Legal Sea Foods facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Cambridge, Massachusetts, fish market (1950); restaurant (1968) |
| Founder | George Berkowitz |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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Number of locations
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26 (2023) |
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Area served
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Eastern Seaboard |
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Key people
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Matt King, President & COO |
| Products | seafood |
| Brands |
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| Services | Hospitality |
| Revenue | US$200 million (2020) |
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Number of employees
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3,500 (2020) |
Legal Sea Foods is an American restaurant chain that serves seafood in a relaxed setting. Most of its restaurants are found in the northeastern part of the United States.
The company's main office is in the South Boston Seaport District. As of 2022, Legal Sea Foods runs 25 restaurants in five states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Many of these are in the Greater Boston area. The restaurants serve more than 7 million customers each year.
Legal Sea Foods also has an online fish market. They ship fresh fish to any state in the contiguous United States. They also sell their own retail products.
Over the years, Legal Sea Foods has tried different kinds of restaurants. These include Legal Test Kitchen, Legal C Bar, and Legal Harborside.
Legal Sea Foods has a famous saying: "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal!"
In December 2020, the restaurant part of the business was sold. It was bought by PPX Hospitality Brands, a company based in Massachusetts.
George Berkowitz, who started Legal Sea Foods, passed away on February 20, 2022. He was 97 years old.
Contents
History of Legal Sea Foods
How it Started
In 1904, Harry Berkowitz opened a grocery store called "Legal Cash Market." It was in the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The store got its name from "Legal Stamps," which were like loyalty points given to customers. This store helped Harry and his family until the late 1940s. At that time, bigger grocery chains started to compete.
In 1950, Harry's son, George Berkowitz, opened a fish market next to his father's store. He called it Legal Sea Foods. This helped the grocery business by offering fresh fish. In the early 1950s, the market sold fresh fish and fish and chips that customers could take to-go.
In 1968, the Berkowitz family opened a restaurant in the space next door. They served simple dishes like fish and chips, fried clams, and fried shrimp. Customers ate on paper plates at picnic tables.
In 1975, the restaurant grew and opened a more traditional location in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The first restaurant in Inman Square was destroyed in a fire on January 18, 1980. With help from his sons, Marc and Roger, George opened a new main restaurant in the Boston Park Plaza that same year.
The 1980s and 1990s
At the first inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1981, Legal Sea Foods' fish chowder was chosen to represent Massachusetts. It has been served at every presidential inauguration since then. Also in 1981, the restaurant created one of the first centers to check the quality of fish.
In 1986, NBC's Today Show named Legal Sea Foods the "Best Seafood Restaurant in America."
In 1990, the restaurant worked with the United States Department of Commerce. They helped create important safety rules for handling fish and keeping food fresh.
In 1992, Roger Berkowitz, George's son, became the CEO of the family business. Roger had worked there since he was ten years old. He became the company's spokesperson and voiced many of their radio commercials.
In 1994, Food Arts Magazine gave George and Roger Berkowitz an award for their great work. That same year, Legal Sea Foods opened its first airport restaurant at Logan International Airport. Later, they opened another at Philadelphia International Airport. Also in 1994, they invited chefs from China to add Asian cuisine to their menu. Some dishes from this event are still served today.
At Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, fans in New Orleans were served New England clam chowder from Legal Sea Foods.
In 1998, Bon Appétit magazine called Legal Sea Foods one of the Top Ten Tried and True restaurants in America.
The 2000s and 2010s
In 2000, the American Institute of Food and Wine celebrated Legal Sea Foods' 50th birthday. Famous chefs like Julia Child attended. The CBS news program, Eye on America, showed a segment on Legal Sea Foods' food safety program.
In 2003, Legal Sea Foods was one of the first American restaurants to stop using trans-fat. A new cookbook, "The New Legal Sea Foods Cookbook," was also published that year.
In 2005, a new type of restaurant, Legal Test Kitchen (LTK), was introduced. Its menu had more non-seafood items and lower prices. Also in 2005, Legal Sea Foods started offering gluten-free options for people with celiac disease.
In 2008, Parents magazine named Legal Sea Foods one of the ten best family-friendly restaurant chains.
In 2009, Legal C Bar opened in Dedham, Massachusetts. It focused on casual seafood and special drinks.
In 2011, Legal Sea Foods opened its new main restaurant, Legal Harborside, on the Boston waterfront. Esquire magazine named it "Best New Restaurant."
In 2013, Legal Sea Foods announced a new restaurant called Legal Crossing (LXI) in Downtown Crossing, Boston.
On February 22, 2014, a carbon monoxide leak happened at a Legal Sea Foods restaurant in New York. The manager died, and 27 others became sick. The leak was caused by a faulty pipe connected to a water heater. Roger Berkowitz, the CEO, said the company would install carbon monoxide detectors in all locations. He also promised to support laws requiring these detectors in commercial buildings.
In April 2017, Legal Fish Bowl opened in Kendall Square. This was a fast-casual place that offered six special poke bowls. Customers could also create their own.
In 2018, the company opened Legal Sea Bar in Washington, DC. This concept focused more on the bar.
In 2019, Legal Sea Foods started working with Stonewall Kitchen, a food maker from Maine. They created a line of sauces and dressings called "Legal Sea Foods by Stonewall Kitchen."
The 2020s and Recent Changes
In January 2020, Legal Sea Foods announced a partnership with RLJ Companies. This aimed to open more Legal Sea Foods restaurants in major airports across the United States.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Legal Sea Foods closed all its locations for indoor dining. They had 33 restaurants and 3,500 employees. During the summer, 18 larger locations in the Boston area slowly reopened. In December 2020, the restaurant part of the business was sold to PPX Hospitality Brands. Roger Berkowitz kept control of the online and retail sales using the Legal Sea Foods name. PPX became the new owner of the restaurants and the Quality Control Center.
In 2021, PPX worked with DoorDash to open two Legal Sea Foods dark kitchens. These kitchens prepare food only for delivery, helping the brand reach more customers.
Sustainability Efforts
Legal Sea Foods cares about where its fish comes from. CEO Roger Berkowitz has talked about how important it is to get fish from places that support healthy fish populations. He mentioned that some chefs might not know which fish are truly sustainable.
Legal Sea Foods makes sure to source fish responsibly. For example, they do not serve Chilean Sea-bass because it is an overfished species. Even if it could be sourced sustainably, they avoid it to show their commitment to protecting ocean life.
The company also uses "top catch" fishing methods. This means fish are not brought onto the boat until it is docked. They also get fish from "day boats," which are fishermen who go out and return the same day.
Legal Sea Foods only serves fish that meet the guidelines of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These are considered sustainable species by the government.
Restaurant Locations
As of April 2023, Legal Sea Foods has 23 restaurants in 5 states.
| Location | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Copley Place | Boston | MA |
| Downtown Crossing | Boston | MA |
| Harborside | Boston | MA |
| Logan Airport Terminal A | Boston | MA |
| Logan Airport Terminal B | Boston | MA |
| Logan Airport Terminal B Connector | Boston | MA |
| Logan Airport Terminal E | Boston | MA |
| Long Wharf | Boston | MA |
| Park Square | Boston | MA |
| Forbes Road | Braintree | MA |
| Burlington Mall | Burlington | MA |
| Kendall Square | Cambridge | MA |
| The Street | Chestnut Hill | MA |
| Legacy Place | Dedham | MA |
| Route 9 | Framingham | MA |
| Derby Street Shops | Hingham | MA |
| MarketStreet | Lynnfield | MA |
| Northshore Mall | Peabody | MA |
| Assembly Row | Somerville | MA |
| Reagan National Airport | Arlington | VA |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | VA |
| The Mall at Short Hills | Short Hills | NJ |
| Garden City Center | Cranston | RI |
What's on the Menu
The menus at Legal Sea Foods change based on the location and the season. They offer many seafood main dishes, appetizers, salads, and desserts. More than 40 types of fresh fish and shellfish are served throughout the year. These are prepared in the traditional New England style.
Some popular items include lobster, clam chowder, fried clams, crab cakes, and grilled fish fillets. All locations also have many wines and full-service bars. The restaurant offers separate lunch and dinner menus, gluten-free options, and a special menu for kids.
Legal Sea Foods buys fish directly from "day boat" fishing operations. This helps them offer the freshest fish. The company has also made big improvements in how fish is handled. They have worked with government agencies to create safety standards for food.
In the Media and Awards
Bon Appétit magazine has called a meal at Legal Sea Foods one of America's "Top Ten Tried-and-True" dining experiences. Legal Sea Foods is also mentioned in Patricia Schultz's popular travel guide, "1,000 Places to See Before You Die".
In January 2011, Legal Sea Foods hosted a dinner that featured fish species that some groups said should be avoided. Roger Berkowitz, the CEO, stated that some of the science about sustainable fishing was "flawed." While some environmental groups criticized this, others, including some media, praised it. Fishermen from Gloucester supported the choice to use local fish.
Awards and Recognition
Legal Sea Foods has received many awards, including:
- "100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America" for Legal Harborside by OpenTable (2019, 2018)
- "Best Clam Chowder" by Boston Magazine (2017, 2011, 2010)
- Roger Berkowitz received the Who’s Who in Food & Beverage in America, James Beard Award (2017)
- Best Seafood Restaurant by USA Today (2013)
- Boston's Most Popular Restaurant by Zagat (every year since 2003)
- Most Admired Restaurant by Boston Business Journal (2013 and 2012)
- Best Classy Restaurant for Kids in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine (2013)
- Best New Restaurants for Legal Harborside by Esquire magazine (2011)
- Listed in "1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List" by Patricia Schultz
- Legal Sea Foods clam chowder has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981.
Images for kids
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Legal Sea Foods logo
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Legal Sea Foods Quality Control Center and corporate headquarters as seen from Boston Harbor (2017).
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The Legal Harborside first floor dining room at their restaurant in the South Boston Waterfront.
