While I was in Boston over Labor Day weekend, I absolutely had to find me some good clam chowder. That is definitely something missing here in Texas... I've found good places for oysters, fried seafood, and Mexican seafood, but for some reason (hmmm...) we're missing good clam chowder.
So, on Labor Day itself, while we were walking the Freedom Trail, we stopped at the Union Oyster House. It's been there for an awfully long time (since 1826, apparently) and I hoped that this might mean that they know what they're doing.
I was a little worried, as I am really prejudiced against "ye olde" anything; my family used to call all of them "ye oulde touristte trappes". Well, whatever - I had to suck it up and squash my worries. Maybe if I lived in Boston, I'd have a better handle on where the locals go for their clam chowder, but to my untrained eye, this looked pretty promising.
The ambience was perfect - again, the kind of place we don't really have here in Austin.
So, after deliberation et cetera, I'm pretty sure these guys do know what they're doing... I only had a couple of things off of their menu, but it did seem like I was surrounded by happy eaters, and there were certainly many things on the menu that I wanted to come back and try.
Suprise - we all got clam chowder. My friend k-dog and I split the luxurious - sounding "Cold Seafood Sampler" - as you can see on the menu above (under On the Half Shell) this was a combination of oysters, cherrystone clams, and cocktail shrimp.
Luxurious my foot!
OK, yes, really tasty (though I'm pretty sure it's not oyster season right now - correct me if I'm wrong?), but 6 things for 10.50? Either I'm getting old or I've been in Texas too long, because that seemed like a bit much to me.
Here's everything we ordered.
It was all very good; the beer really hit the spot after a morning walking around the Freedom Trail. I felt like it was a great Boston day.
So, the clam chowder was awesome as advertised; I think it would have been even better if it had been really cold outside. (Not that I'm going back in February to test that!) The cornbread was all right; a little dry, and a little too sweet for my taste, but it was nice with the salty chowder. I was really pleased overall, and I'd definitely go back for their lobster ravioli!
Union Oyster House
41 Union Street
Boston, Mass
(617) 227-2750
-girlie
