Original Oyster House

There’s simply nothing else like it. You MUST come enjoy this gorgeous, historic building, with its well-worn charm, and friendly locals. I’ve loved visiting for the entirety of my lifetime so far, and I hope they stay around forever. Reviews complaining about the raw oysters make me chuckle. You’re 300 miles from the nearest ocean - of course they don’t taste like they’re still clinging to life. I have gotten fresh oysters down at the beach which made me sick and were bad. Sometimes bad batches exist. That’s why menus have the raw food disclaimer. Also, sorry, but if you saw the price, and you were an oyster connoisseur, you’d immediately know they weren’t on the half-shell. During the time the Oyster House was founded, oysters were seen as a cheap option to sustain the working class with quick, convenient protein. Their shooter presentation is a lovely nod to times past, and the populations who built this city.

Really neat place. Avoid the chain restaurants and the long line at the touristy french fry sandwich place. Seating available at the bar and there are 5-6 tables. Seat yourself, the staff will come around and take your order. Fish sandwiches were incredible. Oysters were great too. Feels timeless inside. Prices were fair for the quantity /quality of food that you get. The hot sauce and the mustard/vinegar sauce was very good.

I believe we were told this is the oldest restaurant in Pittsburgh. The original tiles and floors corroborate it. Absolutely delicious oysters and fish sandwiches. Whatever their secret is, it's perfection. Head on over, you won't be disappointed. The place is small, so keep that in mind and try not to go during prime eating times (be that early bird or mid-afternoon eater). This place is a gem!

Good seafood, mostly fried though. Excellent fish sandwich. Liked the crabvakes (deviled crab) also. Prices very reasonable. People of all stripes come here. Iron City and a few other popular beers on tap. A true Pittsburgh landmark restaurant that has been in some movies.

I'm visiting from out of town and this place was suggested by a local when I asked about good fish in the area. The name should be changed from 'Oyster House' to 'Nasty House'. I honestly wasn't expecting too much when we first walked in. I ordered the big fish platter or something like that. The fish was big, but it was probably the worst fish I have ever tasted. No flavor at all! While I understand it was cod and you can't do too much to season cod. It was horrible. The person with me ordered shrimp and they were also disguising. I'm not sure how people eat here or have anything positive to say. I asked for seasoned salt and was offered vinegar instead. The service wasn't too bad, serving size and prices weren't bad, but the food was disgusting. It's a no for me.

I’ve been going to the original oyster House for the last 40 years not every day not every month not every year. I had a question about their oysters the breaded oysters and the owner was so nice Mrs. G explain to me how they make them and the process and everything like that she took the timer to talk to me,and my new best friend Jeff we’re working in market Square for the next few months with Badger daylighting I just wanted to say how wonderful it was such history in the place plus I was happy to be with my best friend Jeff

This place has the coolest environment that you can think of with 150 years of history and super cool areas. Tons of super vintage athletic signs and stuff on the wall super cool structural areas. The food itself is a little less than desirable. I’ve never experienced oysters served out of a disposable ramikan cup, however I m not the most established or sophisticated guy when it come to this type of food. I heard the fish was bomb but didn’t try it. I should have ! Staff was friendly and the spot itself was cool.

I just want to Thank Sam, He was the cashier.. He not only made me feel so welcomed, but truly made our experience so much better! We will DEFINITELY be back because of Sam’s performance!!! Please give him a raise!

It is a historic building and restaurant, having been there since the 19th century. However, beyond that, there isn't much good. The inside is in serious need of some updates and cleaning. Walking in, it smells like a Southside bar. The prices are the one good thing I would say about the place. You can get a massive fish sandwich for only $9, which is impressive for market square. The quality of both the bun and the sandwich however were not very good.

stopped in to get a drink and a small bite. They have a nice selection of beer and mixed cocktails. The menu is more limited but priced inexpensive. We ordered the clam bites they were tasty nothing to rave about. The oyster shooters however were not good which was disappointing.

Eh. This place is very mediocre (which I was expecting based on previous reviews). I will say service was fine and our waitress was kind and attentive. It's as casual as it gets. Paper plates/plastic silverware. I had the "jumbo" butterfly shrimp platter but I would describe the shrimp as medium-sized. Shrimp/fries/coleslaw all tasted pretty good, but this seemed like a safe option to order. I was plenty full but generally speaking I thought the portions were pretty small for a seafood platter. My boyfriend had the fish and chips which he enjoyed. The portions were more in line with what you'd expect for fish and chips elsewhere. Seems to me that fried food is a safe bet here, just don't expect anything special. Ironically, I chose to avoid any oysters despite the name of the establishment because of the photos I've seen of how they're presented (in a plastic cup). I'd prefer to get those elsewhere.

Loved the old school vibe of the place! Had the fish and chips and it was delicious - 4 big chunks of crispy well battered fish that melts in your mouth! As for the crab cake, it was a generous portion with mouthfuls of crab meat! Would definitely go back again

Woof, that was some really terrible food! Please see my picture of the Oyster Sandwich and you will understand... 4 tiny oysters slapped into a huge cold bun. The only think you could taste was bread. So terrible. My partner had some sort of fish sandwich and he was not impressed either but at least there was a whole piece of fish in his, lol. The surprising thing was how many people were in this place.... Had to be the cheap beer because it can't be for the food.

Had a craving for fried oysters and found this place on Yelp. It's a historic landmark! The Oyster House has been in existence since 1870. I figured, it has to be good, right? Got in an Uber and drove 35 minutes in traffic just for these oysters. Was going to just grab an order of lightly breaded oysters and go back to my hotel but decided to stay and try the oyster sandwich. Augh, so disappointed. The buns were cold, I think they would have been amazing lightly toasted. And the sandwich had just one piece of limp lettuce and one slice of tomato. It looked so empty. I ended up asking for tartar sauce. Most of the oysters tasted great, but there were two that seemed like they weren't cooked. I then brought an order of the lightly breaded oysters back to my sister and she loved them, practically inhaled them, and she had no complaints at all. I really wanted to love this place and who knows, I may give it another chance since it is "Pittsburgh's oldest bar and restaurant".

This isnt like the Oyster House we all remember. Fish was frozen processed like what you would buy in Giant Eagle. I ended up tossing it

My lightly breaded oysters were perfectly fried. Delicious! Price is right. Ambience was a little weird. If you are looking for fries seafood it's a step above.

During the pandemic one of my favorite places was closed. I'm so happy they are still around. I don't take for granted that we still have this little gem in Market Sq. People debate a lot about fish sandwiches in this city. This one however is not up for debate. These are by far the BEST cod sandwiches you will ever eat in Pittsburgh. Can you tell I really stand on this review?!' Honestly, this is one of my favorite places. Always good service....always good food....and did I mention the counters are spotless always. A Historic Pittsburgh classic!

Fish and chips were tasty, staff were friendly. Cool little pub to have a beer and enjoy lunch

This old establishment has oysters, fried clams, crab, and fish such as cod and scrod. Everything is served on paper containers and in plastics cups. That's okay. We wanted great food, and we were pleased. This is a casual place. Come as you are. The bar offers lots of drinks. Small tables seat four. Service was quick and friendly. We entered late during the Holiday Village weekend. The food was very good.

Came in with a friend for lunch, hit the spot! I think I ate too much but was reminded-- there's no such thing!

This place is such a cool throwback. Had some time to chat with the owner, she couldn't have been nicer and gave the history of the place. The food was amazing... def don't miss the original - its worth the trip. The waitress was friendly and efficient... if you see this we didn't wind up going to Andrea Boccelli!

The fish is classic, the service is horrible. The dude working the bar should be fired! Nothing but attitude - like they all hate working there, but can't find another job.

I have been going to the Oyster House for close to 50 years and just had the smallest piece of fish I've ever had here. It was actually three small strips. They advertise their fish sandwich as jumbo. They served me a minnow. Good grief !! And to make matters worse, when I mentioned it to the waitress and bartender, they gave me a hard time. You would have thought they would have taken three little pieces of fish and gave me a real fish sandwich. I may never go there again.

Bland food. We had lightly breaded oysters, cod platter, clams, french fries and chips. The oysters were the best thing. The staff was friendly and fast.

This place is so Pittsburgh it's not funny. Everybody loves it and it's sort of unremarkable. Great atmosphere and awesome staff which is the only reason it gets four stars. The huge breaded oyster was lame. The lightly breaded oysters were good. Get those. The fish and chips was okay. The chips were the best part. Seriously though the staff was awesome. Go for the friendly cheer.

The baked scrod, salad, Cole slaw and crab appetizer were very good. Loved the history and ambiance. Paper plates snd plastic forks. The waitress was absolutely miserable! Not friendly at all. At all! Never refilled water glass, or asked how my food was. She actually rolled her eyes at me when I asked her a question.

I gave a bad review a year ago, but recently had a positive experience giving the Original Oyster House another chance. On this trip I had the Original Breaded Oysters (which I have had every time I visited for the last 50 years) and clam strips. Both dishes were good. I sat at the bar. The bartender might be an introvert but he politely answered all my questions. All in all it turned out to be a pleasant experience. I'm still not pleased with the fact the condiments still come in the little plastic cups. I know this sounds like a petty thing, but I make my own dip/sauce by combining ketchup, hot sauce and a spicy vinegar which is easier to do with full bottles. I'll get over it. Can't give it a total of five stars because of my limited food selection and because it's still not as good as it was 50 years ago, but hell either am I.

My wife and I went on a last-minute trip to Pittsburgh and found this old gem. The clam chowder was delicious, the lightly fried oysters were my wife's favorite and we shared a fish and chips that were fresh and perfect. The owner "G" was busy but still took the time to give us a tour of the many pictures throughout the restaurant's history recalling touching stories and memories from the past. The Original Oyster House was certainly the highlight of our weekend.

I ordered the crab cakes and the oyster shooters. Let me start by saying the staff/bartender was amazing. She was very attentive and was genuinely kind. I wasn't a fan of the crab cake, it tasted like imitation crab and I felt like it could have been cooked a little longer. However that's just my personal preference, so I should have asked if they could cook it so it had a little crisp to it. The oyster shooters where good, I wish they had fresh oysters with their shell, I think it would have been a fun experience. I would definitely come back, maybe just order something different.

Go for drinks, not for food. Shrimp was cold in the middle. House chips greasy and cold. Crab cakes not cooked well. Fries and coleslaw ok.

Our uber driver turned us on to this little gem. Best fish and chips I've had in a long time. If you're in down town Pittsburgh make sure you stop in to Americans second oldest oyster bar, it's where the locals eat.

On our first evening in downtown Pittsburgh, my wife and I stopped in for dinner. I chose this place because I read this has been in existence since 1870. The bar area was already full for a late Friday afternoon (April 15). Fortunately, there was plenty of room in the adjacent dining room. I ordered the baked scrod platter and my wife ordered the crab cake platter. One of the sides we got was the taters, which are really potato chips. Our dinners were good as my real reason for coming in was it's long history.

Fresh hot seafood cooked to order. Can't complain about that. Market Square a bit sketchy and this place is the oldest tavern in Pittsburgh, so a little worn at the edges. But that age does add ambience. Odd there was a large trash can in the middle of the bar area. Cod sandwich huge and good. Wife had baked scrod and it was light and delicate. Not huge serving. Fries and slaw good. I will be back if in the area. Service good between bartender and waitress they had us covered.

Quality fish, tasty oysters, and friendly service. One of my go-to lunch places for years now

The (small) Oysters here are served in little cups swimming in a pool of cocktail sauce. A little plastic cup of horseradish can be had for 75 cents. The reason they come in cups must be because they have come from a jar or can. They say they are the Chesapeake Bay. Hmmmm. Wherever they are from, they are ..... not so good. For about six dollars more you can get them on the half shell and fresh in several establishments in the same area. WHY KEEP THE NAME OYSTER HOUSE AND SERVE NASTY OYSTERS? The place is the oldest bar in Pittsburgh and that gives it a plus. The wait staff however, were ....not surly, not rude, but close to it. I also ordered the scrod dinner. It was unpalatable and icky. I told the waitress and they all stood at the bar eating it saying it tasted good to them. I received attitude when I said I thought it was off and didn't want it. They finally agreed to swap for some fried shrimp. (Can't go wrong with frozen fried shrimp, for the most part. ) They INSISTED that it was fresh this morning. This type of fish comes from the Atlantic and there is NO WAY it was "fresh" that very morning, not in this particular bar in Pittsburgh, PA. 6 oysters (in cups) $16. Go have a beer and enjoy the place. Avoid the seafood.

You get exactly what you pay for here. No surprises No gimmicks. I like the history behind it but the food is standard. Nothing special. I get that places like this are full of nostalgia but for an establishment called "Original Oyster House" I was sort of hoping for fresh oysters.

We were recommended this place from our hotel concierge and it was the worst seafood I've ever had. My BF is a huge fan of oysters and these tasted as were straight out of a can. The drinks were ok and service was good but the food was just not there. You can't be an oyster house with terrible oysters

My first visit to this location I had a good experience. I know the Cash Only thing might miff some people but there is an ATM just outside and I always carry cash. Old school style bar, this is not fancy dining and that's fine with me. Service is quick, no frills and no issues on my end. I don't drink so I didn't do the local "a fish and a beer" thing but I did do a fish and a cup of chowder both good and hardy. The fish piece was bigger than the bun as you can see and served hot with tender flaky goodness under the light-ish breading. Tried the taters since its a local thing as it was stated in the menu which are spiral cut potato chips and good with lots of salt. The chowder was a more on the watery side but still good with good flavor and no sand, thank god.

Food was pretty good and reasonably priced. I'm from out of town and walking in I can see everyone stop and look as everyone else in there seemed to be just regulars. One of the waitresses stared at me so long I almost asked if they were open and if I can be there. Staff was not friendly at all and didn't say a word after taking my order. They just spent time talking to the regulars. Not even thank you or have a nice day.

The waitress was friendly, courteous, and accommodating BUT the food was absolutely TERRIBLE. stay away from this place. Our daughter, who we are visiting in Pittsburgh, is a huge oyster fan, but she couldn't even eat these. She ate one and was sure she'd get sick if she ate more. My wife ordered fish (cod) and she wondered is she was even eating fish! There were four of us, and none of us could finish our meal. With tip it came to over $100 (no alcohol). STAY AWAY!!!!!

What oyster house serves oysters in plastic cups? Especially the original oyster house? Horribly unappealing and not appetizing. My wife and I could not finish them after gagging. Bartender did not seem very friendly. I'd give 0 stars if I could.

Can be much better by having welcoming waiters. The smell is so bad. Food is good for the price

CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! A lot of history with this place. Be sure to read the back of the menu. I had the New England Clam Chowder. To my disappointment it tasted like it was from a can. I also had the crab cake sandwich which was a bit better with more flavor. Honestly, I'll probably skip this place on future visits to PIT.

* CASH ONLY* *CASH ONLY* ATM on site though. No fuss, no muss, not fancy at all, as it's supposed to be! It's just what it's name states and that's an old fashioned fish house that's been here forever! Oysters, fried clams, fried fish sandwiches, etc. Pleasant and efficient staff that has no problem letting you know they're busy and need to move on from your table. In Market Square, which is cool on it's own with the cobblestone streets and history. There is a tiny dining room and then attached is the bar and additional seating (which wasn't open while we were there). The ladies bathroom is back there and you'll see that lovely metal spoon, with the key which lets you in. And you need to be buzzed into the men's room, lol. The ancient pictures on the wall and the fact I don't think it's been updated since it's opening adds to it's charm. Wonderful bloody marys on the weekend (or anytime for that matter), beers, full bar, etc. We had lots of appetizers and I'm a sucker for fried clam strips! You'll love the no frills beauty of it! Great fish too!

If you want to check out the oldest bar in Pittsburgh this is the place. I recommend stopping in for a beer and a snack. Everything is cheap but it better be because it's cheap food. I liked the ambience because it matches exactly what it is , a really old bar.

We had a great experience here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon! This is such a fun, local Pittsburgh institution in Market Square, and it's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. ***CASH ONLY*** - ATM is on the premises, but just a heads up. I tried both the Clam Chowder and the Spicy Whitefish sandwich. My brother got the Columbo sandwich Clam Chowder - Very good, but not great. A little on the thick side for me and the potatoes weren't quite soft enough. Solid 3/5 Spicy Whitefish - Great, great , great! Such a generous portion of fish that was so fresh! Light, delicate, with a perfectly spicy and crisp batter. The bread was fresh and delicious. Sandwich came with homemade tartar sauce which was also a homerun. 5/5 and would get anytime! Columbo sandwich - The Columbo is a fish sandwich breaded with Italian breadcrumbs. Very good and also super fresh. 5/5 Loved the service. Waitress and bar staff were awesome, and gave us all the history of the place.

Very underwhelming. Service was pretty good, but it felt wrong to get my oysters in a plastic shot glass.

The history, Hollywood movies filmed here, oh and the food is excellent. Make a stop while in Pittsburg at the Market Square.

We ate there on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Food was delicious. French fries the best. I loved the Columbo fish sandwich and my husband enjoyed the Monster fish sandwich. Mrs. G. was very nice and cordial. Mitzi was a good server. We will return again. Been going there for many years. Now from OH.

Jumbo fish and Columbo fish sandwich were phenomenal! The pricing and atmosphere was great!

Good fish sandwich I don't eat oysters so idk about that, the vinegar is really good too

Had lunch here on Thursday and feel they could have done better. The Calamari was delicious- light, fluffy and super tender. The fries were pretty good but not great. The fish (on the Fish & Chips) was a disappointment. The fish was chunky & flakey but the batter wasn't fully cooked. The outside was crispy but the layer between the crispy outer layer and the fish was still pasty & batter(y). It needed cooked for another minute or two and it would have been delicious. If I go again- I'll ask for my fish to be well done (can I actually do that?). Here's a tip for you all- Join their Birthday club, you'll be glad you did!

in 2021, i ate at oyster houseand had the fish plater. the fish was not cook all the way i had to take it home and put in oven, the french fries washard and i dont have no teeth.years ago they used to serve good food. i do not know what happening but i want be going there no more.theresa carroll independent.

This place was great when I 1st start going there 20 years ago , the food was great and the oysters were great , Now I order a Jumbo fish sandwich , which looked like sandwich for a kid ! The only oysters they had were oyster shooters, which they just shuck out of the oyster shell and dropped into a shot glass !! I ask for salt & pepper and mustard , the guy bought me 1 salt & pepper pack and I was told the have no mustard !! Come on now !!!!! There was a older lady there she seems to be very nice , but that was the only positive thing that I found in that restaurant ! And oh yes the men's bathroom looks like there hasn't been any work done on it for years !!! They did have paper towel but no soap !!! Maybe it was just a bad week , people were coming in for lunch , as far as the fish sandwich ,the taste was just ok .and the oysters were small ! This place need to regroup and get back the way they use to be !!

Used to love eating at the old Oakland location as a Pitt student. But, unfortunately this place has been going downhill 4 years. As many others have noticed: the portions keep getting smaller. Service is always hit or miss.

The "CASH ONLY" thing wasn't an issue as I always carry cash on me, so no problem there. I have to start my review admitting I have a bias -- I'm from a coastal town in Florida, so grew up with VERY fresh seafood. We literally got it off the fish, shrimp, and oyster boats as they came in, so I was spoiled on FRESH seafood. That being said, this was not that. It was "OK" and I will give them props on the clam chowder and coleslaw but the oysters themselves (you know, the thing in the name of the restaurant) just left a lot to be desired in both taste and certainly quantity. I got four (4) oysters and coleslaw for around $14 with an additional charge for the clam chowder. Where I live here in Dallas, I can get a seafood basket of six (6) LARGE fried shrimp *AND* six (6) oysters with coleslaw and hushpuppies for $16 -- and EVERYTHING is great in a similar styled restaurant (i.e. no frills). The Mediterranean restaurant just 20 or so yards away on the same side of the street is an overall better value, in my opinion, though obviously not seafood related. There was also a really good pizza restaurant also on the square, pretty good as well.

On the last Friday before Good Friday a few of us at work decided to walk down to Market Square to Oyster House for lunch. Perfect day for a stroll. Now confession, this wasn't my first time here. About 7 years ago a buddy of mine and I were walking through Market Square when a big hailstorm hit and we ducked in here to escape. He hates seafood but I love it! We waited it out on the bar side with a few beers and I grabbed Clam Strips. Good stuff from what I remember! Jump to today...I didn't even know there was another side to this place! The Bar side was full so we went one door over and there was still some seating open but a decent line was forming around 11:30a. It didn't take too long to get through but you could tell the cashiers and cooks were overwhelmed. They did the best they could. Totally worth the wait to get the CodFather Sandwich Plater that came with Onion Rings, Slaw and a Drink for just over $13 bucks. The fish was excellent! The light and fluffy batter was different in a good way. And the slaw was some of the best I've had. Onion Rings were so so. I'd probably just get fries or something else next time. I will definitely be back now to try other items! I also love the history and decor here. It oozes out of this place. From the pictures on the walls to the frame newspaper articles, you know this place is something special. It may not look the best, but I assure you every imperfection most likely has a story.