Barking Crab Restaurant

Barking Crab RestaurantBarking Crab Restaurant
Barking Crab RestaurantBarking Crab Restaurant
Bar, Eatery

88 Sleeper St
Boston, Massachusetts, 02210-1226
United States

(617) 426-CRAB | map
barkingcrab.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.52
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
27
pDev:
13.64%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Shellynix:
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Rated by Shellynix from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25

Mar 06, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.74 by Arg914 from New York

Dec 20, 2019
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Reviewed by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Tried going here with a friend of mine who is a Lobster Roll junkie a few times but they always seemed to be closed. This weekend we finally got there during a time they were open and had some lunch. The draft selection is mostly MA local stuff which is kinda cool I guess. The food and service were good as well. It’s a decent spot.
Feb 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jun 03, 2017
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Reviewed by NeoClassicist from New York

3.93/5  rDev +11.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I've been here many times over. The food is excellent, big oysters, fresh fish, not a bad pick on the menu.

As the Waterfront changes, the Barking Crab becomes more and more of an anomaly - a 'dive bar' in what is now a very happening neighborhood. Here, you still sit next to strangers at communal benches, eat with plastic utensils, and grab paper napkins from a bucket. Your drinks are served in disposable plastic cups. The food makes up for this, and then some.

The beer selection fills a page, and when something runs out, your server is helpful and guides you towards something you'll like.

This is a great old fashioned kind of place.
Oct 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.23 by glinnebur from Arizona

Aug 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by snowmageddon from Massachusetts

Jun 07, 2015
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Rated by MPT2386

4.5/5  rDev +27.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 5
No waiter in the patio.
May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by lemmy187 from Missouri

Apr 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.83 by TBonez477 from Vermont

Apr 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.33 by bcm75 from Illinois

Apr 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.6 by VineyardBeer from Massachusetts

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by harsley from Massachusetts

Sep 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by StrayteEDGE from Massachusetts

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.8 by Dirtywaltzer80 from Australia

Sep 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by etmur007 from Maine

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by jwps214 from Massachusetts

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Rhf9120 from Rhode Island

Jan 06, 2014
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Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

3.06/5  rDev -13.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3
I had a friend visiting from DC and we decided to stop at The Barking Crab for a few pints on this hot summer day. The scene here is that of a clam shack with a huge red and yellow tent, community seating at picnic tables and simply put, a haven for tourists and people visiting from out of down. I think the best thing about this place is the location right on the water. That is what makes this place "unique", because unfortunately I can't think of too many other places in Boston that have such a cool waterfront atmosphere.

The vibe is casual and it gets packed with a consistent flow of customers. We didn't have any food because we had lunch about an hour before, but everything looked good. Prices seemed on the high side though.

As far as beer goes, I counted 12 draft beers worth mentioning. You can order pitchers here too, which is always good. Selections included Cisco Sankaty Light, Ipswich Ale, Widmer Drifter Ale, Sam Adams Lager, Magic Hat #9, Fisherman's seasonal, Harpoon IPA, UFO and Summer Ale. The Barking Crab is clearly not a beer destination, but a nice place to chill close to the water and sip a craft beer.
Aug 02, 2009
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Reviewed by acme401 from Massachusetts

2.1/5  rDev -40.3%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1 | service: 4 | selection: 2 | food: 1
Oh Barking Crab, why do you have to be the only place on the water to have a drink that is not a hotel bar? Why does your food have to suck so bad? And who the hell voted your Clam Chowder Best of Boston in 2005? It's so frustrating when the weather turns nice and we can finally sit outside and have an afternoon drink in the sun, and we have to go to the BC. I really wanted to like this place but the food is terrible. How do they screw up something like Peal N' Eat Shrimp? I've had them twice and each time they tasted strange and I didn't finish them. The Calamari is always soggy and bland and the aforementioned Chowder is a watery mess.

I will give props to your bartenders. When the deck is packed I never have to wait for a drink. Those guys and girls work their butts off. They sometimes have some interesting local beers on tab, but the bottled beers are lacking. Last night my wife ordered an Amstel and I had to send it back because the bottle was COVERED in slime.
Aug 22, 2008
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Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
The Barking Crab is basically a big tent with a bunch of picnic tables underneath it. That said, it's right on the water, and has a decent selection of beers and lots of seafood. I stopped in here on Tuesday night with some co-workers. They had a live musician, and the Sox game on a projection screen. The waitresses come right to your table, so that is handy. They have 10 taps or so, with a few Sams and Harpoons, and Ipswich and Allagash too. Bottled beers are run of the mill, with a DFH seasonal being the best choice. Overall, it's a fun place to have some beers and be able to be outside, right on the water.
May 03, 2007
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Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon at The Barking Crab located just a stones throw from downtown on the water. Nice if you can get a seat over looking the water at night, but it's usually packed. Picnic, cape coddy type atmostphere with live music and a pretty decent sized bar. Beer selection wasn't that bad--better than it's been in the past. They had a good number of taps, 12 I remember counting. Draft selection was decent, some of which are mentioned by others below. It seems to be improving every time I go back though. Grabbed a pitcher of Harpoon #100 barrel series Bohemian Pilsener. $15 for the pitcher I believe. Perfect beer on a hot summers day. I enjoyed some calamari, which is supposed to be one of their best offerings. Quality of the beer and food was good--as usual.

Service was a bit slow and sluggish. Atmosphere of the place can get really fun, though not with the after work group or the touristy Sunday group. Defiantely a good place to check out for seafood and with an improving beer selection, may get better in time.
Aug 21, 2006
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Reviewed by mcowgill from Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Much to my surprise the Barking Crab has become somewhat of a beer bar. No longer is there just Harpoon, Sam Adams, Red Hook and Budweiser. I was shocked to see Ipswich Ale, Otter Creek Copper Ale, Allagash White, Endurance Ale, and a few others I can't remember. The location is great, especially for me because it's across the street from where I work. During the summer, it's a great place to hang out with friends and co-workers. I've never tried the food but plan to someday. The crowd is your typical sort of annoying after work bunch but with a better beer selection, I can see myself returning more often.
May 08, 2006
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Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
Saw this in the Beerfly and that there is not a recent review so I thought I would add one. Not much in the way of beer. Typical Boston beers on tap (Harpoon, etc) with some Redhook. But it wasn't on when I was there right after the bar exam to begin my decompression. Honestly, the reason is not to go for the beer (but the proximity to the Harpoon brewery is nice) but the food. If you like fried seafood or steamed lobster. Yummy! Prices are a bit high, but you're paying for location mostly. Right on the old Channel and all. Got some nice views of downtown Boston. In the warmer months they have a patio that is kind of beer garden-esque. Otherwise, you can eat insude and it is kind of kitchsy. Service is typical of a restaurant.
Sep 27, 2005
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Reviewed by CharlesRiver from Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
The first time that I went here was after a Harpoon Fest and we had a great time. They have about 12-14 beers on tap that are the Boston usuals. The beers are served in plastic cups and you sit on picnic tables. The food is good but expensive. This is a good place to bring people from out of town as they get to have seafood and sit on the water. Don't go for the the beer though.
Nov 22, 2002
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Reviewed by bewareOFpenguin from Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -14.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Tucked away on the waterfront, this is the place where the toilets were flushing into the lobster tank. It was a big laugh around town. The beer selection is ok, and I did get some food, although reluctantly. It did not taste like .... well anyways, if I am down around here I'm going to the Cigar bar at Rowe's Wharf.
Oct 03, 2002
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Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
A dive bar / restaurant that is nestled on the water right between the Financial District and the piers heading towards South Boston. Good seafood though the lobster is quite pricey at $19 a pound!! As for the beers, they serve the tap selection in cheap plastic cups and a little too cold at that. About 10-12 solid brews as well as PBR on tap, the bottled selection lacks totally. A great place to hangout, eat a ton of food and wash it down with cold beer.
Aug 25, 2002
Barking Crab Restaurant in Boston, MA
Place rating: 3.52 out of 5 with 27 ratings