Barking Crab Photos
Business Info
BARKING CRAB ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Barking Crab
Recommended Reviews - Barking Crab
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
The food was great. Everything we ordered was delicious we tried to get multiple things to try a barrage of what they had to offer. 8 different dishes and they did not disappoint. The service was exceptional and the ambiance was fun.
Great spot in between Seaport and the Freedom Trail! The lobster roll was fantastic and the place was set up really nicely. Food came out super fast. In the off season the place will fill up fast and you may have to wait which was a little awkward since it had just opened when I went, but nothing to seriously hinder the experience.
Ughhh, I wanted so badly for this place not to be a tourist trap, but unfortunately that's exactly what my experience was here... My husband and I came in on a Sunday morning right when they opened so we were able to snag seats at the bar. Not even 30 minutes later, the place was packed and there was a line forming outside. Outrageous! I was excited when I saw the menu as it has all of the quintessential New England seafood you could want. We ordered the fried scallop platter to share. The word "platter" is misleading as it was barely a plate. It was a shockingly small portion size in relation to the price. The presentation was also very sloppy and unappealing. I'm giving two stars for the cool location as the restaurant seems like it is quite literally floating in Boston Harbor, but that's how they trap you! I would definitely recommend tourists look into going to Plymouth or down the Cape for a much better, authentic New England seafood meal!
This was honestly such a disappointing meal. Brought my friend from California here, and unfortunately everything we received was cold and oily. Our calamari was COLD, so it must have been sitting there. We sent it back and I put a paper in the tray to see if they'd bring back the same one and sure enough they did. They either heated it up again or just straight up laughed in our face. Our server took orders of people that arrived after us. Fish tacos lacked flavor and soggy.
Exactly what you expect when you see a big sign outside that says "Big Deck Energy" the service is shared- everyone seemed accountable for everything. The food was good- fried food and fresh seafood, fries were a bit soggy.
Came here to experience a lobster roll and this place looked fun. The lobster roll was tasty and fresh! Super solid. Also got their chicken sandwich and that thing was seasoned so well! Both were home runs. Service was fast and friendly. This is a fun place inside. You could find families in there, work colleagues, you name it and it's close to the water.
If you're in the Boston area, definitely a must to try. The restaurant is by the water. The ambiance very nice, loud, music, such a vibe. The service was very friendly & attention to detail, because I had lots of questions on the menu. I ordered fried fish tacos, which was delicious, and some grilled little neck clams. Oh yeah can't forgot about the lobster roll. & a side of extra fries, that made everything better. I can't wait to visit again.
Love this place!! Super lively, and offers classic Boston food if you're from out of town and looking for a good lobster roll. I love how it's right on the water, which is super convenient if you want to walk around the waterfront area and make a day out of it. Service was great even though we went on a busier day, and the food was incredible. The decor was super cute as well!!
Perfect spot on the water to grab some seafood! Great vibes with plenty of food and drinks to choose from. Wish the lobster roll was a little bigger for the price, but other than that everything was very good. Service was very quick and food came out hot and fresh.
Walked in for a table of 2 on a Sunday night not expecting much of a crowd. We were sat right away, but more so just pointed to the table instead of guided to it. The wait staff were very attentive in an effort to turn tables over quickly. It was a busy, but not over crowded night and the vibes on the water were good. The food itself is very expensive and average, but it's worth the location.
I really enjoyed my time at Barking Crab. I had the snow crab (1.5 lbs!) and was sure to put my bib on! The crab tasted so fresh and the meat did NOT stick to the sides of the shell. Dipping butter was plentiful and delicious. We sat inside as it had a much shorter line, but they have an outdoor patio that looks awesome for a summer afternoon. We were seated by a window in the back with a gorgeous view of the water. The ambience was very lively, down-to-earth, rustic, and while it seemed older, it was clean. Service was sufficient - nothing bad and nothing over the top. There were a couple of faint smiles here and there, but they were hustling with so many customers! Definitely worth a visit, and I would love to return for more!
I read so many mixed reviews but their menu look like we'd have a lot of options as we only have one day in Boston and wanted to eat everything. Luckily, there were four of us so we did order a lot so we could taste a little bit of everything and we were not disappointed. Lobster roll , clam chowder , fish and chips , clam strips , crab cakes , oysters and more fried seafood . The only thing that was just OK with the crab cakes other than that everything was delicious. Service was very attentive and prompt. It's located in the Seaport area. A very casual atmosphere, love all the cool and funny signage.
I couldn't believe I've lived in MA my entire life and had never been here before. The ambiance is straight up Boston Summer vibe specifically if you like seafood - which was unreal by the way. I still daydream about it on the regular. The only reason this isn't giving 5 stars for me was the insane line and lack of speedy service. But the food thooooooo
7 years ago
My best friend and I were out looking for a beer. I would have to say, we won. At first, I was hesitant. I looked at her kind of funny and said, "there's nothing else?" Then we headed in, just an hour and a half after breakfast we sat down and were pleased to find out we could get a pitcher of one of their house beers. It was perfect. Just because, we could, we also had a pound of steamed shrimp, two oysters, clam chowder and a lobster roll. We ate every bit of it. I'm not sure what people expect when they are going here, but it definitely is worth more than three stars. The service was great, it was a fun atmosphere outside, and a great view of the city. Plus, the food was good! It wasn't a five star restaurant, but it wasn't meant to be! I'd definitely head back for another pitcher. Oh, and one more thing that made it great - vinegar for the french fries. How could you go wrong? You can't. read more
5 years ago
13 years ago
Came here with a few friends and everyone loved it. The drinks we got were dark and stormy and bloody mary which we had no problems finishing. I had the dark and stormy and think it was the perfect mix because I could taste the rum but it wasnt overpowering. One person who had a bloody mary wanted more tomato and another thought it was perfect. Eh. We shared fried calamari and buffalo scallops. I wish the calamari came with a sauce but the lemon was perfect. Be warned: there will be some whole octopus which I know freaks some people out. The buffalo scallops were fried and then covered in buffalo sauce and had blu cheese dipping sauce. I was skeptical but they were good--masked the scallop flavor which I dont like. So I guess dont get it if you like scallops. I got a boiled 1.25 lb lobster which was perfect. Not much to say there--how do you mess it up? One got the crab legs which was a lot of work. Another got a lobster roll which I thought had too much bread. The last got the special grilled swordfish which was perfectly cooked but the rice was gummy and the spinach was not to my liking because the stems were long and thus get in your teeth. No flavor to it either. Service was okay, he seemed busy but nice. Had to ask for water refills. Ill be back for sure...so many things to get! read more
10 years ago
This place definitely gets packed on weekends and is probably somewhat of a tourist trap, but I like coming here when we visit Boston! It is loud, but it has a great vibe and is right on the harbor. It can be pricey so I would recommend trying to find a seat at the bar, grabbing a few Harpoons and maybe one app to split. I have had dinner here before and it was good but not worth the bill. It is best to enjoy this place in the afternoon, around happy hour time, and then dine somewhere else -- Maybe somewhere a little quieter. read more
4 years ago
13 years ago
This place is definitely touristy, and you may wait in line for a while, but the food isn't tourist-trap awful. It's fresh and delicious. You do pay a bit of a premium for the view, but the people-watching is great, and the seafood is truly excellent. His plate: Fried calamari - Point Judith rings & tentacles lightly fried, garlic butter, pepperoncini Fried fish sandwich - Harpoon IPA battered scrod, tartar sauce Her plate: Steamed clams - local steamers, butter, chorizo, broth "Naked" lobster roll - 6oz lobster tossed in drawn butter, fries, slaw The calamari was good but not exceptional - very fresh, but could've benefited from a great dipping sauce. I chose a "naked" lobster roll because I didn't want to cover the lobster flavor with mayo - a good choice here, where it's cooked perfectly. This wasn't a lobster roll full of chopped tail meat or scraps of claws - there were full knuckles in the mix of perfectly cleaned meat. Definitely a great lobster roll. Order a beer or margarita, enjoy the fresh air, and hope that a table near you orders a 10lb lobster so that you can gawk at the platter. read more
With 900+ reviews, I though I had to try this and it did not disappoint. This place is a family restaurant with the TGI Fridays kinda vibe. It's loud and the service won't be the greatest but at least the Crab is good. We ordered the crab cakes and Alaskan king crab legs. Crab cakes were ok but the crab legs were sooooo good. The amount of crab legs you get is also rather generous. read more
7 years ago
Great place for a casual meal! Would definitly recommend if in the area. Place has been here for 25+ years!!!! All these other places with over priced drinks, small protions, fake fancy dishes will probably be gone in a couple years so you might as well eat something authentic. Would definitly recommend! read more
8 years ago
17 years ago
Dear B.C., I've been to your establishment twice and both times were just A-Ok. I think it's mostly because there's a bunch of hipsters in there that are superficial. I mean, c'mon! This place is supposed to be chill and down to earth. Your food is also just sub-par. I didn't think the clam roll was all that, I've had much better. Also, I have this thing about establishments that serve drinks out of plastic cups! Get some real cups people! Wish I had something better to write about.... Better luck next time, Dreamsrey read more
12 years ago
Like most people, when I visit a coastal state, I like to sample the seafood. I chose to do so at the Barking Crab on a particularly beautiful June day in Boston & had a pretty decent meal. The view from this waterfront restaurant was very enjoyable. Contrary to some of the other reviewers' customer service experiences, I found the staff (the hostess, my waiter, etc.) to be very helpful & friendly. I took a chance on the Clam Steamers appetizer & found that, although I haven't particularly enjoyed clams in the past, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed these. Next came the Atlantic Snow Crab Clusters. Good quality, but I wish Dungeness would have been an option. I docked 1 star because of the inflated prices, the fact that Dungeness crab has been pulled from their menu, & because of the bad music & cheesy decor. I don't regret eating at The Barking Crab; however, because of the vast seafood dining options available in the Boston/Cambridge area, I would probably try another seafood restaurant before visiting this location again. read more
8 years ago
5 years ago
Barking crab's lobster rolls were the best we had in New England. Their clam chowder was excellent with chunks of clam and bacon. We will definitely eat there again and recommend it! read more
2.5 star rating* My boyfriend and I were on a weekend getaway to Boston late August and we decided to hit up this spot for dinner because we saw this restaurant on many "recommended to go" lists. To start, my boyfriend had the local oysters and I ordered a red sangria. The sauce that came with it was really chunky; I was kind of hesitant at first but our waitress said its how they make it. Boyfriend said the oysters were okay. For our entrees, I ordered the lobster roll and he ordered I believe was the surf and turf, I don't remember the name anymore but it had grilled marinated steak tips and lobster with asparagus. My dish was meh; the taste wasn't great. I definitely had better. My boyfriend's dish was a lot better and although it was pretty small for the price it tasted good. I was just not satisfied with the quality of food. Maybe we ordered the wrong things. The atmosphere is loud but you can still have a conversation. It's to be expected since it's an outdoor bar/restaurant. read more
16 years ago
Overall: Touristy spot - nice view with some seafood to eat. Food: Home of the 10lb lobster! No real pizzazz that we cant get elsewhere. we ordered a 2lb-er lobster and dungunes crab legs (sold out of the local crab - which was unfortunate). Clam "chowda" was bomb. Liquor: Small bar area with normal drinks, beer, hard liquor, cocktails. Decor: We sat in the tent area. Rows of picnic tables - good for big groups. Make sure to call in advance just in case looks like it does get pretty busy. Went in March - so pretty chilly night. They have heaters in between the rows of tables. So either you sit on the side where you get super hot or you sit on the side with the cold chill. Pick your poison. Service: they came, they served, they went. read more
My friends and I decided to visit Boston about a month ago and we wanted to try different eating locations. We were told to visit the Barking crab, and I am happy we did. The staff was very nice, as we were a group of 7 people who arrived around 10pm. The food was very yummy, my friend and I shared an order of the crab cakes and fried calamari. The service here is incredibly fast, we did not have to wait long at all to receive our meal! I believe that the food is accurately priced and affordable. The view at night is very pretty and memorable and the location itself is nicely decorated. It creates a nice at sea atmosphere. I would suggest tourist to stop by and enjoy the seafood here. read more
11 years ago
Excellent location and a great local place to bring out of town guests! However having to share a picnic bench with others is kind of awkward. The service was average, bordering on below average. In terms of food, I went with a classic- the lobster Mac and cheese. I have tasted my fare share of lobster Mac and cheese in Boston and this definitely ranks near the top. I highly recommend it! I had every intention of only eating half and taking the rest home but it was so good I couldn't stop eating it despite being so full. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
No trip to Boston is complete without a stop at the Barking Crab. The New England crab chowder is to die for, so fresh and delicious. The Barking Crab has a wide selection of local and imported beers, drinks and other food. The Barking Crab has a dining and also bar selection depending on your preference. Can't wait to visit Boston again and make a stop here. read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
The waitress with the Princess Leia buns trucking sucked. She made me order food and I'm a vegetarian????????? Bro I came for drinks not a meat fest . She slammed our drinks down in front of us. Princess Leia might have hated her life but she certainly hated our group more. Aha do not come here if you are just trying to get the Saturday for the boys special. -Jordyn p.s. she made me so mad that I was forced to make this stupid ass account read more
4 years ago
My brother's wife suggested we dine here while the four of us (brothers + wives) were in Boston. We must have gotten there at the prefect time because there was no wait time for us but yet the place was still quite busy. They had a singer/guitarist playing some live music which was quite decent. We could still talk and not yell over the music. Our waitress was friendly and helped us quickly starting with several beers. We ordered the fried calamari, peel 'n' shrimp, crab and corn chowder, king crab, snow crab, and a salad with shrimp and anchovies. All the food was good with zero complaints. I felt this place would have a higher average rating based on my experience. Yes, this place is "touristy" but that's what we were. Prices were fine for seafood. I should have asked the freshness of the crab and shrimp. It could have been pre-frozen but it didn't reek of being frozen food. I suggest checking it out if you're in that area. read more
15 years ago
I love the atmosphere here. The food is decent, not super special. Portions are big. I really like twice fried fries. This is the only placed I'd get regular fries vs. sweet potato fries just because they do them SO good. Chowdah is alright, but the fish and chips were lip smacking good! But again, I like the atmosphere more than anything else here. read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
I was really looking forward to this place given it being right by the water, however wasn't significantly impressed. Had the close to $30 lobster roll and it was mediocre. Felt it was a lot more bread than anything. Oysters tasted fresh. Fish and chips came out as a fish sandwich? It was tasty and had good flavor. Margarita was average...a bit watered down though. read more
8 years ago
5 years ago
Visiting from Arizona and this is place was a sleeper! The seafood was amazing, the place doesn't look like much, its on the harbor, but don't let that fool you. I had the mussels and clam chowder and my husband had the naked lobster roll, they were the bomb. Great service, great food. read more
8 years ago
Great atmosphere, good drinks and food! We had the Caesar salad, King crab & chowder. Very good and friendly staff! read more
More info about Barking Crab
88 Sleeper St
Boston, MA 02210
Waterfront, South Boston
Directions
(617) 426-2722
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.barkingcrab.com/
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
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/…
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…
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.
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
235 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
15 years ago
16 years ago
16 years ago
17 years ago
17 years ago
17 years ago
3 months ago
17 years ago
16 years ago
13 years ago
13 years ago
15 years ago
5 years ago
13 years ago
17 years ago
15 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
