Boston Seafood

[bhorgs]

I'm headed to Boston next week and looking for a great seafood restaurant for lunch. Looking at going to Union Oyster House but saw terrible reviews. Can anyone confirm this and/or give a recommendation.

[tamerlanenj]

Not many people talk about it, but I've rarely had a bad meal at McCormick and Schmick; I particularly like the soft shell crab and the alaskan king crab legs.

[missykins]

Just had a perfect evening at B & G last night - oysters, fried goat cheese salad, the Italian stew and DC had the soft shell crab special w/ cabbage and gazpacho - delicious.

[bhorgs]

Ended up going to Union and Neptune.

Union was OK but the service was TERRIBLE.

Neptune was perfect; the lobster roll was unreal, oysters fresh, and the staff very nice.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Dax]

Just curious, but for Union did you sit at the raw bar or elsewhere?

[bhorgs]

Wanted to sit at the raw bar but there were no stools, sitting at the raw bar probably would have changed the experience. We ended up sitting at the upper bar.

[tallullah]

I second Neptune. Beautiful oysters!

[JudyHP]

I second (third?) the recommendation for B&G for lunch! I went last week and had excellent service in a half-full dining room. The food was some of the best seafood I've had. 2 of us split the fried clam appetizer, then split the lobster roll (which was perfect; I think it's worth the $$) and the monkfish. I particularly liked the fact that when we told them we were sharing they served us the split meals plated individually. Also had the coconut flan and the strawberry shortcake for dessert - excellent! I was impressed with the oyster menu but didn't have any - I want to go back soon. Lunchtime is the time to go to avoid the mob-scene. Also the fries with the lobster roll were some of the best frites I've ever had!

[csifitgirl]

My choices:

Neptune Oyster
617.742.3474
63 Salem Street, North End

LTK
http://www.ltkbarandkitchen.com/site/
225 Northen Avenue Boston
617.330.7430

B & G Oysters Ltd.
550 Tremont St
South End
617-423-0550

[Blumie]

B&G Oysters is a great seafood restaurant in the city. I believe they're open for lunch. (Another great seafood restaurant, currently being heatedly discussed in another thread, is East Coast Grill, but they're not open for lunch.)

[emilief]

UNION Oyster House is fine if you want oysters on the half shell. The rest of the food is not great. Legal seafood is the best with many locations.Copley Place, cambridge ( Kendall square, the Waterfront near the Aquarium). Also if you are going ot Fanuiel Hall or Quincy Market go to Kingfish Hall.

[Blumie]

Legal Seafoods is good. Legal Seafoods is not "the best."

[chuck s]

If you are just getting oysters on the half shell, sit at the oyster bar as Daniel Webster did.

[mattesq]

IMHO Kingfish Hall is completely overrated. You want great seafood head to Chinatown.

[MB fka MB]

Except for plain grilled fish or raw bar items, Legal is terribly unappealing. I was just there for a work lunch (Kendall location) last friday and I was appalled to see that none of the dishes that came to our table (6 diners) had been wiped. The worst plating of food I've ever seen in my life.

I ordered the grilled scallops that came with one side (I chose seaweed salad) and for $16.95 I'd rather go somewhere else.

The service was lacking: hostess was curt when someone inquired about the wait for our reservation (which was meant to be guaranteed), food runners had no idea where they were going (though FWIW, our server was great.)