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.
Waypoint Seafood Cambridge $$ *4.6
Aqua Pazza Seafood North End $$$ *4.8
Oceanaire Seafood Room - Boston Seafood Financial District $$$ *4.7
Legal Sea Foods - Park Square Seafood Back Bay $$$ *3.9
Legal Sea Foods - Copley Place Seafood Back Bay $$$ *4.1
Row 34 - Cambridge Seafood Cambridge $$$ *4.7
The Banks Seafood and Steak Seafood Back Bay $$$ *4.4
Row 34 - Kenmore Square | Boston Seafood Fenway–Kenmore $$$ *4.6
Legal Sea Foods – Downtown Crossing Seafood Downtown Crossing $$$ *4.4
Atlantic Fish Seafood Back Bay $$$$ *4.7
| West End Johnnie's | Contemporary American | Faneuil Hall | $$ | *4.5 | |
| La Pizza & La Pasta - Eataly Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Shy Bird - Kendall Square | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Terra - Eataly Boston | Italian | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Monument Restaurant & Tavern | American | Charlestown | $$ | *4.8 | |
| Beacon Hill Hotel | European | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Fogo de Chão - Boston | Brazilian | Back Bay | $$ | *4 | |
| Aquitaine - Boston | French | South End | $$ | *4.5 | |
| 75 Chestnut | Contemporary American | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Back Deck | American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | *4.3 | |
| The Capital Burger - Boston | Burgers | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| South End Buttery | Contemporary American | South End | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Cosmica | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Carrie Nation | Contemporary American | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Maggiano's - Boston | Italian | Theater District | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Shy Bird - South Boston | American | South Boston | $$ | *4.8 | |
| Casa Romero | Mexican | Back Bay | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Rosa Mexicano - Boston | Mexican | Seaport | $$ | *4.3 | |
| The Merchant | Contemporary American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Frenchie | French | South End | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Buttermilk & Bourbon | Southern | Back Bay | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Black Lamb | American | South End | $$ | *4.8 | |
| The Bosworth | American | Downtown Crossing | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Alden and Harlow | American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Josephine | Italian | Somerville | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Shy Bird - Fenway | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Para Maria Kitchen and Bar | Global, International | Seaport | $$ | *3.8 | |
| Trattoria Il Panino | Italian | North End | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Yunnan Kitchen | Chinese | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Burro Bar South End | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Gordon Ramsay Burger - Boston | Burgers | Faneuil Hall | $$ | *3.9 | |
| Ma Maison | French | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.8 | |
| Bab Al-Yemen Boston | Middle Eastern | Back Bay | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Fenway Johnnie's | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Bambara Kitchen & Bar | American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Beacon Hill Books & Cafe | Café | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Catalyst Restaurant | Contemporary French / American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Hobgoblin | Asian | Downtown Crossing | $$ | *4.5 | |
| Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant | American | South Boston | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Tulum Mexican Cuisine | Mexican | Somerville | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Yellow Door Taqueria - South End | Mexican | South End | $$ | *4.4 | |
| Five Horses Tavern - South End | Contemporary American | South End | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Margaritaville - Boston | American | Faneuil Hall | $$ | *4.3 | |
| Lucia Ristorante | Italian | North End | $$ | *4.1 | |
| Lucky Tiger | Asian | Charlestown | $$ | *4.7 | |
| ArtBar | American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.2 | |
| Moxies - Boston Seaport | American | Seaport | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Alma Gaucha | Brazilian Steakhouse | Seaport | $$ | *4.7 | |
| Shojo - Cambridge | Asian | Cambridge | $$ | *(0) | |
| Tiki Rock | Comfort Food | Financial District | $$ | *4.1 | |
| MIDA - East Boston | Italian | East Boston | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Citrus & Salt | Contemporary Mexican | Seaport | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Emmet's Irish Pub and Restaurant | Irish | Beacon Hill | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Russell House Tavern | American | Cambridge | $$ | *4.6 | |
| Ward 8 | American | West End | $$ | *4.3 | |
| TreMonte Restaurant - North End | Italian | North End | $$ | | |
| La Fabrica Central | Latin American | Cambridge | $$ | | |
| Ristorante Saraceno | Italian | North End | $$ | | |
| Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - South Boston | Mexican | South Boston | $$ | | |
| Glass House | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$ | | |
| Mex Taqueria & Bar | Mexican | Cambridge | $$ | | |
| Antonio's Cucina Italiana | Italian | Beacon Hill | $$ | | |
| Assaggio | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Estella | American | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | *4.2 | |
| Solea Restaurant and Tapas Bar | Tapas / Small Plates | Waltham | $$$ | *4.1 | |
| Hue | Global, International | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Joia | Italian | Financial District | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Boston Chops - South End | Steakhouse | South End | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Petit Robert Bistro Columbus Avenue | French | South End | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Amber Road | American | Financial District | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Amelia's Trattoria | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Alcove | American | West End | $$$ | *3.9 | |
| Eastern Standard | American | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *$31 | |
| Riccardo's | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| The Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant | Irish | Beacon Hill | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Posto | Italian | Somerville | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| Earls Kitchen + Bar - Boston - Prudential Center | American | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Eva | Mediterranean | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Locke Bar & Restaurant | American | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Ocean Prime - Boston Seaport | Steak | Seaport | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| The Helmand Restaurant | Middle Eastern | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Daniella's Ristorante - Peabody | Italian | Peabody | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Batifol | French | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Puritan & Company | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$$ | *$31 | |
| Bar 'Cino Brookline | Italian | Brookline | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Libertine | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Lucca North End | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Serafina - Boston Back Bay | Italian | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| Waverly Kitchen and Bar | American | Charlestown | $$$ | *4.9 | |
| Dovetail - Charlestown | American | Charlestown | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Metropolis Cafe | American | South End | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| La Voile | French | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Ghost Light Tavern | American | Downtown | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Sulmona Restaurant | Bar | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Harvest | Contemporary American | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| MIDA - Fenway | Italian | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Bacco Ristorante & Bar | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Little Donkey | Tapas / Small Plates | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Villa Francesca | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| The Fed at the Langham, Boston | Cocktail Bar | Financial District | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Servia | Mediterranean | Financial District | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Earls Kitchen + Bar - Assembly Row | American | Somerville | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| The Lexington | American | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.5 | |
| Artisan Bistro | Contemporary American | Theater District | $$$ | *4.1 | |
| The Broadway | American | South Boston | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Standard Italian | Contemporary Italian | Fenway–Kenmore | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Porto | Italian | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Beehive | American | South End | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| The Florentine Cafe | Italian | North End | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Publico | Contemporary American | South Boston | $$$ | *4.7 | |
| Don’t Tell Aunty | Gastro Pub | Back Bay | $$$ | *4 | |
| The Painted Burro - Brookline | Mexican | Brookline | $$$ | *4.3 | |
| Joe’s Waterfront | American | North End | $$$ | *4.2 | |
| Monteverdi - Cambridge | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | *4.6 | |
| Reunion BBQ | Barbecue | South End | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Blu | Contemporary American | Theater District | $$$ | *4.4 | |
| Mistral - Boston | French | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Douzo Modern Japanese Restaurant | Japanese | Back Bay | $$$ | *4.8 | |
| Dali | Spanish | Cambridge | $$$ | | |
| Geppetto | Italian | Cambridge | $$$ | | |
| Banners Kitchen & Tap | American | Downtown Crossing | $$$ | | |
| Tuscan Kitchen - Seaport | Italian | Seaport | $$$ | | |
| Fuji At Ink Block | Asian | South End | $$$ | | |
| Toro | Tapas / Small Plates | South End | $$$ | | |
| Umbria | Italian | North End | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| STK - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.4 | |
| Smith & Wollensky Boston – Atlantic Wharf | Steakhouse | Seaport | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| Oishii Boston | Sushi | South End | $$$$ | *4.7 | |
| The Capital Grille - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.8 | |
| BASILE - Fine Italian Kitchen | Italian | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.4 | |
| Uni | Contemporary Asian | Back Bay | $$$$ | *$50 | |
| The Palm Boston | Steakhouse | Financial District | $$$$ | *4.5 | |
| Taberna de Haro | Spanish | Brookline | $$$$ | *4.6 | |
| The Nautilus - Boston Pier 4 | Pan-Asian | Seaport | $$$$ | *$50 | |
| Abe & Louie’s - Boston | Steakhouse | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.7 | |
| Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood - Boston | Steakhouse | Seaport | $$$$ | *4.3 | |
| Zuma Boston | Japanese | Back Bay | $$$$ | *4.8 | |
| Smith & Wollensky - Wellesley | Steakhouse | Wellesley | $$$$ | | |
| Ruth's Chris Steak House - Boston | Steakhouse | Downtown Crossing | $$$$ | |

