Boston has a rich seafood tradition that dates back to the colonial days. There are many great seafood restaurants in Boston serving delicious classic seafood dishes. Here are some common types of seafood you might find:
Lobster
Boston is famous for its lobster, and you'll find it served in various forms, including steamed whole lobster, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, and lobster macaroni and cheese.
Clams
Clams are a New England favorite, often served as clam chowder (both New England and Manhattan styles), fried clams, clam cakes, and steamers (soft-shell clams).
Oysters
Oyster bars are popular in Boston, offering fresh oysters from local waters as well as from other regions. Oysters may be served raw on the shell or prepared in various cooked dishes.
Scallops
Scallops are another popular seafood item, often served seared, grilled, or in pasta dishes. Bacon-wrapped scallops are a classic appetizer.
Fish
Boston restaurants serve a variety of fresh fish, including cod, haddock, salmon, swordfish, and tuna. Fish dishes may be grilled, baked, or pan-seared and often come with a variety of sauces and accompaniments.
Crab
While not as abundant as lobster, crab dishes can still be found in Boston restaurants, including crab cakes, crab legs, and crab salad.
Squid and Octopus
Calamari (fried squid) is a popular appetizer in many Boston restaurants. Octopus may be served grilled or braised and often features in Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Seafood Pasta
Pasta dishes featuring seafood, such as shrimp scampi, seafood linguine, and lobster ravioli, are also common in Boston restaurants.
Fish tacos and sandwiches
Casual eateries in Boston often serve fish tacos and sandwiches, featuring grilled or fried fish topped with fresh salsa, slaw, and other flavorful ingredients.
Union Oyster House Seafood Faneuil Hall $$ Awesome Legal Sea Foods - Harborside Seafood Seaport $$ Awesome Hook + Line Seafood Seaport $$ Awesome The Hourly Oyster House Seafood Cambridge $$ Exceptional Waypoint Seafood Cambridge $$ Awesome Row 34 - Cambridge Seafood Cambridge $$$ Exceptional The Banks Seafood and Steak Seafood Back Bay $$$ Awesome Legal Sea Foods - Copley Place Seafood Back Bay $$$ Awesome The Daily Catch - Waterfront Seafood North End $$$ Exceptional Legal Sea Foods – Downtown Crossing Seafood Downtown Crossing $$$ Awesome Aqua Pazza Seafood North End $$$ Exceptional Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square Seafood Cambridge $$$ Awesome Legal Sea Foods - Long Wharf Seafood Faneuil Hall $$$ Awesome Legal Sea Foods - Park Square Seafood Back Bay $$$ Excellent Rowes Wharf Sea Grille Seafood Financial District $$$ Exceptional B&G Oysters Seafood South End $$$$ Awesome Little Whale Seafood Back Bay $$$$ Exceptional
Buttermilk & Bourbon | Southern | Back Bay | $$ | Exceptional | |
Trattoria Il Panino | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Citrus & Salt | Contemporary Mexican | Seaport | $$ | Awesome | |
La Pizza & La Pasta - Eataly Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
Mistral - Boston | French | Back Bay | $$ | Exceptional | |
Area Four Cambridge | Pizza Bar | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | |
Serafina Seaport | Italian | Seaport | $$ | Exceptional | |
Fogo de Chao - Boston | Brazilian | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
75 Chestnut | Contemporary American | Beacon Hill | $$ | Exceptional | |
Bar Vlaha | Greek | Brookline | $$ | Exceptional | |
Serafina - Boston Back Bay | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
The Capital Burger - Boston | Burgers | Back Bay | $$ | Exceptional | |
Moxies - Boston Seaport | American | Seaport | $$ | Awesome | |
Ma Maison | French | Beacon Hill | $$ | Exceptional | |
Mooo SEAPORT | Steakhouse | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
Pink Taco - Boston | Mexican | Seaport | $$ | Excellent | |
Casa Romero | Mexican | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
Shy Bird - South Boston | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
State Street Provisions | American | Financial District | $$ | Exceptional | |
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - South Boston | Mexican | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
Lucia Ristorante | Unspecified | North End | $$ | Awesome | |
Josephine | Italian | Somerville | $$ | Exceptional | |
The Beacon at View Boston | American | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
75 on Liberty Wharf Bar & Grill | American | Fort Point Channel | $$ | Awesome | |
Moonshine 152 | American | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
Quattro | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Night Shift - Lovejoy Wharf | Brewery | West End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Il Patio di Eataly | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | Excellent | |
Prairie Fire | American | Brookline | $$ | Exceptional | |
Hunter's | Southern | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
TreMonte Restaurant - North End | Italian | North End | $$ | Awesome | |
Yellow Door Taqueria - South End | Mexican | South End | $$ | Awesome | |
The Maharaja | Indian | Cambridge | $$ | Exceptional | |
Panza | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Vinoteca di Monica | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Tiki Rock | Comfort Food | Financial District | $$ | Awesome | |
Five Horses Tavern - South End | Contemporary American | South End | $$ | Awesome | |
The Bebop | American | Back Bay | $$ | Awesome | |
Bar' Cino Watertown | Unspecified | Watertown | $$ | Exceptional | |
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - Fenway | Mexican | Fenway–Kenmore | $$ | Awesome | |
casarecce | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
South End Buttery | Contemporary American | South End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Russell House Tavern | American | Cambridge | $$ | Awesome | |
Peregrine - The Whitney Hotel Boston | Unspecified | Beacon Hill | $$ | Awesome | |
Ristorante Saraceno | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Massiminos Cucina Italiana | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
Oliveira's Steakhouse - Somerville | Brazilian Steakhouse | Somerville | $$ | Exceptional | |
Nico | Italian | North End | $$ | Exceptional | |
The Sporting Club | American | South Boston | $$ | Awesome | |
Fat Baby Sushi and Cocktails | Sushi | South Boston | $$ | Exceptional | |
STREGA Italiano – Back Bay | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | Exceptional | |
Rosa Mexicano - Boston | Mexican | Seaport | $$ | Awesome | |
STREGA Italiano – Seaport | Italian | Seaport | $$ | Exceptional | |
Tradesman - Charlestown | American | Charlestown | $$ | Exceptional | |
Marseille | French | South End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Prima | Italian | Charlestown | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Eva | Mediterranean | Back Bay | $$$ | Awesome | |
Eastern Standard | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | Awesome | |
Beehive | American | South End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Earls Kitchen + Bar - Boston - Prudential Center | American | Back Bay | $$$ | Awesome | |
Mare | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Bistro du Midi | French | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Estella | American | Beacon Hill | $$$ | Awesome | |
Batifol | French | Cambridge | $$$ | Awesome | |
Blue Ribbon Brasserie | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | Awesome | |
Boston Chops - South End | Steakhouse | South End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Mida - East Boston | Italian | East Boston | $$$ | Awesome | |
Puritan & Company | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$$ | Awesome | |
Capo Restaurant | Italian | South Boston | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Bar 'Cino Brookline | Italian | Brookline | $$$ | Exceptional | |
The Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant | Irish | Beacon Hill | $$$ | Exceptional | |
La Voile | French | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Alcove | American | West End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Ciao Roma | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Joe’s Waterfront | American | North End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Silver Dove Afternoon Tea | Afternoon Tea | Faneuil Hall | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Strega North End | Italian | North End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Banyan Bar + Refuge | Asian | South End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Shore Leave | Sushi | South End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Tresca | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Lucca North End | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
The Helmand Restaurant | Middle Eastern | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Krasi | Greek | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Libertine | Italian | North End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Reunion BBQ | Barbecue | South End | $$$ | Excellent | |
Sugar Factory - Boston | Contemporary American | Brighton | $$$ | Excellent | |
Arya Trattoria | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Contessa - Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$$ | Exceptional | |
The Lexington | American | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Toscano Harvard Square | Italian | West Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Gyu-Kaku - Boston, MA | Brookline | Japanese | Brookline | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Isabella | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
The Florentine Cafe | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Banners Kitchen & Tap | American | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | Awesome | |
Oak Bistro | American | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Limani Grille - Seaport | Mediterranean | Seaport | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Hojoko | Japanese | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | Awesome | |
Earls Kitchen + Bar - Assembly Row | American | Somerville | $$$ | Awesome | |
Mamma Maria | Italian | North End | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Salt + Stone | American | Somerville | $$$ | Awesome | |
Tuscan Kitchen - Seaport | Unspecified | Seaport | $$$ | Awesome | |
Villa Francesca | Italian | North End | $$$ | Awesome | |
Gyu-Kaku - Boston, MA | South Bay | Japanese | South Boston | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Bianca | Contemporary American | Chestnut Hill | $$$ | Awesome | |
Mahaniyom | Thai | Brookline | $$$ | Exceptional | |
FuGaKyu Japanese Cuisine | Japanese | Brookline | $$$ | Exceptional | |
Oyster Bar by Puritan & Co. | Oyster Bar | Cambridge | $$$ | Exceptional | |
STK - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | Excellent | |
Grill 23 & Bar | Steak | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Toscano Restaurant | Italian | Beacon Hill | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Abe & Louie’s - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Umbria | Italian | North End | $$$$ | Awesome | |
Mooo BEACON HILL | Steak | Beacon Hill | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
The Nautilus Pier 4 | Pan-Asian | Seaport | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Uni | Contemporary Asian | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
No. 9 Park | European | Beacon Hill | $$$$ | Awesome | |
Limani | Mediterranean | Chestnut Hill | $$$$ | Awesome | |
Deuxave | French | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
The Capital Grille - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Omakase at Shore Leave | Sushi | South End | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Boston Chops - Downtown Crossing | Steakhouse | Downtown Crossing | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - Boston | Steakhouse | Seaport | $$$$ | Exceptional | |
Wolfgang's Steakhouse - Boston | Steakhouse | Beacon Hill | $$$$ | Awesome | |
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Boston | Steakhouse | Downtown Crossing | $$$$ | Awesome | |
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - Back Bay Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | Exceptional |