Very busy so we and a wee bit of a wait. The food came quickly and it was delicious. Our server did well and it was obvious she was working hard. Goad we stopped by, not a disappointment. read more

Food was excellent and reasonably priced. Hubby loves the fish chowder. I had the buffalo prawns and seafood pasta. It was loaded with fresh tender calamari salmon mussels and whitefish. He had the local hake in creamy garlic sauce. All were delicious. read more

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Overcooked food, warm sour wine, and a rude waitress who unplugged my phone and said she'd charge me for using an outlet. No one checked on us the whole meal. Never again. read more

INCREDIBLY slow service -- we were waiting for our food for probably 45+ minutes. Food was great, though, and we were in no rush so we didn't mind but something to keep in mind. Stick with the seafood for sure, everything was full of flavor and super super fresh. read more

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Probably the best salmon I've tasted. My ordered it, I on the other hand got the chowder. It wasn't bad by any means, but paled in comparison to the fish. Salads were delish. Highly recommend. You can spend more, but for the money we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. read more

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It has been a while since I've posted a review, but The Oar House is definitely a hidden gem in Howth. The service was fantastic, quick, and also super helpful. I ordered the half duck and was instantly in love, the skin was nice and crispy, while the meat was tender and juicy. This place is super laid back, but the food taste like fine dining. If you're ever in the area this restaurant is a must!!! read more

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Great restaurant location on the pier in Howth, Dublin . The menu is mostly seafood with a few meat options (chicken, duck, steak). The shrimp pil pil starter, the monkfish entree and the chicken puri puri were all delish. The place was hopping , but service was on point. Recommend!! read more

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Delicious seafood chowder and fish and chips. The staff did a great job even though it was chaos with all the tour buses coming in. read more

The Oar House - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

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We ordered the crispy calamari as a starter and it was delicious! Great start to our meal. I had the fish and chips as my entree and was not disappointed. The fish was flaky and lightly battered. My husband had the fish pie and really enjoyed it. Our server was attentive and prompt with the bill. I would recommend this restaurant! read more

The Oar House - Fish pie - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

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We were planning on going to the neighboring Octopussy (I know, I know, but it's a real name) for dinner and this place was far less busy. We tried it out and it was OK. They were able to seat us quickly, which is great, but service after that was a bit slow though not bad, the food was tasty but underseasoned, and they don't serve beer. It's a place famous for fish and chips (something I got) but it's wine only. It's not my favorite place to go in Ireland, but it was much better than a long wait. read more

The Oar House - The Oarhouse in Dublin! - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

I went with my boyfriend for the Early Fish special around 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon. While the outside seating was pretty packed, the inside was completely empty. Luckily for us, we were seated immediately near the entrance, next to the window. We did the 2-course deal for 24 euros/per person with a choice of a starter and a main dish. The mussel appetizer cooked in white wine sauce was amazing while the baked hake entree was very tender and esthetically pleasing but kind of bland. They had a relatively extensive wine list with whites, reds and sparkling wines but I did not see a list for any beers or liquor. Overall, the Early Fish special is a great deal and the ambiance is terrific for a date night. The restrooms located on the second floor are very clean and the entire staff is nice and attentive. Note: there's a 10% service charge added to every bill regardless of the number of people in your party read more

The Oar House - Baked Hake - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

Food was good. Service could've been faster. They don't sell beer, but had good variety of wines.

Cute place and name, but no one was super impressed with their food. I had the brownie sundae and Irish coffee, which were both so-so. The soup of the day - potato leek-- was so-so at best. Plain, and salty. All you could taste was salt. They never brought my cousin's prawns, either. I hope someone can give a good review of this place... read more

On my first-ever trip to Howth with my brother and sister-in-law who were visiting from the States, we were craving chowder - and boy, did we go to the right place! We were there on a Tuesday afternoon around 3pm so it was really quiet on the pier. We were blessed with beautiful weather, quite nippy so perfect for hot food and chats, and stopped in for a bite before leaving to take the scenic walk from the harbor. We debated a bit on how to work the specials, then ended up ordering fish and chips, the calamari, and a chowder for each of us. In a word: divine. The photos I took pre-meal couldn't begin to capture how perfectly chunky and creamy the chowder was. The soda bread served with it was also excellent - a fact I think which should never be overlooked! The fish and chips was the best I've had - the crunch alone as we cut into the perfectly crispy covering sent chills down my spine. The calamari was also great but, to be honest, completely overshadowed by how delicious the fish and chips and chowder were. Everything was also piping hot, fresh, and didn't take an age and a half to come out! The restaurant itself was also awarded Best Seafood Restaurant of 2013 or something very similar, so obviously it's consistently quality. You will pay a bit more for the options, but I think it's well worth every penny and then some! The inside is gorgeous, it has the feel of a nice boathouse, old but not decrepit. Service was fine while we were there, it was us and only one other group who were a bit older, well-dressed and obviously regulars from the way the staff interacted with them. Of note, the area directly surrounding the restaurant isn't anything to write home about but it's just a short and extremely pleasant walk to the pier which offers some great views. A harbor walk afterwards would be perfect for the digestion! read more

The Oar House - DELIGHTFUL hot chowder on a cold day! - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

Visiting from the US and went here with family. The seafood chowder and toffee pudding dessert were fantastic:

Pros: - Best fish & chips I've had; lightly battered with just the right amount of crisp. Fish was so fresh. - Replaced the regular chips with spicy buffalo sauce chips which were a great upgrade. - Mussels were incredibly tasty; no empty shells here! - Lastly, the Manhattan chowder was a great starter Cons: - Pricey but worth it - Too many good options leads to overindulgence read more

The Oar House - Fish and chips with spicy chips - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

Beautifully fresh fish and friendly staff, in a chilled out atmosphere. Winning! This has been one of my favourite spots in Howth for years now! Located on the west pier, it's the perfect place for a Sunday lunch or a weekday meal! My favourite dish? It has to be the buffalo prawns! They come in a hot sauce with blue cheese dip. I go for the large portion and have it as a main with chips, and let me tell you, they are about as perfect as a chip gets. Home cut, crispy, and fluffy inside! If your not into prawns, their specials are always amazing!! The oar house can do no wrong! read more

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Ok, so it's a little bit touristy and a little over-priced but then again, so is Howth. The décor looks like it hasn't been updated for decades, with fishing nets hanging from the ceilings, but it works for exactly that reason! We were there for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon after a stroll around the pier, and it was full of tourists. I had read previous Yelp reviews about the food, though, so I wasn't deterred. There was a variety of seafood on the menu (clearly what they do best), but we opted on the fish & chips (€15.95), the chalkboard special grilled fish trio plate (€21), and a carafe of chardonnay (€15.95). Everything was fresh and nicely cooked, but the fish & chips was definitely the star of the show. It was absolutely perfect - a huge moist tender filet of fish encased in a light thin crispy shell. I hesitate to say "batter" because there was none of the usual heaviness you associate with batter. Every bite was all about the fish. The chips matched the fish in quality - perfectly crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. I couldn't stop eating them, even after I was full! If I could give a score on the fish & chips alone, it would be a 5-star review, but the rest of the meal and the service was just ok, especially considering the price. That being said, I would not hesitate to go back for the fish & chips alone! read more

The Oar House - Fish & chips - best I've had in a long time! - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

This was probably the best food that we had our entire week in Ireland! But better yet it was such a fun place... The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and it was fun to make a bit of a trip (30 minutes on the DART train) out to Howth from Dublin to find the fishing pier and restaurants that we heard about. Super yummy! read more

In my opinion it was just ok. Service was slow, and they weren't busy. Waited for 15 minuets before she took our order. At that point just decided to go with starters. Got the raw oysters which were good but did not like the grilled oysters. The flavor over powered the oyster. The buffalo prawns were ok . Very small portion. About 4 medium size shrimp. Not impressed . 10% gratuity billed into the bill. That's funny, I guess they need to cover the tip Incase you were turned off by the attitude . read more

The Oar House - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

The best eatery in Howth, I have struggled to find flaws but am always left in awe. Amazing service, amazing food, the best.

Howth is a great place for fish and the Oar house is no exception. I love the quirky decoration of this place and the very friendly staff. The inside is decorated with lots of harbour type decorations and pictures, inside there are loads of things hanging from the ceiling and the kitchen is open at the end of the restaurant, every one can see if wherever you sit. This place is normally very busy on a Saturday but its worth a visit. The Menu is as fishy as you can get with all sorts of seafood goodies. The prices are not exactly cheap but you are getting very fresh sea food here cooked to perfection. A standard fish and chips i think is about 14 euro for instance, but considering i've paid almost that in a bar in town its not that bad. Then you can get the catch of the day and the specials which will probably come in around 17-18 euro. There are small plate dishes as well such as deep fried prawns and smoked salmon, all delicious. Try it out and its sister tapas bar octopussy next door you wont regret it. read more

I had never been to the West Pier in Howth, why-oh-why has it taken me so long! But here we were, back at the car after walking Howth Head in the pourings of rain and we were hungry. So I checked the yelp app and The Oar House had the highest rating, so off we went. Even though it was late lunchtime or even past lunchtime, I'm not sure, we were lucky that they had a cancellation and they could fit us in. Good stuff. The decor is coastal seafood restaurant cliche, with nets draped around the place and the paper table clothes did make me wonder a bit. But there is fabulous photography on the wall, which I found myself staring at for some of the time. In all I found it charming. But to the business in hand, the food. My partner went for three tapas sized dishes: Prawns Pil Pil, Prawn & Crayfish Vol Au Vent and the crab cakes. He thought the vol au vent was good, but the crab cakes the best by far. He even went onto say they were probably the best crab cakes he's ever had. I went for the Grilled Salmon, which came with oven roasted tomato cream sauce. It was divine, the salmon was cooked perfectly and the sauce went so well with it. I would be hard pressed to order something else from the menu when I am back here. They only con was asking for the bill, we had to ask twice. We also paid with cash, which I rarely do (the table beside us took about ten mins to pay with their card) and we wanted to get back on the road. So a star dropped for that. So if it's good seafood you are after, The Oar House is the place for you. read more

We found this place while day tripping to Howth from Dublin-it was a great chance to get out of the city and get some fresh sea air. The Oar House is a 5 minute walk from the DART station, with a good local menu of, what else, fish and other seafood. It's located along the working pier, with fishing boats right alongside and the awesome smells (seriously) of a truly active fishing industry all around. Salt, fresh air, a little bit of diesel for sharpness, and the aroma of cooking/smoking/baking seafood all around. The menu drew us in-a good range of eats and a variety of prices. Most of the menu items can be had in either tapas (small) or regular portions, and the tapas size is enough for two people each to get a good taste of everything. Once inside, the decor is typical seaside-fantasy. There are fish nets (on the walls, NOT the waitresses), various fishing-related things I can't identify, and upstairs a mini-collection of old "high tech" fishing tools like sonar and radio devices. There's a open kitchen (my favorite, since I used to work in one) and you can watch the cooks go about doing what they do best-looking casual while making some awesome food. I had the Fish and Chips, which changes depending on the catch of the day (extra star just for that). Mine was Haddock, and fried in a very light house-made batter with the skin still on. It's rare to get F&C and have both the batter and the fish itself be really tasty, but in this case it worked. Served with chips (um...fries...) and a little bowl of decent split pea soup, I felt it was a good value and a tasty experience. My dining companion had the tapas-size crab cakes and the tapas-sized shrimp skewer. The shrimp was just OK, but the crab cakes were fantastic, being both flavorful and light. Good portions for tapas size, and those two items plus one more would make a nice light lunch for two people. The service was excellent, and the waitress, figuring out quickly we were American, brought out ketchup for the fries...er...CHIPS...without being asked. The only thing we could have done without was the wine. We had a carafe of the Muscadet. I'm not sure the quantity was worth the almost 12 Euro, and the quality certainly wasn't. It tasted as if it had been open a bit too long in the fridge, and as it breathed it didn't really get any better. The final bill came to just over 50 Euro, which was a fair price. We enjoyed ourselves and the food, so what the hell. Bottom line:we'll go back and bring our friends. read more

Seafood chowder was good. I also had the goat cheese crostini and it was very good!! Everyone else enjoyed their meal as well.

I went here with my husband last summer. It was his first time in Ireland, in fact his first time by the sea. The setting is beautiful first of all. I grew up a few miles from here and love Howth. We were a little early for our table so we went for a walk on the pier. Inside the restaurant is lovely. you never forget you're surrounded by the sea. The food was amazing. I think the best was the spicy shrimp. If I still lived in the area I would be back time and time again. Next time we are home I'm sure we'll go back - sans kids again read more

As soon as we pulled up at the Oar House (it's right on the pier), we noticed some seals in the water right by our car. This was pretty exciting. We watched them splash around and attack seagulls for a while, then decided to head on in to the restaurant. The Oar House is warm, friendly and welcoming. It was very busy though, even on a Monday, so make a reservation. We sat next to the window, which had a nice view of the harbour (and the seals). Most of the menu items can be ordered as a main, or as tapas. I ordered the soft shell crab and buffalo prawn skewer as tapas, both were excellent. My wife had the fish and chips, and loved them. I've had a lot of F&C, and these were the best. I tried to steal the mushy peas, but didn't have much luck. Pros: location, food, service, seals Cons: honestly can't think of any! read more

I love the Oar House! Excellent service, fresh & high quality ingredients. We ordered the buffalo prawns (whoa), mussels, and crab cakes. Everything was delicious. My favorite was the buffalo prawns. The prawns are drown in a buttery, spicy buffalo sauce- so good. Our server was friendly and attentive. They also have a nice selection of wines. read more

The Oar House - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

In the idyllic surrounds of Howth amid the fishy smell and high society lies a quaint little restaurant called the Oar House. It's a short trek from the main street of Howth and is situated along the pier with a great view of the harbour. It always seems to be full even during the week but that kind of adds to its charm. The friendly staff don't wear uniforms and the front of house is arranged in a lazy fashion lending it a nice, relaxed atmosphere. I ordered the buffalo prawns for starter and the fish and chips for main. The interesting thing is almost everything on the menu comes in a tapas portion or as a main course. The prawns blew me away. Never have I had such tasty prawns in my life. Swimming in a slightly spicy chilli sauce with a small helping of garlic mayo I couldn't help regret not getting them for my main. When the main came out, however, I didn't regret that decision. A slab of fish on a bed of chunky chips with the fish smothered in a beautifully light batter. The fish itself (haddock I think it was) was amazing and almost melted in my mouth. The prices are a tad steep but with food that delicious you don't really mind paying the money. Wouldn't recommend going here often as it's more of a "treat" kind of restaraunt. read more

Great seafood restaurant along the west pier in Howth! We got a few lovely dishes to share as you can see in the pic below! would highly reccommend a visit if you are in Howth :) my dad is still talking about the fish pie! read more

The Oar House - Mussels, fish pie, ray wing and chickpea and octopus salad - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

Warm, not hot soup, no beer, no liquor other than Jameson, limited menu. Without reservations you sit on the back storeroom. Would not go again. read more

One of the best meals we had on our trip to Europe...and we had a lot of amazing meals. We still talk about the salmon dish and buffalo shrimp we had while we were there. Absolutely amazing!! read more

Highly recommend this place. The staff are very personable and friendly. The atmosphere was relaxed and it's right off the fishing pier. Great options on the menu. We had all appetizers because we just couldn't make up our minds: Raw oysters, mussels, Langostino, buffalo sauce prawn, Cajun calamari & a bottle of sauvignon blanc recommended by the server. I was so happy with the wine selection- it wasn't too dry and went with everything we ate (not to mention it wasn't the most expensive wine they sold!) The buffalo sauce was homemade and not too overpowering. The blue cheese also homemade. All the flavors were really nicely balanced . The bowels of mussels, clams, Langostino & crab came in a cream sauce that was delicious and also well balanced. Definitely could have used more garlic bread for that! We really enjoyed everything about this place - 5 stars doesn't do it enough justice. read more

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The Dublin Bay Prawn festival was on last weekend in Howth and there was lively activity in all the restaurants along the pier. Of the few that are without steps, as I'm wheelchair user, the Oar House was on the level in more ways than one. It's a bustling busy hive of seafood splendour, and you can see the chefs in action in the open plan kitchen area to the rear, where all the fresh fish, mussels, prawns etc. are all visibly stored. Service is excellent, prompt, efficient and friendly. What's most attractive is the option of Tapas, that is, you can have smaller dishes at €7 or €8 as opposed to large at twice that amount, so if a number of you are dining, you can taste a greater range of seafood offerings, great idea. The Tiger prawns arrived sizzling on their hot plates of garlic and chillies. A bowl of chunky chips and salad to share, along with complimentary breads made for a welcome lunch for us. Two glasses of Muscadet and 2 coffees brought our bill to just under €40. There's a covered outside area for diners wishing to smoke too, plus an accessible loo for disabled. If we're out to Howth again, this place is definitely on the cards for a visit, a must. Enjoy. read more

Our first stop in Howth was to grab a pint while the sun set. We hopped into this place, based on location and reviews. Well, they do not serve beer. No fear, I do not discriminate on my beverages. So a carafe of wine it is! Let me start by saying, this is one of the most quaint and cutest restaurants I've ever sat in. The music playing was acoustic/vocal version of main songs, even EDM. Amazing mood. We kind of wanted to eat our way around Howth, so I started with the chowder of the day. Wow. Simply wow. One of the freshest bowls of anything I've ever eaten! A light broth with clams, calamari, oysters and prawns. She did forget to serve us the accompanying crusty bread, but the chowder was so good, I didn't even realize. Plus, who needs the extra carbs anyways. Service was great. Scene was great. Its romantic (even for our guys trip haha). Will def stop back in! Cheers! read more

The Oar House - Chowder to die for. Order off the daily menu for the fresh catch of the day. You're welcome. - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

Amazing place. I started with the seafood chowder and it was the best one I've had in my life. It was very cheap and even though I ordered the small plate, it was surprisingly generous. At this point I was in heaven. But that changed when the main course arrived. I ordered the seafood platter. It was super expensive and the portions were so small, it didn't live up to the price at all. Even so, he quality was fantastic and everything was super fresh. I will definitely come back for that chowder again! read more

The Oar House - Seafood chowder. Omg. - Seafood Near Me - Howth, D

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Very nice restaurant. We just had the fish & chips but they had more sophisticated things on the menu. Visited September 2016 read more

Best place on the water. Good service, great seafood and quality cooking here. We came here after a long hike on the Howth coast and we were exhausted and starving. The smoked mackerel pate was the star. Sounds scary and weird but it was so delicious! Ask for extra bread because you'll want it to be able to finish the whole thing! Seafood chowder was very filling! And really hearty and yummy. Best fish n chips I had during my entire stay in Ireland. read more

We were in Howth for a tour and broke away from the tour. Did a wonderful historic tour of Howth with historic tours of Howth which was wonderful and then found the Oar House where we had a terrific lunch and sat outside over looking west harbor. My wonderful bride had fish and chips and I had fantastic Sea Bass served with onions and potatoes in an iron skillet. But for almost burning my hand, could not of been better meal and experience. read more

Never again! It's just pricy, not pricy because the quality of their food. We ordered fish and chips: 15€ for an insipid fish that doubles the price of other A WAY better then this. Also we ordered oysters with Parmesan (6 oysters for 12€) price was ok, but they weren't very well cooked. To make the experience worst, we got charged 6 extra euros as service charges. I will try to avoid this place. read more