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Little Whale, Boston, MA

Little Whale

4.7
4.7
784 Reviews
$50 and over
Seafood

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 37 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
Little Whale Oyster Bar is a Classic New England Seafood Restaurant and Raw Bar from Chef Michael Serpa on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay. An ode to the seaside clamshacks are raw bars of the New England coast, Little Whale is a casual neighborhood spot focusing on local products and seafood friendly wines.

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Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Contemporary American, Wine Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30–21:30 Fri, Sat 11:30–22:30
  • Phone number
    (857) 277-0800
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Reggie Da Silva
  • Private party facilities
    Please contact info@serpahospitality.com for event inquiries.
  • Area
    Back Bay
  • Cross Street
    Newbury Street and Hereford Street
  • Parking details
    Meter Parking 2hr. Prudential Center Lot. Dalton Street Lot. Closest Valet at Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street.
  • Public transit
    Green Line Hynes Convention CenterOrange Line Back Bay
  • Additional
    Beer, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wine
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What 784 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Boston

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Little Whale is a delightful seafood haven in Boston's Back Bay with "excellent service" and "amazing food." Guests rave about "delicious oysters" and "superb lobster rolls." The cozy atmosphere and warm staff make it a "go to place" for many. Note: Only beer and wine are served.

784 Reviews
  1. Emily

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went here for their Dine Out Boston 2025 menu and every dish was delish, creative and thoughtfully crafted. My favorite was the salmon and hamachi crudo. Would come back!

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  2. Sonya

    VIP

    New York City

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Little Whale has been on my list of places to try since I moved to Boston and I finally got to experience it for Dine Out Boston and it was incredible! Everything was fresh and flavorful. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. The Salmon/Hamachi crudo was a favorite of course but I unexpectedly loved the Hake as well. Had never had Hake before and so glad I tried it! I cannot wait to go back and try more items on the menu.

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  3. Jonielyn

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and the bartender who served me was fantastic. She had great recommendations and easily answered all my questions. Had the lobster spaghettini and oysters. My only issue are the added fees - there is a 20% auto gratuity added and a 3% service charge. The bartender was very up front about the 20% charge and also commented it could be removed if I wasn’t comfortable. I really appreciated her honesty, and I would have tipped her that amount without the auto gratuity because she was fantastic. I have a bigger issue with the 3% service charge; everyone’s costs are higher but I don’t know if I agree with passing this cost to the patrons of the restaurant. This seems to be a new, consistent pass through cost with a number of restaurants.

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  4. Jennie

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing all around- the food is delicious, the service is wonderful. An all time favorite!

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  5. diane

    New York City

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I read about Little Whale and wanted to try while in Boston. In many ways, it did not disappoint. Started with a dozen oysters. They were outstanding. Next, shrimp cocktail. While only 4 pcs for $19, they were so good, you forget the price. After that, the Grilled Tuna sandwich and a lobster roll, plus must-have brussels sprouts as a side. All were really delicious. With the meal, we started with the Sauv. Blanc by the glass, a great pairing with the oysters. Then we went for the Gamay. Very good. The staff were very attentive and friendly, so 5 stars for them too. Note: they automatically get a 20% tip, which might bother some. I liked them, so I had no issues with that. What I did NOT appreciate, and found a bit obnoxious, was the additional $7 operations fee. What? I am not in charge of paying for your staff's healthcare or whatever it is this is for. That was just over the top in my estimation.

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  6. Melissa

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on 28 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great time at Little Whale! Oysters and crudo were delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed our wine and the main course too. Great atmosphere on the cozy 2nd floor. Will be back!

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  7. jodi

    VIP

    London

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 26 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Overall great food but it was so loud in there so everyone had to scream to be heard.

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  8. Peter

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    24 reviews

    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on 25 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious oysters and other delightful plates, great friendly service, nice ambiance.

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  9. Stewart

    VIP

    Pittsburgh

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 25 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, great food, great space. Thanks, Li’l Whale!

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  10. Jonathan

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious fresh fish in a cozy place with wonderful service, what could be better?

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FAQs

Little Whale offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (857) 277-0800.

Little Whale is rated 4.7 stars by 784 OpenTable diners.

Little Whale does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 37 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Little Whale

314 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Newbury Street and Hereford Street
  • Area
    Back Bay
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30–21:30 Fri, Sat 11:30–22:30
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Contemporary American, Wine Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Meter Parking 2hr. Prudential Center Lot. Dalton Street Lot. Closest Valet at Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street.
  • Public transit
    Green Line Hynes Convention CenterOrange Line Back Bay
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Reggie Da Silva
  • Additional
    Beer, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

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