If your passion is seafood, you may feel like you have to hop across the pond to Europe in order to find some truly delicious oysters. However, if you’re living in or visiting Boston MA, there are plenty of great spots around the city where you can find exceptional oyster dishes. With so many options out there, how do you choose which ones will satisfy your cravings? Read on to discover our pick for the 7 best oyster bar in Boston MA!
Best Oyster Bar in Boston MA
Union Oyster House
- Address: 41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (7531)
- Phone: +1 617-227-2750
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
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Top 7 Most Popular Oyster Restaurants in Boston MA
Legal Sea Foods – Harborside
- Address: 270 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (4311)
- Phone: +1 617-477-2900
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Excellent food and great service. We could not get a reservation but the restaurant has a great amount of bar seats for walk in traffic. We were seated immediately and had some amazing food and drinks. This restaurant sits in the harbor and the atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable. This was our first time in Boston and the first place we ate. It set a good tone for our visit.By Lana (8 months ago)I came here on a whim while being in the area for work. Walked in and quickly found a spot at the wrap around bar. (Even if it’s busy, stop in and see if seats are available along the bars!) I enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement of the restaurant.
Food was amazing. I wanted to try a little of everything so ordered the crab cake appetizer, clam chowder, and salmon nigiri. Everything was delicious. I was not expecting a sushi menu but was excited to see it and enjoyed the salmon. The chowder and crab cakes were rich but flavorful and not overly heavy where I could still enjoy my whole meal.
Highly recommend this restaurant if you’re nearby!
By Jillian O’Connell (4 months ago)Tried to call and reserve the table before going and it says no table, then we walked in around 12 with 6 people in total. Luckily we have a table immediately. The view is good if we could have a table besides the window. I have been told that it has 3rd floor with even better view. Maybe try next time. The Caterpillar Roll 🍣 is highly recommended! I ordered Grilled Swordfish steak with French fires and Fregola salad. The French fries is good, but salad is okay. The fish is fresh, but if you want to have something more flavored, maybe try something else. My friend tried butter roasted potatoes and sweet corns as sides. He said sweet corns are good but potatoes are too many and inside is too plain. It provides freed bread before food which is okay. The waiters are nice and polite.By Johnson MrBear (8 months ago)I have very mixed feelings about Legal. They were highly recommended in blogs, YouTube videos, and from locals. But, I was slightly disappointed with our experience.First, the location is amazing, and we were seated near the water without having to wait though we were a large party.
Everyone was amiable, and our waitress was very accommodating. However, our food was nothing to brag about (except the oysters were impeccable).
As you’ll see in the pictures, the cheeseburger I ordered from the kid’s menu was not properly cooked and was still raw inside.
The mac and cheese our friends ordered (also for a child) tasted “like aspirin” or rotten cheese. Our waitress and the manager came to apologize and refunded our money for both items, which were appreciated.
But, as a tourist, this isn’t an establishment that I would return to when we visit again.
By Victoria Vaden (6 months ago)Food was absolutely delicious!!! Fun fact…their clam chowder has been served for every presidential inauguration since Ronald Reagan! I can taste why! So good! Crystal, our server was an awesome host! Cod fritters, lobster bisque soup and fish tacos were so good!By Lyn Campbell (10 months ago)
Neptune Oyster
- Address: 63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (3263)
- Phone: +1 617-742-3474
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Reviews:
Neptune oyster is wonderful. Staff are friendly and courteous, committed to giving diners a great experience. The razor clam appetizer was amazing as was the hot buttered lobster roll. Also had a few things from the raw bar (oyster and scallops) which are great to try based on your preference. Wine selection was good as well. The only downside is the wait, about an hour and 15 minutes on a Friday evening. You just have to stand outside in line and commit. Definitely worth it though! Inside is pretty squished together so I wouldn’t say it’s great for large groups at busy times.By Lena Owens (7 months ago)I had lunch here with my friend today. The long line outside seems promising. Got in after an hour and 15 minutes. High hopes. Oysters are decent. Fresh enough. I had a lobster roll and my friend had a fried oyster burgers. Both are jaw-droppingly terrible. My friend’s burger is tough and dry. My lobster roll has absolutely no flavours. I thought I had COVID and lost my palate. But I could taste the fries. The fries are great and definitely the highlight of my meal. The urchin toast is equally bad. Urchin all melted on the toast with no texture and flavours. This joint is definitely over-hyped and overpriced. Doesn’t deserve the hour long line up.By Trekker T. (4 months ago)Neptune Oyster. Oh, yes. The afternoon I visited was a weekday so the wait was only 45 minutes.
The johnny cake with bluefish and caviar is a must order item. Delicious! The flavors! The lobster roll was fresh, but not special-tasting. Razor clams were supremely fresh and magnificent. Loved the taste. The oysters were very fresh and an employee explained where each oyster was from.
The service was A+ from all employees. Servers made sure I was taken care of and the water glass was continually filled. Small interior of restaurant. Service is quick and friendly so the turnaround time is frequent. And they take American Express.
By Kelly Cambridgeport (8 months ago)Hands down to the best raw oysters. I love their little menu showing different types of oysters. I wished this place was bigger. Came here at 7pm, no wait-list accepted. Came here again early in the morning 30 minutes before it opens there was already a long line, put my name down for the wait-list, 1.5hours wait, but it’ was worth the wait.By Momo (9 months ago)I was really really really pleased to decide to visit here. I had to wait for some time but it was totally worth of it. The oysters are very fresh, juicy and delicious. And the foods which I ordered are yummy too and went well with my drink. Surely the service was very satisfactory. My family had a great time in here. I’ll definitely try again next time.By Jongchan Park (JC) (a year ago)
Row 34
- Address: 383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (2685)
Saltie Girl
- Address: 279 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (2028)
Summer Shack
- Address: 50 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (1576)
Legal Sea Foods
- Address: 100 Huntington Avenue, Copley Pl, Boston, MA 02116, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.2 (1355)
Legal Sea Foods – Downtown Crossing
- Address: 558 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (1232)
That’s it for our list of the best oyter bar in Boston MA! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy beachcombing!
During a quick trip to Boston, we looked up for the best seafood restaurant in the area and Google recommended this place.
After struggling to find a parking spot, we finally made our way to the restaurant.
The place has the charm and warmth that can only be acquired through years of continuous service. The place was not very busy when we visited so we got a seat quickly. I ordered their special clam chowder, the soup of the day (minestrone) and the fish of the day (haddock) with a side of mashed potatoes. All washed down with a Guinness beer (I wish it was draught, but it was available only in a can)
The food was delivered very quickly by our very helpful server. Everything was delicious. I could not find anything that was lacking. Even the prices are very reasonable.
Must try!
Just the history and the inside decor of the restaurant is an enough reason for a visit. Started with complimentary warm tasty corn bread. Clam chowder was also very good. Had the Fried oysters with fries and it was very fresh and tasty. Receive a free pot of gold souvenir for St.Patrick’s Day. Server was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend.
Good food, especially if you’re looking for fried food. Clam chowder was good, just very small bowl, cup is even smaller. My daughter had the fried seafood platter. It had a lot, with fish and chips, and a variety of fried seafood. She really enjoyed. I had a scallops platter in a light creamy tomato sauce with rice. I enjoyed it also. The salmon was good and the lobster macaroni and cheese was good also. It was a bit pricey, parking wasn’t easy to find, but it’s a great area to walk around with a lot of pubs in the area with music. This place had very good service and worth the visit at least once.
I know this place has been around for a while but man was it just amazing from food to service. Everything was top notch. The lobster we got was amazing. We got clam chowder to share for the table to taste. Our waitress was the life of the party not only with our table but you could just tell how her energy made everyone’s night amazing at other tables. Food was super filling and the set up is very nice. I know their upstairs kitchen is closed and it’s a shame their menu has shrunken since covid but they’re doing amazing! This is a must if you’re in Boston – add it to your list now!
My wife and I did the tourist thing and went here while visiting Boston. It was relatively empty when we came for lunch so the service was pretty quick. Our server was very nice and friendly, she made recommendations on what we should order. The brought us some cornbread to start, it was super soft and moist. It wasn’t to sweet which I liked. We got the clam chowder to start and I ended up getting the lobster mac and cheese for my entree. My wife got the lobster ravioli. Overall the meal was pretty good but to us the decor on the wall was the coolest part of the meal. Definitely a cool place to see while in Boston but definitely more for tourists I think.