The Hourly Oyster House

Name: The Hourly Oyster House
Address: 15 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA, United States, 02138
Telephone: (617) 765-2342
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.6

4.6 (1511)

$30 and under

Seafood

15 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 18, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 47 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Lively
Neighborhood gem
Charming

The Hourly Oyster House is a vibrant and welcoming neighborhood outpost in the heart of Harvard Square, where guests can enjoy thoughtfully sourced and playfully prepared seafood and oysters from New England and beyond, as well as a carefully crafted selection of signature cocktails, beer and wine. With a focus on seafood, The Hourly serves up New England classics in a dynamic and airy space.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, American
Hours of operation
Bar Daily 11:00 am–11:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 765-2342
Website
http://thehourlycambridge.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Sandro Joseph
Private party facilities
From intimate dinner parties to festive cocktail receptions, the events team at The Hourly Oyster House awaits your next private function. Our contemporary yet casual atmosphere in the heart of Harvard Square is the perfect backdrop for any special occasion.
Private party contact
our Private Event Coordinator: (617) 765-2342
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
15 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Cross street
Massachusetts Avenue
Parking details
Parking is available at the Smith Center Garage, directly across the street from the restaurant at 11 Holyoke Street. There is also on street metered parking directly in front of the restaurant on Dunster Street.
Public transit
Just steps away from the Harvard Square T-stop on the Redline.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Dinner & A Show
Multiple dates available
Make your theater night in Harvard Square unforgettable with dinner at The Hourly Oyster House, the neighborhood’s premier destination for fresh, thoughtfully sourced seafood. Located just a short walk from both the American Repertory Theater and Sanders Theatre, The Hourly is the perfect spot for a pre-show dinner or a post-performance celebration. Our menu features a rotating selection of the finest oysters from New England and beyond, alongside expertly prepared seafood dishes that highlight the region’s rich flavors. Complement your meal with a glass from our carefully curated wine selection, featuring crisp whites and elegant sparklers that pair perfectly with our oysters and seafood. With a lively yet inviting atmosphere that blends historic charm with modern touches, The Hourly offers an unparalleled dining experience in the heart of Harvard Square. Whether you’re savoring oysters before the curtain rises or toasting to a spectacular performance afterward, let The Hourly be your go-to destination for an unforgettable evening.

Private dining

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Popular dishes

A Tale of Two Oysters*$45.00
two of each of today's oysters
The Hourly Seafood Tower*$120.00
tale of two oysters, 6 littleneck clams, 6 jumbo shrimp, shrimp ceviche, tuna crudo, lobster salad
Tuna Tartare*$16.00
sushi rice, spicy poke sauce, scallions, house chips
Tuna Crudo*$14.00
harissa, chives
Hamachi Crudo*$16.00
white sturgeon caviar, chimichurri, fried garlic
Shrimp Ceviche*$16.00
pico de gallo, cucumber, wonton chips
Littleneck Clams*
rosé mignonette, house cocktail sauce
- ea$2.00
Shrimp Cocktail
house cocktail sauce
- ea$4.00

Oysters

$3ea / $33dz

Boomamoto*
Barnstable, MA - nutty, briny, sweet finish
Cotuit*
Cotuit, MA - plump, sweet brine, clean
Rip Tide*
Buzzards Bay, MA - soft brine, earthy finish
Chatham*
Chatham, MA - plump, briny, rich meat
Malabar Select*
Barnstable, MA - clean, mineral, oceanic
Wellfleet*
Wellfleet, MA - savory, vegetal, refreshing
Edgewater*
Buzzard's Bay-dense, salty kick, root vegetables
Cadillac Mountain*
Goose Cove, ME - brothy, umami brine, stony

Starters

Clam Chowder$10.00
bacon, seasoned oyster crackers
Crispy Calamari$14.00
arugula, cherry peppers, harissa aioli
Blackened Swordfish Tacos$12.00
mango curtido, avocado crema, pickled onion
Oysters Rockefeller$16.00
kale, smoked bacon, pernod, panko
Hushpuppies$13.00
chili honey butter
Caesar Salad$14.00
anchovy croutons, parmesan
Lobster Bisque$11.00
tarragon, brandy
Grilled Octopus$16.00
potatoes, chimichurri, chorizo, paprika aioli
Mussels Provencal$16.00
white wine, tomato, fennel, garlic, grilled crostini
Blistered Shishitos$10.00
sea salt, olive oil
Roasted Brussels Sprouts$10.00
andouille sausage, parmesan
Cobb Salad$14.00
avocado, pancetta, feta, 6-min egg, red onion, red wine vinaigrette

Entrées

Lobster Roll$34.00
touch of mayo, griddled roll
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich$17.00
lettuce, tomato, pickles, special sauce, brioche bun
Double Smash Burger*$16.00
american cheese, caramelized onion, special sauce, seeded roll
Day Boat Haddock Sandwich$18.00
coleslaw, bread & butter pickles, spicy tartar sauce
Beer-Battered Fish & Chips$22.00
hand-cut fries, slaw, tartare sauce
Lobster Macaroni & Cheese$25.00
smoked gouda, mozzarella, pepper jack, ritz crumbs
Grilled Salmon Nicoise*$25.00
heirloom tomatoes, roasted potatoes, kalamata olives, haricots verts, six-minute egg, garden herb vinaigrette
Roasted Farro$21.00
kale, butternut squash, peach, yellow beet, pecans, feta

What 1,511 people are saying

The Hourly Oyster House reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Hourly Oyster House offers a delightful seafood experience in Harvard Square with "the best oysters in Cambridge." Guests rave about the "delicious food," "wonderful service," and "lively atmosphere." Perfect for both casual outings and special occasions, this restaurant consistently delivers fresh, flavorful dishes and a warm, inviting ambiance.

1,511 Reviews

K
Kim
New York City1 review
2.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
I had two shells in my lobster roll. I brought this to the server’s attention. She offered a free dessert but we did not plan on eating dessert. Also the restaurant was mostly empty and we waited a while for a salad and lobster roll.
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P
Paul VIP
Greater Boston10 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 7, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The Caesar Salad was a huge disappointment for this restaurant which otherwise serves delicious food.
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R
Ray VIP
Greater Boston11 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Our server Johan was excellent - friendly, knowledgable and attentive. Food quality and presentation were terrific.
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J
Jim VIP
Greater Boston33 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
While the food and service were fine, I just detest the "optional" Kitchen Appreciation 3% "junk" fee tacked onto every bill. The fee was noted in microscopic print on the bottom of the menu, and I had to go see a manager to remove it from my bill. Hey restaurants, stop the junk fees and pay your back of the house staff a living wage and reflect on the menu prices instead!
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S
Susan
Greater Boston4 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a fabulous time celebrating our friends birthday! Food was delicious, atmosphere was excellent and service was top notch!
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L
Lisa
Chicago / Illinois11 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
This is a very small restaurant not suitable for big party. Every table is right next to the other. Food is great. Line is long, be prepared to stand in a very tight sidewalk for a long time. Service was ok, the waitresses are nice but really no time for you because only two people serving the entire restaurant. They don’t take reservation either. Very noisy. But again, the great food made it up.
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S
Scott VIP
Greater Boston32 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It's a cool joint with nice servers, great food,, and a good vibe. And exciting music.
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A
AMNON
Greater Boston6 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 17, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Ate their 2 weeks ago was great I gave them 5 stars This time main course arrived with the bisque so got cold Salad was tired Service was not attentive Table wasn’t cleaned
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D
Denise
Greater Boston2 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 15, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
I eat here about once a month, normally solo seated at the bar. Reception, service, and food have always been good. My sister visited from out of state and we went for lunch on a weekday. The restaurant was busy, but not full. We were seated right away at the short end of an L-shaped section next to a middle aged couple, a woman with two young adults, and a larger party of about five adults making up the long end of the L-section. My sister immediately noted a pleasurable food scent and when our waiter arrived, she jokingly remarked “What smells so good?” Our early twenty-something waiter seemed annoyed by the question replying he had no idea, but seeing our surprise at his sarcasm, tried to recover by guessing at the order of a random customer seated near us, and apologizing for being “immune to all of the smells”. It was a weird, awkward moment for us all, so when he left us to decide on our order, I resolved to make things easy and pleasant. When he came back, we ordered, and my sister asked for lemon for the water that we already had. Over 15 minutes passed with our waiter attentively shuffling between the three other parties in our L-shaped section, and we were just ignored. He had to pass our table every time he attended to another one, and each time he just didn’t make any eye contact. When he finally brought my soft drink, I asked for the lemon again, and while he gave a mumbled, “Oh, I forgot…”, he again seemed annoyed. I am a big believer in “you never know what someone is going through” so I chalk stuff like this up to someone’s bad day and keep it moving, except the same behavior continued for the entirety of our meal. Another server brought our food, and that was the last we saw of him until we waved him down for the check. The other folks in our section, however, were checked in on repeatedly and had water glasses filled. Had he not chosen to fill my water glass as he handed us the check, I may not have written this review. Disappointed.
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R
Ruth VIP
New Orleans / Louisiana7 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service great, oysters delicious , mussels good, seafood stew very good. Great place to go to.
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FAQs

The Hourly Oyster House offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 765-2342.

The Hourly Oyster House is rated 4.6 stars by 1511 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 18, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 47 times today

Experiences are available.

15 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Massachusetts Avenue
Neighborhood
Cambridge
Hours of operation
Bar Daily 11:00 am–11:00 pm Lunch Daily 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parking is available at the Smith Center Garage, directly across the street from the restaurant at 11 Holyoke Street. There is also on street metered parking directly in front of the restaurant on Dunster Street.
Public transit
Just steps away from the Harvard Square T-stop on the Redline.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Sandro Joseph
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Website
http://thehourlycambridge.com/
Phone number
(617) 765-2342
Private party facilities
From intimate dinner parties to festive cocktail receptions, the events team at The Hourly Oyster House awaits your next private function. Our contemporary yet casual atmosphere in the heart of Harvard Square is the perfect backdrop for any special occasion.
Private party contact
our Private Event Coordinator: (617) 765-2342

The Hourly Oyster House

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Dinner & A Show

Private Room

Custom inquiry

Lobster Bisque

Grilled Salmon

Tuna Crudo

Raw Bar

A Tale of Two Oysters*$45.00

The Hourly Seafood Tower*$120.00

Tuna Tartare*$16.00

Tuna Crudo*$14.00

Hamachi Crudo*$16.00

Shrimp Ceviche*$16.00

Littleneck Clams*

Shrimp Cocktail

Oysters

Boomamoto*

Cotuit*

Rip Tide*

Chatham*

Malabar Select*

Wellfleet*

Edgewater*

Cadillac Mountain*

Starters

Clam Chowder$10.00

Crispy Calamari$14.00

Blackened Swordfish Tacos$12.00

Oysters Rockefeller$16.00

Hushpuppies$13.00

Caesar Salad$14.00

Lobster Bisque$11.00

Grilled Octopus$16.00

Mussels Provencal$16.00

Blistered Shishitos$10.00

Roasted Brussels Sprouts$10.00

Cobb Salad$14.00

Entrées

Lobster Roll$34.00

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich$17.00

Double Smash Burger*$16.00

Day Boat Haddock Sandwich$18.00

Beer-Battered Fish & Chips$22.00

Lobster Macaroni & Cheese$25.00

Grilled Salmon Nicoise*$25.00

Roasted Farro$21.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Hourly Oyster House offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Hourly Oyster House restaurant rated?

Is The Hourly Oyster House currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information