Boston's Fish House — Restaurant in Winter Park

Friday, 11-01-24 Tonight's experience was out of character so I will get to the point. As with most dining rooms you will notice several empty tables but yet you wait - no big deal. What are some of the contributions that cause a party to wait? Short of waiters / waitresses - not in this case. Short staff in the kitchen - not in this case either. My group in the middle of the line and I notice that we were not moving - came to a standstill (Manager / Owner can check the time of each receipt to gain the reason for this pause – Approx 6pm). The entire line in waiting noticed that at the register an individual and the cashier were heavily chit-chatting back and forth. To the point the group behind my group throw his hands up in like "what's going on at the register", the group before us made the comment who goes down the menu item by item before ordering (Menu(s) are plentiful and available as well as suggested to take a look at before you reached the cashier) so after witnessing a few more minutes I made a short, direct loud remark - Any minute please! The couples before and after our group applauded (not with their hands but voices...) It was several minutes later, oh yeah, you guess it, the line still not moving, Pam approach the line and mentioned to the lady ahead of my group that she would be next to order and to stay where she was, then out of sarcasm "I'll take your order over at the other register being that you are in such of a hurry", once at the register wanted to continue with her sarcasm about how my comment was upsetting the staff! I asked to speak to the manager; there you have it! Sarcasm at its best, "I'm the Manger" Ok, your Boss! From a customer’s point of view, here is what should have happened: A good Manager would have noticed the backlog (pause) and the reason for it, offer to take the next guest in line to another register, then continue to monitor the young cashier and provide training on how to process orders in a timely manner. I know that Pam has been there for a very long time and for the most part a good part of the servers has been as well - all good service. James being one of the best and we were fortunate to have him wait on our table (anyone that has been frequent enough to this place knows it’s the next available server that brings your order, a.k.a. Runner). After 36+ years average 12-15 visits annually; maybe it is the young lack of talent and/or training or possibly just a bad night - I hope so but I will never forget the matter in which Pam conducted herself (Yes - I was shocked). Maybe Mark can invest in his company by sending Pam to a hospitality refresher course being she rose to the rank of manager? Final Say: For those that have never been to Boston's Fish House - give it a try! For the old timers- enjoy!! PS/ I was going to call Mark but decided not to and just let Pam express her side of this incident! Have a good night,...

I have visited Boston's Fish House twice, once with friends and once alone. The food is standard deep-fried seafood, but both times, the oil seemed like it might need to be changed, affecting the overall taste. During my first visit, some items were a bit over-fried, but better over than under, I suppose.

The pricing is a bit steep for Whole Belly Clams, but given the current inflation, it's somewhat understandable. Overall, the food quality is good to average. The decor is also average, and the restaurant seemed to attract mostly older patrons or local blue-collar workers. It's not a fancy place, but not a dive either—more of a good family restaurant if you don’t have arteriosclerosis already.

I did enjoy the sea scallops and the fish sandwich, and the fries were pretty good too. However, for the money, there are better seafood choices in the area. With a bit of effort, this place could be a real shining star. Currently, it feels like they are just going through the motions in the kitchen. The deep fry lacked that fresh taste, and perhaps the long-term freezing of ingredients is killing the flavor. Additionally, the grease flavor was off, indicating the oil might need more frequent changing.

From other reviewers' experiences, it seems that while Boston's Fish House has its loyal fans, the quality of the food can be inconsistent. Some patrons have praised the clam chowder, haddock sandwich, and North End Linguine, while others have found the batter on the fish n' chips to be lacking in flavor. The portions are generally large, which can be a plus for those with hearty appetites.

The service is frequently mentioned as friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is described as casual and welcoming. The restaurant has a unique order-and-pay-first system, which some customers found confusing but efficient once understood.

Overall, Boston's Fish House offers a decent seafood dining experience with room for improvement in the freshness and preparation of their fried items. It may be worth a visit if you're in the area and craving some classic New England-style seafood, but there are other options nearby that might offer a better value...

I am writing this review with the hope that no one gets offended. I had high expectations for this establishment. While the staff was courteous and attentive, the food sadly fell way below the mark.

To start, the green beans were an immediate disappointment. An essential part of the culinary world is freshness, which these lacked entirely. I usually don't mind canned green beans, but these had an unappetizing metallic taste that hinted at the age of the product. The distinct flavor of aged canned goods took away from the experience significantly.

Next, the fettuccini Alfredo, a staple of any Italian restaurant, didn't live up to its name. Instead of a dish rich with creamy sauce and perfectly cooked pasta, what we received was eerily similar to microwavable versions. The pasta was oddly inflated, its texture spongy, and that beautiful al dente bite absent.

The mahi taco that I had been looking forward to was devoid of any seasoning, delivering a flat, bland taste. The lack of flavor had me wondering if even a toddler's palette would be left wanting. As a lover of food and flavor, this was quite a letdown.

My husband's dish of Haddock wasn't much better. For the price we paid, the "dinner portion" size was surprisingly small, leaving us unsatisfied. It felt as if they were more concerned with saving cost than providing quality food with respectable portions. Also, don't bother with the potato salad.

I feel compelled to highlight that the service was acceptable. The staff were indeed polite and attentive, which partially salvaged our night. However, good service should complement excellent food, not make up for its deficiencies.

In conclusion, this restaurant needs to significantly improve its food quality, especially considering its prices. Fresh ingredients, proper seasoning, and hearty portions should be non-negotiables in a place that considers itself a purveyor of fine food. I hope they take this criticism constructively and make the necessary changes, as the potential for a great dining experience is...