Historic Boston: Jacob Wirth Restaurant

Bostonist loves to eat out. Whether we're investigating cheap eats, dining destinations beyond the city limits, or where to find a good brew, we make it a point to experience as much of the area's culinary scene as possible.

Well, add this one to your list: historic eats! Established in 1868 and located at its current site since 1878, the Jacob Wirth Restaurant on Stuart Street is the second-oldest restaurant in the city (after the Union Oyster House). Jacob Wirth opened his restaurant shortly after immigrating from Prussia, and his establishment quickly became popular for its bar, featuring a number of Wirth's own brews. The restaurant menu featured German dishes and 19th-century dietary staples, including sausages, bacon, ham, cheeses, herring, and pig's knuckles. Mmmm ... pig's knuckles.

The restaurant continued to thrive into the 20th century, surviving Prohibition and the Great Depression. The restaurant remained under Wirth family ownership into the mid-20th century, and the current owners strive to maintain the restaurant's historic character. The menu has changed a bit to reflect the times, with herring replaced by calamari and boiled ham replaced by BBQ steak tips, but German-American dishes remain prominent. If you like Wiener Schnitzel and wursts of all kinds, Jacob Wirth Restaurant is the place to go. They may not have pig's knuckles on the menu anymore, but there's enough pig on the menu to make Jacob Wirth proud.