Very good service, historical atmosphere worth going there anyways, average food except seafood at the raw bar which seems to be the best option.
The oldest restaurant in United States, this place is a culinary museum. Well-known for its seafood, particularly their fresh oysters and lobsters, this is a must-go for tourist who visit boston for the first time. There is a particular seat in the restaurant that John F Kennedy used to sit there every weekend morning to read newspaper.
This is the single best seafood place in Boston with a rich history and authentic charm. There is the JFK booth if you are influential enough. It's a piece of history. Great New England food prepared without the fancy-schmancy form but just done right. Nothing better!
While a vist to the "oldest restaurant in continuous service in the US" is worthwhile from an historical perspective, it is not a culinary mecca. Sorry to report that their chowda was medicore at best. And my sole, while good, was nothing to write home about. Ditto for my nephew's Boston Scrod. My advise is to skip a full blown dinner, which can be expensive, and have a drink and a few oysers at the bar.
Historical but service was horrible waitress was unattentive dining room was very hot bathrooms up two flights of stairs and very dirty. I got the seafood platter and 28.95 and it had mores then seafood what a rip off.
Jan. 2012