Those familiar with the Boston-based Legal Seafoods “chain” of restaurants know that this characterization is one that this restaurant group tries to avoid. In fact, Legal goes so far in its advertisements to say “Don’t call us a chain.” As a proud fan, I’ve been to a number of Legal locations in the Boston area, and can vouch that they make an effort to make their restaurants unique and take great pride in the freshness of their food.

On the rare occasions that I stray from my vegetarian diet, Legal Seafoods is the first place I have in mind. Not only does Legal serve up some of the freshest seafood you can find, it’s also very friendly to gluten-free eaters, and takes cross contamination concerns very seriously. My favorite location is Legal Harborside in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood — which is worth a visit even if you’re not hungry for seafood.

This sprawling 20,000-square-foot complex spans three floors, offering a different experience on each level. The first floor is casual dining, the second floor is formal, and the third is a rooftop bar offering perhaps the best open-air view of Boston Harbor in the city. No night of summer barhopping is complete without paying a visit to the third floor of Legal Harborside. This place is always packed on weekend nights in the summer, but it is well worth the wait. For the perfect night, start with dinner and then head up to the third floor to soak up the view!