3 of us had lunch around noon, plenty of seating available. FOOD: Very good, fresh. The fish and chips were flaky, fries crispy and the cole slaw is savory. The seafood casserole was decadent with plenty of scallops and shrimp. SERVICE: Nina was excellent. Ensured we had everything we needed, patient with an elderly party member and took photos which came out really nice! BAR: The Bloody Mary had just the right amount of mix and alcohol and was loaded with fresh garnish - 3 jumbo olives, a shrimp and lemon and lime wedges. ATMOSPHERE: It was chilly as we arrived (March), warmed up a bit as more patrons entered. Of course, it does have the aroma of a fish restaurant. Parking is in the back, the entrance is before the restaurant. We missed it the first time around as the parking sandwich board sign was behind the white picket fence. A little inconvenient as we had to then go all the way around the center for a second time. I suspect if the sidewalk was shoveled, the sign would be out there and more visible. There is a parking sign with an arrow on the building, but it is in front of the restaurant walkway entrance, so by the time you see it you likely passed the parking lot entrance. read more

A welcome addition to downtown Chelmsford! Fresh local New England seafood. Service was friendly and efficient. Large portions so one meal can also be tomorrow's lunch. Good wine selection, and the bar was quite crowded when I was there. read more

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The fried clam plate is delicious. Interesting menu with full range of seafood. The service excellent. Attractive contemporary restaurant and bar with a relaxed ambiance. read more

Was there on a Friday Night... very busy. Although my Baked Scallops were tender/very good... My wife ordered the Lobster Risotto... And found the Lobster Meat was: "VERY TOUGH" I wish she would have said something... but probably didn't want to feel embarrassed... im front of guests/friends who were dining with us. Tough Lobster... is typically a sign of either not being properly cooked... or, being way "over cooked"... (Thx Google) It was so tough, that she refused to eat any of her leftover dinner... for lunch today. So, I tried it (to clean out the fridge)... And by far, the worst/toughest lobster... which I've ever had. The pieces were like chewing on "rubber"... most of it, I just threw out... read more

Had dinner a couple of weeks ago. Food was fresh. The swordfish was cooked really well. The mussels were so-so. Our server was attentive and polite. The ambience gives a cozy vibe, but getting into the parking lot was tricky. I missed the entrance the first time. However, even though we had a reservation for 8pm , and we arrived 5 mins ahead of time, they made us wait till 8.30pm. The front staff was not very helpful when we inquired about the delay a couple of times. They just shrugged it off. This is the main reason I am giving a 3 star review. read more

Came here for some seafood and it was a very cute spot! Our server (I think she had braids!) was sooo attentive and very patient with us. She definitely made the experience enjoyable. Their starter bread was well seasoned and warm. They also gave a generous amount of butter, which we love! The clam chowder I would say definitely order. I'd also order the stuffed lobster tails if you're looking for a seafood dish. Their sweet potato fries are a great side to order too. Overall great experience and will come again! read more

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This place is awesome. Great local spot in Chelmsford center. From the outside, it looks like a casual establishment, but once you walk in you're transported to a classy seafood spot as if you were on the coast. It's usually pretty busy, but I was lucky enough to get some bar seats. The bar tender was very attentive, friendly, and gave excellent service. The martinis are huge, and you even get a 2 for 1 since they give you the rocks in a glass on the side. The food is delicious. I got the lobster fettuccine with vodka sauce. When I say they did not skimp on the lobster, I mean it. With that amount of lobster it's worth every penny. If you're around Chelmsford, I recommend stopping in for a jumbo martini and a fresh seafood dish. read more

Fishbones - Martini - The image shows two martini glasses with olives and two short glasses of water on a dark bar counter. The background includes a bar area with shelves, artwork, and a window, indicating an indoor setting at Fishbones restaurant. The scene suggests a social or dining environment with a focus on beverages. - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

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When I say this place has gone downhill, that's an understatement. We ordered to go - and before you say that's the issue, I assure you it's not. We got the lobster mac and cheese ($35) and the lazy man lobster with whipped potatoes and spinach as sides ($32). The lobster in both dishes was overcooked and chewy, the mac and cheese pasta was undercooked and overall so dry. When you think mac and cheese, you think creamy and cheesy, and this was the opposite. I don't know what's wrong with the spinach but it's gross - the look and taste. But the worst part out of everything: the plastic container the mac and cheese came in was broken and we found pieces of plastic INSIDE the mac and cheese. Luckily we saw the crack and were on the lookout for pieces of plastic. Otherwise, that could have ended really badly. Fishbones is supposed to be an expert in seafood; we were so looking forward to this meal. The fact that a recent trip to KFC was better than this (also $50 less) is beyond disappointing. I tried to find something redeeming about this visit/meal but the best I can say is that the mashed potatoes were okay, flavorless, but better than everything else we ordered. read more

Fishbones - Broken container; there were pieces of plastic INSIDE the mac and cheese came - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

I had been Fishbone couple times. Seafood good and fresh. Service ok. Noises but ok. Today me and my boyfriend are going out for late lunch . So I recommend to eat there. We in the restaurant and wait and wait... no one comes over for ask us anything. Even water. That time was not too busy. The waitress just hang out at the bar. We waiting too long, and we decided to left. Hopefully the service will be better in the future. read more

Ordered the Mediterranean seafood dish, which I have always ordered here, yesterday afternoon. We decided to get it to go; when I went to eat it that night there was 1 shrimp, 1 scallop, and tiny bits of the end of a claw. This used to be very good. Doubt we will be back. If you order this eat it there so you can bring it to their attention. read more

We have eaten here at least a half a dozen times, consistently great. Fish & Chips, calamari, fried whole belly clams. We keep it straight forward on the dishes. Lovely atmosphere, very good service, clean facility. We will be back. Thanks Fishbone crew. read more

Great ambiance. Chowder was on point. Waiter was experienced, gave great recommendations , and kept our glasses filled. Desserts on point too. All and all and great visit. read more

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Went here for the first time for my birthday last night with my mom and the bf! Ultimately we would all highly recommend! We did call ahead (can do call ahead same day only).. it was Dec 23 (holiday season) and we called ahead for 6:45pm. We got there a lil early and only waited like 15 minutes until we got a table. The atmosphere/ambience is top notch honestly! I read reviews saying it can be too loud but I disagree and not too loud .. yes it was "loud" but not bothersome loud and you can hear each other easily! (My mom is 83, I just turned 43 so keep that in perspective)..It's nice, clean and I say upscale but casual and cozy! Service was amazing! We had Peter and he was attentive, funny and made good recommendations! Definetely kudos to him! Ok the DRINKS! Honestly they were so yummy and strong (in the bestest way) and I would just come here for drinks! I had blood orange martini, bf had passion fruit martini, and mom had cosmo.. all were amazing and we were all "feeling nice" after 1! Plus they do give you the extra in the shaker so it's like a drink and a half lol.. mind you, we are picky about the drinks and my mom couldn't talk enough about her yummy cosmo! Drinks were def one of the highlights! Apps: we had the calamari and it was yummy! The batter on all the fried food is top notch! Crispy, not overly battered, not too greasy and light! And yes they give you tentacles and the marinara sauce was yummy!! I would like them to add the hot peppers in there but that's ok lol.. entrees: I had the blackened swordfish (I read reviews and ppl were raving about it) and I loved it! The fish was thick, big peice, but flavorful, juicy (not dry), mango salsa was yum, and u get 2 sides (I got sweet potato fries and butternut squash very good!).. mom had baked seafood casserole with sane sides I got.. it was good, just a lil dry (this is why I'm givjng 4 stars instead of 5).. I tried it and maybe it was a tad overcooked? But still good and ok.. my bf got fried seafood platter.. it was very good, big portion, u get both fries, onion rings and coleslaw and all yummy (coleslaw was really good lol) again the batter was great! Dessert menu honestly the options weren't overly stupendous butt we decided on the brownie sundae with ice cream, and it was a brownie sundae SKILLET! Pleasantly surprised!! Honestly I would come back for that! Another highlight! Hot skillet brownie with crispy edges, 2 scoops of ice cream and whipped cream with chocolate drizzle omg so good! Big portion and easily shareable with 3 people! My mom is not a big brownie fan but she loveddd it! Honestly the place is also decently priced and "affordable" the whole bill came to $175.. special occasion and happily spent! Hope this helps and thank you Fishbones! Merry Christmas! - Penny read more

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We had a great seafood lunch here. The restaurant has a relaxed but elevated ambiance, and would be a lovely spot to take family and friends for a nice meal out. My group ordered several dishes to share, and we were surprised how filling everything was. We tried two lobster pastas and lobster risotto, and were happy to see that they definitely don't skimp out on the lobster meat! The buttersquash side also stood out for us - it was so smooth and sweet. We came early but the restaurant definitely filled up quickly by prime time, so come early to avoid the wait. read more

Fishbones - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

We've lived in Chelmsford for 4 years and finally came here for the first time and it was good. Vibe: semi-upscale, seafood focus but other options available Service : Excellent, we really liked our server who was nice without feeling fake, food came out in a timely manner Food: Crab cake (app) - only one, solid and I don't even like crab Clam chowder (app) - thick and creamy, delicious! Lobster risotto - partner's dish, he liked it, tomato flavor came on a bit strong but not bad Swordfish - well cooked and the jus was very tasty but the roasted veggies were under seasoned Drinks: pomegranate cosmo tasted like candy, was strong, they even gave the extra from the shaker 10/10 Value: Good portions, it is seafood so pricey but not terrible Entrance is a side door to the right of the building, not very obvious as others pointed out. We called ahead for a 6:30 time and were seated around 6:45. Overall decent, cocktail was solid, would come back. read more

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They served Immaculate service and meals. Delicious food + drinks. Would definitely visit again! read more

Fishbones - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Came in with only 45 minutes until close but staff was still friendly kind and attentive. No one was rushing us out of there even when I know they wanted to. Food was great and came out quickly! Truffle fries were delicious and I would definitely recommend them for a nice app to snack on. Loved the cocktail menu with lots of choices! Restaurant is right downtown which is perfect for stopping in but there is still a large parking lot in the back which is fantastic! read more

Fishbones - Truffle fries - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

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Fishbones is a good restaurant overall, but if you read the reviews here there are some things that keep it from being great. First, it is a busy and crowded place that does not take reservations. That is a turn off for me, as I am just not into waiting hours for a meal. They do offer call ahead which may or may not work out. We've been a few times now and have found the service to be friendly, but not always efficient. You might have to search out for your wait staff wondering where they might be. As others have mentioned, it is a very loud environment and not best for conversations without shouting. Cocktails here are generous and strong, and I think fairly priced. On our last visit we started with the bacon wrapped scallops in maple syrup. Pricey, but cooked perfectly and delicious. Everybody in our dinner party was happy with their dinner, but I felt mine was the weakest. I tried the mixed grilled seafood, which was a generous portion overall and included shrimp, salmon and swordfish. My disappointment in the dish was that the fish was dry, overcooked and lacking in seasoning. By contrast, the broiled swordfish plate was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. The pasta dishes served looked great. Clearly enough people are pleased with Fishbones as it is always packed. You can find better seafood options, but overall I think they do a good job here. read more

Fishbones - Bacon wrapped scallops with maple syrup. 6 for $16 - A white ceramic dish contains six bacon-wrapped scallops, garnished with a lemon wedge. The scallops are cooked with crispy bacon, and the dish is placed on a dark wooden table. An empty white plate is visible in the background, indicating a dining setting. - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

A group of 8 of us went here for dinner and sat on the outside patio. It was pleasant but a little crowded. We didn't mind since this was last minute and appreciated their accommodation. The service was good. The waiter was attentive and responsive to our needs. The cocktails, or at least mine, were just OK. It was weak and the balance was a little off but not the worst I have had. The food was good. I had a grilled salmon that was well made with crunchy skin. You can tell that the fish was high quality. My Caesar salad was huge and also very well made. I am a Caesar salad snob, so I note it when I get a good one. Most of the others got fried fish of some sort and all commented that it was crunchy and not oily so that was great. Give it a shot read more

Experienced the most unprofessional, unpleasant, miserable waitresses by the name of Jessica. I was hoping to enjoy a pleasurable dinner after a long day in the office however, my experience quickly turned to distain with having a miserable, rude, unkept waitress. Completely ruined my evening. Highly dissatisfied to say the least!!!! read more

Fishbones - Paid Receipt - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

So delicious!! The salmon was cooked just right and the steamers were delicious!!! It's hard to cook salmon and Fishbones rocked it!! Very good! Thank you to Barbara wonderful waitress experience!!! I always will return it was so delicious!! read more

Ate at fishbones yesterday to celebrate a retirement with 2 other colleagues. Two of us arrived soaking wet from the rain. Our third person was running a little late. Even though the restaurant was empty the hostess refused to let the two of us sit at our table which we had reserved. We were forced to stand there awkwardly in their tiny foyer until the 3 rd person arrived. Absolutely rude and disrespectful. The food was "ok" but will never eat there again due to the behavior of host staff and not letting us sit down. read more

Went there twice within a week to celebrate our Birthday's and Anniversary. We couldn't be more excited about both visits. We went there many years ago and I am disappointed that we waited so long to return. Our first visit on Saturday was excellent, the food was amazing as were the cocktails and such a wonderful ambiance. Our second visit on Wednesday was delightful, great food and our waitress Jessica just made it more enjoyable. Needless to say we will be going there more frequently than we were. Kudos to the hostess and the entire staff . You made our celebrations much more memorable than we could ever imagine. read more

Fishbones - House Bloody Mary - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Great seafood! West had steamers to start (smaller serving than I would have liked but delicious). I got the Parmesan crusted flounder which was excellent! A very generous portion. Drinks were good. Parking is in the lot behind so look that up before you go! Highly recommend read more

Fishbones - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

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Please tell suprised with Fishbones. I would not order the baked seafood casserole again but everything else I would. The mixed seafood grill was excellent. Would like a side sauce. Any of the tables got the fried seafood platter which looked good but definimtwy something that needs to solve split. read more

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This is the 2nd time in 6 months that we got no chips with our fish and chips! The attitude is the worst. The fish was dry and I didn't get to talk to anyone. They left me on hold so i hung up! Stay away! read more

Worth the drive. Large menu. 2 dining rooms. Bar. Parking lot is behind building but is not easy to find entrance; there is signage. Great for lunch or dinner (same menu for both). read more

The Lobster Mac and cheese for 35.00 was not good. The lobster pieces were small claws!!! Any lobster meat was rubber. The dish was microwaved so the bottom pasta was hot, but the top pasta was hard and dried. The cheese flavor was good. read more

I wasn't sure where I wanted to stop in a grab some seafood and just happened upon Fishbones since it was close. What a great place! The atmosphere was great, friendly and quick service by my waitress, read more

I love me some Fishbones. The ambiance is not too casual, but casual enough where I don't have to be fancy, yet I feel sophisticated. You know? Their drinks here are awesome, the blood orange martini is the best thing on the menu (and I'm an espresso woman) and the bloody is delicious, and also has a full shrimp on it, pickle and a companion of two olives. Food items that sounded delicious were endless, but after many long minutes of deciding, we ended with the tried and true of the lobster roll. Bun was toasted nicely, lobster chunks were plentiful and the Mayo meat combo was nailed. The veg of the day was Brussels - which when does that ever happen? Side note - spinach dip came with truffle chips and the Buffalo shrimp was amazing. Long wait so call ahead but you can stand near the bar and it's worth your patience. read more

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This restaurant serves excellent seafood and really excellent clam chowder. Service is good although it is crowded at least on the weekends I've been there. Had the lobster Mac and Cheese which was very filling although temperature wise it could have been a little hotter. Really like it thee. read more

Wow, just showed up a 4:30, the place was empty, 90% of the tables were empty and they turned us away. Crazy right? Because we did t call ahead. We used to be regulars, but that was a sour experience for sure. read more

It is very loud in this restaurant. You might not want to go here for a quiet conversation. Service was very slow, but maybe they were short staffed tonight. Food was delicious but the bill was up there. read more

The food at Fishbones is consistently excellent. We enjoy fresh fish dishes. Started with shrimp cocktail and oysters - fresh, tastey; no mignonette. Enjoyed baked scallops and sesame tuna steak. Scallops were baked perfectly in delectable buttery bread crumbs. Tuna was generous and cooked perfectly - Tuna quality was excellent. Side dishes were all wonderful. We have enjoyed Fishbones for years. The restaurant is open, spacious needing a little updating. Nautical theme. We enjoy eating at bars for the service. Unfortunately, the bar service was slow and inattentive. The bar tenders didn't check in with customers. They seemed to be more involved with themselves. Picture of bar without any bar tenders. Seemed to be getting food out of site (they were chewing when they would return... rather funny). Just not the expectations for service. Second time we have seen this... could have been 3 star. read more

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Food was excellent. However, if you are a party of two, you will be seated in a row of two tops that are crammed together. No privacy for conversations. if you ask for a more private table, you will be refused. Best to come here in warm weather when you can sit outside and not be crammed in. This is a quirk of the management at this place that I've not run across at other restaurants. Felt to me to be not very customer oriented. read more

Went to Fishbones last week and had an average meal at best. A bit pricey for what you get. The beer options were pretty good but the overall experience was just average. read more

I love fishbones and it's one of my go to's but past few times dealing with flies is not what I want to do.......If I am spending 95+ on dinner and drinks I do not want to deal with flies. We had to scoot them off several times and the table next to us they were on the plates and then going to the windows. Our waitress was so nice and said she would let the manager know, but never heard from the manager. It would have been nice if they tried to do something about it....the entire dinner swatting the flies away. read more

What a great environment! Bartender Justin made a mean martini and it perfectly matched the Parmesan Crusted Flounder I had with it! All staff was friendly and so welcoming! Good serving sizes for what you pay for! Definitely coming back! read more

Good food and service. Local restaurant with relaxing atmosphere. Scratch kitchen. Will return again

Good food.. but wish service was better and that the bartender who was counting the cash and handling money, washed his hands before he opened my beer can!! And food can out cold because they bartenders too busy eating candy behind bar and putting lights around their necks!! read more