Legal Sea Foods - Cambridge Charles Square

02/10/08

Consistently Fantastic

by pburke76 at Citysearch

My wife and I eat at this location at least once a week. The fish is extremely fresh and well prepared and we have never had poor service. We also come to their brunch on Sundays. The lobster omlette is unbelievable. We recommend it to all of our family and friends for great seafood.

• Pros: Intimate environment, fresh fish
• Cons: Parking a little difficult

09/28/07

Avoid at all costs

by bstnbkdbean at Citysearch

How the hell does this restaurant rate four and a half stars? the food there was terrible, Me and my daughter ate there for lunch, the muscles were the worst I have ever had in my life, and the fish could not have been worse, lousy service, horrible food and the smell of old seafood was almost overwhelming

With just the two of us and one glass of wine with tip was over a hundred dollars, what a waste of money I will never go there again

• Pros: parking
• Cons: the food

08/05/07

Awful...

by cambridgegirl at Citysearch

My husband and I paid for two pricey meals expecting to get quality....not only was our food served cold and tasteless, but both of us fell ill the next day. Not to mention we had a very smug waiter...I will never return to this establishment again!

06/16/07

THEY ARE SO RUDE!!!!!!!!!!!

by chaosibelle at Citysearch

Legal Seafood employees here are SO RUDE! I have had good experiences at other locations, but this place was so ridiculously rude that I actually am taking the time to write about it!

• Pros: Same old stuff
• Cons: They were so rude!

03/13/07

Very mediocre food

by ras550 at Citysearch

I agree with most of the reviewers. Food is very mediocre. I have given them 4-5 chances but have been disappointed every time. Not recommended.

• Cons: Mediocre food

03/12/07

Disappointed!

by s0926p at Citysearch

My husband and I were staying at the Kendall Hotel in Cambridge and we got take out from the location across the street there. I was definitely expecting more. The claim chowder lacked seasoning. The one at the Boston and Maine Co. at Quincy Market in Fanueil Marketplace was much tastier than this one! S sad. The popcorn shrimp appetizer was actually good, with traditional cocktail sauce and a creamy sauce that would normally accompany crab cakes. My husbands potato and veggies were average (he was sick and doesnt usually go for seafood anyways). The rolls were nice and crusty. Basically, I would sugguest another place for seafood; sadly the restaurant doesn't hold up to all the hype. Sorry!

• Pros: Fast take-out, nice rolls
• Cons: Disappointing food, lacked flavor

10/09/06

Hmmm....Not as great as I expected.

by ajohnson2828 at Citysearch

I'm relatively new to Boston. I came here hearing rave recommendations for Legal Sea Foods and how great it was. However, I'm a little disappointed. It was kind of, well...average.

08/21/06

victim of its own success

by chow10006 at Citysearch

This place is packed all the time. There's a minimum 10 minute wait - and that's with a reservation. The outdoor bar at this location is nice in the summertime, but again, only if you can get a seat.

For years, we couldn't visit Boston without stopping in for a cup of chowda, a lobster roll and Legal's Bloody Mary. Legal just isn't what it was two decades ago. The staff is still uniformly friendly and the portions are huge, but the food is merely okay. A baked lobster/scallop casserole ordered during a recent visit was dry and tough. In Cambridge, we've switched to Dolphin - reminds us of Legal as it used to be (and much cheaper).

• Pros: consistent on long-standing favorites (the McDonald's of seafood in Boston)
• Cons: iffy on everything else

03/18/05

Overrated seafood

by cl_foodie at Citysearch

Everyone told me this place was wonderful, but the seafood is not that flavorful. I had the grilled salmon and it didn't have a lot of flavor. The clam chowder was good. I went back a second time for breakfast and the salmon benedict was excellent - perhaps it's a better breakfast place.

02/25/04

The lone Harvard Square outpost of this popular institution delivers the chain's famous seafood minus the touristy crowds.

by Eric Grossman at Citysearch

The Scene
It took more than five decades for Legal Sea Foods to drop anchor in Harvard Square, finally landing in a high-profile space in the courtyard of the upscale Charles Hotel. Most nights find the handsome, nautically themed dining room filled to the gills with local workers and academics. While the crowded interior forces friendly, efficient waiters to shout to be heard above the din, the quiet patio offers a calmer environment.

The Food
As at all other Legal locations, super-fresh seafood is the main draw. Locally caught clams and haddock share menu space with tender Alaskan wild salmon and meaty Maryland crab cakes. Top appetizer options include creamy bluefish pate and nationally renowned clam chowder, while homemade lobster ravioli and wood-grilled tuna steaks are best bets among the entrees. Given the restaurant's healthy portions, few diners have room for pedestrian desserts like an oversweet chocolate pudding cake.