From ages three {fact check that Mom?} through eighteen–when I moved here officially–my family would visit Massachusetts for the month of August, and I’d get to spend one glorious, sweaty, touristy, adventure-packed day in Boston. Virtually all of my memories are stuck along the Waterfront, somewhere between Christopher Columbus Park and The Children’s Museum. I don’t think we ever made it south of the Public Garden, or west of the MFA.

This is a rambling {and I’m not through yet} makes-more-sense-in-my-head back story to get to the point of one of my favorite childhood restaurants being the waterfront Joe’s. And that it stayed for long after. Now I have memories of ordering burgers at 11pm in the years I lived in the North End. Hunkering down at its bar during a 2-hour 4th of July rainstorm. Eating there for a pre-Christmas dinner with my college roommates because it was the fanciest place we could afford at 21.

I’m not alone; there’s no denying that this restaurant has earned a reputation as a local classic. But classics can grow: Joe’s recently opened Top Catch Boston above its waterfront location, and game. changer.

It’s seafood on another level, literally {har har har}. Traditional New England assortments with the slightest twists that set them apart from other chains–a monster Lobster Roll with lemon and herb aioli, crab cakes with sweet chili cucumber. THE best scallops I think I’ve ever had, over English peas. And the crab tater tots alone are reason enough to Uber right on over there.

I was gluttonously drooling over the thought of going back for brunch ever since I finished my last bite of blueberry pie {quintessential upper right USA or what?}. Lobster Frittata overlooking the Boston Harbor with a Garlic & Basil Bloody? Makes my heart skip a beat.

While tourists will, no doubt, continue to flock to Top Catch as they dock at Long Wharf, it has yet to feel like a tourist-favored, overpriced restaurant, like the trap some of its, ahem, neighboring seafood establishments have settled into. It boasts fantastic fresh catches, reasonable prices {excluding lobster, there’s not a dish over $30}, incredible panoramic views of the waterfront, and a staff of chefs genuinely excited to cook for you.

This ain’t your mama’s Joe’s anymore.

[ Top Catch Boston at Joe’s Waterfront ]
[ 100 Atlantic Avenue ]
[ Boston, Massachusetts]

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Full disclosure: I received a complimentary meal at Top Catch for the purpose of this review.