Unbelievably, they were still making in One of the best fast food places near MGH. The prime rib was unbelievable and the popovers out of this world! Boston, MA 02210; East Side Bar and Grille 561 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141; Easy Pie 1701 Washington Street . Top of the Hub: Among special occasion spots, Top of the Hub towered over the competition from its perch atop the Prudential Tower since its inception in 1965. Dick's Last Resort: One of Quincy Market's most notorious party spots has hosted its last raucous birthday party. Wednesday smorgasbord, homemade pies. The Kings Rook in Marblehead kept me in great French Cream Cheese cake, fruit Frapps and Classical Music. Bobby Hackett was a talented man,I remember a radio interview with him,and one of the jobs he had in a long career was setting up the franchises for The Red Coach Grill locations. Baked Alaska in the 1980s a really special experience. To this day, Honisss broiled halibut has been the best I have ever eaten! Gilchrist's building is still standing, although the store itself closed in 1977. Boston 1800, East Boston, Pind View, KingstonNH, All gone! Got engaged there! The Red Wing is still there and is as wonderful as ever! Their Seafood Platter was stacked so high on the plate you thought it might tip over. I only got to Durgin-Park once, but it was great. Comments as wonderful as article. In March 1951, Howard Flanders and his family became the new owners of Green Ridge Turkey Farm, and a rebuilt restaurant reopened the following year. The Boston-Area Bars and Restaurants That Have Closed (Or Are Closing), Spring 2022 Tracking eating and drinking establishments that won't reopen by Stephanie Carter Updated Apr 27, 2022,. Kon Tiki was also great! My parents found the restaurant when my dad bought a slice of the Countesss Dobos Tort. Santa and Mrs. Claus would make an appearance. Whether you were in the mood for jazz, blues, rock, folk or just a great brunch, Johnny D's delivered. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. We were really sad they closed too. Research and anecdotes were pulled from The Music Museum of New England, Dirty Old Boston, The David Bieber Archives, and a variety of other online sources, linked when appropriate. Although not a fine food restaurant, Howard Johnsons (New Englanders do not call it HoJos) IS a New England classic, and deserves a spot on this list. (Well, that and the giant turkey that overlooked it all from the restaurants iconic highway sign.). So sad it closed always wished it would open again. All great memories, but we STILL miss, and long for, the Green Ridge Turkey Farm. Bison County: Waltham's go-to spot for fine barbecue has smoked its last rack of ribs. My parents and I came home to visit my grandparents on the Cape in the late 70s. Brighams was great but you didnt give mention to Baileys in Harvard Sq! Vallees Braintree, MA, and other locations throughout New England. When it was built, it supposedly replaced a nearby tavern burned down by the British troops either during the Battle of Bunker Hill or another Revolutionary War skirmish. Parsnip: This upscale Harvard Square restaurant, housed in the multi-level space that formerly held Upstairs on the Square, opened in late 2015. Last I checked New England comprised more than 2 states. Popovers !!!!! Whenever a new one opened,he was in charge of setting it up,hiring staff,planning menus,etc.He said he would spend 6 months at each location, get it running smoothly and hand it over to permanent management. I remember seconds on the house of their fabulous prime rib, my first taste of marinated mushrooms (you bet I have the recipe) and the to die for popovers. Went to the one in West Yarmouth two years ago was not that impressed. How about maybe one of the oldest restaurants in MA. When the state took the land for the Walden Pond State Reservation in 1966 or 67 she was ready to sell. Cafeteria Boston: One of the city's most popular see-and-be-seen spots has permanently closed after 13 years on Newbury Street. Dining rooms were named after places like Kansas City, Dodge City, and Sioux City. This week, Old Sully's was boarded up on Union Street, and many reports in the Town and out of the Town suggested that the bar had finally closed for good. Dineros Hull. Felicias in the North End! The Joyce Chen on the Charles River by MIT c. 1968 to 1974 MIT then put buildings there. The best veal parmigiana! Today, The Last Hurrah has the feel of a gentlemens club, but its walls tell a more modern story as a place of political movers and shakers. From General Electric building over the site of The Channel in Fort Point to the inconspicuous Allston location of early-80s post-punk comet Underground, so much of Bostons musical history is hiding in plain site. Yes, Mildreds and also Thompsons Clam Bar. Yokens sign is still there on Lafayette even though restaurant is long gone. I learned proper table service, including boning fish and carving beef properly, as well as making flaming desserts thrilling the customers. Black Angus, Boston. They had the best seafood platter and a delicious filet mignon! The food was delicious. They too just closed for some reason. So good! Is there a similar place anywhere now? Boston Mayor Tom Menino, right, and Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci at Joe Tecces, Feb. 3, 1997. We loved going to Durgin Park for the food and to interact with the tourists who were invariably nice, interesting, and often clueless about what made Boston, well, Boston. The grilled and buttered rolls were delicious!! And their 3 lb back stuffed was great. Diners can still enjoy Dante de Magistris' fresh pastas and hearty Italian plates at Il Casale Lexington and Il Casale Belmont. The mini-golf course (plus batting cages and other amusements) that the orange dinosaur was part of is now condos, but they preserved the dinosaur; its easily visible from route 1. There was no mistaking the type of experience that awaited after you drove past a pasture of fiberglass cows and turned in at the 68-foot-tall cactus sign. My parents would take us there if we were going to Boston, and it was a special treat for us. 1 there is called Providence Hwy. I remember great times sitting there with my Dad and having a pint:) I have some similar memories of the Student Prince (aka The Fort) in Springfield MA. With the neon chicken sign waving you in with his wing.. Baileys ice cream in Wellesley and Belmont. Marios or Manero across from Westport Ct train station was my dads haunt after commuting beck from NYC on the 5:25 or 6:10 evening train. Fantastic home cooking. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Topsys/Fontaines in West Roxbury, My all time favorite, Valles Steak Houses, Bickfords (late night, early morning breakfasts), Vallees, Freds Seafood (Randolph) Friendlys, Hilltop, The No-Name & the pewter pot, also Woolworths . Its not surprising that as one of the Americas first settlements, Massachusetts has its fair share of historic taverns. So, whats sitting on these properties now? I agree with all! Follow John Hutchings on Instagram @jlh1918. When we came back I lived in Hyannis in the late sixties and early seventies and one of my favorites was The Mayflower Restaurant! The downturn in public favor that doomed the new locations eventually caught up with the original as well, and in 2013, the Saugus Hilltop Steak House served its last meal and joined the ranks of now-closed New England restaurants. The Apolo dinner and Benjamins in Taunton MA, Tiny Jims in Buzzards Bay MA, and remember standing in line at York steak house chains around NE. Bonanza Steakhouse in Pittsfield, Mass! After a pause, hed smile and say Do you want a Frankfurter? There were 2 photos of him on the walls when we visited, which made both my mother and I very happy. Great salads and sticky buns. Yes!! Despite its popularity, Chadwicks closed in 1998. Max Brenner: One of the city's most popular destinations for sinful, over-the-top chocolate treats has served its last mega sundae. Had been to the Hearth and Kettle in Hyannis back in the 80s while visiting my grandmother. The interior of most locations had an old-Boston feel, with heavy wooden tables and dark-beamed ceilings. Wish we could find the recipe for their delicious Delmonico potatoes . This restaurant dished up Polynesian food between 1961 and 2000. KPub is now in the same building. Long gone, now, of course. Their pot roast was the best I have ever had as was there Grape Nut Custard. I was hoping someone would mention SANDYS at the entrance to Buzzards Bay on Cape Cod. At one time, Jordan Marsh, Filene's, and Gilchrist were the three shopping landmarks of Downtown Crossing. As Boston has grappled with a public health emergency coupled with myriad restrictions, local restaurants and bars of all stripes have tried to combat the challenges of 2020. [] Wed get a cooler and go to the butcher shop and load it up with steaks, chicken, and lots of goodies including the famous grapenut custard pudding! Bethany Fowler. The staff wore Styrofoam boaters and ruffled white shirts with bow ties. But its always been fascinating to us that so many notable (and in some cases, historic) concerts, parties, and events have happened across the city in places that no longer exist. Both great black Forrest German restaurants with Bier Steins galore!! Yokens, Hilltop, Valles, The Modern and Greenwich Turkey Farm in Nashua, and the Hanover House in Manchester and last but not least, the China Dragon in Hooksett. a whale steak. Whiskey's: Long a favorite among eager students and Back Bay twenty-somethings, this down-and-dirty party spot and sports bar has closed after an epic run on Boylston Street. I remember when The No Name was literally a shack on the waterfront with fishermen bringing their latest catch of blue fish coming in the back door. Mocha chip my all time favorite. Now that was a sundae , they were shown flowing over with sauce and they were made that way, you needed a shower after eating there! Bobby Hackets in Pembroke, Ma on route 53, a great New England Fare from prime rib to Clams Casino, always a great stop. They sure do bring back many wonderful Family Celebration Memories. During its 137 years in business, this establishment was known for its elegance, history, and steak and lobster fare. I really miss the Negimaki! I grew up in Norfolk and my family enjoyed going there. I remember General Glovers popovers!! You go downstairs. As such, it lays bona fide claim as the oldest restaurant in Boston, and among the oldest in the United States. Site was a parking lot for the reservation until 1982. This 1874 building was supposed to be knocked down, but preservationists campaigned against this move and were able to save the top three floors of the faade. Located on the ground floor, the Jordan Marsh Food Shop and Bakery would have shoppers following their noses toward those signature muffins and other baked goods; once there, they could also browse gourmet snacks and gift baskets. Les Zygomates: A longtime staple of the Leather District, this Gallic wine bar and jazz hangout was a favorite of after-work crowds near South Station. Cuchi Cuchi: For 19 years, Cantabrigians flocked to this Central Square hideaway to enjoy globally-inspired small plates and creative cocktails. 10. Catania opened his first restaurant in 1963 (belying the menus claim of famous since 1831), but 10 years later he had sold all the locations except the one in Falmouth. The Town Lyne House. Backyard Betty's: One of Southie's liveliest drinking and dining spots has served its final boozy shake and order of table-side wings. A real trip down memory lane! The Brook Manor! At fifty years old and counting, the Cask n Flagon has weathered all of the drastic changes surrounding it on Lansdowne Street. What about the Chateau in Manchester, NH, Coles in Gray, Maine, and many others? I miss her and her restaurant. I have an old New England Travel guide,1951.. It had the absolute best muffins. We loved Heck Allens too. My mom was not a fan of fried chicken. That may be true, but the daily business of this grand old bar is to still serve drinks and food to an ever-changing clientele. My mom never had much [while] raising me alone, but every so often shed get a few extra bucks and say, Guess where were going, Al? And it was like winning the lottery. Alicen McHugh Savary, Augustines. Luckily, the recipe has been preserved for those who would like to make those classic Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins at home. Oscars in Ipswich,General Edwards Inn in Revere,Dales Swampscott,Clam Box, Revere. Following the 1877 deaths of Durgin and Park, Chandler and his heirs ran the restaurant until 1945. . Was so hoping someone would rescue the place or at least honor the age of the building and put an eatery that would compliment Durgins history, Weeks Dairy Bar in Laconia, New Hampshire. The Peter Stuyvesant,. And wed wait! Also Newport Creamery and there was a restaurant I used to go with in New London CT with my grandma that is now a bank. While many businesses hope to take a wait-and-see approach before they can safely reopen, there are just as many others eager to say theyre back in business. I too miss The Town Lyne House. Really loved the ice cream and clams. demolished 2017 after years of eyesore status..but in its glory days,it boasted of charbroiled meats and steaming lobster ,in bold neon ,to the passing hordes.. Dcor included a large-wheeled 19th-century-style bicycle that hung on the wall, and for a while, a Superman cape could be found hanging in the phone booth in the back. Compiled between July 11 and July 15, 2016, with profound fondness and sorrow for the dearly departed watering holes of our youth: The wait staff was great. I also loved the different steaks. When I lived in North Andover and got my first FT job at WT Grants, my mother and I used to go shopping at the Peabody Mall. Yes The Cafe Budapest. When you stop by this historic Boston bar for a brew, you are following the footsteps of American history. The classic stand-alone colonial style restaurants in places like downtown Plymouth and Orleans were a staple of my youth. 4 Must-Visit Flea Markets In Boston Where Youll Find Awesome Stuff, These 10 Unique Restaurants In Boston Will Give You An Unforgettable Dining Experience, 18 Reasons Living In Boston Is The Best And Everyone Should Move Here, Here Are The 9 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go In Boston, You May Be Surprised To Learn These 13 Famous People Are From Boston, 8 Famous Homicides In Boston That Will Never Be Forgotten, This Creepy Asylum Near Boston Is Still Standing And Still Disturbing, The Haunted Restaurant In Boston That Invented The Boston Cream Pie, Wikimedia Commons/Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger). I wonder why they left out the Shore Dining Hall at Rocky Point in RI? I know there are a few Friendlys still struggling along, but its in name only. By 1938, the Kimballs had added turkey sandwiches and ice cream to its offerings, and after those were met with high demand, they opened a restaurant in 1940, serving their own turkeys and other fare. The Big Judge had two hamburger patties! In the early sixties, I worked just up Route 1 at what was once known as Ships Haven, which became, The Ship. Ceia: One of Newburyport's go-to destinations for fine bistro fare has shuttered its doors. This restaurant was a highlight of my teenage years. The Copley Caf became the Merry-Go-Round Bar in 1934, complete with a merry-go-round; in 1978, it was simply The Plaza Bar and Dining Room; then, in 1996, it became The Oak Room and racked up considerable standing among Bostons Back Bay set. The Abbey Lounge 3 Beacon St., Inman Square, Somerville Once home base to Boston's garage rock scene, the longtime bar space, which first opened in 1907 and was properly established after. There was easily enough for two people. Of all the restaurants that have closed over the years, this was the Best? I loved the menu! pic.twitter.com/tUl8hAtRCA, JWU Culinary (@JWUCulinaryNow) March 15, 2016, Fontaines in West Roxbury the fried chicken and grilled, buttered dinner rolls. Kristina Nikolaides, Best coleslaw and onion rings evah!! Grew up in Stoneham MA now in FL. My cousins husband Eric and his brothers Frank and Biddle Thompson owned Snow Inn and Thompson Brothers Clam Bar in Harwich Port. Certainly iconic. The marble counter and heart shaped backs on the chairs, the outstanding hot fudge dripping onto the saucer from the metal ice cream dish. If you had your elders with you, Felicia came around to your table to greet and talk with your elders, in her inimitable Italian way. I also remember Valleys Steak House and the lobster specials they had. Restaurant Closures Lir Facebook Lir on Boylston 903 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115 Lir on Boylston, just steps away from the Boston Marathon finish line, has closed after 17 years. In Chinatown Yee Hong Guey. Good to know its still going strong. They call them muisjes. When I was a kid, we had a summer cottage in Onset in the 40s. The Shiro in Berlin. HOW CAN this list not include Howard JohnsonsThey invented the CLAM ROLL, along w/help From NISSEN who invented the New England Hot Dog rollsAlso Heck Allens in Saugus GREAT SEAFOOD. It was are go-to place for any occasion and my husband & I dated there for years. If you mix up the two, Bostonians will surely let you know. We even sat next to Mark Wahlberg there one day! Even though Im living away, Im sad at the fact that Cole Farms in Gray, Maine has closed. The enterprise expanded to include four stores located in Boston (on Tremont Street), Hyannis, Cohasset, and Wellesley. 3 hours later, we headed from there to the Cape !! Among Brighams claims to fame was popularizing or perhaps even creating jimmies as an ice cream topping. The walls featured murals of a traveling muffin man making his rounds. If Grandmother was with us, shed pretend to read all the white lettered black menu boards, and finally order Just a cup of coffee, dear and then innocently inquire if they might have a little bun or something on the side? - Always turned out to be a glazed cinnamon dome that shed protest was too big for her but somehow managed to finish that last bite with her last sip of java. It had the same owner from 1922 til it closed when the state ended Rt# 128. This restaurant and club closed more recently, in 2016, but it is definitely missed. Anybody remember anything more about it? Photograph: Ed Massery with Tom Underiner. Thankfully, many still survive throughout NE. My favorite was Hilltop Steak House for the Lobstah pie! I miss them both. The waiters were excellent and wore suits or tuxedoes. Not having adequate insurance to rebuild, the Kimballs opted to sell. My favorite restaurant on Cape Cod, having grown up there, was Mildreds Chowder House in Hyannis! Among the most famous of now-closed New England restaurants is Durgin-Park, a Faneuil Hall favorite for nearly two centuries before it shuttered in 2019. They did quite a function business so had need of live bands. But by then the end was in sight: Giuffrida had sold the business the previous year, and it did not fare well under later owners. I miss Souper Salad in Kenmore Sq something fierce, and The Arlington Diner on Mass Ave. Here are the now-closed restaurants Boston.com readers miss the most We asked what restaurant you miss the most, and, more than 3,000 comments later, here's what you said. The story is someone would come up to the bar and order a hot dog, and hed reply We dont have hot dogs. First dinner out with my husband of 31 years! We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. When my three best friends and I got our first paying jobs in high school, we would dress up and go on Sundays. We would routinely take doggie bags to go because we couldnt eat all the food in one sitting. Visit Website. We asked you in Augustand again last weekwhich restaurant you miss the most, and what you loved so much about it. Photograph: Courtesy Oak Long Bar and Kitchen/Richard Mandelkorn. He repackaged it as the Hearth n Kettle and eventually expanding that brand to five Cape Cod locations. This is where I spent my teens years in the 80s. Are there any other now defunct companies or restaurants that fill you with nostalgia? The tavern was named after Dr. Joseph Warren, a Patriot leader who was killed in action during that famous, aforementioned battle that took place in Charlestown. Did You Know? And the English Tea Room on Newbury Street! They were also famous for their homemade Hot Fresh Popovers which every table would get a basket of them. It was on Hwy 184 (Providence-New London Turnpike), almost to the state border with Rhode Island. Everyone treated like family. How about Dini s, a favorite seafood restaurant our family went to for celebrations. At first, Kennedy's specialized in boy's and men's clothing before venturing into the field of women's clothing in the 1930s. Now, lets not get confused with this historic watering hole: Were talking about the original location on East Berkeley Street. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! I had a set of 4 that lasted 4 decades before I broke the last one, the red thoroughly faded, right before the turn of the millennium kind of a sign that an era had truly come to an end. Here are 12 places that we still miss: How many of these do you personally remember? Originally called the Copley Caf, which opened in 1912 alongside the hotel, this Fairmont Copley Plaza bar has undergone several transformations over the years. Many times we asked for more Popovers. Pier 4 and their enormous Yard of Ale was a favourite of my parents when visitors came to stay. We went to The White Rabbit every week for dinner. They dont know what ice cream is down here. Which now-closed New England restaurants do you miss most? Amrheins claims lineage back to 1890, making it a cornerstone of South Boston for over a century. Though its a solid, year-round neighborhood drinking and dining spot, it turns into a complete madhouse on game days during baseball season. She was stellar and no matter how long between visits, she would come up to me and say Whats it gonna be tonight the roast pork or the broiled halibut thats how PRO all these waitresses were ! Theres probably some Harvard Business School study on why that is, but its often really disappointing for the customers. As a kid until I moved away after 22 yrs, I lived up the street from Fontaines and never The owners were the nicest. We always got a turkey club sandwich and iced tea. I remember taking dates to Kowloon. Have been trying to run down the recipe. It was really formal and they hosted weddings in the back yard. Some Facebook comments have been lightly edited for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. My family would dine there occasionally and it was always a special treat. The Lincoln was not the name of the stand at first it was the Hypolet Roadside Stand which was her husbands name. I found this Jordan Marsh macaroon recipe online. Im sorry to hear that Durgin Park closed, it was a landmark for Boston and you could not make reservation even if you were the President of the United States. Swensons ice cream Faneuil Hall, The Dome Woods Hole. Founded in Boston by Eben Jordan and Benjamin Marsh in 1851, Jordan Marsh & Company was a pioneering department store that expanded throughout New England and beyond, becoming a popular anchor store as mall shopping took off in the 1950s and 1960s. The town purchased the property and still runs the miniature golf course. A tiki bar with stand-up comedy and an award-winning pupu platter? Every year my parents would take me there on my birthday. And Sherrys in Quincy along with Morey Pearls, 7 Es and while the food might not be great, going to Howdys was quite the experience, especially Friday nights when the cars would back into the spaces for show off time. We went to the Hilltop, Yokums, Brighams ( the best Lime Rickeys), Kowloon was always fun with the boat in the pond. I seem to remember that, please correct me if I am wrong. Two more owners saw the restaurant through its next 60 years, until it was finally sold in 2007 to Ark Restaurants, whose other holdings include Bryant Park Grill in New York City and Sequoia in Washington, D.C. During its long run, Durgin-Park flirted with expansion, operating satellite locations at Copley Place and Logan Airport for a time. Muffins, of course from standard varieties like blueberry and coffee cake to unusual creations like almond tea and fruit cocktail (there were even mystery muffins for daring diners.). ), then at a new location near the Aquaruim. In a 2013 essay in The New Yorker, Poehler described the scene: Chadwicks was one of those fake old-timey restaurants. )and sayBoss,my sisters boy(or brother in law,or whatever) is coming over from the old country,can you find him a job?So,the new arrival would start at the bottom, maybe washing dishes,and over time would work his way up ,becoming a cook on the line. Dont know about up a hill, but you could mean Berts Landing..just next to the beach access. The Kowloon was the big attration on Route One, and still is. Many restaurants here have been in business for many decades or even a century. Learned to eat Fish & Chips there before I learned to like seafood. Loved them both in the 70s-90s. It was a high class restaurant. Taranta: Jose Duarte's Peruvian-accented eatery was one of the most beloved in the North End. Miss those dress up dinner nights. The brothers passed away fairly young, Edric Jr. carried the business for a number of years after. I lived in Easton and loved being able to get the fine fare of Weylus close to home.
