Legal Sea Foods Quality Control Center (and corporate headquarters) in Boston
Legal Sea Foods is a Boston-based seafood restaurant chain, with locations primarily in New England and the Northeast. There are also a few locations around Washington, DC, three in South Florida, and one in Atlanta, GA.
It was founded in 1904 by Harry Berkowitz, who opened a "cash market" which became his son George's "legal sea foods" fish market in the Inman Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. After obtaining the fish market from his father, George later on decided to expand the market in to a restaurant. With the help of his two sons, Marc and Roger, they opened up two other restaurants, one in Chestnut Hill and the other in the Park Plaza. During this period, George's middle son Marc ran the Chestnut Hill restaurant which was raking in $13 million in 1986-87, making it one of the highest-grossing restaurants in the United States. While the seafood empire was on the rise, there were ill-feelings stirring beneath the surface of the Berkowitz family. After George appointed the eldest son Roger to the position of president and CEO of Legal Seafoods, Marc was forced to take a position as the head of one of Legal Seafoods experimental side projects, and was no sooner forced out of the company. This force out led to a suit filed by Marc against the family and the business. After reaching a settlement before trial, Marc's name was erased from the company history as seen on the timeline on the restaurant placemats.
The menus vary slightly by location and season, but they all include a variety of specialty seafood and non-seafood entrees, appetizers, salads, and desserts. Extensive wine lists and full-service bars are also available at all locations to entice a younger, urban clientele in addition to family gatherings.
By promoting day boat fishing operations, the company markets itself as having the freshest fish. The company also made industry advances on fish handling and has worked with the federal agencies on developing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).[1]
Legal Sea Foods derives its name from a common practice during the Irish potato famine. During this time, laws were enacted to limit the consumption of certain scarce foods. To this day it is common practice in some circles to refer to foods as either 'legal' or 'illegal' as a means of denoting status or quality. [2]
Bon Appétit magazine touts a meal at Legal Sea Foods as among America’s “Top Ten Tried-and-True” dining experiences.[cite this quote] Legal is also included in Patricia Schultz’s popular guidebook, "1,000 Places to See Before You Die."[3]
Legal Sea Foods currently[when?] has 32 locations, in addition to catering and mail order divisions, and has garnered critical accolades for its status as a mid-sized seafood chain.[4] Since 1992, George’s son Roger Berkowitz has been at the helm of the company. Legal's New England clam chowder has been both a staple of its menu and, according to the restaurant, a mainstay at every presidential inauguration since 1981.[5] The restaurant motto is "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal."
During 2008 it ran a series of humorous radio advertisements, created by its advertising agency DeVito/Verdi, capping with its aforementioned motto as well as a 'really fresh fish' ad campaign on Boston's trolleys that won industry awards. [6]
Management
- President/CEO - Roger Berkowitz
- Former VP - Marc Berkowitz
- Executive Chef/VP of Restaurants - Richard Vellante
- VP of Beverage Operations - Sandy Block
See also
References
- ^ In the Quest for Safer Seafood, One Company Follows Its Nose (New York Times, Nov. 2000)
- ^ Ireland's Great Famine ((Cormac Ó Gráda) from EH.Net Encyclopedia of Economic History)
- ^ Schultz, Patricia (2003). 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List. Workman Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0761104841.
- ^ 2007/2008 Zagat Boston Overview (The Boston Globe, Apr. 2007)
- ^ New England's Best: Clam Chowder (NBC WHDH Boston, Aug. 2003)
- ^ redOrbit, "Stirring Up Trouble, Without Even Trying ", June 24, 2008, retrieved 18 June 2009
External links
