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!
Nostalgic Boston memories of a simpler time including favorite restaurants no longer there, retro family road trips, travel attractions, TV and radio personalities and special hometown reflections. Also featuring old school Boston businesses still thriving today!
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5 Gone But Not Forgotten Burlington, Mass. Memories
Who remembers these Burlington, Mass. memories?
1. The cow field right off Route 128 at the Burlington Mall's Macy's location. Hard to believe but true! Born in 1962, my recollection of that field was probably around 1966.
2. A bit farther down the road from the Middlesex Turnpike was Betty Crocker's Pie Shop. Named after the famous fictional character used for food and recipes, this chain went beyond a chain. The pies truly tasted homemade and they were always well-stocked -- even during the Christmas season.
3. Restaurants have come and gone at the Burlington Mall, but one that sticks out is The Magic Pan. This pleasant and innovative restaurant chain specialized in a great variety of crepes. In true 1970s convenience-style (as opposed to 2022 convenience style as I was reminded about the following from Wikipedia!), the Magic Pan featured an automated system to make crepes at a crepe station. This looked groundbreasking back in the day when we worked off typewriters, had no remote control for the TV and dialed up family and friends through a rotary phone. But I digress. The crepe station consisted of a motorized conveyor that heated metal pans while an attendant dipped the bottom of the pans in the crepe batter for uniform coating. That attendant would then turn the pans upside down while on the gas flame conveyor as a means for the thin crepes to cook on the bottom of a greased pan facing upwards. The conveyor -- a gas flame heated circular “wheel” -- slowly turned and held eight pans maximum at one time. The result: great-tasting crepes!
4. On Route 3A north past the town common: Almy's, a clothing store much in the vein of Marshall's and TJ Maxx. Almy's had a friendlier, more low-key tone than Marshall's and TJ Maxx and almost never disappointed with a nice variety of name-brand clothing at very low prices. We used to live in back of Almy's -- no, not the back of the store but through the woods and into a modest neighborhood with small ranches. Shaw's suoermarket anchors that shopping center now.
5. The Burlington News. Many of you might remember this independently-owned mom and pop newspaper that served as a viable alternative to the Burlington Times Union. Fredi and Peter Blume owned the paper and I was their assistant editor from 1984 to 1985 -- fresh of of college as a journalism grad. I started at 10K with no benefits and pretty much wrote the paper. I also delivered the paper to local businesses. Wow, talk about overall experience! I really enjoyed working with Fredi and Peter -- very nice folks!
6. How about Victoria Station on the Middlesex Turnpike? I loved that place. Yes, it was a chain but the railroad themed steakhouse offered a comfortable, fun environment and the steaks rivaled populist steakhouse restaurants like the Hilltop and Valle's in Saugus. They were definitely better, as well, than the budget steakhouses like York's, Ponderosa and Bonanza. Victoria Station's prime rib was amazing! Although the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1986, the Salem, Mass. location stayed open until 2017. Incredible to think that a railroad-themed steakhouse with American-inspired roots now continues as a restaurant chain in Malaysia!
What are some of your Burlington memories? I look forward to your feedback in the comments box below.
If you liked this story, please check out...
Memories along Cambridge Street in Burlington
Kemp's Hamburger Stand in Burlington
1. The cow field right off Route 128 at the Burlington Mall's Macy's location. Hard to believe but true! Born in 1962, my recollection of that field was probably around 1966.
2. A bit farther down the road from the Middlesex Turnpike was Betty Crocker's Pie Shop. Named after the famous fictional character used for food and recipes, this chain went beyond a chain. The pies truly tasted homemade and they were always well-stocked -- even during the Christmas season.
3. Restaurants have come and gone at the Burlington Mall, but one that sticks out is The Magic Pan. This pleasant and innovative restaurant chain specialized in a great variety of crepes. In true 1970s convenience-style (as opposed to 2022 convenience style as I was reminded about the following from Wikipedia!), the Magic Pan featured an automated system to make crepes at a crepe station. This looked groundbreasking back in the day when we worked off typewriters, had no remote control for the TV and dialed up family and friends through a rotary phone. But I digress. The crepe station consisted of a motorized conveyor that heated metal pans while an attendant dipped the bottom of the pans in the crepe batter for uniform coating. That attendant would then turn the pans upside down while on the gas flame conveyor as a means for the thin crepes to cook on the bottom of a greased pan facing upwards. The conveyor -- a gas flame heated circular “wheel” -- slowly turned and held eight pans maximum at one time. The result: great-tasting crepes!
4. On Route 3A north past the town common: Almy's, a clothing store much in the vein of Marshall's and TJ Maxx. Almy's had a friendlier, more low-key tone than Marshall's and TJ Maxx and almost never disappointed with a nice variety of name-brand clothing at very low prices. We used to live in back of Almy's -- no, not the back of the store but through the woods and into a modest neighborhood with small ranches. Shaw's suoermarket anchors that shopping center now.
5. The Burlington News. Many of you might remember this independently-owned mom and pop newspaper that served as a viable alternative to the Burlington Times Union. Fredi and Peter Blume owned the paper and I was their assistant editor from 1984 to 1985 -- fresh of of college as a journalism grad. I started at 10K with no benefits and pretty much wrote the paper. I also delivered the paper to local businesses. Wow, talk about overall experience! I really enjoyed working with Fredi and Peter -- very nice folks!
6. How about Victoria Station on the Middlesex Turnpike? I loved that place. Yes, it was a chain but the railroad themed steakhouse offered a comfortable, fun environment and the steaks rivaled populist steakhouse restaurants like the Hilltop and Valle's in Saugus. They were definitely better, as well, than the budget steakhouses like York's, Ponderosa and Bonanza. Victoria Station's prime rib was amazing! Although the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1986, the Salem, Mass. location stayed open until 2017. Incredible to think that a railroad-themed steakhouse with American-inspired roots now continues as a restaurant chain in Malaysia!
What are some of your Burlington memories? I look forward to your feedback in the comments box below.
If you liked this story, please check out...
Memories along Cambridge Street in Burlington
Kemp's Hamburger Stand in Burlington
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.
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.
Rotisserie Chicken from the Ararat Restaurant in Watertown, Mass.
Rotissserie chicken was a big trend during the 80s and 90s but, let's face it, most came across as either too greasy or dried out. It was definitely fowl, either way.
The Ararat Restaurant in Watertown, Mass., however, offered a superior version of rotisserie chicken at its former humble mom and pop storefront on Arlington St. Owners and husband and wife, Seta and Avedis Najarian came up with this one-of-a-kind barbecue-meets-Middle-Eastern-style chicken that yieled a tender, flavorful taste with a hint of lemon in every bite. The chicken was never greasy nor dried out and a serving of accompanying homemade garlic sauce and hummus helped elevate this meal to the greatest chicken dish I have every tasted. No sorbitol, MSG and other bad chemicals in this chicken!
When working at the U.S. Army Materials Command and then Army Research Lab down the road, I would frequently come here for lunch. Seta and Avedis were so nice and always made me feel at home. They had tremendous work ethic and offered good value for the money. It was a pleasure to support this business. That the food was homemade and delicious made the experience that much better.
The Ararat served some great falafels, shawerma, losh kebab, lahmejune and kibbe and other Middle Eastern dishes but I will always remember that amazing rotisserie chicken. I hope someday someone can duplicate that dish but, so far, no luck.
On a side note, I once saw former WBZ-TV Channel 4 meteorologist Bruce Schwoegler order some take home food here. He was extrmely pleasant to all and very excited about his impending dinner!
Out of all the Old School Boston places, I think I miss the Ararat the most. They were the nicest owners I had ever met and served my favorite dish of all time, anywhere, with that wonderful chicken meal.
The Ararat Restaurant in Watertown, Mass., however, offered a superior version of rotisserie chicken at its former humble mom and pop storefront on Arlington St. Owners and husband and wife, Seta and Avedis Najarian came up with this one-of-a-kind barbecue-meets-Middle-Eastern-style chicken that yieled a tender, flavorful taste with a hint of lemon in every bite. The chicken was never greasy nor dried out and a serving of accompanying homemade garlic sauce and hummus helped elevate this meal to the greatest chicken dish I have every tasted. No sorbitol, MSG and other bad chemicals in this chicken!
When working at the U.S. Army Materials Command and then Army Research Lab down the road, I would frequently come here for lunch. Seta and Avedis were so nice and always made me feel at home. They had tremendous work ethic and offered good value for the money. It was a pleasure to support this business. That the food was homemade and delicious made the experience that much better.
The Ararat served some great falafels, shawerma, losh kebab, lahmejune and kibbe and other Middle Eastern dishes but I will always remember that amazing rotisserie chicken. I hope someday someone can duplicate that dish but, so far, no luck.
On a side note, I once saw former WBZ-TV Channel 4 meteorologist Bruce Schwoegler order some take home food here. He was extrmely pleasant to all and very excited about his impending dinner!
Out of all the Old School Boston places, I think I miss the Ararat the most. They were the nicest owners I had ever met and served my favorite dish of all time, anywhere, with that wonderful chicken meal.
The Metro Deli, Boston, Mass.
Other than a few fellow Suffolk University alum, no one else I know seems to have remembered the Metro Deli on Cambridge St. in Boston.
How could it be that virtually not a soul has any recollection of this former deli on one of the busiest streets in Boston? The world may never know.
While my classmates were drinking too much beer and eating stale popcorn downstairs at nearby The Red Hat, I took a wiser, more cerebral path by enjoying many Thanksgiving-style turkey dinners at the Metro. It was so delicious each and every time! The Metro served this dinner and other meals in huge portions at low prices. It's amazing that few cash-strapped classmates didn't join me to take advantage of all this delicious food. Plus, the walk back to class burned off all those calories with that grueling quarter mile walk back to the Sawyer Building.
The Metro Deli was basically your classic old school deli with an ample amount of enployees working the kitchen and counter to serve the usual suspects like pastrami, corned beef, chicken noodle soup and potato knishs. Ahh, the memories of this outstanding Viking cuisine!
One other interesting footnote: Everyone who worked here seemed to look like comedian Richard Lewis. I dob't know why.
Does anyone else remember the Metro Deli? Please tell me it wasn't my imagination and not a bad dish from the Sun Tuey that made me delusional in thinking this restaurant existed.
How could it be that virtually not a soul has any recollection of this former deli on one of the busiest streets in Boston? The world may never know.
While my classmates were drinking too much beer and eating stale popcorn downstairs at nearby The Red Hat, I took a wiser, more cerebral path by enjoying many Thanksgiving-style turkey dinners at the Metro. It was so delicious each and every time! The Metro served this dinner and other meals in huge portions at low prices. It's amazing that few cash-strapped classmates didn't join me to take advantage of all this delicious food. Plus, the walk back to class burned off all those calories with that grueling quarter mile walk back to the Sawyer Building.
The Metro Deli was basically your classic old school deli with an ample amount of enployees working the kitchen and counter to serve the usual suspects like pastrami, corned beef, chicken noodle soup and potato knishs. Ahh, the memories of this outstanding Viking cuisine!
One other interesting footnote: Everyone who worked here seemed to look like comedian Richard Lewis. I dob't know why.
Does anyone else remember the Metro Deli? Please tell me it wasn't my imagination and not a bad dish from the Sun Tuey that made me delusional in thinking this restaurant existed.
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.
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.
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
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
Does Anyone Remember Hogan's Heros Sub Shop in Cambridge, Mass.?
Somebody correct me if getting this wrong but I seem to remember a sub shop named Hogan's Heros at the Fresh Pond Rotary in Cambridge, Mass. Clearly,this was a sub shop using a clever wordplay variation of the TV series, "Hogan's Heroes." I think its location is now home to Ma Magoo's -- another sub shop using a somewhat clever wordplay variation of the cartoon series, "Mr. Magoo."
Does anyone have memories of Hogan's Heros? Search engines come up with little. If not, that's ok -- I can check with Werner Klemperer and Mr. Magoo to see if they have any recollection although the latter one might be a challenge as he was a cartoon chraracter. Oh wait, and never mind on Werner Klemperer. He died in 2000. OK, enough levity.
So, my question then bounces back to you: What do you remember about the Hogan's Heros sub shop?
Does anyone have memories of Hogan's Heros? Search engines come up with little. If not, that's ok -- I can check with Werner Klemperer and Mr. Magoo to see if they have any recollection although the latter one might be a challenge as he was a cartoon chraracter. Oh wait, and never mind on Werner Klemperer. He died in 2000. OK, enough levity.
So, my question then bounces back to you: What do you remember about the Hogan's Heros sub shop?