Union Oyster House

4.5

8726 Reviews

$30 and under

Seafood

Make a booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

9:30 pm

Booked 125 times today

About this restaurant

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 11:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–22:00
Phone number
(617) 227-2750
Website
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com?y_source=1_MjY4Nzk0MjktODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D/
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, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access

Popular dishes

Chilled Lobster Roll
Market Price
- Market Price
Homemade Lump Crab CakeUSD 24.95
Charbroiled Hamburger*USD 19.95
Fried Oyster RollUSD 24.95
Fish SandwichUSD 19.95
w/ aged cheddar cheese
Fried Clam Roll
Market Price
- Market Price
Union Chicken ClubUSD 20.95
Seared Fish TacosUSD 19.95
Also served Thai style

OYSTER HOUSE FAVORITES

All entrees served with choice of vegetable, mashed potato, French fries or rice

Broiled Boston ScrodUSD 27.95
A New England Tradition. Crusted with seasoned bread crumbs
Homemade Lump Crab CakesUSD 29.95
Ye olde recipe, with lemon aioli
Tender Sweet Clams
fried to perfection
- Market Price
Fried Select OystersUSD 29.95
a Union Oyster House Tradition
Grilled Salmon FilletUSD 28.95
Farm raised in the Atlantic Ocean
Sautéed Shrimp & ScallopsUSD 33.95
Served with a sundried tomato cream sauce over rice
Crispy Fried Butterfly ShrimpUSD 29.95
with fries and cole slaw
Broiled Sea ScallopsUSD 33.95
Our native deep sea scallops, lightly crusted with seasoned breadcrumbs
Grilled Marinated Chicken BreastUSD 19.95
Served with fresh vegetables and rice
Ye Olde Fish & ChipsUSD 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 PlatterUSD 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*USD 12.95
Hamburger, Sliders (2)*USD 12.95
Fried Chicken Tenders*USD 12.95
Mac & Cheese*USD 9.95
Grilled Hot Dog*USD 9.95
Grilled Cheese Sandwich*USD 9.95

DESSERTS

Warm Apple CobblerUSD 10.95
Boston Cream PieUSD 11.95
Ice CreamUSD 8.95

ON THE SIDE

Boston Baked BeansUSD 8.95

What 8,726 people are saying

Union Oyster House reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Union Oyster House offers a historic dining experience in Boston, renowned for its "rich history and charm." Diners appreciate the "excellent service" and New England cuisine, particularly the clam chowder and oysters. While some find it "pricey," many visitors highlight the unique atmosphere and recommend it as a "must-visit" spot.

8,726 Reviews

S
Stephanie
Greater Boston11 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was super busy due to St. Patrick’s Day weekend, but delicious as usual!
Is this helpful?
M
Megan
Washington DC10 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We arrived early and seated earlier than our reservation. Service was excellent, food was tasty and atmosphere was perfect for a long day of siteseeing.
Is this helpful?
M
Matthew
Greater Boston4 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful service and great history! Great selection of food !
Is this helpful?
C
Carol VIP
Chicago15 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
For us great ambience and history overcame overpriced and uneven food. Very good crab cakes and corn bread. Clam chowder was good but served lukewarm. Caesar salad must have been under a heat lamp. Baked beans were good but I can buy a can at the grocery store. The small bathrooms need more frequent attendance. We enjoyed our visit but will try somewhere else next time.
Is this helpful?
C
Cristina
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our friend Nabil S., who frequently tours here, recommended Union Oyster House. It was the best recommendation we could've asked for! There is so much history, a great location, amazing food, and wonderful staff! Our waitress, Esme, was an absolute delight.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 9 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Stephanie was our server, we had the Kennedy Booth. She was great, the food was great and we had a wonderful meal.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa4 reviews
2.0
Dined on 9 March 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
I expected it to be touristy and was still disappointed. Service was really bad and food was bland. Wife and I had clam chowder and oysters appetizers. The chowder was lukewarm and the oysters were really thin. We decided to leave and get dinner somewhere else.
Is this helpful?
k
kara
New York City5 reviews
3.0
Dined on 9 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The staff was lovely. Super friendly and attentive. That’s the only reason to go. I’d suggest the bar for drinks and a snack. Not worth it for dinner. It’s wildly expensive for what you’re getting. No frills dishes. $20 for 6 oysters that weren’t great and gritty. Plastic containers thrown on top with horseradish and cocktail sauce. For the price, you could go to much better places where the food is much better, and fresher. Bathrooms are pretty gross. It made me a bit concerned for overall cleanliness.
Is this helpful?
M
Mathew Anthony
San Francisco6 reviews
5.0
Dined on 7 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and our server was such a delight! Navigating the area is a pain but parking is plentiful. The ambiance was cozy with a lot of historical knick knacks to look at. The clam chowder is a must and the seafood is so fresh! Will absolutely come again!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
London4 reviews
5.0
Dined on 7 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food and service, as an Italian with a passion for seafood I had very high standards and being able to try New England staples such as clam chowder and other dishes such as fried oyster was an amazing experience. Also I want to thank my server as he was amazing and exactly what I consider to an example of great serving.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Union Oyster House is rated 4.5 stars by 8726 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

9:30 pm

Booked 125 times today

Order delivery or takeout

41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108

Additional information

Area
Faneuil Hall
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–22:00
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, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access

Website
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com?y_source=1_MjY4Nzk0MjktODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D/
Phone number
(617) 227-2750

Union Oyster House

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Oyster House Clam Chowder

The Lobster Pot

Chilled Lobster Roll

APPETIZERS

Chilled Shrimp CocktailUSD 19.95

Fried "Crispy" CalamariUSD 22.95

MusselsUSD 19.95

Homemade Lump Crab CakesUSD 25.95

Baked Stuffed Clams (3)USD 19.95

SOUPS & CHOWDERS

Oyster House Clam ChowderUSD 13.95

Fish ChowderUSD 13.95

Soup of the DayUSD 11.95

ON THE HALF SHELL

Freshly Shucked Oysters 1/2 Doz.*USD 21.95

Native Cherrystone Clams 1/2 Doz.*USD 19.95

Cold Seafood Sampler*USD 23.95

THE SALAD PLATES

Union CaesarUSD 12.95

Mixed Field GreensUSD 11.95

SANDWICHES

Chilled Lobster Roll

Homemade Lump Crab CakeUSD 24.95

Charbroiled Hamburger*USD 19.95

Fried Oyster RollUSD 24.95

Fish SandwichUSD 19.95

Fried Clam Roll

Union Chicken ClubUSD 20.95

Seared Fish TacosUSD 19.95

OYSTER HOUSE FAVORITES

Broiled Boston ScrodUSD 27.95

Homemade Lump Crab CakesUSD 29.95

Tender Sweet Clams

Fried Select OystersUSD 29.95

Grilled Salmon FilletUSD 28.95

Sautéed Shrimp & ScallopsUSD 33.95

Crispy Fried Butterfly ShrimpUSD 29.95

Broiled Sea ScallopsUSD 33.95

Grilled Marinated Chicken BreastUSD 19.95

Ye Olde Fish & ChipsUSD 23.95

Catch of the Day "Off the Boat"

Ye Olde Seafood PlatterUSD 36.95

The Lobster Pot

FOR CHILDREN

Fried Fish Fillet Sandwich*USD 12.95

Hamburger, Sliders (2)*USD 12.95

Fried Chicken Tenders*USD 12.95

Mac & Cheese*USD 9.95

Grilled Hot Dog*USD 9.95

Grilled Cheese Sandwich*USD 9.95

DESSERTS

Warm Apple CobblerUSD 10.95

Boston Cream PieUSD 11.95

Ice CreamUSD 8.95

ON THE SIDE

Boston Baked BeansUSD 8.95

Overall ratings and reviews

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