Legal Sea Foods

[jende]

I've never been to a Legal in the city proper, but I second the recommendation for the one at Logan Airport. I sat at the bar before my (delayed) flight and had a delicious crab cake sandwich.

It was huge, packed with fresh crab meat and smeared with a tangy mustard sauce, all on a brioche-y kind of bun. Along with a Harpoon Summer Ale and a pleasant chat with the friendly bartender, it made my delay bearable.

[LindaK]

Has anyone tried Legal Test Kitchen? On Congress Street, just over the Fort Pt. Channel. Same chain, a less traditional menu.

[Chris Amirault]

Sounds like you need to try it out, eh?

[LindaK]

Sounds like you need to try it out, eh?

Ha. I know a throw down when I hear it. I might not get to it for a bit, but will report back. It's a pleasant walk from the office, so even better while the weather is still good.

[LindaK]

So, I finally made a stop at Legal Test Kitchen yesterday, just for drinks and light food.

The menu was a little bit of everything, a few items each of raw bar, sushi, and seafood classics, as well as some non-seafood items. We went for the classics: fried calamari (RI style), clams casino, and then split a burger.

The clams were delicious and well cooked, tender, not overdone, not too much bacon or garlic--you could really taste the clams. The calamari was not as successful. The batter was too thick, and not cooked sufficiently, so though the calamari was cooked through the dish tasted of the undercooked batter. It was set atop a bed of dressed greens, tossed with the usual pickled peppers, and drizzled with aioli. Some good flavors in there, but the overall impression was "wet." The burger was very good, with extra points for the freshly-baked roll and crispy onion ring garnish. Appetizer portions were small, esp. the calamari.

The atmosphere was comfortable, casual but stylish. Tables aren't crammed together. There's a large communal table close to the bar, which is where we ended up sitting and chatting with others (one diner who was a regular recommended the lamb skewers). And plenty of plasma tvs at the bar for watching baseball playoffs. The beer and by-the-glass wine selections are limited, but good basic selections, and fairly priced (wine by the glass, in Boston anyway, can be a huge ripoff).

I'll probably give it another try when I have time to order a main course as well. But my first impression is that it isn't destination, but probably not a bad place to land if you're in the neighborhood.

[Chris Amirault]

I'm a bit confused, I guess. What's being tested here? RI calamari, clams casino, and burgers? That sounds about as anti-experimental as one can get in New England; you're just missing baked stuffed shrimp and white chowder and you've got Anthony's Pier 4.

I guess just the high-tech tables are 21st century, eh?

[cigalechanta]

I don't care about the test kitchen, I just want Roger to keep up the standards that are high in Chestnut hill. I wish I lived closer but I must settle for Harvard Sq. and Kendall. I've been going there since they were a fish market and a small restaurant in Cambridge when you had to pay in advance because all the MIT and Harvard students stiffed them!!!