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    Barking Crab

    3.2 (2.9k reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Beer Bar
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Barking Crab Photos

    Business Info

    BARKING CRAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Barking Crab

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    Lobster Roll
    Fred K.

    Prob the best food I had when I visiting Boston. It ain't cheap at $47 for a lobster roll, but the meat was sweet, very filling, and really enjoyed every $ bite. The fried clams reminds of Hanks Oyster Bar in DC/NoVa. It was perfectly fried and plump and delicious. No complaints about the food :) Our waiter was good and came back often to see how we were doing. So good service and liked the view into the river and had a nice walk after lunch along the waterfront. It's what I imagined a good lobster shack would look like. The parking garages nearby ain't cheap either paying I think $44 for two hours. Yikes!

    Elizabeth N.

    First time in Boston since I was in HS and I didn't want to leave. One reason? The seafood. The Barking Crab is set on the harbor and is seen as a "must stop spot". With fresh seafood and an unassuming look this waterfront spot was the perfect stop to eat some viddles and catch up with family. The staff was sub par and the roll itself stale but the lobster was on point. I'd go again but this time I'd be a bit more vocal about my needs ;)

    Lily G.

    Their vegetarian options are EXTREMELY limited. I had a side of jasmine rice (mid, how can it really be messed up though. Unseasoned) and coleslaw (exceptionally heavy on the dressing). Atmosphere is circus meets ziplock bag. Fish smells all around. Part of the reason why I did not order the seafood... I will not be back soon. Signs everywhere are funny (the customer is always right except management decides who's a customer... requests to lower the music will not be listened to it's not your living room etc) but the restaurant doesn't back any of this up with service or food.

    Pan-Seared Jumbo Scallops, Shrimp & Lobster Tail dish
    Genevieve V.

    We were looking for a place to have a good lobster roll while spending the night in Boston for a flight the next day. The Barking Crab fit the bill with great views, bar vibes, delicious food, and personal service. I could see how this would be a packed place in the summer as locals look to sit outdoors by the water and soak up the sun. The 4 stars is purely because it was SO expensive. We ordered the Pan-Seared Jumbo Scallops, Shrimp & Lobster Tail dish which came with a lemon buerre blanc sauce, asparagus, and roasted fingerling potatoes. It was $55 for each dish. My friend got the lobster roll with french fries and it was $42, so we felt like this was a deal. We stopped by fairly late on a Monday night and were seated right away. There were enough people still there that we felt like the food would be good, and it was. Started with a Sam Adams beer and pinot grigio, both served in plastic cups. And a bowl of lobster bisque. My biggest complaint is that the silverware was plastic...when i'm paying $200 for a meal for 3, I would like to eat of of some kind of stronger material...instead we had to use our fingers. Note that there was not street parking nearby and 1 hour in the nearest garage was $42, which was absolutely astronomical and would make it hard for me to justify returning if I needed to park. Overall, the food was worth the hassle and we chalked it up to an experience while in Boston.

    Tent seating area
    Craig D.

    The Barking Crab is an iconic classic in Fort Point. The views, the vibes, the food, consistent service and sometimes the attitude all make for an amazing Boston experience. In the summer, it has beautiful views of the city. In the winter, the antique seating area heated by a wood stove create a tuly unique experience. I've been taking people from out of town for over 25 years, and it is always a highlight. It is a wonderful for a few drinks, appetizers and a light very casual meal. When we first starting going to the Barking Crab when the neighboring Moakley Courthouse was just being built, and the restaurant was an oasis in the middle of empy parking lots and semit abandoned buildings. It is now a quaint little place in canyon of gleaming buildings spanning high tech, financial, bio tech and consulting companies. For this past visit, we stopped by on a Thursday late afternoon (4 Sep 25) after dropping our daughter at Logan. Solid choice of draft beer including local favorites. Started with Harpoon IPA and my wife a glass - plastic cup - of wine. It's part of the zen of the crab. Had a dozen fresh clams that were served quickly followed by 3 nicely done crab cakes and an appetizer portion of friend clams that were sweet, fresh and crispy. A few beers or glasses of wine, fresh seafood and beautiful views of Boston on a warm end of summer day. Nothing better.

    Tracy Y.

    A classic tourist favorite--fun atmosphere, but you're definitely paying for the location and vibe rather than top-tier food. We came on a Monday around 5:30pm and luckily didn't have to wait, but it gets very busy during peak hours, so plan accordingly if you hate long lines. The vibe is great--a lively, casual spot right by the water with a "dining-on-a-boat" feel, which adds to the experience. That said, the food is getting more pricey and just okay. You can definitely find better and cheaper seafood around Boston if you're here for the food rather than the fun.

    Gabi Y.

    This spot was packed and had a line out the door for lunch. I've never had a lobster roll so of course we had to get one on the last day of this trip. We really wanted to sit by the water but got seated in the front area. We asked Bryan if we could move by the water and he made it work!! Thank you!! We had such a fun time, the lobster was amazinggg and we loved the ambiance. Great service!

    Dining area
    Madison K.

    What a great spot for a meal in Boston! First of all, the location is top tier. Situated over the water between seaport (where you can access it) and downtown, it's hard to imagine a better spot for a New England seafood joint. It's busy, it's loud, it has garish decor, and it's a whole lotta fun. I also quite enjoyed my food! The clam strip roll was delicious. Pricey, sure. But you're in Boston so you can't get around it. The sweet potato fries were a killer, too. I'd go back just for those. Service was also super quick, which was surprising given how busy it was. Now once the food was dropped off we didn't really see much of our waitress, but other than water we didn't need much more.

    Jill G.

    Cute bar atmosphere place. Sam Adams beer was yummy. The clam chowder was great. French fries were perfection. Lobster roll was pretty good. I've had better in Chicago. Maybe my expectations were high because I heard great things. Service was ok, in & out kinda place.

    exterior
    Amanda Z.

    I visited barking crab on a Friday evening. My friend's mom from New Hampshire recommended this spot so I could try a lobster roll for the first time. There weren't many other customers when we arrived, so we were seated promptly. I also appreciated the festive decorations they had up for the holiday season. I ordered the cold, Maine-style lobster roll, while my friend got the hot, Connecticut-style lobster roll. She let me try hers, & both were delicious. I'd love to visit again!

    Barking Crab Cakes
    Elizabeth S.

    This place was packed! But we did t wait too long to be seated. Very very loud. Our server was awesome. Crab cakes were good and fried shrimp platter was also good. However whomever thinks one little lemon wedge for 8 big shrimp is sufficient is mistaken. And $35 for a fried shrimp platter is a bit overpriced, especially when I couldn't substitute the slaw for corn. Food came out super fast.

    Samuel Adams beer
    Larry H.

    The bar had a good selection of draft beers. Since we were in Boston, I felt like I had to get a Samuel Adams. Beer was fresh and cold. We ordered lobster rolls. The lobster rolls were just OK. The ambience is sort of dive bar-ish. Service was good felt a little rushed. If you want a better lobster roll for the same price go to the Saltie Girl. Lobster rolls at the bar crab do not have a lot of lobster in the bun. It's mostly on top of the bun.

    Lobster roll!
    Leslie D.

    I really liked the Barking Crab (went twice during our trip) but I'm always partial to a crab / lobster shacks located next to the water. If you happen to go during peak hours, the line can be daunting but it moves really fast. In the heat of the summer, the heat can be a little overwhelming so warning you now. For drinks we stuck to beers and for food, the lobster roll of course and crab cakes!

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    15 days ago

    Line looked long but moved fast. It's a joint but lots of fun energy. Food cooked well and pricing very attractive.

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    Barking Crab Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Barking Crab

    Do they have dock space for those arriving by boat? Thank you.

    I didn't see space there but space was available nearby.

    Are reservations accepted?

    Yes. https://blog.thewake.io/experiences-barking-crab-reservations/… Read more

    Are dogs allowed?

    Don't think so, but not sure. I don't think it will be the most dog friendly environment. Packed pretty tight with not much room for our friends to be comfy. I suggest giving the store a call.

    Do they have parking nearby?

    Yes, there is a garage within minutes of restaurant.

    Do they take reservations?

    They do, but you have to book on the not user-friendly link they ask you to use on their website. The link hardly has availability even one month out, which often seems like there's a glitch. Well, don't waste your time, because they don't answer… Read more

    Tv for sports?

    I didn't see any TVs in their covered patio section.

    I called and they said they don't take same day reservations do they take walkins?

    They do take walk ins. There are 2 different host stations depending on whether you want to sit on the outdoor patio or inside. They're not super organized to be honest. But there's usually space at the bar as well!

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Yes, they do! $9 per kid meal. Mac and Cheese, chicken tenders, etc.

    Are you pet friendly in the outdoor area?

    I am not 100% certain by my opinion would be to try not to bring your pet because it is so crowded that It might be unfair and uncomfortable for the pet. Just saying.

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    Distraction & Democracy Beer Garden

    Distraction & Democracy Beer Garden

    4.2
    (11 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Loved this Beer Garden. We noticed it around while walking around the area - Government Center and…read moreFaneuil Hall. After checking out the famed Feneuil Hall and Quincy Market, my husband was ready to go on a sightseeing strike if I wouldn't have gotten him a beer! The Sam Adams tap room was there, but too crowded and popular. We love indie places so we went back to Distraction & Democracy and it was the wisest decision! The space is big, wide, the ladies working the counter are super helpful and friendly, we tried their Amber Ale, it was great, so we ordered a couple of cold ones. Lots of cool seating options, we got some in the shade at a table facing Faneuil Hall. Hard to beat that view! The beer was amazing, the place relaxing, some friendly folks around chilling, taking a break in action like us! They have clean portable toilets with water sinks and soap. Lots of them! Great experience! Enjoyed our well deserved beer break here! Fun and relaxing, cherished a cold one surrounded by the city's history! Cheers!

    Wanted to check out a market that was supposed to be in this space, but when we arrived it was dead…read moreand empty. The bartender told us the market folks rescheduled at the last minute, then offered beers on the house for our trouble. It's a great location with views of the Sam Adams brewery and Faneuil Hall. Super affordable drinks if you were to pay for them, and a great chill place to sit down with friends or enjoy on your own. Staff was incredible. Big props to those ladies holding it down!

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    Distraction & Democracy Beer Garden
    Distraction & Democracy Beer Garden
    Menu

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    Menu
    Bricco

    Bricco

    4.0
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    I went to Bricco with some friends during a short trip to Boston. We were seated upstairs and we…read morestarted our meal with cocktails. I ordered the Espresso Martini, which I learned the restaurant is famous for and after tasting it I understand while. I want to put the disclaimer that I am allergic to nuts, so I didn't have it how the restaurant traditionally prepares it (using Amaretto) but it still tasted excellent. The Espresso Martini was perfectly balanced between bitter and sweet and the had the perfect amount of foam on top. For my meal I got the Shrimp pasta with Zucchini. The shrimp was tender and the noodles were cooked to a perfect al dente. The zucchini added a nice contrast to the rich tomato sauce and helped make the dish feel light even though it was a bowl of pasta. My only complaint that the restaurant is very dim especially upstairs. Some people at our table joked that they might need to use their phone flashlight to read the menu, so if you are someone who struggles to see in dimly lit places keep that in mind.

    The building has 2 floors with bathrooms on both floors. The restaurant was dimly lit at night…read more They did give some complementary bread. I ordered the Farfalle Tartufate (lobster pasta with truffle) and Bricco's brodetto (variety of seafood) as they were recommended online. However they fell below my expectations. The lobster was overcooked so it was on the rubbery size. The pasta was undercooked and hard. The pasta portion size was tiny like an appetizer for the cost of $34 for 5-6 pieces of pasta. The swordfish in the brodetto was pretty hard and I found some sand in my clams. The salmon was also very expensive for the small portion size. For appetizers I did like how they wrapped the lemon in a net so the seeds wouldn't fall out. The mashed potatoes were also nice and creamy. The zucchini flowers were good but pretty expensive for just 2.

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    Bricco
    Bricco
    Bricco

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    Boston Sail Loft

    Boston Sail Loft

    4.4
    (2.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Sail me to the moon with the Clam Chowder they make here!…read more Our first stop on a food tour, we came in for the legendary Clam Chowder. It was an absolute treat to say the least. Thickest, most seasoned, and most delicious Clam Chowder I've ever had. I wanted a second one but knew we had more on our tour to enjoy so I had to resist. In one of my photos attached, the spoon stands straight up in the mug! Incredible! The other food getting served around us looked great too. Definitely adding this to our "come back to" list when we visit Boston again.

    Tourist trap. Best clam chowder? I beg to differ, had way…read morebetter at the Chelsea Market fish market. Our plan was to sit outside at a table on their SIDEWALK area with my 10lb dog in her stroller, but the hostess said, with an attitude, no dogs allowed in the patio area. Patio area? You mean the sidewalk? Isn't the sidewalk a public area? We were confused. We tried to clarify because maybe he was confused? But no, he said no again. My mom was hungry so we opted to get a bowl of chowder to go and we put our name down at the restaurant next door who was UBER dog friendly and even gave my girl a dog bone when we checked in, and lots of pets. Anyways the clam chowder should be renamed to dill chowder because dang, why so much! And hardly any clam, mostly potatoes. Not a fan of the policy or the chowder, would not recommend

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    Inside
    Inside
    Lobster Mac and Cheese
    Lobster Mac and Cheese
    Clam Chowder

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    Clam Chowder

    Barking Crab - seafood - Updated June 2026

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