Frequently Asked Questions

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET FRESH SEAFOOD DELIVERIES?

Our fresh seafood arrives twice each week from Boston’s historic Fish Pier, typically just a day or two out of the water. Our selection changes weekly based on seasonality and availability, so there’s always something new to discover. Check our Fresh Seafood page for this week’s selection and pricing, or stop in and ask your fishmonger what’s looking especially good.

WHERE DOES YOUR SEAFOOD COME FROM?

We source our seafood through trusted purveyors at Boston’s historic Fish Pier, with fresh deliveries arriving at fin twice each week. Our selection comes from fisheries around the world and changes with seasonality and availability. We carefully consider quality, freshness and sustainability when deciding what earns a spot in our case.

WHAT DOES “SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD” MEAN?

Sustainable seafood is seafood that is caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term health of the species being harvested and the well-being of our oceans.

For wild seafood, that means considering the health of the fish population and making sure it isn’t harvested faster than it can reproduce. If too many fish are caught before reaching reproductive age, there may not be enough mature fish left to maintain a healthy population.

For farm-raised seafood, sustainability means looking at how and where the fish are raised, including the environmental impact of the farm, water quality, feed practices and the health of the surrounding ecosystem.

That’s why the most sustainable choice isn’t always as simple as wild versus farmed. Where seafood comes from, how it was caught or raised and the health of that particular fishery or farm all matter and recommendations can change as fisheries, farms and science evolve.

IS WILD-CAUGHT SEAFOOD BETTER THAN FARM-RAISED?

Wild seafood is wonderful, and much of the seafood we carry at fin is wild-caught. But with worldwide demand for seafood and increasing pressure on wild fisheries, responsibly farm-raised seafood also plays an important role in a sustainable seafood supply.

Think about farm-raised seafood the way you might think about farm-raised beef. Beef from a small local farm and beef from a large-scale operation can both be called “farm-raised,” but how those animals are raised can be very different. The same is true with seafood. Not all fish farms are created equal.

That’s why we don’t judge seafood simply by whether it’s wild or farmed. We look at the individual fishery or farm, where the seafood comes from, how it was caught (considering the gear used) or raised and its environmental impact. We use trusted scientific resources, including NOAA Fisheries, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and the Marine Stewardship Council, to help guide our sourcing decisions.

IS YOUR SEAFOOD SUSHI-GRADE?

Yes! We carry seafood that is appropriate for sushi and other raw preparations. “Sushi-grade” considers not only how the fish has been handled for food safety, but also the quality of the fish itself.

Our purveyors know that quality and freshness are extremely important to fin. We look for exceptionally fresh fish that has been carefully handled to minimize bruising and damage to the flesh, making it ideal for preparations like sushi, sashimi, poke and crudo.

Planning to eat your seafood raw? Let us know when you’re shopping and we’ll point you toward the best options in the case.

I’M NOT SURE WHAT FISH TO BUY. CAN YOU HELP?

Absolutely, that’s what a fishmonger is for! Tell us what you like, how you plan to cook it, or what you’re making for dinner, and we can help you choose the right seafood. We’re also happy to share cooking tips, preparation ideas and substitutions.

WHAT ARE TAKE & BAKE MEALS?

Love seafood but not sure how to cook it? Or just want an easy dinner without sacrificing quality? Our Take & Bakes make it simple to enjoy restaurant-quality seafood at home. We pair fresh fish with sauces, seasonings and accompaniments, then do the prep for you — just take it home, follow the cooking instructions and enjoy.

Selections change weekly, so there’s always something new to try.

DO YOU SELL PREPARED AND FROZEN SEAFOOD?

Yes! Our freezers are stocked with house-made seafood favorites made for easy meals at home, including our crab cakes, shrimp cakes, sweet potato salmon burgers, lobster mac & cheese and more. We also carry a selection of frozen seafood, with offerings changing throughout the year.

DO YOU SERVE LUNCH?

Yes! Our weekday kitchen serves a casual seafood lunch menu featuring favorites like our wine-battered fish fry, lobster rolls and teriyaki salmon. Stop in Tuesday through Friday for lunch, with extended kitchen hours until 5:30pm on Fridays. Check our Kitchen Menu page for current hours and offerings.

DO YOU OFFER RAW BAR CATERING?

Yes! fin offers raw bar catering for weddings, private parties, corporate events and other celebrations throughout the Capital Region. Our team brings the raw bar to you, featuring freshly shucked oysters, shrimp and other seafood selections.

Visit our Raw Bar Catering page to learn more or submit an inquiry for your event.

DO YOU SELL OYSTERS, CLAMS, MUSSELS AND OTHER SHELLFISH?

Yes! We carry wild littleneck clams, PEI mussels and wild dry scallops 10/20, along with a rotating selection of fresh oysters. We also offer claw & knuckle lobster meat, frozen lobster tails and live lobster. For live lobsters, we recommend calling ahead to pre-order so we can make sure we have what you need.

CAN I SPECIAL ORDER SEAFOOD YOU DON’T CURRENTLY HAVE?

Absolutely! Our seafood selection changes based on seasonality and availability, but if you’re looking for something specific, just ask. We’re happy to check with our suppliers to see if we can source it for you

DO YOU OFFER GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS?

Yes! Fresh seafood is naturally gluten-free, and we offer a variety of prepared options made without gluten-containing ingredients. If you have a food allergy or dietary restriction, please let us know, we’re happy to help you find the best options. Although we offer gluten-free options, our kitchen is not a gluten-free facility, so we cannot guarantee against cross-contact.

DO YOU HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY?

Please let us know when ordering. We’re happy to review ingredients and help you find options that may work for you. Because we handle a variety of seafood and other allergens in our shop and kitchen, we cannot guarantee against cross-contact.

DO YOU SELL WHOLE FISH?

Yes! We most often carry whole bronzini and whole rainbow trout, with availability changing from week to week. Check our Fresh Seafood page to see what’s available this week.

Looking for a specific whole fish? Just ask! We can often special order it for you — we’ve brought in everything from whole salmon to other specialty fish for our customers.

DO YOU SELL LIVE LOBSTERS?

Yes! We carry live Maine lobsters and recommend calling ahead or pre-ordering to make sure we have the size and quantity you need. We also carry claw & knuckle lobster meat and frozen lobster tails.