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    The Boiling Crab

    4.2 (96 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    The Boiling Crab Photos

    THE BOILING CRAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy

    Recommended Reviews - The Boiling Crab

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    Katie D.

    This restaurant definitely lives up to the hype! The portions are generous for the price, making it a great value. If building your own boil feels overwhelming, the preset combos are a great option--we usually go with those. The "Get Messy" combo offers better value since it includes two different proteins, while the "Get Dirty" combo comes with only shrimp. The lemon pepper seasoning is outstanding and easily our favorite. We also tried the garlic butter flavor, which was good but didn't stand out as much. A nice bonus is being able to customize the spice level to your preference. You can also elect to have an "easy peel" by requesting the heads off for the shrimp which is an additional charge. We've visited several times on weekend evenings and have always found open tables, with fast and efficient service.

    Menu
    Maria G.

    So happy to see the Boiling Crab in the east coast! I still remember going to its CA location a decade ago, and waited in line for hours for the first time to try the food. It was so good that I went back the next day, again waited for an hour, to try the food again. It's messy, so be prepared. It's also super delicious. I always bring my own disposable gloves, just so it's easy to eat and then maybe take a break and then put on new gloves to continue eating. The menu is simple, so it's easy to decide what you want. Highly recommend this place.

    Gloria L.

    I've had a lot of seafood boil before and I have to say this place is great! Plus, the medium actually has kick to it, which I loved. And they have hard boiled eggs as an option to add on, I've always wanted to try seafood boil with eggs after watching a mukbang. Not only was the food delicious, but the staff was attentive and nice. The decor was cute and seatowny, would come back

    Garlic butter
    Christy W.

    We had lobsters all around -- so delicious! The Cajun fries were really good, and everything came loaded with garlic butter. Tasty cocktails too -- a great meal all around!

    Akshita P.

    Loved the flavors of the sha-bang shrimp! it paired perfectly with the side of white rice. Also would recommend the cajun fries, well seasoned and crispy. Inside is very spacious and can seat large groups.

    Taste of TBC Combo Deal with added sausages
    Loren M.

    As a college student in Boston craving seafood boil, The Boiling Crab in Cambridge is a great choice! I got the "Taste of TBC" combo deal, where I got a large bag of shrimp, corn and mussels with delicious fries on the side. The service was adequate and they were very helpful breaking down the prices for their seafood offerings. I do wish they checked in a bit more as I often had to call them to request for water refills. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nautical and whimsy, which was nice. I can see lots of people from different backgrounds (college students, families, elders) enjoying eating here.

    Sweet Black Tea
    Nat B.

    Sometimes I crave fried seafood but don't feel like going to a fancy dine-in establishment for that. Thankfully, there's Boiling Crab, and it hit the spot! I got the fried soft-shell crab basket with Cajun fries, and it was absolutely delicious; perfectly portioned and affordable, too. Shoutout to Maisa, who was an incredible server! She was so kind, accommodating, and super knowledgeable about the menu. She needs a raise! I'll definitely be coming back and hope to have her as my server again.

    Alyssa C.

    love a good seafood boil place and this did not disappoint. the snow crab and shrimp were fresh and delicious and I would stick to these! the fresh crawfish was alright. the whole sha-bang sauce was a great choice that combines all of the sauces. mild had a decent kick while still being very flavorful. crabber fries with lemon and pepper were excellent. I just wish they had garlic noodles as a side too

    Shrimp, crawfish, crab leg , sausage, potato, egg
    Kelly F.

    Service was good. Food was good. SO MUCH GARLIC. I think I would go again but was tough on the stomach. There's no other place like this in the city. Would recommend !

    Monica A.

    So good! This might be a bit of a hot take, but my favorite item here is actually the hard-boiled eggs in the Whole Sha-Bang seasoning -- I'd be happy with just those. They've got all the classics: crab, shrimp, mussels, clams. If you're getting shrimp, go with the headless option -- it's a better deal. The staff was great and really accommodating. We had mussels that didn't have much meat, and they quickly replaced them with clams and made sure we were taken care of. It's a fun, hands-on experience with just the right amount of spice. Definitely on the oily side, so not an everyday meal, but perfect when you're craving a seafood boil. This location is solid and homey -- hoping they add scallops to the menu soon.

    Munah H.

    We dined at Boiling Crab a few times and every time is great! The atmosphere is so lively and welcoming. This time Val was our server and she was very friendly! We ordered the TBC Combo which comes with 1 lb. of Boiled Shrimp, 1/2 lb. of Mussels, 2 Corns and Crabber Fries. Every was cooked fresh and tasted amazing. 5/5! We will be back!

    Menu front
    Jonathan A.

    It's unfortunate that the prices here are so steep, especially considering it's not a Black-owned crab boil or a spot that incorporates Cajun culture. The drinks were disappointing--do not recommend the hibiscus mule. It was awful, and they still charged me for it, even after I had to remind them to remove it from the bill. Meal 1 - Oysters: They didn't have the fresh, briny taste you'd expect. They were fine, but nothing special. Meal 2 - Calamari: The calamari was tough, and there wasn't much of it. The seasoning was lacking, but it was okay overall. The boil itself was tasty, but I still think it was overpriced. This feels like a one-time visit kind of place. The prices weren't clear, and there were too many stipulations on portion sizes--like only being able to order shrimp in half-pound increments, which didn't make much sense. Other places give more accurate pricing. If you're craving NOLA and a good boil, you'd probably be better off booking a flight. It would be much more satisfying.

    Side ("extra") Gumbo w/ extra sausage
    Mark T.

    I have to be honest with you all - when my friends decided this would be the spot to celebrate two birthdays in one, I was a little skeptical. Don't get me wrong, I generally enjoy seafood, but not cooked shellfish. Especially when I have to get my hands dirty and deal with shells and cartilage... just not a fan. Yet: 1. This celebration wasn't about me. 2. Life occurs outside the comfort zone. 3. I did see some items on the menu I would've found agreeable. All this in mind, The Boiling Crab ended up being an overall fantastic experience! I ordered She-Bang Bang Scallops Medium Hot, and a side ("Extra") of Gumbo with Extra Sausage. The scallops were fantastic! They were fried ever so gently to have a gentle crispness and supremely tender interior. They were also not overly fishy - too many places seemingly use the same oil for everything, and if that's the case here, I couldn't tell. The sauce, though, is what took them to the next level. It was phenomenally savory, not overly salty, and had a proper heat! To be fair, while I ordered them "medium" and they were more "hot," it was agreeable to my heat loving self regardless of nomenclature. Rice was a nice touch too to help sop up any excess liquid fire-gold. Since the scallops weren't all that filling on their own, the gumbo hit the right spot in rounding out the meal. While maybe not quite as good as what I had in NOLA proper, it was respectable in its own right. Savory, hearty, appropriate salt level, and well balanced (esp with extra sausage). But wait, there's more! There are two more areas where The Boiling Crab shines! One is service: Our server, Angie, and the overall team were fantastic. She was knowledgeable, and perfectly attentive for our group. Food came out very fast, too. Bonus points because we were a group of eight! Second is value: There is no denying seafood is expensive on its own, and even more so when dining out. Considering the quality, I would say the value at TBC was excellent! Thus, despite my initial hesitations, TBC left a glimmering first impression, and I look forward to returning, and maybe even bringing family to share in the awesome!

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    2 years ago

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    Aaron D.

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    2 years ago

    Very good.I had supper there twice a week with my friends and classmates. The mussel and lobster are good

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    2 years ago

    Great food! The food was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Great service! Great atmosphere!

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    4 years ago

    My favorite seafood-in-a-bag restaurant from LA is finally in Boston! Seafood is always fresh and sauce is THE BEST!!

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    4 years ago

    The service was great on a busy night Blue crab was amazing but sauce in bag gave me & everyone I was with the runs

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food was amazing and the service was even better. Luis is a fantastic server. Make sure to try the clam boil.

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    3 years ago

    It was great food, service was needed to be remind several times about our order but it was palpable to

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Boiling Crab

    What is parking like?

    There's no on site parking but there are a good amount of metered parking spots around Harvard Square. The area can become pretty busy on the weekends but we've always managed to find street parking.

    Can we place order online?

    No.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Shine Square Pub

    Shine Square Pub

    4.5
    (39 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Hanging out in Boston on business and it's #WingWednesday! So I did some research which lead me to…read morethe Shine Square Pub in Cambridge, MA which is a little east-northeast of Boston. Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: It's a bit of a dive bar and there's nothing wrong with that at all. There's lots of seemingly random swag that covered the dark wooden/brick walls of the open floorplan style restaurant. There are lots of TVs and this place just gives off nice sports bar vibes! Service: Ron the bartender/owner himself was taking care of the entire restaurant so he was killing it! He still was quick, efficient, did things with a smile and still made time to chat! Food: I'm here for the wings and I was able to try out 4 flavors! There are 14 sauces to choose from, but I only had enough room for 4. Lol. First up were the Cinnamon Chipotle Dry Rub. They were a decent size, super juicy, crispy, cooked perfectly. The seasoning was a bit on the salty side and I didn't get a whole lot of cinnamon, but it was there to cut the sauce and give it a extra layer of flavor. Next up was the Honey Honey which had great sauce coverage. They gave me a bit of a grilled/caramelized feel. These had a good kick to them and the honey was blended in nicely. Next up were the Roasted Garlic & Aji! These had a more traditional flavor profile that reminded me of your favorite straight-up roasted chicken. Very class and very good. Lastly, was the hottest sauce on the menu, Chernobyl. These were a BRIGHT RED like a poison dart frog warning you not to eat it. Lol. It didn't smell too intimidating, but Ron did say it was a ghost pepper based wing. Upon tasting them, there was an immediate sensation of heat. Good, pepper-rich sweetness up front. These were very good, but not as spicy as I had predicted, which is totally okay! Value: You get 6 wings for $11.00. A little on the pricey side, but it's Boston, sort-of downtown, but it's okay! It's not bad at all and the food was totally worth it. I loved this place and I'm so happy I finally found a good wing spot here in the Cambridge area. I'll surely try some more flavors and other things from their menu!

    A great place to watch a game and eat some grub. Lots of TVs, Boston spots memorabilia up, it's…read moredefinitely a dive bar but it's pretty spacious tbh since they didn't pack us all in like sardines, has quick bar service, and the food was good too. All around a great time!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Seasoned Fries
    Seasoned Fries
    Cinnamon Chipotle

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    Cinnamon Chipotle
    Red House

    Red House

    3.2
    (640 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I loved coming here years ago. But tastes may have changed ... the most recent visit was less…read morescintillating. The garden salad was pedestrian, the lettuce leaves from iceberg lettuce, and the bottom of the stems at that. The mushroom toast was somewhat sour, and the mushrooms were chopped in larger chunks rather than in smaller delicate pieces. The seafood pasta could have had a more subtle flavor profile... it tasted mostly if butter with some larger chunks of seafood of mixed quality. Some of the mussels were sandy [and one tasted expired], the shrimp was a tad overcooked and the the scallops were oddly lumped together in one mass. The texture of the scallops was decent though. The tiramisu was delicious with a strong coffee flavor and liqueur that was much appreciated. The server was excellent and responsive to all the table's needs. Ultimately a worthy place that with some refinements could be a top notch choice in the Harvard Square area.

    I do like the idea of an old house turned into a restaurant. The only problem is if you are one of…read morethe only people in the room, it's hard to ever see/flag down your server. The New York Strip was a bit chewy/not high quality, and coming with a piece of charred romaine seemed more like a plate filler than a side dish. The fingerling potatoes were fine. I got the lamb shank which was tender but the watercress seemed a bit of a mushy pile on top. The dishes were fine, price okay, the ambiance was fine, and the service was okay/fine/a little slow. It's not a bad choice for the area, but it was only okay.

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    Red House
    Sriracha Mayo Lobster Roll
    Sriracha Mayo Lobster Roll
    Lamb shank

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    Lamb shank
    Regattabar Jazz Club

    Regattabar Jazz Club

    3.2
    (82 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Came here a few weeks ago to see Neena Freelon, a Cambridge singer made good. Lovely jazz singer…read morewith a tight trio backing her up. She sang standards and original compositions, and the vibe of the evening was warm as she interspersed her set with acknowledgements to her Cambridge family and friends in attendance, and the city where she grew up. The drinks were fine; the only complaint was our seats right by the door, which ordinarily wouldn't have been a problem except that the ceiling stage lighting to the left of the stage was in our eyes which made it impossible to see the performer unless she stepped away from the center of the stage, which she didn't do often. There are few jazz clubs in the Boston area so I will always return to the Regattabar if there is someone playing I want to see. I find it a cozy environment although there are a couple of structural pillars that create obstructed viewing that aren't acknowledged upon ticket purchase. I've seen folks seated in those areas; If I ever am placed behind one I will definitely ask to be moved or leave and request refund.

    Music was great, food was awful (stale bread came with our meat appetizer plate, at this price…read morepoint, come on...), street parking is impossible near the club, we paid for parking. They sell overpriced bottled water ONLY (no tap water available to customers, I felt like I was being nickle and dimed), if you are drinking alcohol and trying to stay hydrated know that you'll be paying for overpriced bottled water AND contribute to consumer waste, I find that unacceptable. Boston has great jazz clubs that dont nickle and dime you, we are not coming back to regatta.

    Photos
    Mike Stern 2017
    Mike Stern 2017
    Photo by Kristophe Diaz
    Photo by Kristophe Diaz
    Kat Edmonson performance @ The Regattabar

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    Kat Edmonson performance @ The Regattabar
    Cambridge Naturals

    Cambridge Naturals

    4.1
    (169 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    cambridge naturals is one of my favorite stores and i've only been once! it's filled with all…read morenatural products, from herbs & teas to grocery items to supplements, to home goods, cleaning products, pet products, beauty products and more! i was searching for supplements and there was a gentleman who seemed to know what he was looking for beside me, and i asked him for advice on some products. he took the time to explain a few benefits of certain products, and he was so kind! then we introduced ourselves, and it turned out, it was michael, the co-founder of cambridge naturals! what a pleasure, he showed me a picture of himself & his wife from 1974 when they started the store. i could tell he knew what he was doing when he was searching for supplements. i spent a good amount of time in here, and they have so many amazing products. i found the staff to be super helpful and if you're interested in natural and local health conscious products, cambridge naturals is the place to be.

    Pleasant place, but RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. A bottle of apple cider vinegar is 8 bucks. A couple…read moreof doors down, you can get the identical brand at the supermarket for about 2 bucks. Dubious medicinal cures. All the foods are overpriced. Placebo medicine.Everything is so appealing till you look at the price tag. The jury's still out on cannabis gummies. The staff do answer questions but no one there is medically trained. In the 20th century and beyond, many lives have been saved by Western medicine. It just screams Cantabridgian "privilege."

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    Loose leaf teas
    Loose leaf teas
    Supplements
    Supplements
    Supplements & herbs

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    Supplements & herbs
    Little Donkey

    Little Donkey

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    Little Donkey is definitely more of a "let's order a few things, chat for a while, and try bites…read morehere and there" kind of spot than a place you go to when you're starving. I've been extra hungry lately, so fair warning: if you have a big appetite and care a lot about portion-to-price value, this may not fully hit the spot. First things first: no bread. Not a complaint, just important information as I discover which spots in Boston are part of the bread movement. We started with the salmon crudo. I somehow thought it came with the burnt crispy rice, but that was my mistake - it's actually four small slices of salmon. That said, it was really flavorful and tasty. Next was the arancini: three pieces plus a pepper to share. Super good if you're into cheese. Crispy outside, cheesy inside, cooked well, no complaints there. Then the burger, which came split into two. Honestly, yummy burger. Simple. Solid. Probably the most filling thing we ordered, especially alongside the beer, which I was genuinely grateful for because it helped balance out the tiny portions situation. Dessert was the cookie dough. Exactly what you'd expect: cookie dough served on a mixer ladle with cream on the side. I didn't care much for the cream, but the cookie dough itself was good in a very straightforward way. If you like cookie dough, you'll like it. Overall, I'd say it's a good spot if you want to taste and try different things in a fun atmosphere. But if you're someone with a serious appetite who's looking for generous portions and strong value for size, there are probably other spots I'd pick first. Food came out fast and with the serving sizes and the speed of eating, was done with the meal in less than an hour - should've chewed slower lol

    Reservation on a Friday night. Got seated quickly and they were busy but not overcrowded or behind…read morein service at all. Super social waitress helped us chose from their nice sized menu. Very easy for gluten free needs with the majority of the options workable. Service was well paced with next plates coming out just as we were finishing the prior ones. Never felt rushed and also never waiting. Friendly and comfortable place. All plates were yummy. We'd come again!

    Photos
    Poppin bar
    Poppin bar
    PARKER HOUSE ROLLS
    PARKER HOUSE ROLLS
    Can't remember the name but it was great!

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    Can't remember the name but it was great!

    The Boiling Crab - seafood - Updated July 2026

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