The Oar House

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

Very good for settling down a bit before or after going into a tour of Howth
The restaurant itself is not very big, so a reservation is recommended at busier times (which I guess is the afternoons, judging by the time the tables started filling up)
Very tasteful options, the Salmon fillet was very well prepared and flavorful.
Just a note, they add a service charge on the check (not sure they do this always, it was a small party)

Really loved the seafood chowder, but the fish and chips left something to be desired. The chips were good, but the fish and batter were a bit bland. Even the vinegar and tartar sauce was tasteless, and we thought that was weird. Friendly staff, and were able to fit us in without a reservation, so 4 stars for that.

This restaurant came highly recommended. Everything was quite good, but it was a lil’ bit too touristy for me!

It doesn’t get much fresher than this! After spending a rainy Sunday morning exploring the Howth market and Harbour, we took shelter here for lunch. The restaurant is very warm and welcoming (no modern décor here!) It didn’t look particularly kid friendly, but the staff were very nice and brought crayons and coloring pages for our kids.
We started with the calamari, which was probably the freshest we’ve ever had. I highly recommend it! I then had the deluxe seafood chowder — I can’t say enough nice things about it! There was plenty of tender crab (which, I believe, is what makes it «deluxe») along with the usual chowder suspects.
My husband had a lovely fish and chips, while our daughter opted for prawns. Everything was super-​fresh and yummy.
I wish we lived a bit closer to Howth, so we could eat here more often.

Fresh, deliciously prepared seafood! Had the crab claws starter, salmon and monk fish/​scallop stew main courses and ended with the crime brûlée for dessert. Everything was impeccable.

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.

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.

Great food, comfortable setting. Group of 4+2babies. Plenty of high chairs available. Food was excellent. Husband and I shared raw oysters, salmon+cod burger, and crab+papaya salad. Friends has fish+chips and something else that they said was great too.

This is such a great place, very friendly staff. The Dublin Bay oysters are so delicious, totally recommend them! We also had calamari and garlic butter chips/​fries, they were both pretty good too.

Was not super pleased with my meal. I went here because it was recommended in my guidebook as a place to get small, almost tapas tastings. Everything was just fine, but it was not what I was looking for in this area. The seafood chowder was quite good, but I would have gone somewhere else if I were to do it again.

Man sollte hier besser einen Tisch bestellen denn das Lokal ist sehr sehr gut besucht und es war noch nicht mal ein trockener Tag.
Man bekommt zum Essen Wasser in Karaffen, die auch immer aufgefüllt werden. Man zahlt einmal und bekommt dann die Karaffen nachgefüllt. Ausserdem gibt es Wein und nicht alkoholische Getränke aber kein Bier.
Die Preise sind auf jeden Fall gehoben. Von dem Krabbencocktail war ich enttäuscht, den würde ich nicht nochmal bestellen, aber das Hauptgericht der Fischteller war ein Traum.

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!

A funny one for me, we visited the Sunday before St Patricks day and everywhere was heaving– we were lucky to get a table. This restaurants décor isn’t really my style, very ‘themed-​fish-​restaurant’, nets hung from the ceiling etc but does have a charm and the staff are really friendly. We got seated in the extension at the back, it’s got very ‘authentic’ views of the port, actual nets, skips & metal containers etc but get past all of that stuff and focus in on the food– you’ll want to, because it is FABULOUS! I had the dublin prawns and then the special mussels– that days were with garlic& white wine and wee absolutely great and very generous serving. My party also had the chowder and the fish and chips which were all big hits too! Stylistically a bit dates but for good fish, we haven’t found better yet and the staff were really good.

If it’s sunny and you’re early enough (it opens at 12.30) you should sit outside, but the places go fast. Don’t despair, the restaurant is really nice inside, with a fish-​themed decoration.
I recommend the seafood chowder, served with black bread and butter, and one of the «today’s special». I had the leek and hake bake with the chorizo herb crust and it was delicious !! Be careful, the plates are pretty generous so if you’re not hungry, just take a main.
The only weird stuff was the sort of Spanish music inside… Sure, the tapas bar is just nearby, but it doesn’t mean they should use the same music, right? ;)

Mis amigos a por el típico fish and chips yo a por carne (si visito un pueblo pesquero y como carne, yo no te juzgo) Las dos cosas buenísimas, y el postre riquísimo!!!
El fish and chips no es de un tipo de pescado concreto, te ponen el mas fresco que tengan pescado en el día.
No se si el mejor restaurante del pueblo pero sin duda no esta nada mal y te atienden fenomenal.
Y oye como dato extra: El baño limpísimo!!!

Loving Howth, and loving The Oar House!!!
I went to The Oar House, a windy Saturday afternoon, hungry for some prime seafood… And I did not leave disappointed.
The Oar House is a really nice small place, with an open kitchen, where you can see the fresh fish and seafood laying ready to cook.
I ordered from «Today’s specials»
Mussels with whitewine, garlic and cream, and the mixed grill plate with 4 different types of fish.
Well tasting, well cooked, and well decorated.
Bad thing ! They put on a service fee, and I really don’t like that,
I will be back again ;-)

Had lunch here a few weeks ago. My calamari starter was a bit rubbery but I have to say my fish and chip main was superb. The waitress resolved the starter problem with free desserts which were good also. Very good genuinely friendly service too. We’d definitely go back.

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.

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!

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 Unilocal 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!

La camarera que nos ha atendido es simpatiquísima. Hemos comido 5 personas, dos de ellas de 14 años. Comida muy buena y abundante.
Hemos coincidido con el Presidente de Irlanda. ¡Qué casualidad! Ha sido muy divertido.
Todos los platos eran abundantes y el pescado muy fresco. La ración de calamares fritos no era muy grande. Los sabores son distintos de los españoles, pues no usan aceite de oliva, pero nos han gustado. El servicio bueno pero sin la rapidez del español.

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.