Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill
Seafood restaurant · Newton ·

Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill

Seafood restaurant · Newton ·

Upmarket seafood, steaks, cocktails; fresh oysters & clam chowder

Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill by null

Information

55 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Get directions

$30–50

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Information

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55 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Get directions

+1 617 277 7300
legalseafoods.com
248942168640281
𝕏
@legalseafoods

$30–50 · Menu

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Last updated

Dec 11, 2025

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@eater
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Interview Collection: Restaurant Anniversaries | Eater Boston

"Celebrating 40 years, Legal Sea Foods’ Chestnut Hill location at The Street is the chain’s second restaurant and the oldest still standing on its original site; longtime guest Mimi Leavitt, who has been visiting since the original Inman Square opening in 1968, even serves as a part-time maitre d., and the restaurant’s history is tied to personal connections like those with her late husband, who the company’s CEO called “a hero.”" - Eater Staff

https://boston.eater.com/2015/6/16/8788761/interview-collection-restaurant-anniversaries
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill
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390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

Fruity Tea Shop Opens in Braintree | Eater Boston

"A major relocation into a nearly 11,000-square-foot, two-story Boylston Street space that combines full-service dining and a fish market; guests can expect the brand's signature New England seafood menu alongside a new all-day sushi offering and extended daily hours." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/2017/10/11/16457960/restaurants-boston-suburbs-news
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill
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390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

The Spring 2018 Restaurant Opening Guide: Greater Boston | Eater Boston

"A longtime regional seafood institution relocating to a nearly 11,000-square-foot space that will house a fish market on the first floor and a large restaurant with views of Hammond Pond on the second floor." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/2018/4/2/17162930/new-restaurants-greater-boston-spring-2018
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill
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390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

Snag a Free Pizza Today at the New Blaze in Burlington | Eater Boston

"A long-running Chestnut Hill location that originally opened in 1975 is relocating from 43 Boylston St. to a new two-story space at 55 Boylston St.; the existing restaurant will remain open until the new site is ready. The redesigned spot will feature a fish market on the ground floor and a restaurant above, abundant windows and an outdoor deck overlooking Hammond Pond, and is expected to open in May 2018 serving lunch and dinner seven days a week." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/2018/3/23/17136344/free-pizza-blaze-burlington
Legal Sea Foods - Chestnut Hill

Joel Z.

Google
Not my first time here, and will be back. Apps were very good and the meals were abundant! We had a business dinner and everyone ordered a meal. However I split the Fishermans platter a plate of fried everything! This was a huge portion and could have shared it with 2 others. The Buffalo cauliflower and the New england style calamari were very good. And I enjoyed the New England Clam Chowder. Great service in a busy restaurant. This place is on the second floor, with a nice faux balcony.

Inessa M.

Google
We had a nice dinner at Legal Sea Foods in Chestnut Hill. The Tuna Tataki with seaweed salad was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The sushi was also good. The only disappointment was the macaroni and cheese that we ordered for the kids. It looked a bit old and reheated. Our waitress, Katherine, was very attentive, patient, and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a pleasant dining experience with great service.

Oscar S.

Google
Good Food, But Watch Your Plate (Literally) The oysters were fresh and tasty, and the terrace offered a peaceful, enjoyable atmosphere — definitely the highlight of the visit. However, I was really put off when I found a hair in my clams and linguini. It’s one of those things that instantly kills your appetite. While the staff did replace the dish, I was surprised and honestly disappointed that they still charged me for it. In most restaurants, this would be considered a basic hospitality issue and comped without question. It left a bad taste in what could’ve been a great experience. A calm setting and good oysters, but the handling of the situation made me feel like the customer experience wasn’t a priority.

Andrea M.

Google
Nice space with lots of natural light- extensive menu offerings. Our group of 7 was served and finished our apps before getting our drinks. Then sat there with apps finished for about 10 minutes before having our order for entrees taken. Slow service but good food. The lobster roll was delicious with lemon mayo and contained EIGHT ounces of lobster- hefty serving for sure.

Morgan B.

Google
This was a great legal seafoods location. There is a wonderful glass room for outdoor/indoor seating in new England’s unpredictable weather. We came for the $2 oysters on the half shell. The oysters were fresh and brought in a very timely manor. My only complaint was our server could not point to oyster type being served, and we were provided more oysters than ordered, altering our total price that had originally been anticipated. In addition we ordered a separate plate of steamers which I highly recommend.

Chan Mi L.

Google
Update 7/7/2025: I've been coming here several times now. Few updates on the photo, and sorry downgraded food from 5 to 4. Oysters were great. Black caljun fish taco had soggy hard taco and it was overly drippy. The cod with calsaw and szechuan beans was good. My friend got baked haddock, she also liked it. Lobster tail dessert was a disappointment. Overly thick and chewy flakes (instead of thin flakes I'm more used to) and the cream was not 100% fresh cream, but more buttery and sweet. The crust was so dry outside on its own and the cream was just concentrated in the middle. Not worth $14... was disappointed :-( Also comes with like 4 thinly sliced strawberry. The style of lobster tail I like is more thin and crispy shell (like more thin and multilayered croissant) FILLED with fresh cream so that every bite has cream in it. 9/2024 (my previous review, left untouched): Nice neighborhood. Restaurant is on the Upper floor with big windows and nice veiws. Personally LOVED Bang Bang Cauliflower. Would highly recommend. Cioppino had a good mix of seafood. Found it a little salty but it went well with Jasmine Rice (you have to order it as a side) and I ended up finish the whole soup. The fresh oysters (forgot to picture) were pretty good. Tried bit of Crab Roll sandwich as well and the fillings were delicious and bread was really soft and buttery. Nice place to gather, it's on the pricier end but they use good ingredients. Gave 4/5 for service because they were a little slow and it was sometimes hard to get attention. Plenty of free parking space outside.

Daniel & Patricia H.

Google
The deep fried fish was burnt. But, everyone in our group's was the same deep brown. It was certainly edible. The best part of the meal was Coleslaw. We all had the same dish. We were visiting family. That's why our family praised the dinners at Legal Sea Foods. I wished I ordered a grilled or baked oven dinner. The server did a great job. She was attentive without being interuptive. It was a nice experience but being with family was the most important experience of the evening.

Ghazi B.

Google
Great service, great for large parties. The waiter was very kind and accommodating. The food was well tasting overall, good feedback overall from those in my party! The lobster was delicious along with the shrimp cocktail and calamari. My steak was over cooked, but wasn’t chewy or burnt. Overall a great experience and our party left with smiles!
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Chris M.

Yelp
The service was amazing. We had a waitress that knew the menu. She promoted through the whole process. Legal has an updated location in an area that use to be a health club. There is plenty of rooms. I was meeting a group of people so I started off at the bar until everyone was present. They gave me a soda water while I waited. After I we were seated, we started off with a dozen oysters which were delicious. The serving sizes were large enough and the food was made to perfection. I ended up getting a bowl of clam chowder and a sushi roll. I will definitely return.
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Sylvia C.

Yelp
Surprised to see the negative reviews! Came here around 6 on a Sat and was seated immediately Host and waitress were friendly and efficient Food was excellent, starting with hot rolls and butter, which no one does anymore We had the linguini with clams and the lobster roll Perhaps most importantly (to me anyway), it is very kid friendly - crayons and coloring pages, wide range of kid menu options that are healthy and reasonably priced For example, well cooked grilled salmon, rice, broccoli, and fruit for around $15 - honestly good enough to be an adult meal Maybe a small detail to others but to families and moms that makes a difference Overall a great experience and just like the Legal Sea Foods I had growing up - a classic Will most definitely be back!
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Ken L.

Yelp
Back in the mid 1970's Legal Sea Foods was a great (5*) restaurant, but over time, the prices went up and the quality went down. I had not been back in 30 years. Recently, I was invited by friends to join them there. I certainly thought it was time to give them another chance. The most notable thing of our entire visit was the bad service from our waiter. One of the people in our group thought he might have been on drugs, but I think he was just scatter brained. One example (of many) was that after we were done eating, he cleared away half of the empty plates, then disappeared for 15 minutes, cleared away some more plates, disappeared for another 5 minutes, and finally finished the job. In another case, we asked what was in a particular dessert, and he started guessing rather than offering to find out. The food was mostly 5* with a few exceptions. Crab Cakes: Great, 5* Broccoli: 5* Swordfish: Perfectly cooked, large portion. 5* Bread: 5* Salad: 5* Calamari: 4* Onion Strings: Totally limp and soggy, 1.5* Scallops: Contained sand, 3.5* Key Lime Pie: Not as good as what I get in FL, 4* One other thing to mention. One person in our party had severe dietary restrictions. The manager went well above and beyond the call of duty to insure everything fell within the restrictions and still had great taste. This would have been a 5* review if it wasn't for our waiter's numerous blunders. I would be happy to give them another chance in the future.
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Bea T.

Yelp
I was like this location. It's nice and has a very lofty feel to it. They had a two dollar oyster special after 2 o'clock and they had a delicious fish tacos and grain bowl. I had the tuna sashimi which was delicious. It was really nice and not as crowded before 5 o'clock, so I highly recommend people who like I have an early dinner or late lunch to come here.
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Mike S.

Yelp
Legal Sea Food was a great experience. Staff was friendly and attentive. Started with lobster bisque and raw oysters which both tasted great. My dinner was grilled salmon with broccoli and sichuan green beans.
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Jeff L.

Yelp
Well, I have to say that my son and I had a great experience with the food.. That being said when we were seated we must have been passed over by the waitresses about 5 times as nobody claimed our table until I stared one of the waitress down :) We both ordered the New England Clam Chowder. I had the Haddock, Baked Anna's way and my son had the Cod Salt and Vinegar Crusted. All the items were fantastic, if I'm out that way again I will definitely stop by.
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Michael W.

Yelp
We've eaten here twice in the last week and both times we sat at the bar. The food and service are outstanding! I had the cod loin with the pineapple salsa and it was perfect! My fiancé had the attic char and she enjoyed every bite of it. The bartenders work great as a team and are helpful without being too pushy. Outstanding spot. I recently slammed the Framingham location (that location is closed currently for some much needed updating) so I was leery about trying the Chestnut Hill location and am pumped that one of my lifelong favorite restaurants seems like they've adjusted well to new ownership!!!!!
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Molly G.

Yelp
The upstairs patio is enclosed, however there was no air flow on a July day. It felt like we were in a greenhouse. The lunch special is a great value for $25 you get a lobster roll, side, and a soup. However, the lobster bisque had an unpleasant aftertaste and chewy lobster bits.The fries were crunchy, but not seasoned. The lobster roll is only about 3 bites, but was prepared well. All in all I would not recommend as the best place in town for seafood. The kids meal was a great value it comes with an appetizer, entree, 2 sides, and a drink!
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Kit D.

Yelp
Honestly, it was such a disappointment coming to Legal Seafoods this time, as it used to be relatively high end and pricey. I came here as an ex-loyal customer, for the first time after they renovated to the skybox venue, and was incredibly disappointed with my experience. The venue and prices are now incredibly high, but the quality of the food is now incredibly low. Completely disproportionate. The service however, was the worst part of the experience. I came here for my grandmother's birthday. My grandparents are true Massachusettsians and seafood fans, so they wanted to splurge and each get a lobster roll with fries on the side. I was not feeling seafood as much, so I opted for a cheeseburger with a side of brussels sprouts. The lobster rolls were extremely small and the lobster wasn't of great quality-- they were each $45 as per "market price". Completely ridiculous. I would recommend saving yourself the money and the disappointment, and heading elsewhere. My burger was just so-so, and my order was done wrong twice before getting it right the third time. We also had to wait an incredibly long time to order despite being the only customers in the store. To be seated, this was the case as well, where the host took her time to put on her coat and told us she was "going home for the day", instead of seating her last table. Unprofessional. The cherry on top, was when we made the reservation we put that we had a birthday. The waiter came by and asked if we wanted dessert. We said no thank you. He understood this as an invitation to make a "funny joke" where he glued a candle to an empty plate and lit it, and said "happy birthday, calorie free" to my grandmother. I have never seen anything like it, completely unprofessional! Even though we said no dessert, he could've brought a small piece of dessert, or nothing at all, not play whatever that middle ground "joke" was. It was humiliating to see that joke played on my grandmother. I am very patient and understanding when it comes to the food service industry, but all of these things in one visit are just too much! The service in combination with the food was just a huge disappointment. I will not come here again.
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Gwendolyn W.

Yelp
This is a fun little seafood place! It was nice inside and the staff was great. The kids menus were fun because the got a starter plus their meal so they felt special. But all my kids got popcorn and it was too much haha. We still have some leftover. I got the cioppino and it was great. It was full of seafood that tasted great. And the bread it came with was fantastic. It was so salty. The fried seafood platter my husband got was good too. Lots of different kinds and flavored well.
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Ed W.

Yelp
We had some midwestern guests visiting and they wanted fresh fish so, we treated them to our favorite spot, Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. We had clam chowder, and oysters for apps and they didn't disappoint. The entrees included Dragon sushi, Anna's Haddock, California roll and trout and all were delicious. The welcoming warm rolls and the butter was from the same town as our gets! The bon bons were a yummy finish! All was delicious!
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Alan C.

Yelp
It had been awhile since i had been to legal seafoods. With all the negative posts after they were sold. I finally went the other day and the i had a wonderful time. The ambiance is so nice much better than it was. Legal used to remind me of cafeteria dining. Now it is an elegant restaurant. Our server was wonderful very helpful and present. We ordered two apps calami friti very good and a tuna tartar excellent. I ordered the fried scallops excellent nice sized portion fresh and tasty. My fried ordered the thai salad with a lobster tail . she loved her dish even is she refused to share;-) Highly recommended will return.

Louise S.

Yelp
Worst service I have had in years. Took my mom for a birthday lunch. We were sat for 20 full minutes before we got water or an acknowledgment of being there. Finally got some one to take our order at sat another half hour with out any one checking on our table. Water glasses were empty. Had to flag some one down to fill them. We were ignored after a kitchen staff dropped our food until we flagged someone again. When we finally got someone to bring our check I told them we had the loyalty program. She told me to leave my phone number and she would be sure I got my points. When I logged into the app after getting home to check it said she needed a code from me. She never told me this . Terrible service and visit today.
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Dee L.

Yelp
Many of the Legal Seafood restaurants have diminished in quality from the superior seafood they served back in the 80's and 90's. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the quality was very good at the Chestnut Hill Legal. The environment and service were lovely, as well. My one gripe is that the sides options are much weaker than they used to be. None were appealing to me, and i consider sides a vital part of my meal. I really really miss the baked potato option. Why did they get rid of this trusty staple? It is a simple, delicious, whole food option without any processing or added ingredients. People on restrictive diets, like myself, need our baked potatoes. If anyone can hear me, I beg of thee to bring back my beloved spud!
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Yolanda H.

Yelp
Anytime I am near the east coast, I sniff out a Legal Sea Foods. The clam chowder, alone, is worth the detour. It's good to know that whatever location is chosen, the service and entrees are consistent & exceptional. This visit, I devoured the Haddock, baked Anna's way.
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Stanley L.

Yelp
3.7 stars. Today, was "Chowda Fest" day: bowl of clam chowder for $2! Paired with Fish Tacos, and ended with a nice lunch: the fish was tasty, the cabbage was a nice accompaniment. The line for takeout was out the door, as quarts of clam chowder was flying out the door!

Jack J.

Yelp
First, in general, Legals is not what it used to be under the original owners. Plain and simple. a shame. We sat at the Bar in Newton, and while the food was good, the atmosphere and attitude across the whole place was awful. The bartenders were curt, less than pleasant, clearly had been there too long wothout a strong magager telling them to straighten up their attitude. ITs a service business after all. They slammed the dirty dishes into the bin ,,,woosh! SO loud. Slammed down the drinks. Without barely a smile or word from either of the bar staff. Oh, and the staff at the front desk barely had a greeting. So, someone paid a lot of money for the chain and its clearly going downhill with zero attention to customer service. Wake up people!
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Alexandra A.

Yelp
I love the clam chowder from here . The lobster roll here is very good . The portion size is really good especially for a lobster roll . The price is not too bad for the quality and portion size . The staff is super attentive, not to mention friendly . The vibe is welcoming. They have a huge parking lot they share with other vendors so parking is not an issue. They also do take out if eating inside a restaurant is not your thing.
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Jenny T.

Yelp
Food: Everything was absolutely delicious. I love Legal Sea Foods as always. The appetizers were all incredible, my team of 6 definitely enjoyed them. The steamed lobster (dipped in butter) was also good (it was my first time), and I devoured both of the sides (corn and roasted mushrooms). Service: Food was fast' Ambiance: We sat outside on a beautiful spring day, so the ambiance was rather lovely! It would be a nice place to come in the summer. Came here for a work dinner but I'd recommend this place to ANYONE!

Anna P.

Yelp
The first time I went here, I was pleasantly surprised the second time I was disgusted. My lobster roll was so below average with very little lobster. The bread was so saturated with fake butter and grease, and the fries were so gold and yellow that the oil definitely needed to be changed. This is a fast food feeling kind of restaurant. I'd rather go to the local spots and get fresh seafood right off the water near the marina
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Betty C.

Yelp
Having a hard time to understand why this restaurant has low ratings. This place is clean, open, has great views. We were seated right away. I am a Clam Chowder fan, and I believe this location serves the best New England Clam Chowder Soup!! The soup was very hot, loaded with clams and potatoes, creamy, and absolutely delicious. This is my second time in this location and just love it. Great service. Kudos to Len, he did an amazing job!! I can't wait to come back. I wish they had a location in California.
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Erica L.

Yelp
The new location is gorgeous and has plenty of seating. There is an outdoor section that is nice in the spring and summer. As always, the bread was amazing. Their food is great and high quality. I have been here many times and will continue to return. The only con is that they can't guarantee outdoor seating reservations.
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Bernard L.

Yelp
My Fiancée, Kim and I was in the Boston area for the weekend working. We recently got engaged and we are celebrating our nuptials every week until our wedding in Vegas in May 2024. We decided to celebrate at the Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hills. The service was superb, food absolutely delicious and the ambience was perfect. Our server went out of her way to make sure we had a pleasurable experience. Job Well Done Bernard (Mk11:24) B~K

Andy B.

Yelp
Both meals ordered were very good , service excellent, great selection of food and drinks . Good location, plenty of parking , well maintained. Prices reflect quality and area .

Anthony B.

Yelp
So, we had lunch at Legal Seafood in Newton this week, selecting from dinner menu. I was elated when saw "potato strings" on the menu, as they have been missing for years. So, along with my grilled salmon, I ordered the "potato strings". Note that historically the potato strings were very very thin strings of potatoes cut in house and made from scratch. Out comes my dish and on it were "potato rings" and NOT "potato strings" as menu states. Large slices , not thin strings.To make situation worse, as issue is one of principle, they had no taste, not crispy, obviously in my view purchased frozen and heated in the restaurant. They lie on the menu and compound it by providing a lousy product that is clearly outsourced to save money and labor. It has been apparent for some time that they are cutting quality and nickle and diming customers. We used to go often, but recent issues including this are making us change and no longer dine there. Am sick and tired of dining and having problems. They should be ashamed, or at least new owners.
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Paul K.

Yelp
What happened to this formally great restaurant? If it was still anywhere near the quality it was then I wouldn't mind paying the outrageous prices they charge. The food was mediocre at best and they forgot to include one of the takeout items we ordered forcing us to go back to get it. NEVER AGAIN!

Freddy G.

Yelp
Ann Flannery was amazing as well David Alves who was our server. We ordered the rib eye which was a bit fatty and no questions asked Ann replaced it with a lean steak.The service is fabulous and Ann and David are fantastic!
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Roger T.

Yelp
Place is just awful. Bartender and apparently his wife have major attitude problems. I asked to change the tv to the Red Sox when all 5 were on tennis and I was greeted with a bizarre face and strange reply. He then proceeded to toss the menu onto my folded hands which was just ignorant. Very uncomfortably strange. Minutes later his cohort (apparently his wife - says the GM) came over to take my order and then told me he's been here 10 years and blah blah blah just like he told me. Not sure what that has to do with anything. The female GM goes on to tell me how well liked he is and loves working and pays no mind to my concern just basically defending him after saying I appreciate "your version of the story". How patronizing. Of course your ignorant employees aren't going to tell you they acted ignorant in "THEIR version of the story". Funny enough in the last 30 days on here there are TWO reviews highlighting bartenders attitudes. What a joke. Wonderful to take accountability and great way to manage a restaurant. Probably why you have less than 3 stars for a restaurant that was amazing a decade ago. Time to polish up your guest skills and learn from your mistakes. You just lost a minimum of 12 long term guests. Look forward to hear from your district manager and corporate.

Glenn D.

Yelp
Very clean restaurant with white tablecloths. Waiter was quite helpful and efficient. Trouble is the food, though very good, was not excellent. I had the (real) crabmeat roll and it was a bit dry and not that flavorful. I have Been to this restaurant Before and it was better, so maybe this was just an off day.

Bree T.

Yelp
Second visit here. 1st time was blown away by the fish taco. This visit the taco was so bland, The mash was good and the quinoa was decent. Service was medium. Not busy but servers took forever to take orders Restaurant is very clean. Ambience good
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Adriene W.

Yelp
I've loved Legal for quite some time. The quality of food coming out of the kitchen tonight was disappointing. Clam chowder in shallow cups, cool before my spoon hit it. Icelandic cod, ordered grilled, arrived with a light pan sear and partially cooked. The dry, brown, sesame broccoli side was inedible. I don't know what they were doing there. I've had far better food at Legal in Logan, the airport, which isn't a place known for quality. We asked our server to split the check 3 ways, table of 6. They commented on it being hard. When they came back, they told me again it would be hard for them and I offered to break down the bill in 3 ways. To which I did, because somebody had to do it. They walked by several times before one of us could catch their attention, then told us they had 4 tables. This was none of our business. I do not have any issue with this person, or the cook who made my meal, I have issue with management. Lack of front of the house training, don't tell people what you're going through or not feel confident in your ability to split a bill (training can take care of that). And inconsistent methods in back of the house. When you send out something cooked in a pan when it's supposed to be grilled, you're insulting your customer. Do better, Legal.

Joanne M.

Yelp
I just went last week for the first time. The atmosphere is amazing. The good was delicious including the GF rolls!
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Graham P.

Yelp
The food was well cooked and delicious, decent drinks as well. The service was pretty bad all around unfortunately. We made a reservation and were 5 minutes late which seemed to really trip up the check in staff. After waiting a while with no one seemingly knowing what to do we just moved over to the bar. Staff at the bar were not very friendly either, and a man next to us was shouting into his phone half the time with no one asking him to please leave. For the price this location definitely needs a little work, not your downtown experience

Jessica B.

Yelp
I have to say... our dining experience tonight at Legal in Chestnut Hill was one of the worst we have had in a long time. I made a reservation online for 7pm. It was a hot eve so we were looking forward to a cool, relaxing and reliably delicious dinner. When we arrived to check in for our res, the hostess stand packed with people. We were told that we should be able to sit "soon" as a few tables were winding down. We waited almost 40 mins before even being seated... The hostesses were so overwhelmed and the whole scene was unbelievably disorganized. No manager anywhere to be seen... It was just complete chaos. We almost gave up because on top of the commotion, it was also stifling hot. A/C clearly not working:(. If my parents (who are here visiting from out of state) weren't so looking forward to it, we would have bailed. The food was OK. And $325 later we are left feeling totally disappointed. This restaurant is way overrated and needs to jump up/step up its game and stop resting on its laurels and its OUTDATED reputation.

W P.

Yelp
The food is ok but even though the place was busy.... Mice. More than one. I've never seen mice in a busy restaurant before. Or any restaurant for that matter. I'm sorry but Oysters at a place that clearly has a serious mouse problem is a non-starter.
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Taryn O.

Yelp
This place has truly gone downhill. This is our local branch and we've been more than 5x to dine in and after giving them multiple chances, it's been utterly disappointing. Their service is decent, but the food is really bland and often, lukewarm when served. Also, the one time we ordered takeout (thinking it would somehow improve) they literally forgot 2 dishes and then refused to refund us when we called in 10 min later. I had to walk back into the establishment to get the refund. Insane.
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Shawn W.

Yelp
A colleague and I went to Legal from a recommendation from another colleague that was local to the greater Boston Area. Having never been to the Massachusetts, I knew exactly what I wanted. A lobster roll and a cup of clam chowder; both of which were fantastic. The lobster was cooked perfectly, wasn't tough by any means - served with a side of fries. The clam chowder was also very good. They make it with whole clams, not chopped clams like I had previously at other restaurants. If i ever find myself returning to Boston for pleasure, I'd make it a point to come back here.
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B T.

Yelp
This location of the historic restaurant franchise is beautifully designed. Wide open seating arrangements which includes terrace dining. Portions are hefty. Wait staff is terrific.
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Robert W.

Yelp
Excellent Seafood and atmosphere. Great place for local specialties. I recommend trying
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Lauren H.

Yelp
Updating my review as I have only had positive experiences at this location and probably my favorite, since updating and renovating the previous location. Clean and friendly staff. They have indoor, outdoor, and bar seating with high ceilings which is nice. The menu selection and options are some of the best across the board; cocktail, sushi, seafood, sandwiches, entrees, they have something for everyone and their quality and portion sizes are wonderful. They also have a very cute to-go area where you can get seafood to go and the selection is wonderful and everything looks so fresh.
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Liz B.

Yelp
This used to be a goto for us for out of town guests. Now it's just embarrassingly expensive for micro quantities of food. My husband and I split a crab cake platter which had one medium sized crab cake, three shrimp and four scallops (two small, two medium sized), about a 1/2 cup of rice pilaf and a few pieces of lettuce and apple that was supposed to be a salad. It was $44. $44!!! And we split it because we thought it would be too much food. It was good (not amazing) but should have been a $20 appetizer. This is really a disgrace. It's hard to believe it was packed. The server was great. I will not be dining here again. I think you can get more for your dining dollar elsewhere.
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Lori Y.

Yelp
Came here with a friend on a Friday night. It was very busy, but we had a reservation. At first the host wanted to seat us outside (we hadn't specified outdoor dining, and it was a chilly night) and told us the wait for an indoor table would be 30-40 min. When we said we would wait, however, somehow a table magically became available? I thought that was pretty weird. Once we were seated, the experience was great. Our waiter so so attentive and kind, despite that we sent him back several times because we weren't ready to order yet :) We had fresh oysters to start, and then I had a house salad with tuna steak as an entree. Both dishes were so fresh and delicious!
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Denise M.

Yelp
Visiting from California. I have been every year for the past 5 years. But this year I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the Lobster Roll. It was almost the size of a foot long sandwich! The lobster was lightly buttered. Came with fries that had the perfect amount of salt and seasoning! The only reason I'm giving this meal a 4 star rating is that the cold slaw is and has always been a bit bland for my taste and heavy on the Mayo. A side green salad would be a great option. It maybe available but our waiter didn't offer it. His name was Phoung. He was very nice and attentive. I may have to go back tomorrow! It keeps on getting better.
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Robert F.

Yelp
We purchased a variety of seafood at the Legal Seafood market (downstairs from the restaurant) and were EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED that the $22.95 quart of Lobster Bisque does NOT CONTAIN ANY LOBSTER. Seriously? Of course, after we stopped trying to find lobster in the "lobster bisque" we were surprised to read in the listed ingredients no mention of actual lobster. So the big print on the label reads "Lobster Bisque" but the small print on the back doesn't list lobster as an ingredient. False advertising. I should add that we normally enjoy the Legal SEAFOOD restaurants and go to this one often. But the new owners should fix this fast or change the name to Illegal Seafood. We will call them to complain, too, but today's Thanksgiving and they're closed. .

F M.

Yelp
Last night was the BEST time at Legal Seafoods in Chestnut Hill! First time ever - the 2 Twin Lobsters for $29 Leap Day special - and the place was packed - but the staff was so professional and handled the crowd like there were no people waiting - it was a happy place to be, even if you were waiting, and EVERYONE was there! My Mom is 102.5 years old - we sat in the lounge/bar area - our favorite - with all the windows and lights - it adds to the ambience - and the staff - like the hostess station - had everything working like clockwork - everyone had their jobs to do - and it was a well orchestrated machine! No one seemed stressed - they had over 500 reservations last night - and it was just a typical night at Legals - the customers fully enjoyed a relaxed, fun evening and most people ate the lobsters galore - how could you pass that up?!!!! My 102.5 year old Mom at 1 Full lobster and 3 additional tails (I am a claws/body girl) - that is 4 tails she devoured! We were both having such a magical time - working our lobsters, great conversation and eating the sweet meat and succulent juices of these amazing lobsters - and needing a bath afterwards! Thanks to all the people at Legals that made this fun night possible for us - Amy, Ann, my friend Charlie, the hostesses, the waiters, the clean up staff, the servers, the cooks and everyone else behind the scenes that made this Lobster event so wonderful for all of us customers - it was an evening above and beyond our highest expectations! Thanks for this special event and the sweet memories I made with my Mom!!!!
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Vivian C.

Yelp
If you want to make a reservation at Legal at Chestnut Hill, Opentable can only handle parties up to 6. You'll have to call for anything larger. Our waitress was terrific for the most part - she swept away the empty mussel shells without being asked, inquired whether we were still working on the delicious mussel liquid before clearing the table, when our dishes were served by the runners, she realized which sides were still being waited for and went out to get them, and offered to bring out garlic butter on top of the other grilled fish spreads we had already gotten. The only miss was the substantial amount of time we had to wait to get the bill. The Steamed Mussels $14.95 (1 1/2 pounds with garlic, white wine, minus the crushed red pepper) were mostly clean, with grit only found in 1-2 of the creatures. The clam chowder $7.50/$9.95 was creamy with tender cubes of potato, but the clams were a bit tough on this visit. They offer crab cakes on both the appetizer menu ($17.50 for a jumbo lump crab, mustard sauce, seasonal salad) and as a classic lunch entree ($18.50 for a jumbo lump crab, mustard sauce, broccoli, seasonal salad). I liked their seasonal salad so I opted for the crab cake meal, substituting the broccoli for butternut squash (yum! I don't want to know how much butter is in there...). They no longer list the sides on the menu, but we confirmed that yes, you can still pick different sides if you wish. Prices have gone up a bit since last year. ie. House Salad $8.95, topped with New England Crabmeat $13. Rainbow Trout $17.95. Crabmeat Roll $21.95.
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Nikki N.

Yelp
Very disappointed with the quality of the food here... does not compete well with the other locations. Waitstaff were nice at least.
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Mina G.

Yelp
First time at any legal sea food. Nice locations and interior inside. Fairly typical booths and round table arrangement. For appetizers we tried fried calamari and popcorn shrimp with Cajun spice. Both were tasty but nothing crazy. For entree I ordered half grilled shrimp and half grilled scallops. Dish came with a basic salad, some egg triangles? And you can ask for dipping sauce. Shrimp was tasty, would probably be medium-large size but only had 4-5 shrimps which I thought was on low end. Dish had more scallops. Both were tasty. I did not enjoy the egg triangles thing they had. My friend tried the grilled halibut which was very soft and tasty. Overall the food was good although slightly overpriced. For drinks I tried the old fashioned (pretty standard) and the rum packer cocktail which was ok. For dessert I tried strawberry shortcake which is one of my favorite desserts. This was by far the worst version of it...way too dry. Would not order.
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Bonnie L.

Yelp
This legal seafood located at a very convenient location with ample of parking. It is connected to the Chestnut Hill Mall so it is a very great place to dine in after a day of shopping or meeting friends for a quick meal. The restaurant is very spacious, clean and have a wide selection of foods to choose from. I love how they have all the calories mentioned on the menu so it helps me to make healthier choices. I tried the spicy shrimp pasta last week and it was amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the spicy sauce was really hitting the spot. I asked for red pepper flicks but didn't end up using it because the sauce was hot enough already, which enjoyed very much. Will definitely come back again.