Union Oyster House 

Historic Boston seafood restaurant near Faneuil Hall

For a fabulous lobster dinner, go to Union Oyster House, an almost 200-year-old Boston seafood restaurant near Faneuil Hall.

Open since 1826, this historic restaurant once boasted President John F. Kennedy as one of its regulars, and continues to top "Best Lobster Dinner in Boston" lists.

Oyster House claims to be the oldest restaurant in Boston as well as the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S., serving food and drink to diners since 1826.

The building on Union Street (laid out by Colonists in 1636) where Union Oyster House is located has been there since at least the 1740s - roughly 30 years before the American Revolution.  This is one of the oldest parts of the city, where narrow winding streets remind us of the 17th century Colonial past. 

Although Boston has its share of historic bars and taverns, known for their beverages and homey food, Union Oyster House is known best for a different type of bar - its oyster bar - although you'll find plenty of good drinks here as well. 

Aside from history, why would you want to come to Union Oyster House?  Well, it is one of the best Boston seafood restaurants - but it's also one of the few places in the city that still serves Yankee cuisine favorites such as Boston Baked Beans and Indian Pudding.

How the Union Oyster House began

After a New York restaurant first served oysters in 1763, an oyster craze began to sweep across the colonies. 

By the early 1800s, oyster bars and restaurants started popping up everywhere to satisfy Americans' appetites for this shellfish. 

Union Oyster House, initially named the "Atwood and Bacon Oyster House" after its first owners, was one of the newly opened oyster bars. 

Although most of them have probably long since disappeared, this historic restaurant located on Boston's Freedom Trail is still one of the city's most popular spots for a special seafood dinner.

Inside, the restaurant features lots of mellow wood paneling, comfortable seating, and warm lights.  It's inviting appearance is a reminder of all of the generations of Bostonians and city visitors who have enjoyed oysters on the half shell and mouth-watering lobster dinners here.  Portraits of some of them line the walls.

Historic Union Oyster House guests

Daniel Webster frequented the oyster bar, stopping by almost daily to drink a tall glass of brandy and water with each plate of 6 oysters.  He often consumed 6 plates of oysters (plus the accompanying 6 glasses of brandy).

Today, the Union Oyster House is best known for its more recent history. President John F. Kennedy was a frequent guest in the upstairs dining room.  His favorite spot, "The Kennedy Booth," is dedicated to him to honor his memory.

Why you'll enjoy eating here

Boston has a number of excellent raw bars where the freshest seafood dinners reign supreme.  The Union Oyster House is not only the first but one of the best. 

Where to start? 

Oysters and clams on the half shell are delectable.  Steamers taste like they're fresh from the beach.  Chowders - oyster, fish, clam - are memorable.  Mussels steamed with garlic and white wine - fabulous!  Baked stuffed clams (or "stuffies," as we call them locally) - divine!

If you're going to try even a small sampling of what the Union Oyster House offers, you'll need to develop a careful strategy.  In addition to something from the Raw Bar, you may want to consider the Hot Oyster House Sampler for 2 - a huge assortment of grilled oysters, stuffies, Clams Casino, Oysters Rockefeller, and shrimp scampi.  A cold sampler is appealing in the summer.

Moving on to main courses . . . order a whole broiled lobster or whole boiled lobster, straight from the restaurant's own lobster pools and live until it goes into the pot.  Or enjoy other classic lobster and other seafood dishes - Lobster Newburg, Shrimp Scampi, a wonderful Fisherman's Platter, and local favorite Broiled Boston Scrod. 

Try the Union Oyster House's Shore Dinner

But what you may want to opt for is the special traditional Shore Dinner.  I'd never heard of Shore Dinners before moving to this area, but trust me, they're an excellent reason to stay!  Traditionally, they're offered by seafood shacks along the New England coast . . . but some are better than others.

Union Oyster House's Shore Dinner is perfect, although huge - this is definitely one of the best places to sample New England cuisine in Boston. 

The feast starts with clam chowder, and steamers or mussels.  Then you move on to a whole boiled or broiled lobster, whichever you prefer.  Following tradition, it's served with sweet native corn on the cob and creamy red potatoes.  Dessert is your choice of gingerbread or hot Indian pudding (a kind of molasses-sweetened corn mush - maybe an acquired taste?). 

What else is on the menu?

You'll also find a few steaks, chops, and chicken selections on the menu.  Vegetarians and vegans may not find much, aside from garden salads, a few veggies, and Boston baked beans. 

Desserts tend toward traditional choices.  In addition to gingerbread and Indian pudding, you'll find apple cobbler, cheesecake, ice cream, and a chocolate lava cake.  I usually bypass these for the most traditional of all - Boston cream pie!

Should you dine at the Union Oyster House?

In some ways, Union Oyster House is similar to the slightly "younger" Durgin Park that opened in 1827 around the corner in Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall Marketplace. 

Both of these downtown Boston restaurants embrace traditional New England cuisine and emphasize the freshest local seafood and perfectly cooked steaks and chops. But of the two, Union Oyster House is slightly more formal and sophisticated, whereas Durgin Park is more casual and old-timey. 

Because they're mentioned in so many travel guides due to their age, both suffer slightly from a perception that they're just Boston tourist attractions - but not so!  I always see more locals than tourists in both of them - although I do tend to stop by in winter rather than summer.

So if you're visiting Boston and want to try some traditional Yankee cooking (or enjoy some splendid seafood, meat, or poultry), do have a meal at one or both of them.  You'll enjoy the experience - and the food!

Details and Directions

Cost range:  $$$  (lobster dishes, including the shore dinners, and some of the other seafood are at market price; in particular, the lobster dinner may be in the $$$$ range)
Address:  41 Union Street, 1 block from Faneuil Hall on the Freedom Trail, Downtown Boston
Nearest T station:  Orange Line/Government Center
For more information:  617-227-2750; website