- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Barking Crab
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
88 Sleeper St(at Northern Ave)
Boston, MA 02210
Neighborhoods: Waterfront, South Boston
(617) 426-2722
- Nearest Transit:
-
Sleeper St @ Seaport Blvd (4)
Sleeper St @ Seaport Blvd (4)
Northern Ave Opp Federal Court House (4)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 1 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
566 reviews for The Barking Crab
Review Highlights
"I also had the lobster roll, which was awesome too."
(in 68 reviews)
"The rows of picnic tables are awesome."
(in 47 reviews)
"The clam chowder was thick, creamy and hearty."
(in 60 reviews)
Loading...
566 reviews in English
-
Review from Andrew D.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Saw this place on Man vs. Food!! So, when I came up to watch the Patriots game in December, I made it a priority to come here and eat.
We ordered the crab basket(?) I forgot the exact name, but it had a variety of steamed crab and it was delicious! We also ordered the fish and chips on the side. There was four of us and that amount of food along with beers was perfect.
Service was good, no complaints there. Inside the restaurant was kinda warm...maybe it was because we were sitting right in front of their wood burning heater.
Overall, I had a good time, food was good, service was good...I'm a fan. -
Review from Aj M.
Boston, MA
12/30/2011
We'll start with the fact that this place is RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. *TOURIST TRAP.* I'm no mid-westerner, I'm from the Cape originally, and I know how much seafood should cost and trust, me, they are laughing gleefully as they watch you pay 50% more than any reputable place should charge.
That said, the lobster mac'n'cheese is made of pure heaven.
I like the food so I got a couple of BuyWithMe deals for half off, and that was definitely a win.
But cmon now. $8 for a CUP of clam chowder? No way.
Spend your money on the gas instead and head down Cape for some seafood with actual atmosphere. -
Review from Kelsey C.
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service was awesome, but no amount of awesomeness was going to hide just how much this place stinks! The minute you walk in the door you'll have no doubt whatsoever that you're in a seafood restaurant...or Chinatown...
The Steamers were a fantastically fresh start, and I swear they pulled then out of the ocean before they hit the table. Nothing tastes less-than-exceptional when dipped in hot melted butter, and this was no exception.
The oyster po'boy was full of amazing fried oysters, but steer clear of the sweet potato wedges. The oysters were clearly cooked all the way through, but the wedges were clearly not. This is one of those times where providing a foil is NOT a good thing...
The Seafood Platter, which I'm guessing is like most things at Barking Crab, was mostly fresh and the portions were huge, but the exorbitant price is a joke!
You'll need to take my review with a grain of sea salt since I didn't actually order crab or lobster at a place that specializes in crab. Sadly, no crab is THAT special. Although Barking Crab is one of few places I would actually want to get crabs from, I'll be going to a more reasonable place next time. -
Review from Melanie H.
Boston, MA
12/3/2011
This is the only bar I have been to in Boston that has Whale's Tale Pale Ale on draught. For that feat alone, I give them 4 stars. Not to mention, their amazing mussels. Fannntasstic.
The atmosphere of the Barking Crab is awesome in the summer and winter. During the summer they have a huge open space with lots of picnic tables over looking the water. However, if you go in the winter time, be prepared to wait. The bar/restaurant is very small. The bar sits about 8 comfortably and the tables fill up quickly. There is also no where to wait inside and there aren't a whole lot of restaurants as a go-to if the wait is too long.
While I don't get over to the seaport too often, this is a great place to cozy up with a plus one on a cold night in Boston. -
Review from Ken D.
Tampa, FL
2/4/2012
more for the beer and ambiance then anything. its pricey but all in all a great place to get fucked up and enjoy the view of boston:)
-
Review from Dessa R.
12/8/2011
Everyone's heard of this little seafood joint on the elusive blue line. After a couple of hours traipsing through the ICA this summer, I looked forward to a nice quiet outdoor dinner with my dapper companion. I didn't realize we'd be sharing long wooden tables with large families, dates, and friend reunions. No, it's not the worst thing in the world, but I wish I had been mentally prepared for that. It was also pretty loud in there-- I wasn't really expecting it to reach frat-party levels of volume, but it did.
I ordered a lobster. My lonely little crustacean sat alone on a disposable plate with a bib and some butter sauce. What else did I need? Not much, admittedly. It just felt less like a restaurant, and more like Cousin Bob's backdoor clambake-- this too can have it's charm, if you know what you're singing up for. Also, make sure to bring a sweater so you don't get chilly
All in all, I had a fresh no-frills lobster dinner, met some nearby diners, in a loud and lively location. -
Review from Im C.
Middlesex, MA
1/27/2012
Jorge from NY,
You are 100% wrong to call the BC a racist restaurant. If you knew anything -- ANYTHING -- about MA liquor laws then you would know what the four valid forms of IDs are at restaurants:
A valid MA Driver's License
A valid MA liquor ID
A valid Military ID
A USA Passport
Don't believe me? Feel free to look it up on the Massachusetts TIPS website. In short, no restaurant in MA has to accept ANY out-of-state license if they don't want to; furthermore, even though you technically do not need a passport as a PR resident, the PR government still HIGHLY recommends you carry one with you when traveling in the states, just to avoid situations like the one you found yourself in.
Grow up, dude, and stop throwing around words like 'racism' when it's just your own fault you were too thoughtless to come prepared. -
Review from Leo s.
Phoenix, AZ
12/28/2011
The service was excellent, the food was even better, and it was not that pricey. The girl who was interpreting classic rock tunes was also a pretty good singer. Not only that, the volume was not obtrusive.
Anyways, the most important thing is the food and the service. A must visit place in Boston -
Review from Jennifer L.
Philadelphia, PA
10/25/2011
I went here last night with three co-workers at the recommendation of the concierge at our hotel. One of my co-workers called it the worst restaurant experience she's ever had.
The wait wasn't bad. At first, we were told it would be a while but that they couldn't estimate a wait time. We were able to snag a small table back in the bar area, however, so we were saved from that picnic table experience.
I am a vegetarian and the only reasonable option was a salad because I didn't want to pay $20+ for a plate of pasta. I had the spinach, apple and walnut salad. It was 90 percent spinach, with four apple slices, maybe six Craisins, a few walnuts and a couple of pieces of bleu cheese. Avoid this. It sucked. I left hungry.
Coworker #1 had the crabs and was happy to receive a bucket, a crab destroying tool of some sort and a plastic bib (which she refused to wear, except for a photo!) She said the crab was great but was disappointed that it didn't come with any sides. She wasn't able to get a lot of meat out of it and left hungry.
Coworker #2 had the pumpkin soup and salmon. He tried the soup and said it was disappointing and tasteless and he didn't want to eat it. He also ordered the salmon, which he enjoyed. However, it wasn't a lot of food, and he left hungry.
Coworker #3 ordered the pumpkin soup too, and didn't want it after tasting it. She ordered the surf and turf as her entree. At first, they brought out the completely wrong meal. The server tried to explain the mistake, saying she only works once a week and it wasn't her fault, etc.
She took it back and said it would be a while before the steak was ready. Coworker #3 watched us eat and we were all pretty much finished when her steak arrived. It was very rare and basically inedible.
The server was horrified and said she felt like throwing up herself. She took it back, and on the way to the kitchen, stopped by a table where a family was eating and showed it to an older woman with bobbed hair and glasses. We later found out this was the manager, eating dinner with her family.
At this point, the manager should have come up to us and apologized. She was aware of what was going on, but instead of doing anything, she just kept herself parked at her table. Even though she was apparently not on the clock, still, any good manager would have stepped in and tried to smooth things over. It had become a management issue.
So steak number two came out. It was charred on the outside and rare and bloody on the inside -- again.
My co-worker was fit to be tied. She told the server not to forget it, that she's not blaming her and that her manager should have come over. The server brought over a piece of pumpkin cake as an apology but nobody wanted it. I was starving so I took a bite, but it was completely tasteless.
So the server took off the pumpkin soup and coworker #3's meal. We still decided to tip her as if those things were still on bill because we felt bad and knew it was a kitchen/management issue, not her issue.
All four of us were still hungry, even after paying $100 for our meals. We walked down to Kingfish and had dessert and tea and called it a night. We should have skipped the Barking Crab and had dinner at Kingfish in the first place! -
Review from Katy D.
10/23/2011
Like Amy's comment, definitely good and fresh tasting, but not the best. My friend and I had the steamer platter for two, and it was a ton of solid, steamed shellfish....
But not the best..the hostess. And general service.
And for God's sake, will someone please teach the bartender how to make an Oyster Shooter? Friend, it's not in a mini wine glass with an oyster plopped in topped with a sh#t ton of Tabasco sauce. See here:
http://www.foodnetwork...
SO PLEASE, dining folk, do not order the oyster shooter. -
Review from Kiwii Q.
Manhattan, NY
11/28/2011
We went there because two of our friends highly recommended, so we did. What a disappointment tho! We ordered the fried clams, for $15....the portion was so little! Blehh.. Then we tried the naked lobster roll which was not bad, I would recommend to try that. We also ordered the spinach apple cranberry salad, too much oil and vinegar :(
The service was a-ok... We were seated within 5 mins, we had to sit at the bar, the front door was open the whole time...the cold wind keep blowing towards our direction...what a turn-off for a warm dinner.... w/e.
I would go back, just for the lobster roll. -
Review from Solomon C.
Queens, NY
11/8/2011
So I came here a few times and I'm convinced this place is NOT worth it. The service didn't suck, in fact it was pretty good. Bartender and staff were friendly and attentive but their food is over priced. I paid nearly $40 for half a dungeoness crab and a coke. Not worth it.
Also had their naked lobster role. it wasn't bad but not great either.
Over priced and great for tourists. That's about it. -
Review from Monica L.
Boston, MA
If I could give zero stars, I would.
My order:
1 dozen raw oysters
1/2 dozen raw clams
Crab cake appetizer
Cup of clam chowder
I got grit and pieces of shell in EVERY oyster and clam. They had cloudy liqueur and each one was mangled when being shucked. (Compare my pics from Barking Crab to my pics from Neptune Oyster and you will see the difference.)
My crab cakes came out next. For $13, we got three small crab cakes that were 95% breading. I had shreds of crab meat - NOT chunks of lump crab meat.
At this point, I told them to cancel the clam chowder because of how terrible my other dishes have been.
Total bill came out to $52, plus tip. Yes. $63 for 1.5 dozen dirty bivalves and crappy crabcakes. Even though I had a Groupon and paid $25 for $50 worth of food, I STILL thought it was a waste of money.
Regarding the ambience, it's very kitchy with crab traps hanging from the ceiling. As my friend put it, it's like a dingier, dirtier Red Lobster. Save yourself your money and your stomach and steer clear of Barking Crab. You will thank me later. -
Review from Adriel I.
Cambridge, MA
11/19/2011
Did you know that crabs bark when they're about to be cooked? And apparently when they are mating also. This according to the pretty waitress with the accent no one could place(Southie? Brazil?), so take that with a grain of salt and a little tabasco.
Yeah, the Barking Crab was full of all sorts of educational tidbits. Other things I learned:
- When the menu says "Margarita for two", it means "good luck walking after finishing this one"
- Oyster shots are among the greatest things invented. They are what Bloody Mary's aspire to be
-Seafood is expensive. Very expensive
- If you want a decent crab cake, head to the Chesapeake
The Barking Crab had much to offer, don't get me wrong. It was quaint, and on a chilly late fall afternoon, it had all the new england charm and atmosphere you could get this close to city center. The place was busy, and we had to wait a while for a table, but what do you expect with a party of five in a tourist magnet? Drinks were good, conversation was better, and overall it wasn't a unpleasant meal. Too bad the crabcake in my sammich was over-breaded and over-processed. The oysters were ok, but not enlightening. And the bill was a little on the high side. If you haven't been to the Barking Crab, you should put it on your list of Boston things to do. If you're looking for good seafood though, you could probably do better for a little less. -
Review from Mags R.
Roslindale, MA
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place just didn't do it for me. The food was ok, the place was ok, the service was GREAT tho, reason for the 3rd star. I wouldn't recommend it as I didn't find anything special about it. The lobster Mac and cheese didn't do it for me, just not enough lobster for the price... If you in the area go ahead and give it a try since I only had the fish and chips and the lobster mac and cheese... but if you looking for that BOMB seafood then is a no no... sowy!
-
Review from Sylvia C.
Manhattan, NY
11/20/2011
I read somewhere that crabs bark before they're about to be cooked when they know they're going to die? Is this true? Can someone confirm?
I'd been here once before. I did a road trip from New York with some friends last year who heard about this place. We ordered a large platter of seafood and I remember it being really good and not that expensive. So this year when I decided to go with my husband for our anniversary I thought it would be just as good... boy was I wrong and boy was my hubby disappointed.. sorry hubby! I mean, don't get me wrong the food was good but $50 for 1.25lb lobster with two sides (garlic mash and slaw) for two people? That is what the waiter recommended. "yeah it will be enough for two" It just wet our appetite and seriously wasn't enough. The only other thing we had was a cup of clam chowder which I must admit was very yummy but it was still an appetizer. We could have ordered another 1.25lb lobster or something else but for the price we didn't think it was worth it.
If you don't mind paying the premium prices, then you should definitely try it out. The service was actually really good, even though they're understaffed and the shack style set up is cute. I guess if you factor in all these positives it justifies the price. I would go just once though and not make the mistake of going twice like I did, especially if you're a tourist. There's so many other places in Boston to try out, like Giacomo's on Hanover St in North End, which I haven't had a chance to review but will soon! -
Review from Thomas F.
St Petersburg, FL
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had heard mixed reviews about the Barking Crab, but ther was a Groupon so I figured I'd go ahead and see for myself. First of all, this is a must see place in the summer time. This place gets major points for the atmosphere as the location is right on the water in the boston harbour with a decor that gives the feel of being in a fisherman's shack as you enjoy great views of the city.
As far as the food goes, I thought it was above average. I had the lobster roll and was quite satisfied. I'd also tip my hat to their beer selection as they had draft choices contained long-trail and their own barking crab beer among others.
Price-wise, it is a little bit of a kick in the pants. The lobster roll I ordered was $21, which I believe is a little more than what most places charge. However, in the end, if the sun is shining and you're craving some good boston seafood with a great atmosphere I would recommend you set sail for the Barking Crab. Just be sure to make a reservation as the wait can be long otherwise. -
Review from Amy D.
San Jose, CA
FOOD LOVERS - definitely a place to try if you're a foodie and in the general area. The reason why I decided to go here was because of the Man vs. Food episode when they were in Boston. To top it off, there was a deal on http://buywithme.com JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE MY TRAVEL!
I love seafood and this is one of the rare occasions where I got to leave California for work. This place is pretty unique, since it's right over the water but in a patio/picnic style set up. They also give you plastic buckets with bibs and utensils.
What we had ordered...
Baked Mussels - Good flavor, very unique. Tastes nothing like anything I've tried before.
Clam Chowder - I think I have too high of expectations for Clam Chowder. It wasn't too great here... my personal preference would be chunky style and a thick creamy texture. Barking crab had really watery chowder and a semi bland flavor.
Lobster and King Crab Legs - You could definitely tell that this is fresh. It's almost like tasting the sea (in a good way). I really enjoyed the Lobster, because of the juices that flowed out as you were cracking the shell. Thinking about it makes me hungry.
Personally, it was good but not the best. Kudos for fresh seafood and a large variety! -
Review from Joe M.
Salem, MA
10/21/2011
Way overpriced for very average seafood and a bar scene that will make you feel like you just walked in on an episode of MTV's Real World Boston. This is where the young Boston professionals come after work when they're "roughing it".
Gets two stars for location. -
Review from Jenny L.
Philadelphia, PA
11/13/2011 7 photos
Road tripped to Boston from Philly for the heck of it and decided to try out The Barking Crab because of Man VS Food. Expensive experience and wasn't worth it in my opinion. My boyfriend got the New England Clam Bake and I just got the cluster of snow crab legs. Overpriced and it didn't even fill us! I think for the both of us, it was around $100.
Not planning to come back because this place definitely caters to tourists. You'll get better food at Quincy Market for sure! -
Review from Jess W.
Boston, MA
10/5/2011
Raise your hand if you enjoy eating over-priced, sub-par seafood while having chilly gusts of wind blast in your face.
That's right, I didn't see any hands go up.
For the exorbitant prices Barking Crab charges for under-seasoned, plain boiled seafood, you'd think the restaurant could afford to build some real walls but instead, they use thin sheets of plastic as substitution. Not the wisest idea considering that it's right by the waters and we're in cold, rainy Boston, not somewhere even remotely warm.
It's only the start of Fall but it was so cold and windy that just as soon as my girlfriend had taken her coat off to sit down, she had to put it back on. We even switched tables in an attempt to escape the gust.
We started with the crab dip, which was probably the only item that could ever come close to being mention-worthy. The dip was chock full of fresh crab meat. However, a little more cheese or even a pinch of salt for taste would've been greatly appreciated. I also had the peel-and-eat shrimps which weren't de-veined properly. Let's not even talk about how the shrimps were tasteless and unseasoned. Lastly, I split an order of fish and chips (substituted by sweet potato fries). The fries seemed like they'd been sitting out for a while under some heat lamps. The fish itself was monstrous in proportion, which is normally something that I'd get excited about but not this time. It's quality and not quantity that makes a dish shine. Two large hunks of plain, poorly- breaded fish is hardly impressive.
This wasn't my first visit to the Barking Crab but it may have to be my last. -
Review from Chris D.
Hayward, CA
10/31/2011
I really wanted to like this place. Maybe it was spending the day at a conference and walking around Harvard Square, but there was so much optimism the minute I walked through the doors. Unfortunately there wasn't anything about this place that really stood out or commanded extra attention.
Service was great; friendly people and reasonably quick. However, the food was just so-so. I had the fried oyster platter which had me feeling pretty sick midway through dinner. I'm generally a fan of fried foods, so I'm surprised that I was able to get the fried food high so quickly. My friends decided to partake in some fresh seafood platters. Not sure what the deal was, but of the total poundage most of it turned out to be shell.
Not much else to say, better luck next time I guess -
Review from Jeff F.
10/8/2011
This has to be one of the best spots to grab lunch or an afternoon drink when it's over 70 degrees in Boston. I've heard great things about it, but before today had never been. With the mercury hitting 80, the wife and I headed to the Barking Crab.
Yeah it's overpriced and yeah there's a wait, but there are so few solid drinking/dining options walking distance from Boston - (rest of the waterfront is nice, but that walk sucks). The food: crab cakes solid; snow crab pretty good; king crab was ok - should have been more chilled, sweet potato fries and regular fried were solid bar food.
Recommended if you need a good outdoor seating and are willing to pay the requisite premium. You also have to be tolerant of shitty bar service. If you're actually at the bar, you're ok, but if you're at a bar table, it's shitshow. Bussing a table is officially rocket science. -
Review from John B.
12/11/2011 6 photos
This place ended up being way more money than we thought it would be but they do boil an excellent lobster. Our waitress Jamie was very friendly and attentive in helping us with ordering. The lobster we ended up choosing seemed to be extra meaty, it took us over an hour to break it apart and eat it. This place looks like it would be a great place for groups with their extra circus tent eating area.
-
Review from DROR K.
Cambridge, MA
12/26/2011
They have a very unpleasant service and very unfriendly to families with small children.
They did not let us sit more than fifteen minutes even though there were places - and we had to leave. -
Review from Jorge R.
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, NY
1/24/2012
My name is Jorge Rodriguez and I'm from Puerto Rico which is considered to be american territory. My Driver license is my only official ID and with the same I can live, travel and work throughout the 50 states as an "american citizen". Today I went to The Barking Crab for a business meeting and some drinks, and the Manager told me that my Puerto Rican ID was not considered legit for the state of Massachussets, which is weird since this is our official ID as the Id's of any american citizen in any state. I told her that, and she said "I understand but anyhow the policy of Masachussets does not approve it". So I called the Civil Rights Commision and they couldn't prove that. I'm 30 years old and a not so proud american citizen who wants to have a normal business meeting with some drinks since its my legal right and this kind of racist place prefer to not serve us. I wouldn't recommend a place that threats the rights for any american and non american citizen. It's simply not right and iresponsible.
-
Review from K. Brooke Z.
Boston, MA
10/28/2011
If you try to get here for dinner...good luck! Way easier to get a table for lunch, but there is still a wait.
The food was great, I would recommend the place if you have a lot of time to sit down. If you're in a rush-no dice.
Of the meals I tried from the other people I dined with, the crab definitely took the prize (no real surprise I guess!) -
Review from Rimma A.
Buffalo Grove, IL
10/27/2011
Never actually got to eat there. They cancelled our reservation 30 min before we were supposed to arrive, after receiving a confirmation email on our reservation just 2 days before. How rude!
At least it was a cloud with a silver lining: we ended up eating at Neptune Oyster Bar instead and had the most AMAZING lobster rolls I've ever had in my life! -
Review from Paige M.
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Recommended we come here for the seafood, atmosphere, and the tourist experience. As others have mentioned, it is a destination most popular with visitors and not locals. As a tourist, I shall comment that it was not popular with us either.
I suppose in our minds, we had imagined a restaurant more like Summer Shack http://www.yelp.com/bi... however Barking Crab was a dingy, bayside shanty with outdoor seating. People were packed in like sardines, and the queue to be seated was 20-deep and going out the front door.
Is it good? Or is it just a popular tourist attraction? The wait was much too long for our appetites, so we went elsewhere.Listed in: Boston: A Tourist Guide
-
Review from Mr F G and Ms M S.
Flushing, NY
8/27/2011 4 photos
Pros: Great atmosphere. Great place to just relax, have some seafood & an ice cold beer. We ordered the 1.25 lobster & a cajun pasta with lobster meat. They were pretty decent. The service was great too. Our waitress was pretty friendly. The food came pretty fast
Cons: A bit expensive for just a decent seafood. We spent about $66 there, not including tip & we only got 2 entrees... -
Review from Dee L.
Boston, MA
12/14/2011
Possibly the worst shrimp cocktail I have ever tasted. So over cooked they tasted like an eraser at the end of a pencil. The fried clams were definitely the bomb! Crunchy just the way I like them. What else did we get? Clam chowder - ok nothing special, crabcakes - kind of fishy didn't seem fresh and finally fish sandwich - beer battered, too much batter and really oily - not good. Will most definitely never return but honestly I think it is a one shot deal, no one would go back for the overpriced and subpar food.
-
Review from Skye G.
An out of town friend wanted to stop by so we went early knowing the wait can be brutal.
We lucked out and didn't wait and got one end of a table (be prepared to share unless you are a big group than be prepared to wait).
Our waitress was nice and quick which was nice since you just never know what will happen when you come here. Service can be slow and not very good.
It is always packed with a very long wait with lots of people and is very loud. They do NOT take reservations nor do they take call aheads.
The Lobster roll did have huge chucks of meat in it which was great for $21. The mussels were $12 cooked in a nice broth with lots of veggies - tomatoes, onions, scallions. We ordered the app fried clams which was just that a small app at $15.
We watched another couple go to town on a baked stuffed lobster. I just had to go over and ask about it. The guy admitted that he preferred a simple plain boiled lobster but said it was good. It looked moist and not over cooked. By the way they cleaned it up I'd say they loved it. Maybe I'll try that next time.
If you are looking for seafood and fine dining than I'd try a few other places either in the Quincy Market or North End area.
But if you are ok with picnic tables and plastic than go EARLY!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/7/2010
There are not very many ways to eat cheap with a growing family of 6. Much less when you have some… Read more »
-
-
Review from Michael W.
Melrose, MA
7/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
You're going to find the reviews all over the map for this place, because it's a strange sort of place, and because expectations can be everything.
My review only covers the outside seating, so if you're looking to sit indoors, hit up some of the other reviews.
I love this place because it offers me EXACTLY what I want, which is tons of local and fresh shellfish in a fun setting right on the water. They have everything from lobster, oysters, clams, crawfish and more are available.
The food is always prepared just how I like it, oysters shucked properly and lobster still steaming. There is nothing like sitting by the water with lobster, oysters, steamers and beer.
I always skip just about everything else, because none of it is good to me. My wife and I do like the crab cakes, but aside from that I find the non-shellfish options to be mediocre to middle range.
Don't come here expecting great service or ambience. I asked for a shell cracker and the waitress tossed a dirty boulder on the table. She served us warm beers and didn't check in for a while. It's always crowded, takes forever to get a seat, and sometimes you have to sit next to a picnic table of screaming kids and tourists.
This place is perfectly Boston. It's crowded and dirty and rude, but there's just something special about it. If you like shellfish, and you are adventurous, give it a try. -
Review from Tracy T.
Boston, MA
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all, I had no expectations what-so-ever and didn't even check the yelp reviews before eating at this restaurant.
The Wait: I asked for a table for 2 and the response was, "We don't give wait times, but there are 18 parties ahead of you." We decided to wait anyway and it took approximately 1 hour before we were seated. This gave me the impression that it was a good restaurant because of it's popularity, so initially I didn't mind the wait.
Appetizer: We started with the "Stuffies" which were stuffed quahog clams. They were not horrible, but each bite was a completely different experience. At one point I had to spit out my food because it was too chewy and had a kind of crunch like I had bitten into a small rock or some sand...
Entree: We shared a New England Clam Chowder and a Lonely Lobster (1.25lb) with a side of mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. The corn was incredibly old and overcooked, basically tasted like soggy corn. The mashed potatoes tasted old and bland. The clam chowder was watery and had a kind of "rotten" flavor to it, as if the clams they used were of the poorest quality they could find. As for the lobster.... The entire body of the lobster (everything except for the majority of the tail and claws) was completely green, mushy, diarrhea, no sign of meat whatsoever-- basically they gave us the lobster that was already almost dead. It was also overcooked to the point that I couldn't even chew it. That, in my book, is NOT fresh seafood, and I wonder what else they had served that was practically dead and sickly.
Drink: We ordered a Margarita Madness Cocktail. It was an over-sized lemonade that cost $19 and had almost no alcohol in it. They should have put in more alcohol - maybe the food would have tasted better.
Service: The service was bad but could have been worse. Every person that works there looks like they hate their lives and are completely miserable, but considering what they feed people... Well, maybe it's just a reflection of what is going on in the kitchen. Their faces just say, "I hate serving people this stuff because I know what they're doing to it back there.... and it's not good"
Ladies Restroom: It's a joke. It's a complete joke. You either get a broken door or you get to straddle the toilet seat as you lock the door before you sit while the toilet paper stabs you in the eye.
Overall: I hope to never return to this restaurant and I hope, for the love of God, that whatever I ate there doesn't kill me within the week. -
Review from Kristina H.
Reseda, CA
8/29/2011
You really have to get here at the right time or you'll be waiting a while, but it's worth it! It's very casual, picnic bench style seating so you can't be shy! The portions are huge, they have a full bar and it's right on the water. It's a very unique and fun place to get some excellent seafood.
The crab cake sandwich, lobster mac and cheese and clam chowder were all were awesome, fresh and delicious and probably the best I've ever had. The mac and cheese was huge and FULL of huge pieces of lobster- very impressive. I have never been a huge fan of clam chowder but after sampling my friend's more than a few times, I definitely wished I had ordered my own (and he probably did too). Every time he is in Boston he tries to get to the Barking Crab, and now I understand what all the hype is about! Can't wait to go back and get my chowdah fix! -
Review from Evan S.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
This is a tourist destination, plain and simple. The Barking Crab is a big, loud place that goes above and beyond in their "dive-y" approach.
The lobster was priced fairly high considering the mass production of lobster in the dish. There was no soul in the food.
Pros: The waiter was awesome. Super polite and not pushy. He forgot to bring me my clam chowder. That is not a knock, seriously. There is no way I could have fit any chowder into my belly after the lobster. It's like he was on my same wavelength; almost like he anticipated it.
Cons: The wait was TERRIBLE.
Peeve: The bathrooms are disgusting. Also you have to walk past the kitchen and the floor mats were soaked in grease and butter. It made for a slippery walk back.
Tip: There are two sides to this place, the patio and the dining room. If you put your name in on the patio, you won't be seated in the dining and vice-versus. On a busy night when you want first available, have one person in your party put your name on the dining room list and a different put your name on the patio list. That way you'll get whichever comes first. -
Review from Mabel C.
Boston, MA
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here many times. Usually I am not the one who pick this place. I dont mind coming here.
I am not a big fan of eating in a rather messy place. The quality of the seafood wasn't taht great either. We had the crab cake sandwiches, raw oysters, raw clams, clam chowder, lobster and we all shared a bucket of crab which is about 100 dollars.
I always ended up in Barking Crab even though it's not my top choices for a seafood restuarant. -
Review from Qui C.
6/8/2011 8 photos
Why does the barking crab have such mediocre reviews? I LOVE THIS PLACE.
We were here for like 4 hours haha. First two hours at the bar and the second half eating. I had so much fun at their bar, we had to go back to the hostess twice to be asked to be seated at a later time. (she was annoyed to say the least) Oh well. The bartenders were so fun and we first started out with the barking crab white beer, which was amazingly light and refreshing. But then we saw everyone getting the rum punch so we had to try. 4 rum punch later, I really don't know how my server looked. P.s. Our bartenders kicked ass. They decorated our rum punch different everytime - with different fruits and cute umbrellas.
I do know the food was fantastic. We ordered:
2 Local Whole Jonah Crab
Lobster Scampi
Mahi Sandwich
Best meal I had in Boston. Seriously.
Oh, our server was this sweet boy. He was extremely catering to our needs. He got us extra pickles :)Listed in: Bean Town
-
Review from Cindy K.
Santa Clara, CA
9/11/2011 2 photos
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. -
Review from Halorin T.
Brookline, MA
11/30/2011
It's way overpriced for what it is. It's seafood. pretty bland and nothing special. Crab cakes are the worst I've ever had. The oysters are tiny. It pales in comparison to Legal, and is twice the price.
