Legal Sea Foods Restaurants
In 1998, Roger Berkowitz was invited to join the Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Roundtable,[26] a group of individuals with personal and professional interests in nutrition. [27] That same year, Bon Appétit Legal magazine named Sea Food one of the ten best restaurants in America. That year, Rich Vellante became executive chef of the restaurant group.[28] [29] During the 2016 presidential primaries, Legal Sea Foods launched a campaign travesty. On Super Tuesday, Roger Berkowitz declared himself a candidate for president of the United States in a parody advertising campaign of the «shady» election. Among other things, he promised he would legalize seaweed on his first day in office, and he urged voters to #feeltheberk on social media. [73] The spots were broadcast in newspapers, radio and print media. [74] In 2003, Legal Sea Foods became one of the first U.S. restaurants to become trans fat-free. [31] The New Legal Sea Foods Cookbook was published this year.
[32] Something is afoot! Come in October. #LegallyHazy @NightShiftBeer www.legalseafoods.com/legal-sea-foods-and-night-shift-brewing-unveil-exclusive-partnership-freddie-and-the-owl/ Legal Sea Foods is an American chain of casual seafood restaurants[5] located primarily in the northeastern United States. In March 1994, Food Arts Magazine presented the Silver Spoon Award to George and Roger Berkowitz for excellence and American seafood awareness for 30 years. [23] That same year, Legal Sea Foods also opened its first airport restaurant in Terminal C of Logan International Airport, followed by a location at Philadelphia International Airport. Also in 1994, Legal Sea Foods invited influential chefs from China to incorporate Asian cuisine into the restaurant`s menu. This program was called «Cuisineast» and some dishes created for this event are still on the menu. [24] The company`s current headquarters are located in the South Boston Seaport District, and as of 2022, the group operates 24 restaurants in five states, most of them in the greater Boston area. [6] [1] The restaurant serves more than 7 million customers each year[7] with an average size of 6,000 square feet (560 m2). [8] Legal Sea Foods also operates an online fish market and ships fresh fish to neighbouring U.S. as well as a retail division. In 2014, Legal Sea Foods began running print and TV ads claiming that its seafood restaurants should never be called a chain.The series of commercials uses restaurant manager Roger Berkowitz to explain why. [3] The «Welcome to Legal» campaign was launched in 2019 with ads alluding to the legality of marijuana in Massachusetts. The campaign received national attention, with comments from posts such as AdWeek and AdAge. [69] [75] Fancy a takeaway? Get $5 off your online takeout order of $20 or more for a limited time using code FRESHFISH. Valid only if you order from www.legalseafoods.com/order-online/ On December 22, 2020, CEO Roger Berkowitz announced the sale of the restaurant portion of the store to PPX Hospitality Brands, a Medford-based hotel group. Berkowitz retains rights to sell products online and at retail under the name Legal Sea Foods. [10] After the sale to PPX, the Boston Globe reported that Roger Berkowitz had left several sellers unpaid and owed hundreds of thousands of debts. [11] Legal Sea Foods was one of the first restaurants in the U.S. to use lean production techniques to improve the customer experience. One of the most significant changes was to install a back-of-line position, similar to a bar-back position, to quickly resupply everything the chef or chef needed in a just-in-time flow. [49] In January 2020, Legal Sea Foods announced a partnership with RLJ Companies to increase the presence of Legal Sea Foods restaurants at major U.S. airports.
In 1904, Harry Berkowitz opened the Legal Cash Market in the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[45] The name of the market comes from the «Legal Stamps», also known as private labels, which were given to loyal customers. The store provided Harry and his family with a livelihood until the late 1940s, when grocery chains like Stop & Shop and others stepped in, offering fierce competition to the family business. [14] Check out the new Legal Test Kitchen section of our menu, where our chefs test their latest creations! In January 2011, Legal Sea Foods sponsored a dinner featuring several fish species listed by the advocacy group Seafood Watch as those that should be avoided for sustainability reasons. [52] Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods, said in a statement that much of the science surrounding sustainable fishing is «flawed» and «outdated.» [53] Although the protest was criticized by several environmental organizations, it was welcomed by others, including in the media. Representatives of Gloucester fishermen supported the decision to use fish from the area. [54] In 2010, the company launched a radio campaign called «Fresh Insights.» CEO Roger Berkowitz was the voice of the Radio Mercury Award finalists. [69] On February 22, 2014, a carbon monoxide leak killed the manager of Legal Sea Foods at Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, New York, and 27 other sick people. The leak was believed to have been caused by a faulty flue attached to a gas water heater. Roger Berkowitz, president and CEO of Legal Sea Foods, said the company will install carbon monoxide detectors and conduct comprehensive safety audits at all sites. He also promised to be at the forefront of legislative efforts to mandate the use of carbon monoxide detectors in commercial buildings. [39] [40] In 2008, Legal Sea Foods ran a comedy campaign called «Really Fresh Fish». The campaign`s outdoor and radio advertising sparked controversy over its «fresh» lines and won industry awards.
[68] In 2000, the American Institute of Food and Wine sponsored the 50th anniversary of Legal Sea Food in the presence of celebrity chefs, including Julia Child. [16] CBS`s Eye on America news program focused on the Legal Sea Food Restaurant`s quality control program with a food safety segment. At Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, fans in New Orleans, New England were served clam chowder from Legal Sea Food`s Chowda pickup truck. [25] Today, Legal Sea Foods Restaurant Group maintains its commitment to the standards of quality, freshness and integrity behind the entire Pier-to-Plate process. In 1999, the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association awarded Roger Berkowitz the Silver Plate Award for Best Full-Service Multi-Unit Restaurant Operator in America, one of the highest honors in the food industry. [30] In 2008, Legal Sea Foods was named one of the top ten full-service or buffet restaurant chains for families, according to Parents Magazine. Later in 2008, Roger Berkowitz was inducted into the Nation`s Restaurant News MenuMasters Hall of Fame. [36] Legal Sea Foods founder George Berkowitz passed away on February 20, 2022. [12] George Berkowitz was 97. [13] In 2018, the company opened Legal Sea Bar, an advanced bar concept, at Union Station in Washington, DC. [43]. Join us on Sunday, September 25, 2022 to celebrate National Lobster Day! Available with lobster menu specials while supplies last! In 2011, Legal Sea Foods opened its new flagship restaurant, Legal Harborside, on Boston`s waterfront. [38] It was named «Best New Restaurant» by Esquire magazine. In April 2017, Legal Fish Bowl debuted in Kendall Square. The restaurant is a quick and casual concept with six signature poke bowls as well as the ability to create your own. That same year, Roger Berkowitz received the James Beard «Who`s Who» Award. [42] Bon Appétit magazine advertises a meal at Legal Sea Foods as one of the «ten best proven restaurants» in America. [28] Legal Sea Foods is also included in Patricia Schultz`s popular travel guide «1,000 Places to See Before You Die.» [51] In March 2015, Legal Sea Foods partnered with Uber to deliver clam chowder throughout the city of Boston.