I have always been a huge fan of New England seafood. Prior to moving here, I would visit a few times a year for medical check-ups AND the seafood!

There is nothing better than New England seafood! I love lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, crab, and so much more! However, everyone knows getting seafood in the CITY of Boston is very expensive.

I’ll be honest, the cheapest and freshest catch is up in Gloucester. However, you can’t always make the trip and you have to have a solid seafood spot in or around downtown.

It was my birthday and I had a craving for a major seafood feast. I like a bit of everything and The Barking Crab didn’t disappoint. The location is essentially a shack with an awesome enclosed, outdoor patio and bar along the water in Seaport.

The outside patio is incredible, you feel the breeze come off the water. Great views. Very casual, no need to get all dressed up. It’s also got music going and it’s a very lively atmosphere.

They have a great selection of fresh seafood. They have a solid raw bar with oysters, clams, and shrimp. If you really want to go big, they do have a raw-bar Shellfish Tower!

If you aren’t a fan of the raw bar, no worries! They have plenty of delicious appetizers, lobster rolls, crab rolls, soups/salads, sandwiches, lobster, crab, local-catch, entrées, crab platters, and a solid selection of sides to accompany your meal! If you really want to go big, you can even order a 10LB Lobster!

We decided to start off my birthday dinner with oysters on the half shell. We each got half a dozen and while they weren’t huge, they were delicious! The cocktail sauce with fresh horseradish is a must, along with a dash or two of Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon!

Next, we decided to go with appetizers. we ordered the Steamers and the Mussels. The steamers were a good size and are served in a white wine broth with a side of drawn butter. The Mussels were also incredible. They’re served in a white-wine and herb broth with crostini for dipping!

Lastly, we decided to order the Warm Peel and Eat Shrimp and the Crab cakes. The Peel and Eat Shrimp is served hot or cold with old bay seasoning and beer-butter! The portion size is very generous and perfect to share!

The crab cakes were the only disappointing item that we ordered. You get three, small crab cakes with house-made remoulade. They just were not worth ordering. We ate them, I just wouldn’t recommend them or order them again. I found the breading mixture to be very greasy and they tasted burnt as well.

This will be one of our go-to seafood spots in Seaport. The quality and freshness is top notch. The menu is huge, so I cannot wait to come back and try all the other delectable seafood offerings! The prices are reasonable considering you’re in the city/seaport.

Just be aware there usually is a wait for the enclosed, outdoor patio. The line moves quickly and there is a time limit per table. If I recall, it was 75-minutes.

For those with friends/family who aren’t big on seafood: they have a LIMITED selection of non-seafood options, like their Cheeseburger or Chicken Sandwich.

I look forward to coming back again very soon! I absolutely love the seafood, patio, and the lively atmosphere!