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A two-tiered seafood tower with oysters, Jonah crab claws, shrimp, and more arranged around two steel platters filled with ice.
A seafood tower at Row 34.
Michael Harlan Turkell/Row 34

Essential Boston Seafood Restaurants

Oysters, lobsters, scallops, shrimp, and so much more

by Erika Adams
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A seafood tower at Row 34.
| Michael Harlan Turkell/Row 34
by Erika Adams

Distilling Boston’s seafood scene down to one list is an impossible task — given the city’s location, seafood is a highlight across many menus here, whether or not it is the sole focus of the restaurant. Instead, think of this list as a sampler platter of places to find excellent seafood, from cod-stuffed ravioli to whole salt-crusted fish. (Looking only for lobster rolls? Head here. Just want sushi? Right this way. Only interested in oyster happy hours? We’ve got a list for that, too.)

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Moëca

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From skewered, barbecued mussels to buttermilk-fried hunks of monkfish, Moëca’s is very good at re-examining traditional New England seafood fare through a slightly different lens. The restaurant is run by the same team behind nearby pasta powerhouse Giulia, which means it’d be a mistake to overlook Moëca’s pasta section, including the lobster spaghetti with fermented chili and the salt cod-stuffed ravioli. Whatever you do, don’t skip dessert.

1 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 945-0040
(617) 945-0040

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Neptune Oyster

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At nearly 20 years old, Neptune Oyster has earned its spot as a Boston-area seafood icon. (The New York Times dubbed it one of the most exciting restaurants in the country in 2022.) Located on Salem Street, the restaurant is most identifiable by the long line of waiting diners snaking out of the doorway during virtually all opening hours. Once inside, the convivial atmosphere and neverending parade of oyster platters, lobster rolls, and fried clams will make that wait time a distant memory.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
(617) 742-3474

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Saltie Girl

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Saltie Girl has been an essential seafood stop on Newbury Street for nearly a decade. It delivers, whether you’re dipping in for a glass of wine and oysters after work or splurging on a seafood tower during a visit to town. Lobster comes in all sorts of fun dressings here, including lobster frites, lobster and waffles, and a crowd-favorite lobster roll that comes with a bag of Saltie Girl sea salt and vinegar potato chips.

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-0691
(617) 267-0691

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Ostra

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Ostra, the fine dining seafood restaurant that the Boston Globe once dubbed “Boston’s answer to Le Bernardin” is the place to go for well-executed, luxurious treatments of fish, from the whole salt-crusted branzino to the grilled Ecuadorian tiger prawns.

1 Charles St S, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 421-1200
(617) 421-1200

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Row 34

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Over its decade in business, Row 34 has converted many diners into regulars who keep coming back for its crispy oysters wrapped in lettuce leaves, griddled crab cakes, lobster rolls, and an oyster list that never disappoints. If your ideal Boston seafood excursion includes slurping oysters and cracking lobsters before taking a stroll by the city’s waterfront, this is your stop.

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 553-5900
(617) 553-5900

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Ivory Pearl

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The award-winning team behind Ivory Pearl is known first and foremost for their cocktail prowess — they are also behind mega-hits Blossom Bar and Baldwin Bar — but the drinks are only part of the show at Ivory Pearl, where dinner unfolds across a playful seafood menu. The legs and eggs (fried smoked chicken drumsticks topped with caviar) are delightful, as are the larger plates like the belly-warming seafood chili and the shrimp and sausage gnocchi.

1704 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 487-5297
(617) 487-5297

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The Pearl

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Opened in 2021, the Pearl has quickly made a name for itself as a dining destination within Dorchester’s shiny South Bay shopping center. For a good overview of the restaurant, start with the shareables side of the menu and order a sampling of Southern-inflected seafood dishes, from the chargrilled oysters to the Cajun chicken and shrimp egg rolls.

20b District Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 288-8810
(617) 288-8810

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Restaurante Cesaria

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Traditional Cape Verdean fare is in the limelight at Restaurante Cesaria, named after the famous Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora. The island country’s rich, flavorful seafood preparations are on display here, like the camarão moçambique, shrimp sauteed in a spicy white wine, lemon, and crushed red pepper sauce; and the bacalhau grelhado, a hearty grilled salt cod dish finished off with a sweet garlic olive oil. True to its name, the restaurant also regularly hosts live music acts.

266 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02122
(617) 282-1998
(617) 282-1998

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Ming Seafood Restaurant

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Assemble a Cantonese seafood feast at Ming’s, a crowd-favorite for a multitude of seafood dishes, including crispy prawns with XO sauce, sauteed clams in black bean sauce, and braised fish fillet cooked in a clay pot. It’s all housed inside a elegant banquet hall. And, a not-so-small side benefit: It has a blessedly large parking lot on-site.

477 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171
(617) 202-5118
(617) 202-5118

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Moëca

1 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA 02138

From skewered, barbecued mussels to buttermilk-fried hunks of monkfish, Moëca’s is very good at re-examining traditional New England seafood fare through a slightly different lens. The restaurant is run by the same team behind nearby pasta powerhouse Giulia, which means it’d be a mistake to overlook Moëca’s pasta section, including the lobster spaghetti with fermented chili and the salt cod-stuffed ravioli. Whatever you do, don’t skip dessert.

1 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 945-0040
(617) 945-0040

Neptune Oyster

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

At nearly 20 years old, Neptune Oyster has earned its spot as a Boston-area seafood icon. (The New York Times dubbed it one of the most exciting restaurants in the country in 2022.) Located on Salem Street, the restaurant is most identifiable by the long line of waiting diners snaking out of the doorway during virtually all opening hours. Once inside, the convivial atmosphere and neverending parade of oyster platters, lobster rolls, and fried clams will make that wait time a distant memory.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
(617) 742-3474

Saltie Girl

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Saltie Girl has been an essential seafood stop on Newbury Street for nearly a decade. It delivers, whether you’re dipping in for a glass of wine and oysters after work or splurging on a seafood tower during a visit to town. Lobster comes in all sorts of fun dressings here, including lobster frites, lobster and waffles, and a crowd-favorite lobster roll that comes with a bag of Saltie Girl sea salt and vinegar potato chips.

279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-0691
(617) 267-0691

Ostra

1 Charles St S, Boston, MA 02116

Ostra, the fine dining seafood restaurant that the Boston Globe once dubbed “Boston’s answer to Le Bernardin” is the place to go for well-executed, luxurious treatments of fish, from the whole salt-crusted branzino to the grilled Ecuadorian tiger prawns.

1 Charles St S, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 421-1200
(617) 421-1200

Row 34

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

Over its decade in business, Row 34 has converted many diners into regulars who keep coming back for its crispy oysters wrapped in lettuce leaves, griddled crab cakes, lobster rolls, and an oyster list that never disappoints. If your ideal Boston seafood excursion includes slurping oysters and cracking lobsters before taking a stroll by the city’s waterfront, this is your stop.

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 553-5900
(617) 553-5900

Ivory Pearl

1704 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445

The award-winning team behind Ivory Pearl is known first and foremost for their cocktail prowess — they are also behind mega-hits Blossom Bar and Baldwin Bar — but the drinks are only part of the show at Ivory Pearl, where dinner unfolds across a playful seafood menu. The legs and eggs (fried smoked chicken drumsticks topped with caviar) are delightful, as are the larger plates like the belly-warming seafood chili and the shrimp and sausage gnocchi.

1704 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 487-5297
(617) 487-5297

The Pearl

20b District Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

Opened in 2021, the Pearl has quickly made a name for itself as a dining destination within Dorchester’s shiny South Bay shopping center. For a good overview of the restaurant, start with the shareables side of the menu and order a sampling of Southern-inflected seafood dishes, from the chargrilled oysters to the Cajun chicken and shrimp egg rolls.

20b District Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 288-8810
(617) 288-8810

Restaurante Cesaria

266 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02122

Traditional Cape Verdean fare is in the limelight at Restaurante Cesaria, named after the famous Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora. The island country’s rich, flavorful seafood preparations are on display here, like the camarão moçambique, shrimp sauteed in a spicy white wine, lemon, and crushed red pepper sauce; and the bacalhau grelhado, a hearty grilled salt cod dish finished off with a sweet garlic olive oil. True to its name, the restaurant also regularly hosts live music acts.

266 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02122
(617) 282-1998
(617) 282-1998

Ming Seafood Restaurant

477 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

Assemble a Cantonese seafood feast at Ming’s, a crowd-favorite for a multitude of seafood dishes, including crispy prawns with XO sauce, sauteed clams in black bean sauce, and braised fish fillet cooked in a clay pot. It’s all housed inside a elegant banquet hall. And, a not-so-small side benefit: It has a blessedly large parking lot on-site.

477 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171
(617) 202-5118
(617) 202-5118

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