Finnerty's Country Squire, Cochituate, Mass.

Finnerty's Country Squire closed in 2005, leaving behind wonderful dining memories of a large, traditional New England restaurant that pleased many for generations. Finnerty's was the type of place where one could feel good to dress in their Sunday best for a family meal or larger function and never walk away disappointed at the straightforward chicken, steak and seafood selections.

With Finnerty's closed, it brings up the retrospective question, "Why didn't we go there more?" The food was consistently solid, management ran a tight ship, and the slightly out-of-date country decor, too-long hallway, the spacious dining rooms, wall-to-wall carpeting and relaxed New England country feel brought one back to simpler times. The "business closed" sign in front of the door for many years read like an indication of "It's a Wonderful Life," where cold Pottersville had taken over charming Bailey Falls.

Although we didn't dine there much, Finnerty's will always have a place in our hearts as an integral part of New England dining.

Old-time tradition seems to slipping away from the New England dining scene, and that's sad.