Legal Seafood
 

I know there is multiple locations in Boston. Should I assume they are all the same?

Is one location better than the other?

There is one in Baltimore. I went to the website, there is 30 locations on the eastern seaboard. I would say they are the same.

The LS in the Prudential Center just finished a remodel...I like that one for a nice night out...the location near the Aquarium is fun for a walk during the day and the view...In terms of food and service quality, I have found them tobe consistent regardless of location (even in the 'burbs!). Hope this helps! BTW - Their calamari appetizer is very good...

Someone said that the Long Wharf was quieter. I was looking at the Copley since we are staying at The Westin

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Sorry, I disagree. I've been to 3 different locations, and while 2 were good, one was decidedly mediocre (in downtown Boston). The food wasn't up to par.

I've only tried the Long Wharf location and we found it to be very good.

These are reasonably acceptable seafood places with branches everywhere. Have been to several and they are OK - but nothing special. Most of the fish is frozen - not fresh - so don;t expect fine dining.

that's not true, legal has it's own boats and a microbiologist. Fish is super fresh. I usually go to the Chestnut Hill one As I shop at Barney's and also the Kendall Square one.

I plan on going. Just not sure as to what one. We are staying at The Westin Copley Place. Will probably dine at Legals Copley Place.

The only one I have ever been to that I did not like was Park Square--and that was an atmosphere issue, not a food one. However, that was a few years back and they may have re-done it. If it is a nice evening for a stroll, you might enjoy the walk from Copley to the Pru--which I believe may be a larger restaurant w/a less mall-like location than Copley--but again, I have been to the Pru recently and have not seen the Copley locale for a few years....

nytrav--where did you get the idea that most of their fish is frozen?? I am quite sure that only the shrimp are previously frozen--as they are everywhere outside of shrimp country.

Thanks for all your assistance. I appreciate the feedback.

My first question in a seafood restaurant always is - was the fish fresh that day? Several times in different Legal Seafoods we were told by wait staff that the items we were asking about - not shrimp (I'm not a big shrimp fan) were frozen. I don;t know if its everything all the time - but this happened often enough I suspect it may be.

(Why I never order fish anywhere away from a coast.)

Fresh fish is important. If you stick to a fish that is native to the area, you are generally in good luck of getting fish fresh.

I live in Michigan and we eat a lot of Whitefish up north. It is safe to say that up north whitefish is fresh.

So Stick with the local fishes and you generally will not be dissappointed.

I always thought that the Legal Seafood on Long Wharf was an odd location....right across from the New England Aquarium...maybe it's just me....

Socialworker - funny how tastes vary - my favorite Legal is the Park Sq one because I like its atmosphere. The Pru one was okay but I haven't seen it remodeled.

For milemarker0: Yeah, I thought that location was a bit strange myself....I wonder if the Aquarium staff have to take fish attendance every day?

Well, nyt--I will be sure to ask about the fish next time I go--we are there at least 1X/month. I was with you all the way until your last sentence--a bit of a non-sequitir (sp?) as Boston *is* on the coast!! (FYI, here is what they say about freshness on their website, but as a skeptic, I will ask in person...) http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm/ac/freshness

Bennie--you are right about tastes--I have only been to the Pru once and it felt a little more "clubby" and that is what appealed to me.

I know boston is on the coast - that's why I will go to a seafood restaurant there - but still ask about freshness vs frozen.

In the middle of the country I never go to seafood places or order it in any restaurant - becuse the chance of its being fresh is essentially nil.

I think I've been to every Legal starting when there was only one and the fish market.They had music upstairs for awhile and you had to pay in advance because of all the students stiffing them. Later three had the fish markets. Now only the Chestnut Hill has one.