Boston Restaurant Blog >> 2006 archives >> January, 2006 >> blog entry

Boston Restaurant Blog -- January, 2006

This blog entry is from the Boston Restaurant Blog, which is a feature within the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. Use the blog links above to see the rest of the entries from that month or to return to the main blog page, or use the green buttons to access the rest of the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. And feel free to use the "Post A Comment" link under the blog entry to reply to us; your comment just might end up in our restaurant blog!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Restaurants on Route 1 in Saugus

A few of us were talking about past and present restaurants on Route 1 in Saugus. For those who don't know Route 1, it is one of the cheesiest, outdated, most over-the-top roads in Massachusetts, if not the United States. Everywhere you look, you see weirdness, including a leaning tower of pizza (not Pisa), a string of no-tell motels, a huge dinosaur guarding a miniature golf course, a bunch of plastic cows, and a huge ship near the Lynnfield border that used to be a restaurant. Route 1 in Saugus, for better or for worse, is a memorable road.

There are a lot of bad restaurants on Route 1, but there are a few good ones, too, and even some of the bad restaurants are worth going to just for the atmosphere. For instance, I don't particularly like the Hilltop Steak House, but the cheesy cactus sign and the plastic cows out front are almost worth the price of admission. Another rather mediocre restaurant, Augustine's, is now closed, but in its day, it was worth piling up on the pasta at the buffet while listening to the woman playing unforgettable songs (again, for better or worse) on the piano.

One restaurant I really like on Route 1 in Saugus is Prince Pizzeria and Bar, home of the aforementioned leaning tower of pizza. Some of the best pizza I have had has come from Prince Pizza, and the atmosphere is old-fashioned and family-oriented, so this is a great non-chain option for people with children. The owners are truly good people, and they really treat their help well, which is often a rarity these days.

Some other restaurants on Route 1 in Saugus include The Continental, a middling restaurant that isn't a bad option for families; a branch of Kelly's Roast Beef, though I would rather go to the Kelly's on Revere Beach; a branch of The Border Cafe; Donatello's; and, of course, the famous (or infamous?) Kowloon, a restaurant made famous partly by a certain sports radio guy's love for the place, and partly for its almost unbelievable cheesiness and tackiness.

If you have not been to Route 1 in Saugus yet, do yourself a favor and make a trip up there. You won't soon forget it!

Related Blog Entries: Saugus restaurants

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on January 25, 2006.
RSS | Post A Comment

5 COMMENTS:
Sctts said:
I am very sorry to hear that Augustines restaurant in Saugus is closed. I took my wife there for our first dinner out and now I was planning to spend our 20th anniversary there. I know that they were the best Italian restaurant in the Boston area for years.
Posted on 9/26/06
BostonGal said:
The best part about Hilltop Steak House is my childhood memories of hearing over the loudspeaker "Sioux City pahty ah fouh ya tables ready."
Posted on 4/23/08
Barbie said:
I remember the Hilltop and the loudspeaker too! That was so much fun. The Continental is still there and the food is great as well as the entertainment. Smokin Joe DJ and Karaoke is just a blast. He has a wonderful voice and you can dance the night away! We went the other night and it was a lot of fun!
Posted on 7/1/08
Suz said:
Had I not grown up in Lynnfield and driven down Route 1 essentially every day for 20+ years, then I'd think it were the trashiest place in America. However, I do not. I have a strange affinity for this road and all of the options from food to shopping and everything in between, and I'm talking from Saugus to Topsfield. They're doing a lot in bettering the grocery options as well with the development of the new plaza where Caruso's Diplomat used be, which now features a Trader Joe's. Oh, and Prince Pizza - AMAZING. I just may go grab a pie from there right now! :)
Posted on 12/11/08
aj gabby said:
The Continental still knocks out a good meal. Lots of nibblies are passed around by servers before the meal starts - popovers, meatballs, etc. The meals are good as is the service. It's not gourmet meals but good food. The decor is the same as it was over 40 years ago when my wife and I were dating.
Augustines was pitiful. It's sad to go to the Hilltop and see how little business they have. The porkchops and salad are a great meal and it's very inexpensive. Two large porkchops for about $13. Worth the trip.
Posted on 12/12/08

POST YOUR COMMENT:

Please note that all entries added to our site become the property of Boston's Hidden Restaurants, and they will be subject to editing. Also, not all entries will be added to our site.