A terrific restaurant that you should visit if you have the opportunity!! Fun times! Below are the nominations by MASSterList readers of their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten bars and nightclubs that have closed over the years in the Boston area. There was music and some of Santas elves would bring you a box of your own crayons and coloring pages while you waited for dinner. One of my favorites thats now gone, was Steves Greek on Newbury St. We ate there all the time in the 1990s and early 2000s. Anthonys Pier 4 in Boston and Saunders at Rye Harbor, NH. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Its cool to us that these old legacy bands played in places that we pass every day and dont think twice about. Here, shoppers could not only find a wide range of clothing and items from around the world, but also be treated to fashion shows, concerts, holiday exhibits, art shows, and a bakery that soon became famous for its blueberry muffins. For doughnuts Johnsons Dairy Bar on Route 4 in New Hampshire forget the town now but it was between Concord and Exeter. My parents would take us there if we were going to Boston, and it was a special treat for us. Miss those dress up dinner nights. 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. Heck Allens in Lynn, really good seafood and good prices too. My go to was Harvard Sq, probably the first to go due to rent prices. Welicks in Franklin for their fried seafood and they were open year round, not like the roadside stands. I have lovely memories of both of those! Supposedly, the BellyBuster was free to anyone who could eat it all in one go. Bond Bar at the Langham. Their roquefort dressing was the best. Under =Boston Restaurants are 2 Downtown Scandinavian ones; Olas,14 Carver St ,Park Square and the one I think you are remembering.. The chocolate loving Dutch have been eating them for breakfast on toast for decades. Really a place to go. Theres probably some Harvard Business School study on why that is, but its often really disappointing for the customers. The ClamBox has taken its place with my family. 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. I think they are still at Faneuil Hall. )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. The clams were fantastic Fantasias near Fresh Pond in Cambridge. Well, a number of local watering holes are surely up there, welcomingColonial rebel rousers as they helped organize The Revolutionand many of them still stand today, in defiance to the rapid development surrounding them. Everything about Hilltop Steak House in Saugus, MA, was as over-the-top as its sign. The omissions are almost criminal: Chadwicks (Lexington), the Ground Round (various locations), the original Jamess Gate (Jamaica Plain, Boston), Jimmys Harborside (Boston), Locke-Ober (Boston), Pewter Pot (various locations), The Pillar House (Newton), Vinny Testas (various locations), the Wursthaus (Cambridge), and York Steak House (various locations). We used to live on the corner of Broadway (Route 1) walking distance to the Town Lyne House. Many times we asked for more Popovers. We went to The White Rabbit every week for dinner. One time my friend and I decided to grab dinner at Durgin Park and the mens Russian Chorus from Harvard was beautifully serenading the diners! And I can never forget the Athens Olympia on Stuart St., a favorite of my parents and my introduction to Greek foodout-of-this-world taramasalata, kebabs, and unsweetened coffee jello with whipped cream for dessert. For 47 years, Johnny D's in Somerville was a popular music venue for acts ranging from the Dixie Chicks to Neil Young. 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. In its prime, Hilltop Steakhouse was regularly listed among the busiest restaurants in the world. The Seawitch Restaurant & Shop on Route 1 Gone, Bel-Aire Diner, Route One North, in Danvers, MA. I also loved the different steaks. Loved bringing my brother and sister in there when we were young! Following the 1877 deaths of Durgin and Park, Chandler and his heirs ran the restaurant until 1945. 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. Originally called the Copley Caf, which opened in 1912 alongside the hotel, this Fairmont Copley Plaza bar has undergone several transformations over the years. The waiters were excellent and wore suits or tuxedoes. Agree about Fontaines in West Roxbury. Does anyone else have memories to share of SANDYS? Once home base to Bostons garage rock scene, the longtime bar space, which first opened in 1907 and was properly established after Prohibition ended in 1933, ended its run as The Abbey in late 2008. They grew their own vegetables in a garden outside near a shuffleboard court. Largest salad EVVERR! Kids at the pond who went there in the 30s referred to it as Danoskys though it may have been The Lincoln by then. I miss lots of those, like Fantasia, Durgin Park, Jimmys Haborside, Pewter Pots, Brighams, the China House in Boston (near Steinway), etc., but my all-time favorite was Stellas, first in the North End (the great mystery was where did the valet parkers put all those cars? Theres never been any place like like it before or since. CJ Gangi, HUGE servings at Bishops for such cheap prices! Sheila M. Hawes, Cafe Luigi in Bedfordfabulous reasonably priced Italian food, great servicea family favorite for decades. Lisa Schuhmacher, Christos in Brockton. First dinner out with my husband of 31 years! 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. Excellent Syrian food, steaks and seafood. Gilchrist's building is still standing, although the store itself closed in 1977. Swensons ice cream Faneuil Hall, The Dome Woods Hole. Its current location, however, is not the first, serving as this tavern's home only since 1844. Ditto the Hilltop Steak House. The Field Pub: As perhaps Cambridge's most popular Irish pub, The Field hosted countless first dates, break-ups, and late-night gatherings. I have great memories of The Town Lyne House. Always good, Always fun. We ate there a couple of times . At its height, the Jordan Marsh flagship store at Downtown Crossing was Bostons largest store, with 1.7 million square feet of retail space. Then when Star Market bought Brighams in 1961, it sparked a flurry of expansion that added another 40 restaurants to the mix. As of November 2019, all of the restaurants on this list are still in operation and any old historical Boston restaurants that have closed recently were left off the list. Its owners boast that their taproom has the oldest hand carved bar in America, and it's wherethe first draft beer pump in Boston was installed. What was the RedSnapper restaurant called before it was the Red Snapper? Very found memories. It moved over to Hanover and changed completely. a whale steak. KPub is now in the same building. Also if we got anything wrong, in location, history, or context, please kindly let us know at [email protected]. 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. In a 2013 essay in The New Yorker, Poehler described the scene: Chadwicks was one of those fake old-timey restaurants. None of the bars I've mentioned are still in business, and most of the city's . This restaurant dished up Polynesian food between 1961 and 2000. There is still one in Woburn that I know of. The Cock n Kettle was epic! The restaurant was sol around 1983- it was never the same. 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. Other employees would ring cowbells and blow noisemakers. Compared to other U.S. cities, Boston has lots of businesses that have endured the passage of time. One of my favorite places was Kens at Copley. New England has seen some long-serving restaurants, but there arent many that can say they lasted nearly two centuries. I learned proper table service, including boning fish and carving beef properly, as well as making flaming desserts thrilling the customers. This was supposed to be its death knell; instead, its popularity increased. And Chadwicks we always celebrated my kids birthdays there. Boston Gone: The sites of rock clubs and music venues no longer with us. Are there any other now defunct companies or restaurants that fill you with nostalgia? 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. During its 137 years in business, this establishment was known for its elegance, history, and steak and lobster fare. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement. What about LockeOber in Boston? Anyone remember Custys all you can eat lobster buffet in Rhode Island? Follow John Hutchings on Instagram @jlh1918. When we came back If you mix up the two, Bostonians will surely let you know. At that point, ownership passed to Victors nephew, Luc Charpentier, who ran the restaurant until it closed in the mid-1990s. Thanks for the memories to this boy from Uxbridge now in the AR Ozarks. Thanks for subscribing! In the mid-1990s, amid flagging sales, Jordan Marsh closed its doors for good, with the remaining stores being rebranded as Macys. On the way to Cape cod to see how Eastham had faired over the de des we stopped in Westport. I believe another should be added to this list. Anyone remember the name of the restaurant up a hill on Rte 3A in Plymouth, Ma? Afterwards you would go outside to see the decorated windows and across the street to Jordans Enchanted Village the to the toy floor. Blue Ship Tea Room on a dock in Boston. Worked there in the 90s. The Big Judge had two hamburger patties! Amazing Baked Alaska! Bonanza Steakhouse in Pittsfield, Mass! I got moussaka and vegetables. My first solo car ride when I picked up.2 friends and drove to Salem. Bittersweetthank you. I know there are a few Friendlys still struggling along, but its in name only. I miss The The Rome in North Attleboro-Joe Chilli was great to work for too! In 2011, the Oak Room was gutted, leaving a familiar feeling for its fans while becoming a bright, shimmering bar and lounge that befits the hotels jazz age birth. Cant believe no one mentioned an almost 60 year old establishment with an iconic neon whale! ), Me. This restaurant and club closed more recently, in 2016, but it is definitely missed. 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. As such, it lays bona fide claim as the oldest restaurant in Boston, and among the oldest in the United States. Ah I used to work there 60s through 80s. Both great black Forrest German restaurants with Bier Steins galore!! The Irish pub Lir on Boylston Street is . A little late maybe, but cant forget Mama Leones in Boston {servicemen in uniform eat for free), the Kon-Tiki Room at the Sheraton-Prudential Center; The Commodore in North Beverly; The Junction for ice cream in Essex, MA ; Hojos all-you-can-eat clams (strips only)all across New England; Pilots Grill and Millers in Bangor, ME; The Sail inn near Bucksport, ME; The 95er in Bangor, ME; and Vallees Steak House at Exit 8 in Portland, ME. It was a high class restaurant. I felt badly when I heard of their fire and subsequent closure.