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Boston Chowda Co
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Soup Restaurants Sandwiches Seafood, Soup, Sandwiches [Edit]
800 Boylston St(between Fairfield St & Gloucester St)
Boston, MA 02199
Neighbourhood: Back Bay
(617) 859-5904
- Nearest Transit:
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Boylston St Opp Gloucester St (170, 193, 39, 55)
Dalton St @ Boylston St (39, 55)
Ring Rd @ Boylston St (9)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for Boston Chowda Co
Review Highlights
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"Had a delicious cup of their Boston Clam Chowder." In 19 reviews -
"I still want to try their lobster roll." In 9 reviews -
"Who knew we could get such good food at a food court." In 12 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from CJ G.
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Boston Chowda! How I love you for a quick lunch when I am in Boston! They deliver every time. No questions asked!
After shopping for a little bit in the morning we has been hungry for some lunch...So we happen to be in the area and this place is the first to pop into my head!
So why did this pop up into my head? Its easy! Its simple, cheap and GREAT customer service! I enjoy a place that has all 3 and its not easy to find these days!
The customer service is AWESOME! Plus its key for a fast food type of place. They always have their line moving fast! Even when they are moving fast their service is still there! Top notch in my book. They are able to get you what you need quickly and still have time to joke around with you! Even this past weekend they had been busy as hell! It was still easy to hop in line and order what we needed. They even tossed in a few jokes to make us smile! We where in and out of here within 10 minutes. That was with a HUGE LINE too.
The food is great. We always get the same thing when we come here. Bread bowl with chili and corn bread! Its so big the girlfriend and I share one the chili. Its very filling and it just taste great! Hits the spot without an issue. The corn bread is soft, sweet and taste very southern. Just the way we like it!
The prices here are also more than fair. We ended up spending around $15.00 for the bread bowl of chili, 2 pieces of corn bread and 2 medium sodas! So its a good deal. Also keeps your eyes peeled! They do offer combo meals and such too if your by your self. Like a cup of chili and corn bread with a soda for around $5.00 and so on...
So there you have it folks. This is why I love this location. Anytime I come down for the weekend from Vermont I try and make a point to stop in here for lunch! Go get your Chowda on!
Perfect 5/5 all around! Service and all! I highly recommend this place for a quick bite to eat. -
Review from Pam Z.
1/31/2012
If you only are in Boston for the weekend, you must do the following:
A) Try a local brew or two, or three...and maybe some pub fare
B) Visit the north end for some delicious Italian pastries
C) Boston Chowda Co.
D) All of the above
If you picked C, you wouldn't be wrong. Perfect snack when it's 5 degrees F outside!
This is some of the best chowda I've had, although their bread is only okay. Boudin Bread in San Francisco makes a mean version of chowda with their infamous sourdough. Lots of clam chunks, and it comes in a variety of sizes and price points. This location is in the Prudential Center, which means plenty of seating as it is a food court. And yes, by the time you get to the front of the line, you'll say "chowda" instead of "chowder."Listed in: My trip to Beantown
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Review from Beth C.
Malden, MA
3/31/2012
I'm sure that it isn't that common to read a review before selecting a food court lunch. I certainly didn't before eating here, which was too bad. I have been craving a Reuben sandwich for ages, so I decided to take a chance. I was a little horrified to realize that they just plucked the already-prepared sandwich from the front case and grilled it, but I thought, hey, how bad can it be?
Pretty bad. The cheese was barely melted, the meat soggy and cold, and it just didn't resemble any Reuben sandwich I've ever tasted. On the plus side, this is a fattening sandwich, and I only ended up eating a few bites of it.
Their lemonade was good. -
Review from Steve P.
Boston, MA
5/13/2012
The corn chowder is awesome. Also a huge fan of their chicken pot pies, and lobster pot pies! By the way, if you sign up at http://thelevelup.com and use promo code 125686, you get $2 off here plus a free $5 off at any restaurant on thelevelup.
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Review from Dan P.
Andover, MA
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I just had the WORST prosciutto & mozzarella sandwich of my life: dry, stringy, with limp over-seasoned tomato (at least it was supposed to be tomato). Even the soda was overly-watered down. Ok, so the chowdA (as they say here) was pretty good. The BCC in North Andover is far superior.
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Review from Michael S.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
Not bad... Not great... Okay price...
It's in a food court, but feels like they deliver higher quality food than I would normally expect in a food court.
Not bad at all. -
Review from Amy B.
7/22/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Yes, Boston Chowda Co. is in a mall food court, and it uses an irritating misspelling in its name. But I forgive it, because I think this is the best New England clam chowder in Boston. The chowder is thick, creamy, and loaded with clams, just the way I like it.
The sandwiches here are basic but good--I like getting a half roasted turkey sandwich to accompany my chowder for a complete lunch. The pot pies also look tasty, but perhaps a bit excessive alongside chowder, and the only reason I'm coming here is to get that delicious chowder.
Lately I've started bringing my chowder home from here to eat. That lets me put fresh cracked pepper on it, as opposed to the crappy food court pepper packets that have minimal taste. My only other major complaint about this place is I think it's a bit expensive for food court fare. Yet, I find myself coming back anyway because the chowder can't be beat. -
Review from Megan M.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I got some hell from Boston Yelpers on the talk threads for adding Boston Chowda Co to my itinerary, and for good reason. I mean, c'mon, it's part of a mall food court. I get it. It's not fine dining; however, for food court food, I really liked it.
I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and clam chowder. Both were delicious, and a huge step up from nearby food court offerings like Panda Express or Sarku which are at every other mall in America. My chowder was actually the best bowl of chowder I had in Boston. That either means I went to the wrong restaurants, or BCC makes some pretty decent chowda.Listed in: Boston
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Review from Quandra T.
New York, NY
9/3/2011
Dee-li-shus. And no, I didn't get clam chowder, I'm not a fan.
I didn't want to leave my 3-day vacation in Boston without trying a lobster roll from somewhere. Just thinking about it makes me salivate even now. I've had lobster rolls in NY and other places before, but none came close to matching this cozy little food court glory.
The roll was warm, toasted, lightly buttered; the meat was fresh, cold and pure (I know imitation seafood when I taste it) like they'd ripped it straight from the lobster in the back. And it was huge. Well worth the $12-$14. It was clear they used an entire lobster, the way it's supposed to be, and it couldn't be more delicious. I will never get another lobster roll from Unos or a supermarket again. -
Review from Kyle D.
Wakefield, MA
7/22/2011
The best chowder that I have had in a long time. I have not tried anything else on the menu, and I don't care, I am getting chowda everytime I go there. Even if everything else was crap (which I am not saying it is), I would still give this place 5 stars because the chowda is so good.
The chowda is rich, hearty, and with the right amount of salt, just the way I like it. They have many different sizes to accomodate any budget. You have not tried chowda until you have been to this place. Legal Seafoods is near here. Forgot Legal Seafoods and go straight to Boston Chowda company. I am going back sometime soon to get the large. Hope to see you there. -
Review from Thomas W.
10/16/2011
Boston Chowda is like Maryland Crab Cakes. I followed a friend to Boston Chowda in the Prudential Food Court. Since he was a native Bostonian I figured that I would just follow the natives. I had a combo with a large lobster roll and a cup of Boston Chowda. As I would expect the price was not like Sbarro or Cafe Panda. However, it was wonderful. The Chowda was great. The lobster roll was not the best but was outstanding nonetheless. Now I all I need is for the stores to carry some Hoya SWAG! I loved seeing my SUNY Optometry family this week!!!
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Review from Marilyn Y.
Sunnyvale, CA
Updated - 11/22/2010
How do I love thee Chowda? Let me count the ways
I love thy delicate clams so visible to the eye.
Tender and fresh, this I cannot deny
I love thee light creamy flavor
so simple yet you do not waver.
Your steadfast quality brings me back again.
Sweet tastes of Chowda, let me be thy spokesmen.
Boston Chowda remains my favorite. I compared it to Legal's chowder on this visit and I still prefer Boston Chowda. The fact that this chowder is lighter yet lusciously flavorful, wins my tastebuds over. Not an elegant eating location, but superb chowder. Man cannot live without an occasional chowder.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
The 5 star rating is for the clam chowder at the Boston Chowda, Prudential Center. This was the… Read more »
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Review from Jay C.
Honolulu, HI
11/12/2011
are YOU serious???
this is a place for people who rely on "convenience." it is NOT a place for quality or maximizing your dollars.
i tried this - along with a string of other restaurants - based on yelp reviews. i was SUPER DISAPPOINTED because it sucked!
the lobster roll ($14ish) had a super big, thick and dry roll. the lobster meat was bland...so bad, that i had to ask the kiosk for mayonnaise packets. that didn't even help. the first three bites ALL had shells. i ended up throwing the whole thing away.
the clam chowder was thin, lacked flavor, was mostly potatoes and ALSO was not worth the money.
if you live under a rock, have NEVER had chowder or lobster, and have $20 in your pocket, skip this place and head to the various bars that have great deals on good food.
this place SUCKS! -
Review from Susan K.
1/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've always loved new england clam chowder and wanted to try this place. Found in the food court of the Prudential, I thought it was a perfect time to try this place while I was there.
I really wanted to try the lobster roll with my soup but unfortunately, they didn't have any sandwiches because they didn't have the bread for it? It was around 6pm and I thought it was kind of a bummer that there were no sandwiches available. That in itself costed a star. I was really looking forward in trying their lobster roll.
Instead, I got the bread bowl soup (bread bowls were available but not sandwich bread?). I have to say, the new england clam chowder was good. Flavorful and not too creamy nor watery...just the right texture of creaminess. I would pick this clam chowder over legal's any day, any time. It was so good. Satisfied my hunger and crave for new england clam chowder.
I'll come back for sure if I have a craving for some new england clam chowder. I still want to try their lobster roll. -
Review from Brian J.
San Jose, CA
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was a bit disappointed that they were out of bread bowls and quiche both when I went, but it was around 8:30p or so, so that's understandable.
I'm not a chowder connoisseur by any means, but I thought the chowder was a tiny bit runnier than I usually see. I still enjoyed it, though. The chicken pot pie that I had to substitute for the quiche was pretty good.
As other reviewers have mentioned, way better seafood than I was expecting to get out of a food court restaurant. If I had wanted top of the line chowder I would have gone somewhere else, but I was in a hotel nearby and just wanted a quick bowl, and this certainly did the job. -
Review from Connie L.
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only thing I've had here is the clam chowder, which is fresh, tasty, and chock full of clams. I've been on a clam chowder tasting tour around Boston, and for the price point, Boston Chowda Co's chowder is on par with Legal Seafoods. Avoid the wrapped corn bread by the counter, though, totally stale!
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Review from Amy K.
4/25/2008
I ate at Boston Chowda Company on Sunday for a light lunch. You just have to love the name of this place. I remember eating here last year for lunch and liking it.
I had a tuna salad which was tuna mixed with mayo on top of mixed lettuces with tomato wedges and cucumber slices. I got a balsamic vinaigrette with it that was tasty. I also ordered a lemonade to drink.
The salad was very fresh and just as good as you could get at a sit down restaurant. I also enjoyed the lemonade. On Monday some of my friends had the clam chowder and seemed to like it.
I say Boston Chowda Company deserves a solid 3.5 stars, but I'm being generous and rounding up to 4.Listed in: My Boston Experience
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Review from Neal E.
Boston Chowda is located in the Food Court at the Prudential Center...
Had a delicious cup of their Boston Clam Chowder. Tasty, clams were tender, overall yumminess!
They also have a lot of other delicious looking fare: Chili, other soups and chowders, quiche, pot pies, sandwiches, and more!
Can't wait to try the other soups and the Pot Pies! -
Review from Scott B.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
5/13/2008
Okay, this would be a four star review, if I didn't have to dock them one star for the quality of food during off-peak hours...
If you go during the lunch/dinner rush, you'll get fresh delicious clam or seafood chowda... go during the lull and you'll get old, spoiled chowda with an inch thick film over the top... i don't know about you, but i'll pass on the ice-skating rink of a chowda pot.
The sandwiches and wraps are pretty average, and the service is your typical who-cares high school students and foreigners (that's foreigner NOT to be mistaken with Foreigner, the totally awesome classic rock master minds behind "Cold as Ice.")
Convenient, yet you must be choosy. -
Review from H C.
Bay Area
6/4/2009
The lobster rolls are still good here - not the best in the world but for a food court and the price you pay, not bad.
However, I was really disappointed by the New England clam chowder. It was so runny and mostly potatoes - what?? Better off going to Legal... -
Review from Faith D.
9/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Who knew we could get such good food at a food court? After reading other people's Yelp reviews, my mom and I deliberately went to the Boston Chowda Co to try the clam chowder.
Not being from New England, nor having a craving for clam chowder, we thought it was creamy and delicious. The rest of the items on the menu looked good. They had a good deal of a grilled cheese with clam chowder. I was expecting more ooey, gooey cheese, but it was thin with cheese.
The service was friendly and fast. The food court seating was spacious and clean. Good stop for a quick lunch. -
Review from Sirinda S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2010
Who knew that you could get a decent seafood meal from a place in the food court? I had my first ever lobster roll & and a cup of clam chowder. The lobster roll was very rich (perhaps a bit too liberal use of may), and chocked full of lobster. The roll was tender and not too heavy. Overall, I appreciated the simple flavors. The clam chowder was super rich but not equivalently heavy.
I returned two days later and tried the chicken pot pie. It was really big and a bit salty. I wish the crust had been a bit crispier. The seafood chowder was good, and I couldn't really tell the difference between it and the clam chowder I had a few days prior (except for the fish in the seafood chowder).
Overall, this place is a great option for a food court meal. -
Review from Catie C.
5/9/2010
I've been coming here on and off since the first day it opened. This is my favorite chowda spot as an adolescent. Back then, I actually thought this topped Legal's chowda. Of course, Legal's chowda recipe has improved over the years.
Regardless, I am still a fan of the clam chowda here. I promise I wont buy a bag of it anymore. A small cup is suffice since I have noone to share this with anymore.
It's the chunkiness and the thickness/creaminess that gets me addicted. This place deserves more than just being in the "food court" category. -
Review from Bruce O.
Houston, TX
11/18/2009 1 photo
I have simple food tastes. Especially when on a trip. I am traveling right now and on the company budget, but that doesn't mean I eat extravagantly. I just want good food at a good price (that my accountants back at the office won't complain about).
I learned of Boston Chowda in the food court of the Prudential Center (across the street from my hotel) on the 'Net and decided to give them a try. After navigating the cavernous Prud and finding the restaurant, I had to make a quick decision. Would it be the corn chowder (which looked delicious --thick and tasty) or the clam chowder.
Well, with this being my first time in Boston I went with clam chowder with a sandwich (shrimp salad on a roll).
I wasn't disappointed. The chowder was smooth, filled with clams and other seafood (I think I tasted a scallop and some other fish) with potatoes and other veggies. Now, that said, I wouldn't know a GOOD clam chowder from a bad one, but I liked it, and it wasn't too salty (always my fear with mall food).
The shrimp salad sandwich was also very good with a LOT of medium sized shrimp on a very hot and soft roll with a strip of lettuce. It was nicely seasoned, but had a touch too much mayo, but good nevertheless.
Overall, I am rating Boston Chowda a 4. It's mall food, but it is done very well. -
Review from Rosalyn M.
American Canyon, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
i love the new england chowda and lobster bisque!!
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Review from Jennifer C.
Seattle, WA
4/22/2010
figured that since I'm visiting Boston, it was only appropriate that I get my lunch from Boston Chowda while at the Prudential Center Marketplace food court. I suppose I wanted to have a "real New England mall food court experience". It just so happened that this particular week BC is offering a free cup of chowder with purchase of a lobster roll plus drink. Lobster roll and free chowder?! Sign me up.
I'd never had a lobster roll before, and I imagine a mall food court isn't the best place to sample this New England delicacy. The Boston Chowda version wasn't bad, though I have no grounds for comparison. I will say it was a nice fresh roll spread with garlicky butter and stuffed with plenty of lobster salad. Not incredible, but as I said...not bad. I was a little bit disappointed in the clam chowder, namely because I feel like if you're going to name your business "Boston Chowda", your chowda really ought to be sensational. BC's version had nice big pieces of clam meat, but potatoes and other ingredients were sparse.
The star of my lunch turned out to be the lemonade, which I can only describe as wicked awesome. Perfectly tart and sweet. My bill came to about $15 which I think is kind of pricey for a food court lunch, but then, I can't say I've ever eaten lobster at the mall before. -
Review from april p.
Salem, MA
8/31/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Pretty good for the foodcourt.
The wraps are decent. The lobster bisque is good (way better than at Au Bon Pain). Haven't tried a pot pie yet, but its next on my list.
There usually isnt a line when I go here, which is always a plus during the lunch time rush. -
Review from Lisa R.
Updated - 10/6/2010
Oy. Food poisoning two times in a row, months apart. I won't be coming here again for any of the sandwiches. I'm sure the soup here is still fine, and the chicken pot pie too . . . but avoid this place unless you want to take a risk.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/2/2009
I loooooove the chicken pot pies here. They are always very fresh and piping hot. The crust is just… Read more »
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Review from bob m.
Cambridge, MA
5/12/2011
I had a bowl of beef stew and a slice of garlic bread...
Beef stew would have benefitted from an introduction to some actual beef. Or potatoes. Or anything other than bouillion, salt, and flour. Garlic bread was like french wonder bread with garlic salt.
Ugh. -
Review from Katherine O.
Anaheim, CA
9/21/2010
I got the clam chowder in a bread bowl- it was really good. Because my in-laws hate seafood, I knew that I had to jump in and get the clam chowder at any chance I could... Unfortunately, it happened to be 10 minutes before we needed to line up for the duck tour... Consequently, I scarfed it down, and didn't get to fully enjoy the experience and the bread with it. =(. Oh well, it was still delicious, still fast and cheaper than a lot of other places.
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Review from Garett N.
Berkeley, CA
9/19/2010
Had a great seafood chowder and a mediocre chicken salad sandwich. As an alternative to Legal Sea Food, this was really good and caused much less damage. Recommended.
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Review from Winnie W.
Los Angeles, CA
10/6/2007
I like the lobster rolls here. It may not be the best EVA but for someone on the go, this is a really good place to grab something quick.
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Review from Andrew M.
Norwood, MA
9/29/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Love the clam chowdah and soups but dont mess with the soggy pre-made wraps. Bread bowl is the way to go when ordering soup or chowdah.
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Review from Gene Y.
New York, NY
7/19/2009
Note that this place is in the "Shops at Prudential Center". Specifically, it's in the food court. But so what, the clam chowder we had was great! Lots of clams and great taste. It was so good, that we decided to head back for the lobster bisque, which was...well, mediocre. But the chowder (or as the local say chowdaaa) was very good. We didn't try the food but did see a lobster roll special (like they do in every sandwich shops around town) for $15-$18. As much as a lobster fan, I'm not so keen on it being on a sandwich, which I've tried disappointingly before. For those that like it, the more power to ya...
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Review from Pepper C.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2010
Only had the clam chowder here but I really liked it--I think way better than Legal Seafood in the same mall and much cheaper. It was hot, creamy, full of clams, potatoes, etc. It satisfied my clam chowder cravings and I would go back. I like that it's in the food court that way I don't have to commit to a full meal [like at Legal Seafood]--I can just buy my soup and go!
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Review from Michael C.
San Jose, CA
6/20/2008
Not too shabby if you want a clam chowder fix at the Prudentual Center or anywhere else in Boston.
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Review from jenn r.
Oaklyn, NJ
4/23/2011
Visiting from NJ, we had not yet had our fill of lobster rolls. I guess we got spoiled from Belle Island because I could barely eat this one from the Chowda Co. It was really stormy and we were tired and wet from a day of site seeing so we decided to call in an order and pick it up. They wouldnt let us order over the phone. My husband got there with a list of what we wanted. We downloaded the menu from the website. When my husband got there, they were out of bread bowls and just about everything else we wanted except the lobster rolls and soup. We got the lobster bisque and 2 rolls and a chicken ceasar salad. My husband came back with an untoasted roll that was heavily loaded with bad mayo. My husband's salad was inedible. The soup was great, thank God because I was starving and was disappointed with the lobster roll. We paid 9 bucks to park just to pick up the food!!! Outrageous! So sad that our second lobster roll experience in Boston was a bad one. Don't know what all the hype is about at this place!
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Review from David H.
Clanton, AL
6/23/2010
Clam chowder was awesome! The lobster roll was very good, but I should have gotten the bigger one! The bread is great. Pretty awesome eating this good at a food court!
