Boston seafood restaurant recs for family

There are top notch places, and then there are former top notch places that are still big with the tourists. Check out Zagats for recent ratings, you cant go wrong with Legal Seafoods.

Pier 4 has the harborview and history going for it

 

I like the Union Oyster House for the family which is the oldest continually operated restaurant in the country. A fun place and family friendly. I have been there many times on my ventures up to the Boston area.

Union Oyster House
41 Union St
Boston, MA 02108-2494

www.unionoysterhouse.com

 

For the best of the best, T-shirt/shorts type seafood you need to rent a car and get to Woodman's or Farnhams in Essex. Or perhaps the Clam Box in Ipswich. Heart stopping, artery clogging stuff but it is the best of the best, (read your profile, but hell, ya can't live forever).

 

+1

Union Oyster House
41 Union St
Boston, MA 02108-2494

Awesome Food

 

it's not trendy or hip,but i agree that pier 4 is as good as it gets for the full n.e. seafood experience...very good food,classic service and if it's a nice day,the boat traffic will be spectacular.

 

Atlantic Fish Company
761 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

 

This is a little bit of a drive, but not bad. Warren's lobster house in Kittery Maine (ok I see that you won't have a car, but I threw it out there anyways).

 

http://www.bandgoysters.com/ for excellent oysters and not as touristy as the union oyster house, but very difficult to get in and they don't take reservations. They do have outside space if its a nice day. They do other seafood also, but oysters is the main deal.

 

I grew up in Boston but haven't lived there for a long while. Can't imagine that Pier 4 is really worth the trip as it was old and tired 10 or more years ago the last time I went there and I did not think that the food was anything special. Very much a shadow of what old New England seafood dining used to be in the 60's IMO.

Have to say that Union Oyster House is pretty good despite looking like a tourist trap. Ate there a couple of years ago and still good experience. I would not hesitate to go there again.

Haven't been there in many, many years but No Name Restaurant on the dock was always topnotch seafood with minimal decor and no frills whatsoever but really, really fresh seafood since it came in the back door right off the boat. Can you current locals tell me if its still there and still good?

And I have to say that one of my current favorites in Boston is Abe and Louie's, which is sort of a quasi steakhouse but in reality is an excellent place for seafood. Great for a drink with a plate of oysters at the bar, a lunch or a full blown dinner.

 

The last time I went to the No Name (~ 2 years ago), the food wasn't that great. Abe & Louies is fantastic and they have a "Seafood Tower" that's impressive.

 

Heh, heh, Abe & Louie's is a great place hang out for a bit and spend most of the money that my wife and daughters are saving down the street at Filene's Basement!

 

It looks like you're in Boston now (according to the original post)....so not sure if you'll read this....

McCormick & Schmidts
Oyster House (for Oysters....overall atmosphere is OK but ancient)
Atlantic Seafood Co. is good
Barking Crab for outdoor picknick table fried food

Those are all within the city limits and accesible by T.

 

Atlantic Fish Co.
Legal Seafood
Union Oyster