Haute Spots for Al Fresco Waterfront Dining in Boston

Dining al fresco in Boston is one of the hautest things to do in the city once the weather warms up, because, let’s face it – nothing beats cracking open a lobster under the sun. Here are some great spots to enjoy a great meal outside.

Photo Credit: Legal HarborsideAt the Seaport District, Legal Harborside stands out prominently with its front row view of the Boston Harbor. On the main first floor of the three-story restaurant, the expansive casual dining room features an oyster bar, fish market and open air concept that opens to a massive patio along Boston’s HarborWalk. Here, you can enjoy shrimp cocktail, New England fried clams or a hearty lobster bake that comes with their famous creamy clam chowder, steamers, mussels, chourico and, of course, corn on the cob. The second floor features a more formal dining. The third floor roof deck should not be missed. This popular floor offers its own exclusive menu of sushi boats, sashimi, specialty rolls, classic maki and a raw bar that can all be enjoyed under a retractable roof deck. When the weather turns, they close the retractable roof and diners enjoy beautiful views of the city from the glass enclosed space. Legal Harborside is a great place to listen to concerts from the adjacent Bank of America Pavilion.

Photo Credit: Temazcal Tequila CantinaIf you are in the mood to sip on a rare tequila (there are more than 250 to choose from), head over to the patio at Temazcal Tequila Cantina, also located in the Seaport District. Some of the best dishes here include lobster guacamole, roasted chicken taquitos and their fried fish tacos. A great summer dish to enjoy al fresco here is the swordfish salguero (grilled swordfish topped with lobster meat and a tasty saffron cream sauce.

Photo Credit: Rowes Wharf Sea GrilleThings are heating up at the Rowes Wharf Sea Grill located at the Boston Harbor Hotel. They have recently introduced their Summer in the City program, which features everything from Summer Soul Tuesdays and Blues Barge Thursdays to Movies by Moonlight on Fridays. Request a table at the restaurant’s outdoor patio and enjoy a menu prepared by Chef Daniel Bruce that focuses on seafood (think simply grilled line caught cod or East Coast swordfish). Get started with a sampling of crisp pan fried Jonah crab cakes or flash fried calamari before moving onto heartier fare like crab topped seared haddock, herb and maple roasted chicken breast and a 14-ounce boneless ribeye. After dinner, you have a front row seat to the live entertainment hosted here during the week.