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Boston Restaurant Blog -- March, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Pizza and Beer at Conley's, Watertown
Years ago, I used to go to a little watering hole on the Watertown/Belmont line called McFly's. It was housed in an old auto shop, and every now and then I would get a whiff of motor oil while sipping on a pint of Murphy's or Guinness. Well, McFly's is long gone, and so is the smell of motor oil (for the most part), with a larger restaurant and bar called Conley's having taken over the spot some time ago.
Conley's Pub and Grille expanded the spot when they took over McFly's, and it is now a surprisingly spacious place, with a couple of bar areas to the left, a dining area to the right, and a few tables along the narrow walkway connecting it all. There is plenty of brick and neon throughout the place, giving Conley's a local townie bar feel, though the fact that it is literally on the Watertown/Belmont line (Belmont is across the street) allows for an interesting mix of people from both towns.
Several of us went to Conley's a couple of weeks back after making a brief stop at the nearby sports bar Donohue's. We grabbed a large table by a window and ordered some beers, and I was surprised that they actually served pitchers of Smithwick's, an Irish red ale that is one of my favorites. A few of us ordered some pizza, and I fully expected it to be a form of bar pie, but I was wrong; they brought the pizza over on a pedestal (New York style) and it turned out to be a classic Italian-style thin crust pie, with a chewy, foldable crust, a sufficiently zesty sauce, and a nice mix of cheeses that included just a hint of bitterness. This was very good pizza that we enjoyed greatly and would not hesitate ordering again. While we were there, I heard that the steak tips at Conley's are also excellent, but being that it was late at night and I was pretty full, the tips would have to wait for a future trip.
Conley's Pub and Grille is a true hidden gem in my eyes, and based on how the steak tips, burgers, and other items are here when we return, it may be worthy of a featured review on our site, so stay tuned...
If you want the address for Conley's Pub and Grille, here it is: Conley's Pub and Grille, 164 Belmont Street, Watertown, MA 02472. The phone number is (617) 393-0237.
Related Blog Entries: Watertown restaurants
Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on March 24, 2009.
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1 COMMENT:
TomC said:
I'd like to add to the comments about Conley's. The menu was a far cry from the pub style you might expect. If MH was surprised by the regular pizza, wait until MH and friends try the Mexican pizza. Think of a giant nacho that is too much for one person to eat, enough said.
There is plenty on the menu to please a casual stop for something to snack on with a drink, or for longer lunch or dinner event. A good selection of beer and mixed drinks surprised us on our first visit more than a year ago. With friends whose tastes are sometimes a challenge to please all at once, Conley's made it pretty easy. Burgers, chili, and the beef barley soup are all items I can attest to as being really enjoyable. I guess the word is getting out about Conley's, and it is good.
Parking can be a little bit of an adventure, just don't park at McHugh's Liquors or at the bus stop....
Posted on 4/6/09
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