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Legal Test Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Seafood Canadian (New), Seafood [Edit]
225 Northern AveBoston, MA 02228
Neighborhoods: Waterfront, South Boston
(617) 330-7430
- Nearest Transit:
-
Seaport Blvd @ Seaport Hotel (171, 4, 448, 449, 459)
Seaport Blvd @ World Trade Center Opp. Seaport Htl (4)
Congress @ World Trade Center Sta (SL1)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11 am - 1 am
Thu-Sat 11 am - 2 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
$10 for $20 Certificate
Josh C. said: "Dudes, look at their website above. They post menu update daily. Food truck changing menu daily = fresh food ? F-me. I heart you. Tons of pictures of…" read more »
245 reviews for Legal Test Kitchen
Review Highlights
"I had the lobster mac and cheese."
(in 12 reviews)
"I heartily recommend the tuna burger."
(in 18 reviews)
"But who makes the best clam chowder, and how do you judge."
(in 16 reviews)
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245 reviews in English
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Review from Casie G.
Boston, MA
12/30/2011
Living in Southie for almost six years, this was somehow my first visit to LTK and it was outstanding! The food was good, the drinks were good and the people were amazing!
My friend and I were looking to get drinks and apps and since neither of us had been to LTK, we figured we'd try it out. We sat at the bar where Ray our bartender made me a fabulous drink (the Eastwood) and was so personable. He helped us pick a few apps to try and we were not disappointed.
We ordered the calamari, the mussels & the shrimp wontons and the calamari was by far the best. It was spicy and crispy and just perfectly cooked.
Our drinks were never empty, our water glasses constantly filled and both the manager and another bartender stopped by to chat.
Reading some of the other reviews it seems the bar is the best place to sit and I'm glad we did. I will 100% be back. -
Review from Ruri S.
Berkeley, CA
11/17/2011
Avocado Lobster Bacon Wrap was amaaaaaazing.
Delicious clam chowder.
Oily potato chips.
Great atmosphere.
Dessert was way too sweet (chiffon cake?) -
Review from karen c.
Boston, MA
11/10/2011
Lobster
Bacon
Avocado
Spicy Mayo
Potato Chips.
Need I say more?
My team came here for a lunch to celebrate the arrival of one of our German coworkers and we decided to get fancy (for the first time EVER we were allowed to expense lunch), so we made a reservation for 8 of us, which LTK happily accommodated, even during the lunch rush. The "lunch rush" in the seaport district is kind of a joke, but they were still very nice.
Our server was really friendly and made sure we were all well-watered throughout our meal, which is challenging when you have a table of athletes (we work for an athletics brand). The food was great and it all came out at the same time at the appropriate temps. The table fell silent when everything came. Subtitles to silence at a meal: The Food Is Good. Don't Talk To Me.
We all got dessert to share-the creme brulee "shot" is adorable, but truth be told I did not want to share. The chocolate cake was also delicious. I wouldn't necessarily rush back to LTK since there are so many local businesses in Boston that specialize in seafood, but if given the green light again for a company lunch, I would happily head over to LTK! -
Review from Jesse H.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/27/2012
Legal Test Kitchen really fails the test.
-
Review from Tom I.
Astoria, NY
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had blackned salmon, awesome!
-
Review from Tom G.
Memphis, TN
10/25/2011
The food here is always good, but I always feel as though it could be a bit better. It's almost as if they don't trust the seafood to speak for itself. As an example, the mussel appetizer is served with such a heavy sauce that the mussels themselves get lost. Don't get me wrong, the sauce is terrific, and I asked for extra bread to mop it up, but that's not what I came for. In some ways, less would be more.
That said, if Helen's working the bar, you're in for a great time.
UPDATE Nov. 2011: Tried the LTK paella, and it's top notch. I'd give that four stars out of five.
Also, the whole bar staff is awesome. Jim's great, as are a few others whose names I unfortunately cannot remember. -
Review from Craig S.
9/23/2011
My sister and I stopped in for an early dinner - I had been here the night before I took the bar across the street and the experience was both calming and satisfying. This time around let me down.
Even though it was early for dinner and there were plenty of tables in the restaurant section they sat us at a stool of a table at the bar area. I did not mind at first because I had my own personal mini TV to watch the Sox. The clam chowder and oysters were good as I would expect at any Legal's. The Spanish rice dish (I don't know how to spell pie- yeah-ya) had a good mix of sea-life and a decent flavor but was way overcooked - or just under the heat lamp too long. Food was all meh, which wold have been ok except once the place started getting busy instead of waiting outside the hostess packed them all into the bar area - - and as I have said before no one wants to eat a nice dinner with scores of man ass in your face. Especially because there were open tables. I like the idea of LTK but it fails in its execution. -
Review from Seth D.
Boston, MA
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
No reason to get testy here! The atmosphere was modern and cool. There seemed to be a good amount of Asian inspired dishes. We had the lettuce wraps and Shrimp Wontons, both great. I opted for the Special baked Swordfish over wheat penne with a pesto/pistachio sauce. A+
Will be back for sure -
Review from Becca L.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2011
Status: Currently in Boston on business from San Francisco.
We stumbled upon this place because our concierge directed us toward the waterfront and it was the first restaurant we came upon. The other option was a sports bar and we weren't really in the mood for a bar.
LTK looked good. It was pretty packed and the low lounge lighting was inviting. We decided to give it a try.
The service was good. The food was disappointing. I got the scallops, they were okay. My colleagues ordered the fish tacos and said they were bland. In fact one colleague was super hungry by the time we were able to eat dinner and she still couldn't eat her whole plate because the dish was tasteless.
Overall, we were disappointed. -
Review from Alan K.
Boston, MA
6/20/2011
We went here this past Saturday and I can frankly say that we were quite disappointed.
First off, we saw the table next to us get a basket full of bread when they sat down but we still didn't get any bread at all by the time we got up.
We had ordered the "shellfish tower" for appetizers but after waiting one more minute too long, we were wondering whether they were busy out fishing our fresh seafood from the harbor across the street. Alas, when our entrees had arrived and our shellfish hadn't, we had reminded our waitress and she had told us that she had forgotten to put it in the order. Whoops. (Yeah right.)
For my entree, I had ordered their "Surf and Turf." I guess my first mistake would have been ordering beef at a Legal's restaurant. Oh well. I always order my steak medium rare but I *think* it came out medium to medium well. It was rather hard to see because they had turned off their lights (note: NOT dim down the lights, it was so dark like they actually turned them off) so I had to use the "flash light" on my phone to shine on my piece of meat to see how was it cooked.
And I know we weren't the only ones that had a problem with the lights either, because I did see a man get up from his seat to walk over towards the glass door to shine some light on the menu he was trying to read. Smart move--both the man and the geniuses who turned down the lights.
Next issue was portion control. If I had knew the steak would be like 4oz and I would get half a shrimp tail instead of a lobster, I would've eaten lunch earlier in the day as well.
Oh yeah, and I should also add that they ran out of sweet potato fries that night as well, which totally makes sense because their regular fries are only MEH.
Lastly, I did love the fact that we basically had to run our own credit card through the machine ourselves [/sarcasm]. I understand that having a portable credit card machine is convenient and all (for the server) but then what is the point of paying the server to serve us again when we basically have to serve ourselves? You know, theoretically, we could've just faked swiping the credit card and just left through the side door without anyone knowing before it's too late. Or we could've just skimped on the tip, which is what we should've done considering the service sucked @$$ that night.
Thanks LTK for a wondering evening. I could've died from thirst or hunger that night. -
Review from M W.
7/11/2011
Though pretty standard fare, my PEI oysters for starters were fresh. The paella was likely the best I've ever had in a restaurant. The tomato-based sauce was an interesting twist.
The service was ok...nothing outstanding. My primary complaint was that we sat outside, which was nice, but some idiot working inside who was goofing off ran into the tinted glass window several times. I found it to be inappropriate, unprofessional, and downright annoying! Oh and the loud-talkers, who arrived (thank goodness) just before we left were twice as annoying...but you can't help who they allow in :0)
I'd give the menu another shot before my next Yacht party or evening cruise out of the Harbor. Possibly next week!
If restaurants are on http://opentable.com, I always make my reservations there, but for some reason ( I was told when I called) LTK does not take same day reservations ("no availability within 2.5 hrs..."). I found this to be odd since the vast majority of restaurants allow this and on a number of occasions I have made my reservation on the way to or outside of the restaurant (this is how I have nearly 20,000 points and am VIP on opentable),
It's not as if LTK is an exculsive NYC or LA restaurant where restaurants actually have the weight behind them to make such requests. On top of it all, when we arrived, the restaurant was practically empty! -
Review from Edson D.
Boston, MA
12/4/2011
2nd best burger I've ever had and it wasn't even beef... it was the tuna burger... simply scrumptious. Quick service, creative menu. The waitstaff have these devices where they place your order to the kitchen, as you tell it to them. I ordered a drink, and before the waitress finished taking our tables' orders, my drink arrived. I love this place.
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Review from John A.
8/7/2011
Adequate and reasonably priced with a few rather unique drink concoctions. Overall, this place was above average with regards to food and service. What's also nice is that when most seaport restaurants have a 3 hour wait, LTK is sporting a quick 1 hour wait. Plenty of time to grab a drink and chill for a bit until your table is ready.
My fish and chips were light and fluffy with hand cut fries and decent cole slaw. It's nice to see a seafood joint with a semi-hip menu without the prices that come with it.
LTK on the waterfront is a great date location. I'd recommend grabbing some drinks and requesting a seat on the patio. It can be a bit loud because it's right on the main strip but it's far better than sitting inside, especially on a nice summer evening. -
Review from Lawrence L.
Millbrae, CA
4/28/2011 4 photos
Fresh and tasty seafood served here! Oysters, Boston SCROD (seafood caught right off the dock - flaky and moist) with fried pickles and brown rice (nice tartness), warm chocolate pudding with ice cream... Ketel One Martini's done right!
A colleague brought a few of us West Coast boys to taste some East Coast "chowdah", and seafood... This place is where they test out their new creations before placing them on the Legal Seafood restaurant menus. Loved the experience... Great location near the harbor, and a nice atmosphere with the buzz of Boston. -
Review from Angela D.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, so I hear about the famed Legal Sea Foods clam chowda. How can I resist??
This is their Test Kitchen which is apparently more upscale and serve more out of the box dishes??
I only order the chowder and it comes out piping hot. I take my first bite and it is SOUR tasting.....I never had chowda that was sour before...is this what it is supposed to taste like??
WOW, I just got served a spoiled bowl of chowder.......VERY DISAPPOINTED! :(
They did make another batch but seriously- lack of quality control and I could of gotten very sick. (Good thing I didnt!!)Listed in: Boston/Maine!
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Review from Sarah S.
10/20/2011
My expectations were high, because I think the test kitchen concept is pretty neat, but I was disappointed. Service was fine, the decor was standard Legal Seafood, but my meal was bland. I ordered fish tacos, and was downright surprised by how utterly blah they were-- three small soft shell tacos with breaded fish (cod, maybe?) on a bed of... shredded iceberg. Bizarre. The tacos were really dry because there was so little of whatever sauce was supposed to accompany them. What saved the experience somewhat was the fact that the food was relatively inexpensive, and they have a decent cocktail list. But it really is a shame that they don't have a more interesting menu.
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Review from Emily M.
Amesbury, MA
8/4/2011
Visited before attending a show at the Bank of America Pavilion. Really enjoyed dinner here. Ordered the Big Green Salad, which was fresh as could be. Loved the roasted chickpeas, and will have to try making them at home. For a main course I had the sauteed day boat sole, which was a lot more involved than the menu suggested: lovely fresh fish, breaded, on a bed of brown rice and spinach, and topped with melted lemon caper butter, diced tomatoes, and chopped green onions. The combination of flavors was delicious, and the tomatoes were the sweetest I've tasted at a restaurant this season. Finished off the meal with their small bite of creme brulee. Yummmmmm.
Only complaint would be where we were seated: in a tiny corner right by the door to the outside, which was constantly being used.
Will definitely return if we see another show! -
Review from Paul H.
Cranston, RI
11/14/2011
The Cost adds a star to this test kitchen. The Mahi was okay.....no wait that was $23. No one at our table complained, but no one raved. If you have to eat, the test kitchen was average.
An interesting marketing stratergy was pricing of drinks. A coke or coffee was about three dollars, but a martini cost $9.50.
Overall, if I wanted to eat and there is parking space nearby, I guess the LEGAL TEST KITCHEN is worth it. -
Review from Anne W.
5/22/2011
Meh.. not too impressed. I think the menu is significantly more limited than what is offered at Legal. I don't think they ask too much if you like it.. so I am not sure how it's a Legal Test Kitchen. It is close to Harpoon which is where we came from.
This is not the spot to get good seafood. -
Review from Mary K.
Arlington, VA
2/2/2011
No trip to Boston is complete without sampling real New England fare, like a hot bowl of chowdah. But who makes the best clam chowder, and how do you judge?
Ask any Bostonian and he or she will tell you that New England clam chowder is the only kind worth lifting a spoon to. Simply mention Manhattan and risk being pelted with clams, or whatever seafood is handy.
What constitutes the best? First, it must be served hot. Next, the creamy base should neither be runny nor gluey. Also, chowder is only chowder when it is thick and hearty with ingredients.
While I largely ignore chain restaurants, I couldn't overlook who Boston Magazine voted Best Chowder of 2010. I've had Legal Sea Foods' version years ago and I'll admit it is very good. But the best? Come on.
So I went straight to the source. Legal Sea Foods has a Legal Test Kitchen right on Boston Seaport, where they experiment with new dishes and flavors. Sadly, the menu was limited and uninspiring. Kung Pao Shrimp Wok, seriously? The chowder, however, has been served at every inauguration since Reagan.
Well, I dare say I felt damn near presidential. The snow-white chowder is creamy and consistent, clinging luxuriously to not-too-large cubes of tender potatoes. Equally plentiful are the Cape Cod clams--plump, juicy, and sweet. Each perfectly-seasoned spoonful holds a balanced ratio of satisfying ingredients.
If you can't get to Boston, relax. Legal Sea Foods has locations all along the East Coast. Or order your chowder online by the gallon. Yeah, it's that good. -
Review from Blaine B.
Boston, MA
6/7/2011
Meh-- it was OK. Service was friendly, albeit slow. I think it may have been a rough day back in the kitchen as the table next to us was having timing issues too. Though the manager came out and offered them free chowder (can't beat that!).
Both my chowder and Lobster Mac and Cheese needed a good salting, but other than that they were positively ordinary. We just moved to Boston today, and will definatley give LTK a second chance to WOW us. -
Review from todd w.
Granbury, TX
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
this is a must-dine every time i'm in Boston! the lobster roll (which i have each time) and the blueberry/acacia cocktail (on the special menu that day) were just what i needed after a long day on the tradeshow floor! excellent service, consistent quality, no complaints!
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Review from Kari C.
Boston, MA
6/5/2011
I went here a few weeks ago, for lack of other ideas and was happy I did. I only had a drink and some clam chowder, but I was really happy with both. The staff was quick and friendly. We sat at the bar so if it looked like we were unattended at anytime someone was there to make sure we were taken care of.
The oysters the couple next to us had looked amazing.
Over all a good experience, only three stars because I have only a limited experience there. -
Review from Melissa C.
Somerville, MA
10/11/2011
Meh.
I would have thought having the Legal brand in the name it would have been a bit better. I guess when they call it contemporary it means "less good".
Food was good. It was the other things that left us feeling a little "meh" about the whole thing.
Asked for bread, didn't get it. Friends sandwich had a hair in it. First thing we saw was some guy returning a martini with a bunch of random crap floating in it. My sangria had no booze in it (for 8/9 dollars come on...). Service was slow while it wasn't that busy and the bathrooms faucet water was set to scalding (and you can't change it, which i found out after i was slathered in soap). -
Review from Kristi J.
Herndon, VA
4/20/2011
While traveling to Boston we enjoyed the LTK not once, but twice! We even tried to go there for dinner on a Saturday night, but it was too crowded.
The food was fantastic to say the least. Among the things we tried (between the 6 of us) were the, Crab Quesadilla, the Artic Char Salad, Clam Chowder, Lobster Salad (special), Tuna Burger, Red Salad, Broiled Salmon & Shrimp. Everything we ordered was AMAZING. We would have eaten every meal here if we could.
It is a little pricey because, it's Legal...but it's so worth the money for a good meal. -
Review from Bob B.
Atlanta, GA
1/7/2011
Absolute crap! I recently dined at LTK while I was in Boston for a wedding. We had a big party. The service was fine, but I am not much of a service nazi. The food, however, was terrible.
The only two plates I can comment on are the paella and the scallops with tabouli. The paella was literally the worst paella I have every had (and I have had a lot included the reheated crap they serve in touristy restaurants in Barcelona), despite being recommended by our waiter as one of the best dishes on the menu. Everything in it was over cooked--the squid, the chorizo, the rice. The chorizo was especially offensive, as each piece was charred beyond recognition. What's worse is that at $20+ this was also the most expensive paella I have ever eaten. The scallops were not as egregious, but were completely uninspired and also slightly overcooked. Instead of being delicious melt-in-your-mouth pieces of seafood, we got slimy poorly-seared crap (also at $20+).
To top off the over-price (over-cooked) food, the cocktails also tipped the scales starting at $10. $80 for the two of us for truly crappy food (at any price) is just unforgivable. This is my third trip to a Legal Seafood establishment in the past 8 months, and it will be the last. -
Review from Lynn C.
10/3/2010
Hmm....3.5 stars?
The four of us shared a calamari that was ok
I had the paella ($20) and my boyfriend had the steak tips ($16)
Our friends had the paella and salmon padthai.
My boyfriend loved the food. I thought it was pretty good.
I think for a restaurant at this price, it's a three star.
If the restaurant was charging under $15/ entree, it would be a four star.
On a side note, i thought the whole restaurant smelled like a mix of seafood and a moldy mop.
The restrooms had faucets a LOT higher than the sink so it splashes if ur not careful, and the toilet papers do not have covers.
I really think if you're going to charge people that much, sanitation could be improved. -
Review from Mel M.
Watertown, MA
10/18/2010
JUDGING MOSTLY ON EXPERIENCE NOT SO MUCH THE FOOD.
I like this place better than Legal believe it or not. I went twice in August so I'm a little late writing this. I went for a friends bday and just ordered an appetizer. It was ok, we had a big group and they gave us a hard time splitting the bill but I kinda understood that.
I went again later in August for my Dad's bday. I booked a table on opentable and asked them to bring a dessert with a candle. Then when we got to the restaurant we had to wait about 30 mins before we were seated. It was sorta annoying since we had reservations but my family is pretty laid back so we waited. When we finally sat, they sat us at a table near the bar. It was happy hour so people at the bar were bumping into our table, it felt like our table was awkwardly positioned. We physically moved the table away from the walk area and it was still pretty bad. Then I went to tell the waiter about the dessert with candle and he said no worries. The bill came, the dessert was on the bill but never came. We told them to take it off but it was super awkward. The food is ok but this whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I will def never plan a bday dinner there. -
Review from Katarina L.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
as much as it pains me to say it, i was a bit disappointed in LTK. but it could be that i've built it up as this legal seafoods mecca from which all legal seafood menu items originate. i first found legal seafoods in a lobster quest stupor 7 years ago when my sister started her undergraduate studies in boston and since then, legal has been like that reliable, back pocket, always good for a booty call (not implying anything) friend. you might stray away and have affairs with other seafood restaurants but when you want someone you know is going to to provide decent food at a decent price, you go to legal. but i digress.
LTK on the other hand was a let-down. raw oyster bar was good but standard offerings as legal seafoods. fried calamari appetizer -- what were they thinking? not crispy, but soggy from the spicy tomato sauce the calamari is sitting in. maryland soft shell crabs on a bed of grits -- passable. LTK paella -- meh, revitalization needed. someone needs to go to barcelona and have some real paella. grilled shrimp -- okay, not bad.
service was alright. our waitress seemed a bit frazzled and we had to wait 20 minutes even though we had a reservation. but our aps were comped as a result. so plus for customer service.
i won't be coming back here. good think i've got a good solid relationship with legal seafoods, otherwise, this would have been the first and last time i ate at a legal seafoods. -
Review from Whitney R.
El Sobrante, CA
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm guessing I hit the sweet spot because there was no wait, and the restaurant was almost empty, so we got really excellent service. I understand they train the chefs here so the quality might be up and down, but our food was tasty and so were the drinks. I would have eaten just about anything on the menu and was having a hard time choosing. Me and mom split a lobster ceasar salad and a 'paella'. A paella probably shouldn't have that much sauce, but whatever it was was delicious. My only quibble is with the smallish size of the entrees but the prices were very reasonable for a 'seafood' restaurant so no biggie. Check it out!
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Review from Silvio G.
Revere, MA
6/20/2011
Service was crumby. Waited at the hostess station for a good 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged my girlfriend and I, as well as the couple behind us.
They sat us at a table about an elbows length away from the table next to us, so instead, we just sat at the bar.
The bartenders weren't very engaged with us, as if we were bothering them. Also, our initial bartender disappeared after he made our first drinks. We had a new one, and he was much better. Both made excellent drinks, and were strong, but tasty.
We ordered 5 assorted fresh oysters, calamari, shrimp wontons, and lettuce wraps. The oysters were fresh and tasty as well as the calamari. The shrimp wontons tasted as if they were merely microwaved, or store bought prepackaged. Nothing really special.
I ordered the surf and turf. talk about disappointed. 30 bucks got me a 4 oz flank steak, and an over cooked half lobster tail the size of my thumb. The green beans were rock hard, and the fries were mushy and semi cold, as if they were sitting out rather than freshly made.
All in all, I have no problems spending money on food; I really enjoy dining out. But the price I paid, I think I would have been more satisfied at chain restaurant. -
Review from Linda F.
Worcester, MA
10/27/2010
Just went to LTK for dinner last night after an event at the ICA. It wasn't overly busy (Tuesday night) and we were able to walk in without a reservation and get a table. Overall, the meal was fantastic and so was the service.
I ordered the clam chowder and my husband ordered the cream of mushroom (their "soup of the moment" that day). The chowder was fabulous as usual. The cream of mushroom soup was great too. Instead of the expected cup of cream with some mushrooms floating in it, it was more like cooked down mushrooms with a touch of cream. Delicious.
I ordered the truffled lobster mac & cheese and it was great. Chunks of lobster, gooey cheese, and good combo of flavors. My husband got the tuna burger, which is a favorite for him.
What made this a 4-star versus a 3-star rating was the service. Our waiter was attentive and very quick at clearing our table and refilling our glasses without us having to ask.
So, the great food + the fantastic service = i would definitely return to LTK. -
Review from Jeff S.
Boston, MA
8/28/2011
Never as good as it should be. I've been there several times and I always seem to expect more and leave disappointed. Food has routinely been dry and mediocre in taste. They routinely are out of items on their menu.
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Review from Kristen G.
Middlesex, MA
3/14/2011
First time here last weekend. It was very good. We limited ourselves to just appetizers at the bar which was perfect because there is no wait for bar seats!
We got cape cod oysters, tuna sashimi, crab quesadillas and edamame. Oysters were great, my boyfriend found them a little salty but I thought they were delicious and not fishy at all. The tuna was excellent, great quality and just the right hint of spicy. I'm a huge fan of any type of quesadilla so I was very excited for this, unfortunately the chefs over cooked it and the whole bottom of the tortilla was burned, i ate around it and was satisfied.
Overall, good food, good atmosphere, looking forward to going in summer time. -
Review from Hillary B.
Manchester, CT
10/24/2010
I'm writing this on behalf of my 23 year old sister who ate at this restaurant this past weekend. She was so upset by the rude waiter--Michael B. that I knew we had to write about it.
She was visiting a friend who lives in the area and decided to stop in for lunch after a visit to Harpoon Brewery. Unfortunately her basic description of her lunch was:
"The food was really good and it would have been a great experience if the waiter wasn't such a (male anatomy nickname/curseword that begins with d)"
So yeah, since they were coming from Harpoon they ordered waters as the cocktails this waiter offered would probably cause them to cross the line from pleasantly buzzed to wasted. The water request was apparently her first wrong move, resulting in a scoff and a quickly declining attitude from there on out. At the end of the meal when she finished her fish but not her sides she requested a doggie bag only to get snarled at and asked "what...what do you want to wrap? There's nothing left" She literally had to point at the food remaining on her plate to explain.
We've all been in the food service industry at some point so we can both sympathize with having a bad day. However its a pretty basic element of the job to be courteous and friendly--it is inexcusable to be so rude to someone based on their age and what they order. In the end though your tip reflects on your experience--fellow food service workers know to leave a 20%+ tip in appreciation for friendly service, or a minuscule tip in retaliation for being belittled and embarrassed. -
Review from Julie N.
8/19/2010
What a great dinner!!! We went to go see David Gray & Ray Lamontagne the other night and showed up at LTK early knowing there would be a wait. They quoted us 45 minutes and we sat in 55 minutes. We were also then out of there in 20 minutes flat.
They had $2 PBR's and $3 Diet Cokes. I knew I should've gotten a beer. We ordered very quickly because we were starved and went for the simple assembly of the Truffled Chicken Salad Sandwich and the Pulled Pork Sandwich - both with Fried Pickles. They gave us warm bread and a white bean hummus? maybe? and within 10 minutes our food was on the table.
Now, if you've read any of my reviews.. I heart chicken salad. Like something fierce. LTK's Truffled Chicken Salad on Sourdough was out of this world. Never in my life have I ordered something "Truffled" and felt like every bite I had oozed truffle. The applewood smoked bacon on the pressed sourdough with mounds of the chicken salad was something out of a dream. I can't compare it to others... it's fancy. And it's really spectacular.
His Pulled Pork sandwich was also equally delicious. In his words "I can actually put the sandwich down without worrying that I've lost the construction of it." It wasn't messy and it had just the right flavor to it. Awesome bun as well.
The fried pickles were sorry and not very good, but the sandwiches, the service, and the atmosphere will make us come back any time we're back in that area. Well done.Listed in: Chicken Salad
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Review from Theresa M.
Malden, MA
10/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
I happened to be in the area of LTK in Boston one day with my boyfriend, so we choose to have dinner at LTK on a whim. For a Saturday afternoon LTK was pretty low key.
Overall everything was very good. I loved the bean dip and bread that they start you off with (we had two servings). My entrée of crumbed shrimp was generous and my boyfriend had no complaints about his scallops either. The sides they were offering were ok, nothing spectacular though.
The service was friendly, prompt and attentive, but the meal was a little pricey (I know seafood oftentimes is), so I probably won't be running back there anytime too soon...however, I'm definitely glad we decided to check it out. -
Review from Michelle S.
Austin, TX
1/14/2011
I've eaten here several times since it's next to my hotel, which is always a good thing after working hard all day. I've had no complaints in the past but this time I had the red salad and it was little bitter. Not sure if the dressing had been thoroughly mixed. I did get a bonus that the chowder was on sale for $1, it's usually 5.
I also like that they will allow you to take a half empty bottle of wine with you. They seal it in a nice little bag and you sign your name...off to my hotel for more another day...or later. Not sure if that is the case for all of Boston but I sure liked that option at LTK.
I also wonder if this is a test kitchen why the same items are still on the menu. I still like the place and will continue to go there but it was a little off this time. -
Review from Jessica D.
Somerville, MA
7/7/2010
Do you know how hard it is trying to get my entire family to agree to one place to eat post-event? I spent years scouting locations near various venues that everyone, including my vegetarian sister and my "no salt and no spice" grandparents, would tolerate.
Then my graduation was held at the B of A pavilion. I had to find a new place that everyone would like, plus I had to take into account that it had to be reasonably priced and near parking (my dad can be very outspoken about such things.)
Not wanting to cause a riot by suggesting pricey, meat-laden Morton's, I suggested we try LTK. Thankfully, this was the right decision. I was nervous that it would be too modern for everyone, but with all the variety, everyone found something they liked. The Fruits de Mer was amazing. Not one person complained about their dish. My grandfather even decided to try the fried pickle side, and he hasn't tried new foods since 1989.
Most importantly, when the bill came, my dad picked it up and didn't flinch. It was exactly what he had hoped to spend (well maybe a few dollars more-- I think my newly acquired Master's degree and I were deserving of an extra beer or three).
I am very glad (and relieved) to be able to add this restaurant to my "Extended Family Approved, Waterfront Edition" list. -
Review from Ken M.
7/31/2010
I'm confused how there are so many poor reviews for this incarnation of Legal Seafoods. After our visit earlier tonight, it is easily my favorite of the Legal family of restaurants. (Maybe I've just been to the Harvard Square Legal Seafoods too many times lately).
We had tickets to Cirque and were looking for something in that neighborhood for dinner. We were unable to make a reservation (we didn't try until late this afternoon) and decided to see if we could get a table by just walking in.
We walked in and the host was actually friendly (are we sure we are at a Legal?) and told us it would be a 30-40 minute wait for a table but if we could score something at the bar, the full menu is served there. We saw two ladies who looked like they'd be ready to go soon and were vulturing for their seats. Just as they got up about ten minutes after we arrived, our pager went off for a table (wait, a restaurant in Boston OVER estimated a wait? Are we sure this is real?).
We got our table (it was in the area of the bar, but that was fine) and were served yummy rolls with a spread of some sort almost immediately. Our waiter was very nice and asked if we were headed somewhere after dinner and if we were in a hurry. Our food arrived VERY quickly. Funny, since I heard LTK was slow from the reviews and also from friends.
My scallops were cooked to perfection and the butter-caper sauce was really good, buttery but somehow light. The red bliss potato salad was DELICIOUS. Andy hates potato salad and he even thought it was good. The spinach was fine, but certainly not a star of the dish.
Andy was impressed with his fish and chips. It is different than what they serve at Legal and he liked it just as much but in a different way. The cole slaw (which I ate) was really good, I'm a fan of purple cabbage in my cole slaw. I didn't even need to add pepper, a rare occurrence. The pickles were really good too. We split those.
We had the little petite desserts, the creme de pot and the cookie platter. The cookies were served warm and were excellent. There were four or five on the plate. The creme de pot was a nice little treat.
The perfect start to a five-star evening.
