Excellent seafood. Fresh! We started with the Portuguese inspired mussels with chorico. I had the stuffed sole and paired it with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Our party also ordered the seared tuna, fish and chips and cod dish. My niece also ordered the New England clam chowder. All delicious read more

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BOGO raw oysters got us here on a rainy Monday afternoon for "happy hour". Devoured a dozen in record time. Washed it down with their collaboration brew with Foam - tasty! Open air seating bar area was very nice despite the misty rain. Service was a little slow but the wait staff was attentive and we were not in a hurry. Try the tourist chair out front but make sure you have someone to help you out read more

This place has a lot going for it. Good location by the water with lots of parking. A big menu with fresh seafood abounding. In fact the scallops we had were excellent. Not Chewy but almost buttery. But two factors take away a star for me. First off, our appetizer took forever and service could be spotty at times. Most tables around us were already on their main course but it just slowed the whole meal. Add to that prices that tip the scales in part. Clams and fries for near $40 is just a bit steep. My clams were quite good but it was a modest portion for the price. That said would I come here again? Yep. Just keep my wallet full. read more

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This was our first time visiting the Black Whale and we will certainly be back. We made last minute reservations for 8:30 on a Saturday night. There was plenty of parking behind the restaurant when we arrived. We were seated promptly upon being greeted by the host, although there were others waiting. I ordered a cup of the Fisherman's stew and the Portuguese Cod. Both were fantastic with plenty of seafood. They were quite filling though so I think next time I wouldn't order both. My husband ordered the clam chowder and filet Oscar. He said both were delicious, but he also wouldn't get both next time because it was too much food. My 13 year old son ordered the fisherman's platter, which he loved. It looked like there was a ton of seafood. The ambiance was very nice. We sat in a booth up on a platform and had a fantastic view of the boats outside as well as the entire restaurant. We will definitely be back as the menu had a lot of great options and overall it was a wonderful experience. read more

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Excellent from start to finish ! They were so accommodating with my grandmother being in a wheel chair , gave us a seat up front with easy assess ! The food was some of the freshest I've tasted. We started with the waygu sliders , they were so different and unique and honestly plain delicious. The chicken lettuce wraps were next and they too were so unique and flavorful and overall clean ,fresh and addicting. The restaurant itself has two sides with both respectfully being modern but opposite vibes. Love them both and how clean they look. Very impressed . We can't wait to return ! read more

Last year we happened upon the Black Whale and loved it!! The decor is upscale coastal and now they have a beautiful outdoor area that is covered and toasty warm! The service was on point - super attentive and friendly! The food - YUM! Being a native New Englander I have had a lot of clam chowder and this may be the best I've had! Doesn't need crackers - pepper or anything! It was perfect! Everyone loved their meals and even the yummy peanut butter and Oreo pie! I just wish I lived closer to come more often! But I actually think it's worth the hour plus ride!! You will be glad you came! read more

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Xavier was so attentive and really completed the experience! We ordered a few items to share. It took quite a while to come out since I asked for everything to come out together. Once it came out, they split the entrees for us to share a lot easier. That made the wait worth it and it was such a wonderful gesture. We got the Clam Chowder, traditional Lobster Roll, Lobster Fettuccine, and chicken fingers and fries for our 7 year old. That was my first Massachusetts lobster roll-- SO SO GOOD! I also had a nojito and it was so delicious you could almost believe it's a real mojito. We decided we are coming back before flying back home. So worth it! read more

The Black Whale - Lobster Fettuccini , Lobster Roll split to share, and my refreshing Nojito. - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

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Celebrated a friend's birthday at Black Whale and enjoyed immensely. I started with a bowl of Portuguese Fishermans Stew. It was LOADED with shrimp, fish, calamari in a really tasty broth. Fantastic! For my meal, I ordered an appetizer: Piri Piri Octopus (which was MUCH larger than expected), accompanied by salt cod fritter and nicely dressed greens. read more

The Black Whale - Piri Piri Octopus - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

Great place, a few blocks from downtown, right off 18/I-195. Nice open dining room with great view and an excellent bar. Food is consistently great and nice drinks. Ample parking lot as well. Can't wait to visit again read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The sushi is particularly outstanding but every seafood dish is delicious. I had a steak recently that was really good. The miso Chilean sea bass is something we particularly enjoy. My favorite server, Chantelle, is attentive and helpful. We ask to be seated in her section when she is working and always feel we are well taken care of. We love the view of the boats outside. Not many places that have the trifecta of entertaining views, delicious food, and outstanding service. read more

When I got back from FL. My family took me to the Black Whale and I must say it was the best seafood experience. I had to make another visit to repeat my favorite seafood experience..... and it was not so much, grossly overcooked. I thought, well.it's probably inexperienced chef?? What ever... I don't trash .... I will return after the summer season. read more

The Black Whale is a no brainer. A beautiful seaside restaurant with big open windows with a view of sailboats and the sea, two beautiful lightly colored oak bars, and joyful and attentive servers and hosts, how can you not have a great time. The atmosphere is contagious. I sat at the bar with a friend and as I looked around, I wanted to take pictures of everyone's dishes because the seafood looked so fresh and the presentation added to the allure. My friend and I ordered three types of sushi rolls, the Full Boat and two other rolls. I am sure whichever sushi roll we would have ordered would have been great. Everything we had was delicious and flavorful. I had seltzer because I was driving but even that had lemon in it and they kept refilling it like it was a glass of water. Such a little thing but gave me great joy! I would come back here again and again and hope I find excuses to come to this town to do so. read more

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We started with cocktails, moved on to 2 dz oysters, because when it's Buck o Shuck, you go extra! We shared a couple sushi rolls & Caesar salads. The food has always been consistently good. We had a friendly and attentive server, Richard, and grateful for all the "extras". Galentine's was a hit! Thank you read more

The Black Whale - Buck o Shuck - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

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I have spent the last 15 year of my life eating every crab cake at every restaurant on the east coast. I have never been satisfied with what I got and have been chasing this seemingly imaginary dragon., until today. I finally found it, the best crab cake in New England. I've closed a chapter in my life with this one. I can't recommend this enough please come eat here read more

The Black Whale - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

The seafood for both my husband and I was overcooked. My salmon was dry, but edible. My husband's halibut was not. Also the noice was deafening. My husband wears hearing aids and could not hear his friend sitting right next to him. read more

Great atmosphere. Casual chill vibes. Staff was quite sweet, patient and helpful in answering questions. Everything we asked for was brought rapidly. The food!! That was delicious!! Everyone in my party was satisfied. The drinks were awesome as well. The peach snaps drink I highly recommend! If that's what it's called. lol. I had a great time. And we were the last to leave but didn't feel rushed at all. Later that night we bumped into the head chef and bartender at another local spot that was open later and we gave them their "flowers". Saying everything was delicious!! read more

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Our experience last week was so great, we were back last night. It was the right move. We sat outside with a nice breeze, looking at the boats & the ocean. Our waitress was great ! She checked on us and was fast & friendly w/ out being too much. We always have good service at the Black Whale. We had oysters that were really good & sushi that was perfect. We also had a Hugo Spritzer which is a great summer weather drink. It was so good we had a second drink & shared a swordfish sandwich, which was superior. I'm not a city person BUT, if you don't enjoy the NB waterfront restaurants, you are missing out. Also, The Black Whale is the best for any type of food in NB ! read more

Every single time at the whale, my plate is clean. always posts beautiful pictures of food. I never think about reviewing until I've actually had the experience. Every time the experience at the black whale is fantastic. We go out to eat a lot compared to others. The black whale is one of our favorite places. Some folks claim it's too expensive, maybe that's just not true. The if you go 45 minute away the prices are way more expensive and the quality doesn't compare. Do yourself a favor and go to the black whale. read more

The Black Whale - Clean plate at the whale. - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

I am not someone who usually writes reviews, favorable or unfavorable. I feel that due to my recent experience at the Black Whale I must do so. I had made dinner reservations for Friday night, June 12 , 7pm for a party of 4, on the previous Sunday. Twice during the week, I was contacted via text by the Black Whale to confirm my reservation. My husband and I were taking my son and his fiancé, who reside out of town, to celebrate their birthdays. Arriving at the entrance to the restaurant's parking lot, I remained out on the Main Street, allowing 5 vehicles to leave the parking lot. Driving in, a young man came up to my window and very nicely asked if we were intending to dine at the Black Whale. Upon stating we did, we were told there was parking for us down the street, and that we could then walk back to the restaurant. We were able to observe several empty spots in the lot and asked why we couldn't just park in the regular lot. The young man then became flippant and told me if I wanted to go look for a spot to go ahead and do so. I parked my car in a spot directly across from the steps up into the restaurant. Noting there were at least four more vacant spots in that row of parking. At this point I am seriously questioning why we had been told to park elsewhere. It was now 6:50 pm. I gave my name, my reservation was confirmed, and we were promptly seated outside in a booth. This Friday night happened to be during the heat wave experienced in mid June. The waitress arrived at our table and I told her we could not dine outside, we needed to be in the air conditioned dining room. I further explained that my 74 year old husband had open heart surgery and could not tolerate the stifling heat. The waitress stated she would let "them" know and would be right back. She soon returned, stating she was sorry, but the air conditioned dining room was for people who had made reservations. I advised her we did have reservations, with the waitress stating she would go back again and speak to "them" on our behalf. Soon after the hostess arrived, stating she had been advised there was a problem with us being seated outside. At this time I advised her of my husband's health condition and the need to be in the air conditioned dining room. The hostess then said she was sorry but the dining room was for those who had made reservations, not walk ins. Upon telling the hostess we did have reservations she then said it was difficult to seat a party the size of ours on a busy Friday night. I said you have to be kidding me, we are a party of four. With nothing else to come back with the hostess stated she could not get us into the dining room for another hour and one half, and if that didn't work for us then we needed to stay where we were . We decided to stay, as it was a Friday night , too late to get reservations elsewhere. We had gone there to celebrate with my son and his fiancé, who came from out of town. If this had not been the case, we would have left. Twice, within a half hour time span, disrespected by Black Whale staff. We ordered our drinks and meals. I was able to see, from where we were seated, people arriving , parking in the lot. My disappointment was watching some, but not all, being escorted in to the air conditioned dining room, which we had just been told was full and could not accommodate us for another hour and one half! My husband was not able to eat his meal due to feeling ill from the heat. Nor was I able to enjoy my meal due to my worry about him. I must say, our waitress, Madison was outstanding, and was most generously cash tipped by us. The hostess did pass by once during our time there and asked how our food was, I responded it was fine. I was beyond getting into a scene. The hostess then came by just before we left and handed me a gift card, amount unknown, for us to use at our next visit, for our "inconvenience " I do not know what was happening here. Was parking and air conditioned dining being held for frequent fliers? Was I not recognized as someone who patronizes this restaurant at various times of day and week? Someone who purchases gift cards to give to family and friends? I gave the gift card to my son , telling them to use it at the Whales Tail. At least then one would expect to be sweltering in the heat while you ate at a picnic table. I am absolutely disgusted. My family owned and operated a well known , prosperous business in this community for many years. We would never treat anyone the way we were treated. All patrons were valued equally. Big mistakes were made by the staff at the Black Whale. I will not be patronizing this establishment, nor any affiliated with it, nor ever purchasing another gift card from it. There are lots of places with good food and excellent service. The ambiance of being on the waterfront is only going to work for so long. read more

We were told seating would be hour to hour and half. Went online and booked a reservation standing there speaking to the host for 20 min later. The Host didn't seem to thrilled with the switch up but hey, you utilize the tools you have access to. They have a ton of space here, patio seating is open window so depending on the day and your heat tolerance it's super nice out there with ample sunlight! We seating inside the main dining area with AC after a long day at the beach haha. We went a bit overboard ordering the appetizers, mind you they are very nice portions (larger). RI style calamari - fresh cooked crispy and one of my favorite dishes however, i do wish the peppers they put it was perhaps stir fried in with the squid to give it more flavor. The casino clams is basically a quahog, tasty and filling. The paella was a special, seafood mix, boom of salty flavors. Enjoyed this dish had to take it home because we were so full. The Wagyu sliders for us were a bit dry, the buns it came with was good and buttery. The boom boom shrimp is what you'd expect, but it was a bit lacking on the Boom flavor and a bit overdone for our order. Probably my least favorite. The mussels dish was a star! The flavor of the broth it sits in was *Chefs kiss* you just literally wanted to dip EVERYTHING in it. I dipped my slider in it. The toast that comes with the dish is yummy crunchy and perfect pairing to soak up the broth. The clam chowder was A+, didn't need any added salt or pepper like many other places. Came with the perfect physical consistency, slightly chunky and NOT watery. Least that's how i prefer a chowda. Gimme another BOWL please! Our server man i cannot remember her name but she can memorize your order without taking it down and she was super cool. Would be back to dine again. read more

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We had an excellent lunch here! There is a beautiful covered outdoor area and an indoor dining room with a view. We opted to sit inside due to the AC and the view! The covered outdoor area mostly has a view of the street or the parking lot, which is unfortunate, as the patio seating area is really lovely. After we ordered, the server brought us a smoked fish dip amuse bouche. Delicious and much appreciated! We had some raw bar to start; jonah crab claws, oysters and clams. The clams were fantastic; briny and bracing! I'm always neutral on oysters and the jonah claws were a bit dry (although I find that to usually be the case with jonah crab). Non-raw food eating patron at our table enjoyed the chowdah! The sandwiches were excellent. We had both lobster roll options - hot and cold. Hot was the favorite! Friend ate every last bite of the crab cake BLT, so I am assuming it was up to snuff. Fries were perfectly crispy. The service was a tad on the slow side, but friendly. All in all, a great afternoon! read more

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Loved this place! Beautiful view and 5 stars alone just for the stuffed lobster which was unreal. Lobster fettuccine was also great. read more

The Black Whale - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

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Not bad at all! Looks touristy, but does have that local flair, and history of New Bedford. If you are in the commercial pier, turn to your left and there it is. Parking may be wonky due to tourism or events, but we had no problem. Great seafood. Raw bar was ice cold And delicious. Of course the New England Clam Chowder was thick and typical of this style and very good. I had a salad with salmon and it was perfect. Great prices, nice staff, beautiful newish looking interior, plenty of seating. Incredible views. A part of Massachusetts history, and everyone should go and experience the beauty of the scenery, the food and the local flair. No negatives! read more

I visited The Black Whale last week for dinner after spending a nice day at the beach & the food was phenomenal! We didn't come w/ a reservation but when we got there & asked if a table for 3 would be available, the hostess said that it would be an hour wait. We actually had checked on OpenTable and they had an open spot available with only a 20 min wait. So, I would say, definitely check OpenTable first to see if they have anything! We chose to sit inside since this side had AC and cooler, whereas the other side was a nice patio but it was honestly too hot last night haha. For food, here is what we ordered: Appetizers- -Portuguese clams casino -clam chowder (2 bowls & 1 cup) -mussels mozambique -RI calamari -Wagyu sliders -boom boom shrimp Main entree- -seafood paella special Drinks- -espresso martini black, tequila substitute -Shirley temple -blackberry lemonade We ordered mostly apps to share, with the exception of the seafood paella entree special that they had. They started us off with complimentary crab dip with crackers... SO GOOD! All of the apps were delicious & honestly we weren't expecting the generous portion sizes. Definitely ended up over-ordering for 3 people but they made for yummy leftovers. My favorite has to be the mussels mozambique! The flavor of the broth was so tasty, probably the best mussels broth I have had in a long time, seriously. Clam chowder was great. It has the perfect consistency, not too thick but also not watery either. Every spoonful had clams & I liked that it wasn't filled with mostly potatoes. Everything was flavorful and very enjoyable! I would say the only dish that I didn't care for as much was probably the Wagyu sliders. They were kind of dry and not very juicy. We found it hard to finish this dish, but it was nice to try. WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN next time we're down in this area! This was such a great find and I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for some fresh seafood, that's not in the Cape! read more

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5 stars for buck a shuck. Location is really nice. It in the waterfront with open air dining and a a/c space aswell. My second time here, first time I was seated in the dining area. Happy hour is only offered at the bar, it's also self seating. My first time I ordered the toro nigiri, and octopus. This time I was here for oysters. Oyster were really good, nice and plump. The mignonette was perfect for the oysters. The bar tender did a great job of checking up on people. Definitely will be back when I'm craving oysters. Great deal! read more

The Black Whale - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

The restaurant is located on the wharf. It is very nice and the place is clean and bright. The service was absolutely amazing. The food was definitely worth the visit. It is great for any occasion. read more

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Sat at the bar and the service was great. The restaurant itself was full on a Monday night, which is a great sign. Nautical decor everywhere and the room was decently loud with how many people were inside. They were only half full where they had another banquet room or something on the other side. Food was great! Ordered boom boom shrimp, lobster roll (brown butter) and crème brûlée. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and not over sauced. Everything came out piping hot and seafood was plenty fresh. And the crème brûlée was a good level of sweetness without being overly sweet. Absolutely will come back the next time I'm in town for business. read more

The Black Whale - Crème Brûlée - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

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We went yesterday for my birthday. My wife had the baked sole; they forgot the lobster sauce. I had the fisherman's platter and it was almost warm. After three or four bites I asked the waitress for a to go box so I could take it home to heat it up and make it edible. She did box it to go. I'm not sure if the waitress never told anyone or if they just don't care as long as the check was paid. The lack of customer service is what bothers me most. read more

Had the BEST experience while waiting for our table. We were off to the side and bartender Maureen came over to take drink orders, brought us an amazing dip w/ crackers and even took some app orders. She asked us if we were waiting for a table (for 3 of us) and within 10 minutes, got us a place at the bar. Thank you Maureen! It was an enjoyable experience because of her attention and service. The meal was also delicious. Can't wait to go back. read more

This restaurant seemed the most interesting to visit on a recent work trip to the area after reviewing menus from several local restaurants. I found parking easily in their large lot by the water. Upon entry, you arrive at the hostess desk in the center of the building, and since I was alone, I had the choice of the open air (outdoor) bar or the indoor bar. Indoor was jam-packed, so I settled for outdoors. It's not really an outdoor bar since it's a separate covered building, with windows facing water open and windows facing back of building closed. Upon reviewing the menu, which they have a main menu and a daily special menu, I decided on the roasted cod and added 2 apps, raw oysters, and clams. Raw Oysters and clams - the clams were good, just small ...I much preferred the oysters since they are about 3x larger and go better with the mignonette and horseradish. Cod - this was a full entree and really hit the spot. It came with baked potato wedges and broccoli....the fish just melts in your mouth. There is a slight hint of white wine when first biting into the fish. It took a while to pay since the new employee didn't initially print my bill after asking him, but finally, another bartender came by and took care of me. read more

The Black Whale - 3 clams and 3 oysters - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

We were in the area recently for a charity bike ride. Unfortunately, the rain interfered with our plans and we only got in 14 of the planned 30 miles. The good news is, that meant we needed to find something for lunch and The Black Whale looked like a good idea. It was! We sat the bar and made a meal out of shared appetizers, chowdah, and salad. Everything was excellent. Plus, the friendly bartenders took good care of us with a well made cocktail or two. And the location, right on the water, together with the nautically themed ambiance fit the bill very nicely! It was so good in fact, we ditched out dinner plans later that day at another nearby seafood place after having a so-so appetizer. We looked at each other and said, are you thinking what I'm thinking? We were -- and back to The Black Whale we went. Without reservations we we had no choice but to sit at the bar again, but the entrees drinks and service were great, just as we assumed they would be. I highly recommend this place. read more

The Black Whale - Bar II - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

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Honestly it's a good spot, I've heard a lot about it since moving to New Bedford but I think a tad bit overhyped. You have nice views of the harbor, the restaurant is clean on the inside, cool bar set up. Server was super friendly and was able to give us recommendations and suggestions. Best thing we ate was the boom boom shrimp for sure, crispy great flavor and the shrimp tasted fresh along with the other seafood. The cod was also great a bit too buttery for me, the fish and chips sadly was greasy and couldn't finish. The crème was delicious but the cake was super dense more than a fudge or a truffle. Oysters were top tier along with the salsa as well. Would come back a second try but you are definitely paying for the atmosphere on that bill along with fresh seafood. People were either dressed up a bit or down but I felt those who were dressed down definitely were looked down upon by other guests in the space. read more

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A gem but, clearly not a secret with the volume of people coming in and out. I came with family that live in MA who frequent The Black Whale. We made a reservation, highly recommend doing so. Since it is close to the ferry port, many people make this their first stop before or after taking the ferry. We saw a various of parties from dates to family dinners. It is a slightly nicer coastal restaurant but, there were people dressed very casual to a bit more fancy. It also depends what time of day you go. We sat on the patio which is enclosed. They do have retractable windows so, if it is nice, they open them up. You can't go wrong with ordering any seafood dishes but, we ordered sushi rolls to split among the two of us. We had a great bottle of white wine called Whitehaven that paired well with the sushi. I can't wait to go back and try lobster, oysters, mussels, and more! read more

The Black Whale - Sushi for two - Seafood Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

I was a disappointed with the fish and chips. The fish portion was not as large as most other restaurants in the area, and the breading was a little soggy. The fries were nothing to write home amount, definitely could've used some more time in the fryer. The free crackers and dip were good, mostly because it was free. The dip didn't have a whole lot of flavor. However the bartender was excellent and also made sure my glass was full! read more

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Went out for dinner and everything was outstanding. We made reservations and we're seated right away by the window with a view of the fishing piers. Our server was friendly, had a great pace, and made sure we enjoyed our visit. Our meals came out in a timely manner, and we're hot and fresh. The steaks were cooked perfectly, and our modifications were followed properly. Great job all around and a great meal. read more

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Food was excellent, the outdoor space was comfortable & fun, and Josh M did a great job. His service was really exemplary and fun. Thank you kitchen, Josh & staff for really making our visit memorable! read more

Went here for my boyfriend's birthday with fam, was a great experience. Food was served quick by our waitress and I had the lobster fettuccine. It was flavorful and no real issues with it. I also had a mojito (not pictured), which was also very good and didn't have too much of an alcohol taste to it. My boyfriend said he really loved the lobster roll from this place and would go again for it. Ambiance was great with the harbor view, it was super packed on the day we went. Would definitely go back! read more

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This restaurant is not the most beautiful views even though it is on the harbor. Really you have a view of a parking lot. However, if the sun is shining, it's still a lovely interior of the restaurant itself. The Jonah Crab Claws as an appetizer from the raw bar was super good! It's a new menu item, and it's worth the $2.50 per claw. A good chunk of crab meat. The Bacon wrapped scallops were really well cooked, however, the tomato jam on the scallops was so unnecessary. The scallop flavor with the bacon was more than enough, the tomato sauce made it acidic and salty and almost ruined the scallops. The risotto was creamy and not too overpowering, had great mushrooms inside as well. Kale with the scallops were nice. Lobster roll was buttery (ordered with butter instead of mayo), and warm with a nice toasted bun. Claw meat was exceptional! Fries were shoestring, and coleslaw was decent. Salmon dip with the crackers as a free starter was unexpected and pleasantly delicious! Our waiter was really nice and attentive. Definitely recommend this spot for seafood if you're in New Bedford! read more

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I love this place. The seating options are wonderful. Good food, good drink, great staff and an awesome time! It's an adorable waterfront restaurant. read more

Beautiful Harbour front restaurant in New Bedford. We were in town doing touristy things and were looking for something with a view for dinner. Free parking and easy in and out. Sat at the bar over looking the Harbour and the fishing boats. Service at the bar was over the top. 3 bartenders checking on everyone. Enjoyed some great fresh oysters then took the plunge and treated our selves to Lobster Thermidor! OH MY!!! Perfectly cooked. Please treat yourself! Enough for two. Great draft beer selection and ice cold glasses! We will go back. read more

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