Union Oyster House

Great Oyster bar as soon as you come in. Generally, speaking you have to be lucky with your timing to grab a seat at the bar. We snagged two seats and had a half order of oysters with a cup of New England Chowder. They were great! The guys who were shucking were great. They also have dining tables and a very extensive menu if you want a more traditional dining experience.

Last time I was in Boston in 2013 I wasn't able to get into Union Oyster House because I was limited on time. This trip, I made sure that I allocated time and I was the first person in line when they opened the doors at 11 a.m. I asked for a small table and was provided a nice two-top booth in the back-room area. There are multiple rooms, seating size options, as well as bar seating at several bars. The facility is quite large and it's like a museum with tons of history adorning the walls, as well as several display cases and curios. I was greeted by Lorena who is a lovely person from Romania and was excellent to interact with. I wanted to try a few things so I ordered a cup of clam chowder and two appetizers for my lunch. I enjoyed their mixed seafood app which was cold shrimp, clams, and oysters; then I had an order of baked clams. Everything was delicious. The chowder was thick, creamy and tasted like the ocean. The cold seafood plate was clean, fresh and very good. This was my first time trying baked clams and I really enjoyed them. It was the perfect amount of food for a good lunch. I paired my meal with Sam Adams Colonial, which is brewed by Samuel Adams exclusively for this restaurant. It was sort of like a red ale finished in a molasses cask. Sounds funky, but it was really good and not overly sweet or heavy. I had a second glass for dessert. By the time I was leaving, the restaurant was packed and there was a line waiting to get in. I'm glad I went and I would certainly go again.

This building is old and you can tell. It’s a big part of what makes the whole experience eating here charming. Some of the space is tight so if you’re larger person make sure to ask for a table with more open space. Our service was wonderful. Each table was served with cornbread, which was delicious and a pleasant surprise. For starters: Clam Chowder: great taste and texture. 4.5/5 French Onion Soup: great taste better than expected. 4.5/5 1/2 dozen oysters: I have never had an oyster before so I don’t have a point of reference to judge. My dad however loved the sauces with the oysters and really seemed to enjoy them. Large Lobster: Cooked well and very fun to be served. I would recommend ordering tails because a full lobster doesn’t have much meat on it. So not worth the money. Pan Seared Chicken: this honestly was not good. I did not enjoy this chicken. It was dry and difficult to cut. My fault for ordering chicken at a seafood place. I would not recommend. The fries were good.

A visit to Union Oyster House is as much about the history as it is about the food. Walking up the old cobblestone street and stepping inside genuinely feels like going back in time. The centuries-old atmosphere, creaky floors, historic memorabilia, and Freedom Trail connection make it one of the coolest and most unique dining experiences in Boston. The food was solid overall. The hot lobster roll was packed with lobster and nicely prepared, and the portions were generous. The oysters, however, had a slightly fishy smell, which took away a bit from the experience, and the grilled chicken breast was a little dry. That said, you don’t come here expecting a cutting-edge seafood restaurant. You come for the history, character, and the feeling of dining in a place that has been serving guests for nearly 200 years. For that alone, it’s absolutely worth a visit at least once while in Boston. The atmosphere is ancient, authentic, and undeniably cool.