Boston Sail Loft
Cup of Chowder at Boston Sail Loft
On my most recent trip to Boston, I stopped off at Boston Sail Loft before flying back to Charlotte. This place is located in the North End, just a few blocks from where I used to live, and is one of my staple restaurants for a low-key meal.
Quintessential Seafood Shack
The atmosphere here is zero frills; it reminds me of a quintessential New England seafood shack. It hits all the buttons. First, the building is weathered stick and shingle. Second, it overlooks the water. Third, the interior is all wood (floor, ceiling, walls, chairs, tables, everything) with exposed pipes. There is nothing fancy about what is served or how the food is plated. It all adds to the charm and nostalgia of a place like this. If you know, you know.
Classic in every way
Boston Sail Loft has my favorite chowder in the city, hands down. It’s a classic New England clam chowder, made with a very thick cream base. They throw in some dill, fresh clams, potatoes, and let you top it off with oyster crackers. I’ll warn you: you MUST like dill to enjoy this chowder. But if you do, it’s phenomenal.
Bonus: I also just found out they’ve started shipping their chowder nationwide, so I’m about to become their #1 customer. For real.
Making my visit count
Obviously, given it’s my favorite chowder in the city, I ordered a cup, but I didn’t--couldn’t--stop there. My trip to Boston was short, so I had to make it count: I ordered two entrees, ate half of each in the restaurant and the other half of each on my flight. That’s how much I love this place.
Here’s what I got:
Lobster Roll - A classic New England lobster roll, chilled and covered with a light coating of mayo. HUGE chunks of fresh lobster. It was nice and sweet, despite it being claw meat. Regardless of the mix, the lobster salad was great. It had just the right amount of mayo. The bun was lightly buttered and perfectly toasted, and the whole thing was served with thick, crispy, steak-like fries.
Mixed Seafood Plate - I ordered fried scallops and fried calamari. Both were super tender and perfectly cooked. The flavor of the seafood really came through nicely; the scallops in particular were so sweet and juicy! The batter was light and crispy, and didn’t retain the grease, so it sat much lighter than most fried seafood. Perfect! The tartar sauce was great with it too, gave everything a boost.
No surprise; I love this place!
Overall, I give Boston Sail Loft a 9.5/10, which probably isn’t a shock if you’ve read this far. It’s super casual, with great food and friendly service. Definitely add it to your list next time you’re in Boston—I bet you’ll love it!
