I have friends in Boston who have insisted that I get over to The Daily Catch in the North End. Oh. My. Word! This is one of those places that you remember forever. There are maybe five tables in the entire place, and you feel like you're sitting in the kitchen with the chef. A pro tip I've discovered is to arrive early for dinner--maybe around 4pm--to beat the long line that will grow outside. I cannot say enough about the freshness and quality of the food. Our group had a few small appetizers which were excellent, but the real treat was their daily swordfish special. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, other than "wow." So much flavor packed in this dish. Wine is served in regular plastic drink cups alongside fresh bread. You really do feel like you're sitting right in the middle of a great Italian kitchen. It should be noted that this is a cash-only establishment; so plan ahead. This spot is a Must Visit if you find yourself in Boston's North End. read more

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We decided to do Brookline as North end typically is a PITA to find parking or else pay for a garage and walk across Hanover street. This location was easy to find parking along Harvard street at a meter. We arrived at their 4pm dinner open time and they said give them 10 minutes so we ended up at the new blank street location right next door. Once in and seated, our waitress was great! Marathon Monday vibes all around town. We took a seat in the window nook. My lady loves squid ink pasta and it's different than Japanese style (doesn't stain your teeth haha). We ordered + fried calamari + mussels siciliano + aglio olio We started with the complimentary bread, with olive oil, crushed red peppers and Parmesan! The calamari was next (my must order anywhere i go to taste). Light batter fried (didn't just fall apart thankfully) nice light and crispy. The squid was fresh, not cooked rubbery and tasted great with the marinara sauce (nice hint of spice). Now i wish the portion was a tad bigger but it was yummy. The mussels is the ladies go to, for an appetizer. It came out HOT, with a lemon white wine garlic sauce. Super tasty, mussels definite shine through without the sauce/broth overpowering the natural flavor of the mussel. She finished that up quick and i had a taste myself and agree with her assessment haha. And finally the Aglio Olio, squid ink pasta with minced squid and garlic. This was a perfectly balanced dish, came out HOT be careful of the pan. The pasta and squid just melted together so well. The caramelized butter/garlic with bits of minced squid just had you scraping the pan at the end to make sure you inhale them. Great meal for two. Very satisfied. (Give us another couple ounces of fried calamari and it'd be perfect!) read more

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Wow, I never knew that there was a Daily Catch location in Brookline! I've been to the one in the North End many times & love that there is one more easily accessible, without having to worry about parking. We went right at dinner opening time at 4pm and there was no wait. The Lobster fra diavolo is always super tempting but instead we decided to get: -fried calamari -mussels siciliano -aglio olio (lg) The fried calamari was fried PERFECTLY. The batter wasn't too thick, which I liked because I enjoy lighter batters & the calamari did not taste rubbery at all... you can tell that it was very fresh! The mussels were yummy. It was made with a garlic, lemon white wine broth + thyme & fennel. I liked that the broth used was pretty simple + not too much; it allowed the mussel taste to shine through. The aglio olio is a MUST whenever I go to the Daily Catch but the reason for why I don't go as much to the North End location as I used to is because I notice a major decline in the quality and taste at that location. I was hoping that the Brookline location would make me love the Daily Catch again, and indeed, it did! The aglio olio was very flavorful & it helped me remember why I love this dish from here so much. Overall, I really enjoyed visiting The Daily Catch in Brookline! The staff was phenomenal and very attentive. The food was very tasty and probably one of my favorites when it comes to Italian food in Boston area, once again. I also love that there is parking available and not have to deal with the madness in the North End. read more

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The Brookline Harvard St location has been closed for awhile. Try seaport location. Initially thought it was a renovation but permanently closed. read more

This is a local chain serving up Italian seafood dishes. Impressed by the freshness and reasonable prices. No reservations at this location. We had a short wait but everyone after us had a que. We shared a calamari salad prepared in a light vinaigrette over a bed of greens. The monkfish marsala had nice texture and was balanced. The sauce did not overwhelm the fish. The seafood linguine in white wine had the right amount of garlic with al dente pasta. Not much on the downside. It has about fifteen tables and only one bathroom, which can be problematic on a busy evening. Small but efficient staff Zooming from table to table. read more

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I've been to The Daily Catch's waterfront location before, but this was my first time at the Brookline spot, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I always get the squid ink pasta, and it's consistently amazing--perfectly cooked pasta with rich, flavorful sauce that never fails to impress. The atmosphere at the Brookline location is cozy and welcoming, making it a great place to enjoy a delicious meal. The service was friendly and attentive, adding to the overall experience. It's always a go-to spot for great seafood, and I'll be back for more squid ink pasta every time read more

The Daily Catch - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

We were recommended by a friend to check out The Daily Catch, and we were not disappointed! We ordered the fried calamari, the Vongole Neapolitan in white sauce, the Lobster Fra Diavolo for 2, and the Aglio Olio. The fried calamari was pretty standard -- good. I really enjoyed the Vongole Neapolitan and would recommend you try this one. I thought that the Aglio Olio (squid ink pasta) was good, but was not as good as it was hyped up to be. The Lobster Fra Diavolo came with a good portion of seafood and pasta, which I liked. There is only a few tables available, so the setting is pretty intimate. Overall, The Daily Catch is worth visiting! read more

The Daily Catch - top -- Aglio Olio middle -- World Famous Lobster Fra Diavolo bottom -- Vongole - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I really wanted to like this place. I was recommended to go and try their calamari and black ink pasta. It was beyond a very disappointing experience. The service was curt and rude as if they were doing me the favor of taking my hard earned money for lousy service and low quality food. The idea of paying $22+ for an appetizer size plate of calamari that arrived double deep fried, rubbery and burnt and over cooked. Is an insult to their family name and reputation. The black ink pasta was chewy and bland, void of any authentic italian flavor I expected and far cry from justifying the exorbitant price charged as was a 3 ounce glass of cheap house white wine for $9! The space is cramped creating an ambiance of really cheap fast food less than the grade of Burger King. This is not on my return nor can I in good faith recommend it. A $75 lunch for crappy food is best spent else where on better food and customer service. Save yourself the trouble and cash. And don't bother Mike's Pastry across the street another equally awful trap go next door to Vittorio's instead for authentic italian pastries and coffee. read more

The Daily Catch is a Boston staple! This location is very small so make sure to get there early if you want to avoid a wait. We ordered the lobster fra diavolo for one and a half order of the aglio olio black pasta. This was plenty to share between two people. Both were delicious though we wish that they would have been served hotter (even though they were served in a pan, they were a bit lukewarm). The service was a bit slow on a Saturday evening (there was only one waiter for the entire place), so unfortunately we had to wait around 20 minutes to get our check. read more

The Daily Catch - Black pasta Aglio Olio - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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We made it to the Brookline location. We were lucky to have walked in with no wait. Everything was flavorful and cooked perfectly. With the small, intimate location, there were not many staff members. Yet, there was no delay in service. Ordering did feel a bit rushed since it was our first time visiting. We had the fried calamari, aglio olio with squid ink pasta, and the lobser fra diavolo (for 2). This can comfortably feed a party of 4. However, at the pricepoint and the fact this place runs cashless... maybe the $30+ on the calamari could be put toward upgrading the single serving lobster fra diavolo to double. It was spicy and flavorful! You're going to The Daily Catch for this experience -- so go big ($95+ for the 2 person portion) or go home. Will we be back? Only if we crave lobster + pasta. Otherwise, there are other places in Boston to get more well-cooked seafood at a lower price point. Ordered: Fried Calamari (not pictured), Aglio Olio Squid Ink Pasta, Lobser Fra Diavolo read more

The Daily Catch - World Famous Lobster Fra Diavolo - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The Daily Catch cheat sheet (2024): - North End: Cash only, walk-in only - Brookline: Accepts credit card, walk-in only - Waterfront: Accepts credit card, accepts reservations, expect 2+ hours of wait time if walking in When waiting in line, a local guy said that he exclusively comes to the Brookline one for better quality of food. The place is small and imo kinda understaffed, but the workers hustle hard. From managing the line to taking orders, the organized chaos was intense but cool to observe. I don't need to say much about the food itself--I genuinely enjoyed my meals and will absolutely come back again. read more

Fried calamari is golden on the outside, but the squid inside is tender and chewy with a fresh, ocean taste. Bite into it and you get that perfect crunch, then dip it in this sauce and the flavors just pop. The mix of crisp and juicy makes it super addictive--you can't stop eating it. Perfect for sharing with friends. read more

The Daily Catch - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The Brookline location is very small and with no reservations, you've got to be patient but come with hungry tummies! The Caesar Salad (with anchovies!) started the night off right for us - crunchy, fresh and zesty! And we were so pleased with the Vongole and Squid Ink Aglio Olio - the second pasta dish has more of a springier pasta texture and a more flavorful sauce (tip: dip the bread in the oil, layer the calamari pieces on top, and drizzle the spicy vinegar). Despite a 15 minute wait, our food came out quickly (even with a three person staff) and we left very satisfied and full. Would highly recommend! read more

The Daily Catch - Caesar Salad, Fried Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I haven't tried their North End location yet but was very impressed by this location! The floral curtains and floral seat cushions make you feel like you are in a different decade. 2 of us split the littleneck siciliano ($18.50). The clams came bathed in a lemony, herby white wine sauce. All of the clams were fresh and plump and the sauce was so delicious! We asked for bread to soak up the umami-packed sauce and the server gave us warm, toasted bread. You can get their black pasta in half or full portions so we got the full-sized aglio olio ($29.50) and added scallops (+$10). The pasta was cooked to a very nice al dente. There were a bunch of calamari bits in the pasta, which added a lot of flavor and texture to the dish. I actually thought that the sauce could have been more garlicky, but the oil in the sauce was satisfyingly rich. These two dishes together was filling for both of us. I can't wait to have the clams again! read more

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The food was to die for. The frutti di mare with spicy red sauce and black pasta were so so good!!! The bread was delicious. We asked our server where they got it from. Our server was great. It's super busy but the ambiance was perfect. Love the lighting! Especially since you can see the menu. I cannot wait to go back! read more

Daily Catch is a local favorite for us to go to for a good meal. Location is very quaint with several small tables (challenging for groups larger than 4 persons). The menu is well thought out with a concise menu but well executed. Service has always been efficient and friendly. Very flavorful cooking with good quality oil used and lots of fresh garlic. read more

The Daily Catch - Vongole - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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First thing I noticed is that this The Daily Catch location is a small space with only six or seven tables, so you may wait outside a bit. It seems like a hot spot, as I did see two or three couples waiting outside on the bench. Second thing I noticed is the waiter absolutely killing the game and running around like a fidget spinner taking care of everyone. This dude does not take a break! Third thing is how spot-on the spaghetti and the seafood were. I ordered the mussel marinara, and it was just fine. A solid amount of mussel meat and a chunk of spaghetti in the middle. My husband got the shrimp/scallops/clams dish, and he enjoyed it. We also shared the fried calamari, and I appreciated how it wasn't too fried. I will say that the price tag is quite high for what you're getting. It is maybe double what it should cost. Lots of pasta with your dish. I wouldn't be interested to go again just because of this, unfortunately. read more

We've been going to the North End location for 40 years and the Brookline and the Seaport locations when they first opened. It has the best fried calamari we've ever had! The sauce on the spaghetti is outrageous. As they don't take reservations, and the place is rather small, try to arrive early. But absolutely worth the wait!!! read more

The Daily Catch is such an institution in Boston, and I've been wanting to go for years -- but the lines in the North End have always deterred me. Instead, I found myself heading to the Brookline location at 5PM on a Saturday and getting in with no wait! By 6PM, there was a bit of a wait, but didn't seem too bad! Sometimes you wonder how different pasta can really taste, and then meals like this make you realize the difference between good, great, and fantastic. The flavors and textures of each dish were some of the best I've had -- and everything was so fresh. Some highlights of the meal: The cook and textures of the pastas were perfectly done, the fish and chips (fries) were impressively crispy...and stayed crispy, and the lobster fra diavolo sauce was a wonderful balance of tomato and spiciness to complement the assortment of seafood. The only dish that wasn't our favorite was the calamari scampi, as it was quite salty and a bit gooey. However, we still managed to finish all of it! Food: 1. Complimentary bread (4/5) 2. Calamari scampi (3.5/5) 3. Squid ink puttanesca linguine (5/5) 4. Fish and chips (5/5) 5. Lobster fra diavolo (5/5) read more

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A little expensive, as a fish restaurant is going to be, but the food tastes good and it's not like you can't see the menu and prices beforehand read more

Pasta is cooked perfectly and the flavors are DELICIOUS. Aglio Olio comes with a lot of calamari and is drenched in the amazing garlicky olive oil but is a bit heavy so be prepared for a food coma. The Puttanesca was very very flavorful and a good contrast to the heavier Aglio Olio. You can definitely taste the olive-anchovy butter and is packed full of veggies. When I visited, there was only one chef and one waiter serving the dinner rush. Their focus and efficiency was very impressive. Ambiance is cozy and waiter is very friendly. read more

The Daily Catch - Aglio Olio, Puttanesca (both half sized) - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

The Daily Catch is one of my favorite Italian Seafood restaurants in Boston/Brookline. They are known for the Fried Calamari and Squid Ink pasta! I've been to both the North end and Brookline location multiple times. They do not take reservations, so definitely go there early or anticipate a wait. For starters, I always start off with the Fried Calamari! It is a must! I also like the Mussels which they give you a TON of mussels! For Pastas, I've tried their Aglio Olio Squid Ink pasta, Alfredo Squid Ink pasta, Lobster Fra Diavolo, Clams and Calamari combo with white sauces (olive oil, garlic & clam sauce) ! All pasta are served in a pan! My personal favorites are the Aglio Olio Squid Ink pasta and their Clams and Calamari combo with white sauce! The sauce is simple and flavorful! Definitely will get garlic breath but it's worth it! All their pastas were delicious and Al dente! read more

The Daily Catch - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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I went to the Daily Catch with a family friend last Friday. We waited about an hour outside for a table to open up. It was very small inside, however, the wait was worth it. The waitress was very flexible and seemed super nice. Both the fish and the Caesar salad were very good. Overall, I recommend but would caution for the wait nine out of 10. read more

If you are willing to wait for some really good FRESH seafood! This is the place to go in Brookline! Place may sit around 50 but stretching it! You have to try there scallops and linguine cooked perfectly! The black ink noodles is well worth it! We also fried calamari which lightly breaded and fried! Service was excellent! Would recommend this place ! Try to get there before six pm or expect to wait for a delicious dinner! Prices are reasonable for seafood! Daily catch serves wine! Try it you will like it! read more

They have great food especially the squid ink pasta, very garlicky and buttery just how I like it. The place is small, a little cramped, and airflow isn't great on a hot day, but it is one of my go to Italian places in Boston-- seems very authentic and doesn't need the baubles and nice fancy place, the food speaks for itself. read more

daily catch is somewhere you have to try while in Boston! we came to the restaurant around 8 and I believe they close at 9. we were seated at 8:30 which made us nervous since the restaurant was closing soon, but they were very kind and didn't rush us or anything. we ordered their calamari, squid ink pasta, scallop and shrimp pasta (white sauce), and mussel pasta (red sauce). the food came out quickly and everything tasted delicious. I think my favorite pasta was their squid ink pasta and I will say it's a must try when dining. the service was amazing and the ambiance of this restaurant is very family friendly. it's just like having a dinner party at your own place. read more

The Daily Catch - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

First the upside. This place is quaint. Nice atmosphere. Open kitchen with one cook who is a machine. We started with fried calamari. The calamari was hot and tasty. It was served with a marinara sauce. Two of our group had the squid linguine in the clear sauce. The linguine dishes are served in a hot skillet. Another of our party had the vongole linguine. All were very good. A salad was also reported as being OK. This place is good but simplistic. I don't think a salad is the right thing to order. The only downside is that it's tiny, and they don't take reservations. If your timing is off you may have a long wait. I want to go again read more

Absolutely overrated, nothing special but salty. I often wonder if my taste buds are different from everyone else's. Thankfully, the people I hangout agreed that it tasted terrible read more

I came here with a large party of 10 people on a Sunday afternoon. Since we came at an odd time (~3:30PM), we were able to be seated right away as they weren't too busy yet. We ended up separating into 2 different tables since it was quite small inside. There were also a few tables outside in front as well. I've been to The Daily Catch in the North End and really enjoyed it, particularly the squid ink pasta and so, definitely was excited to come back. There really aren't many pasta spots around this area so it is a good place to check out but it is pretty pricey. We got fried calamari and clams casino to start. Both of these were great appetizers with the fried calamari being perfectly crispy. It also came with warm marinara sauce that paired well. Both the calamari and clams were pretty small though. For entrees, we got several pastas including mussels marinara, clam linguine, and aglio olio. Even though we got a large portion of the aglio olio, it was pretty much the same size as the rest of the other pastas, primarily a one person portion. The flavors of all were great and the pasta was al dente. I enjoyed the aglio olio the best and loved the garlic! We also got swordfish, which I was honestly expecting a bigger piece. It was basically a filet and didn't even come with any sides, so pretty expensive for the price. The flavors are great but the prices are higher than average and portions are alright - primarily one person portions (but could share) for pastas and definitely small portions for the fish. There was only one chef, one waiter and one dishwasher in the back so service was a bit slow. We put in more orders but ended up deciding to cancel after waiting about half an hour cause they still hadn't gotten to it yet. read more

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Overall great atmosphere, large portions We got the full portion for both pastas and thought that it was worth it. The calamari never disappoints with its light batter and crunchy texture. Their squid ink pasta has amazing flavor and texture as well. I had mixed feelings about the mussels because it was more watery than usual and has a strong wine taste. But we enjoyed our meal and had great service there. read more

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Small, intimate seafood Italian. The meal arrives directly from the stove to the table, served in the cooking pan. Squid ink pasta (Aglio Olio) with ground calamari was a bit heavy on the olive oil, it very nicely executed all around. Several terrific fish choices, from Swordfish to Haddock to scallops to Salmon. The salmon was was perfectly done, medium rare and tender, the way you would expect. The Fra Diablo (can be ordered for one or two) is expensive but worth it. Unless you're famished, the single order ($59) is large enough to satisfy two diners. Very few tables, so the downside is you may have to wait in line outside, which could be quite the chilly option during winter months. read more

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Daily catch was recommended to me by one of my Boston friends. We thought her meal was delicious. Love the huge seafood selection. Our server was personable and recommended another restaurant for the following night. Restaurant had a great vibe would definitely go back. read more

I've had this place bookmarked for the longest time and I finally got to try it! I ordered takeout through their online ordering system and picked up at the designated time. This is a fairly small restaurant and they have plastic curtains up to block off the tables from the walkway. The pickup was quick and easy and I was excited to see if it was as good as I expected. I ordered mussels, Aglio olio (black pasta), and fish and chips. The mussels were good, only a couple that were a bit sandy. The sauce they were cooked in was buttery and after adding the lemon made it a bit tarter. The Aglio olio was drenched in what I think was olive oil, way more than I expected, but the little bits of calamari were delicious. The fish and chips were underwhelming, not sure because it was takeout or if that's just the way it is. It was quite a small portion of fish and neither fish nor fries were crunchy or crispy. The fish did taste quite fresh, so I just wish there was more. Quite a pricey dinner, but the seafood was a great catch here! read more

The Daily Catch - Mussels Siciliano, Aglio Olio, Fish N Chips - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Slightly disappointed as we were looking forward to going to the Daily Catch as we have not been in years. Our fishes were overcooked and slightly dry. Wait time for the restaurant was long, which I understand from Covid reasons, but they seemed really lost and out of place, but I am not taking away a star for that. It is really for the quality and taste of food. A pasta dish we ordered was almost $30 and the dish barely had the meat. The decor of the restaurant is nice. read more

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I rarely go to a restaurant twice, much less 4 times but I just cant get enough of Daily Catch! I am fighting every instinct to gatekeep this gem, but they deserve success so here I am. This location is really small and very much a hole-in-the-wall. There's no reservations and you have to wait in person. That being said it's WORTH it. Everything here is good, but I am absolutely in love with the aglio olio squid ink pasta. Gotta slather it in their homemade vinegar too. I will definitely be back and will maybe even try their other locations! read more

The food was overall good and I highly recommend it!! The only downside is that I wish it was all you can eat! read more

The Daily Catch - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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Still a fan. I'm a fan of Daily Catch's signature dishes, and they were good here too. This location is a little less busy than the North End location. The experience started on a somewhat negative note, with the waiter seemingly annoyed with diners and the chef. Seems that he was waiting for a coffee delivery and didn't want to start service on time, but the chef waved in guests waiting outside. Not a good first impression, but luckily things were fine after that and the food delivered. Calamari is great here and is a must order. The Sicilian clams are salty and great for bread dunking. The squid ink noodles with ground calamari is another signature dish that is worth getting. One of my favorite places serving Boston-style Italian food. read more

Very local location compared to the other one. There's only three people working in this mom and pop looking Italian restaurant and about 8 table turnover inside. There's the cook, waiter / server and bus person. The waiter / server is a tall friendly man. He was super chivalrous and you can tell he's spread thin so I greatly appreciate him. We got the scampi, scallop and broccoli pasta tossed in white sauce, a squid ink pasta aglio e oliu (oil and calamari) and a squid ink Alfredo. All three were served fresh from stove in their hot and steaming pans. Just delicious! We also got the fried calamari and cherry stone oysters. We actually made a small oil and lemon juice sauce to dip the calamari and it was delicious. The calamari was nice and had a air fried texture so adding the olive oil made it quite delectable. Love this place, would love to come back and I love how fresh and local the food and staff was. Very low key. read more

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We all ate like a whale, which was probably not the best idea considering the price point , but the food was so delicious that we couldn't resist it! What we ordered: Shrimp scampi $17.50 Calamari salad $16.75 Alfredo Black Pasta $28.00 Shrimp white Linguine $29.75 North End Style Salmon $28.50 We went there on a weekday night around 7:30 as a group of four and were able to get seated immediately. We initially ordered three entrees and struggle to get the staff to even come to get water for us. After we ordered more food, their service significantly got better- we were served bread twice after the pasta and the salmon, but the second one was even heated. All food came in a good size and the food was exquisite. They are very generous with the amount of seafood which is very satisfying. My favorite was the shrimp white linguine. You would think it is simple, but the pasta was perfectly al dente, and the balance of garlic and shrimp was just perfect for the sauce. I honestly would love to get the recipe for the North End style sauce and the scampi. I think they do a really good job with the food. It's a tiny restaurant with a casual ambiance, but the pricing is that of a fancy place, so be prepared! read more

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-- This location is much easier to access than Hanover St. - parking is more available but it's pretty deep into Brookline neighborhood -- The broiled haddock is amazing - highly recommend, cooked to perfection, perfectly flaky -- the Aglio Olio (black noodle) is delicious with calamari - another highly recommended dish -- This location takes card for payment (I'm not sure if Hanover St. is still cash-only) -- Difficult for large parties (over 4 people) as it's a pretty small space inside read more

The Daily Catch - Haddock, Aglio Olio, Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts