Frankie’s Catch of the Day

Hard to give stars to a place that is closed, but what the heck…
A friend told me that this place closed yesterday… Apparently after 20 years or so… She said there was a sign that economic conditions forced closure…
Too bad, decent seafood and certainly convenient to Watertown and Belmont…

I wanted to get lobsters for valentines day, so i called ahead about 2 hours and it was necessary to come in and order them, not over the phone. I got there and ordered them. He said it would be 45 minutes!, Now why couldn’t i have called them in. This is Belmont. I waited around and the place looked pretty clean. I just didn’t understand the rudeness on the phone or the fact that i couldn’t call in. Lobsters were 13.99 per lb, which is totally ridiculous, but i paid anyway. I don’t really know if i would need to go back there.

I’ve been buying fresh & prepared fish from Frankie for over 20 years. It is consistently fresh and delicious. His crab cakes are especially good. He is fastidious about his store and unfailingly friendly and helpful to his customers.

This place has always been just so so for fresh fish, but it’s close to where we live so we go there. I think I’m done with it though. Last week we bought scallops that were $ 20 per pound, and they were the gross kind treated with STP. They filled our pan with water while sauteeing them, and shrunk down to nothing and tasted gross. For that kind of money you should get dry scallops. I’m really bummed because there are so few good fish markets near Belmont. I always want to like Frankie’s but it’s just not that reliable.

Frankie is THE man to go to for Seafood! He has been doing this for years.
Frankie’s is located in Belmont Center, right near the little boutiques and shops of the area. It’s a small store, but at lunch time it fills up. Part of his business is devoted to selling fresh fish and seafood, and the other part to selling fresh seafood dishes. He has sandwiches, fried scallops, delicious clam chowder and seafood chowder, and stuffed clams. He makes everything himself! Frankie gives individual attention to the fish he sells. He takes all the bones in the salmon out himself (something you’ll rarely find elsewhere).
Much of the fish that he sells is wild. He also has a bunch of shellfish. Everything that he gets in comes in fresh daily, so there’s a little bit of variety on a day to day basis, but this way you can always know that it’s fresh (one thing you can’t count on in other places).
The best value that I’ve found is in the swordfish kebabs, which are $ 11/​lb. The best swordfish I’ve eaten! They’re honestly better than the swordfish steaks, I think.
Some of the prices on things are a bit higher than low-​quality places, but just remember that you’re paying for the quality and freshness. To get some of the same stuff you buy here at other places you pay just as much and it’s NEVER as good.
Another thing I love about this place is that Frankie knows his customers. He has a strong following, and people are always happy with the experience and fish!

I’ve only had the lobster roll, but I’ve had it alot. They’re so fresh, everytime I get it they either make me wait while they finish making them or they just barely finished making them. They’re a great price and so tasty. Not too much mayo and just the right amount of celery. I can’t wait to try some of their fish.