We walked in to the smell of fresh seafood, and frying batter! We quickly ordered our local beers and headed out to the back deck to watch the boats and fishermen in the sun. It was amazing out, the cool breeze was perfect for outdoor drinking. The fishermen were dropping their lobster traps in the water as we drank our UFOs and Sam Adams. The clam chowder passed by, and I was kicking myself for eating a full meal at lunch. It looked ridiculous! I have to get back there soon to try it! read more

I am SO happy I'm not the only one who thinks The Sail Loft is "meh" [major props to Yelp for including "meh" in the two star description]. My friends all love it but I'm not a fan. I've been here a handful of times and have never particularly enjoyed myself. I ordered a long island one time (it was one of thooooose nights) and I couldn't even drink it. I have very few principles in life, but one is to never waste booze. I had to stick to my principles so I sucked it down but it was HORRIBLE. In general I've found it to be an okay place to get a simple drink or beer, but in general I protest going here. I've never had the food so I should give it a shot; I just feel so "meh" about going back... read more

Went here last night for a few drinks and some appetizers. The waitstaff was attentive and the drinks were reasonable ($5 drafts, $5.50 mixed drinks of medium strength). The outdoor patio overlooking the water was small, about the size of a small livingroom, but was a pretty cool spot. Bonus: there are windows outside that connect to the back of the bar so you don't have to go inside to order another drink. Unfortunately, you couldn't take food out on the patio (I'm not sure why - seagull hazard, maybe?). The appetizers ranged from standard to substandard - boneless buffalo wings and fried calamari were good, while the baked potato appetizer was smothered in what I think was nacho cheese. Ick. I'd come here again, I guess, but it wasn't particularly remarkable in any way. read more

tried this place for the first time last week and yes, the clam chowder is great. but the other food was also tasty! well priced, good service as well. read more

The Sail Loft is always dependable. A short jaunt from the Lewis Wharf, the Waterfront Marriott, and from its bigger more commercial cousin Joe's down the street. I was once told this was "bar food." Ok, if I wanted Abe & Louise for steak I would not come here. But apart from not being required to put on a blazer and getting past the 15 feet of bar goers from the financial district, you get to a nice stretch of window seats, which are surprisingly private, overlooking the dock. You'll occasionally spot geese, ducks, or a few nice big swans. These guys do a couple of basics right. The calamari is fresh, not ultra deep fried. The buffalo chicken is juicy and tender, and not made with the acidic buffalo sauce that rises into your nose like caulking gun fumes. And lastly, the entrees do not disappoint, whether it's steak tips or seafood or just a nice burger. read more

Reasonable prices, good music, and huge portions of fresh seafood. I went to the Boston Sail Loft with my family last weekend after my Dad claimed it had the best clam chowder in Boston (how my Dad knew this I have yet to find out...). I didn't order the soup but I did get one of the special cajun seafood combo plates. I was given a huge delicious plate of scallops, shrimp, haddock, and salmon with rice and vegetables (the seafood combo ceasar salad also sounded great). I liked that the Sail Loft was a nice escape from some of the fancier places on the waterfront and was reminiscent or an amazing dinner I had at the Barking Crab last summer. My Mom did say that her lobster was just a little bit too watery, but I know she enjoyed her bowl of Boston's best (?) clam chowder. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect from this bar after work on a Friday, but I loved it. Perfect place to chill with some friends and get some fairly cheap beer, delicious appetizers (we had the calamari and nachos) and gaze out at the Harbor. And we could talk and actually hear each other! It was all good until some douchebags purposely spilled vinegar on the floor to make the place reek at which point we left. So the clientele can be fairly annoying the later you stay there. It was an interesting mix of families and after work folk from 5-9 pm though. I'll be back but probably only in the summer. read more

I came here with a group of 12 on a Saturday night (which was a huge graduation weekend in Boston) and the service here was the most accommodating I've ever experienced. Not only is a group of 12 obnoxious because of its shear size, but we requested to have separate checks and the server was so friendly and helpful. She ensured that we were all able to pay how we wanted and pair up with whoever. Ok, the food is tasty, but it's not the best clam chowder I've ever had. It was delicious, but not nearly enough clams to be called clam chowder. The chowder part was amazing though. And the potato skins were a heart attack on a plate, but incredibly delicious. I absolutely love the location of this place and the atmosphere. Right on the water, in between the North End and Faneuil Hall and strikes a balance between dive-y and classy. My kind of place! read more

Went out for a family outing. They serve the best clam chowder ever. I'd also recommend their fish and chips. If you like drinking, try "darkn' stormy". It was really good. read more

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Steps to give any guest a bad experience. 1. Forget to write down our reservation. 2. Assure you'll get us in at reservation time, seat us 25 min after. 3. In front of your patrons bus their used glass, rinse it in cold water and ...wait for it....HANG IT RIGHT BACK UP!!! LOOK AT ALL THE GLASSES HANGING IN FRONT OF YOU AT THE BAR. AT LEAST 30% OF THEM HAVE LIP MARKS ON THEM!! Is that not one of the most disgusting things you've ever heard? If they do that in front of you can you imagine what they do in the kitchen? Ugh. Makes me shudder. read more

Went here as part of a group. Service was excellent especially with a group of 32. Everyone in the group raved about their food. Favorited at my table were the seafood platter and lobster macaroni and cheese. Great location for visitors. Would highly recommend this place. read more

Boston Sail Loft - Lobster macaroni and cheese - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I love seafood, so I'm very happy to have this nice little spot nearby. The restaurant has a cozy casual feel to it, although it can get a little rowdier at night at the bar. So far, all of the food that I have ordered here has been great, and so has the service. One night they even reopened the kitchen just for us because we came late and wanted dinner! Their clam chowder is possibly the best I have had in the city- super creamy and delicious. I usually order the fried platter (which comes with fried fish, french fries, fried oysters, fried clams, and fried scallops) for my meal- beware, you will not be able to finish it, but you will eat more than you should because it is tasty. My boyfriend has ordered the lobster roll and enjoyed it as well. I would recommend this place if you are looking for a moderately priced lunch or dinner spot. Since it is right on the water, and has a ton of windows, you can eat while enjoying a great view, and possibly a beer from their nice selection at the bar. read more

The lobster roll was so delicious and better than expected that we went back the next night. My friend had the fish and chips and said it was the best she ever had. This place is amazing with delicious food and a great atmosphere. read more

This place advertises the "best fish and chips in Boston" on the menu, well I haven't tried them all yet but this place is certainty a contender. The fish is lightly breaded and fried, it's not too heavy and isn't mostly greasy breading like at many places. It comes with a large side of fries, all that is missing are some hushpuppies. Check this place out for an excellent meal while you look out on the harbor. read more

What a terrific experience and what terrific food! We didn't expect anything special given the great location and the simple menu, but everything we ordered was exceptional -- fisherman's platter, club sandwich, burger, salads. The food is clearly market fresh and prepared well (new fryer oil, generous portions). We were even fortunate enough to be visited by the owner, who clearly understands how to run a top notch place and has for a long time. We will definitely return whoever we're in the area. Thanks to the staff & owner. read more

As everyone has said.. Amazingly delicious chowder. The atmosphere is casual and cozy, right on the water. However when we were there it was so dark and they didn't turn the lights up so it felt like a back room bar room. Their selection for on tap beer was also a bit disappointing. I had a chicken Caesar salad which was so-so. My boyfriend had the lobster Mac and cheese with a side salad which he said was very good. Rich & creamy & full chunks of meat, including 2 whole lobster claws. You get bread with your meal which was very good. Our waitress was sweet but neglected us at points.. Didn't really check in to see if we needed anything, we had to flag her down a few times. Overall, pretty average experience. We will definitely be back for their knock-out chowder & casual waterfront atmosphere, probably during the day for lunch, it's not really a dinner spot for us. read more

After a day of free sailing and free cocktails, my tummy was asking for some sustenance. Enter The Sail Loft. It wasn't a busy day so we were sat quickly and attended to in excellent fashion. I had the cheeseburger club... yum! Downfall... so tasty I ate the whole damn thing and had a full stomach for the rest of the night - literally... I skipped dinner b/c I was still full. Seems like they have a nice menu of options. If you like seafood, then you'll like the daily specials as well as some of their main dishes. For those of you who aren't seafood fans, the menu is slightly more limited, but still manageable. *funny side note* Beware of crotchety old ladies a table over from you... but enjoy the entertainment as their husbands try to calm them down and be impressed as the waitress remains composed. read more

Omg! One of the best places I've ever eaten! Clam chowder, boneless wings and skins... absolutely phenomenal read more

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A confused and clumsy menu tries to marry Boston Harbor seafood with dive bar burgers and pub chicken and wings. It's doesn't really work. There is no particular theme here. The restaurant seems to want to be a seafood joint, but the seafood options are limited and the waitresses recommend the chicken. The chowder was passable but the thickness surpassed soup into the land of cement and paste. The lobster roll special was better, featuring good hunks of lobster. The galley / bullet diner layout is cumbersome and devoid of character. I feel like I'm in my grandmother's kitchen in Brooklyn. The beer selection is horrid. This is supposed to be a bar? Featured beer: Bud and Coors. Yippee. Service is excellent. Otherwise, this would be one star. read more

The Skinny: GF was totally impressed with the lobster and mussels for 20 bucks lunch special on Saturday (I think Sundays too). And if she was impressed, I was too. Full story: We walked by as i was showing a certain someone around my home city. She noticed the menu of lunch specials with one particularly being a 1.25 lb lobster with mussels for 20 bucks. Since she promised herself she'd get lobster here, and that lobster costs $70 in SF according to her, she was amazed at the deal. So we wandered the North End a bit, came back and she feasted and was totally pleased. I was surprised bc I normally think of this place as a drinks place (which most of the other reviews would confirm). nice work! read more

Fresh seafood. Nice view. Anything that reminds me of Gloucester or Rockport while in the city earns an extra star. I've been here for lunch a few times, never been here for drinks at night like some other reviewers. I've had the fish and chips, crab cake sandwich, and lobster. I love trying something new (as long as it's seafood) each time I go, and they have some great specials but nothing is especially inventive. The servers are have been friendly and accommodating (like when I brought a group of 12 in for lunch at work) and even brought over some free appetizers for us! The loft is long and narrow, one side is full of windows opening up onto a deck, and the other side has no windows at all - depending on which way you're sitting for your meal the experience is different. It sort of defines the line between downtown and the North End, and I seem to always suggest this place whenever looking for a place to eat after work (in the warmer months). It's a nice staple to have in the area. read more

Fun place to eat, like the rest of Boston, the parking here sucks. You either have to take public transportation or pay for valet parking. The restaurant has a nice deck and outdoor seating, but since it was cold out, everyone was seated inside. Good mix of people, both young and old, some families and some single. The clam chowder is excellent, and they add dill to it, which goes surprisingly well. I didn't like the lobster roll I ordered, I've had better. It was a tad bland and under seasoned. I did enjoy the other dishes, everyone else ordered something deep fried, which is generally pretty good any way. My mom's fish and chips was delicious. If I'm up in Boston again, I'll stop by just for the chowder alone. read more

Love this place - a slice of Cape Cod in the middle of Boston. The staff is really friendly, the food is great and the drinks are stiff. I recommend the fish sandwich and the chowder is really good too. They also have a juke box that you can play thru an app on your phone. Perfect place to sit by the window, catch a sea breeze and enjoy some fish! read more

We found this place on yelp when we took a break from riding the city bikes. We were looking for Clam Chowder and this place had great reviews on it so we decided to give it a shot. We're glad we did because it's absolutely delicious! We also got the lobster roll. I've never had one till today. I didn't know what to expect since I'm not much into sea food but I have to say it was really really good! read more

Boston Sail Loft - Amazing!!! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Best. Clam. Chowdah. Ever. Except for my grandmother's own homemade which is more brothy. Sail Loft also has a good selection of fried seafood and sandwiches (for the seafood haters). I get the fish and chips. The cajun shrimp is de-lish. read more

Being a first time Boston visitor, I wanted to try some good chowder. Upon walking in, the staff was inviting and friendly, and we got a table right away (lunch). We sat next to the window overlooking the bay which was really nice. We ordered the chowder, fish and chips, and mussels. This place does not disappoint. The chowder was out of this world. We loved that it was thick and creamy, and the flavor of dill in it was so awesome. The fish and chips were so plentiful that I couldn't finish it all. And the mussels with the butter sauce was just excellent. If you're in the North End area give this place a try. It won't disappoint. read more

Boston Sail Loft - Out of this world clam chowder. So good. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Got the chow-da. Pretty damn good chow-da. The place overall was fairly loud. Would recommend. I'll go back when I have the opportunity. read more

Funny how most people seem to think this is a yuppie bar. I was there for the first time on Saturday to celebrate my friend getting a new job (another friend who lives around the corner had recommended it to us) and I didn't notice that at all. It could have been b/c I mostly stayed on the porch with our group though. I guess I will have to go back again sometime to see what I think! When I got there we split an order of fried shrimp and calamari which were just okay (not that we had trouble eating them at all). It's nice being able to stand outside by the water on a nice night drinking a beer - not sure I would have liked it as much if I was crammed in with everyone else inside. Not until the end of the evening did I realize there were Oreos at the bar which was a nice surprise (I just had one, promise)! read more

Best chowda I've ever had! Do not try it! It will ruin every chowda you eat after! Now I have to go back to Boston.

Ok. Here is my review. From the beginning everything seemed nice. I liked the atmosphere. The clam chowder was really amazing. I liked it a lot. I also got the crab meat roll and my bread was burnt. It tasted really disgusting! I told our waitress about this and her response killed me, she said: "oh, I'm sorry" and she left. After that her manager came (it means she informed him about that, that is a good thing) and asked: "is it burned? Do u want a new bread?" Obviously! If I complained about the burned bread, I need a new one! But I didn't want to look like an asshole in front of everybody and I said it's fine. I just didn't eat that bread. Also I had a glass of white wine which was warm like room temperature. Seriously?! read more

Boston Sail Loft - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Just got in town for Boston sail. Staying at the Boston Haven inn and found this gem of a place. Get the chowder. A tub of it. Take some home read more

This was the worst meal that we had during our visit in Boston. My son had a taco salad and nothing tasted fresh or homemade, my husband and I had different fish - mine was OK, not great, and the vegetables were inedible, over cooked water-logged zucchini. My husband's fish was dry and flavorless. The place had a fantastic location and nice view but the place could definitely use a decor face lift. It was a very disappointing meal. read more

The clam chowder is so bomb here, I have not had clam chowder better than this one in Boston yet. I am from California and the SF clam chowder has nothing on this. The fish and chips were cooked very well. The batter was not overwhelming and the fish flaked even though it had been deep fried. Unfortunately, the fish was bland. The tartar sauce had to be used generously to bring out any flavor in this. The service was decent, the wait wasn't long, and the space was terrible. This is basically a bar with creatively spaced tables to fit all the customers in. It isn't the most comfortable seating arrangement so don't expect to comfortably fit large parties. I would come back for the clam chowder, but would probably take it to go. read more

Boston Sail Loft - Fish and chips - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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First time for me in Boston. Husband was here last fall. Yelp did not lead us astray for food choices! He wanted his old stand-by, Joe's, just up the street, but we decided to try more off the beaten path with locals. So glad we did! The clam chowder was amazing and the fish n chips were so delicate and fresh tasting! I didn't care for the slaw, but loooved the tartar sauce! Service was very nice. read more

Boston Sail Loft - Oh my stars FANTASTIC CHOWDER!!! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Crushed down the lobster and mussels special ($19) today (Actually made a weak effort, but was still impressed with the meal). I recommend checking this place out for a bite if you're into no nonsense fresh seafood only flavored with your choice of butter or lemon. Service was great and for whatever reason, having oreos as the bar snack instead of nuts/pretzels seemed genius. Good views, great location and an outdoor patio make me a fan of the Boston Sail Loft. read more

i haven't tried anything better than their clam chowder! rich and creamy, not salty. perfect in my opinion. lobster roll was also good but it was a little small. my husband took two bites and it was gone. delicious nonetheless. wait time was about 45mins, but I like how you don't lose your spot if you aren't there. They simply call you when your party is ready to be seated which was so convenient rather than waiting around in front of the restaurant. my family strolled around the area until the table was ready for us. over all, we enjoyed our time there. everyone was friendly as well! read more

I have only had lunch and early dinner here so I can't speak for the night life, but the food was a good deal and only a short walk away from the tourist trapped area that it is in. The food wasn't anything special, but it was definitely tasty and has a great view of the water. The biggest thing is that it is near the water and they can get "seafood" I take my cheap tourist friends here.... and they enjoy it. read more

It took us all weekend - but we finally found a place in Boston where the waittress couldn't be bothered. Pretty good track record if you ask me! On the GREAT side - the clam chowder was the best we had! It was super creamy - and had the added flavor of dill. What a nice touch. Since this was the end of our trip - I had a burger and my husband had the fish and chips. Both were good. But that CHOWDER - that was something else!!!! Great little restaurant with a great view and atmosphere. Don't let the wait staff piss on your chips. It's definitely worth the visit!! read more

A few friends and I came here for a Bridal shower party. Our reservation was for 11am, this past Saturday. As if we were still waiting for folks to come in, we didn't end up ordering until closer to 12pm. The staff seem to be ok with this - it wasn't hugely busy at this time of the day. At first our server seemed moody and just not very happy. She went about business and walked pass by a few times not making eye contact and refilling water coffee/tea as needed or when asked. She just had that vibe or not wanting to be there. Later on during our time there she did warm up and actually made conversation with us and sparked. Overall, i like this place. It's located about a 5 min walk from the Blue Line Aquarium stop, right on the Waterfront. If you sit by the windows on the side you can easily gaze outside and see boats docked. It's a very calming feeling. I had this view the very first time i was here a few years back. Today, we sat by the front, before you reach the bar. Noise level was ok. We sat in somewhat of a horse shoe so making conversation was easy. The establishment was clean. It's narrow so there isn't a great deal of extra room but it's still spacious enough to be comfortable. The bathroom was clean, though very small stalls and even the doorway isn't standard size. Big folks beware, as one of my friends would say, because you would always wonder if you might be stuck somehow... (half jokingly). The food: Orange Juice was a bit acidic. At first I thought it was just me but another friend confirmed the same. We all ordered from the brunch menu which came with a side of veggies, roasted red skinned potatoes. I ordered the Steak and egg - medium rare. Friend to my right ordered the Salmon. To her right ordered the Lobster omelette. The guest of honor ordered the poached egg minus the Canadian bacon. Next to her, french toast. And our last guest also ordered the steak and eggs - rare. Everything on that plate was good, except for the Steak. It was a good size although perhaps because of its thickness, or lack thereof, (about 1/3 inch) it cooked pretty fast but my steak was more than medium - it was medium well. There was no pink left. My friend who ordered the rare got the same steak as mine. I had a taste of the lobster omelette and it was quite good!! I didn't get to taste anything but everyone else said their food was really good. Needless to say, we were stuffed. Aside from the above, the brunch also came with a choice or a mimosa, or a Bloody Mary. Since i still had orange juice, along with the friend next to me, she asked if she could just get Prosecco instead, to which the server said no problem so i opted for the same. I expected about half a glass but instead, she brought over an entire little jug enough for an entire glass so we could make our own. Nice! Total bonus points right here! i had two mimosas! Lastly, service. The mood definitely changed. Initially it was just a routine walk around and grumpy looking face. But eventually, service got better and better. We were there for nearly 5 hours and no one rushed us to pay the bill or leave. Even after we paid we sat around for awhile and just talked. This to me and my friends were extremely nice considering most places would have been giving you looks and ushering you to go. For this reason only I gave it an extra star and a half. I wished there was a half star system but alas, i can't give it a five. I do want to come back and try other brunch menu items though so hopefully i get to update this review with an even better one! :D read more

Went with a group of people one very drunken night... Small place, deck outside over the water. A fun, chill place where you can wear flip flops, drink cheap, and enjoy the atmosphere of the waterfront. I'll come back if I ever go out around Faneuil again. read more