Barking Crab

Waterfront restaurant - Boston seafood restaurants

Enjoy super fresh seafood right on the dock at the Barking Crab, a favorite Boston Harbor restaurant overlooking the water just steps from downtown and South Station.

You'll find the best clam shack dining in Boston under this popular seafood restaurant's red and yellow striped tent. Lobster, clams, chowder, and shrimp are just a few of the yummy treats that await you. 

I took this photo of the Barking Crab from the Boston side of Ft Point Channel

The prime location of this South Boston Waterfront restaurant gives you great water views of Fort Point Channel and glimpses of Boston Harbor, as well as city vistas.  

So bring your camera as well as your appetite, and get set to feast on some of the freshest seafood and best views in Boston.

Clam shack dining at the Barking Crab

If you're not from New England, you may be wondering, "What exactly is a clam shack?"

Traditional clam shacks along the New England coast are less-than-permanent wooden buildings - "shacks" truly describes them - that contain cooking and refrigeration facilities, sometimes as basic as just a deep-fat fryer and a few ice chests. 

A clam shack usually has a window where you place your order and pay, and some picnic tables and benches where you can sit and eat.  Clam shacks serve whatever catch the fishermen bring in that morning, and once it's gone, there's no more until tomorrow.

What will you find on the menu?  Typical New England coastal treats - clams (of course), lobster, mussels, scallops, shrimp (especially up in Maine), cod, flounder, and perhaps squid (calamari). 

If the clam shack is slightly fancier, you may also find chowder, steamers (smaller clams), clam rolls, lobster rolls, stuffies (clamshells filled with chopped clams mixed with seasoned breadcrumbs), and corn on the cob and French fries made from produce grown in nearby fields. 

And that's the type of coastal cuisine that you'll find (except for stuffies) at the Barking Crab, along with a few additional choices to round out of menu.

Best of all, the Barking Crab even feels like a clam shack.  The shared picnic tables and water views provide the perfect setting for the yummy seafood.  Ordering lobster?  You'll be given a rock to crack it open . . . just as though you were at a remote clam shack along the coast.

In fact, you'll probably forget that you're dining in Boston unless you happen to look at the city skyline.  In fact, the Barking Crab is one of the best Boston seafood restaurants for savoring water views along with a fun meal.

So what dishes should you order at the Barking Crab?

It's easy to get carried away with the appetizers . . . fried clams, fried calamari, buckets of "peel 'n' eat" shrimp.  The Old Bay crawfish appetizer, for example, includes a whopping 1 1/2 pounds of crawfish.  And who can resist the New England clam chowder or lobster bisque?

If you're not too hungry, you can easily make a meal of one of the salads . . . just opt for the choice of adding grilled shrimp, salmon, or chicken (chicken?  that's right - if you don't love seafood, you will find about 4 meat options, plus 3 more on the kids' menu, unlike a real clam shack). 

Sandwiches also make a great meal, especially since they come with fries and either coleslaw or salad.  I love the fried fish sandwiches and lobster rolls; dining companions have raved about the clam rolls made with local Ipswich clams and homemade tartar sauce. 

Non-fish lovers can opt for burgers or grilled chicken caesar wraps.  Although if you don't love fish, you probably shouldn't come here.  Also, if you're a vegetarian, your choices will be limited to things like salads and corn on the cob.

But if you're really hungry (and didn't order too many appetizers), consider the Fisherman's Platter - a huge plate overflowing with the best of shoreline cuisine, including fish, scallops, clams, shrimp, fries, and coleslaw. 

Or you might want a lobster - you can choose the size, ranging from 1 1/4 to 3 pounds.  The Barking Crab will prepare it boiled, broiled, or stuffed with shrimp and scallops.  Add chowder, mussels, corn on the cob, and coleslaw, and you'll have the traditional New England Clam Bake meal.

Crab selections, fish and chips, salmon grilled on a cedar plank, and a few other choices (including steak frites for carnivores) round out the menu.  Be careful when ordering if you care about sides - some dishes come with them, and others require that you order a la carte if you want them, so read the menu carefully. 

If your children are with you, they'll love the kid's menu, as well as the very casual seating and ambiance.  A big favorite is the fish and chips, plus pickle and sundae.

Why is the Barking Crab better than a "real" clam shack? 
Take a look at the beverage selections!  And listen to the music!

The Barking Crab's outstanding beer list features a lot of interesting local and New England breweries - just one reason why you'll prefer this city clam shack to one along the shore. 

In addition to Sam Adams and Harpoon draft offerings from Boston (try the Harpoon UFO, a fabulous unfiltered wheat beer), you'll find outstanding choices from local breweries in Gloucester and Ipswich, as well as from other parts of New England such as Maine and Vermont. 

Consider the Sea Dog Blueberry wheat ale from Portland, or Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat Beer from Gloucester.  You'll even spot Stella Artois from Belgium and Widmer "Drifter" pale ale from Oregon.  Enjoy all by the pint or the pitcher.

You'll also find some other domestic and imported beer selections by the bottle, as well as a variety of reasonably priced wines by the glass or bottle.  A few specialty cocktails and non-alcoholic beers, ginger beers, and other beverages round out Barking Crab's drinks list. 

Live music is something else that you normally don't find at a real clam shack.  Local groups perform several nights a week, usually starting at 7-8pm.  Once you finish your meal, give up your place at the table to waiting diners, and saunter over to the water's edge, gaze up at the stars (being in the city, you can't actually see them, so use your imagination), and enjoy the music and perhaps another beverage.

5 Tips for Enjoying the Barking Crab

Here are my top 5 tips for enjoying the Barking Crab:

• Be ready to have fun and a great meal in a very casual crab shack atmosphere.  If sitting at a picnic table with strangers under a tent and cracking open a lobster claw with a rock aren't your cup of tea, you probably won't be happy at Barking Crab.  Try Jasper White's Summer Shack near Prudential Center in Back Bay for clam shack food in a more typical restaurant setting.
• The Barking Crab can get very crowded and noisy.  If you prefer more sedate dining, your best bet is to come for a late lunch or an early dinner - and be prepared to come back another time if you encounter long lines and/or large crowds.  On the other hand, if you're with a bunch of friends or perhaps even your rather noisy children, this is a place where you can have a good time without being glared at.
• Sample some of the wonderful offerings from local breweries on tap.  Add a bowl of chowder and you have a perfect lunch.
• When your check comes, remember that you're in a restaurant occupying a prime waterfront location and offering live music in Boston, not an actual clam shack on the Maine coast.  Your bill is going to reflect that.  Prices are in line with other Boston seafood restaurants, especially when you consider the location and music.
• Relax, order another drink, enjoy your meal, and have a great time at the Barking Crab!

Details and Directions

Address: 88 Sleeper Street, South Boston Waterfront, near Seaport Boulevard, overlooking Fort Point Channel and Boston Harbor
Closest T station: Red Line/South Station
Meals served: Lunch, dinner
For more information: 617-426-2722; website