Original Oyster House

Recommends

Gunrockets

Joined 3 years ago

THE OYSTER HOUSE. I WAS BORN & RAISED IN THE BURGH, AND REMEMBER MY DAD TAKING ME TO THE OYSTER HOUSE WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD. THAT WAS IN 1953. I LEFT PITTSBURGH IN 1979, BUT EVERY TIME I COME BACK I ALWAYS STOP AT THE OYSTER HOUSE FOR A FISH SANDWICH & OYSTER. IT'S SIMPLY THE BEST, AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

Doesn't Recommend

SisiL

Joined 5 years ago

No Oysters in the breaded oysters.... My boyfriend and I recently went to the Original Oyster House. We figured it must be good to have stood the test of time.

No, it's just darned lucky.

We ordered its "speciality" of the house, the breaded oyster. We got two patties of nothing but breading. We picked them apart and didn't find a single oyster. It was like a disc of soggy breading... Gross.

The clam chowder was a watered down cream of bacon soup with a few molecules of clam and some grit. The only recognizable thing in it was a hunk of bacon.

Our fried fish and baked scrod were okay, but there's better fried fish in Pittsburgh.

Next time we're in the mood for cheap eats in Market Square we'll hit Primanti Brothers.

Doesn't Recommend

aeroem

Joined 4 years ago

Horrible Food at a Cheap Price. As as native Pittsburgher who looked forward to eating at the Original Oyster House, I can say that I am completely disappointed with their food. First of all you can find better crab cakes in the frozen section of every local grocery store. They were full of bread and the "crab" was actually artificial crab meat.

Now, before I went to the Original Oyster House, I saw a local documentary on the place. In this documentary they interviewed the woman who makes the breaded oysters. She had mentioned that many people complain that there is no oyster in the breaded oysters. She responded that it is impossible that her breaded oysters lack an actual oyster. Thus, as an experiment I ordered the breaded oyster and thoroughly cut and chewed each section--what do you know, there was no oyster! The whole thing was a glob of breading.

Now, there is one final thing to mention: the price. I cannot deny that the food was very cheap and service was friendly. However, this does not make up for the idea that it is probably the worst meal I've ever had.

I've never reviewed a restaurant before. But, I feel this place was so bad that people should be warned.

Recommends

SVMainUS

Joined 5 years ago

Oyster House. This is a must visit if you are visiting Pittsburgh. If you live here and haven't visited yet? What are you waiting for. It's a family tradition for many Pittsburghers to dine here - generation after generation. It's the oldest establishment in Pittsburgh and an historical landmark. The best fish sandwich handsdown in the 'burg is to be had here. Nothing fancy here about the food or the prices or the atmosphere...but I'm betting you'll enjoy. I love the Oyster House where the price is right and the food is great and the service too is always good.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Claiming to be the oldest downtown bar, it's been serving Pittsburghers in Market Square since 1870.. The Scene
Tile-covered walls and floor, apparently in cahoots with the gleaming bar, affect an image of sanitation and cleanliness in an attempt to disprove the rumor that saloons are disreputable places. The bar anchors the northeast corner of Market Square, an open-air space that has served as a market and meeting place since shortly after the city's founding. Those traditions continue to this day.

The Draw
CPAs, busboys and low-level politicos saddle up in harmony at the long, stainless-steel bar. They come at all hours of the day and evening in search of liquid refreshment, rumor and gossip, and the most storied fish and oysters in the city. Keeping all of the above company are the tobacco-stained photos of Miss America contestants from the '30s and stars of sports and entertainment from the '40s through the '80s, including the obligatory signed Sinatra.

Recommends

theitallianscallion

Joined 9 years ago

Oyster House is a pearl. My first experience actually in the Oyster House was about 45yrs ago when I was about 10. Ate 2 fish sandwiches to the surprise of the bartender. at that time they were about 30 cents (not a helluva lot more now) and the only other food was a fried oyster & their own home made hot sauce. After living away from the 'Burgh for most of my life I just everyone to know that no place does fish sandwiches better than Pgh. with The Oyster House leading the way.

Recommends

ken_stallings

Joined 10 years ago

BEST PLACE FOR FISH SANDWICH. I AM FORMER PITTSBURGHER LIVING IN ROCHESTER, NY. EVERY YEAR WHEN I VISIT PITTSBURGH TO SEE MY DEAF FRIENDS AT PITTSBURGH ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF (P.A.D)

I MAKE SURE I STOPPED BY ORIGINAL OYSTER HOUSE FOR FISH SANDWICH WITH BEER.

IT IS THE BEST AND IT BRINGS FOND MEMORIES

OF GROWING UP IN PITTSBURGH.