Place is fantastic.. great location, delish food and excellent service. A must during lunch!!
Candie W.
I wasn't impressed - as I expected to be. It's hard to find good fish in DC, well Southern fish in the DC Metro area. Let's start with the price. I paid $15 for the lunch portion. I was sure it would be filling as it came with two sides (no drink). I paid and after the tip it came to about $20. I was sure I got on the hostess' nerves with all my questions. The catfish lunch portion came with one filet of fried fish (or cooked as you desire) and two sides. The catfish is only served on the lunch portion - a bigger portion is not available. The sides are definitely sizable and the hostess rambled all the sides off at least 3 times - excellent memory! Imagine repeating that over and over all day. I have had fish but in the area - it is usually whiting. An adjustment so I heard good things about Legal Sea Food. My experience wasn't so grand. I wanted hush puppies, but the hostess gave me the history of Legal Seafood. She explained the chain originated in Massachusetts where they don't serve hush puppies, as its more of a fish and chips place or clam chowder establishment. So, they will add bread on the side as a courtesy. The to-go packaging was impressive. I was impressed by the hostess and the packaging. Everything was made and processed by Legal Sea Food: the bags, tarter sauce, and packaging - impressive. Although it was quite a wait, everything was fresh, but the food was bland. The cole slaw wasn't sweet and the chunks were bigger so it tasted different from southern cole slaw. The fries weren't very crispy but not grease soaked either. The bread was hard, not chewy just hard - but it was warm.
craig jeter sr
So this restaurant ran by Mr. Dones is incredible. I’m a bit biased as I am a big fan of Legals being a native Bostonian. But these guys are good at what they do! All the selections are great. You will not be disappointed..
Emelie Karlsson
Great place! I had the nutty salmon with mushroom ravioli which was really delicious. Our waiter Mike was super attentive and friendly aswell.
Tae D.
*3.5 stars. Lovely restaurant with a great interior detail. Drinks and portions were good. Nothing spectacular. I order a 2 lb. Lobster and although it was cooked and the portions were large. Seasoning and taste, left a little to be desired. However, service was friendly and wait time was bearable. I would give this place another try.
J C.
Wow what a treat! I was truly impressed with all aspects of this restaurant. From service to the food, every thing was an A+. We had the mussels appetizer to start and these had to be the freshest mussels that I ever had! Also the serving is huge! I ordered the Cippino seafood stew. It was loaded with chunks of fish, clams, mussels,squid, and lobster. Delicious! Hubby had the fish and chips and he couldn't eat it all and neither could I. The waitstaff was polite and management checked on us several times which was a nice touch. I thought that this was going to be a pretty casual dining experience but the quality of the food and the service made it seem like fine dining. When in the DC area I will definitely return!
Jasmine O.
I stayed at the hotel across the street and wanted to get a little snack before bed/before the restaurant closed on 2/25/20. I called 30-40 minutes before the restaurant closed and no one answered. I called maybe 10 times. All I wanted was Brussel sprouts or a baked potato. Any small side. I figured I would call in the order and have that in while I walk across the street to pick it up. Nope. Can't tell you about the food. I just wish they were available to answer the phone and at least tell me "hey we are about to close so make it quick/the kitchen is closed"
Burcham Brenda
Outstanding food and the bartenders are exceptional!
FelisRandomis
This was my second time here, and second review.
John Brewer
I've never had anything other than a great meal here. Three king crab was fantastic.
Came here for the leap year $29 for two lobsters deal. We got seated really quickly even though we did not have a reservation. It was also interesting to read about the history of legal seafood on the placemats. Overall, the food and service was just okay. I did appreciate the manager came by a couple of times to ask how our food was. He seemed very attentive. great deal for leap day! Lobster - pretty fishy smell. The tail meat was pretty tough but the claw meat was really delicious Farro and sauteed mushroom - mainly ordered this for the mushroom but there was probably half a mushroom in the entire side. sauteed made it seem like it would be hot. but this is a salad and it is cold. Polenta - this was yummy but could have been a little bit more flavorful. maybe needed more butter
Leah B.
This has to be some of the best seafood I have ever eaten before. Not only was the seafood good , our server was exceptional! If you ever come to this location, ask for the server Cesar. Cesar gave us unbelievable service. Would definitely go back!
Gerald Jerry Miller
Legal Seafood has great food only drawback is it's very busy.
Hazel C.
Having lived in the area a few years now, I'm surprised that this was my first visit to Legal Sea Foods. It's pretty popular among locals. We dined on a weekday afternoon. There was a conference happening down the street at the Hyatt and I don't think the hotel communicated that to local restaurants. I was with a party of 4 we waited about 10 minutes but everyone prior to us had been waiting a long while. The only reason we were seated was because the Manager came out and I'd asked about a booth that no one was occupying,and the hostess informed me if we sat there it'd be a while before we'd be served. It seemed they only had about 2 servers available and the entire restaurant was full. Our waiter was gracious and came to us within a few minutes of being seated. The food was really flavorful (I had the shrimp gumbo) which is spicy and accompanied with rice. I'd certainly get this again. I also had a side Caesar salad which was fine really heavy on the parmesan cheese. The fish and chips came in a really large portion and the fish was friend really well. The dish was topped with stringed onion rings. Overall, the food was good. The team provided friendly service despite not having enough bodies for the amount of patrons.
Place is fantastic.. great location, delish food and excellent service. A must during lunch!!
I wasn't impressed - as I expected to be. It's hard to find good fish in DC, well Southern fish in the DC Metro area. Let's start with the price. I paid $15 for the lunch portion. I was sure it would be filling as it came with two sides (no drink). I paid and after the tip it came to about $20. I was sure I got on the hostess' nerves with all my questions. The catfish lunch portion came with one filet of fried fish (or cooked as you desire) and two sides. The catfish is only served on the lunch portion - a bigger portion is not available. The sides are definitely sizable and the hostess rambled all the sides off at least 3 times - excellent memory! Imagine repeating that over and over all day. I have had fish but in the area - it is usually whiting. An adjustment so I heard good things about Legal Sea Food. My experience wasn't so grand. I wanted hush puppies, but the hostess gave me the history of Legal Seafood. She explained the chain originated in Massachusetts where they don't serve hush puppies, as its more of a fish and chips place or clam chowder establishment. So, they will add bread on the side as a courtesy. The to-go packaging was impressive. I was impressed by the hostess and the packaging. Everything was made and processed by Legal Sea Food: the bags, tarter sauce, and packaging - impressive. Although it was quite a wait, everything was fresh, but the food was bland. The cole slaw wasn't sweet and the chunks were bigger so it tasted different from southern cole slaw. The fries weren't very crispy but not grease soaked either. The bread was hard, not chewy just hard - but it was warm.
So this restaurant ran by Mr. Dones is incredible. I’m a bit biased as I am a big fan of Legals being a native Bostonian. But these guys are good at what they do! All the selections are great. You will not be disappointed..
Great place! I had the nutty salmon with mushroom ravioli which was really delicious. Our waiter Mike was super attentive and friendly aswell.
*3.5 stars. Lovely restaurant with a great interior detail. Drinks and portions were good. Nothing spectacular. I order a 2 lb. Lobster and although it was cooked and the portions were large. Seasoning and taste, left a little to be desired. However, service was friendly and wait time was bearable. I would give this place another try.
Wow what a treat! I was truly impressed with all aspects of this restaurant. From service to the food, every thing was an A+. We had the mussels appetizer to start and these had to be the freshest mussels that I ever had! Also the serving is huge! I ordered the Cippino seafood stew. It was loaded with chunks of fish, clams, mussels,squid, and lobster. Delicious! Hubby had the fish and chips and he couldn't eat it all and neither could I. The waitstaff was polite and management checked on us several times which was a nice touch. I thought that this was going to be a pretty casual dining experience but the quality of the food and the service made it seem like fine dining. When in the DC area I will definitely return!
I stayed at the hotel across the street and wanted to get a little snack before bed/before the restaurant closed on 2/25/20. I called 30-40 minutes before the restaurant closed and no one answered. I called maybe 10 times. All I wanted was Brussel sprouts or a baked potato. Any small side. I figured I would call in the order and have that in while I walk across the street to pick it up. Nope. Can't tell you about the food. I just wish they were available to answer the phone and at least tell me "hey we are about to close so make it quick/the kitchen is closed"
Outstanding food and the bartenders are exceptional!
This was my second time here, and second review.
I've never had anything other than a great meal here. Three king crab was fantastic.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food and comfortable pricing!!!
Came here for the leap year $29 for two lobsters deal. We got seated really quickly even though we did not have a reservation. It was also interesting to read about the history of legal seafood on the placemats. Overall, the food and service was just okay. I did appreciate the manager came by a couple of times to ask how our food was. He seemed very attentive. great deal for leap day! Lobster - pretty fishy smell. The tail meat was pretty tough but the claw meat was really delicious Farro and sauteed mushroom - mainly ordered this for the mushroom but there was probably half a mushroom in the entire side. sauteed made it seem like it would be hot. but this is a salad and it is cold. Polenta - this was yummy but could have been a little bit more flavorful. maybe needed more butter
This has to be some of the best seafood I have ever eaten before. Not only was the seafood good , our server was exceptional! If you ever come to this location, ask for the server Cesar. Cesar gave us unbelievable service. Would definitely go back!
Legal Seafood has great food only drawback is it's very busy.
Having lived in the area a few years now, I'm surprised that this was my first visit to Legal Sea Foods. It's pretty popular among locals. We dined on a weekday afternoon. There was a conference happening down the street at the Hyatt and I don't think the hotel communicated that to local restaurants. I was with a party of 4 we waited about 10 minutes but everyone prior to us had been waiting a long while. The only reason we were seated was because the Manager came out and I'd asked about a booth that no one was occupying,and the hostess informed me if we sat there it'd be a while before we'd be served. It seemed they only had about 2 servers available and the entire restaurant was full. Our waiter was gracious and came to us within a few minutes of being seated. The food was really flavorful (I had the shrimp gumbo) which is spicy and accompanied with rice. I'd certainly get this again. I also had a side Caesar salad which was fine really heavy on the parmesan cheese. The fish and chips came in a really large portion and the fish was friend really well. The dish was topped with stringed onion rings. Overall, the food was good. The team provided friendly service despite not having enough bodies for the amount of patrons.