Was just thinking Moeca.
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I had a very nice dinner recently at Ostra. Nice setting with good service. Lots of seafood. We were a group of six so ordered and sampled a lot of the menu. Good stuff.
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We had a very nice time at Eastern standard recently. It’s not seafood forward but across the way is their sister restaurant All That Fish & Oyster
The menu looks pretty interesting.
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Some of my fellow Onions might question my sanity, but the 2nd floor at Legal Seafood Harborside is a very pleasant setting. Haven’t been in a couple of years, but I had a memorable meal last time.
Postscript- they used to have a separate menu for the second floor, but I don’t see it on their web site. Anyone been recently?
Post-postscript- scratch this recommendation. Found this on their web site:
The second floor hosts private events and parties with water views.
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We always did want to try that Legal Seaport second floor with the spectacular views and the special menu. I’m sorry we didn’t before the opportunity disappeared.
I wouldn’t choose Legal for a special occasion, but for us, it’s a better alternative than a random pub for a casual, simple, small meal of chowder and a salad/sandwich…especially because we live within two blocks of the Assembly Legal. We went today for the once-a-year special $1 cup of and $2 bowl of chowder, no minimum food charge to get it, and were reminded that the chowder is excellent. Enjoyed the Greek salad which is reasonably priced and much better than many casual/pub salads. Years ago I loved the tuna burger but it is no where near as tasty for my taste the last few years. We tried the clam flatbread recently and it was a good snack. For the rest of the month starting tomorrow, 2 lobster rolls for the price of one for Legal Rewards members.
I think it depends on expectations and what you are looking for at a specific time.
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I’ll give Moeca a strong 3rd.
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Moeca is on my list. Reservation was unavailable until later in evening. One guest is an early (5 pm-ish) diner.
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Legal is simply not what is was since changing hands IMO. Enjoyed Legal Harborside, Kendall was my all time favorite with Northshore Mall a close second. Come to think of it Rte 9 Natick/Framingham was a solid place to meet and enjoy a fine meal. That tuna burger (with extra sauce on the side) and the portuguese fish stew, always excellent. Thank you all for your thoughts. It’s Puritan this evening.
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I laughed out loud at the first part of this statement. We first went to Legal Harborside (the rooftop portion…3rd floor) when Spring Onion was a baby and we were desperate to get out of the house. It was where you went for small bites (such as maki rolls) but moreso for the drinks and a chill place to enjoy the harbor views. We were on the brink of losing our sanity as “older” parents with a baby…and it fit the bill. We went early, with the sun streaming in, music was pleasantly loud, server doted on Spring Onion. Never did the 2nd floor, but did the 1st floor several times with my parents, out-of-town guests. The validated parking didn’t hurt, either.
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I haven’t dined here personally, but the new Hook + Line by the Seaport also has gorgeous views of the water. It’s seafood focus, and their menu looks homey and was described as modern New England. The space is nice, but probably would not be elegant. More like cozy casual.
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That is a nice looking menu. Do you know how long they have been open?
Only a few months. I want to say maybe fall. Late summer and fall is a blur because it’s busy at work. They are right next door to where I work. They have a little seafood market next door, and that opened about a few weeks before the restaurant did
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If money is not the concern, and you like seafood, would sushi fit the bill? Consider Umami in Cambridge. I celebrated my 45th Anniversary at their sushi bar. The 15 course tasting menu, which is all they have, celebrates their sourcing and taste of fish that I have never experienced before. They offer a sake pairing which educated and delighted us, as I had never thought of sake with the variety and complexity that complemented each bite. The evening was romantic, and personal. We did not need to choose, but just sat back and enjoyed top sushi masters at their game.
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Thank you, Suki . It would fit the bill for me ! Not for the others. Will put on my to try with other more adventuresome eaters list.
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Finally made it to Hook + Line for early dinner on Sunday. At first glance the menu seems to be comprised of the usual suspects, bluefish pate, branzino, lobster roll…But each turned out to be an inventive take. Bluefish pate was mainly smoked bluefish, more appealing than the (very good) rendition at Row 34. The whole roasted branzino was filleted but presented with skin and head and tail, covered with a piquant chili crisp. Lobster roll was served two ways (one half each), warm with a light hollandaise and cold with aioli. Tuna loin was a gorgeous fist sized hunk of fish, a cut I don’t recall seeing since East Coast Grill. Perhaps not surprising as I believe the chef is Chris Schlesinger’s nephew. The menu borrows some of he whimsy from the East Coast Grill menu, boasting of “big flavors”.
Cocktails include a variety of rickeys, not cloyingly sweet, and an eclectic wine list. We sampled a Grüner Veltliner and a Riesling, both crisp and dry and excellent with seafood.
The setting is pleasant, with views of the harbor and ICA. Many tables have comfortable banquettes. Service was efficient, in part because the restaurant wasn’t crowded, even by the time we departed a bit after 7. I hope they are doing better business during the week. This is a place we will add to our rota.
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Your report on Hook + Line is reeling me in. Delightful to see traces of East Coast Grill lineage, which was one of my favorite restaurants in its day. H + L is now on my want-to-go-there list.
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I went to Hook + Line for a sit down lunch last Thursday. It was a spendy little treat for a coworker celebrating a work anniversary. We really liked the space, but I was surprised they didn’t build the room with accordion doors that would allow air flow into the restaurant, especially with the lovely water view. We loved our food, but I will gripe a bit about the portion size of the fried clam lunch. I expected it to be light, but even the “full portion” - waiter said about 6 oz - that was maybe 6-7 clams. Yikes, and that was for $38. But the fried claims were well prepared and crunchy; their cole slaw though…is not good. That is the only thing I suggest to skip (this is the same cole slaw I had with my take out fish and chips).
During our service it was perhaps 6-7 tables seated. It was a cool day and this isn’t the usual pit stop for the worker’s lunch. When the weather warms up, I hope they attract more diners too. It’s a worthy pit stop, and I want them to stick around.
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love your sense of humor ! “reeling me in” is pitch prefect IMO.
As an FYI the head chef is Mark Cina. I recall reading an article about him in The Boston Globe .
Chris Schlesinger’s nephew, Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli, owns Hook +Line as well as Alcove .
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Great pedigree, stints at all-time favorites Upstairs at the Pudding, Craigie Street, and Yvonne’s.
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