Fertile farmland and coastal waters bring an abundance of natural resources and flavor to Massachusetts. With a focus on fresh-caught seafood, the state’s cuisine is most notable for its lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried clams, oysters, and stuffed cod.
From modern surf-and-turf eateries and roadside clam shacks to historic food halls brimming with Americana flair, Massachusetts is home to dining experiences that will immerse your guests in the local culture of the state.
Union Oyster House in Boston transports guests back in time. Serving up fresh seafood dishes since 1826, this establishment is along the Freedom Trail, a 2 1/2-mile stretch of 16 historic sites. Groups can get a taste of fresh oysters served with house-made cocktail sauce while they gather in one of two rooms available for private functions: the Colonial Room for 50 people and the 37 Union room for 20.
Also on the historic front is Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall in Salem. Turner’s Seafood is best known for its Finnan Haddie, a house-smoked haddock baked in pearl onion au gratin sauce. The Lyceum Hall location (which is one of three Turner’s restaurants that include Rising Eagle and Melrose Grill & Market, in addition to its wholesale fishery and market) is also the old stomping grounds of President John Quincy Adams and the location of the first public demonstration of Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone.
Groups can gather in the hall’s two private dining rooms: The Loft for 40 seated and 50 cocktail-style or The Ballroom for 60 seated and 75 for a reception. Each space exudes historic charm through exposed brick, stately chandeliers, and restored wood flooring.
What started as a fish market and an adjacent grocery store in 1950 in the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge soon expanded to include a restaurant, Legal Sea Foods, in 1968. Its simply prepared fish—fried or broiled—was served on paper plates and enjoyed over communal picnic tables when it first opened. Today, in addition to sturdier plates, the restaurant has a more extensive menu that includes New England Clam Chowder and a half-pound Maine Lobster Roll. For a taste of global fare, Legal Sea Foods unveiled a Sushi & Sake program this past April, which offers specialty maki, nigiri, and sashimi with sake to pair.
Since the brand’s inception, Legal Sea Foods has grown to 25 locations along the Eastern Seaboard, with six in Boston. The Legal Sea Foods Boston-Harborside restaurant, near downtown, is the flagship location and is well-suited for gatherings with its expansive dining room on the first floor, private event space on the second floor, and two four-season lounges and decks overlooking Boston Harbor.
The third-floor rooftop is the main attraction with its retractable glass walls and roof, two decks, and space for up to 250 guests. The second-floor indoor event space can also accommodate 250 people for a reception and 130 for a seated dinner. “Generations of families have been visiting Legal Sea Foods and continue to share their celebrations at their favorite local Legal,” says Lisa Rosetti, regional director of private event sales with PPX Hospitality Brands, the parent company of Legal Sea Foods.
Head to Burlington to black & blue, an upscale dining experience that specializes in steak and crab. Although seafood is a notable delicacy, the restaurant is also known for its delectable cuts of beef. The featured steak is Black Angus beef from Midwestern corn-fed cattle, which is then wet-aged in-house for 21 to 28 days to ensure maximum tenderness. True to the restaurant’s name, the steaks are broiled at 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit to create a mouthwatering char and unmistakable black-and-blue coloring. “The high temperature creates a fantastic caramelization on the outside of the steak, giving it that classic black-and-blue, or Pittsburgh-style, preparation,” notes Zac Manning, the corporate trainer for black & blue.
Aside from its array of juicy steaks and fresh-cracked crab, the restaurant also allows planners to book the Club Room for up to 34 guests. Or, for a more intimate gathering, the Board Room can host 14 people around its long, wood farm-style table.
The Clam Box of Ipswich
Located 30 miles north of Boston, The Clam Box of Ipswich, in a giant to-go-box-inspired building, has been serving up fried clams seasonally since 1935. The restaurant is open from March through December. In addition to the aforementioned clams, it offers fried seafood options including calamari, haddock, shrimp, and scallops, and many additional dishes like lobster rolls, tuna rolls, burgers, and chicken sandwiches.