Union Oyster House

4.3

8665 Reviews

$30 and under

Seafood

Make a booking

2 people

23 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 104 times today

Charming
Neighbourhood gem
Good for special occasions

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, housed in a building dating back to Pre-Revolutionary days, started serving food in 1826 and has continued ever since with the stalls and oyster bar, where Daniel Webster was a constant customer, in their original positions.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 227-2750
Website
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com?y_source=1_MjY4Nzk0MjktODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU=/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
Area
Faneuil Hall
Parking details
Parcel #7 Garage: Not clearly labeled (sorry). If the Union Oyster House is on your right, the brick building STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU is the garage. Drive towards it, make a quick left (Hanover St.) right (Congress St.) and right again (Sudbury St.) The fee after validation is 3.$ for 3 hours
Public transit
Two options: Take the Blue or Green Line to Government Center. Walk down the stairs along the side of City Hall and cross Congress Street. We are across the street. Note we are across from the New England Holocaust Memorial. Or, take the Orange or Green Line to Haymarket,left on Congress,left on Hanover,right on Union.
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Popular dishes

Broiled Boston ScrodUS$27.95
A New England Tradition. Crusted with seasoned bread crumbs
Homemade Lump Crab CakesUS$29.95
Ye olde recipe, with lemon aioli
Tender Sweet Clams
fried to perfection
- Market Price
Fried Select OystersUS$29.95
a Union Oyster House Tradition
Grilled Salmon FilletUS$28.95
Farm raised in the Atlantic Ocean
Sautéed Shrimp & ScallopsUS$33.95
Served with a sundried tomato cream sauce over rice
Crispy Fried Butterfly ShrimpUS$24.95
with fries and cole slaw
Broiled Sea ScallopsUS$33.95
Our native deep sea scallops, lightly crusted with seasoned breadcrumbs
Grilled Marinated Chicken BreastUS$19.95
Served with fresh vegetables and rice
Ye Olde Fish & ChipsUS$23.95
served with cole slaw
Catch of the Day "Off the Boat"
A changing variety of fresh seafood, ask your server for today's catch
- Market Price
Ye Olde Seafood PlatterUS$36.95
Fried Fish, Clams, Oysters, Shrimp and Calamari Served with French Fries & Cole Slaw
The Lobster Pot
New England Hard-Shell Lobsters. Boiled Or Broiled: Medium (11⁄4 - 11⁄2 lbs.) or Large (2lbs.)
- Market Price

FOR CHILDREN

12 and under, served with French fries

Fried Fish Fillet Sandwich*US$12.95
Hamburger, Sliders (2)*US$12.95
Fried Chicken Tenders*US$12.95
Mac & Cheese*US$9.95
Grilled Hot Dog*US$9.95
Grilled Cheese Sandwich*US$9.95

DESSERTS

Warm Apple CobblerUS$10.95
Boston Cream PieUS$11.95
Ice CreamUS$8.95

ON THE SIDE

Boston Baked BeansUS$8.95

What 8,665 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Greater Boston
Most Booked
Boston
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Union Oyster House offers a unique, historic Boston dining experience, perfect for seafood lovers. Known for its "authentic old-world Boston ambiance" and "great food," visitors rave about the clam chowder and lobster rolls. While some find it "touristy," the service is frequently praised, making it a "must visit" for history enthusiasts.

8,665 Reviews

L
Lisa
Austin
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was great! Justice, our server, was very attentive. We were on the 3rd floor which is a quieter area.
Is this helpful?
Y
Yulia
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All was good Waiter was excellent! We will come back again for sure!
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K
Kelly
VIP
Salt Lake City
35 reviews
5.0
35 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Initially, we were a party of 7, but my daughter decided to stay back @ the hotel. They seated us @ the late President Kennedys booth! Ambience is fantastic, and the fish special delicious. We are glad we.chose to eat @ this historic place.
Is this helpful?
Y
Yvonne
VIP
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was really good from the complimentary cornbread to the Boston cream pie. We had the cold plate with clams, oysters, and shrimp and a cold lobster roll. It was a slow night off-season but still amazing. Our server was attentive and the overall ambiance was nice.
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N
Noah
Greater Boston
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
Limited menu. Service was fine. Didn’t like the options
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K
KATHLEEN
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Quaint. Overpriced. Paying to experience a bit of Boston history. Two person meal was $92. I had mashed potatoes and soda. Companion had 6 oysters and broiled scallops. $92 meal with tip.
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P
Peggy
Greater Boston
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Holiday Tradition - always feels like a special night out. Lots of history, ambiance, the service is always friendly - even when the restaurant is very busy. A must visit if you are in Boston.
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D
Daniel
VIP
Greater Boston
7 reviews
2.0
7 reviews
Dined on 15 December 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I was so disappointed to find that this restaurant now offers tours during business hours. I was sitting with my elderly mother trying to enjoy our lunch when a tour guide and a large group of people came in and parked themselves directly behind our booth .The guide went on and on about the history of the restaurant. People were staring at us and taking pictures...My mother was so upset she could not eat...in what world is this acceptable? We were horrified....we have been coming here for fifty years and cannot believe that things have come to this....needless to say I will not be returning....
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j
jean
New York City
7 reviews
1.0
7 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
Staff pleasant . Food over priced, lacking taste , had the lazy man’s lobster, it was dry, not moist ( with” sherry and cream “ as advertised.) Appetizers of crab cakes were ok , not impressive. Totally disappointing. History and oyster shell decoration table was cute and inviting. But, pass on the food and go to the bar, if you’re looking to visit for the historical significance.
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P
Paige
Greater Boston
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The food was not as good as we expected. The overall vibe of being an old building and the history is cool but food was not great. The chowder was overly creamy, the fish and chips were practically cold and did not seem to be fried fresh. The French onion soup was decent.
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FAQs

Union Oyster House offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 227-2750.

Union Oyster House is rated 4.3 stars by 8665 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

23 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 104 times today

Order delivery or takeout

41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108

Additional information

Area
Faneuil Hall
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parcel #7 Garage: Not clearly labeled (sorry). If the Union Oyster House is on your right, the brick building STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU is the garage. Drive towards it, make a quick left (Hanover St.) right (Congress St.) and right again (Sudbury St.) The fee after validation is 3.$ for 3 hours
Public transit
Two options: Take the Blue or Green Line to Government Center. Walk down the stairs along the side of City Hall and cross Congress Street. We are across the street. Note we are across from the New England Holocaust Memorial. Or, take the Orange or Green Line to Haymarket,left on Congress,left on Hanover,right on Union.
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Website
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com?y_source=1_MjY4Nzk0MjktODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU=/
Phone number
(617) 227-2750

Union Oyster House

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Oyster House Clam Chowder

The Lobster Pot

Chilled Lobster Roll

APPETIZERS

Chilled Shrimp CocktailUS$19.95

Fried "Crispy" CalamariUS$22.95

MusselsUS$19.95

Homemade Lump Crab CakesUS$25.95

Baked Stuffed Clams (3)US$19.95

SOUPS & CHOWDERS

Oyster House Clam ChowderUS$13.95

Fish ChowderUS$13.95

Soup of the DayUS$11.95

ON THE HALF SHELL

Freshly Shucked Oysters*US$21.95

Native Cherrystone Clams*US$19.95

Cold Seafood Sampler*US$23.95

THE SALAD PLATES

Union CaesarUS$12.95

Mixed Field GreensUS$11.95

SANDWICHES

Chilled Lobster Roll

Homemade Lump Crab CakeUS$24.95

Charbroiled Hamburger*US$19.95

Fried Oyster RollUS$24.95

Fish SandwichUS$19.95

Fried Clam Roll

Union Chicken ClubUS$20.95

Seared Fish TacosUS$19.95

OYSTER HOUSE FAVORITES

Broiled Boston ScrodUS$27.95

Homemade Lump Crab CakesUS$29.95

Tender Sweet Clams

Fried Select OystersUS$29.95

Grilled Salmon FilletUS$28.95

Sautéed Shrimp & ScallopsUS$33.95

Crispy Fried Butterfly ShrimpUS$24.95

Broiled Sea ScallopsUS$33.95

Grilled Marinated Chicken BreastUS$19.95

Ye Olde Fish & ChipsUS$23.95

Catch of the Day "Off the Boat"

Ye Olde Seafood PlatterUS$36.95

The Lobster Pot

FOR CHILDREN

Fried Fish Fillet Sandwich*US$12.95

Hamburger, Sliders (2)*US$12.95

Fried Chicken Tenders*US$12.95

Mac & Cheese*US$9.95

Grilled Hot Dog*US$9.95

Grilled Cheese Sandwich*US$9.95

DESSERTS

Warm Apple CobblerUS$10.95

Boston Cream PieUS$11.95

Ice CreamUS$8.95

ON THE SIDE

Boston Baked BeansUS$8.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Union Oyster House offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Union Oyster House restaurant rated?

Is Union Oyster House currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information