Boston Attractions and Things to Do

Abe & Louie's

793 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 617-536-6300

Description: BACK BAY. This well-known, Back Bay restaurant corners the market when it comes to tasty steaks served in heaping portions. Generously cut and cooked to perfection, steaks include a succulent porterhouse or a tender filet mignon. Sides are just as abundant and leave no room for complaints. Salads and seafood options are available for vegetarians. The elegant interior is finely appointed with brass, mahogany, and marble accents.
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Atlantic Fish

761 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 617-267-4000

Description: BACK BAY. A beloved part of the Boston scene since the late 1970s, Atlantic Fish sports an updated atmosphere these days ­ in other words, the original's galley look was traded in for a more polished scene of stained wood, pendant lights, coffered ceiling and crisp white linens. The menu, though hasn't changed all that much over the years (Hey, why mess with a good thing!), and Atlantic's kitchen continues to serve up timeless raw bar classics like shrimp cocktail, iced Littleneck clams and Blue Point oysters. Patio dining is available.
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B&G Oysters

550 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 617-423-0550

Description: SOUTH END. A sleek, stylish raw bar? Thanks to owner Barbara Lynch (of No. 9 Park fame), that's just what B&G is. The sub-level space is subtly (that is, unpretentiously) contemporary, featuring blue and gray tiles, stainless steel elements, and an open kitchen. The raw bar eats are fronted by fresh local oysters, clams, scallops and shrimp. Meanwhile, creative main courses like bacon-wrapped cod, wild striped bass with squid puttanesca, and Italian fish stew are themselves superbly done. Patio dining is available during the warm seasons.
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Barking Crab

88 Sleeper St, Fort Point Landing, Boston, MA 02210 617-426-2722

Description: SEAPORT DISTRICT. Barking Crab doesn't do fancy presentation ­ meals are served on paper plates and eaten with plastic utensils ­ but great food needs no fancy trappings anyway. The place has a way with seafood, evidenced in the Barking Crab Cakes, famous fish and chips, herb-marinated swordfish, and seafood scampi over fettuccini. Outdoor dining and great views of the city skyline make the restaurant a fun spot for casual, relaxed meals.
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Brasserie Jo

120 Huntington Ave, Colonnade Boston Hotel, Boston, MA 02116 617-425-3240

Description: BACK BAY. Enjoy a French meal without ever leaving Boston ­ Brasserie Jo transports you to Alsace, France, with the very first bite. The menu focuses on "les fruits de mer" (seafood) and includes clams, shrimp, and lobster. Additional entrees include filet of skate, mussels Riesling, and sautéed sea scallops. Of course, landlubbers can enjoy classic dishes such as steak, chicken, and lamb. Nice wine list. Outdoor sidewalk dining available.
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Daily Catch

323 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113 617-523-8567

Description: NORTH END. Get to the Daily Catch early to beat the long lines that form around this Boston favorite. Some seafood restaurants try to impress guests with fancy plating, but Daily Catch lets the food do the talking, serving dishes in the pans they were cooked in. Locals and visitors alike love the calamari meatballs, the restaurant's specialty. Black pasta puttanesca and clam linguine are among the other popular dishes.
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East Coast Grill & Raw Bar

1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139 617-491-6568

Description: CAMBRIDGE. East Coast Grill specializes in practically any kind of seafood imaginable. Main courses include cornmeal-crusted scallops, barbequed-pork ribs, and grilled spice-crusted Atlantic salmon. You'll also find an impressive raw bar over flowing with oysters, shrimp and crab claws. Meanwhile, the menu for Sunday brunch is also full of fantastic options, including corn bread-crusted French toast, smoked duck-stuffed tortilla rellenas, and Littleneck clams. Their legendary make-your-own-Bloody Mary bar alone is reason enough to reserve a table!
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FuGaKyu

1280 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 617-734-1268

Description: BROOKLINE. FuGaKyu is an elegant sort of place that caters to a sushi loving crowd. The lovely interior features two special dining rooms that have interesting folding rice-paper screens for privacy and feature stone flooring and bubbling fountains. Regulars feast on plates of tempura, sushi, sashimi, and other traditional Japanese dishes. The green tea ice cream is a must-have meal finisher. Great cocktail lounge perfect for mixing with the upper crust.
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Ginza

16 Hudson St, Boston, MA 02111 617-338-2261

Description: CHINATOWN. Recognized as having some of Boston's freshest, tastiest sushi, this popular restaurant also serves until late in the night. Signature maki rolls are good enough to transform first-timers into regulars, and other Japanese dishes like yakiniku and nabemono-barbecue also prove satisfying. Waitresses decked out in traditional Japanese kimonos hurry about the room, making sure guests are accommodated.
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Grill 23 and Bar

161 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116 617-542-2255

Description: BACK BAY. Grill 23's striking, sophisticated interior features mahogany panels and white tablecloths, and its terrific food demands attention. The menu, which changes weekly, includes delicious New England clam chowder, swordfish, salmon, and lobster. Grill 23 is also famous for its preparation and presentation of beef. The extensive wine list boasts over 900 varieties, including rare Cabernets and Super Tuscans.
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Island Creek Oyster Bar

500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 617-532-5300

Description: KENMORE SQUARE. Diners often believe they have died and gone to shellfish heaven at Island Creek Oyster Bar, which features local oyster options and a rotating selection of satisfying craft beers. Settle down at one of the cozy tables next to the wall decorated with oyster shells, or find a seat at the raw bar to watch the magic happen. Don't leave without ordering a dozen succulent Island Creek oysters or trying their signature oyster sliders.
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Jumbo Seafood

5 Hudson St, Boston, MA 02111 617-542-2823

Description: CHINATOWN. Jumbo's keyword is "fresh," and the kitchen's ability to get seafood from tank to skillet in no time flat makes a noticeable difference in the quality of the cuisine. The Hong Kong-style menu boasts everything from standard favorites like shrimp to exotic dishes based around sea snails. Order fried calamari, or sample tofu with scallops, scallions, and black bean paste, and you're sure to walk away happy. Open late for folks seeking some Chinese for a midnight snack.
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Legal Sea Foods

255 State St, Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 617-742-5300

Description: WATERFRONT. "If it isn't fresh, it isn't legal" is this restaurant's mantra and they pride themselves on offering only the freshest seafood available. Rich, creamy clam chowder is a specialty, and the raw bar fare enjoys its share of devotees. You'll also find wood-grilled swordfish, fried oysters, and a great cioppino. Daily and seasonal specials abound, and fresh Maine lobsters are cracked tableside on request. A Boston institution since 1968, Legal has seven locations in the immediate area alone, but the one at Long Wharf is particularly impressive, thanks to its outdoor dining area and awesome views of the harbor.
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McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

34 Columbus Ave, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA 02116 617-482-3999

Description: THEATRE DISTRICT. Crisply attired waiters and a huge printed menu underscore the upscale ambience of this classy restaurant. Seafood is flown in from Hawaii, British Columbia, and Florida, so you're assured the season's best. Dungeness crab is a work of art, oysters are plump and juicy, and clam chowder makes for a succulent treat.
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Neptune Oyster

63 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113 617-742-3474

Description: NORTH END. Intimate and old-school cool, Neptune sports a pressed-tin ceiling, floor tiles and marble-topped tables. It's the raw bar, though, that truly sets this place apart, thanks to seasonal ditties like Ipswich clams (fried, of course) and a dozen or so varieties of oysters. The wait staff is also extremely knowledgeable and happy to help customers decipher the raw bar menu, so diners receive the freshest and juiciest bivalves every visit.
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Peach Farm

4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111 617-482-1116

Description: CHINATOWN. This Chinatown restaurant dishes up heaping portions of Hong Kong-style seafood to folks who relish wonderful, well-spiced Asian cuisine. Interesting menu options include sesame-tossed jellyfish, jumbo crab spiced with ginger and scallions, braised chicken hot pot, and salted squid. The knowledgeable, friendly waitstaff contribute to a pleasant experience.
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Skipjack's

199 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116 617-536-3500

Description: BACK BAY. This seafood restaurant, which features an underwater-themed decor, is great for a full meal or a light seafood treat. Skipjack's has a reputable raw bar, and you can order light fare at the full bar, including clams and oysters on the half shell. With over 33 types of fish and shellfish to choose from, you're sure to find a dish to delight you. Skipjack's is famous for its lemon, soy, and spice marinade, and Hawaiian mahi mahi is always an excellent choice.
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Summer Shack

50 Dalton St, above Kings Bowling Alley, Boston, MA 02115 617-867-9955

Description: BACK BAY. Nothing preempts a game at Fenway quite like a stopover at the Back Bay edition of Jasper White's Summer Shack family, where the mood is proverbially light-hearted and the raw bar case never seems to suffer from a shortage of fresh oysters, clams, shrimp and lobsters (heck, it holds somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-K shellfish!) If seafood isn't your bag, their versatile menu also lists burgers, corn dogs, fried chicken and even meatloaf. Designed to look like a modern version of a roadside shack, the space gets packed, especially during the summer. Priority seating available.
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Turner Fisheries

10 Huntington Ave, Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116 617-424-7425

Description: BACK BAY. Located near the crossing of Dartmouth and Stuart Streets, Turner Fisheries' Back Bay restaurant has emerged as one of the city's top places for "chowdah" (Boston Magazine bestowed the honor). Using only fresh, responsibly sourced fish and seafood, Chef Armand Toutaint and crew have proven to be not only skilled in the kitchen but good environmental stewards as well. The main dining room offers terrific views of Copley Square via tall cafe-style windows, and the space also features cozy, floor-to-ceiling mahogany panels and floors covered in terrazzo tile.
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Union Oyster House

41 Union St, Boston, MA 02129 617-227-2750

Description: FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Established in 1826, this casual establishment is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the US and consists of a dark, pub-like dining room, oyster bar, restaurant, and drink bar. John F. Kennedy had a favorite booth here while practicing law in his early days, and you can now reserve it for parties of five or six. The place is said to serve the best clam chowder in New England, along with fresh seafood and excellent Bloody Marys. Oysters are delicious, and diners may choose to sit in cozy booths and order from the menu or find a perch at the popular raw bar.
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