Legal Sea Foods

While I have eaten at several locations in the Boston area, those were all in the last several years, since Legal began their great expansion. Thus, I have no recollection of the “glory days” of Legal. I do, however, have soft spots for their baked scrod (maybe it’s just that joke about the pluperfect subjunctive) and their boston cream pie.

I’ve had both wonderful and awful service at the Montgomery Mall and Tyson’s Galleria locations. Service at the Boston area locations was better, though that may have been clouded by the “I’m on vacation” feeling. Service at the airport locations (BOS and DCA) was good.

Special demerits to the clueless waiters at the Montgomery Mall location must be awarded, though. The spouse and I, our son, and my Mom went when the son was about five months old. He was asleep in his stroller, which we carefully parked out of the flow of traffic. The wait staff apparently disagreed as they constantly walked between it and the next table, rather than go the extr a three steps to the open aisle on the other side of our table. This wasn’t a small umbrella stroller that blended into the carpeting and decor either.

A family obligation unfortunately landed us at the Montgomery Mall location for a second time, and I must say, it was just awful. The popcorn shrimp were not at all crispy, and didn’t taste particularly fresh. My fish and chips were about the worst I’ve ever had: the fish was too strong tasting (in that bad fishy way), soggy, and in cut into small chunks. At least the chips were okay. But the butternut squash side dish was almost sweet enough for pie filling. Steve’s stuffed baked shrimp certainly didn’t look too appetizing, and he reported that while the crab stuffing was “nasty and gloppy”, the shrimp were somewhat better, though rubbery. One diner enjoyed her bluefish (simply grilled), but the other rolled his eyes and made a face at the same dish.

In all fairness, my bananas Foster was pretty tasty. But I’m a sucker for just about anything in caramel sauce.

I’m trying to find a nice way to say this... Years ago, we used to dine with some extremely elderly (90+ years old) relatives. Their idea of a nice place to go and eat to celebrate a birthday was O’Donnell’s. If you’re a DC native you might appreciate that. Legal Sea Foods is much the same. There is an effort on the menu to appeal to a more food-savvy (or trendy, if you’re a cynic) crowd, with some token Asian and Indian preparations. But that effort can’t cover up the fact that this is mediocre quality food in non-threatening preparations designed to please people who don’t get out much. If that’s what you want, you might like it.

But then again, there’s just no justifying soggy, fishy fish-and-chips. That was just wrong.

Oh — note for dave: it’s not that I’m comparing it unfavorably to fond memories of the Boston location, (where I think I ate once when I moved there in 1985); it’s that I’m comparing it unfavorably to any place in DC where I might order seafood (eg Johnny’s Half Shell, Pesce, Kinkeads, DC Coast... even the fried shrimp at River Falls).

[original review 1/6/2004 follows; original rating 2 (unpleasant)]

Unpleasantly prepared seafood standards in a setting unpleasantly reminiscent of the family restaurants of the 1970s. Eeew. shudder.

I like it here. Now, I’ve never eaten at ones in Boston, and certainly not in the 70’s. But the one in Montgomery Mall, at least, is enjoyable. But, I will agree that it’s food is overpriced, and for that reason primarily I don’t eat here often. But, I do enjoy the chance to stop by for a glass of wine an a tray of oysters on the half-shell at the bar, on occasion, and I like it very much for that. If you have the opportunity to eat closer to the shore, do. If you hate chain restaurants (esp that live on a rep. built before they were a big chain), then you’ll be somewhat unhappy. But, if you just want good seafood, and are willing to spend some money for it, I think you could do much worse than Legal.

I suspect Elizabeth has the same basic problem as I do with this place. Namely, we remember what it used to be like, in Boston, years ago.

It probably really deserves a 5; the fish is fresh and it’s still better than what passes for a garden-variety seafood restaurant thse days. But the bitter, bitter disappointment with the franchise locations earns it demerits for despoiling the memory of a pretty good seafood restaurant.

The soup is good. So are the profiteroles. Everything else at the DC locations hints at a baffling (and perhaps incestuous) descent from its namesake.

-dave

I can’t find anything to eat here, usually- everything is deep fried or drowned in heavy sauces and waaay overpriced. It’s pretty unpleasant all around. Except for the profiteroles. Those are tasty.

Members of my family who lived in Boston insist that Legal is a reallly good restaurant. If you find yourself in Boston during 1975, I suggest you check it out. Here and now, however, they can’t seem to get anything right: food, service, or atmosphere. (The “outdoor” seating at Tyson’s II is particularly surreal.)