Sail Loft Restaurant Reviews

Awesome place....came back for the 2nd time since 1993....and thank you Lord they were still here...

Went on a weeknight when I was in town on business. Best chowder I ve had in Boston, others feel the same way. Bowl serving size is good for a whole meal, and it s a large cup! The atmosphere had character, as did Steve (I think) who was the bartender, who provided great service, and you could tell this was a family owned restaurant - welcoming, hospitable, and professional. Great company as well in there, nice vibe, right on the water. It s a great place all around. The size of the restaurant is probably not perfect for huge groups without calling ahead, but I think great for the restaurant itself because it is conducive to conversation with others. Try them out!

Food is very good but the service was pathetic. We were told to wait an hour when the place was half empty. The front staff could learn some manners dealing with (and attracting) customers.

Nice place delicious food and above all at a good price, do not forget to try the clam chowder.

Best chowder in town but you do have to like dill. Very nice ambience and it's right on the water so you get great views.

Historic little place that has been around for a long time and I'm so glad it survived Covid. Been coming for years and always get excellent food and service.

Best seafood around at reasonable prices -- and I strongly suggest you get some form of fish.

It's a short walk from Faneuil Hall so if you're a tourist looking for a great food at a one-off, local establishment without paying tourist prices, this is the place to be.

Excellent..food, staff, and management..great views
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Great food and great service. The Famous clam chowder is a meal by itself. A good place for lunch or dinner.

Large portions. At lunch time it s the turn. Toilets are dirty

Nice place and nice staff, prices are correct but I am a bit disapointed by the food. Lobster and mussels were good, but just served with melted butter. A nice dressing could be perfect for the plate.

Great place, good prices and good food. Pretty much everything we ordered was good. Lobster was.a little hard, but everything was freshly made.

Loved this place. Excellent service, lively atmosphere, amazing food. I'm planning my next visit to get more of that chowder!

Very casual seafood joint by the harbor. It gives out kind of your friendly neighborhood diner vibe. Huge portions here - each order can easily feed two. Clam chowder is thick and creamy, and it almost makes a meal all in itself! Speedy service and super friendly staffs who are extremely helpful and accommodating (he even offered to split the bill for our table of 9 by items ordered at the end of the meal). The prices are also very reasonable. If definitely come back when I'm in town again.

The service at the restaurant was phenomenal. The view was also amazing. It was nice to look over the water and watch out for fish that would pop out. I'm pretty sure we saw a bass. It was pretty big. We ordered clam chowder, the sampler or combo platter appetizer, the fish and chips, lobster mac and cheese, lobster roll. The clam chowder was so creamy. The chunks of clam and potatoes were just perfect.

Delicious food, great prices, wonderful staff. I would highly recommend and would return.

The best place I've ever had a lobster roll and chowder. Curious to see if I can order the chowder to another state actually...

Lobsters were super tasty! Nice location next to the water.
Cool vibe and not crazy expansive menu.

Great local watering hole. Good service and food!

This was the best clam chowda I had this trip to Boston.

Very good clam chowder and the fish and chips were good too. Tartar sauce was a little sweet and the coleslaw had raisins in it. Nice view of the harbor too.

Staff was cool even though the place was packed they just se to make it all work

The food here was kind of ho hum, but the service was really great and friendly.

The atmosphere was great here but the food let the experience down. I had the clam chowder to start, which was okay but very heavy and so I couldn't finish it. I then went with the jumbo shrimp and lobster pasta special for the main. The seafood actually didn't taste of much (and shrimp is one of my favourite foods). Wouldn't go out of my way to visit. Staff were very nice.

Reading the reviews I was thrilled that we got a table without much waiting. Service is nice but not attentive (water has never been refilled nor being asked if we want anything): very brief how is the food but by the time you would say more than good they are gone.
Aesthetically the food is beautiful, it looks great but it just tastes okay. Maybe it is just the look: you expect something spectacular; and then that is not coming, so you are disappointed... Maybe, but that's for sure all of us felt the food is bland and you would need more salt and/or pepper etc.
The restroom is clean and in the very back without any stairs.
There is a little waiting area open to the bay with serving window to the bar - that I found pretty cool.
We were walking from the aquarium so not sure about parking but it's Boston...
Basically the 3 star is for the location and for the staff, your taste buds will be missing out.

Nice food good service. Not the cheapest. Standard selection of Boston beers. Sea food options are the best obviously.

Omg everything I ate here was incredible. The clam chowder was hands down best clam chowder EVERRR!!! Just what I wanted to see, eat and do for my quick Boston visit.

Friendly staff and great food. Large, tasty portions. I highly recommend the calamari salad.

Authentic food! Delicious food - unfortunately the smell of the kitchen remains in the subsequent memory. At the latest in the hotel elevator one notices that one smells something after snack booth. Who does not mind - is at home here.

Flew into Boston tonight and the restaurant was our first stop - the Chowder is the best we have ever had (has dill in the mix which really made it flavorful) and the price is definitely great for the portion served! Much better than higher priced best of Boston chowders! The Fish & Chips and the Lobster Ravilio are must tries when dining there!

This is a must go to place when visiting Boston! Thank you for a great and memorable meal!

Great theme, great veiw, and great clam chowder. Whether you're visiting the area, or have already been here before, it's still pretty great

where to begin we walked here for the nearest train station Aquarium and where told we would have to wait an hour for food. we decided to wait outside within 24 mins the had room for us we ordered 2 bowls of clam chowder and there tex mex nachos bith where awesome dishes i would recommend to anyone. The customer service was warm and friendly will be back on future trips to Boston. All in all i cant be more pleased with my time spent here.

The Boston Sail Loft has amazing food and staff. My daughter and I went here after graduation for brunch. The clam chower was so delicious and the spicy popcorn shrimp was delicately battered and fried to perfection. But back to this clam chowder....its was seasoned very well, the clams and potato were tender and the chowder was a perfect consistency. What I really loved about this entire experience is how the owner was very personable. He invited us in, helped with seating and also wanted to know if we were enjoying our overall experience. If you want a great cup or bowl of clam chowder while enjoying an ocean view, and great atmosphere, this is the best restaurant in Boston to make that happen.

Lobster roll was a daily special. It was ecxellent!!

We came hungry, we left very very happy and full. Recommend the calamari

A confused and clumsy menu tries to marry Boston Harbor seafood with dive bar burgers and pub chicken and wings. It's doesn't really work. There is no particular theme here. The restaurant seems to want to be a seafood joint, but the seafood options are limited and the waitresses recommend the chicken.

The chowder was passable but the thickness surpassed soup into the land of cement and paste. The lobster roll special was better, featuring good hunks of lobster.

The galley / bullet diner layout is cumbersome and devoid of character. I feel like I'm in my grandmother's kitchen in Brooklyn. The beer selection is horrid. This is supposed to be a bar? Featured beer: Bud and Coors. Yippee.

Service is excellent. Otherwise, this would be one star.

The calamari is not good, but the buffalo wings & cajun shrimp were amazing!

After spending a few days in Boston, my husband and I were on the hunt for a great seafood restaurant. we stumbled across the Boston Sail Loft and the last thing we were was disappointed. Our server, Meg, was amazing, she recommended the perfect bottle of wine to pair with the mussels, lobster roll, and lobster mac and cheese we were going to order. She was so friendly and knowledgeable about where the seafood came from and was just so genuinely kind. Our meal was outstanding and if we weren't leaving the next morning we would for sure have come back. I cant say enough about how great everything was at the Boston Sail Loft and we will be recommending it to everyone we know travelling to Boston!

Must stop for those visiting Boston and visiting the seaport. Best clam chowdah in Boston.

Great food service & atmosphere. Beautiful location too.

The food was excellent, and the service very friendly and accommodating. We had the pleasure of interacting with the owner who was very amicable. We had one day in Boston and chose this restaurant to dine for lunch. We wouldn t take that decision back!

The fresh seafood was delicious.!!! I have no pics to post

Delicious! Not only was all the staff amazing but the food was so good. Seriously they were so welcoming and attentive. The lobster mac and cheese is to die for! The clam chowder is out of this world! Can't wait to go again!

Dropped in for a drink, fun place on the water, worth a visit if you are in Boston's north end.

I didn't like it too noisy not a good place for tourists but the staff (girls) are very good looking and nice

Friendly staff, and a good location for having a meal with friends and exploring the North End afterwards.

We had a party of 10. Staff were very attentive. Clam chowder is not to be missed! Scallops were perfectly cooked. Best seafood on our trip to Boston!

After reviewing all the good reviews, we were very excited about going to Boston Sail Loft. Our experience was different and we were not satisfied with our lunch.
We ordered a burger and a salad and neither dish was prepared well. The burger was supposed to be medium but we got it well done and the salad did not have all the ingredients listed in the menu. I ordered fresh spinach salad which is supposed to have bacon it in. Not only was it missing from my plate but also the server was not familiar with the menu. If there were many dishes listed, this would be fine but I would expect the staff to be somewhat familiar with the dishes when asked about them. The menu lists hard boiled egg as one of the elements of the salad. It is just a half of the egg which is quite disappointing.
Overall, we would recommend choosing a different restaurant in the area for a much better overall dining experience.

I always like it. While it isn't my first choice for kids, the staff makes an effort if kids come in.

Clam chowder was incredible! Menu is traditional Boston comfort food. Portion size will have rolling out the door, not walking through it ;)

Good fish in the fish and chips. Could've used more fish and less chips.

Delicious lunch in a quintessential Boston setting.

Truly the best New England clam chowder in Boston!

You get the real dockyard experience here. From the views of the pier to the old photos on the walls showing some of the piers history. They get quite busy here but the food service is superb and they really get your food out quick.

I ordered the best fish and chips along with the clam chowder while my wife ordered the lobster and seafood pasta. The fish was super tender and it overly greasy. The chips were the perfect mix of potato and crunch. The lobster tender and the sauce delicious.

Great place to get a view and dinner.

The best chowder! I had one of their daily specials and it was great too!

Quite possible THE BEST fries I have ever eaten!! The fish of the fish and chips was also delicious, nice and crispy! And they are small pieces, which made it easier to eat. The chili had a nice flavor, a little spicy, but too onion-y and tomato-y for my taste (I m super picky, so I m not marking them down for it!!). The lobster was also AMAZING!! Just excellent flavor.

nice, casual spot with views over the water. I had a cup of the chowder which was yum. their tea options are hot or cold. free wifi available too.

Great informal setting, full of local sailors and downtown goers. Friendly staff and really good food. I've been there after sailing or on a date. You can't go wrong.

Most unbelievable clam chowder I have had in years. It is so creamy and fluffy; perfectly thickened and light. The drill was perfect in ot and not at all overpowering. We loved the soup so much we returned the next night for more. They also serve Harpoon on draft.

Great view of harbour with charming locals to chat up, delicious chowder!

Manny the manager takes food allergies seriously and was a great communicator.

Lobster roll and lobster mac and cheese. Can't miss it

Excellent lobster rolls and assorted fried seafood apps. Their chowder is a unique take on the classic. Be warned/prepared/excited (depending how you feel about people changing classics) this chowder is VERY thick (something I didn't mind but a fellow guest didn't care for) and is heavily seasoned with dill. Like a lot of dill. Also, in my opinion, a nice take on this soup and I enjoyed it. I don't remember if the menu listed dill as a primary ingredient here (I don't think so) so if you don't like dill you'd be unpleasantly surprised but if dill is your jam I highly suggest you give this chowder a try!

We weren't seated more than 5 minutes before the waitress came to take our definitely order. While that was being filled, we choose our lunch items and turned that request in when drinks came back. Not more than 10 minutes later,. Our food arrived and was absolutely wonderful. I would recommend the Boston Sail Loft to anyone.

Good place for seafood, everything is fried. Right on the water, good prices.

Overpriced for what you get. Fish was overcooked but the chowder was delicious.

If you enjoy seafood and looking at the water, this is the place for you.

Best clam chowder...EVER. Mussels are amazing too, as is the service. This is the only place I take visitors from out of town to eat New England seafood when they come to Boston.

Must visit for their over flowing cup of clam chowder !!

Situated on a water front this place is sitting on water and has a cozy hut feel. if you want to enjoy something diff than touristy large franchise resto, this may be a good option for you.

Very good meal, efficient and attentive service. I loved the lobster rolls

The sail loft is a must for any visit to Boston. The prices are perfect for the portions. The fish sandwich was incredibly generous in size, and the fish and chips were light, flaky, and delicious. Service was excellent, and was treated very warmly from start to finish. We will be returning soon!

Great food that wasn't greasy and salted to the max. Excellent, friendly service that was fast and very efficient and Alex was fantastic.