This is definitely one of the better locations in the chain. My daughter liked the sushi, and my tuna on a salad was fresh and filling. The stuffed lobster was a lot of food – consider sharing it. The Boston cream pie wasn’t as good as usual; not sure why. Just didn’t seem as fresh.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
I worked with Liz to host a bridal shower for my daughter in their back room. The room was beautifully set up, the food was delicious and the service was over the top. Shout out to Brandon who was our main server and went above and beyond with a smile and prompt service. He even helped us set up our balloon arch. He was always there but not intrusive. Really great venue for a smaller gathering (20-25).
PS: The lobster rolls were gigantic!!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Half Pound Maine Lobster Rolls
I enjoyed a great meal provided by great service at Legal Sea Foods in Chestnut Hill! The restaurant has a great view for any time of the day. Legal Sea Food is typically a staple of my dining experience when visiting Boston, MA, but the Chestnut Hill location may be a cut above the rest. The staff behind the bar is courteous, diligent, and knowledgeable. The food preparation was very well done even for such a simple dish. Noise level in the restaurant did not impede the ability to have a quality conversation. The lighting in the restaurant was perfect. If you are looking for a good meal to enjoy by yourself or with a group, Legal Sea Food in Chestnut Hill, MA is a great option!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
ZERO star if I could.
Outdoor patio seating: Made reservation at Chestnut Hill location only because of their outdoor patio seating. Patio closed.
Cleanliness: puddle of rusty water and crumbs all over under table, sticky chairs. Disgusting.
Food: Crabmeat Roll $34- Washed down crabmeat, not even the natural saltiness of real crabmeat !!!!! Bland is an understatement. One bite and had to call our waiter. Their coleslaw tastes better than crabmeat roll. $34 dollars !!!
Grilled Colossal Shrimp $27 - What Colossal?? 5 pieces of Tiny average shrimp with rice and fries to make up for the price.
Don't be fooled by their patio - lacking everything else.
Update: Restaurant's response to my review only confirms they do not inspect and sanitize dining area before serving customers. GM blames everything on weather and the diner. Retractable window was closed the day we dined and did not rain. No response would've been better..
Food: 1
Service: 1
Greeted by an empty host stand and left without anyone saying goodbye. Walked right past the host who could not be bothered to acknowledge us. That sums up the experience. Meh.
Food was good though the Tuna burger tasted more fishy than I am used to. Server made no recommendations.
Our server was ok but seemed bothered to be working. Empty Iced Tea and no refill offered. Visited by both a fly and a wasp.
Won't be coming back.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 2
Fresh Seafood but Not So Great Service: Legal Seafoods Chesnut Hill
I have eaten at Legal Seafoods Chesnut Hill countless times and have even reserved the large gathering room in the past. However, during my recent visit, it was disappointing to witness a major downfall in the overall experience.
The food quality didn't meet my expectations, and the once attentive and friendly service seemed to have vanished. The waiters and hostess were unattentive and lacked the warm hospitality that I had experienced in the past. Additionally, the kitchen staff's noise level was quite loud, detracting from the overall dining ambiance.
One particular incident involved the oysters being served, and the server's finger accidentally touching one of the oysters while explaining them. It was a little off-putting and showed a lack of attention to detail.
Ordered:
- Thai (pineapple & peanuts) Calamari ($18)
- Oysters of the Day (8 pcs Variety) ($31.60)
- Crab Cake Sliders ($21)
- Cup of Clam Chowder ($8.50)
- Organic Salmon with Street Corn and Rice Pilaf ($33)
- New England Baked Haddock - Anna's Way ($28)
- Salmon Avocado BLT
Pros:
- Decent Ambiance: The restaurant has tasteful decor and comfortable seating, creating a nice atmosphere for dining.
Cons:
- Food Quality Was Not the Same as Before: While Legal Seafoods Chesnut Hill is known for its fresh seafood, the recent visit left a bit to be desired. The dishes didn't taste as exceptional as they had in the past, indicating a decline in the overall food quality.
- Servers and Hostess Were Not Attentive: The service during the visit was lacking, with the waiters and hostess not being as attentive or responsive as expected. Their lack of attentiveness affected the overall dining experience.
Overall Impression:
While Legal Seafoods Chesnut Hill has always been a go-to place for fresh seafood, this recent experience has left me disappointed. The decline in food quality and service makes it challenging to fully enjoy the dining experience. Until the restaurant addresses these issues and makes quality adjustments, I'd consider exploring other options in the strip mall.
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3
We started with two Sangrias, 1 red and 1 white. We shared a crab cake (not pictured because we ate it so fast) and I had the baked haddock and she had the scallops. Great food as always with plenty left over!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
As a going away dinner some good friends and family treated me to a very nice seafood restaurant in chestnut Hill, MA called “Legal Sea Food” this is a super nice restaurant and a fine dining type of restaurant. The atmosphere is classy and quiet! I would recommend the fish tacos for an appetizer they were so good we got the fried and grilled fish tacos. Next for good everyone got something different but I got Salmon with sweet potato mash and Street corn and my food was delicious! Since it was a celebration we got an ice cream dessert which was also good! All in all I would recommend Legal Seafood for date night or for celebrations you won’t be disappointed!
This place completely surprised us. We’ve lived here for four years and never visited because it was a chain so we had low expectations. My parents wanted a lobster roll and the location was close so we went. Wow! Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted so fresh.
The salad was phenomenal with the salmon cooked perfectly. The lobster roll was huge! Perfectly cooked! It had butter but didn’t feel heavy.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
First time in Newtown and went here with a friend's.
Lobster roll - both the cold one and warm are worth every penny.
We also had chowder and oysters.
The quality of food didn't feel like it was from a "chain" of restaurants. If you're in Newton and want a close by place that serves delicious seafood... Specially lobster roll... Then this is your place.
Service was good - I would return and recommend.
