking Crab is like a year-round vacation on the Fort Point Channel. / Brian Samuels Photography
The Barking Crab
Best of Boston winner, 2001 (Best Seafood, Affordable), 2002 (Best Seafood, Affordable), and 2005 (Best Seafood, Affordable)
You can’t miss that bright red- and yellow-striped big top tent on the waterfront. This Seaport fixture beckons with its boisterous crowds gathered for classic crab-shack eats: platters piled high with crustaceans and drawn butter dip; fried-seafood standards—like Ipswich clams or Rhode Island calamari; and plenty of cold beer to wash it all down. The space is strung with lobster traps and strands of lights; it ain’t fancy, but it’s a lot of fun.
88 Sleeper St., Seaport District, Boston, 617-426-2722, barkingcrab.com.
Belle Isle Seafood
Can’t get much more classic than this cash-only, no-frills seafood joint, which spent its first few decades as a seafood shack before moving to a more spacious in Eastie-neighboring Winthrop address in 2012. Belle Isle features fried seafood, lobster rolls, and the signature lobster pie—essentially baked lobster topped with buttery breadcrumbs. Also: this gorgeous view.
1 Main St., Winthrop, 617-567-1619, belleisleseafood.net.
Bluefin’s mussels. / Photo by Carlie Febo
Bluefin
Somerville’s loss was Jamaica Plain’s gain when seafood shop Bluefin departed Bow Market for bigger permanent digs across town. Founded by fisherman Jason Tucker, Bluefin packs a lot of things into a tiny space: a fish market, on-site dining and takeout, catering, and farmers market operations. Swing by for tasty treats like salmon belly BLTs, sweet chili shrimp noodle bowls, and creamy lobster bisque.
660B Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, bluefinrawbar.com.
Sail Loft’s clam chowder. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Boston Sail Loft
This place could easily feel like a tourist trap thanks to the prime waterfront location, the classic New England seafood menu, and the social media-friendly branded mugs of thick chowder. But the genuinely warm service and attention to detail tips it to a deservedly iconic status, where both tourists and locals feel like regulars while enjoying that dill-filled chowder, one of Boston’s best.
80 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Boston/Waterfront, 617-227-7280, thebostonsailloft.com.
The Daily Catch’s squid ink linguine aglio olio with scallops. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
The Daily Catch
Best of Boston winner, 1981 (Best Seafood Restaurant, Affordable)
It’s all about Sicilian-style seafood at this North End-born, family-owned restaurant, a decades-spanning institution that has branched off to locations on the waterfront and in Brookline. Check the chalkboard menu for what’s fresh, from clam and calamari swimming in marinara, to puttanesca with puréed olive and anchovy butter. Take note: The original 20-seat spot is cash-only, but generous portions make it worth every dollar.
323 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-523-8567; 65 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Boston/Waterfront, 617-772-4400; 441 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2700; thedailycatch.com.
Eventide Fenway oysters. / Courtesy photo
Eventide Fenway
Best of Boston winner, 2018 (Best Seafood, Fast-Casual)
Maybe you’ve heard of the famous brown-butter lobster rolls at this offshoot of a fantastically popular Portland, Maine restaurant—they’re great, especially followed by some brown-butter soft serve. But don’t let the bestseller distract you from other globally inspired delectable options: the coconut-based Maine lobster stew, perhaps, with maitake and sweet potato, or the scallop dumplings in brown-butter (yep) ponzu, or the made-to-share fish kabob platter with tabouleh and garlic yogurt. A dirty martini with oyster-infused vodka is a great complement to the feast, or a glass of something sparkling. (Note: If you haven’t been in in a few years, the Fenway restaurant, which started as a counter-service operation, is now full-service.)
1321 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, 617-545-1060, eventideoysterco.com/eventide-fenway.
A buttered lobster roll at James Hook. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
James Hook + Co.
For decades, this family-owned seafood wholesaler has been serving fish-market fare out of its counter-service shanty by Boston Harbor. The lobster rolls are iconic, of course. But don’t snooze on the creamy, sherry-spiked lobster bisque, jumbo crab cakes, or double-stuffed clams. Here’s where to hook a simple but spectacular bite to enjoy on the weather-resistant patio, take back to the office, or eat while on a weekend walk along the waterfront.
440 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Boston/Waterfront, 617-423-5501, jameshooklobster.com.
Kaia. / Photo by Birch Thomas
Kaia
The best new restaurant of 2025, a coastal Greek gem, plays into a theme of “fishing, feasting, and foraging”—and wow, the “fishing” part of the equation is unmissable. A rotation of whole fish preparations are a big highlight; think grilled tsipoura (dorado) with orange blossom honey, ladolemono (lemon and olive oil dressing), and herbs (which are snipped theatrically over the fish at the table). You’ll want to fill your order with seafood small plates, too, like prawn with squid ink tzatziki, kataifi, and charred red pepper essence or cod cheeks with seaweed trahanas (a grain-like product) and a foam of smoked avgolemono.
Legal Harborside. / Photo by Chip Nestor
Legal Harborside
It’s hard to beat the harbor horizon views from this Titanic-sized offshoot of the Legal Sea Foods chain. The three-floor Seaport operation covers casual fish fare on the ground floor, more refined plates upstairs, and lounge-worthy bites and cocktails on the mast-high roof deck (which has a retractable glass covering, so you can enjoy the scenery whatever the weather). Is it a chain? Yes. Is it a really, really good one, and stuffed to the gills with consistently strong seafood staples, from baked stuffed lobster to an iconic chowder? Absolutely.
270 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston, 617-477-2900, legalseafoods.com.
Little Whale Oyster Bar’s fried clams. / Photo by Matthew Schrage for Little Whale Oyster Bar
Little Whale Oyster Bar
Take a break from your Newbury Street window-shopping for lunch or dinner at a jazzed-up New England seafood restaurant from the crew behind Select Oyster Bar (see below). Presented as “an ode to the seaside clamshacks of New England,” a portion of the menu is dedicated to fish and chips, Rhode Island-style fried calamari, fried Ipswich clams (whole-bellies, of course), and more. Want to stray from the traditional? Dishes like octopus fusilli, blue crab tagliatelle, and a seared tuna sandwich round out the offerings. (Beyond fish, a particularly good steak frites is available, too—a holdover from the restaurant group’s previous endeavor at this address, the Parisian-inspired bistro Grand Tour.)
314 Newbury St., Back Bay, Boston, 857-277-0800, littlewhaleboston.com.
Moëca’s sturgeon caviar with smoked whitefish pâté and crispy potato. / Photo by Emily Trotochaud
Moëca
Best of Boston winner, 2024
In a city known for its top-notch seafood restaurants, how does one stand out from the crowd? The husband-and-wife team behind Cambridge Italian favorite Giulia has an answer in Moëca, where a vivid and wildly creative seafood-centric menu draws inspiration from all over the world. (Think: a smoked scallop taramasalata that nods to Greece or a raw fluke aguachile that points to Mexico.) It doesn’t hurt that Moëca’s deep, moody blue interior has vibes or that the staff inherited Giulia’s talent with fresh pasta. The menu changes with some frequency, but keep an eye out for dishes such as hiramasa crudo, Maine lobster spaghetti, or whole branzino with salsa verde.
One Shepard St., between Porter and Harvard squares, Cambridge, 617-945-0040, moecarestaurant.com.
Big eye tuna carpaccio with tomatoes, sesame, yuzu kosho, and crispy rice, from a past late-summer tasting menu at Mooncusser. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Mooncusser
Best of Boston winner, 2018 (Best Seafood, High-End)
Since bringing Top Chef alum Carl Dooley into its kitchen in 2021, this refined but unstuffy Back Bay destination keeps earning a high spot on our annual list of Boston’s top 50 restaurants. It’s not as explicitly seafood-focused as when it opened in 2017 under its original name Mooncusser Fish House, but there’s still plenty of fish to be found on Dooley’s seasonal prix fixe menu. The selections never fail to surprise and delight, whether steelhead trout sashimi with Meyer lemon ponzu and crispy Brussels sprouts, celery root ravioli with sweet Red Royal shrimp and spicy habanero, or anything else that pairs perfectly with wine. (Looking for something a little more casual? Sibling spot Moon Bar downstairs consistently wows with flavor-packed, spicy small plates, like a banana leaf-wrapped black sea bass with pineapple sambal.)
304 Stuart St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-917-5193, mooncusserboston.com.
Muqueca Restaurant
Brazilian seafood stews are the name of the game (as well as the namesake) here. Cooked in clay pots and loaded with shrimp, mussels, and more, they’re warm, hearty offerings that complement a larger menu of chowder-like shrimp bobó made with yucca cream, seafood pie on a bed of rice, shellfish mariscada—and that’s just scratching the surface. There’s plenty for the landlubbers, too, including a mouthwatering plantain lasagna with a three-cheese sauce.
1008 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-354-3296, muquecarestaurant.com.
Fluke crudo at Neptune Oyster. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Neptune Oyster
We think the ocean king himself would endorse this North End favorite. Granted, he could probably skip the lines that form for the famous lobster roll, served covered in hot butter or tossed in cold mayo. But it’s still worth waiting to get inside the relatively snug spot, where daily specials justify return visits: Spend Tuesdays with sea urchin bucatini, or wrap up your workweek with Friday’s squid ink risotto.
63 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-742-3474, neptuneoyster.com.
Percebes (gooseneck barnacles) at Nightshade Noodle Bar. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Nightshade Noodle Bar
Don’t let the name fool you: Seafood’s the star at chef-owner Rachel Miller’s destination-worthy, tasting-menu Lynn spot. (That said, we do adore the noodle dishes, particularly the house-made egg noodles with caramelized garlic sauce and chili crisp.) The fish-focused menu winds through seven, nine, 14, 21, or even an astounding 30 courses, pulling bits of flavor and technique inspiration from France, Vietnam, and beyond. Dramatic presentations like Maine uni brûlée with brown butter and red curry hollandaise; habanero claypot caramel blowfish tails; and salt-and-pepper clam rolls with green chili lime sauce will leave you thankful you escaped Boston for the night.
73 Exchange St., Lynn, 781-780-9470, nightshadenoodlebar.com.
The paella at Ostra. / Photo by Kristin Teig
Ostra
A posh offering from the local titans at Columbus Hospitality Group (Mistral, among others), Ostra looks to Mediterranean shores for its fine-dining seafood menu. Solicitous servers usher roasted monkfish with mushroom ragout, traditional Spanish paella, and caviar service to tables draped in crisp white linens. Wonderful wines are poured. It’s elegant; it’s excellent.
1 Charles St. S, Back Bay, Boston, 617-421-1200, ostraboston.com.
The Pearl
One of the newer additions to Boston’s seafood scene, the Pearl is a prized local-owned restaurant amid the cookie-cutter chains at Dorchester’s South Bay Center—and now the Boston Landing section of Brighton, too, as of early 2025. To reach the original location, head past the Applebee’s and Olive Garden to this lovely, lively operation focused on fabulous, relatively straightforward renditions of seafood staples—spicy gumbo and shrimp scampi, for instance—as well as spectacular surprises like spinach-, crab-, and cheese-stuffed salmon with an apple cider glaze. Nifty cocktails complete the package.
20B District Ave., Dorchester, Boston, 617-288-8810; 67 Guest St., Brighton, Boston, 617-208-8461; thepearlsouthbay.com.
Porto
Boston’s venerable chef Jody Adams brings Back Bay her expectedly marvelous musings on contemporary Mediterranean seafood. Think octopus a la plancha with smoked tomato puree; whole roasted branzino that gets a lift from garlic, oregano, and orange; and seared scallops with sunchokes, pomegranate, and warm gooseberry vinaigrette. Adams has been inducted to the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who” list of legends. We can see, and taste, why.
1 Ring Rd., Back Bay, Boston, 617-536-1234, porto-boston.com.
Puritan Oyster Bar’s caviar cones, with Japanese-style egg salad. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Puritan Oyster Bar
Caviar cones, swordfish pastrami, and smoked bluefish melt? Don’t mind if we do. This Puritan & Co. sibling and neighbor is a lighthearted love letter to fish, from raw little snacks to a can’t-miss surf and turf that embellishes ribeye and lobster tail with umami-packed miso cream. Make it a prelude to a meal next door, or make it your whole night.
1164 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, puritancambridge.com/oysterbar.
ReelHouse
With waterfront locations in East Boston, the Seaport, and Quincy—all with gorgeous views aplenty—ReelHouse goes all-in on seafood, particularly towers. The biggest tower, for instance, impresses with oysters Rockefeller, clams casino, butter-poached lobster tails, oysters, colossal shrimp cocktail, clam ceviche, and tuna tartare—a little more involved than the usual oyster-and-clam affair.
Multiple locations, reelhouseboston.com.
Tuna crudo at Row 34. / Photo by Michael Harlan Turkell
Row 34
Best of Boston winner, 2025
Post-work crowds descend on this industrial-chic space in Fort Point for briny and buttery oysters, snacky stuff like crispy fish tacos, and entrées of fresh catch, including grilled salmon with sunchoke and brown butter. On top of all that, it also has one of the best-curated beer programs of any restaurant in Boston. Since its debut a dozen years ago, the one-time Island Creek Oysters sibling (they’ve since split under separate ownership but are still friends in the seafood biz) has spawned outposts in Burlington, Cambridge, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, too. A new Kenmore Square location just opened too.
383 Congress St., Fort Point, Boston, 617-553-5900; 498 Commonwealth Ave. (Hotel Commonwealth), Kenmore Square, Boston; and other locations, row34.com.
Saltie Girl’s fried lobster tail and fluffy waffles is the anytime combination you didn’t know you were craving. / Courtesy photo
Saltie Girl
Let it be known that this Back Bay lass was an early local adopter of the tinned seafood trend; Saltie Girl is a wonderful spot to pair, say, a crisp white wine with top-tier cockles canned in brine. But the kitchen team, now led by culinary director Matthew Gaudet as of spring 2025, does wonderful work too–from award-winning caviar service and lobster rolls to buttery, garlicky lobster frites to whole fried black bass for two. And there’s a quirky favorite to find in the fried lobster with waffles, served with spicy maple syrup.
279 Dartmouth St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-267-0691, saltiegirl.com.
Select Oyster Bar’s bouillabaisse. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Select Oyster Bar
Tucked inside a Back Bay townhouse, chef Michael Serpa’s date-night seafood spot is polished but unpretentious, fun yet refined, inviting to neighborhood regulars but absolutely worth an Uber ride from the other side of the city. The Mediterranean-glancing menu features elaborate shellfish tiers; starters like pan con tomate and white anchovies or Maine uni crostini; and showstoppers like a loaded bouillabaisse.
50 Gloucester St., Back Bay, Boston, 857-239-8064, selectboston.com.
Summer Shack
We’ve yet to tire of all the ways that the late, great chef Jasper White‘s Summer Shack restaurants manage to feed us lobster—in mac and cheese, in a pot pie, in a roll (of course), and in White’s signature pan-roasted recipe with bourbon, chervil, and chives. (But if you’ve got someone in your group who’s less into seafood? The fried chicken is an under-the-radar stunner here.) Summer Shack also ships its seafood nationally, so you can have a taste of Boston delivered to any friends and family who have moved to different waters.
50 Dalton St., Back Bay, Boston, 617 867-9955 (Note: This location has been temporarily transformed into a Mexican pop-up for summer 2025); 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge, 617-520-9500; summershackrestaurant.com.
The Winsor House at Island Creek Oyster Farm. / Photo by Morgan Ione Yeager
The Winsor House at Island Creek Oysters
Tour the oyster farm that put Duxbury on the map, and then eat some ultra-fresh oysters—and tuna prosciutto toast, swordfish and pork meatballs, linguine vongole, and butter-poached halibut—right across the street at its award-winning sibling restaurant. Built into a historic tavern space, it’s the coziest way to eat local. For a more casual meal, try the farm’s Raw Bar—caviar-topped hot dogs and simple sushi bowls and rolls await. There’s one right on the property in Duxbury with indoor and seasonal outdoor seating, as well as a new seasonal outdoor spot in Boston’s Seaport.
390 Washington St., Duxbury, 781-934-0991, winsorhouse.islandcreekoysters.com.
Yankee Lobster Co.
In a fast-changing Seaport, we’re grateful this lobstering family’s takeout-friendly institution stays simple and straightforward. Swing by the counter-service market for lobster rolls, lobster melt sandwiches, lobster mac and cheese–oh, and other simple seafood classics, like whole-belly stuffed clams and crab cakes. This is the closest we’ll ever come to saying it: We’re Yankee fans.
300 Northern Ave., Seaport District, Boston, 617-345-9799, yankeelobstercompany.com.
