Went here one evening with a friend mid week. Food was excellent, service was ok, and the drinks were great. Waitress seemed like she was having a rough day. Food more than made up for any deficiencies in service. I've been here a few times and usually service is excellent so I'm guessing I caught her on an off day. Highly recommend it! If you love seafood you have to try this place!! read more

No bones about it, this was a great find. A good friend, Pags, had told me about this place for seafood in Chelmsford, MA months ago. Although this is my 2nd review of a Chelmsford restaurant I really don't get up that way for dinner often. I had some business associates attending a meeting close by and one of them who is pregnant requested seafood. So I looked this up on-line and it looked nice and their was plenty of that New England seafood on the menu. It was mid-week and I was told they don't take reservations and we were planning a late dinner. When we arrived the hostess told us it was a 40 minute wait on a Wednesday at 7:30 pm. She suggested we should have called ahead for a table, I explained I had called the day before and asked for reservations and they did not tell me about the call ahead seating. She said let me take a poll of the dining room. She came back smiled and said give me a minute. As a few parties were seated as we waited I was surprised when she sat us within 10 minutes. This got us off on a good note and set the tone for service the rest of the night. The place is small and has a quaint cafe feel to it combined with a fish-market. At this time of day the market was spotless and that standard was carried throughout the place. There's some counter bar seats on the market side. Other other side a long wall bench with many small tables that are quickly assembled to the party size. Servers were like a well orchestrated team moving quickly. For a small place you don't expect this level of service, where your water glass level never hits bottom and dropped silverware is quickly replaced. Now to the really good stuff, bring on the food. Its' an awesome menu and at this time of night we were a hungry crew. One healthy diner chose the Mixed Seafood Grill - swordfish tips, salmon fillet and large shrimp over a large bed of rice. Looking back the only unhealthy part was the portions as all the entrees it was plentiful. Another diner had the Seafood Mediterranean - shrimp, sea scallops, fresh lobster meat sautéed with olive oil, roasted red peppers, calamata olives, marinated artichokes, feta cheese tossed and finished with garlic butter and penne pasta. As good as it sounds and done al dente. But the big score of the night was recommended by our waitress, phenomenal Lobster Risotto was as decribed "classic Italian dish with a New England twist". It was capped with large pieces of lobster and the risotto was rich and creamy with lobster bisque-like flavor throughout. It was a good thing two of us ordered the same there was plenty to share. So to wrap this all up, this place had it going on. The atmosphere, service and food all hit high marks. I'll definitely travel north for this place. read more

Outstandingly fresh seafood, great service! The atmosphere isn't great, it's on the cramped side but, there's a reason why... I've been there more than 8 times in the last three years and it's consistently great! read more

This place is so wonderful each and every visit. I have never been disappointed with a meal or the service. I got takeout this weekend that included a lovely baked seafood plate. The seafood was fresh and cooked to perfection. I sat at the bar and had a drink while I waited. The wine selection is great, and the bartender was amazing. Give this place a try, you won't regret it read more

Dropped by for a small snack to-go after a not-so-satisfying earlier dinner at another restaurant and was blown away by their lobster roll! Not too much mayonnaise and the lobster was fresh, not that junk stuff only found in a lobster claw. The fried clams were delicious too. They got all our sides wrong, but the food was great. We ordered to-go when they said that without a reservation, seating a table of 4 at 7 PM on a Thursday night would take about an hour. We waited for our food for about 45 mins to an hour but at least we got to eat right away (as opposed to waiting for our waiter to come by and put our order in and then wait more for our food). Hopefully we come back and get to sit in next time, but overall pretty happy :) read more

An out of towner's first time visit and I've very much wanted some seafood. I found Fishbones on a quick search and was glad I did. I tried the clam chowder and a kitchen special 'baked haddock'. Both were delicious, hot and very filling. Can't want to go back. read more

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Really great place. Fantastic food and ambiance! I love their seafood saute and have been here over dozen times. I regularly recommend this place and take guests here too! read more

Live Yelping. I'm at the place right now. Check it out. 8PM Eastern and I've just had oysters and the seafood chowder. The oysters were fresh and lovely - the chowder has a hint of safron and is highly enjoyable. Next, the softshell crabs. According to the menu, the first of the season. I'm not a huge softshell crab guy but, they come highly recommended and...what the heck....Crabby goodness for the guy who describes himself similarly.... Sauteed in a bit of oilive oil - wow. Yum. Desert? Maybe. read more

Great atmosphere...a little loud, but lively. Food was awesome. Service was friendly and fast. Prices are reasonable for menu options. Would definitely dine here again. read more

Yummy restaurant...strange parking! Ok, so its not that strange, but their "parking" sign is about 10o feet after the driveway for the parking lot. Hmm. Anyways, the food was excellent. I had a lobster roll which wasn't dripping in mayo, and it came with freshly made chips which were very delicious and a small salad in a rosemary vinegaret. The dressing was delicious! They waitstaff was friendly and although there was only one, pretty on top of things on this busy night. I didn't get dessert but the carrot cake looked amazing. Seafood. Steaks. Burgers...YUM read more

Arrived on a Wednesday evening, had a 30 minute wait and were called in at exactly 30 minutes. We then waited 15 minutes before anyone addressed us. From sit down to delivery of our meal was a full hour. We did have an appetizer. Here's the kick, we ordered salads. When they finally came out, one of the orders was wrong and the correction took 5 minutes! Why was there a 35 minute wait for two salads? Our servers explanation for the mixup was that she couldn't hear the order clearly because of the noise in the restaurant. Bottom line, the food was excellent. Noise and service, not so much. read more

I adore this place. It's become our #1 location for daddy-daughter-dinners!! We have simply never been disappointed, even going a few times during those trying pandemic months. Staff is courteous and caring, even when the place is busy, and it gets busy cause it's simply a great restaurant! read more

Fantastic meal. The food literally was so good. The vibes at the restaurant were pleasant and the service was good! It was a great experience read more

Tried it out for our anniversary because it's a bit pricey. The first thing I noticed was how noisy it was. Even my husband complained about the noise. Then there was the wait for service, which seemed a bit long, as the place wasn't yet full. I had grilled trout, which was very good, but had lots of tiny, sharp pieces of bone in it. Sweet potato fries were great, coleslaw very good. Hubby had salmon with rice and farro salad. He said they were fine, but not outstanding. We skipped dessert and headed for Kimball's. We won't be back, mostly because of the noise. read more

Fishbones has the best cocktails I've ever had. The food is delicious as well. Our waitress, Justina, was amazing. We did not feel rushed, even with a time limit during Covid. Such a great restaurant. read more

This place is warm and inviting. The ambiance is nice with low lighting in the dining area. The food is reasonably priced & really good. I started with the crab cakes and a cup of clam chowder, both where good. My friend and I got the lazy mans lobster with brussel sprouts and mash potatoes. The lobster and sprouts where fantastic the mash potatoes where just ok. Another friend ordered the trout with mash potatoes and carrots. He loved the trout but felt the same way about the mash potatoes. They have an extensive drink menu with lots of specialty mixed drinks. I would recommend eating here. I will go back on my next New England visit and try the blackened swordfish with pineapple mango salsa. read more

First time for me after a good friend highly recommended the restaurant for our Momma and Baby lunch date yesterday. The atmosphere was relaxing and nautical. We came in when the restaurant opened. The service was good. Would definitely have to say the fisherman's platter was on point! I was slightly disappointed in the Mediterranean seafood pasta as I felt the lobster wasn't as tasty or seasoned as I thought it'd be. I also felt the linguine was overcooked and too wide. Even so, we would still come back and try more dishes especially the Maine steamers which for some reason were not available when we requested it as an appetizer. read more

Fishbones - Mediterranean Seafood Pasta & Fisherman's Platter (must order platter!) - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

I ordered the Shrimp Scampi. I found it very bland without enough garlic flavor. They brought additional sauce to try to "fix it" but the sauce was a quick last ditch effort to salvage the meal which made it even worse. While they eventually comped the dinner, I left sans dinner. This really made for an uncomfortable dining experience for the entire party. read more

My friends took me here for dinner while I was visiting home recently and WOW! I had the Lobster Risotto. You want a foodgasm?! Try the Lobster Risotto. Fantastic service and great atmosphere. The ONLY reason they lose a star is that we called in ahead of time for seating and we still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to get sat. Basically, we should have just shown up a little earlier without calling ahead. I'm definitely planning on returning on my next visit to MA. read more

Fish bones is my go too place and I live 20 miles away!! It meets my four criteria for any great restaurant. 1. Reasonable priced 2. High quality food 3. Great enthusiastic and helpful staff 4. Warm and inviting space that's impeccably clean. I have been here several times and have never been nothing but extremely satisfied and pleased with the quality of service and product. The owner has paid very close attention to all points of service. read more

The food is delicious : the seafood sauté was very very flavorful and I definitely would get it again. The red pepper infused oil that comes with the bread (must ask for it) is very tasty. Our server was very nice and overall a fun atmosphere. read more

Fishbones - Seafood sauté - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

This is the best Seafood any where including Boston, Great bar and service, the seafood is always very fresh and prepared perfectly. read more

BOO they don't take reservations but if you call day of they will put you on the list. I was told if you are on the list max wait is 30 min. 4 of us waited for an hour with continued reassurance that we were up next. No offers of a nibble or drink while we waited in the tiny entrance. Last straw we were told we were rude for asking what situation was. Fuming so we left and went to an Italian place next door. Lesson learned...should have left after 30 minute guarrantee wasn't honored. read more

Really good seafood! I went here with 2 of my colleagues and all our dishes were really good! Our waitress was also particularly friendly and very warm. I will definitely return for more seafood and promise a more detailed review! If you are in the area, you should give this place a try!!! read more

Soooooooo yummy!! Enjoyed every bite! Service was also perfect. My cousin came in from Pennsylvania and has never been to New England.... Of course I needed to get her some delicious seafood asap! My mom said she remembered this place being good , and it was convenient to where we were so thought we would try it , and I'm glad we did ! We started with the clam chowder, ( thicker consistency ) which is my fav. Then she got one of their more popular meals with pasta and a lot of different seafood, ( scallops, lobster, fish, etc. ) which was delicious. I got an amazing dish with salmon, swordfish tips, shrimp, and then rice ! Soooo yum! Only downfall was their outdoor seating area was very buggy we got eaten alive !! Other than that - such a yummy place and I will definatley be returning. Price was right too, not crazy expensive ! read more

Fishbones - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Soooo unpredictable! After many, many tries here we just never know what to expect. One evening we will be blown away with a perfectly cooked meal while the next the seafood is overcooked, dry and inedible. On one occasion both my husband and I ordered swordfish and had to send it back due to dryness. When it came back it was still way too over cooked but at that point we just tolerated it. The mixed grill meal can be so delicious when cooked correctly but this has also disappointed on at least two occasions by being severely over cooked even burned. Depending on the bartender the margarita or martini can be delicious or taste like cough syrup. We have always found the sides very good but sorry to say they are stingy with portion size. When they get it right it's fantastic but you have to get lucky. We usually go elsewhere when we don't feel like taking the chance. This has been our experience pre pandemic as well just saying. Hope it becomes more consistent because we have had some fantastic meals here. read more

Went there last night with friends for dinner. Did a call ahead for 7:00 and didn't get seated until 8:15. Manager was nice and gave us a free app while we waited. Pros: great food!!!! I had the seafood Mediterranean and it was incredible. Drinks were very good (and strong). I had rum and coke with very generous amounts of alcohol. Wife had a martini, delicious and strong. Service was excellent and very attentive. Great environment - cozy feel. Cons: a couple in our group though the meals were a little small for the price. The hour and fifteen minute wait for a call ahead table was a bummer. Overall, great restaurant that we will go back to again. read more

Used to be my favorite restaurant. What happened? We tried getting takeout during Covid and it was not good at all. I figured it was a fluke so we went back recently. The clam chowder was so salty it was inedible. The other meals were not as I remembered them. So disappointed for a place that used to be fantastic to have gone so far downhill. read more

During a business trip we found this restaurant on YELP. It was easy to get to and we found parking easily across the street. Staff - the wait staff was helpful explaining the menu and describing the most popular items. They were not overbearing intrusive. Food - I had the seafood casserole and my coworkers had the lobster rissota. Both were excellent. The lobster was much more filling than it appeared. It was creamy and the rice had great texture. Environment - we sat at the bar (more like the counter facing the kitchen)because it was completely packed. Those chefs and servers work HARD. It was a busy time but they had that area well managed. I imagine sitting at a table would have been great. It looks like the spacing is good although the place is not huge. read more

Best seafood in town! Great food and drinks! Always jammin though. Haven't had anything that wasn't excellent. Oysters, octopus, and mixed grill are my staples when typically ordering. Nice little outdoor area too. read more

This was my second time eating at fishbones. My girlfriend's parents came into town and we took them here. It was another amazing experience. I got the seafood saute and it was excellent. My girlfriend got the Alaskan crab legs, her parents the swordfish and baked lobster. Everyone had nothing but good things to say about the food. The place however was a tad noisy - it was after all a Friday night. But by virtue of how closed in the space was, I have to say I have to strain a little to follow the conversation at the table. That being said, we all had a great time! read more

We love Fishbones and try to go once a week for our "fish fix" and we have rarely been disappointed over the past 3 years. Once in a while a waitress/waiter can have a bad night but everyone does. The soup specials are always great, the fish specials are also fantastic. If you enjoy fried seafood food they have the best around. My current favorite is the Chilean Sea Bass broiled. It melts in your mouth. Can't wait to go again. :-) read more

Fishbones - Broiled Chilean Sea Bass - Seafood Near Me - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

I have been to Fishbones all of one time, and hope to get back there soon. Fishbones is located in the heart of Chelmsford, and the area is a little bit of a nuisance. Odd, twisty roads and a severe lack of parking plagues this area. Still, the restaurant does have its own parking behind the building, though you would never know it by casually driving by. It is a small area, and when I say small, I mean small! We literally were sat almost on top of another couple and at first I felt a little uneasy about this place. If you are the type who likes room to spread out and feel relaxed, Fishbones isn't for you. After relaxing, we ordered drinks and our meals. Service was great and our waitress explained to us about specials and what the menu was all about. The fish is fantastic, among the freshest fish I have served in a restaurant. The presentations of both dishes also stood out and were unique. For the price, which is a little steep, the freshness of the fish and flavors of the meal were well worth it. Having been so impressed with dinner, I opted to go for dessert, which was Creme Brulee. Couldn't have hit the nail of the head any better, with just the right amount of caramelized sugar on top with fresh berries. Perfect way to end a great dinner. At first I was a little hesitant when looking at the prices and the size of the seating area, but I have to say, Fishbones is among the best when it comes to local fresh fish. I look forward to going back. read more

Excellent fresh fish. My favorite is the seafood plate love the clams, haddock, and scallops best seafood in the greater Lowell Area.

What a disappointing meal. First of all, the place was packed and it was just after lunchtime. The place is crammed full of tables one can hardly get around the tables. The place was so noisy we could not even have a conversation. The meal was absolutely tasteless. My spouse and I had the Mixed Grill Seafood with swordfish, salmon filet and one jumbo shrimp. The shrimp was overcooked and dry, my swordfish and salmon were moist but my spouse's were dry. Our meals were absolutely tasteless. We could not taste any salt or herbs. The waitress did not even know we were there and we finally had to tell the other waitstaff to send over our waitress who then waited until we were almost done to check if everything was okay with our meals. For the almost $50.00 for both meals we could have had two delicious meals at our favorite restaurant in Methuen. This was our first visit to Fishbones and will be our last. read more

A bit on the pricey side but very good seafood. Menu changes frequently. One of the few places in chelmsford with a decent bar scene (although I can't comment on after hours). Good service read more

I had a excellent first experience. The ambiance was classy, the food was absolutely Devine and the service was unmeasurable. Denise was our waitress and she was a pleasure. She was attentive and very patient, considering we were a large party . The staff was friendly and professional. I highly recommended fishbones if you are wanting to enjoy fresh seafood and splendid drinks. I would be returning very soon! read more

The service was excellent. The food was great !!! We really enjoyed our waitress Denise she was great!

Food was great!! Everything was perfect. I really enjoyed the service our server was excellent. Denise was one of a kind. Thank you!!" me and my family will come back. read more

The seafood here is wonderful. I also had a martini. Very good, very strong! But the noise level is ferocious. One has to yell to be heArd. And if you find noise a distraction you will be constantly distracted. I got a headache from the noise level. Once the place cleared out a bit it was easier to hear. Highly recommend this place especially if you're deaf!!! read more