Post 390

It's a good place to have seafood. However, I had a bad experience with their service. My waiter was serving a big party in the private room as well as my table. It took a long time to order and have my food served here. I wouldn't not go back. They have some great options of wine bottles. However, it's not worth the subpar level of service. I was offered some complimentary dessert for the poor service (from missing the side dishes orders and messing up the oysters) but I did not take it. I felt it was inappropriate to receive this item. I do appreciate it that they do have cab franc and their special was a whole sea bass.

I had the Lexington Brewery, Barrel Aged beer, Mixed Baby Lettuces for my appetizer, the Nantucket Sea Scallops for my main and the Frozen Margarita Pie for my dessert. Everything was fantastic and the service was equally as good. The flavors were exceptionally prominent and well balanced in everything I had. I can't get the risotto out of my head... Well done guys!

Cozy, good food, and great service. I really like the grilled octopus here. Banana pie was to die for. Coffee and desserts are awesome! Their salads are fresh, fun... somehow you finish the whole salad kind of salad. Try to sit by the fire place!

Great find. Lovely date night! Honestly would not have gone due to the price of the restaurant if not for a gift card. However we were pleasantly surprised to find that the amount of food was decent!! Took home leftovers! Their pork was delicious. The scallops tasted like bacon-crack, so savory. The crem brulee killed our stomachs... But we had to have it. We will be back!

We had our first anniversary dinner here. So good! The manager on duty moved us to a nicer table with a great view. My husband had the salmon which was a huge portion. I had the ribs with mashed potato instead of the fries. The food, staff, and atmosphere was superb.

Amazing brunch, large portions, attentive and polite service and a great atmosphere. Also has a very cozy fireplace. Tad pricey but worth the price for the quality. Some of the best food I have had in Boston! Highly recommended.

Wonderful, fresh food in a quiet atmosphere. We came in a large group and every dish was delicious. Save room for dessert!

Great place. Was quiet when we visited. Service was friendly and courteous and the breakfast on offer excellent with high quality raw materials

The Banks is good. Really good. Service is great and appetizers are compositionally well-thought-out and elegantly presented. Steaks are good, nothing brilliant, but I expect steaks to be hot and perfectly cooked for a restaurant to call itself a steakhouse, and I wasn't disappointed. Starter bread is unbelievable. The above is the normal review muck. This part of the review you have to read. Who ever makes the banana cream pie, take the recipe and start a banana cream pie restaurant. May that be the only food you serve. That banana cream pie is genuinely the best dessert dish I've ever had in my life. I wish I could have gone back in time to order it for all 3 courses. Good god.

Love how the place was large and spacious; elegant with a touch of class. The bread for the table was amazing - fresh with a honey glaze. My favorite was the Maine Mussels, one of the best flavors on mussels I've ever had. Think because of that, the lobster bake was a bit anti-climactic although still good. The waitress and staff were attentive, they took care of our stroller without fuss and we had an enjoyable evening with our family.

Dine out Boston struck out again! Ok, so we normally take advantage of Dine out Boston every March. There are always great restaurants and low prices, but why do they fail every time? It is the influx of people? Is it that they just don't care? Who knows, but I think we may pass on dine out Boston in the future. We went to The Banks Seafood and Steak restaurant, and we were very excited, but eventually disappointed once again. It was our first time here, and although the restaurant has a beautiful ambiance, they need to improve their food and wine offerings. We were seated in the upstairs dining room, which had very low lighting--a feature I always enjoy, as it creates a romantic atmosphere. Our server approached us right away to ask for our water preferences. We then had a few minutes to choose our drinks. I ordered their Taittinger Champagne by the glass, which was quite expensive. When it arrived and I took a sip, it was awful. There were also no bubbles, which suggests to me that the bottle was not secured properly. They brought me another one. My husband also ordered a glass of wine, which was disappointing as well; I thought that was strange. For food, he got the Shrimp Ceviche and I ordered the Lobster Arancini. Mine was just ok. A little bit overcooked and hardly any lobster. The ceviche he ordered was not good or looked good at all. It was covered in some kind of sauce, and big uncooked pieces of Shrimp. He had them take it back. For entrees, he got the Flank Steak and I got the scallops. Although both dishes were decent, mine was very, very, salty. For dessert, they were out of the Creme Brulee, which I was very disappointed, so there was only one dessert for us to share and that was their Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was good. I was able to order some Sorbet with no extra charge. Banks, you could be better!

Nice restaurant with good ambience, but unfortunately the food was just so-so. Best dishes were the poached halibut with black caviar and creamy sauce, and grilled branzino (love those roasted beets). The Parker house rolls were also excellent. Reisling was great and the two cappuccinos that my friends had looked good too. Praline cheesecake was light but not super memorable. The octopus was just fine, but didn't think the fried potato croquette base was all that additive. The hiramasa crudo had some great accompanying sauces and flavors, and I was impressed by the coral shaped wafers (which turned out to be a bit stale, sadly), but I was looking for a cleaner taste to the fish itself. Service was attentive. All in all, it's a fine enough restaurant but wish the food was a bit better..

Good food pricey. Also slow service took us half hour to pay the bill Seafood boil was really good. Steak good but unevenly cooked. Would recommend Spanish octopus and clam chowder

We recently visited Boston to see the Titanic Artifacts exhibit and decided to have dinner nearby. The forecast called for a cold day with a mix of light snow and rain falling from the skies, so we wanted something a short walk away from The Castle at Park Plaza, the location for the Titanic exhibit. Consulting my "To Try" collection on Yelp, I found that The Banks Seafood & Steak fit our criteria and made a reservation. After stepping in from the cold, we checked in at the host station, where the staff warmly greeted us. The first thing that caught my attention was that the downstairs decor was plain and sparse. But we found it was also comfortable, and the gas fireplace in the center of the space was throwing off some needed warmth. (We didn't take the time to visit the upstairs portion of the restaurant.) We both felt like having seafood -- and did -- starting with the oysters. We decided to have two of the dozen we ordered with the optional caviar topping. I thought it was a great combination, but my partner found it too salty. We both enjoyed the ten remaining oysters. They were perfectly chilled and briny. My partner had the Branzino for the main course while I had Tuna Steak (rare). We both enjoyed our dishes very much. Oh. And the drinks were good, too. We'll be back.

Delicious food & elegant atmosphere. This was a fantastic dinner. A little overpriced maybe, even for upscale dining. $32 for the small lobster tail appetizer was a bit much, but overall, it was a wonderful meal. I had the lobster ravioli, which strangely had mashed potatoes in the ravioli. I would not have ordered it if I had known that (carbs stuffed inside carbs is sort of overkill), but it was very good. Still, I think it would've been even better with ricotta maybe instead of the mashed potatoes, but I'm certainly no chef. Oh, but the very lightly fried lobster chunks on top were absolutely perfect! The bread was amazing. A little honey drizzle, then the salt kicks in -- BOOM, the perfect sweet/salty combo. I usually don't even eat the bread at restaurants because it seems unnecessary, but this bread is so worth it! She introduced herself, but I'm terrible at remembering names. The somm here was wonderful, knowledgeable, and friendly.

3-course lunch for Dine Out Boston, which felt very worth at $36. Service was attentive given that the place was pretty empty. * Ceviche: fresh fish but the sweet potato chips were criminally stale * Lamb ravioli: I really liked the corn in this! The pasta itself was tasty but didn't blow me away * Chocolate hazelnut torte: this was the showstopper, so rich and delicious

Classy Classy Classy Went to the Banks for a family celebration. Every detail screams customer service. The entire staff work's together with the goal of providing their guest with a memorable evening. The restaurant itself beautiful almost in an old fashion way but it is definitely modern. I wasn't sure about the cocktail I ordered and our server said if I didn't like it, she'd make me another drink. Very kind. I had the friend of the devil and I loved it. We shared oysters, broccolini, Brussels sprouts. All enjoyed. Seafood was cooked to perfection and all the steak was prepared as ordered. The chef made me a vegetarian dish that was nourishing and delicious. The desserts were wonderful. Tasty and creative. Fun evening with wonderful ambiance, service and delicious food.

This place was average at best. Service was good. Calamari sauce had an overpowering Smokey flavor, sea bass was an anemic overdone filet, and praline cheesecake had a strong cinnamon taste. Overall would never go here again. Service was attentive and polite.

The clam chowder is great! They also have a good looking lobster roll. The interior is very beautiful and upscale, perfect for a corporate lunch in the area.

Came here for the restaurant week special that ended today. What a delicious lunch meal it was! I had the ceviche, shrimp tacos, and strawberry crème brûlée. All three were delicious and I highly recommend them! The service was great and the overall restaurant has a super cool ambiance! When we are back in the area we will stop in again! Great place! Highly recommend!

I usually give Banks a 5-star rating and would have done so today but for the exceptionally long wait for a table for Sunday brunch when I had a reservation. I received a text saying my table was ready and I should head over, which I did. When I arrived, I was told (by the very nice hostess, so no shade on her or any of the staff) that there was no table available, and that folks were leaving and they would prepare the table once they were gone. Fifteen minutes or so later the table was ready. Part of the problem may be that the upstairs was not being used. I don't know when that policy was implemented because I was there in mid-January and sat upstairs. But that kind of wait is unacceptable when one has reservations, especially after receiving several texts to confirm my reservation and make sure I still planned to come. Aside from that, the experience once seated was up to the usual standards. Our server was excellent--polite and efficient without being too much of a presence. The food -- clam bellies and waffles for two of us, lemon pancakes for one -- was top notched, beautifully presented and delicious. I would return but too bad this experience was marred by the table wait. I hope Banks can get a better handle on seating in future.

Been to The Banks several times now for drinks, apps, n' brunch and have enjoyed each visit! Cozy yet elevated decor, dress casual or fancy (hotel bar vibe). The food has been excellent as well as cocktails + really nice servers each time I have visited. Do not miss dessert, staff tells me there's a dedicated pastry chef and it is evident in the decadent and fun menu items I've tried (espresso martini sundae, banana pudding). The veggie sides are some of the best I've had- brussel sprouts and broccoli rabe . I had my first taste of caviar here at their "Caviar happy hour" which was a surprising delight. I would recommend the Banks for a date spot, friends brunch, or solo drink!

We spent the weekend in Boston and came here for lunch on a Saturday. They were moderately busy and still serving their brunch menu at noon. Check in was great, the hostess and manager were both very engaging and provided a warm welcome. The fire place we sat next to provided nice warmth to help take the chill off from walking there. The menu was filled with great items that looked very appetizing, as did their wine list. They even have some very nice half bottles, which is what we opted for. Ultimately, at the manager's suggestion, I opted for their warm lobster roll, but first up was their clam chowder. My wife absolutely loved the clam chowder, so did I! But we disagree about which was best between here and Abe & Louie's, as I felt this one was amazing, but I felt that Abe & Louie's edged this one out - She disagreed! Either way, you can't go wrong with the clam chowder here, so get it!! The next course was their incredibly large and fresh shrimp cocktail, which came with their zesty cocktail sauce and tasty homemade hot sauce - This was truly a great experience! The lobster roll was made we meaty, fresh, sweet lobster and the brioche bun was made in-house and was outstanding! In fact, the whole sandwich was amazing! Save room for dessert! We opted for ice cream with their home made hot fudge and that fudge was incredible! We definitely enjoyed this visit and would highly recommend stopping in... we'll definitely be back!

Great service. Very nice ambiance. Clean restaurant. Good free bread with a fat ramekin of soft butter. Good clam chowder. Good happy hour tacos. Everything was salted properly. But I would have liked more seasoning for flavor. But it was also nice to enjoy the food without distraction of too much seasoning. I may visit again for dinner at some point in the future and try something different. The 100 day aged ribeye was tempting, maybe next time.

Very trendy interior. A very solid seafood restaurant. They have steak too, who come from grill 23, so a place for all pallets. Food was very solid overall and I will return 4/5 Fluke crude with passion fruit and strawberries. Fishing sauce with good acidity. The fluke was fresh and tender. But the sauce overpowered the fish 3.5/5 Clam chowder 4/5 wish there was a bit more clams, but very rich and flavorful overall. This would really but the spot in the winder Branzino 5/5 perfectly cooked, crispy skin. Anchovy butter added great umami flavor . Perfectly executed dish. Fregula and and peas created a nice texture and a nice mild flavor to compliment the dish.

I checked out The Banks for Boston Restaurant week! It was $55 per person deal that was 3 course meal! Appetizer, main , and dessert! The service was amazing we had a few servers helping us! This is definitely a cute date night or celebration dinner location!

This is a nice spot for lunch and dinner, not many people in for lunch which I like because I don't like overly crowded restaurants. They offered oysters which were great, not sure what type of oysters they were, but I loved them with the sauces. The lobster roll was probably their best I have ever had, they gave a side of the butter and dude I had to pour all of it for every bite. The lobster itself was a bit on the chewier side, but the butter made up for it. The fries were nice and crispy. I will say, I did order the mini lobster roll, but the waiter heard lobster roll, and it was a bummer when I saw the actual charge, but it ended up being the perfect amount for us. Just make sure to specify very clearly, I doubt the mini lobster roll is ordered as much in comparison to the actual full size one lol. The clam chowder was great.

I've been here twice and have not had a bad meal. The fireplace is bomb (first floor). Second visit I dined upstairs (Me: "oh damn, there is a whole upstairs area!??"). Staff was great. * Dover Sole Meunière 5/5- I cannot tell you if it needs to be $70 or what makes it $70. What I can tell you is that it was the best sole I've had. * Ceviche 5/5 - very good. If it was customized to my taste, I'd add a little more of a spicy kick but the flavor profile was yum. The plantain chips were fresh and delicious. * Jumbo Scallops 5/5 - SO GOOD. * Branzino 4/5 - beautifully cooked. Perfect crisp on the skin. Great sauce. Downgraded to 4 only because it felt a tad under salted.

A decadent 2 story restaurant with multiple private rooms, a bar, floor to ceiling windows diagonally across overlooking the John Hancock Tower. Good location in the Copley/Prudential area. The design is very modern. The restaurant is a sister restaurant to Grill 23 and Bar, which is located down the street. We got seated upstairs and we started off with the New England Clam Chowder which came with bacon, which added a nice salt flavor. We also ordered some of the raw oysters, some were good and others were a little fishy. For the steak, it was delicious and seasoned well, a little overpriced as to be expected, but really good. The broccolini was crunchy and very filling as well.

Great lobster roll and food, service kind of slow but was a busy Saturday evening. The drinks are standard prices for Newbury.

My daughter and I, after a Sunday matinee at The Lyric Stage, were looking for some sustenance for the drive home. We usually head in the other direction, but this time we looked east on Stuart Street and there was a sign 'The Banks,' which piqued our interest. Not really planning on dinner, we sat at the first floor bar, perused the menu and decided to split a Caesar salad, a crab cake, and mussels. Excellent choices, all three, especially the crab cake. The mussel broth was a bit spicy for my taste, but that's on me. The menu made it perfectly clear what the ingredients are, and my daughter liked the dish a lot. My Campari and soda featured a generous pour of Campari.

I made a last minute reservation at Banks so I was seated right away. The server ignored me for about 10 minutes- I was alone so this happens a lot. I ordered a Kentucky mule and was surprised how much ice it had- overwhelmed the drink. I ordered the branzino but without the anchovy butter. The plate was drenched with orange sauce- it was tasty but a bit too much sauce. The fish was cooked well. Not too much else on the plate- surprising for a $42 entree. Bread was delish- warm and bit of honey on top. Overall it was good . Ambient noise was a bit loud, would recommend to turn the music down

I had the best fried calamari here! The service was top notch as well! It gives a very classy, upscale vibe. I would definitely come back and bring friends.

Went last night for a Team dinner, was seated in the wine / private room at the top of the stairs. Great little space, Great location. Service was great, atmosphere was great, Speed of service & staff was even great. Menu was lacking slightly (consensus of the table) there was more than enough options, just felt like they were all super similar and all that we did order was DELICIOUS... But we all just felt that there could have been a bit more to pick from. The scallops were good, the Tower was great, all the seafood was fresh, Drinks were good. Nothing bad I can say just wasnt wow'ed to the point where Im telling the hubby we have to run right back!

Came on Saturday for Brunch. Service was appalling for a place that charges $54 for a lobster roll. Sat down at our table at 1 pm- waiter took my husband's drink order and I said I needed a minute.... He did not come back for 25 minutes. Finally got my drink at 1:30 pm (looked at the actual time). Aperol Spritz was very small and watered down. I got the fish tacos which were ok but the fish was bland, and the garnishes were very pickled/sour- would not get it again. Avocado toast was very good and nicely presented. Waiter never came by to see if we wanted another drink and never asked us how our food was. Again, very disappointing service for a high end restaurant. I don't think it was the waiter's fault- he was decently nice, but maybe they should hire more servers if they're charging their customers that much.

To start with I think that the pricing at this restaurant is actually good for a seafood place. We had the baked stuffed lobster, filet migon and a short rib burger. The short rib burger was really good, not overly seasoned. Just enough to let the flavor of the burger patty come through. The filet mignon was amazing, very tender. The mash potatoes that came with the lobster was under whelming. The stuffed lobster was ok, to be honest. Next time i would probably go with the steamed lobster. They server was amazing, oh and the ambience was absolutely beautiful.

Beautiful atmosphere, nice wine, friendly service but, in my opinion not the best clam chowder. Enjoyed the Caesar a lot as well as the warm rolls with butter (which had flaky salt - making it perfection).

Overpriced. And, we went there. The table next to us was having fun but was totally swearing throughout. Totally inappropriate. Waitstaff did nothing. Very uncomfortable for us. Not a place for dinner!

Came here for my birthday I love seafood so this was a no brainer. Loved the char on the octopus, and the salmon was perfectly cooked w the skin nice and crispy. For next time, I would skip the tuna tartare and depending on my food the uni squid ink pasta. Tasty in theory, but the sauce was a little thin for my liking. Clam chowder is great here, but I think you have to pay for the bread rolls :(

My family hosted my bridal shower at The Banks Fish House and it was nothing short of amazing! Erica couldn't have been more helpful during the planning process. She is very responsive and flexible --- we really enjoyed working with her. The shower was perfect in every way and a lot of that had to do with Banks! We rented the 'The City View' (one of their many event spaces) which is a beautiful room with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Back Bay. We opted for the 2-course brunch and offered french toast, fried chicken sandwiches and lobster rolls as our entree selections. Almost everyone, including myself, ordered a lobster roll! The lobster rolls were delicious and FULL of lobster. Banks allowed us to bring a cake in as well as another dessert from our favorite bakery. We really appreciated that! The staff waiting on us during the shower were fabulous. Drink service was attentive and quick and they were great about checking in on me, which was so nice! We highly recommend hosting your event at Banks. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is delicious and the staff are fantastic! We couldn't have had a better experience and can't wait to come back in the future!

We wanted to finish up our visit with more lobster rolls and this place seemed like a good fit. We ordered the cold lobster rolls which were expensive ($50) but very good. Big chunky pieces of lobster with a hint of sweetness and minimal amount of vinegar flavor (which may be a local thing but we don't like it). The buns were a little too thick but nicely buttered and toasted on the outside - if it was half the thickness it would have been perfect. The fries were not great. Dry and a little overdue - I recommend sticking with chips. Overall it was good but too pricey so I'm not planning to revisit

We came here for a weekend brunch, no reservations, but we were able to be seated immediately. The ambiance was great with a fireplace, and beautiful floor to ceiling windows to people watch. Our main goal coming here was to try to the clam chowder -- we had heard amazing things and it was did not disappoint. We also had a fried oyster reuben which was honestly incredible, and a lobster roll which was good but not the best we've had in Boston. Cocktails were also 10/10 - I'd recommend the Violet Nights. The only minor critique is the timing of the food coming out. Our entrees came out before the starter clam chowder and then 5 minutes into our main course the chowder finally came out which then we had too much food on our table at once.. all in all though I'd recommend checking this place out.

For the love of brunch, run don't walk, and go grab yourself the lobster hash at The Banks Fish House! This is the most decadent yet well rounded brunch dish with rich and savory flavors that go perfectly together. We also enjoyed the chowder and oysters. The service was excellent and the ambiance was inviting with great natural light pouring through the windows of the restaurant. We sat downstairs at the bar and want to try sitting upstairs during our next visit!

Parking: typical parking situation in Boston. Plan ahead. Some 2h meter options. Ambiance: low key. Has an upstairs and downstairs. Food: Peruvian inspired dishes since I was told the chef is Peruvian. The ceviche was amazing! Also recommend trying the forager mushroom side dish! The sides are very shareable sized. Some meat and seafood options. Bread was offered with the meal. Service: amazing. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations.

Best clam chowder we had in Boston! Nice location and good food! We went for lunch for a business meeting and the staff was okay,

Maybe we didn't order the right things but I've had better seafood elsewhere. Overcooked was the running theme of the night. I'm still on the hunt for an excellent lobster roll in the city. 1. Prime location right off I-90. We also nabbed a good parking deal off SpotHero in the garage right next to the restaurant. 2. In terms of food - the chowder was good and thick, with generous chunks of potato, but where was the clam? I couldn't taste any of it. The best part of the soup was the pillowy-perfect dinner roll that came on the side. We also got the calamari, which came with banana peppers and jalapeño, but the calamari itself could have used a good blot and had a whiff of stale oil. I got the cold lobster roll - plenty of lobster but the bun itself was not good at all. It's listed on the menu as a "brown butter bun." If you love butter, you might enjoy it - I thought the bread was extremely dry, with an overwhelming aftertaste of butter, and ended up just eating the lobster by itself. The best lobster bun by far has been Eventide's. Other people were similarly unenthused about their dishes. My aunt's swordfish was way overcooked, as were my cousin's lobster tail and the burgers. At this price point (about $270 for four people, before tax), everything could have been better. 3. Really good service, fancy decor. You could dress down in jeans and also come here for a special occasion.

I came here before without knowing it's famous nearby. My brother recommended their lobster roll and fries. We walked in Friday at noon. I liked their fireplace. It's warm and cozy without radiating too much heat. Very soothing to look at too. I did end up getting the lobster roll swapping chips for fries. I didn't like the items on their lunch prix fixe so didn't force myself. I also wanted clam chowder and was so happy I did. It might be the first time I genuinely appreciate cured fatty meat. It added so much umami to the soup without being too overpowering and obnoxious. I really like chives so the chive oil on top was a nice touch. The dinner roll was also a pleasant surprise. It's soft and fluffy like milk bread. The milk wash and course salt on top added extra flavor and texture. Lobster roll was surprisingly big! I don't regret paying $46(?) for this considering they give 1.5x lobster compared to other places. The lobster meat is so fresh and juicy and sweet. I was too full to finish the roll itself. If I didn't have the clam chowder and amazing dinner roll, the lobster roll bread would've been solid. But with a full belly and comparison of breads, the lobster roll bread was too oily and stiff. My brother got the burger and liked it.

I stopped by for Saturday brunch and ordered clam chowder and an eggs Benedict. The Benedict was extremely salty. I thought it might be the Serrano ham, but no. The English muffin and the salad were also heavily salted. The only thing I could tolerate eating were the potatoes and chowder. The restaurant itself had a clean interior, and the service was prompt. However, that could not make up for the food itself. $40+ dollars for essentially a bowl of chowder and a plate of salt.

We ordered two bowls of clam chowder and a lobster roll. Took an hour to get our food. When it came the chowder and roll were lukewarm. It came with truffle fries which were cold. When we told our server and asked for fresh hot fries she copped an attitude. She did get us new fries but then charged us for it. Overall the food and service was bad. It is sad because we chose the restaurant because of the reviews. It was supposed to be to be the number 1 restaurant for their clam chowder, but what we were served was far from it.

Despite the fact that we had booked a table for Mother's Day brunch the wait was more than 50min. We decided not to wait any longer but Mother's Day brunch was ruined. I am not sure if they overbooked but I expected better booking planning. Very disappointing

We waited 45 minutes despite having a reservation. The restaurant was nearly empty, but the kitchen was incredibly slow. Our server was dismissive, and the food was disappointing. Definitely not worth it.

Here for Valentine's Day lunch.....happy it was not a prefix menu...Atmosphere, staff and drinks were great. Food was good but filet ordered medium was medium well, peppercorn sauce on the side was $7 (off menu) and didn't add much to the steak. Very pricey but that was expected for the location. Would like to see a few more options a la carte with the steak.

Wow, really great experience! Saw this as I was walking through the Copley area and knew we had to make a reservation to come. Best way to get here is ride share or the T. Limited parking in the area, but worth it. We made a reservation for a Saturday evening at 8PM a few days in advance. It seemed there were a good number of reservations because the restaurant is two floors. We ordered some drinks to start that were delicious, a French 75 and an old fashioned. Highly, highly recommend that clam chowder. Some of the best in the city! For dinner we ordered from the land and the sea. That Lobster Bake is made for two, but if you're really hungry it can be all yours. I ordered the Arcadian salad with grilled chicken (a yummy and healthy option). Usually salads don't come with much chicken, but this one came with a decent amount. The service was great, some TVs all around playing sports and a nice, warm fire. A bit of a fancy date night, but worth it. Highly recommend this spot!

The Banks Fish House is a beautiful restaurant located in the Back Bay area of Downtown Boston. Everything looks new and chic. We were drawn in by their warm and cozy fireplace roaring on a cold January afternoon. We were greeted by the host staff and chose the high top next to the fire. It was 1:30pm on a Sunday with lots of seating available. Our server greeted us with a smile and took my bloody Mary order which took a long time to receive, especially given the lack of customers. The clam chowder and Cesar salad looked great so we both added chicken to the salad and asked that we get the soup prior to the salad. Everything came at once, even the drinks, which were a bit overwhelming. We just wanted a chill lunch, relaxing by the fire. The food looked great, but sadly the salad was flat, and the soup was disappointing. Everything was just so bland which was so unexpected because the decor of this restaurant looked so promising. At $120 for soup, salad, and two drinks this was an extremely disappointing meal. Unfortunately, I have to give this restaurant 3-stars.

We recently dropped by here for a lunch at opening when we were in the area. The dining is absolutely huge and we were able to walk in with no problem. Everything inside is what you'd associate with a nicer Back Bay establishment. Bonus points for them seating us next to their indoor heater on this chillier day. We ordered clam chowder, fish tacos, and a swordfish BLT. It all arrived quickly, and the flavor to everything was on point. The clam chowder was lukewarm, but the generous portions of clam and flavor made up for that. The fish tacos had a great fry and a fresh assortment of flavors. The swordfish BLT was also great. The real star of the show was the fries that came along with the swordfish BLT. They were fried to perfection -- incredibly crisp with a substantive bite of potato and topped with a bit of what tasted like Old Bay. Overall a great spot and probably will be my go-to new england seafood spot in the area.

I stopped here on lunch break during work - and was pleasantly surprised. From the moment you walk in, the space is very inviting. The ambiance, the fireplace, the interior design. I opted for a bar seat, as I was in and out. The bar tender/server was very attentive and responsive. I got some tea, and the shrimp po' boy. I did enjoy the fries that came with the po' boy but was indifferent about the sandwich itself. The shrimp was breaded nicely, but there were only 2 large shrimp on both halves of the sandwich. I wish there was more shrimp, but it was still tasty. This is a place worth visiting if you are in the area, but not one that I would go out of my way to visit again.

My wife and I went into town to go to the Lyric Theater, a 200+seat theater that always has high-quality productions. Banks Fish House is literally right across the street, so we figured we'd give it a go. And boy, are we glad we did. Firstly, it is a nice-looking restaurant with a good ambiance. It feels friendly and inviting, especially welcome on a cold December night. We started out with some sparkling water and glasses of wine, me Chardonnay, her Riesling. She got a shrimp bisque, and I got clam chowder, both very good. One of the attractions of this place, for me, was that they have baked stuffed lobster. This dish sometimes seems to have gone the way of the dodo. It was not cheap - 97 bucks for a two-pounder. But I had to have it. My wife got a lobster bake, which had clams, mussels, corn, and several slices of bread for dipping. My dish also came with mashed potatoes, which was easily enough for two people. And man, what a feast. Everything was superb, and we just showed down. They crack the lobster for you, but you'll still need to crack the claws. Just delicious. I dinged them a bit on service. While it was very good, we had a long wait for the lobsters. They also forgot to bring my wife any butter, so we had to share that. And the waitress had disappeared for a while so we got it, but late in the day. Relatively minor quibbles, but it cost them a star. Price? A hefty $265 pre-tip. Expensive? No question. Value for dollar? Absolutely. This will be our go-to place whenever we go to the Lyric. Highly recommended.