The Black Whale

Been many times, the Cesar salad with fresh tuna caught that morning is tough to beat.
The ciopino soup is to die for with huge scallops, shrimp and a phenomenal broth.

So here’s my take on the black whale… new bedford finally has it’s own tourist trap! Food was mediocre but priced as if it were fine dining. They brought bread which was break your teeth hard and cold. In the black whale’s defense, this is a Portuguese thing and just not my personal preference. It was served with some kind of smokey fish dip that I did not care for (once again, personal preference, I don’t think there was anything wrong with it, I just didn’t like it). I started out with the clam chowder. I thought it was completely overwhelmed by rosemary. It was all you could see and it was like eating a bowl of rosemary. I then got caesar salad with blackened salmon. It was adequate but for 20 $, a complete rip off. My boyfriend got fish and chips, which were burned. I sat at the bar and the service was top notch. They do pour a nice drink there. It’s nice inside and definitely attracts a high end crowd. If you wanted to impress someone I suppose you could take them here but with the limited menu, mediocre food and high prices, I personally don’t have any reason to go back.

Stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites for work, and this place was literally a 5 minute walk down the street with a nice harbor view. After a bad delivery experience at the Cove Surf & Turf, we thought this place would do a much better job at providing plastic utensils and tasty food. This was NOT a disappointment and I wish we knew this before!
We ordered delivery for lunch as my friend and I were watching OITNB back to back in our hotel room. I ordered the little necks & baby shrimp over linguine with a side Caesar salad… This was on an online menu that was not updated but the black whale didn’t give me any trouble making it! Although I should have asked for dressing on the side because by the time I got to it the lettuce was welted and a little soggy, but that was my fault! My friend ordered the grilled chicken with a side house salad, and she loved hers! After this delivery experience we automatically wanted to dine in for lunch the next day. And that’s what we did!
We arrived at 12:15pm, and they were just getting busy with reservations for most of the outdoor seating, so we got to sit inside close to the window. Our server was very nice, patient, and respectful. The lunch menu had plenty more options to choose from and I wanted to try everything. We ordered the oyster platter, mussels, and sous vi grilled octopus for appetizers, I ordered the lobster mac & cheese, and my friend ordered the your choice of Salmon with risotto, mashed potatoes, and house salad. Everything was absolutely delicious and tasted good as it looked! See my pictures posted. For dessert we ordered the gluten free chocolate flourless torte, a macchiato and cappuccino. The cappuccino was like a «dream» my friend says. And the torte was perfect melt in your mouth chocolate!
By the time we left at 2:30pm, the restaurant was very busy and crowded. You can tell how well they do here.
I would definitely come back here for the great service, awesome food, and good ambience. I love how they have outdoor seating and a first come first serve bar seating too.

We got oysters as an appetizer with sesame seed ahi tuna with vegetable lo mein (deliciously spicy!) and the lobster roll. The tuna was probably the best seafood meal I’ve ever had. The staff was great as well. The person who cleaned our table after we left noticed our daughter had left something behind and he brought it to us as we were walking to the parking lot.

Went for lunch, seated on the deck. Very loud, understandably, with the highway right there.
Pre dinner bread & dip was not appetizing. Drinks were strong & tasted great.
Entrees were of smaller to average size, but not well priced.
Shrimp scampi was very oily and the stewed tomatoes completely over powered the flavors of the dish. Without the terrible red sauce; pasta and large shrimp were cooked great, and tasted delicious on their own.
Steak tips were also cooked perfectly and tasted phenomenal. The service was extremely slow, but the staff had a smile and was exceptionally polite nonetheless.
All in all, not a terrible place if you don’t mind the extra ambience… or the higher prices.

Let’s get the admin out of the way. The food and drinks were great – and for the price it should. Now the REAL reason for the 1 star review the service – mediocre at best but horrendous at worst.
We ordered drinks – 2 mixers. 2 minutes later the waitress reappeared and announced she forgot what we had ordered. We laughed about it and that was that. No biggie. Our appetizer arrived – spicy shrimp. It was brought by a food runner and no spoon for the sauce provided. With the waitress MIA and nobody around, we ultimately poured the sauce from the bowl to our plate.
Next my cousin asked for a water. I said I’d take one as well, 5 minutes later – one water arrives.
Dinner was served (again, good food all around), but I’m a slower eater… nothing irks me more than when a server clears plates from others while I’m still eating. This is a huge issue for me. And that’s exactly what happened.
Well finally… and worst of the worst was dessert. Two guys out for dinner. We figured we’d split a desert – the cheesecake. We asked the waitress if they could cut it in half and bring it in separate plates. She laughed and joked with us but totally knew why two guys didn’t want to share a cheesecake off the same plate and joked how the kitchen usually doesn’t split plates but not to worry. WELL, the MANAGER delivers the split cheesecake and for lack of a better term all out LECTURED us on their policy and that the «kitchen is too busy to split plates» and this would not be done «if we decide to come back.» Really!!! We just spent $ 130 on drinks/​raw bar/​apps/​dinner and you won’t cut a piece of dessert in half. Don’t worry – we won’t be going back. Not with service like that.
Then the icing on the cake (pun intended) the same Manager brings us the bill as our waitress «was tied up with a big party.» We were in no rush but management was to turn over a table. The waitress came over apologetic and surprised to see the check. We told her we never asked for it and told her about the lecture we got with dessert. She looked upset and shocked. Now given the rest of the night we still tipped 20%. Her heart was in the right place – she has no control over the manager or kitchen policies.
With that said service was sub par and management was rude. We will not go back. This restaurant rarely has the same staff and I think I saw the reasons for this tonight. To not want to split a dessert and to rush us out the door, how dare you – especially at your price point.
In this area there are several great seafood restaurants with comparable food, lower prices and AMAZING SERVICE. I encourage you to seek those places before this one.

Blah and Unfiltered water.
I had the lobster roll. They served it on a brioche bun, which was overwhelming.
While it may sound good in principle, the brioche dominates the flavor and the lobster disappears almost completely. In fact, the first bite is good, before your mouth fills with the over sweet flavor of brioche bread and then you don’t taste anything else after that. I would have preferred a mild sourdough to the brioche.
The water was unfiltered — which is shocking for such a high price.
The fresh potato chips, made in house, were good.
But in the end, I felt like I spent $ 21 dollars for a bag of potato chips and a brioche bun.

This is a really nice looking, shiny kinda joint. Nice place to sit and have some nifty cocktails or a beer. I had their dill lobster roll which was just ok. When the highlight of a lobster roll is the bread, you’ve got some issues. Let’s break it down after the SHABAM!!!
SHABAM!!!
The bread is a very nicely done buttered and grilled brioche hamburger bun and is the star of the plate. I’d go back and just have a bun if they’d let me. But they probably won’t.
The fries were good-​ish shoe-​stringy things. Average or marginally better. Coulda been hotter. Coulda been thicker. Shoe strings aint my thang. I for one would welcome a move back to steak fries. I digress.
The lobster salad which «filled» the bun was lacking, most notably in volume. When your lobster roll price point is north of the magical 20 dollar mark, ya gotta fill that sucker up. It tasted good, little heavy on the dill action, but still good. And big props for someone trying something diff with a LR, but I’m more for lobster with a hint of dill rather than the vice’ of the versa’. And more filling in that thing, please.
Service was really good. Nice lady waited on me. I don’t remember her name, but she was attentive and stuff. Didn’t call me «Honey» Or «Baby» or «Sizzle-​chest». Points for that. She mis-​quoted the lobster roll price, but paying less than I thought I was going to is a good thing, right? It ended up being 22 buckaroos. Little pricey for what It was.
Here’s your pointless epilogue:

As I was leaving, I stopped at the merchandise display. I asked the two young hostesses (?) if they had Black Whale pint glasses. They looked at each other and tittered. «I don’t even know what that is!» the fair-​haired one exclaimed, giggling.

For starters we got the raw bar tower. Came with a oysters, littlenecks, cherrystones, shrimp, and a half lobster. They have a variety of oysters all of which are semi-​local and very fresh. We then got an order of the calimari which is incredible. The dipping sauce they supply with it is the topper. For my meal I had lobster mac and cheese which was baked perfectly. I have been here many times, and i’ve never received lacking service or bad food. One of my favorite places to eat and have a drink. If you’re in the New Bedford area for vacation, try this place first.

Decent restaurant with great service and mediocre food. Would come back… Ordered grilled salmon but came out as shrimp. They sent it back and when it finally came out, it was undercooked. Too bad.

My fiancé, and I went with a group of friends. We received our table right away! The food was great! Service was ok. We will be going back this summer, with another group of friends, and family ! Hopefully the service, will be better, and the food stays just the way it was last summer!

Food was good but a bit pricey. VERY noisy though.

I recently tried this place for the first time, and loved it! Beautiful restaurant, with a huge bar! The food and drinks were great, I have no complaints. We came for lunch and didn’t have a wait at all. I’ll definitely be back. I’d love to try it in the warmer months, as there is a large deck outside.

Excellent restaurant, wonderful food, attentive wait staff how can you go wrong? Traveling this neck of the woods 2+ hours from home (Boston) and wanted a decent place to eat. I’m a foodie from the city and enjoy good food not some chain restaurant place so went to Unilocal and found this gem.
On my way down I tried to call to see if they take reservations which a woman answered I told her I’d like to make reservations and she said «let me transfer you» and the line went dead. After I called back twice it went to vm so I said forget that. And to be honest almost didn’t go there but I had been studying the menu and had my heart set on what I was going to order all day and after a 3 hour drive in traffic there was no way I was going anywhere else.
I got to the location and got seated right away. Very nice dining room with a beautiful bar right in the middle. There are no booths in this place I don’t think. The chairs looked uncomfortable but turned out I was very comfortable during my stay there. Our waitress was very attentive and after being in traffic 3 hours I wanted to try their pumpkin martini I had been thirsting for ever since I saw a pic of it in Unilocal.
It was as good as it looked. Just had one but definitely did the trick.
Started off with the ai tuna appetizer which came with a spicy punch to it. It had avocado with it which made the appetizer amazing if you don’t like spicy that may not be for you.
For dinner I went all out and got filet mignon with a side of lobster Mac and cheese. Pics added. Wow steak came out perfect. Lobster Mac was perfect and just what the dr ordered. Two huge claws of lobster and it was so cheesy and yummy. A definitely must try if this if comfort food is your thing.
I ended the night with one glass of Pinot Noir which was absolutely wonderful sweet & blueberry hints to the wine.
Prices were very reasonable not over priced at all however I’m not from the area and used to paying city prices. Overall great experience if your a foodie this place is definitely for you. Enjoy

a million times yes ! so good! I live about 45 min away from New Bedford but we decided to make the drive because my dad knew the owner! i love love love love love raw seafood and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. we had ordered so many things too! we had steamed little necks, cherry stone clams, raw oysters, the seaside poutine, the seared ahi tuna app, lobster bisque, and for entrees we had the seafood cioppino, the lobster Mac and cheese and the forbidden salmon. oh my goodness the salmon was AMAZING. it was absolutely perfect! they cooked it so that it has a crisp outter layer. omg absolutely amazing! everything was really good! if I’m ever in the area again I would definitely definitely definitely go back for the salmon !!

It is astounding it took so long for someone to open a restaurant with a focus on a raw bar in this seafood centric city. For this alone it is worth a visit. The oysters are plump and briney and the accompaniments are fantastic. Make sure to try the jalapeño ice, its not spicy but floral and sweet, and it could even be a nice dessert component for a more experimental dish.
Ambience is nice, with a huge bar and plenty of seating in the bright and airy dining room. Service has been good each visit. The menu is very seafood focused but with great variety. It is definitely pricey for New Bedford standards, but I think it is worth the price especially if you happen to be visiting from a big city.
Would recommend for locals looking for a higher end experience and especially for tourists and visitors.

Hello,
Tonight was my first time attending this restaurant and i must say the food was top notch! The service stunk though and some training is needed! So if your like me and go for the food that this is the place for you! If you’re more of a «i want the best service» type person this is NOT the right place for you!

Wonderful lunch with wonderful service at the Black Whale.
Gabby was our fantastic waitress who gave us lots of information about New Bedford and the people within.
My Mediterranean salad wad succulent and my wife described her crab cakes as delightful!
Good luck in your College endeavors Gabriella… you will truly be a success.
We will be back…

Went there for dinner with friends Joseph and Gary, based on their recommendation. The location is just beautiful… right on a pier on New Bedford’s wharf area. If you are lucky to get a table by the window (which we got), you can see all the colorful fishing boats docked nearby.
As you enter the restaurant, you will be amazed by how beautiful, roomy and clean the place is. Nice pastel colors on the walls and a beautiful U-​shaped bar create an illusion of a larger space.
We got some pear martinis to start the soirée and they were delicious… made with pear infused vodka and homemade pear purée made by the owner’s mother (I was told). For apps we got some littlenecks, some oysters, tuna tartare and crab cakes. Every small plate was very well done, everything tasted fresh and well seasoned.
For dinner I had the seafood cioppino, which was delicious. Nice pieces of jumbo shrimp, clams, littlenecks, swordfish adorned the deep pasta bowl dish. There was not as much broth as other cioppinos I have had, but it was very tasty and delicious.
Also, during the warm months, they have an outdoor area. the night we went, it was protected under a tent, due to the chilly nature of the night.
Reservations only for 6 or more.

What a location. You are eating seafood in the middle of New Bedford’s fishing fleet. The interior is very light, bright and airy with large windows to see all of the fishing boats. They have a large outdoor deck which I would imagine would be fantastic in the warmer months.
We were quickly greeted and seated and the restaurant was fairly busy for a Sunday afternoon. Quarters are tight though. We had a chair that someone was sitting in at the adjacent table just inches away from ours.
They have a decent wine, beer and cocktail list and I started with the Harvest Moon, a bourbon based drink, and it was absolutely delicious.
We were given a basket with crackers and pieces of hard, dry toast and were told that they were out of dip so they gave us butter. Since this was our first visit we didn’t realize until later that you are normally given codfish dip with the bread and crackers. Honestly the butter is so out of place I wouldn’t have bothered giving them to people. I’m also not sure how you can be out of codfish dip on a Sunday afternoon.
I decided to start with the clam chowder and my husband the lobster bisque. They arrived very quickly. The clam chowder was good, but a bit too heavy on the thyme for my taste. My husband liked his lobster bisque.
I was only a few spoonfuls into my chowder when the entrees arrived! They really need to get better at pacing things. It was ridiculous. I had the grilled shrimp risotto and my husband had the seared tuna. My risotto was advertised as a sundried tomato and basil risotto and I didn’t get much of either flavor. It was OK though, but I would probably order something else next time. My husband thought his tuna was OK.
We would have liked to have a second round of drinks, but our waitress never asked, despite our obvious empty glasses and again, we were very rushed.
We would go back, but I would hope the service would be a bit better.