Legal Seafood
June 24th, 2007
We’ve been to Legal Seafood a few times and at different locations over the years and although it’s not bad, we’ve never been “wowed” by them. I almost feel bad because most people rave about them but I don’t know what it is. Still, we thought we’d try there for a lobster roll, as far as Framingham goes the lobster roll availability is slim and we had a gift card so we figured Legal was a good place to go for one. (The Framingham location is at 50-60 Worcester Rd.)
We got there and the hostess was on the phone but one of the wait staff came over and asked us if we’d like to sit in the lounge or the dining room so we chose the dining room.
Our waitress was nice and she was training someone who stood and watched her while she took our orders. The only slightly uncomfortable thing about that was that they would stand in the corner and watch us a lot since we were their only table.
We didn’t want to get too full but wanted to try the fish chowder so we split a cup. I thought it was nice they brought us 2 half cups of chowder instead of one cup with two spoons.
The chowder was good, not amazing but it tasted what fish chowder should taste like.
The lobster rolls came with fries and cole slaw (although you can choose couscous as a side too). Ethan and I couldn’t put our finger on it at first but there seemed to be something missing with the lobster roll. It looked good and there wasn’t too much mayo, there were chives in it for flavor and probably something else but for some reason it wasn’t really flavorful. We were comparing it with our favorite place to get lobster rolls in Maine and at fist Ethan said it was missing “love”, kind of joking but the guy that runs this place in Maine is always there and on top of everything from the food prep to cleaning the tables and you can kind of taste that care in the food. Mid-meal, we theorized that it seemed the lobster was so cold maybe the temperature had chilled the meat to be void of any flavor. That was the only thing we could think of. The toasted roll it self though was excellent, I’d the best part of the meal.
The waitress brought the bill over and I put the gift card and a credit card (to cover the balance) in the bill holder, she took it away and then came back with a credit card machine and placed it on our table.
She showed her trainee how to run a gift card through and then she placed the credit card machine in front of me and explained that I need to enter a tip amount, hit ok and then swipe my card. Something like that, I forget what the exact procedure was but I remember thinking I was confused for a second because I was trying to understand why the machine was brought to the table and that it was awkward to have the server explain the procedure (I remember her saying “otherwise I’d only get a dollar-something tip”) and how to use the machine when I was expecting just a slip where I write in the tip and sign.Â
Ethan asked if the machine was brought to the table because we used a gift card and she said no so I guess this is standard credit card procedure that they bring the machine to the table and the customer swipes their card. The server said she’d give me a minute to decide the tip and they stood about 10 feet away watching me until I was done entering the tip and came back to get the machine and thanked us for coming. The server was nice enough but that part was a little weird for me.
I wouldn’t go back for another $22.50 for a lobster roll and like I said I can’t say any other meal I’ve had there was amazing but I know people like this place a lot so they must do something right. I’ll probably end up trying there again sooner or later.
I think legals is way over priced for what you get…If you want to get a good deal on a lobster roll go to stop and shop ..they only cost 5 bucks and they are loaded with meat..you could get 4 of them for the price of one at legals
Comment by joe — June 24, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
To be honest, I’ve never been to Legal’s. I’ve heard it’s okay, though, but expensive. I actually would like the credit card thing, though. I always get nervous when they take my credit card into the back and disappear with it. I’ve heard many stories of servers stealing credit card numbers and/or overcharging, etc. In this day and age you can’t be too careful, unfortunately.
Comment by Karen — June 24, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Although I have friends who love the place, I’m not a big Legal Seafood fan. It’s much too overpriced. I mean $22.50 for some lobster on a hot dog bun with a bunch of lettuce? You’d be better of going to Sudbury Farms where you can buy wonderful lobster salad and make your own. I wish they’d open a Red Lobster around here.
Comment by Susie — June 25, 2007 @ 12:55 am
I’ve been to Legals ~10 times (mostly the Cambridge location) and I think they’re fantastic. I usually get one of the fresh fish options with cajun spice or blackened with a side of steamed vegetables… and those rolls! oh god they’re good. I agree that they are steeply prices, but always great ( at least the fish entrees) - it sounds like the lobster roll was a bit of a disappointment — that’s too bad because most everything I’ve had there was excellent. May I make another suggestion for reasonably priced seafood (BESIDES STOP AND SHOP) —
Dolphin Restaurant in Natick Center (also in Cambridge near Harvard) — they have GREAT! seafood dishes, generous portions of everthing (try the scallops) — and good prices to boot. I think probably the most reasonable prices I’ve seen anywhere for good seafood around here. We’re regulars here, and for good reason.
Paul
Comment by Paul Jasper — June 25, 2007 @ 12:56 am
oh yeah, and that credit card thing!?!? that’s just weird.. .I’ve never seen that move before, must be new.
Comment by Paul Jasper — June 25, 2007 @ 12:58 am
The credit card thing is something that’s been done in England for a while now. Ostensibly it’s so you keep control of your card the whole time, and it is harder for a server to steal your CC information.
Comment by Chad — June 25, 2007 @ 1:24 am
I’d be curious to find out how common servers stealing credit card numbers is. I’ve waited tables for 14 years and never heard of a server doing that. I’ve heard of them doing other sleazy things to get money but not stealing card numbers. It must happen somehwhere enough though for this to become a practice.
Comment by michelle — June 25, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Love Legals. My favorite is the caesar salad with lobster on top for lunch. The dressing has no raw eggs, which I appreciate. I think the lobster is fresh and chunky with little mayo, which is just what I want.
Maybe it just needed a little salt?
Legals is very clean.
All those stores carry lobster salad made from frozen lobster meat, that is why it is so cheap. I see a big difference in taste, texture, and freshness, so it is worth it to me to splurge once in a while. beth
Comment by beth — June 25, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I love Legal’s but I would never order a lobster roll there. It just doesn’t sound like it would be their thing and juding from your review that appears to be so.
I would order a nice fresh fish option and save my lobster roll craving for say, The Barking Crab or some place like that.
Or…Stop and Shop! I have to agree, they make some pretty good lobster rolls. I used to work across the street from Stop & Shop and went through a big lobster roll phase with them. Yum!
There was a big credit card scam at a local Chinese restaurant. About 10 people had erroneous charges on their cards from one waiter who only worked there for about two weeks. I like the idea of swiping the card at the table.
Comment by Jennifer — June 25, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I agree about the frozen lobster meat salad. It gets a bit water-logged and has a spongy texture to it. Last summer Boston Magazine did a whole issue on finding the best lobster roll in Boston, and I think the Barking Crab and Skipjack’s were on that list.
Michelle-what’s the name of the place in Maine you like so much?
———————————————————————————————-
Hi Julie,
The place sounds kind of silly but it’s called “York’s Best” on route 1 in York.  Here’s some crappy pictures I took with my cellphone. The pictures don’t do it justice but it’s a cute place and the lobster roll is great, I don’t know what they do different but they do something.
Best,
Michelle
http://thisisframingham.com/images/yorksbest.jpg
http://thisisframingham.com/images/yorksbestroll.jpg
Comment by Julie — June 25, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Legal seafood is nothing special. I’ve been there a few times and never impressed. try cooking a lobster yourself and making your own lobster rolls. i bet it will be better than anything you can buy anywhere. On a side note, i really enjoy the blog, keep up the good work.
Comment by sull — June 25, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Michelle,
I am not sure about Legal, but I have recently found 2 local places which serve an AWESOME lobster roll and the price is (as I recall) $15.00. (and no cc machine on the table)
Nobscot Cafe, Edgell Road (near Water Street), Framingham
JJ McKay’s on Route 30 in Wayland.
LISA S.
Comment by Lisa S. — June 26, 2007 @ 1:40 am
For a lobster roll, try Red’s Eats in Wiscasset, Maine. It has been written up extensively everywhere!
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=2959
The roll looks exactly like that! Like a lobster laid on a bun.
Comment by Jeff — June 26, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Why do so many refer to Legal Seafood as “Legals”? Same with “Targets” and others when not speaking in the plural.
As for that lobster roll, sounds like it was frozen lobster meat although I can’t imagine Legal pulling it out of the can — which I’m shocked Stop & Shop and Roche Bros. wouldn’t. Worked in too many lobster joints to order a lobster roll without knowing its not fresh lobster meat. Huge difference vs. the canned stuff.
Comment by ben — June 26, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Nobscot Cafe on Edgell Road is definitely your best bet for Lobster Rolls at a great price - $12.99. The Clam Chowdah beats Legal Seafood’s any day and it’s no where near as expensive!
Comment by Tara — June 26, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
When I referred to Legal Seafood as “Legal’s” I was talking about all of them as a chain not just the Framingham location in general. Don’t know about everyone else.
When I refer to Target I call it Target or Tarjet.
What gets my goat is when people refer to Stop & Shop as The Stop & Stop. “I have to go the the stop & shop today.”
Ok…I’m done.
Still one vote for the Barking Crab lobster roll here.
Comment by Jennifer — June 27, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Howdy from York’s Best Seafood in York, Maine!
Thanks for the nice comments about our lobster roll. At York’s Best Seafood the cornerstone of our business is: “Good food, plenty of it, keep the place clean and BE NICE to people.”
Every day, my best friends walk through my front door and a couple of days ago, one of my new best friends came in as a result of this blog. She said that she thought that it was the best lobster roll that she ever had. I’ll make no claim about it being the best you’ll ever have but it, like everything we have on our menu, it’s good.
We’re located 2 miles north of the Kittery Outlet Malls on on the York/Kittery line on Route 1. Come on up and visit with us and give us a try! We’ve got great fried clams,shrimp, scallops, haddock, combo plates, clam and seafood chowda. We also slow roast beef every day so we’ve got great roast beef sandwiches and we grind our beef into our own burgers. (our burgers are NOT like goingto one of the chains)
Look for an article on us in the August issue of Boston Magazine - the author was “dragged” there by her boyfriend and left saying it was the best haddock sandwich plate she’d ever had.
Thanks again and come on up and lets visit!
Woody
Comment by Woody Kislowski — July 20, 2007 @ 1:57 am