I miss them both. Breathe deep the aroma of Guinness and find a new friend to chat with. Ever notice how many businesses, even very old well established ones, close after being sold to new owners? The grilled and buttered rolls were delicious!! Gaslight: The South End has lost one of its Gallic mainstays, a bistro once graced by Tom Cruise, among others. For many shoppers and especially for any weary kids and spouses who accompanied them the bakery was an essential part of a long day of shopping at Bostons destination store. Bar Boulud: Daniel Boulud perhaps the most internationally-decorated chef to dabble in the Boston food scene in recent years has closed his French-accented restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental. In the late 70s the Athens Olympia was a mainstay for lunch for my co-workers & I. The Parker House is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the U.S. and its bar is one of the oldest in Boston. The Green Barn in Salem,NH. She was famous for her apple pies and fried chicken. Are there any other now defunct companies or restaurants that fill you with nostalgia? Compiled between July 11 and July 15, 2016, with profound fondness and sorrow for the dearly departed watering holes of our youth: I watched it grow from a small bar with bar pizza and delicious Greek salad to a large popular restaurant where wed wait an hour to get a seat on the weekend. R.H. Stearns and C. Crawford Hollidge were in direct competition, as the former was located on Tremont Street, across from the Park Street subway station. 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. Their pecan rolls were to die for. Good call with Hob Knob???? Jimmys Harborside was a great place to dine in Boston. 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. They had the best prune rolls. Great place. Had many special occasion dinners at Benjamins with the family. I loved going in for a cup of corn chowder on a cold day. Vallees Braintree, MA, and other locations throughout New England. Great restaurants from a bygone era indeed. Thanks for subscribing! Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Dorchesters 50Kitchen restaurant closes its doors, The results are in: Readers name the most iconic restaurant in the Boston area, What it's like to be an extra in a film or TV show, according to readers. 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 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. I miss them all! Santa and Mrs. Claus would make an appearance. How I looked forward to that! Two more to add: Flagstones in Newington, NH and Els 617-956-8765. 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. This popular spot was especially well-known for its macaroons! I managed to puncture my hand with one of the claw spines, and had to use the napkin around my hand to finish the Lobster. They would pride themselves on serving huge portions. Really loved the ice cream and clams. Their Seafood Platter was stacked so high on the plate you thought it might tip over. Tell them all hello from me! On the other side of 95 was The 95 House. The Cock n Kettle was epic! The clams were fantastic Old Timer Restaurant 155 Church Street Clinton, MA 01510; O'Leary's 1010 Beacon Street When we came back Wilma & Earnie Royal were such dear friends of the family. 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. I know there are a few Friendlys still struggling along, but its in name only. We used to live on the corner of Broadway (Route 1) walking distance to the Town Lyne House. However, the flagship location in Boston closed for good in 1978. The Warren Tavern has been in its current location on Pleasant Street (near the Bunker Hill Monument) since 1780, making it the oldest tavern in Massachusetts. Jacob Wirths in Downtown Boston, and Teccis in the North end. Popular place to go after classical music concerts we would come over from Boston. Elishas and also the White Horse Tavern, both were in Milford NH. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. During its 137 years in business, this establishment was known for its elegance, history, and steak and lobster fare. Gilchrist's opened in Boston in 1842 and, by 1964, there were multiple store locations across Greater Boston. Felicias in the North End! Let us know in the comments. Great memories. Today Bell in Hand is a full service restaurant as well as a bar and happening nightspot. The Joyce Chen on the Charles River by MIT c. 1968 to 1974 MIT then put buildings there. I felt badly when I heard of their fire and subsequent closure. They dont know what ice cream is down here. The following is a list of the oldest bars in Boston: Green Dragon Tavern: 1712 Address: Union Street The Green Dragon Tavern was a public house on Union Street that has since been demolished. Riding the elevator with the attendant sliding the metal door across or going to the toy floor where there were tables of toys to try out. It started as a hot dog stand by my grandmother,Stefania Danosky. Sablones Veal n Vintage in Bostons East End. Never been to Durgin Parksigh. I seem to remember that, please correct me if I am wrong. Oh, indeed the General Glover in Swampscott should be on this list. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Vanyaland. So miss this restaurant. Loved it. Same for music venues, nightclubs, bars, and other important cultural hotspots. Yay to Thompsons. If you want anything like it, I highly suggest going to Hawthorne By the Sea, which is owned by Anthonys Pier 4, in Swampscott. When I was a kid, we had a summer cottage in Onset in the 40s. There were any weekend mornings having breakfast there and the muffins and coffee were great. Dairy Bar along with great restaurant and craft brewery! The story is someone would come up to the bar and order a hot dog, and hed reply We dont have hot dogs. Not having adequate insurance to rebuild, the Kimballs opted to sell. Went to Yokens when I first moved to North Hampton in the early 1960s. Another local seafood mecca was Yokens on Route 1 in Portsmouth. 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. I couldnt agree more.Maneros Steakhouse was THE BEST ! John Durgin and Eldridge Park took that over in 1827 (a third partner, John Chandler, came aboard in 1840, but by then it was apparently too late to add his name). Baileys sundaes were the best ever. Great memories. Certainly iconic. I recall seeing Hans Conried (Fractured Fairytales) who was in a play at one of the neighboring theatres. Here are the other restrictions related to selling alcohol in the state. Visit Website. I would stand on a chair and loudly announce, Ladies and gentlemen, we are so happy to have you at Chadwicks today, but we are especially happy to have Kevin! Great German Food and atmosphere. Afterwards you would go outside to see the decorated windows and across the street to Jordans Enchanted Village the to the toy floor. Because its Kevins birthday today! Any one know the name of this gem? Hey folks..The Toll House in Whitman,mayou know, the cookie and great restaurant. In 2011, the bricks-and-mortar store closed. You can get other food a-la-carte. Largest salad EVVERR! God bless them for locating great places to eat, mostly from Yankee Magazine. My heart is filled with sweet memories just thinking about those special dinners. Sherry Mayes Millington, As a former employee of Anthonys Pier 4, the popovers were delicious. The place brought you back to a different time! Susan McHugh, Christos in Brockton. 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. The Dini family made that place renowned for delicious seafood and a warm welcome. Stillit I ever got back to Massachusetts, it would have been well worth going to several times! 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. Try another? Very excellent service there. No one has equaled their coffee ice cream. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. My family loved Hills Restaurant in Hyannis, MA. Despite the restaurants impressive size (at 20,000 square feet, it could accommodate up to 1,400 patrons), the porches were often lined with customers waiting to get in. The Parker House as a whole has been the center of Boston and U.S. politics. What was the RedSnapper restaurant called before it was the Red Snapper? Yes, Mildreds and also Thompsons Clam Bar. Many of my favorites already mentioned but have to add Buttricks Ice Cream, Cottage Crest in Reading,the old Carrolls Diner in Medford, Arnies Fireside in Dedham & Beef N Ale Boston next to the Music Hall/Wang Theatre. Is it my imagination or was the rolls that they put on the table exceptional? We love the pop overs and their Delmonico potatoes and prime rib. Quite a fewtaverns around the city can likely boast Paul Revere having drank there, but few can say the same about Charles Dickens. In 1931, George and Grace Kimball purchased 200 acres of land in Nashua, New Hampshire, and turned the property into a turkey farm. The Peter Stuyvesant,. This restaurant was a highlight of my teenage years. I miss Anthonys Pier 4 (popovers), Locke Ober (curried shrimp, and salads with their perfect roquefort dressing) and The English Room on Newbury St. (their signature salad dressing, warm sticky buns, and a seafood or was it crabmeat -casserole). Is there a similar place anywhere now? The clam shack on Route 1 was called Els, our all time favorite place for clams. Photograph: Ed Massery with Tom Underiner. Swensons ice cream Faneuil Hall, The Dome Woods Hole. The Weathervane in Maine. But Weylus also had a satel;lite location Weylus Sure in Brockton, MA. Pewter Pot, absolutely. Always high quality. At its early-1970s zenith, Pewter Pot Muffin Houses could be found from Harvard Square to Cape Cod, about 40 of them in all. 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. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Wow. Susan Buckley Withrow, Omg, my mom would take me and my brother there when we were little. We love Brighams ice cream BUT, they did NOT invent jimmies. Yes!! Miss those dress up dinner nights. Bella Luna Restaurant & The Milky Way Lounge: A true Jamaica Plain institution, this famously inclusive meeting spot welcomed all comers since the 1990s. Piano bar, elegant dining. The then-Parker House Hotel had become a gathering place for transcendentalists and writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Great Article! By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Yokens Thar She Blows restaurant in Portsmouth NH, There was also a location on Route 1 in Danvers, MA. It seems to me I remember they had a punch card when they took your order, Anyone remember The Skipper right over the bridge in Fairhaven,Ma. Closed early 2000s I think hope someone had the foresight to rescue it XOV. I lived up the street as well- on spring street until I moved to NH in 1987. When I was an usherette at the Music hall/Wang center, I always took my break at the Beef N Ale really nice owner. Why? Taranta: Jose Duarte's Peruvian-accented eatery was one of the most beloved in the North End. There is a Friendlys on Rte. The old Joe Tecces on North Washington Street in Bostonfirst date with my husband in 1975! Jayne Rossi-Elliott, First date with my husband, 1970. Susan Finstein Brine, First date with my husband in 1982. Julie Kerbel, Yes, Joe Tecces! Wicked yummy! Oh and dont forget Nadias you had to know about that place it was so buried deep in the South End! Great summer meal topped off with ice cream and a chocolate walnut brownie sundae! Dineros Hull. So, at the sound of the drum, please join me in singing Kevin a very happy birthday!. SMH. New England has seen some long-serving restaurants, but there arent many that can say they lasted nearly two centuries. There are old bars in Boston, and then there are really old bars in Boston. They were also famous for their homemade Hot Fresh Popovers which every table would get a basket of them. I tried googling it but doesnt come up, That Rte 1 Kellys was a Red Coach Grille years ago, They used to have a giant cart outside on the corner of it with really big wheels.I remember Red Coach Grill, good food too, In the early 1960s it was a Red Coach Grill. Before that the land was on the Higginson estate. This restaurant dished up Polynesian food between 1961 and 2000. Thar she blows!!! Blue Ship Tea Room on a dock in Boston. 11 Marshall St, (617) 367-0055 WARREN TAVERN, Charlestown Warren Tavern is the oldest tavern in Massachusetts and the most famous watering hole in the United States still in its original building and location. 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. When I was a young art student, a treat was to go to one of Bostons Baileys locations for corn chowder and a sandwich. It was across from the Plymouth public beach area. scoops of ice cream, carried to the table on a silver platter by multiple busboys, who would pretend to struggle with the weight. Actually, I just looked it up and, indeed, they are still open and have great reviews! We asked you in Augustand again last weekwhich restaurant you miss the most, and what you loved so much about it. My family would dine there occasionally and it was always a special treat. There was always a line outside waiting to go inside for a wonderful dinner. Does it sound right to you? Rte. Miss these wonderful old places; the new restaurants today cant hold a candleat least not for me. It was an occasional outing from our family home in Burlington . Went there many a Friday night with dear friends Helen and Gen Pelrine. Worth the drive all the way from Bellingham MA just to have them for dinner, Also the Fin and Fern it was on route 101 going from Amherst to Bedford NH. Have you ever been to Kream n Kone in Dennis? Spent many wonderful hours hanging out with other couples in the booths upstairs. for dessertand still have enough left to tip. 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. Areas of the building date back to the 1700s, The Modern Hotel and restaurant Nashua NH, Oh their onion rings! Does anyone recall The Buttery or Seniors Pizza in Kenmore Square? I remember Elises went I attended MIT. So sad its not there anymore! What about Mug N Muffin. Hoping someone takes an interest in Durgin Park and re-open it again A shame to see a legend fade away. I go every year when visiting Bow Lake! At HoJos, mom always had Orange Pineapple ice-cream !! Ditto the Hilltop Steak House. When my three best friends and I got our first paying jobs in high school, we would dress up and go on Sundays. McGreevey's: The Dropkick Murphys-affiliated sports bar has shipped out of Boston for good. He believed in giving immigrants a chance but he worked them very hard. Lobster, prime rib, the Arabic platter, the baked Alaska. The current Green Dragon, on Marshall Street, is part of a small local chain of bars and dates only to 1993. Who can blame them for co-opting the history of the name as part of its own story, when the original tavern is almost certainly the spot where Paul Revere set out for his midnight ride on April 18, 1775, to warn the militias at Lexington and Concord that the British troops were on their way to take their weapons stash. A guy working at that restaurant for decades recognized dad !!! There were so many and I miss them all. Ah I used to work there 60s through 80s. There were road signs telling you it was coming up ahead. I worked at Senior Pizza in the late 1960sa poor hippy girlthe manager was an angel. And if you were lucky after shopping Filenes basement and were good a trip to Baileys ice cream for a Sunday . Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! While Bostons rich Colonial past has left it with some truly ancient watering holes, the city also boats a few relics from its own unique Mid-Century history. Thank you, terrific memories ~ add to em Locke-Ober Cafe, the Cafe Budapest, and Josephs of Dartmouth St.s lobster savannah. The No Name was one of the most important restaurants in New England history! Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant Flickr/Dale Cruse They offered all the steak and lobstah you could eat for a vcery reasonable fixed price and made their money on the beer and desserts they sold separately. 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. Cant believe no one mentioned an almost 60 year old establishment with an iconic neon whale! The lobster pie was absolutely filled with big chunks of buttery lobster and a buttery topping and it was my favorite. Also the Magic Pan with their amazing crepes and Soups. The clam roll shave been equaled and surpassed bu t other both they were good. From the terrific home made turkey soup to the home made pies, what a meal! Photograph: Courtesy Oak Long Bar and Kitchen/Richard Mandelkorn. They did quite a function business so had need of live bands. Swampscott . I dont think there was a waiter under 80! Bittersweetthank you. It has my favorite fried seafood in the Cape. And Chadwicks we always celebrated my kids birthdays there. Brighams was great but you didnt give mention to Baileys in Harvard Sq! This was in the 70s. Located on the town line between Lexington and Waltham, Massachusetts, Chadwicks was best known for its ice cream sundaes, and most famously the BellyBuster: 20 (some say 30!) Bishops in Lawrence was great. Many restaurants here have been in business for many decades or even a century. At its height, Brighams had 100 restaurants across Massachusetts. The staff wore Styrofoam boaters and ruffled white shirts with bow ties. My father in law would take us to lokobers in Boston and we would get baked Alaska for dessert. Best meal evah! Sheila M. Hawes, Bishops in Lawrence. When you were a regular to Durgin Park you had your own waitress! Several Boston-area gay bars and clubs have closed in recent years, including Chaps (shown in 2005). 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. Dad would go there traveling from Maine to Boston daily for work, back when it was just a diner. 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. Famed not only for its Chinese fare, but for attracting top comedians and offering a Polynesian floor show.. I remembered also the Weathervane (several locations), Bob Lees Islander , Boston, that was very popular back in the day.. Been to all of them. Compared to other U.S. cities, Boston has lots of businesses that have endured the passage of time. A terrific restaurant that you should visit if you have the opportunity!! In a 2013 essay in The New Yorker, Poehler described the scene: Chadwicks was one of those fake old-timey restaurants. BEST seafood dinner in New England! I only got to Durgin-Park once, but it was great. An online version of Filene's is still in business. Hot fudge dripping over the sundae. Of all the restaurants that have closed over the years, this was the Best? I also remember Valleys Steak House and the lobster specials they had. We enjoyed going there until the evening my wife got sick from the seafood. I remember having lunch at Warmuths and seeing on the news that night that it closed its doors for good. Welicks in Franklin for their fried seafood and they were open year round, not like the roadside stands. In the mid-1990s, amid flagging sales, Jordan Marsh closed its doors for good, with the remaining stores being rebranded as Macys. The chain of restaurants was born in the 1960s and spread to other New England states like Connecticut and New Hampshire. Grew up in Stoneham MA now in FL. My family would go to Custys every year when my uncle came up from N.C. Cheers Faneuil Hall: The Faneuil Hall location's bar was a replica of the one that appeared on the set of the TV show. Boston Mayor Tom Menino, right, and Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci at Joe Tecces, Feb. 3, 1997. For 47 years, Johnny D's in Somerville was a popular music venue for acts ranging from the Dixie Chicks to Neil Young. And the Wurst House in Harvard Square. I grew up in Norfolk and my family enjoyed going there. The Seventh Inn in Park Square which I believe was initially Sanae. One of the best fast food places near MGH. Was sad to hear Brighams closed. Got engaged there! The Last Hurrah is located inside the Omni Parker House hotel, which itself dates to 1855, and claims the much-traveled British author as a reveler and a guest. I do recall it was ALWAYS mobbed. But on November 27, 1950, just four days after Thanksgiving, a massive fire leveled the restaurant. ONCE Ballroom: This indie-focused music venue and lounge in Somerville has hosted its last show. My favorite was Hilltop Steak House for the Lobstah pie! By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Following a return to private ownership in 1982, Brighams capitalized on its most popular offering and began selling packaged ice cream in supermarkets. When you stop by this historic Boston bar for a brew, you are following the footsteps of American history. JTs in Sudbury All have their own stories to tell, and some of thesehangouts also rank among the best Irish pubsandbest dive bars in Boston. As far as now defunct chain restaurants that were always very good, Victorias Station ( all of their restaurants were built from converted Train Cars. They were an Italian restaurant served huge plates of Italian food and their desserts were good too. How about maybe one of the oldest restaurants in MA. 4. Everyone treated like family. My mom was not a fan of fried chicken. Theres probably some Harvard Business School study on why that is, but its often really disappointing for the customers. 3 hours later, we headed from there to the Cape !! Bobby Hackets in Pembroke, Ma on route 53, a great New England Fare from prime rib to Clams Casino, always a great stop. The Town Lyne House. Dont forget the Toll House,home of the famous cookies. All but 1 of these restaurants were in MA, yet this is titled 7 Lost & Gone (But Not Forgotten) New England Restaurants And, how about the Redwing in Foxboro ! The old Park Square Deli. After the bars closed we would go to The Egg and Eye! Loved the fried clams at the Redwing! It is located in a building that dates to the early 1700s and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Bell in Hand is located at 45 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108. Sadly, not all businesses have been able to reopen and some have . They made a gigantic plate of fresh fried golden brown mixed seafood. When it was not busy we could just sit up there for hours. There was a Swedish Smorgasbord restaurant just off Washington St. in Downtown Boston and we went there alot in the 50s. I used to go there before my evening shift. Seems all the good ones on the Cape went away. When William Filene opened his first department store - Filene's - in 1890, it was similar to all its other Boston competitors. I now go to Brax Landing when am in Harwich Port, I was just wondering if anyone knows the name of the restaurant where Kellys on RT 1 is now. Commodore was great, as was the General Glover House in ? Prints & Photographs Division John Margolies/Library of Congress. But alas, all good things must come to an end. My mothers favorite uncle, Henry Meyer (who died when I was 3 mos old), worked there as a bartender for many years back in the 40s. Historically, gay bars were spaces where LGBTQ people could meet, exchange information, learn about events and politics, and form connections that might be . We are lucky enough to still have many wonderful eateries from which to choose, from Kellys Roast Beef to Louis Lunch, and we appreciate them all. And the profits? Others that have disappeared are theCoach and Six in Worcester, El Morocco (popular special event restaurant), Eastmans in downtown Worcester, Green Hill Lodge in Sterling, the Webster House, the White House (yummy cheese cake) and Big Boys (great burgers). It was really formal and they hosted weddings in the back yard. One of our familys favorite restaurants. Thanks for subscribing! I found this Jordan Marsh macaroon recipe online. Id like to add the Wursthaus in Harvard Square in Cambridge run by the Cardullo family. Fans of Bettys comfort fare can head down the street to sibling South Boston restaurant Publico, which remains open. The Clam Bar closed and the Inn is a private resort now. 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. Sad to think of these iconic restaurants are no longer around. If you asked, they also sold their squat red-on-clear Bel-Aire water glasses that the waitress brought before taking our orders. The chocolate loving Dutch have been eating them for breakfast on toast for decades. In the early sixties, I worked just up Route 1 at what was once known as Ships Haven, which became, The Ship. ! Mary Kerr, Remember the European in the North End? I miss Ye Olde Mill Grille in Hingham (amazing fried clams) and Steves Ice Cream in Somerville (ah, for a large malted vanilla with Heath bars, M&Ms, and Reeses Cups mixed in). We would order big sandwiches and homemade Swedish desserts to bring back to our cottage. The pizza was the size of the table. Kevin Bresnahan, Loved when my parents took me to the European. We always enjoyed these places: Jack & Marions, The Town Lynne, and Fantasias.