Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square
Seafood restaurant · Area 2/MIT ·

Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square

Seafood restaurant · Area 2/MIT ·

Upmarket seafood, steaks & cocktails with fresh lobster rolls

clam chowder
lobster roll
service
food
crab cake
fish sandwich
fresh seafood
bread
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square by null

Information

355 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142 Get directions

$20–30

See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Family friendly
Vegetarian options
Comfort food

Information

Static Map

355 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142 Get directions

+1 617 864 3400
legalseafoods.com
648392078562577
𝕏
@legalseafoods

$20–30 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Family friendly
•Vegetarian options
•Comfort food
•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted
•Paid parking garage

Last updated

Jan 24, 2026

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Legal Sea Foods Plots a Comeback in Kendall Square | Eater Boston

"The long-running Boston seafood chain founded by the Berkowitz family in 1968 is staging a comeback in Kendall Square (355 Main Street) this May after a two-year hiatus; the restaurant space received a major interior and patio facelift and the rights to the physical restaurants were sold to Medford-based PPX Hospitality Group two years ago. The brand has a national presence, including a longtime outpost in Washington, D.C., and is known for classic seafood offerings and its proximity to MIT, which helps make the Kendall Square location a popular lure." - Stephanie Carter

https://boston.eater.com/2022/4/12/23020245/boston-legal-sea-foods-kendall-square-starbucks-union-oath-pizza
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Fish Bowls Are Coming to Quincy Market, Courtesy of Legal Sea Foods | Eater Boston

"After a successful foray into the fast‑casual market with the Kendall Square location, the Legal Fish Bowl concept proved popular enough for the brand to expand to Quincy Market." - Dana Hatic

https://boston.eater.com/2018/2/22/17040546/quincy-market-legal-fish-bowl
Legal Sea Foods - Kendall Square

josefercast

Google
Legal Sea Foods is a beautiful, well-designed restaurant with a sophisticated yet modern atmosphere. The large windows offer a great view of the city’s energy while you dine. We ordered five dishes, and except for one salad that wasn’t to one guest’s liking due to a strong spice (just a matter of personal taste), everything else was excellent. The clam chowder was a standout—creamy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The nachos were also amazing and highly recommended. Service was friendly and attentive. Definitely a place worth revisiting.

Navid G.

Google
We had their fish sandwich and lobster sandwiches. Very delicious. Kids had a hamburger and chicken tenders. Everything was good. The staff served the food nicely. A little pricey though. It is located close to MIT, Kendall Square, and the metro stop.

Irina S

Google
Great place with many seafood choices to pick from. Portion sizes are plentiful, although I would have liked a couple more shrimp pieces in my grain bowl. For appetizers I was sharing fish tacos with my companion. Taste buds were happy!

Aurelia P

Google
A very good choice for seafood in Cambridge/MIT area. They will start with some hot bread and butter, very good start for hungry travelers like us. The drinks were very nice, especially their own beer. We started with oysters, octopus and calamari, very fresh and tasty. The entrees were very good and perfectly cooked, with my favorite being the crab cake combo. No more place for desserts unfortunately as the portions are pretty big, but that means that we will visit again soon.

Alyssa K.

Google
Went here while on a visit with my sister at MIT. We both had the lobster roll warmed with butter. The lobster roll itself was a very nice size considering you are paying market price for the lobster. The lobster was very fresh and tender. Will definitely be back again next week when I’m in Boston.

Canzhen Z.

Google
My mom and I chose Legal Sea Foods for our first dinner in Boston and it was a disaster. We ordered cioppino, stuffed lobster tails, lobster bisque, and a drink. The crab in the cioppino tasted strongly of alcohol and was mushy - clear signs it was spoiled. The cioppino was also so oversalted it was inedible. Both lobster dishes were drowning in butter that wasn't mentioned anywhere on the menu. When we complained, staff refused to acknowledge any problems and insisted the crab was "fresh delivered today." They made us feel like difficult customers instead of taking responsibility. The manager promised to comp the cioppino and discount other dishes, but only removed the $15 bisque we never touched. We were pressured to pay the full bill because they were "clearing the floor." Both my mother and I got diarrhea that night - confirming the seafood was indeed spoiled. For a restaurant with Legal Sea Foods' reputation, this was shocking. Poor food safety, terrible quality control, and dismissive staff. We paid over $100 to get sick. Avoid this location - there are much better seafood options in Boston that won't make you ill. Edit: No response for my complaint on BBB.

Nitin S.

Google
One of the best sea food restaurants in Boston and specially near MIT campus. I visited twice in my this visit and loved the food. Grilled salmon with green beans & rice and grilled chicken with mushrooms & rice are highly recommended. Totally worth the hype. The staff is phenomenal and takes very good care of the guest. Don’t miss it if you are around.

Katie N.

Google
I had a 1-pound lobster roll with fries and cole slaw on the side. The roll was massive, and the lobster meat was incredibly fresh, even though it was winter (we dined there in December). I also tried a non-alcoholic Marigetta drink, which was flavorful and paired wonderfully with the lobster. The staff were attentive, constantly refilling our water and checking on our needs. It's a great spot for an occasional meal. The space is also roomy enough if you're dining with kids and need extra space to move around.
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Xiao L.

Yelp
地理位置与氛围 位于剑桥区Kendall Square核心地带,地址200 Kendall St, Cambridge。地铁红线Kendall/MIT站出站步行3分钟即达。楼上即是写字楼,对面就是MIT校园,周边科技公司与学术机构林立,中午常见西装革履的商务人士与背包匆匆的学者交错而坐~ 必点招牌:热黄油龙虾卷 · 口感解密:温热的面包抹上黄油轻烤至微脆,内里填满龙虾肉,淋上融化的热黄油。龙虾肉弹牙鲜甜,黄油香浓不腻,面包脆软交融。搭配的薯条偏粗犷风格,外酥内软。秒杀Quincy market 的网红店chowda的龙虾卷!!! · 隐藏技巧:可要求"额外黄油"(extra butter)或"双面烤面包"(double-toasted),风味更浓郁 · 价格参考:市场价约$43(税前)虽属中高价但分量扎实 周边串联打卡路线 · 学术朝圣线:MIT主楼(步行5分钟) MIT博物馆(10分钟) 餐厅用餐 沿查尔斯河步道消食 · 科技探秘线:微软研究院(隔壁楼) Google Kendall园区(8分钟) 餐厅用餐 Broad Institute参观 · 文艺漫游线:Kendall Square独立书店(2分钟) 餐厅用餐 附近艺术影院观影 本地人隐藏提示 · 周一至周五有"午餐套餐",包含半份龙虾卷+沙拉,性价比更高。 · 雨天建议点"龙虾浓汤"(Clam Chowder)配面包碗,汤汁稠密胜过多数网红店。 · 如果喜欢清爽口感,可尝试"冷龙虾卷"(冷食版,配蛋黄酱与柠檬)
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Chris M.

Yelp
In town with long days at MIT and we were stoked to see Legal Seafood right next door to our hotel. Went last week and the service was super slow but the good was great! We chocked up the poor/slow service to it being late and decided to stop by today. Decided to sit at a high top in the bar area. No menus for a while. Pretty sure it was the manager that noticed and got us some. He's hustling around the place looking a bit frazzled...probably due to trying to get to a higher standard of service among his employees. Bartender and 5 other young servers sitting at the end of the bar talking about everything except taking our order! Sat there for 10 minutes without even being asked about a drink order. Really unfortunate. I was looking forward to the clam chowder as it was really good last week. Thank you to the manager I mentioned above as he saw us leaving and tried to make things a bit better. Unfortunately, our time there was already soured with completely inattentive service. Terrible service trumps good chowder.
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Munah H.

Yelp
My mom and I came here for Dine Out Boston and was impressed! The food was amazing and the service was great. AJ, our waiter, was really nice. Apps: popcorn shrimp and fried calamari. My mother loved the popcorn shrimp. I got the fried calamari and was astonished. It was so crispy and flavorful. Entrées: My mom got the baked haddock with rice pilaf. It was my mother's first time trying it and she said this will be her new go-to meal. I got the fish sandwich with fries. Everything was cooked to perfection. Dessert: Cheesecake. Legal Seafood is now my go-to spot for cheesecake. It was very rich and the graham cracker crust was delectable. 5 stars all around!
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Loren C.

Yelp
=== Strong smell of feces from shellfish dish, other fish dishes completely plain, salmon overcooked, hard to find good in this one === I hate giving negative reviews. Look at my stats -- of 108 reviews, I've given FOUR 1-star reviews. But I honestly can't rate this particular locations of Legal Sea Foods any higher than 1. We were super psyched to come here. First night in Boston, we were going to be tired from our red-eye, so we booked the most solid recommendation we got for that night. I'll go straight to pro-con list. + Nice location. It's right there at the end of Longfellow Bridge, close to MIT, close-ish to Harvard, near a bunch of tech companies. + Nice interior. Lots of glass looking out. And they sat us at a nice table close to the glass. Lots of other people looking like they were having a nice time. That's where the good things end unfortunately. * Our server tried. But wasn't super knowledgeable about the dishes. When the problems started happening, she really couldn't answer any of our concerns. - One of our party ordered the Shellfish Valencia. It smelled like feces. Yes, like poop. And it was strong. So strong that at first, several in the rest of our party _across_ the table from the Shellfish Valencia said that their dishes smelled like poop, and it wasn't until they smelled the Shellfish Valencia, that they realized it wasn't their dish at all -- it was the shellfish permeating around the table. The person in our party tried to soldier through it but gave up a few bites in for fear of food poisoning. - When we brought this up with the server, she apologized and got a manager-type person out. The manager apologized and said that the cook used the wrong sauce. That's not wrong sauce, friend, unless there's a bottle of poop-sauce back there. It felt disingenuous, as if making an excuse for the staff. She asked if we wanted to re-make it. Given how bad the dish was, that seemed a strange offer -- I think as a manager, I would have offered something else on the house. We said no, we didn't want it re-made -- she apologized and left. (Which again is strange because now the diner is still hungry.) - Our party ordered three "From the Sea" fish dishes. They sounded great -- one with Lemon Butter and Crispy Capers, one with Nori Chili Crust and Sticky Soy Sauce, and one with Garlic Herb Chimchurri. Literally makes your mouth water, right? All three came as dry pieces of fish. Cooked identically the same -- no flavor, no spice. Take a piece of fish, stick it in an oven, and cook until well-done. No sauce brought for the Lemon Butter and Crispy Capers which we needed to follow-up on, and for the other two, one tiny container of sauce. For the price of $30, I expect the fish to be cooked with the flavor, esp the Chili Crust. See photos for these. The fish itself lacked flavor. - Lemon Butter and Crispy Capers sauce was incredibly disappointing. It tasted like warm water with soggy capers. No butter flavor, no punchy lemon. Capers even lacked taste. - Salmon was order medium. It came completely well-done. - One of our diners ordered Haddock, Baked Anna's Way. Mostly tasteless. It just lacked flavor. - Crab cake was soggy and tasteless. Didn't taste fresh crab in there. I order crab cake as my yardstick of seafood and this ranked 2 /10. (Washington DC still has the best I've had!) None of our diners ended up eating beyond a few bites. We ended up calling it a night, and going to B.Goode instead where we got burgers, bowls, and smoothies. -- And the biggest insult? Our entire meal costed $150 before tax and tip. The did not charge us for the poop shellfish, but honestly, the entire meal was a downer, not just one dish. Like I said, I hate the one-star reviews, and had it just been that one dish, I might have swallowed poop and given two-stars. But nothing was good there. Although it might just be that location, it makes me hesitant to try any other Legal Sea Foods location.
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Tonie N.

Yelp
A friend and I went to Legals in Kendall Sq. and was extremely disappointed with service. We both ordered the filet mignon which were over cooked and extremely small. Then we had lemon drop drinks and they were so bad they gave us extra ingredients to fix our drinks. Also the drinks were not filled to the top. We were extremely disappointed In the service and it seemed like management did not care at all.
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Christi R.

Yelp
This was my first time eating at the Legal Seafood family of restaurants. The vibe was quiet and the perfect evening to a long day of traveling. My server was the kindest, most patient man (Blake). He was able to make GF recommendations and patiently answered all my questions regarding their menu. My clam chowder was absolutely perfect and chock full of delicious clams. I added a wee bit of pepper at the server's suggestion and it really hit the mark. For my entree, I ordered the cold lobster roll without the bread. Some of the lobster was almost grainy/ soft and had a very odd texture. Overall the flavor was good. (Don't skip the cocktail sauce to dip your fries into) This The coleslaw was just meh. I plan to return for the chowder!
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Jess D.

Yelp
Came here last Friday at 4:30 pm after touring MIT. It wasn't busy so we were seated promptly. We only wanted a light meal since we were going to have dinner later. We ordered the clam chowder and calamari. The chowder was bland and light on the oysters. But the star was the calamari! It had big meaty calamari and the breading was the perfect amount. Very tasty and fresh! Our waitress was also attentive.
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Rachael L.

Yelp
The lobster roll was $43 - yes for 1. We ordered it and split it and we can say it isn't worth the $43. We also had the clam chowder. Sorry to say , Seattle's is better. We also had the blackened fish tacos and those were pretty tasty and fresh. Service was good. Ambiance was fine and clean.

Lor G.

Yelp
We had appetizers and drinks while visiting one of our developments on Kendall square. Place was nice, appetizers were ok, and drinks are also ok. We didn't have sit down dinner though as we wanted to check out different seafood place that night.
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Courtney K.

Yelp
THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE ALL CORRECT. This restaurant was not my choice and when I read the Yelp reviews I knew we were in trouble. Sure enough the only competent person we encountered was the hostess. As we sat down we observed the table next to us being served a re-made fish entree that the server assured them was "made fresh this time." When that party went to pay their check, we had a front row seat to the party working through an apparent error on their bill with who I assume was the manager- black framed glasses, brown hair pulled back. This was a huge effort that took much negotiating and comparing of receipts. At least it was entertaining, as we had been seated for over ten minutes in a mostly empty restaurant without being greeted by a single person. When we finally were approached, we ordered water and cocktails, and clam chowder. The water took so long that my companion got up and poured himself a glass from the table next to us that had been pre set for a large party. When our server finally appeared with our water, she was completely unfazed that we had foraged for water ourselves. My cocktail was supposed to be a vodka martini with a twist but it was made with olive juice and also had a large black flake of something floating on the top. Our server never came to check on us so I couldn't reorder it. I ended up just ordering a different drink later on and not mentioning anything about the black object or olive juice. The food - the only good thing was the raw oysters which were part of an oyster festival event. The highly touted clam chowder was gritty (sand?). The "sushi" were squares of packed rice (no seaweed wrap) with a teeny tiny piece of raw tuna on top. Our server deposited the "sushi" - which came with wasabi and ginger - but failed to bring soy sauce. We waved our arms and flagged down a busboy who upon our request brought one ramekin of soy sauce for two people. I asked for another ramekin and he nodded but never returned. I really dislike leaving negative reviews- but this restaurant and its management desperately need attention. I waited tables for many years and am sympathetic to the understaffing of many places these days at crowded restaurants. This experience was the result of neither. The restaurant was not even remotely crowded, and the entire staff was apathetic to anything going on around them, and the food and drinks were objectively terrible. This may be the worst restaurant experience I've ever had anywhere. I won't recommend this place to anyone.
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Toni T.

Yelp
This was a toss up for 2 or 3 stars, based on the portion and lack of giving a crap for a to-go order. I didn't actually go into the restaurant, I asked a friend to pick me up a big bowl of chowder with the fixings to go and bring them back. While the chowder was indeed good, it was merely a small container in a bag... no spoon... no napkins... no crackers and it was the larger of the two options. This is Boston, isn't it the chowder capital of sorts? I had to drink it out of the cup and was very disappointed in this tiny cup for $11. Again, the chowder was great, but the serving and presentation was abysmal.
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Devin P.

Yelp
Very nice place The lobster is very tasty And The local beer tastes good A little bit expensive

Juan Carlos A.

Yelp
My wife and I had lunch yesterday at Legal Sea Foods Kendall and ordered a clam chowder and the Fisherman's Platter. Everything seemed fine until I bit into what turned out to be a rock--or as the staff claimed, a piece of oyster shell. The result? I chipped my tooth. It was one of the worst sensations I've ever experienced. What makes this even more outrageous is how the staff handled the situation. Despite the incident, the manager insisted I still had to pay the full bill. I expressed my shock and told him I wouldn't pay as a clear sign of protest--not to avoid the cost, but to reject such negligence. He coldly replied that I must pay and that if I wanted a refund, I'd have to file a claim. To make matters worse, after I showed them the rock, they took it away and refused to let me keep it, saying it was their "evidence." But it was in my food--that's evidence for me, especially if I need to pursue legal action. When you serve seafood--or any food--your number one job is to ensure that what you put on the plate is 100% edible. This is not a minor oversight; it's a basic and essential rule of running a kitchen. You wouldn't serve fish full of bones, and you certainly shouldn't serve food with rocks or shells that can literally break teeth. The general manager, Shahrokh Naghibi, promised I would receive a follow-up call to resolve the matter. No one ever contacted me. I'm deeply disappointed and appalled that a restaurant claiming to be "high quality" treats its customers this way after such a serious incident. Legal Sea Foods, you must do better. The very least you can do is refund the cost of this meal and take responsibility for what happened.

Karmella B.

Yelp
I was visiting the area and a friend recommended this place, because she went several years ago. Well, nothing like I imagined...totally overrated. I had clam chowder ($11.00) and a gluten free lobster roll ($46.00). I've had way better. I was also disappointed because they did not explain that they basically put the lobster on a brioche bun with no butter. The clam chowder was bland. Seriously, don't waste your money or time.

Dennis T.

Yelp
Neither the quality, flavors, ambience, nor the portions justify the high prices. The $45 lobster roll tasted exactly like a $12 shrimp sandwich. The fish sandwich did not taste very fresh either. The only saving grace was the quick service. We were seated right away and the food came shortly after placing our orders.
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Ade B.

Yelp
I first came to this Legal Seafood in the '90s, and continue to go back when I find myself in Cambridge. I wouldn't go back so much if I didn't like it here. It's a nice spacious restaurant that I can count on for good service and good food. The clam chowder isn't quite as good as what you can get elsewhere in Boston. But the entrees are top notch. My most recent visit was for lunch. Lunch started with a bread service. Nice warm bread and butter. A simple pleasure too many restaurants skip these days. I had the crispy fish sandwich. The fish was Pollock. The fish was perfectly cooked and very crispy. It had the right ratio of lettuce, pickles and tartar sauce on a soft bun to make this a top of the line sandwich. My friend had the shrimp salad sandwich. I had a bite. It was tasty shrimp salad on a toasted bun. It is always years in between visits to Cambridge, but I hope to continue to get meals a Legal Seafood each time I come back.
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Kae J.

Yelp
Legal seafood is always a safe bet. Their food is always fresh. You can't order a bad thing on the menu for my experience and the staff is pretty nice.
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Ann C.

Yelp
The clam chowder was amazing. Service was quick and servers brought food quickly and ambiance perfect for conversation and a late dinner while snowy outside.

Hesham A.

Yelp
We were a party of 5 and we went for a late lunch on Saturday August 2, 2025 at 2:45 pm. Service started fine and ended awful. The waiter was rude at the end and didn't even thank us and didn't look at us one we paid including a tip. As we left none of the employees thanked us or pretended to say have a nice day-horrible treatment. Service is important and that's what I value most in restaurants. My family and I WILL NEVER dine at this particular restaurant. Be ware! Hesham

Franklin S.

Yelp
I could not believe the fish I was served. It looked like school lunch! Can't understand how they manage to hold such a large location. Try Row 34 across the street instead.

Audrey K.

Yelp
The service was poor and very slow. The kitchen was poorly staffed. Our fried calamari was comprised of tiny pieces of calamari that were overcooked. The crabcakes were 90% filler...you had to look hard to find the crab. All the food was served at room temperature. The fish in the fish and chips was also overcooked. My husband ordered a cup of clam chowder that never came. I wanted seviche, but the manager said they couldn't serve it because it was spoiled. The manager realized that there were problems and he comped us dessert, but I would rather have had a good meal and didn't need the dessert. It was not worth the cost, and I wouldn't go back.
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Cheryl M.

Yelp
Came here with a group for dinner in a Tuesday. This is a large restaurant with outdoor seating. There was plenty of seating at dinnertime and we got a table immediately. We decided to get some apps to start. We got the Thai calamari and the bang bang cauliflower. Both were really good. I would order them again. They also provided rolls and butter for the table. For dinner, I got the crab cake combo. It came with 1 crab cake, shrimp, and scallops. It was served with rice and a side salad. It was a lot of food. I enjoyed it. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food and really raved about the green beans! To drink, I had the red sangria. It was really good. I would get it again. Our server was really nice. I think her name was Liana. Super sweet.

Lucy A.

Yelp
My mom and I chose Legal Sea Foods for our first dinner in Boston and it was a disaster. We ordered cioppino, stuffed lobster tails, lobster bisque, and a drink. The crab in the cioppino tasted strongly of alcohol and was mushy - clear signs it was spoiled. The cioppino was also so oversalted it was inedible. Both lobster dishes were drowning in butter that wasn't mentioned anywhere on the menu. When we complained, staff refused to acknowledge any problems and insisted the crab was "fresh delivered today." They made us feel like difficult customers instead of taking responsibility. The manager promised to comp the cioppino and discount other dishes, but only removed the $15 bisque we never touched. We were pressured to pay the full bill because they were "clearing the floor." Both my mother and I got diarrhea that night - confirming the seafood was indeed spoiled. For a restaurant with Legal Sea Foods' reputation, this was shocking. Poor food safety, terrible quality control, and dismissive staff. We paid over $100 to get sick. Avoid this location - there are much better seafood options in Boston that won't make you ill.
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Amanda V.

Yelp
I've been a Legal Sea Foods fan since attending school in Boston in 2009. This was my first visit to the Kendall Square location; usually I hit up Harborside or Copley Place. It turns out we didn't need a reservation on a Friday night at the end of December - I forgot how quiet the area is over school breaks. The hostess was less than welcoming, but our waitress was very attentive. I feel like the quality of food may have slipped just a bit over the last few years, but I still ate every bit of my lobstah mac & cheese. The food was good, just not what I would expect at the price point.
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Alice D.

Yelp
We came here with a reservation on a Thursday for dinner and we were seated quite quickly. The space wasn't that full, but quickly became busier as the night went on. The ambiance of the space felt overall pleasant, relatively large and well lit with formally dressed staff so it gave off the impression that this would be a fine dining establishment. That's where that stops though, unfortunately. Our waitress was kind and friendly, but I was seated near the ordering kiosk where some of the staff loiter and overheard them chatting about tip comparisons and trying to get as much money out of patrons as possible. Of course, this is a job and the whole purpose of work is to get paid, but maybe do it in a more private area rather than where customers can literally hear you complaining about tipping standards. The menu was extensive and had a good variety of dishes, but the prices were out of this world for what food we did get. The oysters were good enough, but extremely pricy when not during a happy hour time slot. The free bread was fine, but the butter was rock-hard -- I'd expect an establishment like this to at least take it out of the fridge before serving it. The main dish I got, swordfish and polenta fries, was pretty disappointing both in size and taste. The arugula at the top was visibly wilting and the fish itself was dry and tasteless. The positioning of the dish was interesting, but having everything on the polenta made the bottom extremely soggy. Overall, pretty disappointing, especially for its price. When it was time for us to pay, we used a giftcard to pay and the server who took our payment (not our waitress) asked, "Should I just automatically put 20% on for the tip?" when taking our giftcard and credit card and when we said yes (it's hard to say no when a server asks that anyway), I literally saw her make eye contact with our server with a triumphant smirk. Inherently, this attitude is fine and I applaud the staff for doing their best to get as much pay as possible, but it just seems unprofessional acting this way around customers. I would hope they'd just be more discrete about this attitude as it doesn't leave the best impression when leaving the restaurant afterwards. Overall, I wouldn't return here unless someone else planned to come. Mediocre food and extremely pricy - would not recommend!

John G.

Yelp
Made a reservation on Open Table and then at the last minute the restaurant cancels it saying they are closed. Then why did you not update your availability on Open Table? Can't find another place now.
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Miranda G.

Yelp
I've been to quite a few legal seafoods location and the Kendall has a more casual vibe. There's lots of seating and they can accommodate large parties. We ordered lots of soup and lobster rolls. My favorite dish was the cold lobster roll. The portion is large. I thought the service was just okay.
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Eva H.

Yelp
Nice and fresh seafood. Nice environment, not crowd like in downtown. Come here twice in one week
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Danielle F.

Yelp
Friendly bartender and great service. Came later in the afternoon so it wasn't busy so sat at the bar and worked. The lobster roll was decent though I'd prefer less bread or a smaller roll the lobster is served on (just to make the proportion more similar to a traditional roll). Food was solid and easy location to walk to.
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Dianne W.

Yelp
Oh Legal--Kendall, what has happened to u? Before I continue, let it be known that I tried twice this week to get in touch with someone personally to no avail. That has contributed to this low score. We were twice a month customers between 2015-2020, and were taken care of by a fabulous mgr named Andy. We stopped when they closed temporarily, and began going to SUMMER SHACK wjhich is the best!! We decided to revisit Legal this past Saturday. Here goes: made 5:15 rez...was given table directly in front of the kitchen. NO CHOWDER??!! was given a coupon for a cup. Hot lobster roll poached in butter?? dry and all claw and knuckle. LEGAL has become another chain restaurant. Woe is me. It was our fave for so many years
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Jiani W.

Yelp
We are pure tourists from abroad, visiting MIT in Boston. We like to eat while walking around and prefer a casual style. Around 2 pm, we walked past this restaurant, and after confirming it was open, we decided to go in and try some lobster and oysters. Since we are foreign tourists, we weren't very familiar with the menu, but the staff were very patient and helped explain what was in the dishes we were interested in and how they were prepared. There were still a few parts we didn't fully understand. We ordered baked lobster and shellfish tower. When the dishes arrived, the staff also briefly explained the sauces. The food we ordered was very delicious and fresh. I grew up by the sea and love the natural flavors. If I come back next time, I'll definitely try the steamed lobster. I highly recommend this place! I'll definitely come back if I have the chance! Due to cultural and language differences, I was a bit confused when ordering, haha

cath e.

Yelp
Variety. All good. Lots of topping s Amazingly. Fast !! Locals are big. Fans !!!! Pizza. Salads entrees had. Many of them
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Connie W.

Yelp
I'm not sure what warrants such low ratings, but I had a pretty enjoyable experience here. The food is fresh and the portion sizes are reasonable given the price. The lobster rolls and shrimp scampi were favorites and are definitely worth a try, as well as the mussels if you are a fan of them. The beef and shrimp tacos weren't too great, as both the beef and shrimp were very dry. The crab cake sliders were quite flavorless. Other than that, the rest of our food was thoroughly enjoyable. I am not a big fan of seafood, but this place makes it pretty well.

Bruce S.

Yelp
Horrific experience at Legals. Been coming here on and off since I was an undergrad at MIT in the 1980s. I'm never coming back. I literally saw 2 RATS chasing each other through the dining room next to the kitchen for 10 minutes while I ate dinner. Disgusting and clearly a health code violation. The rats weren't even timid about it. They looked very comfortable and enjoying themselves. I'm quite sure a server noticed, but she did not seem at all surprised, nor seemed to care to do anything about it. As for the food, my steamers were cold when I got them, the espresso martini was the worst one I ever had. My girlfriend tried it too and said "I've had a lot of espresso martinis and that's the worst one I've ever tasted". Providing great customer service was CLEARLY not a priority for our server, who delivered incorrect dishes to us. What happened to this place? GROSS
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Christopher C.

Yelp
I went to Legal Sea Foods in Cambridge as I live a couple of blocks away and the experience was great! I had been one time before, but the service this time was amazing. We sat at the bar and AJ was super attentive and nice. He was smiling and so sweet, and that type of personality is hard to find at a restaurant especially on a Saturday afternoon when it was almost empty. He went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. And the burgers and fries were great. Such a lovely experience.
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Camille W.

Yelp
We decided to try Legal Sea Foods after we were informed by a local that it is an east coast "icon". I ordered the Mexican Street Cod with roast corn off the cob, cotija cheese, cilantro, & blue corn tortilla. The cod was melt-in-your-mouth tasty. Overall, was satisfied with my meal. Service was decent but not great. We had to waive down the waiter to take our order and provide a refill on water. Enjoyed the restaurant vibe and atmosphere. Would come again!
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H S.

Yelp
Enjoyed the lump crab cake, although it seemed to be about 50% bread crumbs. Belly clams were too rubbery to chew and chicken was dry/ overcooked.
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Carol L.

Yelp
I was so disappointed in our Mothers Day dinner at Legal Seafood Kendall Square. I went in a few days prior to discuss which booth I could reserve for Sunday for our party of 5. Michael the mgr was very hospitable. On Sunday I ordered swordfish and asked for it not to be dry. It came out dry. Husband and I sent back our swordfish after taking one bite. We reordered replacement entrees which were delicious but it took so long everyone else was finished. "Could we have some bread" ....took a long time. For dessert we ordered Bon Bons. We waited and waited and waited. Don't they just take them out of freezer and put in a plate? The service was very very veeerrryy slow even though the restaurant was not crowded at all. Hmm
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Mike G.

Yelp
The person I was with and I were in the mood for great seafood and Legal never disappoints. The person who I was with had a vegetable medley to go with a grilled yellowfin tuna that was cooked to perfection. It was moist and flavorful. I started off with a cup of chowder with was absolutely perfect with a ton of clams and potatoes. I then had a surf and turf of filet mignon and Cajun grilled scallops. The steak was cooked perfectly ( medium rare ) and the scallops had great flavor. The only negative I had was our server had the personality of a limp dish rag and you could tell that she really didn't want to be there. When I asked for salt and pepper and as bottle of hot sauce, not only did she not seem to want to go out of her way to get it, but she got us a salt and pepper grinder with next to no salt or pepper in it. The only other negative ( which is absolutely no reflection of the restaurant is that the manners of some of the other customers left a lot to be desired. They wouldn't hold doors open as they were too self engrossed with the people they were meeting and definitely not a neighborhood that I would spend too much time.
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Martha N.

Yelp
Been to this location for late lunch with my gang (3 kids and us) after the science museum tour near by so we enjoy our lobster after a while and other kids dishes on the menu. The total came out $175.00 we left the 20% for tip and left. Before we knew it Jake H our waiter came running to our car already departing and handed the credit back. Can you believe it in this world now there are still good and honest people in the day light. We promise to come back next time in town. "Thank you Jake!" "If it's not fresh it's not legal", enjoy your best seafood meals folks!
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Lilian Z.

Yelp
Solid place with a wide variety of seafood options. The interior is decorated very nicely and the staff is always kind and courteous. My favorite item is definitely the crab cake plate which comes with an incredibly refreshing side salad. I'm docking one star because the clam chowder I got was extremely gritty but I look forward to returning in the near future!
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Reena Z.

Yelp
If you're too lazy to do extensive research on "the best seafood in Boston", Legal Sea Foods is the place for you. A reliable staple, with friendly service, an approachable menu, and tasty food-- it's good, definitely worth the money... but not great. In other words, it's not anything to call home about. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder, the baked haddock, and main lobster roll. The chowder was creamy and had an abundance of clams. It wasn't bad, I've definitely had better but if you're craving clam chowder it does the job. The baked haddock was perfectly cooked and the broccoli that came with it had a satisfying crunch. Under seasoned for my taste, but quickly fixed with a healthy sprinkle of salt. The tomato was definitely the star of the show-- soft and sweet with a slightly crispy membrane, a very welcome blast of flavor in a somewhat bland dish. I did not personally eat the lobster roll but my friend finished the entire thing. However, if you're hoping for a piping hot, buttery lobster, this is not for you. The lobster came out, no frills, at room temp. Fries were well seasoned and pillowy. Cabbage slaw was just a little dressed which is how I like it.

A M.

Yelp
The appetizers were good but the main I got was bad. Ramen was stuck together like they didn't even fully cook it. Broth was cold when I got it and the pork belly and shrimp were overcooked. For 26 dollars I felt like I overpaid for bad ramen. Service was good and the restaurant itself was clean and well decorated.
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Steven C.

Yelp
Had to push hard to add noodle to my dish. Menu and quality is below expectation. Don't even bother with the one in the airport. Very limited menu and over price. Don't even serve raw oyster. Will not return
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Tiffany N.

Yelp
The seared scallops and whipped sweet potatoes were very good, it was reminiscent of thanksgiving w the cranberry and sweet potato flavors
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Jasper L.

Yelp
got dollar raw oysters, not bad.. didn't hit the spot tho. the clam chowder was alright.

G S.

Yelp
Nice place located near MIT. Service was terrible. The server was not attentive. Other servers kept delivering items to our table. It wasn't even busy. The plates were super hot but the food was warm leading us to believe the food Sat for awhile under a heat lamp. We were hoping that maybe we could salvage the meal with dessert, but the server never came back. We finally had to ask a different waiter if we could get our check. Eventually, our waitress came back and she said "aren't you having dessert?!". And we responded, "we think that ship has sailed". At any rate, food was mediocre. And service was terrible. Just not someplace we would ever come back to ...
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Kathy Z.

Yelp
An absolute letdown and I should've checked the Yelp ratings first! We were one of the only filled tables in the establishment during brunch hours on a Saturday so that should've already been a warning sign. Our waiter was attentive at first, but she got really clumsy and accidentally spilled water all over my niece's phone and when we tried flagging her down for a missed drink item and then our check, she was nowhere to be found. When another waiter finally flagged her down for us, we explicitly said that we'd like to take the missing drink off the bill since we were finished with our meal, but she sped off to the bartender and immediately had them make one...and it tasted like absolute cr*p. Besides the mess that happened with the lack of service, the food that we ordered was beyond basic. The clam chowder leaned sweet, the fries were huge sticks of unsalted fried potato, and the only thing giving this establishment two stars right now is the blackened fish tacos we ordered cause they were nicely seasoned and well-packed.
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RoseMarie H.

Yelp
So we had them for takeout today. I love their clam chowder we ordered a bowl Togo and the size was rather small we were given a cup. Also the organization of takeout wasn't too good. They handed my hubs his food and dismissed him. He had to pay still he had to explain he was there for a Togo and not a dasher pickup. He spent about 10 minutes inside for a pick up order that was ready when he arrived.