Boqueria Seaport — Restaurant in Boston

New York-based chain serving up excellent tapas.

Boqueria introduced me to the world of tapas when I first tried them in NYC seven years ago. For a while, my friends and I visited at least once every two months for their fixed-price brunch. So, when I heard Boqueria had opened a new location in Boston, I was thrilled. I recently dropped in for brunch on a Sunday, and the restaurant was surprisingly empty that afternoon. The menu has changed quite a bit since my last visit, so instead of the prix fixe, we decided to tap into an à la carte experience.

From the small plates, we opted for the Pan con Tomate and Croquetas de Setas, and both were solid choices. The diced tomatoes and olive oil soaked into the bread just right, making each bite softer and more satisfying. The touch of acidity and gentle heat from the small pickled pepper on top added a nice kick. As for the mushroom croquettes, they were served on a sweet, jam-like sauce. While I’m usually not a fan of pairing creamy mushrooms with sweet flavors, this combo still managed to spread some joy.

The following three dishes were all superb: Toasted Noodle Paella, Gambas, and Iberico Con Salbitxada. The Noodle Paella featured noodles cut to the size of rice grains, toasted to crispy perfection. The smokiness of the slightly burnt squid ink noodles combined with the richness of the garlic aioli made it a true flavor bomb. The Gambas received an upgrade with a lobster reduction that added a deep umami punch—possibly the best Gambas I’ve ever tasted. The Iberico Con Salbitxada, while not as rich as the other two, was all about the tenderness of the Iberico pork, which was simply sublime.

The final two dishes, Paella de Mariscos and Picanha, were also solid. What I love about Boqueria’s paella is that it doesn’t rely on heavy saltiness. Instead, they let the rice soak up all the rich seafood juices, with just a hint of saffron and salsa verde.

There's a reason Boqueria survived in NYC for nearly two decades—it serves up great value deals and an excellent menu that keeps getting better. While Barcelona Wine Bar might be the most popular tapas spot in Boston, in my humble opinion, Boqueria offers a superior experience with more flavorful dishes. Sure, the base tapas like Pan con Tomate and Croquetas are on par with others, but when it comes to the meat and seafood dishes, Boqueria delivers a far more complex and satisfying...

We went to Boqueria Seaport for a girls’ night out, and it turned out to be such a great choice! The energy of the place is lively and fun — it definitely has that bustling tapas bar vibe. It can get a little loud and boisterous, so it’s not the quietest place to have deep conversations, but it adds to the festive atmosphere and we were still able to chat and enjoy ourselves.

The food was absolutely the star of the night. We ordered a variety of small plates to share, which was the best way to sample the menu: • TRUFFLE GOAT CHEESE – rich, creamy, and decadent with just the right truffle flavor • ENSALADA CÉSAR (Cesar salad) – crisp and refreshing with a nice balance of dressing and crunch • PATATAS BRAVAS (potato) – crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and paired with a flavorful sauce • GAMBAS AL AJILLO (shrimp) – perfectly cooked, garlicky, and full of flavor • PULPO A LA PLANCHA (octopus) – tender and smoky with a delicious char • PINTXOS MORUNOS (lamb skewers) – juicy, well-seasoned, and grilled beautifully • ZANAHORIAS (carrot) – sweet, roasted to perfection, and surprisingly one of our favorites • CROQUETAS DE SETAS (mushroom) – creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with earthy mushroom flavor

Every single dish was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and perfect for sharing — we honestly didn’t have a single miss among them.

Another nice touch is that they offer a birthday cake celebration. It’s really cute and makes the evening feel special, but note that they don’t provide candles, so if you’re celebrating, it’s worth bringing your own.

The only downside is parking. It’s a bit of a challenge in the Seaport area, and the general parking nearby cost us $22, which adds up. That said, once you’re inside, the food and atmosphere make up for it.

Overall, Boqueria Seaport is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for flavorful tapas, a vibrant atmosphere, and a fun place to share plates with friends. It’s perfect for group outings, celebrations, or just enjoying a night out over delicious Spanish-inspired...

I want to leave a review after a concerning experience I had tonight at Boqueria. I entered with some girlfriends hoping to get added to the waitlist for a table. We put our name in but were told it could be at least two hours - which was fine, it was a busy weekend and we had plans to go shopping in the area anyways. The host added us to the list, but then let us know that if we waited there for another 15 minutes, we might be able to get a table sooner because one of the reserved parties was running late and may not show up. Great! I waited at the host stand for more information.

Then a manager (?) with blonde hair entered the host stand and began berating the host right in front of us. It was clear that she had an attitude and was on some sort of power trip. She scolded the host on some sort of policy, mistook us for another reserved table, and yelled at her for "promising" us a table in front of me and other patrons and staff. I was disgusted with the way the manager treated the host, especially RIGHT in front of me and other guests. I clarified to the manager that there was no initial confusion on our part, the host did not "promise" us anything, and that it was embarrassing for her to speak to her staff like that in front of everyone and we would be going somewhere else. This really bothered us for the rest of the night. It is shocking that the (white) blonde manager felt it was appropriate to humiliate her (black) front of house staff like that so openly. None of us will consider returning to this restaurant.

And, for what it's worth, we never received a text when our table would be ready after being added to...