Five Days Five Diners

Published on Thursday, 14 August 2008 01:55

Written by Jack Obermeyer

Five day road rip to Boston. Combining my two loves – boxing and diners – made for the near-​perfect working vacation. Save for the nasty “state of emergency” rain that coated the area day after day, a good time was had by all – that would be me.

Stayed at The Holiday Inn in Somerville, which was home to three of the five diners I visited – some of which I had been to in years past. First up was a day of arrival dinner at The Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown. After scrambling for directions , I made it to this gem of a 1947 on-​site Worcester model. The staff was congenial and the upgraded menu was first-​rate. Locally brewed cola on tap, plus the world’s best root beer — Boylan’s of New Jersey. This beauty rates a must-​visit tag. My credit card took a hit for not only food, but a shirt, coffee mug and a box of pancake mix. While not a 24 hour location, the hours are liberal.

Breakfast at Buddy’s, a short walk from the hotel on Washington St. This late 1920’s tiny Worcester is a MUST for diner nuts. The new staff (owners?) are two friendly ladies. They actually sell Moxie soda!… I cleaned them out. Open seven days a week until mid-​afternoon. Menu is actually numbered on paper plates hung by wooden clothespins that stretched along a wire string above the grill. All cooking done up front. Barrell roof and sliding doors – and no booths. What more could you want?

Across town sits Kelly’s on Broadway. A stainless-​steel Jerry O that I once visited when it did business on Rte. 13 in New Castle, DE. Standard diner fair. No trinkets to buy, so they allowed me to take home an actual (not a paper take out) menu. Ate a giant raspberry pancake with real maple syrup – a treat indeed.

Completed the Somerville hat-​trick by dining Friday at The Rosebud in the town center (Davis Square). A real looker, it appears on the cover of Randy’s Diners of New England. As much a bar as a diner, it still qualifies for us sticklers. Had a Sam Adams with my meal and bought a shirt (red of course) and a mug.

Last, but of course not least, was a side trip to Natick and two dogs at Casey’s. It’s been awhile since I sat at this counter, but a slow Friday gave the cook time to BS. A true fix for us diner junkies. No longer closes in August. Items to buy? Owner sent me to nearby Jones Drugstore; came out with two mugs and a yellow Casey’s shirt – have a green one already.

Sad note: Time – and lousy weather – did not allow for a visit to The Capitol in Lynn. Thankfully I’ve been there twice before, but twice is certainly not enough. Maybe next time.

Posted June 20, 2006

Born and raised in New York City, Jack is now 62 years old and has been living in southern New Jersey since 1970. He is a ’67 Vietnam vet and has been covering boxing for nearly forty years, and was elected to New Jersey boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.