A big thanks to guest blogger Jerel Calzo for capturing this month’s RC fun. And a big welcome to our newest RC members, Tracy and Lorelei!
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| Julie, Kendrin, and Kim Photo credit: Jerel Calzo |
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| Claire, Tracy, and Jerel Photo credit: Jerel Calzo (?) |
By default (i.e., I was the one to start taking pictures, and I was one of the least inebriated of the six… at least at the start), I was put in charge of writing up the RC review of The Barking Crab — that lovely waterfront seafood restaurant in Fort Point with a red and yellow circus tent canopy. You know, the one that everyone has walked by but nobody has been to (at least to eat)? Okay, that last line sounded negative. Rest assured, we had a good time, although I think the ultimate verdict was that this place relies a lot on being a Boston institution, rather than a seafood destination. Nevertheless, the place was very Boston-y, and a fabulous “last” restaurant pick for Kendrin! Also, we welcomed Tracy to her first RC!
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| Classic lobster roll Photo credit: Jerel Calzo |
It was a balmy summer evening. Kendrin and I arrived early and chose to sit on the patio because we wanted the full experience. We ordered a sauvignon blanc and a Dark and Stormy (which was a little too watered down for my taste… but it was cold. Yay!). We didn’t know when the others would arrive, so we also ordered oyster shooters. The only oyster shooter I had enjoyed previously was at Union Oyster house, where the oyster was featured prominently and was dressed with just a splash of cocktail sauce and vodka. We were quite surprised when we received our order, which consisted of a half cup of cocktail sauce (that’s a slight exaggeration), a splash of vodka, and a tiny oyster that was pretty much invisible, unless you lifted the cup up to see it resting on the bottom. The other RC’ers arrived and ordered some shooters of their own. Kendrin and I took ours and spent the first few seconds gulping down a briny, pulpy mixture of cocktail sauce and vodka. I don’t think we even noticed the oyster. The Barking Crab needs to get its proportions right! The others wisely dumped half of their cocktailicious shooters into an empty cup before enjoying theirs. With regards to other bar options, the sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio were ordered in seconds and thirds. Julie and I were fans of the Spiked Arnold Palmer. A dangerous drink, that was.
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| Naked lobster roll Photo credit: Jerel Calzo |
We ordered steamers, crab legs (bairdi and king legs), and Hot Crab Dip to start. The dip was tasty and the steamers were delightful, “foreskins” and all. The server praised the bairdi legs (probably because they were the most expensive). Overall, I think we favored the bairdi legs, although Tracy cracked one open and didn’t find any meat.
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| Scallop and shrimp kebab Photo credit: Jerel Calzo |
Between the six of us we only ordered three of the entrees: classic lobster roll (served cold), “naked” lobster roll (served warm, with lots of melted butter), and the scallop and shrimp kebab. We also ordered a side of onion rings (good call, Claire!) and a dozen oysters (great order, Tracy!) to share. The onion rings and oysters were winners. Kim wasn’t 100% thrilled with the kebab, noting that the scallops were overcooked (unforgiveable!). We all agreed that the lobster in the rolls was delicious… mmm, yummy, giant chunks of lobster meat. The “naked” roll was the better of the two — its sweetness complemented the thick piece of Texas toast…the classic lobster preparation just made the Texas toast seem overwhelming. To put things into perspective, the pickle on the side was the most sterling of the flavors on the classic lobster plate.
We didn’t opt for dessert, but felt like we had enough to eat. The damage was $105/head. Definitely the most expensive restaurant club I’ve been to, but we also had a lot to drink. We all agreed that it was worth the ambiance, and we certainly had a great time chatting. Seems like an excellent place for big groups. The nighttime view of the Boston waterfront is spectacular, yet the random décor (Christmas lights, miscellaneous nautical items, and the storage of kitchen and bathroom items… in plain view) will help you take yourself and a night out less seriously.
The damage
$105 per person
The rundown
Barking Crab
88 Sleeper Street, Boston
@barkingcrab
Kara Cooks and Eats 