Eating at America’s Oldest Restaurant. Union Oyster House. TOURIST TRAP?
I eat at and review Union Oyster House, which is located in Downtown Boston right along the Freedom Trail. Since opening in 1826, Union Oyster House has been regarded as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in America. The establishment serves New England food staples like lobster rolls, clam chowder, and oysters of course. I had to find out if Union Oyster House is worth visiting or if it’s merely a tourist trap.
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24 Comments
I was about to be like,a Cliche beer for a tourist spot…then you dropped the exclusively. "Nod" Good Call
Sadly, the oyster beds of Boston Harbor were wiped out by both over-consumption and pollution.
I do miss Durgin-Park.
Born and raised in Boston, I was always led to believe that the Bell in hand was the oldest establishment in Boston and that union oyster House was a tourist trap.
Chowder isnt a soup. Its a chowder.
And $45 for a lobster roll is a litt;e high, but not too bad. I find that most places around here (Boston) charge $35-ish…
Among the many ways to which you have endeared yourself to the YOUTUBE viewing public is by your exceedingly positive attitude & natural optimism. Knowing that it is both genuine & real, may I offer my sincere thanks for being you & what you do as a YT creator. Please, never change your approach in loving food & travel and to always “see” the “bright side” of life. I enjoyed this review of a restaurant which is, indeed, historic & iconic. That alone should justify any visitation. And one last “silly” observation I would like to comment upon is this. Thank you for enjoying those oysters (limited as the selection may have been) with the apparent accompaniment of squeezed LEMON JUICE only! Especially in my “old age” a minimalist approach is usually the best in enjoying such iconically natural items. Thank you, James!
I went with some business guests who wanted to go and what a terrible experience. We had oysters first – they were infested by some sort of water centipede. We pointed it out and they sheepishly replaced them (same issue happened). I cannot get that out of my mind to this day. Don’t go.
$46 dollars for a lobster roll! That aint right!
When they can serve a really nice meal without using nouveau cuisine gimmicks – just the understated classic dishes, you know the quality must be good. Even simple foods can be delicious if they are done really well.
I ate there 40 years go. It was good but not great. Expensive but I was in an expense account. Would not go back.
As a local, I have no problem going there for some chowder and oysters and a few beers. Otherwise, ymmv. Welcome to Boston!
This is not the oldest restaurant and it's tourist trap pricing. Dog is cute but doesn't make up for basic fact checking failure.
It was great having you stay with us! Next time you come visit though we're going to have to do more in Rhode Island than in Boston. The Italian bakeries in my home town alone are worth the trip back (and Bowie too, she's also worth the trip back).
It IS a tourist trap – clam chowder has plenty of potatoes, very few clams. Stay away from the this place as well as the Quincy Market – just another corporate mall.
I haven't been in Boston in ages, what a fun video and ty for sharing your train trip, nice to see how people get places. The ending did steal my heart tho, what a cutie!!!!!!!
I think the pain of putting butter on cornbread is a surmountable issue.
I ate there in the 90s on business trips. I remember enjoying it.
Went to Boston in April. 1st time & loved the city. Tourist trap? maybe, but we loved our dinner at the historic Union Oyster House. Same for the Bell in Hand Tavern, Regina's in the North End, Modern Pastry, etc….didn't have a bad meal in Boston or the immediate area! Historic is gonna be touristy, but many are still worth the trip.
Paradoxically, it's not a tourist trap even though it's surrounded by them. The fact that only tourists go there doesn't help it's reputation but the food there is better than average and the prices simply reflect the Boston restaurant scene.
It all looked very good. Prices were not unreasonable.
You go there for the history and fun. The oysters are good too. For a better experience go to Neptune (oysters).
Im eating at Long John Silvers….hummmm
6:01 and 6:18 The spoon rests on the plate, Love- not in the cup.
The Union Oyster house is not the oldest restaurant, that honor goes to The White Horse tavern in Newport Rhode Island.