The No Name restaurant has been in business since 1917, however, it is another of those highly acclaimed places that we did not find to be that good. It sits right on the Fish Pier so there is no question that the fish is fresh! The prices are very reasonable too, but still, this is not a place that we would return to. We felt the same way after we ate there the first time, but decided that it deserved another try. To begin with, the room is somewhat dimly lit, although the back wall is windowed and provides a nice view of the water. Looking up, the ceiling tiles were lightly discolored. Looking down, the tiled floor had bits of food and papers on it. The Ladies Room was extremely dirty. The atmosphere is supposed to be casual and it is casual! The wait staff is attentive and served us garlic bread almost as soon as we were seated. The meals were served very hot and arrived from the kitchen in no time. We ordered fried foods and maybe the secret here is to stick with the fresh broiled fish. The batter on the fried foods was a little heavy, the French fries were unremarkable, the tartar sauce was average at best , and the Cole slaw was without much taste. Why do people love it here? We aren't sure. Perhaps it is the experience of eating really fresh food and overlooking the water. Maybe it is because the price is very reasonable. Perhaps it is because they feel good that they can even find it! Nothing at the No Name was bad, it just wasn't a place that we particularly liked.

A partial menu is shown below. There are also broiled specials of "the catch of the day" which were $7.95. Note that even the menu is soiled and printed off center!

NOTE: November 2006 - Once again we have decided to try this restaurant. The most remarkable thing is that the prices are only slightly higher than shown on the menu below, which was from 2000. This truly is one of the best places for seafood at a bargain basement price. Unfortunately, although the dining room is upstairs, we still feel that we are in the bargain basement. The somewhat gruff seater sent us off to sit at a table that is barely a foot from those on either side. This seating arrangement holds true for most of the tables. The cleanliness or lack of cleanliness is about the same as we remembered. The usual hustle and bustle of the restaurant existed and made it difficult to have a pleasant conversation. Food is delivered quickly and the turnover of tables is quick. The Scrod was a nicely cooked small piece of fish. We opted for the steamed vegetables, which was a mistake. The broccoli and cauliflower were edible but the carrots were much to undercooked. It appears that seasonings are not used here and this is a plus when French fries are delivered without having been salted. It is a disadvantage, however, when it comes to vegetables. The garlic bread was okay, nothing special, just soft, somewhat soggy bread, but plenty of it. Our rating stands, a "B-" at best.

 

RESTAURANT:	NO NAME
	15 1/2 Fish Pier, Boston, MA
DATE:	August 22, 2000
MEAL:	Lunch
BREAD:	Garlic Bread (included in meal) - very good
SALAD:
APPETIZER:	Cup of Fish Chowder ($1.75) One of the best! Lots of assorted pieces of seafood and no potatoes. Made with a milk base. Lightly spiced.
ENTREE:	Seafood Plate ($7.95) Good, but not excellent! Plenty for lunch and probably a good sized serving for dinner. Consisted of fish, shrimp, oysters, whole clams, scallops, Cole slaw, tartar sauce and French fries. A very "average" tasting entree, but low in cost.
	Fried Calamari ($6.25 - one of the daily specials) Pretty Good. Served in large rings that were a bit rubbery. The batter seemed lighter on these, however. Had French fries, tartar sauce, and Cole slaw with it.
DESSERT:
OTHER:	Very informal
	Parking available in a small, free, lot a short walk away.
	Very quick service
	Take out service available
	Pitcher of water sits on each table with paper cups
	Soft drinks are served in 10 oz. bottles with small paper cups filled too high with ice
	A little difficult to find. Look for the little blue sign beside the gate to the pier
OVERALL:	B-

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