How is Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square restaurant rated?

Name: Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square
Address: 20 University Road, Cambridge, MA, United States, 02138
Telephone: (617) 491-9400
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.3

Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square

4.3

1521 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

Top Tags:

The signature dish at Legal Sea Foods – really fresh fish. Located in the courtyard of the Charles Hotel, our restaurant evokes the simple style of the original Legal Sea Foods that was in nearby Inman Square, Cambridge. In warmer months our outside patio reels in those who choose the fresh seafood and fresh air combo.

We’ve received a boatload of accolades including “#1 Best Seafood Restaurant” (USA Today, 2013), “Most Popular Boston Restaurant” (Zagat, 2012/2013), “Best Seafood Restaurant” (Improper Bostonian, 2010), “Best Chowder” (Boston Magazine, 2010) and the honor of serving our legendary New England Clam Chowder at every presidential inauguration since 1981.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, Fish
Hours of operation
Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 10pm Friday & Saturday: 11am - 11pm Reservations are for indoor dining only, no patio-outdoor seating is available for online bookings.
Phone number
(617) 491-9400
Website
http://www.legalseafoods.com/Restaurants/Cambridge-Charles-Square
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Celebrate a special occasion or host a corporate event at Legal Sea Foods. We customize every menu and finishing detail. Here at Charles Square, our semi private dining rooms can accommodate up to 50 people for special functions. Depending on the size of your party, choose from the light-filled atrium or a dining area overlooking the courtyard. In the summer, our outdoor patio is popular for hosted classic clambakes. Private dining at Legal Sea Foods offers great food and hospitality and easy planning. Please contact our special events manager for further details.

Location
20 University Road, Cambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Cross street
Elliot
Parking details
Our validation will net you savings at two area garages. Park before 5pm for discounted rates and after 5pm for a $11 maximum rate at the adjacent Charles Square Garage. Or park for $12 before 5pm on weekdays and $8 after 5pm on weekdays and weekends at the nearby University Place Garage, 124 Mount Auburn Street.
Public transit
Harvard Square (Red Line) "T" stop.
Entertainment
Rock the boat at our downstream Terrace Bar in the lower atrium of Charles Square. It’s a popular lure in season, open daily mid-April to mid-October from 11am to 1am, with light fare available from 11am to 11pm.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,521 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.3Service
4.1Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

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S
Shillbay
New England
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on March 7, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience3
Very good fish (and meats and salads) prepared without too much fuss. Prices have crept up a bit but Legal is still a reliable option for family dinners and group events. Some nice surprises on the wine list and warm, friendly service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
23 reviews
vip
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2020
overall4food4service5ambience4
Nice way to end the trip to Boston with colleagues. The server was phenomenal, very knowledgeable, very accommodating and most of all professional.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on March 1, 2020
overall2food1service1ambience2
Tuna served crazy overcooked. Service super slow
MJ
MarkJ
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall5food5service4ambience4
We did the leap day two lobster special and the staff was fine, handled the orders well, there was a slight wait at times when our wait person was serving others, not visible, but overall we were very happy with everything.
KM
KathyM
New England
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Leap Day Lobster was amazing!!
KA
KATHLEENS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 23, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Visiting from Ohio and THIS WAS OUR BEST meal while in the Cambridge/Boston area.
TH
TomH
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 22, 2020
overall3food2service3ambience3
The meal was a bit underwhelming - cooked well, but not much flavor.
d
departingdiner
New England
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2020
overall4food3service3ambience4
The cuisine has become ordinary; the staff, over-taxed; and the noise level unbearable.
LB
LaurenceB
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience4
We visit this restaurant once a year as part of a family trip to Cambridge to see the Hasty Pudding show. This year, as always, our meal was one of the highlights of the trip. Legal Sea Foods deserves its great reputation (earned over the years from a tough, New England audience) and we’ve eaten at many different Legals locations, but for some reason the staff at this location always makes it extra special. It’s tucked away, and a little hard to get to, but well worth the effort.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience3
Always delicious, always great service. A favorite!
JS
JohnS
New York Area
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience4
Love this place! Amazing food and service. Boston comfort food but also new items to choose from. Highly recommended!
R
Roberta
New York Area
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2020
overall5food4service5ambience4
Good food and convenient location. Fairly pricey but it is in Harvard Square.
a
anonymouse
Central Coast
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on February 10, 2020
overall3food2service4ambience3
Used to be much better. Friendly waitress. Small portions of very average seafood at fairly high price. Unlikely to return soon. Too bad because it used to be one of our regular spots.
CG
ClaytonGreyhound
New England
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2020
overall4food5service5ambience4
We've eaten here numerous times, but this was the first Sunday brunch we have been to. Unfortunately, one item on the brunch menu was not available (encrusted catfish), but the substitute, crab toast with eggs and sauce, was excellent. One of the best meals (with guests) we've had there. The only sour note, as often happens there, was a malfunction with the flusher in the women's handicapped restroom; a perennial problem. My wife sent a separate complaint directly to Legal Charles Square.
B
Barbara
New England
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2020
overall3food3service4ambience3
It’s just not what it used to be, on all levels (food and training of servers in particular). Wasn’t a bad evening, but for the money, we could’ve done a lot better elsewhere, especially in Cambridge.
K
Kathy
New England
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was excellent, especially our server who was outstanding! She accommodated all our requests graciously (including separate checks for 6 of us!) & provided excellent overall customer service!
c
citichic
New England
40 reviews
vip
3.0
40 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2020
overall3food3service2ambience3
service and food at this location is getting very mediocre. Server basically ignored us unless we asked others to help us. This is a great location, and used to be one of our favorite local restaurants, but they really need management to up their game.
NJ
NicholasJ
New England
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 17, 2020
overall4food4service4ambience4
I've eaten at Legal Seafoods many times. Once in a blue moon, you have a bad experience. Our birthday guest ordered fish tacos and asked for the fish to be substituted with shrimp but it didn't happen. We felt embarrassed that the guest of honor had to wait and eat last, once everyone else had nearly finished their lunch. And when her correct order came back, it was missing the avocados that were part of it. I ordered the salmon, which came with a farro and roasted mushroom salad. After combing through it, I found only one mushroom buried under the farro! At least, there were apologies from the maitre d and the waitress, whose fault it was not, may I add. Not a good experience this time.
JK
JimKay
San Francisco
13 reviews
vip
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2020
overall4food5service5ambience3
Good experience and would use again for clients etc
FL
FridayLunchLetdown
New England
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 6, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
Jeremy provides excellent service.
k
kaycibi
New England
58 reviews
vip
5.0
58 reviews
Dined on January 6, 2020
overall5food4service5ambience4
Julia the server was amiable & accurate on odd requests— mussels, steamers, drinks, broccoli, dessert . Given the order’s mixed stuff we’d ordered, she found assistance to make the timing perfect for both food and ambiance. We each had a fine time and so each son returned abroad to separate continents happy with Legal Thank you!
TS
TimS
New England
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 5, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience3
Been eating here for twenty years ,just as good as it’s always been !
S
Shielaazad1
New England
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 1, 2020
overall1food1service1ambience1
This use to be our favorite place to go out to eat, we had a reservation at 8:30pm on New Year’s Eve. There were hardly any people at the restaurant, but the service was extremely slow and bad. The quality of food has also gone down and the prices on the menu have increased. Overall, not satisfied and would not recommend.
K
Kate
Philadelphia
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2019
overall5food4service5ambience5
Everything was great except that the side salad I ordered with my trout was inedible. The cherry tomatoes were soft and didn’t taste right, the greens and cucumbers and other vegetables also didn’t taste fresh, and there was way too much overpowering dressing. When I mentioned this to the server, though, she and the manager came over immediately, apologized, and offered to replace the salad. By then we were finished, so instead, they offered to comp us desserts for the table. I was satisfied and appreciated their response.
B
Billn
New England
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love that cioppino!
P
Pand
New England
45 reviews
5.0
45 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love this Legal Seafood location. We chose to sit and stay at the bar for dinner. Food and service top notch.
J
John
Richmond
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on December 27, 2019
overall4food5service3ambience4
Food was excellent. Dessert was kindly brought for child’s birthday.
SB
ScooterB
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 26, 2019
overall2food3service2ambience2
Is this part of the same Legal Seafood group that I ordinarily find to be a strong dining experience. Hard to believe it is related to the restaurant in the Seaport. Our party of 7 was wedged into a too small space when there was plenty of room in the restaurant. The fried clams were over cooked, the grilled scallops had grill marks but looked and tasted like they were poached in plain water. The steamed lobster looked over cooked. The sides were plopped on the plate like I'd expect at a high school cafeteria. The best thing that could be said is that the portions were plentiful, but that's not why we go to Legals and pay Legal prices. Come on Legal Seafood you can do better.
C
Carolina1
New England
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 25, 2019
overall2food3service3ambience1
The bathrooms were cold, dark and dirty. The dining area is is old and dirty. The salad lettuce was very sandy and had not been washed before being served. We have enjoyed the Boston location before our dinner in Cambridge.
LM
LindaM
New England
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2019
overall3food5service5ambience3
Christmas Eve at Legal's Charles Square is a longstanding family tradition. We love spending this special evening here with friends.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2019
overall5food5service4ambience4
It was great! Christmas Eve is always special. The guy with the nose injury was very nice but it definitely changed the mood! Ouch
DB
DutchBuck
New England
92 reviews
vip
2.0
92 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2019
overall2food1service4ambience4
Maybe it’s just because Legals are so consistently good everywhere else that the poorly prepared and presented dishes at the Charles Square Legals were so very disappointing. Onion strings so over cooked in the fryer that they we a solid dark brown mass on the plate. Vegetables cooked until they were reduced to a gelatinous ness, a Caesar salad dressing described in the menu at “creamy” arrived as a thin clear sheen of flavorless oil on the lettuce and in a bowl with 3 huge and partially burned croutons. OK, it was the weekend before Christmas so maybe the good cooks and/or the head chef were on vacation, but I really thought Legals had better quality control than that.
K
Keith
Austin
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2019
overall3food3service3ambience4
Not very flavorful.
M
Minerva
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
This Legal Sea Foods restaurant is tucked away behind the Charles Hotel, so it's a nice quiet location. The seafood was excellent, as always, and our server was friendly and attentive.
MB
MariaB
New England
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, comfortable atmosphere. One of our favorite Legals locations.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2019
overall4food4service5ambience5
Trout and scrod was dry.
SB
SteveB
Orlando
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was great......as always.
T
Teal
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 6, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience4
While I did not personally mind it, my friend was somewhat bothered by a light high above our table that kept flickering (like in a disco!). The waiter said that staff had been aware of it earlier in the day, but that nothing could be done about it. Also, when I tried to order the baked cod, I was told it wasn't available; haddock was suggested instead. Ideally, we might have been told at the outset what was and wasn't available that day. Overall, very satisfied, though. The haddock was delicious!
RK
RonaldK
Denver
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 5, 2019
overall5food5service4ambience5
Delicious food and good location. Thanks.
D
Daly
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 3, 2019
overall2food1service4ambience3
Cocktail tasted like gin flavored water. We both ordered the mixed seafood grill & it was very bland & covered with butter, perhaps to improve the taste. Both the mushrooms & brussel sprouts were cold & lacking flavor. Perhaps the downtown location matches the hype we had heard, but this location sadly was a huge disappointment. Sadly, the best part of the meal was the wine!!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square is rated 4.3 stars by 1521 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Additional information

Cross street
Elliot
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Hours of operation
Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 10pm Friday & Saturday: 11am - 11pm Reservations are for indoor dining only, no patio-outdoor seating is available for online bookings.
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, Fish
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Our validation will net you savings at two area garages. Park before 5pm for discounted rates and after 5pm for a $11 maximum rate at the adjacent Charles Square Garage. Or park for $12 before 5pm on weekdays and $8 after 5pm on weekdays and weekends at the nearby University Place Garage, 124 Mount Auburn Street.
Public transit
Harvard Square (Red Line) "T" stop.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Entertainment
Rock the boat at our downstream Terrace Bar in the lower atrium of Charles Square. It’s a popular lure in season, open daily mid-April to mid-October from 11am to 1am, with light fare available from 11am to 11pm.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.legalseafoods.com/Restaurants/Cambridge-Charles-Square
Phone number
(617) 491-9400
Private party facilities
Celebrate a special occasion or host a corporate event at Legal Sea Foods. We customize every menu and finishing detail. Here at Charles Square, our semi private dining rooms can accommodate up to 50 people for special functions. Depending on the size of your party, choose from the light-filled atrium or a dining area overlooking the courtyard. In the summer, our outdoor patio is popular for hosted classic clambakes. Private dining at Legal Sea Foods offers great food and hospitality and easy planning. Please contact our special events manager for further details.

Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square

Permanently Closed

Additional information

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is Legal Sea Foods - Charles Square restaurant rated?

Permanently Closed

Additional information