(617) 227-2750
41 Union St
(North Street)
Boston,
MA
02108
42.36122
-71.05703
Neighborhoods: Central, Downtown
Hours:
Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Price:
$$$
Last updated 5.12.11
Category:
Banquet Rooms, Restaurants, Clambakes
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard, Travelers Check
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Special Occasion Dining, Celeb Hangout, Private Rooms, Historic Setting, People Watching, Business Dining, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar
Cuisine:
Chowder, Traditional American, Seafood
Smoking Permitted:
No
What People Are Saying About Union Oyster House
The Owner
Union Oyster House
Owner
The Union Oyster House, located on the Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall, enjoys the unique distinction of being America's oldest restaurant. This Boston fixture is housed in a building dating back to pre-revolutionary days and started serving food in 1826. The stalls and oyster bar where Daniel Webster was a regular customer are in their original positions. Today's politicians, celebrities and tourists still come in to enjoy the food. We are the third family in nearly two centuries to own the Union Oyster House.
Featured Review
Eric Grossman
Contributor
In Short – Dating back to 1826, the Union Oyster House maintains a suitably old-fashioned tavern decor, with lots of weathered wood and a casual atmosphere. Tourists and locals rub shoulders to slurp down oysters and tuck into thick chowders and substantial pieces of grilled or baked fish. Bivalve lovers gather around the old-school raw bar to sample fresh cherrystones, littlenecks and steamers. Desserts include hot Indian pudding, homemade gingerbread and warm apple cobbler.
Editor's Tips
- Know Before You Go:
- Tables fill up on the oddest nights, and patrons aren't rushed once they're seated, so claim your seats in advance.
- When to Go:
- You can get a bite at the bar (including raw bar treats) until midnight on weekends.
| ambiance | 66.66999816894531% positive |
|
|---|---|---|
| dessert | 100.0% positive |
|
| drinks | 75.0% positive |
|
| food quality | 79.84000205993652% positive |
|
| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
|
| overall | 100.0% positive |
|
| return potential | 100.0% positive |
|
| service | 51.78999900817871% positive |
|
| value | 25.0% positive |
|
| wait time | 50.0% positive |
|
Not impressed
by lucky 13 at Citysearch
I found the restaurant extremely dirty. The servers do not clean the tables well. The food was not prepared well, and came to us cold. I did not eat the oysters because they were warm. The atmosphere didn't impress me either.
Union Oyster - overpriced tourist trap - don't waste your $$
by AndreaBB at Citysearch
We brought my sister and her family here on Sat 7/30/11, as they were visiting from out of town. The food was TERRIBLE and OVERPRICED. We were HIGHLY disappointed in the restaurant taking full advantage of their 'oldest restaurant' status. So sad that this has turned into another TOURIST TRAP RIP OFF......It could be so much better as the character of the building should match the quality of the food. The calamari and seafood entrees were greasy, and nothing special, and the oysters were overpriced and presented terribly (not over ice - with only plastic container of cocktail sauce, no horseradish, mignonette or anything..) Very disappointed...I wouldn't waste your money here...it's too bad...
Great food is worth the long wait
by pabreu21 at Citysearch
The food was great. I went with some friends and we all had different seafood dishes and I was able to taste a bunch of them, they all were great. The prices are fair, the only downside is that there is a long wait if you go on weekends.
Mmmmmmm
by Alicia32 at Citysearch
This place is delicious. i went out here with my boyfriend a few nights ago and we had the best oysters ive had in a looong time. If you go get the, duh, oysters. or at least the platter with the oysters. Its also really cool how old the place is, like 1800 or something. The area is really fun to go out afterwards too, especially if your visiting Boston on vacation go check out the area, very Boston.
- Pros: I love oysters
- Cons: needs a better wine selection lol
The Details on Union Oyster House
Place Categories:
- good food
- poor customer service
- famous clam chowder
- great 9the service
- love place
- tasteless lobster
- great new england seafood
- very fresh raw oysters
- fresh clams
- most interesting restaurants
- nice bar
- great history
- polite people
- big portion
- great local beer
- unacceptable attitude
- super friendly waiter
- worst experience
- not fresh oysters
- delightful shell fish
- bad drinks
- overpriced terrible seafood
- dirty building
- not bother waitress
- not like cornbread
As Seen In…
Message from Union Oyster House
- Nearby historic attractions
- Meetings and functions
- Celebrity sightings
The Union Oyster House, located on the Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall, enjoys the unique distinction of being America's oldest restaurant.
This Boston fixture is housed in a building dating back to pre-revolutionary days and started serving food in 1826. The stalls and oyster bar where Daniel Webster was a regular customer are in their original positions. Today's politicians, celebrities and tourists still come in to enjoy the food.
We are the third family in nearly two centuries to own the Union Oyster House.


