Boston >
Union Oyster House
Best of Citysearch
- Neighborhoods:
- Downtown, Central
- Categories:
- Banquet Rooms, Restaurants
- Cuisine:
- Chowder, Traditional American, Seafood, Seafood
- Price:
- $$$
- Restaurant Special Features:
- Payment Methods:
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At a Glance
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66% ambiance
“Service & ambience great.”
100% dessert
“The combo plate of crab, fish and lobster cakes was good served over nice mixed baby greens.”
75% drinks
“Our waitress recommended a great local beer for hubby.”
79% food quality
“The history behind the Union Oyster Bar and the artwork that covers the walls are reason enough to go but you'll return because of the GREAT seafood and excellent service.”
100% menu variety
“Why is it on the menu if there is nothing good about the dish?”
100% overall
“great historic restaurant”
100% return potential
“The history behind the Union Oyster Bar and the artwork that covers the walls are reason enough to go but you'll return because of the GREAT seafood and excellent service.”
51% service
“can deal with that but the attitude of our server was unacceptable.”
25% value
“Locals already know to avoid it because of poor service and high prices for below average seafood.”
50% wait time
“The wait was extremely long even though we had reservations, the service was not good and the prices were high.”
Write a Tip for
Union Oyster House
From The Owner of Union Oyster House
About Union Oyster House
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America's oldest restaurant
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Meetings and functions
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Union Oyster House. (857) 264-238
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. (857) 264-2380
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Tips for Union Oyster House
August 15, 2011
Not impressed. 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.
0
Heart
August 01, 2011
Union Oyster - overpriced tourist trap - don't waste your $$. 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...
0
Heart
September 30, 2010
Great food is worth the long wait. 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.
0
Heart
June 22, 2010
Mmmmmmm. 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.
0
Heart
February 17, 2010
Must-Try Seafood and Clam Chowder.
This is America's oldest restaurant and it has visitors ranging from politicians, historical figures to celebrities. With a great history behind it, Union Oyster House has been featured in Travel channel and Food Network. Therefore, it is one of my must-visit stop to Boston despite some mediocre reviews I saw.
It looks like this restaurant still keeps it old design and decor with some posters and photos of celebrities who came to dine here. They have a bar on the first floor and quieter dining areas and private party rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor. After an hour or so wait, we finally got seated and our waiter was super friendly and nice.
Since I don't eat oysters, I have my boyfriend do the honor for me, ordering a dozen of the native oysters. We also shared a bowl of their famous Clam Chowder. For entree, he got the boiled Seafood Platter and I got the Seafood Newburg.
The clam chowder is very thick and creamy. They definitely add a ton of heavy cream in it and it is undoubtedly tasty. Honestly, I think they could add more clams. Oysters on the other hand, according to my boyfriend, are very fresh and contain little after-taste. I really like my entree, Seafood Newburg. It is consist of shrimp, lobster meat and scallops sauteed in creamy sauce with a cream puff and side of rice pilaf. They gave you a generous portion of seafood and the creamy sauce is just perfect.
The boiled seafood platter is amazing too. They gave you salmon, scallops, sword fish and shrimps with potatoes. My boyfriend and I were both stuffed at the end. What do we think of Union Oyster House? It serves pretty damn good seafood and just think about the fact that JFK, Sam Adam and other famous people used to dine here, I could say I have been here too!
0
Heart
January 20, 2010
Best sea food and atmosphere in boston. If you want a coke and a smile go to the mid-west. Your in an old dirty building on the east coast in a city rich in american history and Boston attitude. I eat there ever time Im in town and its always good.
0
Heart
November 24, 2009
Gone Down Hill .... Expensive , Poor Service, Lousy Food. The group that owns the Union Oyster House does not compare to the Father and Son who owned it up until the mid 1970's... back then the food was great... the wait staff had been there forever and it was a career and not just an annoying "job". The management is uncaring--- after the buck-- and move on .... They do not know good old fashioned New England Cooking.... the owners are not familiar with this type of food ... maybe they should turn it into a spaghetti emporium, some kind of cookery they are actually familiar with. Go to any other Boston seafood eatery...
0
Heart
September 30, 2009
Worst restaurant ever.
Why this place was praised so much as a must come to see for Boston ? Besides, its history, I don't think the place and the food are worth the trip. The foods were awful and expensive. The drinks were bad, but still better than the food and you have to wait longer than 30 minutes to get to their tiny dining room upstair when they stacked people into isolated corner and you waited forever for the waiters to notice you are there, since they are not really busy.
My worst experience so far in a Boston's restaurant.
0
Heart
April 15, 2009
Dirty. Not sure what all the hype is. Not traditional New England seafood . It's for out of towners.. that do not know where to get good New England Seafood. Anyone can get Chowder from a can, and through some clams in it!!!! Not worth the $$$$.
0
Heart
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Union Oyster House
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