-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

Winthrop Arms

130 Grovers Avenue, Winthrop, MA 02152
(617) 846-4000 Find location!

Photo of the Winthrop Arms, Winthrop, MA Every now and then, Boston's Hidden Restaurants discovers a dining spot so far off the radar that it is a wonder anyone has discovered the place at all. And so it goes with the Winthrop Arms, a homey and cozy restaurant located within a grand old hotel overlooking the ocean in Winthrop. And while the food at the Winthrop Arms is nothing to sneeze at, it is perhaps the overall atmosphere of the restaurant (and hotel) that makes this such an endearing spot.

The first thing people notice as they step into the Winthrop Arms is that this is no cookie-cutter hotel. Indeed, the lobby is all decked out in mahogany, with warm lighting, historic photos, and an attractive tiled floor giving patrons the sense that they have stepped back in time (and indeed they have in a way, as the hotel first opened just before the end of World War I). And the restaurant is every bit as appealing, with more dark woods and old photos, as well as comfortable booths, stained glass windows, and a tiny bar that sits at the entrance to the dining area.

The menu at the Winthrop Arms can probably be described as traditional American, with such familiar items as broiled scrod, veal cutlet, chopped sirloin, and stuffed pork chops. They also have combo plates, including a series of surf and turf dishes such as the wonderful New York sirloin and crab cakes, which features tender beef along with delicious Maryland crab meat. There are also plenty of poultry dishes, including the chicken monique, which is a boneless breast of Chicken topped with mozzarella cheese, stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, and sauteed in white wine with mushrooms. A variety of appetizers are also offered, and the children's menu here features a number of items, helping make the Winthrop Arms a family-friendly place.

There is no Boston-area restaurant (or hotel, for that matter) quite like the Winthrop Arms, mainly because the era of the grand old hotels has mostly passed in Boston, even as it remains strong in places such as New Hampshire and New Jersey. And perhaps that is what makes the Winthrop Arms such a special place (in addition to its absolute obscurity), as it allows its visitors a truly unique experience, whether they dine in the restaurant or stay in the cozy little rooms upstairs. Definitely don't miss this little gem along the shores of Winthrop.