Legal Seafoods at Liberty Wharf looks to open in March

Boston.com
Restaurants
Update: Legal in the Seaport District
Posted by Devra First September 29, 2010 03:50 PM

Globe Staff Photo/David L. Ryan

A three-floor Legal Sea Foods will be part of the new Liberty Wharf complex.

This morning, Legal Sea Foods honcho Roger Berkowitz filled me in on what's happening with the flagship restaurant, slated to open in the Liberty Wharf complex at the old Jimmy's Harborside location.

The restaurant is about 65 percent ready, he says. It currently looks as though it will open in March. Even with further delays, this means we're likely to have another waterfront spot to enjoy next summer.

Berkowitz says this Legal will be "radically different" than others. There will still be plenty of seafood, of course, but "in terms of presentation, it will be unlike anything we are currently doing," he says. There will be three floors. The first one will be more of a marketplace, featuring a fresh fish counter, prepared foods, takeout, and an oyster bar. The setting will be casual and the offerings affordable, Berkowitz says. "It's a throwback or a nod to our roots in Inman Square, without the sawdust."

The second floor will be more upscale, "a hair more formal than a traditional Legal," Berkowitz says. There will be a bit more meat than on Legal's current menus, and unusual seafood not typically seen on Boston menus. "The second floor is our way of showcasing what we do as a seafood company, pulling out some of the stops in terms of the uniqueness of some of the products offered." It will be slightly more expensive than the usual Legals. And, Berkowitz adds tantalizingly, "the wine list is going to be unique. I can't tell you about it, but it will be unlike anything offered in the country."

The third floor will be a rooftop deck. Like a beer garden with fish? No, says Berkowitz, laughing. "I won't go beer garden. Hopefully it has a different feel."

It will be very interesting to see the end results, because they will say a lot about what Legal Sea Foods currently is and wants to be. "We want this in some ways to define what we do," Berkowitz says.