Boston was founded in 1630 as America’s first port city. The bustling marine industries established in the colonial era continued to prosper and have, over the years and in varying capacities, supported Boston’s thriving economy. While some of the waterfront industries dealt primarily with cargo and the trade of raw materials in and out of the country, much of the business relied on the health of Boston’s waters, namely, the fish and shellfish stock. The fishing industry did, and still does provide Bostonians a means to secure financial success while also ensuring Boston’s fame as one of the premier ports on the east coast. The legacy of the fishing industry in Boston remains strong today. It is no coincidence that Massachusetts’ state symbol, the Codfish, rests high in the chambers of the State House and that Boston is widely known for its famous version of clam chowder.
With such a strong maritime background one would think Boston Harbor would be bustling with waterfront seafood joints, lobster shacks,and elegant outdoor dining establishments. While there is a fleet of restaurants near the waterfront, there are only truly a handful of restaurants that actually serve food and beverages harbor-side. The following are five places to go in Boston if you want to enjoy a meal or cocktail outside with the water directly at your feet. While each one has its own merits, some are, in fact, better than others, so read carefully.
The Barking Crab is a good venue for casual seafood dining. Located at 88 Sleeper Street in South Boston, it’s menu offers a variety of fried seafood, and a decent selection of fish cooked to order. However, the allure of the waterfront restaurant is it’s rustic atmosphere and down-to-earth aura, not it’s cuisine. The beer is cold and is served in plastic cups (no glass on the docks please!), the wait staff is young and, for the most part friendly. While the cuisine is not exotic, or even particularly memorable, it is predictably greasy and plentiful. The prices are slightly overpriced, but factoring in the breeze off the water and the fun atmosphere it is a stop many considered worth the menu inflation. Must-eats on the food line-up are the Alaskan Crab Legs and the Friend Calamari basket. The lobsters, steamed, are excellent. Some of the fried selections are a bit too bready, but by and large the meals are decent. On the whole, though, The Barking Crab cuisine is unpredictable in terms of quality; a price you have to pay to if you want to sit perched over the water. The Barking Crab is perfect for hosting an office party, and the restaurant often books stand-up comedians and bands for the evenings. On weekday and weekend nights the restaurant can be considered a place to gather for singles and young professionals. It is the closest you’ll get to feeling like you are in Newport, Rhode Island without crossing state lines. Your best bet is to go to The Barking Crab for its social scene, location, and entertainment; not its food.
If you are looking for a casual atmosphere which deviates from an almost strictly fried-food menu, look no further than The Sail Loft at 80 Atlantic Avenue. This establishment is snuggled in-between buildings on Commercial Wharf, just opposite the North End. It sits over the water just behind a marina and has both an indoor and outdoor area. While lunch and dinner is served inside, you can get appetizers and drinks outside on the smaller deck while admiring people’s boats, located only feet away. This intimate restaurant’s menu has a variety of fresh seafood, burgers, salads, pastas, and sandwiches. The salads, in particular, are huge and tasty. The soups and chili are always fresh and the burgers are cooked to perfection. The seafood served is basic but delicious; the swordfish steak specials are always superb and the baked cod, delicate. The wait staff is very attentive, and the managers keep themselves highly visible. In fact, it is not infrequent for the owner or manager to visit your table to ask you how your meal is on any given day. The restaurant has wide appeal for people of all ages and backgrounds. By day it is frequented by waterfront businessmen and women, families enjoy the waterfront atmosphere on the weekends, and at night it is a popular single’s haunt. In the summertime the Sail Loft’s jukebox is busy from the quarters of yacht crews docked at one of Boston’s marinas. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food and each meal is capped off with complimentary Oreos. What could be better than that?
Go to the Sail Loft if you are looking for a down-to-earth great meal with friendly service. It is not Joe’s American Bar and Grille is located a few steps away from the Sail Loft on Atlantic Avenue. Its menu is significantly more expensive and the selection, slightly more sophisticated than The Sail Loft. The portions are decent, but do not always warrant the price hike. Still, Joe’s American Bar and Grille offers the best outdoor-dining on the waterfront in Boston due to its unique location. Nestled in between Marriot Long Wharf and Commercial Wharf, diners on the large outside deck can get a great view of the Boston skyline and the hustle and bustle of Columbus Park. With a turn of the head one can enjoy the sun’s glare off the water and Logan Airport in the distance as well. The deck seating is more than ample, and in the summer there is usually a wait. If you are planning on just having cocktails, plan on being inside, as you have to order food to enjoy the outside atmosphere. Inside the restaurant you can sit at the bar for a more casual experience, or you can be seated at one of the many tables lined with white linen tablecloths. The food is consistently good. The fried calamari and seared ahi appetizers are two of the best items on the menu. Joe’s is known for its burgers, and for good reason. The chef packs on the meat and fries on the burger platter, making it worth its price. The steak salad is another favorite. All-in-all you will get a great meal at Joe’s every time, even if it is a little overpriced. The view and people watching alone makes it worth a visit.
The Tavern on the Water is located on 8th street in the Navy Yard in historic Charlestown. This place is always bustling with a fun-seeking crowd. It is a perfect place to enjoy a sunset, and because it is perched higher than any of the other waterfront restaurants, offers, arguably, the best view. It is a low-key bar with a menu that has recently gone through some changes as a result of new management. The menu ranges from traditional bar food appetizers such as French fries, fried calamari, and onion rings, to entrees of burgers, salads, fresh fish, and pasta. Most patrons visit the Tavern not for their food, rather, for the social activity. Located directly above a marina, the Tavern is a great place to gaze at boats and watch the harbor activity. High bar stools and regular tables on three levels offer the typical restaurant goer a variety of experiences. The crowd tends to be local, and you are apt to run into the same people there every visit. It is a large venue, though, so find seating, though sometimes challenging, is not impossible. Young professionals as well as salty sailors can be found here, and the nightlife caters to singles. The stroll to the restaurant is worth taking, not only because you cannot park at the restaurant itself, but because of the historic scenery the Navy Yard supplies. Since the Tavern is located in Charlestown a diner is able to get a clear view of the entire Boston skyline; quite an excellent view.
While the Tavern is the harbor-side hang-out just north of downtown Boston, The Venezia Waterfront Restaurant and Banquet Facility represents the best waterfront option to the south. The establishment, located at 20 Ericsson Street in Quincy, serves typical Italian fare. The lunch and dinner menus are loaded with all the must-haves for Tuscan dining but also have a few unique items with a seafood spin, including a Lobster Sundae, a fancy lobster salad, and Lobster Cakes. The entrees range from $13 to $30, with a selection of seafood pastas, traditional Italian staples like the house Tortellini, and a small handful meat dishes. The menu, though large, is not overwhelming. A house favorite is the Risotta Stuffed Lobster, served with seared scallops and asparagus, another item to cheer is the Pollo Pompodoro, chicken stuffed with basil leaves, tomato and mozzarella. The deserts at The Venezia tend to be a bit bland; the blueberry bread pudding and tirimui are acceptable, but not incredibly noteworthy. But, when it comes down to it, people go to the restaurant for lunch, dinner, or to celebrate an occasion (it serves as a popular function venue) for the views of Boston. The Venezia is the most formal dining establishment on the waterfront covered in this article and its prices do reflect this step-up. The Venezia would be a perfect venue for a family dinner, romantic evening, or wedding reception.
