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Bootleg Special offers a visually stunning fusion of Southern chic with an urban edge, reminiscent of the classic inner-city speakeasies found in the heart of the French Quarter. Our establishment presents a unique modern twist on tradition. Our menu showcases a delightful blend of New American cuisine, drawing inspiration from the bold flavors of the South and the rich essence of Asian culinary traditions. We offer elevated New Orleans favorites with an eclectic selection of small plates, entrees, and distinctive cocktails. At Bootleg Special, we invite you to indulge in an unforgettable culinary experience that marries tradition with innovation.
Spicy, Cajun-style seafood boils anchor a Southern-inspired menu in trendy, industrial-chic digs.
Hours
| Monday | 5–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 5–11 PM |
| Friday | 5 PM–1 AM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–1 AM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 400 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 451-1800
Website: http://www.bootlegspecial.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: bootlegspecial.comtripleseat.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Bootleg Special – South End, Boston, MA
Visually stunning of Southern chic with an urban edge, Bootleg Special is a unique modern take on the classic inner-city speakeasies of the French Quarter. With …
Bootleg Special, Seafood & Bar (@bootlegspecial) – Instagram
Cajun Comfort, Fusion, Small Plates, and Cocktails. Weekend Brunch Social 11am. $1 Dollar Oyster – Thurs 5pm – Close, Fri & Sat Late Nite 10pm -12am
Bootleg Special | Boston MA – Facebook
Bootleg Special, Boston. 3053 likes · 9 talking about this · 6661 were here. Closed for Thanksgiving.
Reviews
Ben Leong
Date night before the show. Recimmrnded by friends. Nicely decorated and cozy ambiance. Had that New Orleans Bourbon Street feeling. Individual table lamps. Service was excellent. Greeted by the hostess at the door. Seated comfortably. Our waiter, Chris A., was awesome. Attentive, courteous, polite and friendly. Food was prepared perfectly and absolutely delicious. Ordered the Cajun Fish and chips, Oyster po boy, Chicken and sausage gumbo and the Garlic noodles. Finishing off with the Beignets with banana foster. What a treat! Highly recommend. Will definitely return to try the other items on the menu including their special cocktails.
… moreRachel Levin
This restaurant is so underrated! It’s basically a speakeasy with Cajun tapas (with a big emphasis on seafood). The food and drinks are honestly mind-blowing… insanely delicious!! The vibes and decor are very fun (my husband and I went in December and they were all decked out for the holidays!). The waitstaff is incredibly sweet and attentive (shoutout to our awesome waitress Paulina!). We had dinner there before a show at The Wilbur (very convenient location to downtown), and will definitely be coming back for more! They even do brunch with live entertainment on the weekends. 10/10 would recommend.
… moreDianny
Never been to this place, never even noticed it all the times I’ve driven past it. Went there this past weekend and the staff are really nice, shout out lulu for taking care of us and making sure we were good the entire night – we love you queen ! Went for brunch the next day, had the bootleg crab Benedict, AMAZING. Completely blown away by the freshness of the crab and the flavor profile. Also tried the garlic noodles with shrimp, very good ! We had the bread pudding which was okay. Tried the steak tayaki, it was good, as well as the oysters ! We then had the beignets, amazing !!! I have to go back to try a seafood boil, the gumbo, and the shrimp and grits. Very lowkey place with great food, good drinks, good music. The decor is all over the place which lives up to the bootleg name. Will definitely be back
… moreDara Behjat
Pretty solid spot! Food is tasty the seafood boil is really done well from a flavor perspective. It’s only a few pieces of shrimp and mostly potatoes so be weary of that. The fried rice tastes pretty good as well was cooked well. Nothing to write home about but pretty solid. Service is absurdly slow but ambience is nice.
… moreThuy Le
Came hungry. Left questioning why I don’t live here now
The powdered-sugar situation alone deserves an award — beignets said snow day, pancakes said dessert for breakfast, and I happily complied. The pasta? Simple, garlicky, comforting, and doing exactly what it needed to do. Shrimp showed up plump and unbothered ✨
Also appreciate the balance: greens on the plate so I can tell myself this was a “well-rounded meal” before immediately ordering more carbs.
Basically:
Sweet things = dangerous
Savory things = addictive
Portions = generous
Regrets = none
Would absolutely bootleg this meal again. ️
… moreThe powdered-sugar situation alone deserves an award — beignets said snow day, pancakes said dessert for breakfast, and I happily complied. The pasta? Simple, garlicky, comforting, and doing exactly what it needed to do. Shrimp showed up plump and unbothered ✨
Also appreciate the balance: greens on the plate so I can tell myself this was a “well-rounded meal” before immediately ordering more carbs.
Basically:
Sweet things = dangerous
Savory things = addictive
Portions = generous
Regrets = none
Would absolutely bootleg this meal again. ️
Tony Moze
Bootleg Special has clearly grown into itself — and I mean that in the best way.
AMBIANCE:
The last time I was here was around 2019, during their early days, and while it was good then, my visit on December 13, 2025 felt like a full glow-up. The ambiance is now cozy but lively, the kind of place that hums with energy without feeling chaotic. Warm lighting, upbeat vibes, and a crowd that looks like they *know* they picked the right spot for the night.
SERVICE:
This place deserves a serious shoutout. Our server, Albina, was professional, warm, and genuinely attentive, the kind of service that elevates the entire experience without ever being intrusive. Drinks stayed filled, timing between courses was smooth, and the rest of the staff moved like a well-coordinated team. You could tell they take pride in what they’re doing.
FOOD:
Now let’s talk food, because this is where Bootleg Special really flexes.
We kicked things off with the Beef Birria Bao and Truffle Steak Tataki and wow. The Asian–Louisiana fusion is bold and surprisingly seamless. The bao was soft and pillowy, packed with deeply flavorful meat and veggies that worked beautifully together. The truffle steak tataki? So tender and delicious that I realized halfway through I was eating it too fast to fully analyze it, always a good sign.
For mains, the Squid Ink Fried Rice and Vodka Cajun Chicken absolutely delivered. If fried rice is on the menu, THIS is how it should be done: creamy, rich, deeply flavorful, with scallops cooked to perfection. The vodka Cajun chicken was equally impressive — thin, crispy breading with juicy chicken underneath and a sauce that hits that perfect creamy-spicy balance.
And then… BEIGNETS Soft, pillowy, and basically melting in your mouth. A flawless way to end the meal.
One thing I loved seeing was both owners walking the floor, blending right in with their staff. If you didn’t know they were the owners, you’d never guess — which says a lot about the culture here. Steve was attentive, kind, and clearly invested in both the guests and his team.
IMPRESSIONS:
All around, this was a fantastic experience, from service to ambiance to food. I’m genuinely happy we came back, and Bootleg Special has officially earned its spot back in my regular rotation.
Can’t wait to return.
… moreAMBIANCE:
The last time I was here was around 2019, during their early days, and while it was good then, my visit on December 13, 2025 felt like a full glow-up. The ambiance is now cozy but lively, the kind of place that hums with energy without feeling chaotic. Warm lighting, upbeat vibes, and a crowd that looks like they *know* they picked the right spot for the night.
SERVICE:
This place deserves a serious shoutout. Our server, Albina, was professional, warm, and genuinely attentive, the kind of service that elevates the entire experience without ever being intrusive. Drinks stayed filled, timing between courses was smooth, and the rest of the staff moved like a well-coordinated team. You could tell they take pride in what they’re doing.
FOOD:
Now let’s talk food, because this is where Bootleg Special really flexes.
We kicked things off with the Beef Birria Bao and Truffle Steak Tataki and wow. The Asian–Louisiana fusion is bold and surprisingly seamless. The bao was soft and pillowy, packed with deeply flavorful meat and veggies that worked beautifully together. The truffle steak tataki? So tender and delicious that I realized halfway through I was eating it too fast to fully analyze it, always a good sign.
For mains, the Squid Ink Fried Rice and Vodka Cajun Chicken absolutely delivered. If fried rice is on the menu, THIS is how it should be done: creamy, rich, deeply flavorful, with scallops cooked to perfection. The vodka Cajun chicken was equally impressive — thin, crispy breading with juicy chicken underneath and a sauce that hits that perfect creamy-spicy balance.
And then… BEIGNETS Soft, pillowy, and basically melting in your mouth. A flawless way to end the meal.
One thing I loved seeing was both owners walking the floor, blending right in with their staff. If you didn’t know they were the owners, you’d never guess — which says a lot about the culture here. Steve was attentive, kind, and clearly invested in both the guests and his team.
IMPRESSIONS:
All around, this was a fantastic experience, from service to ambiance to food. I’m genuinely happy we came back, and Bootleg Special has officially earned its spot back in my regular rotation.
Can’t wait to return.
Kelly B
Girls’ Night! Time for food and yapping! We chose a seafood boil theme and checked this place out, we got:
CEVICHE OYSTERS
Such a bright and refreshing start. The jalapeño, shallot, cilantro and lime brought so much zippy flavor and the oysters were chilled perfectly. A light, but super flavorful bite to begin the meal.
GARLIC NOODLES
A must order here every single time. Buttery, garlicky, slightly sweet and so addicting. The texture was perfect with springy noodles coated evenly in sauce. We finished this in minutes.
GRILLED OYSTERS
Loved these. Warm, garlicky and cooked just enough so they stayed tender. The char and buttery roasted flavor made them comforting and rich.
THE BOOTLEG SPECIAL SIGNATURE BOIL
Epic is the best word for it. The mix of lobster, shrimp, crawfish, mussels and clams absorbed the signature Bootleg sauce beautifully. The sauce had garlic, butter, spice and so much Cajun depth. The potatoes, corn and sausage made it filling and fun to share. Easily the highlight of the night, minus the fact it was a teeny bit salty for us.
Such a fun girls dinner with delicious food, great flavors and the perfect mix of seafood and comfort.
… moreCEVICHE OYSTERS
Such a bright and refreshing start. The jalapeño, shallot, cilantro and lime brought so much zippy flavor and the oysters were chilled perfectly. A light, but super flavorful bite to begin the meal.
GARLIC NOODLES
A must order here every single time. Buttery, garlicky, slightly sweet and so addicting. The texture was perfect with springy noodles coated evenly in sauce. We finished this in minutes.
GRILLED OYSTERS
Loved these. Warm, garlicky and cooked just enough so they stayed tender. The char and buttery roasted flavor made them comforting and rich.
THE BOOTLEG SPECIAL SIGNATURE BOIL
Epic is the best word for it. The mix of lobster, shrimp, crawfish, mussels and clams absorbed the signature Bootleg sauce beautifully. The sauce had garlic, butter, spice and so much Cajun depth. The potatoes, corn and sausage made it filling and fun to share. Easily the highlight of the night, minus the fact it was a teeny bit salty for us.
Such a fun girls dinner with delicious food, great flavors and the perfect mix of seafood and comfort.
Wassim Ayass
A nice restaurant for a night out. The decor and space layout were nice. The service was friendly and the food was good. The chowder fries were okay but not the best creation for a poutine alternative. The pasta dish was a little bit salty. Overall a nice place to enjoy drinks and dinner.
… moreStella Huang
Loved the shrimp grits here. It’s not a small portion at all, and the mix of spinach and cherry tomatoes makes it really tasty without feeling heavy. Shrimp were fresh and perfectly cooked.
The soufflé was huge, warm and super comforting, and the fresh strawberries on the side were a great match.
… moreThe soufflé was huge, warm and super comforting, and the fresh strawberries on the side were a great match.
Quincy’s Floor Care
Highly recommend this ambient restaurant setting, customer service was beautifully respected and made each one of us felt seen. All the dishes were perfected with foods that aligned with best quality and culturally mixed.
… more