Two coasts. Two teams. Two major seafood cities.
This year’s Super Bowl may be a matchup between Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, but for proud Seattle or Boston folks this could also be a battle for seafood city supremacy. Both cities have some clammy claims to fame like Boston’s chowder or the world-famous Pike Place Market in Seattle, so let’s talk about 5 of the best seafood joints in each city and then you can decide who should win the Super Bowl of Seafood.
Seattle
Just the thought of enjoying some salmon, Dungeness crab, or a fresh oysters from a table overlooking the Puget Sound makes our mouths water. Seattle is the city to enjoy the very best the Pacific Ocean and rivers & lakes of the northwest have to offer.
Pike Place Fish Market: Yeah, Pike Place Fish Market a tourist attraction, we know, but it’s also a hell of a fish market, so it deserves mention here. People come from all over the world to see their now-famous crew chuck and catch fresh fish. Their halibut, Alaskan King Crab, and salmon are so popular they offer shipping across the country for people to enjoy. Going in person, however, is always more fun. Just trust us.
Ray’s Boathouse: If the Pike Place Fish Market is the quintessential fish market for tourists in Seattle, Ray's Boathouse is the go-to fish house for tourists. SeattleMet’s pick for the “best in town to bring a visitor,” Ray’s Boathouse combines awesome waterfront dining with fresh seafood- and a big neon sign. Bonus points for the big neon sign.
Etta’s: Tom Douglas is a household name in Seattle for his numerous restaurants, taverns, and bakeries around the city, and Etta's, near Pike Place Market, captures the bustle of the market with it’s big windows and captivates your taste buds with Douglas’s famous Dungeness crab cakes.
The Brooklyn Seafood, Steak & Oyster House: With the largest rotating selection of oysters in Seattle and tons of fresh seafood delivered daily and a central location across from the Seattle Art Museum, The Brooklyn has become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. The Brooklyn has enjoyed multiple awards over its 25 year run and has remained a Seattle seafood institution even as other have opened in the area.
Walrus and the Carpenter: As No. 15 on bon appétit’s “20 Most Important Restaurants in America” in 2013, The Walrus and the Carpenter Walrus and the Carpenter has quickly established itself as a Seattle seafood hotspot. One part hipster-vibe mixed with one part neighborhood-bar vibe combine to form a really cool space. Local oysters, smoked herring, and sea urchin are all popular items, but we have to recommend the oysters above all else. The Walrus and the Carpenter wants, “to serve the highest quality food and drink in a space that is stripped of pretense and feels like home.” And they do.
vs. Boston
When you think clam chowder, you think New England. It’s just that simple. Boston also has a plethora of other great seafood staples like cod, lobsters, and clams, so if you’re looking for freshest of the Atlantic, Boston is the place to be.
Union Oyster House: Newer, edgier seafood places garner most of the attention these days in the local “Best of” lists, but when you’re the oldest restaurant in America, you’ve been on every list in every magazine already. The pre-Revolutionary War building sits on the Freedom Trail, just a stone’s throw from the famous Faneuil Hall. The restaurant opened in the early 1800s and has served oysters to everyone from Daniel Webster to John F. Kennedy and is even now a National Historic Landmark. To be honest, there are better places for seafood in Boston, but none with more history than the The Union Oyster House.
Back Eddy: Some of New England’s best seafood is outside Boston’s city limits, and Back Eddy is a perfect example. With an incredible waterfront view of the Westport River, Back Eddy is the perfect place to have a beer and some locally sourced clam chowder or stuffed clams while the sun sets.
Neptune Oyster: Ok, for starters you may recognize this place from the Ben Affleck flick, “The Town,” but it’s more than just a movie filming location, Neptune Oyster is one of Boston’s best seafood joints. For starters, the place is beautiful with white tile, dark woods, and a classic tin ceiling, but the food is just as impressive. Neptune offers tons of raw bar options as well as classics like New England Clam Chowder.
Yankee Lobster Company: Lobster rolls, lobster bisque, and lobster mac & cheese are all popular items on the menu at Yankee Lobster Company, a staple of the Boston Seaport District. With a patio located next to a concert venue, it’s a great place to enjoy good food with a cold beer while listening to the music. Yankee Lobster was serving great seafood before it became cool to eat out at the Boston Seaport.
The Daily Catch: For more than 40 years, the Fredduras have been serving up Sicilian-style seafood and pasta from their little North End spot (seriously, it’s little- only seating 20) using as much locally-caught seafood like haddock, calamari, and cod as they can. In true Sicilian-style, the place is a family affair with their sons pitching in to help and with some even preparing to keep the place going strong for another 40 years. The Daily Catch now boasts a few different locations, but all have the same great seafood.
