Boston: Legal

Let's Eat by Kitty Kaufman, photos by Dilusha De Tissera

Come to Boston, eat fish. In Cambridge, Legal is in Kendall Square. In Boston, seek out the Legal that's in Copley Place (near Barneys) because you can nearly always get seated. Don't confuse it with the other Legal in the Prudential Center which used to be at the top of the escalator on Boylston Street. It is gone. Copley Place is connected to the Prudential Mall and since there are two malls, there are two Legals. Now, just one.

Friday nights the bar is crowded. They used to offer oysters for a buck at the bar.

Legal shrimp fried

We're partial to the grilled bluefish and the rainbow trout which have gone up some since we started liking them. The sides: seaweed salad, jalapeño cheddar polenta and rice pilaf stand out from the field of regular fries, strings and slaw. The trout is thin and we had it without extras (Cajun, red onion, Shandong, béarnaise); it is marvelous and so is the bluefish. The wine list is extensive.

Legal clams baked

Legal has a gluten-free menu with a mere 13-line disclaimer which I didn't know about until I went online. (When you say you're allergic, it's a thing and the manager delivers your plate.)

We never leave room for dessert but this time we did because they pair them with Ports. We vote for Key lime pie and bon bons. While three bon bons are enough for two, have your own piece of pie. Service is attentive and especially friendly at the bar. At Kendall when you're lucky, there's street parking. At Copley, they validate parking so three hours ends up instead of a million bucks. Here's hoping you can still squeeze into those fitting rooms at Barneys. It's gone too.

Legal at Kendall Square, Cambridge
5 Cambridge Center
617. 864. 3400
© November 6, 2012 for One for the Table

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Kitty@corp-edge.com

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