The 20 Best Seafood Restaurants in Massachusetts
If you’re a seafood lover and you’re new to the Massachusett’s area you may be wondering which seafood restaurants are the best choices in the state. We’ve done our research to find the most highly recommended venues that range from grab and go seafood delicacies to the more formal dining experiences. The state is loaded with options but some are more highly rated than others. Here are the 20 best seafood restaurants in Massachusetts for your consideration.
20. Alive and Kicking Lobsters
269 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA
This restaurant offers some of the best lobster dishes in the state. Their lobster sandwiches are out of this world. You have the option of dining in or eating at picnic tables on the driveway. It may look like somebody’s garage but the food is amazing. You can have your lobster served on a scali roll or order a fully cooked lobster on the plate. Eat-in or call in and order take out. They also offer a range of steamers, mussels, chowder, and other seafood dishes. They also sell fresh seafood for you to take home and prepare at your leisure if that is your preference.
19. Plum Island Grille
2035 2 Plum Island Turnpike, Newbury, MA
Plum Island Grille is owned by Christopher D. Anderson who is a self-proclaimed lobster snob. He got his start on a lobster boat in Maine and knows everything there is to know about the creatures. He highly recommends Plum Island Grille for their seafood specialties which includes a variety of fish & chips, crab and lobster rolls, swordfish sandwiches, PEI mussels in white wine sauce, perfect fried calamari, and much more.
18. Belle Isle Seafood, Winthrop
1 Main Street, Winthrop, MA
Belle Isle Seafood is reputed for serving the best lobster in the world. While dining, you get some of the most spectacular views of the Boston skyline, and the lobster rolls are simply delicious. This venue is cash only and they do not offer table service but they serve it to you in a grab and go setting, or you can take a seat and enjoy your meal. Anthony Bourdain once visited this restaurant. You’ll have a choice of several different seafood options here but the lobster is the star of the show.
17. The Barking Crab
88 Sleeper Street Boston, MA
One of the best seafood restaurants in Boston is the Barking Crab. They offer a range of seafood options which include Jonah crab, spicy calamari, a clambake, chowder, corn, cornbread, coleslaw, steamers, mussels, and more. If you’re in Boston, you simply have to check out the Barking Crab.
16. Turk’s Seafood
83 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, MA
Turk’s Seafood in Mattapoisett offers the best fish in the area. The restaurant has expanded throughout the years and it comprises a fish market that offers fresh shellfish and fish, along with a sushi bar in a family-friendly clam-shack restaurant setting. It’s one of the most popular seafood restaurants in the area.
15. Clam Box of Ipswich
246 High Street, Ipswich, MA
The Clam Box of Ipswich was constructed in the shape of a giant clam box that gives it a wonderful aesthetic and sets the mood for enjoying some of the tastiest seafood in the state. The fried clams are amazing. In addition, the restaurant serves clam chowder, scallops, fish, oysters and more.
14. Saltie Girl Boston
281 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA
The Saltie Girl is located in the Back Bay area of Boston and it specializes in tinned fish, which may be an initial turnoff for some, but once you’ve sampled their cocktails and Crudo, the thick bread and salt butter, you’re anxiously anticipating the main fare. One of the favorites is the Saltie Girl burger that features fried lobster and pork belly, along with their range of other seafood delights. The restaurant doesn’t make reservations and there is usually a line to get in so this tells you that there are a lot of seafood enthusiasts that consider it worth the wait.
13. Sullivan’s South Boston
2080 William J Day Boulevard, South Boston, MA
Sullivan’s at Castle Island offers some of the most affordable and delicious lobster rolls in the city. The venue is located at Castle Island Park in South Boston. The fried shrimp is also remarkable. Diners enjoy grabbing a quick seafood bite to eat and enjoying the amenities of the park nearby.
12. Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar
3580 Route 6, Eastham, MA
Arnold’s will re-open on May 20th for another great season of the finest seafood in the area. There are long lines but they move fast. The restaurant has some of the best fried seafood around offering scallops, lobster, whole belly clams, homemade onion rings, and more. They sell over 2,000 pounds of food a week and it’s a place where you can get your fast food seafood orders quickly to eat there or take with you on the go.
11. Woodman’s of Essex
121 Main Street, Essex, MA
Woodman’s of Essex offers some of the best lobster in Massachusetts. They make excellent lobster rolls and you can have that served with onion rings. Their fried clams are also popular. There’s a great variety of lobster fare at Woodman’s along with steamers, coleslaw, corn, and a variety of beers to choose from. You can buy a lobster here that weighs up to 12 pounds.
10. Chatham Fish and Lobster
1291 Main Street Route 28, Chatham, MA
Chatham Fish and Lobster are located on the cape. They offer a wide variety of fish and chips dishes as well as lobster and it’s a place that you can find gluten-free batter for their deep-fried seafood selections. Chatham Fish and Lobster is a combination fish market and kitchen that offers a variety of clams, lobster, onion rings, french fries, sides, desserts and the appealing thing about it is that you can sit at the picnic tables and eat it there or you can take it home with you. It’s in the Cornfield Marketplace on Route 28.
9. Cobie’s Clam Shack
3260 Main Street, Brewster, MA
Cobie’s Clam Shack is a small window-only restaurant that is also one of the most popular in town. It offers fast food served quickly and they have a great menu to peruse. There are two lines for traffic and they go quickly. Choose the right lane when you pull up though because the left lane is reserved for those after fried, grilled, hot seafood specialties. The right lane is for gourmet ice cream cones that are some of the largest in teh country. The eatery offers a covered eating area with plastic benches for those that choose to enjoy the fare on-site. Cobie’s Clam Shack is known for its New England style lobster rolls. It is open for business from the middle of may through the middle of October
8. Kelly’s Roast Beef
Conveniently located in Revere, Danvers, Saugus, and Medford, MA
Kelly’s Roast Beef may not sound like a seafood restaurant but they serve some of the tastiest options for seafood in the state. Their lobster rolls are out of this world. You can also choose from fish and chips, fried clams, and more. Yes, they do serve roast beef at the establishment as well. They offer a beach pavilion across the street for seating if your preference is to eat on-site, or you can take the food on the run with you. There are five locations to choose from throughout the state.
7. Kream N Cone
Corner of Route 28 & Route 134, Cape Cod, MA
Kream N Cone offers some of the best fried seafood in the world. This is where to go if you’re a fan of fried seafood platters that give you a choice of french fries or onion rings to go with your main selection. You decide whether to eat at the location and enjoy the scenic views of the Swan River or to call ahead for a takeout order. They serve sandwiches, soft-serve ice cream and a variety of fried seafood options.
6. The Lobster Pot
321 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA
The Lobster Pot offers some of the freshest seafood in the state. There are actually two locations to choose from. They offer a variety of menu items featuring seafood, poultry, steaks, vegetarian and light fare, Portuguese specialties and two waterfront dining rooms with some of the most spectacular views of the bay.
5. Mac’s Shack
91 Commercial Street, Cape Cod, MA
Mac’s Shack is one of the most highly rated seafood dives for oyster lovers. The menu also features bluefish that are locally sourced, along with lobster, and other seafood options. They’re also known for their wines, beer, and cocktails. You can enjoy a filling and tasty meal at Mac’s Shack.
4. Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA
The Neptune Oyster is located on the North end of Boston and is owned by Jeff Nace. The owner insists on maintaining the strictest quality with seasonal, local, and sustainable ingredients for the ample menu offerings. The lobster rolls are the most popular and are served with your choice of either hot or cold lobster meat with butter or mayo. The striped bass is another favorite made of locally sourced fish, chorizo and soybean. The Rockport mackerel Veracruz comes with tomato-olive brodetto, roasted fingerling potatoes, an orange-fennel salad, and chimichurri.
3. Manoa Poke Shop
300 Beacon St, Somerville, MA
This is another favorite seafood restaurant in Massachusetts. It’s owned by Sam and Josiah Bonsey who relocated from Hawaii. They prepare seafood and fish for the Boston area locals in Hawaiian style. The two brothers operate a counter service shop that specializes in poke, also known as slice with a menu that consists of bite-sized pieces of various fish and other dishes.
2. Aqua Pazza
135 Richmond Street North End, Boston, MA
Aqua Pazza is a seafood restaurant in Boston’s North End that specializes in Southern Italian seafood cuisine. The menu features contemporary dishes that range from tapas and raw fish preparations to jumbo lump crab cakes. This is fine dining with seafood taking the center stage at its best offering specialty dishes such as Orata, pan-seared seabream with seared marinated artichokes, grapefruit sauce and a variety of gourmet menu offerings. Aqua Pazza is the second best restaurant for seafood lovers in the state of Massachusetts.
1. Row 34
383 Congress Street, South Boston, MA
The number one seafood restaurant in the entire state of Massachusetts is Row 34. This is one of South Boston’s greatest treasures. Row 34 features two major types of bars. One is for ordering from their expansive beer menu, and the other is for ordering oysters. The restaurant offers 24 different draft beers and when it comes to seafood, you have your choice of 11 different kinds of shellfish. Jeremy Sewall is the chef and co-owner of the highly esteemed establishment. It’s known for the lobster rolls which are available either cold or hot. In a single month, 4,000 lobster rolls were sold. The next popular menu item is the tuna Crudo that is served with black garlic aioli and avocado. Row 34 tops our list of the best seafood restaurants in the state of Massachusetts. Whether you’re into fast fried seafood or a more eclectic or formal atmosphere with fine dining options, Massachusetts offers some of the best seafood dives, restaurants, and eateries in the nation. Whether you’re planning a move to the area or just a visit you’re sure to find a new favorite seafood restaurant there.
