Igo's Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass.

Hmmm, where to go after after buying a pair of Stride Rite shoes and cordoroy pants from Filene's, a button up shirt that wasn't flame retardant from Woolworth's, and a Boston Bruins cardigan sweater from Zwicker's Sporting Goods in Arlington?

Why, a night out on the town with my parents at Igo's Restaurant in Cambridge, of course!

What a splendid way to show off my elite clothing choices and impress Igo's owners, staff and customers.

The only problem, though: It was so dark in the Igo's dining room that no one could have probably seen these latest fashion styles.

That was ok, however. Going out to Igo's was a special treat, a privilege and a chance to see how the hoi polloi lived. Well, from the eyes of an eight-year old typically eating at Howard Johnson's, Burger Chef and Chicken Delight.

At Igo's, the grand entrance looked like fancy marble. The dining rooom had this certain elegance. The waistaff seem subdued and professional yet courteous and friendly. I put on my Sunday best behavior at this upscale restaurant and made sure not to discuss my favorite Three Stooges episodes with the waitresses.

The menu featured dinners distant from Swanson's and Stouffer's. Baked stuffed lobster, roast prime rib of beef, broiled swordfish, baked stuffed Lousiana shrimp and broiled prime filet mignon highlighted a very fancy menu. Intererestingly enough, Igo's could also tone it down with some more familiar dishes like roast turkey dinner, fried clams, fried boneless chicken, burgers and broiled pork chops. They also offered... yuk... calf's liver. that putrid dish was somewhat improved, however, with accompanying bacon.

If Igo's was around today, it wouldn't seem quite as fancy. I think in retrospect, this Porter Square restaurant struck the perfect balance between pleasing both the uppeer and working classes in the diverse Cambridge neighborhoods.

And also eight-year olds like me wearing Stride Rite shoes and cordoroy pants from Filene's, a button up shirt that wasn't flame retardant from Woolworth's, and a Boston Bruins cardigan sweater from Zwicker's Sporting Goods in Arlington!

Buzzy's Fabulous Roast Beef, Boston, Mass.

Located on Cambridge St. under the Charles Street Train Station and next to the Charles Street jail, Buzzy's Fabulous Roast Beef seemed to be open at all hours. This outdoor, order-at-the window food stand was best known for its heaping roast beef sandwiches, french fries, onion rings and curt, brusque "What do you want pal?" service. Buzzy's attracted drunks, sober late night owls (in the minority), Massachusetts General Hospital staff, refined Beacon Hill types showing their alter egos, and other purveyors of the best in greasy food.



Local comedians abused Buzzy's many times in their stand-up routines. I remember one comedian (the name escapes me) saying that Buzzy's used to throw its food over the wall to feed Charles Street jail prisoners -- and the prisoners threw it right back!

Buzzy's Fabulous could have very well contributed to higher traffic at the Mass General Hospital cardiac unit, but I remember it as a beloved place from youth. Granted, I never went there much (even as a nearby Suffolk University student), but just the sight of this bustling, old-fashioned outdoor food stand made me feel good -- from the comfort food aromas to the undeniable presence of a local business succeeding.

Discoing Back to the Chateau De Ville in Saugus, Framingham and Randolph, Mass.

Does anyone remember the oversized grand ballroom with a huge chandelier and curved staircase at the Chateau de Ville -- a place where people loved to "disco" and later tell either totally fake or completely true stories of their miserable high school proms?

I seem to remember a Kiss-108 presence at the Saugus location with the late, great Sunny Jo White and Disco Vinny Peruzzi. I think the Cheatau de Ville eventually changed its name to The Palace -- which it wasn't -- some time in the 1990s before closing in 2004.

Yes, many people loved the Chateau de Ville but it just wasn't for me. At an age when "Saturday Night Fever" and "Funkytown" ruled, I preferred good conversation in small groups, long walks on the beach and listening to David Gates and Bread. I also liked eating Wonder Bread while watching "Perry Mason."

I always wondered if "Chateau de Ville" was French for "Unbearable experience in a nightclub." It just wasn't my scene. "Clubbing" to me, was watching episodes of the Flintstones that featured that secret club called "the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes" where the "Grand Poobah" ruled.

Ultimately, my favorite part of the Chateau DeVille experience was going out for old school Chinese food afterwards.

Full of Bull Roast Beef, Saugus, Mass.

Full of Bull photo source: North Shore Eats Facebook page.

Route 1 in Saugus, Mass. used to feature so many fun, interesting and, mostly, great restaurants, bars and other food stops including The Ship, Weylu's, Hilltop Steak House, Augustine's, Karl's Sausage Kitchen, the Red Coach Grill, Valle's Steak House, Town Lyne House, Godfried's Deli, the Blue Star Lounge, Pierro's Italian restaurant and the Diamond Head. All that's left today on Route 1 that we really enjoy are Prince Pizzeria with its epic Leaning Tower of Pizza structure and delicious pizza, and the Kowloon (which might be changing in some form in the near future).

But wait, there is one more memory: Full of Bull Roast Beef. This humble little roadside restaurant with the eye-catching sign of a mean-looking but depressed bull revealed (his head hung down low), inside, walls of license plates on the wall and some of the best roast beef sandwiches and onion rings imagineable. Back in the day and to this very day, Kelly's Roast Beef at Revere Beach, to me, set the standard for the best roast beef and onion rings but Full of Bull was every bit as good.

The restaurant's name also gave us a chuckle as we were approaching an age when we knew what that meant.

I am not sure exactly when Full of Bull closed but McDonald's eventually took over this location. Yep, another segue into cokie cutter land on Route 1.

We'd love to hear your personal reflections, perspectoives and stories on Full of Bull. Please feel free to comment below.

If you liked this story, check out these memories on Route 1 in Saugus