One Of Julia Child's All-Time Favorite Restaurants Has Been Operating For Nearly 200 Years

Julia Child lived in Cambridge for a significant period of her life, and is fondly remembered by restaurant managers in the area. Joe Milano, Owner of Union Oyster House, recalls her visits to his establishment throughout the '70s. 

"It was one of Julia's favorite restaurants," he told Boston.com. Child was a fan of oysters and seafood, with an impressively broad palate from a young age. Since 1826, the Union Oyster House has known only three owners. Situated along the Freedom Trail, not only is the restaurant named Boston's oldest restaurant, but it's one of the oldest in the whole country and has bagged the title of North America's Best Landmark Restaurant by the World Culinary Awards.

To reenact scenes from Child's life, film crews took to the Union Oyster House to use the restaurant as backdrop for the series "Julia." To match the time in which Child dined at Union Oyster House, many of the modern decorations were removed, and the atmosphere was recreated to match how the restaurant would have looked when Child visited. Though the establishment began serving food in 1826, Union Oyster House continues to delight customers with delicious fare served in its historic setting. Fans gush across the internet about the charm, elegance, and downright good food, with the restaurant often being a highlight of people's entire trips. 

Among the various soups and chowders, seafood, salads, and sandwiches on the menu, the creamy New England clam chowder served at Union Oyster House has drawn eager audiences. Its thick, creamy broth and fresh ingredients has consistently satisfied guests. "Very good clam chowder. I had the full belly clams which were a very large portion with fries and coleslaw. They were excellent," wrote one visitor on Tripadvisor. Guests searching for something sweet can tuck into orders of a decadent Boston cream pie, warm apple cobbler, or mousse.

Child wasn't the only famous person who dined at Union Oyster House. The Kennedy family has been spotted at the restaurant, and the upstairs booth where John F. Kennedy sat has been named in his honor. Those looking to muscle up their trivia knowledge for quiz nights can note that toothpicks are said to have made their debut at the Union Oyster House. After an entrepreneur imported the picks, he hired diners to ask specifically for them to help get business off the ground. However, you don't need to be a history buff to enjoy visiting Union Oyster House — just the experience itself has enchanted guests for centuries. Basking in this kind of setting is sure to satisfy appetites of both the stomach and the mind.