Union Oyster House

The Union Oyster House is the oldest continually-operating restaurant and oyster bar in the United States. This coupled with its convenient central location was enough to convince me of visiting. The food was great with generous portions. The range of seafood options on the menu was also great. Perfect as a treat and open till late, which is a bonus. This historical landmark also has its own gift shop where you purchase merchandise imprinted with the Union Oyster House logo.

Boston is one of my majestic cities to go tour. The Union Oyster House has time so thick on its walls it transports you to the old days. Food is amazing but go with a fat wallet.

The Union Oyster House is a Boston Classic. While I cannot support or disprove their claim that they are the United States' oldest, continuously open restaurant, it looks old and cosy indeed. The lobster was good, and so were the oysters. Service was friendly. However, the interior is a bit run down, the windows did not shut well and it was frigid at our table, and given the price point, one expects a more of a wholesome, well-rounded experience rather than the plain lobster-shack feel.

We were visiting Boston from Toronto and this was our first restaurant stop. With the rave reviews we were not disappointed! First off, oldest restaurant in Boston, just adds to the overall experience here. Walking into the place is like stepping back in time. Second, our server here was excellent. He was knowledgeable on the menu and provided his recommendations based on our preferences. We ended going for the clam chowder, lobster, and steamers. With the clam chowder being our first experience in Boston, we were certainly not disappointed. It was creamy, thick and had ample potatoes and clams!! It is a must try at the Union Oyster House. Fun fact that the server shared with us; on your way out of the restaurant you can check in at the main desk (beside the gift shop) and requests the recipes for both the clam chowder and the cornbread! Nice little added bonus to top-off your visit here

Really good food but prices higher than reasonable in my opinion. Location adds to that but lots of places near with great food too and better prices. You go here because of the history. You then go elsewhere next time for the prices. Cool to see and eat there...once

Travelers, the union oyster house is a step back in history and time. Belly up to the ancient oyster bar that served Daniel Webster himself. The rooms are charming and the atmosphere is old and staid. A great place for an elegant meal. A place to bring out of town guests. Try the shrimp and scallops because they are delicious. So are the oysters Rockefeller. Any of the chowders are excellent too. Check it out. We recommend.

Authentic historical feel and good food despite the obvious tourism. I loved it. The staff was friendly and helpful and the lobster was delicious.

God what a gorgeous building and restaurant..so much history! We were there in Winter but it was lovely and warm inside, really cosy. The cornbread they bring out is sooo good, as is all the fresh seafood. The servings are substantial, and the drinks are great too. Only reason not 5 stars is b/c one of my mussels had smashed and I almost broke a tooth/slashed my tongue on the shards of shell in the sauce. Overall, it isn't a tourist trap, it is a must visit for Boston!

Food:This place offers high quality seafood. The lobster was delicious and full of flavors. The complimentary corn bread stole the show, it was the best, most buttery and yummy corn bread I’ve ever had!Service:Friendly and attentive servers, food came relatively fast.Atmosphere:Because this place is old and historical, the inside of the restaurant was dark, and the old wood flooring feels a little dusty and sticky at the time of my visit, put me on my edge a little bit.

Sat at the oyster bar and had a great time. Oysters are tasty. Cornbread was top notch. Beer and service were amazing. Place has a really fun and welcoming vibe. I had my very first oyster ever here! Neat history and some cool decor, too.I recommend sitting at the oyster bar! It's a neat experience. They also have a unique beer from Sam Adam's they only serve at Union Oyster House that's really good.

If I could give this place more than five stars I would! It still looks and feels like a colonial era restaurant, it still has the vibe of when our founding fathers would eat here and meet here. The food was excellent, and it didn't break the bank. Our waitress and the entire staff was very friendly and nice. I'm not going to lie It was a very long wait, it's worth it to try to make reservations if you can.

I need to be here because it's nice to sit in the one of the oldest restaurant in this city. Crab cake, Lobster roll, Fried oysters roll, half dozen half shell oysters, Bloody mary all of this is amazing delicious. I love the exterior and interior design. Excellent services as well. I have a perfect moment here.

From start to finish, our group had a fantastic experience at the Union Oyster House. Being a big group of high school students, we always anticipate being a frustration for restaurants, but Union House never let on that we were a bother. They were not only accommodating for our group, but they truly went above and beyond in their helpfulness and friendliness with our kids. They split our checks for the kids, they were prompt and professional with their service, and they even had meaningful conversations with our students. Not to mention the food was fantastic. I had the shrimp and scallops while the kids raced above their lobster ravioli! Massive thanks to the mine manager and staff who made life experience memorable and wonderful! We’ll certainly be back when we come again!

A great place to enjoy what seafood Boston can offer. We had a Union grilled oysters, a cold seafood sampler, a shore dinner with a 1.5 lbs lobster accompanied by steamer clams and clam chowder, a bouillabaisse, a seafood medley pasta. We liked the shore dinner and bouillabaisse the best. In addition, the bread was very tasty, but we took only a little knowing that great food would follow.

It's a historical restaurant in Boston and a must see. Many famous people have visited this resteraunt include John Kennedy. It's like a little museum. The food is awesome especially the seafood. The staff is also very friendly. I highly recommend this place which is also close to the public market another must see.

We had the best time at Union Oyster House. The bartender, Antone, was awesome and entertaining! He showed our daughter the lobsters in the tank (and how one holds a fork) and then gave us a tour to show us the history of the building. The oysters were great too! We’d definitely go back!

The thought of the place was cool, and very historical, however this was by FAR the worst food we had on our trip. Cold lobster roll had zero flavor, scallops were so over seasoned in old bay and the texture was not right. Lobster with bread crumbs was very average. For the money you spent I expected a much higher end experience in terms of food quality. Edit. Three stars since the french onion soup was actually really good.

Old school style pub (same business and same location from 1826) with excellent local seafood. Great options for local draft beer. I sat at the bar and had great conversations with local Patriots fans about NFL game next day. Super busy. Did not get to the upstairs restaurant.

This place was very good! Visited for Restaurant Week. Started with Fried Calamari, excellent. Entree, I went with lightly fried oysters which came with french fries... Yummy! Finished it off with apple cobbler. Good stuff. Worth coming back. Next time I would like to sit at the oyster bar.

I started actually coming here every time I visit Boston. I love their clam chowder and I love that their raw oysters are always fresh. The service is also friendly.

My friend & her sister were visiting Boston from Wichita, KS (I went to school here). We decided to catch up for dinner near my workplace and we love seafood. So this was an obvious choice. I ordered the Ravioli Shrimp, she ordered Seafood medley (it had every seafood in it) and her sister ordered Thai Clamshells. While we were waiting for our order. The waiter got us each a complimentary slice of cornbread with butter on the side. The cornbread was a bit dry but does the thing. The shrimp and ravioli surprisingly balance each other out. And I had a bit of Clam in Thai peanut sauce from my friend's sister. I regret not ordering that and it just melts in your mouth! Overall a great historic feel, cute gift store, scrumptious seafood & a must-try place if you're visiting Boston or even if you love seafood.

Food was worth the wait. Started with the New England Clam chowder and loved it. Their cornbread was pretty awesome. I ordered the Scrod and it was very good. Got a Sam Adam's Colonial which can only be bought at U.O.H. My wife got the hot oyster house sampler and enjoyed it. Finished with Boston Cream pie for dessert which was very good. Definitely tourist prices and we waited a fair bit of time but would recommend trying it out at least once.

This is the oldest restaurant in America. The food has to be good to be around this long and it really is. I felt like I was back in time. I think if you can you should go there.

Great place and very recommended for those who intended to try the oyster. They really did great in serving the oyster!

Wonderful experience for someone visiting the city!The clam chowder and oysters were excellent, and our waitress Theresa made us feel welcome while also filling us in on other things to see in town.Would really suggest if you are seeing the city for the first time!

Cool historical pub in Boston that was founded by the town crier, Jimmy Wilson, in 1795. They have a special Sam Adams beer as he was a frequent patron. Great seafood! A little pricey though (as most of these spots are). It was pretty easy to get in with 2 people for dinner, but I hear it fills up later at night! Four stars because it’s pretty touristy.

Great dining atmosphere in this historic relic of a restaurant. Very cool selection of Sam Adams beer, one even brewed specifically for the restaurant. Unfortunately, the food leaves a bit more to be desired. Ordered the steamed lobster and mussels. No rush to return to Union House in the near future.

We were seated immediately and the staff was very friendly and patient. We ordered a bowl of class chowder and the trio sampler with fish cake, cream cake, and lobster cake.The chowder was good and had a decent amount of clams in it. The trio was underwhelming for the price and not what I was expecting. It was literally one of each cake over a bed of salad. I thought it would be at least two of each for the price. The cakes were not large and were the size of a little bite muffin. The crab cake was good but the fish cake didn't really taste like anything. The lobster cake was a little too dense for me.Overall it feels more like a touristy place to go to check out.

I was in Boston for business and visited the Union Oyster House for lunch. They have an extensive menu that is sure to please everyone. I ordered the lobster roll and was very pleased. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent and the establishment itself was like sitting in a museum. There were so many cool, historical artifacts everywhere. I'd highly recommend you visit Union Oyster House if you are ever in the area.

I've only had lunch there once, but it was fantastic. However, I come here for their clam chowder. I usually do take out while I'm at work. Have never been disappointed, always comes with a load of oyster crackers (big bags too) and more delicious corn bread than one could possibly eat in a sitting. It's one of my favorite meals in Boston. If clam chowder is what you are seeking, this is the answer.

This place was great! Our service both times we came was superb. I can’t figure out which was my favorite, the Boston key lime pie or the chowder. Who am I kidding, I loved both! This place was recommended to us and it lived up to the hype. Highly recommend!

Very nice restaurant. It's truly America's oldest restaurant. Excellent food, great service, nice customer service and perfect location. Will go back here as many times as possible. Great experience!!!

I've loved this place for nearly 30 years and visit every time I return to Boston. Simply oozes history. Not a big fan of the wall of celebrities. Kind of cheapens the real historical value of sitting at an oyster bar where our founding fathers sat. Still, the food is great without being over priced. Since Durgin Park closed, it's one of the last uniquely Boston restaurants.

A great, lively place with an extensive menu. Good, friendly service. Be prepared to wait even with a reservation but it's worth it 😍

Ira & Debbie made our experience absolutely top notch. We were taken care of from the second we walked in the door until the second we signed our check. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who loves seafood.

Second time at the oyster house & it is amazing! The oysters and chowder were the best I had in town. My favorite part was the service! Dan & Ben Provided great service and we had fun hanging out at the bar with them.

A wonderful restaurant with a lot of history! If you love history and fish then you are right here! Enjoy your food and let the wall paintings and pictures tell you the story about the oldiest continually operated restaurant oyster bar in the USA. This is one of the best fish restaurants here, the fish is delivered fresh to the restaurant, depending on the needs, the market price varies, especially for the lobster. The little lobster was for $ 36 and the big one was $ 69. I had this beautiful tasty "Seafood Newburg" with scallops and shrimp in a lovely rich creamy cherry sauce and I loved it <3

Loved the historical aspect of the restaurant and the oysters were wonderful. However, the haddock was disappointing and service was quite slow. Waited for over 10 minutes for my check as the server disappeared and never returned towards the end of our meal. Had to flag down a busboy to find another server to bring my check. I would recommend a beer and oysters at the bar instead of the full dining experience. Overall the restaurant appeared to be a tourist trap.

Union is, in my mind, an Oyster Bucket List Location - a Place you must visit if you appreciate Oysters.Historically THE longest running restaurant in NorthAmerica. Wait if you must - to sit ant the ancient, former Horse trough-Oyster Bar and engage with the Shuckers - banter if you can... The Signature “Cobblestone Banger” technique is unique to Union, and has been taught through the generations. Enjoy the Oysters and Clams on the half shell, chowder, and the Lobster Roll.

With the bragging rights of being America's Oldest Restaurant, there's no way we were visiting Boston without visiting Union Oyster House. The service was quick and friendly as soon as we sat at the bar. We picked a lobster from their tank and got fries and cornbread with it. It was delicious. After sitting at the oyster bar, talking with the hospitable staff, and eating their food, I can say I fully understand why Union Oyster House is America's Oldest Restaurant.

Superb food and stellar service. A real sense of history pervades this place, but they don't trade on that alone. The food is delicious and the staff are charming. The JFK Booth and the Oyster Bar are both great touches.

Best NE clam chowder in Boston. They also carry a custom made Sam Adams beer only found here.

I'm in town on business and stumbled upon this place. Being my first time in Boston I did not want a chain restraint or fast food. Being a history buff I was curious about this place's claim to being the oldest restaurant. I'm so glad I stopped in. The service was fantastic. The food was delicious. I had the fish and chips and it was by far the best I have ever had. The corn bread is good too (and I normally don't care for it).

I hadn't ever really given clam chowder a fair shot before. I had it here and it was delicious.Staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice.Also got the chicken Ceasar salad which was enormous and filling at a good price.I now find myself craving for clam chowder.

We popped in here while visiting Boston to check out the oysters and have a drink. We sat at the oyster bar and watched them shuck fresh oysters right in front of us! All oysters were served with horseradish and lemon. They had various Tabasco sauces and cocktail on the table. They were very tasty, and the staff were knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Hollywood showed off the lobsters by making them do “tricks”. I will definitely visit again when I’m back in the area.

I was craving chowder so stopped in to get some to go. One size which was the bowl was available. $10.95 (tax incl.) Definitely shocked at the price but obviously still got it. They put 4 oyster cracker packets in the bag as well as some cornbread which was good. I make better cornbread but I liked theirs! Too expensive for a bowl of chowder but it was delicious.

Recently dined at the UOH. We ordered the clam chowder... which was very good. Followed by the fried seafood platter, broiled seafood platter and baked beans. I think the beans were the best part of the meal. The rest was quite bland. I was expecting more. Our server was awesome, though, and the space is quite steeped in history. Glad we went but would not return. Also, the bathrooms are impossibly small.

Very nice decor!The clam chowder was very very ordinary! I had better chowder at a nearby place that has been operating for all of a couple of years as opposed to 1826 as claimed by Union Oyster House!The barman,though,was very nice and polite.😁

My family and I had an excellent meal in this historic restaurant. I highly recommend dining here for a unique Boston experience. This is the oldest restaurant in America.