When I say I’m from Western Mass, a lot of Bostonians get confused. They ask, “So you from Worcester?”
Nope. Further West.
Then their eyes widen, as if Western Massachusetts is as far away as Mordor, and they will never have a reason to visit or travel that far.
Besides Western Mass being the birthplace of basketball, volleyball, Friendly’s Ice Cream and none other than Dr. Seuss, we have quite a few restaurants and bars off the beaten path that are worth checking out if you find yourself in the middle of the 413.
The Summer House – Southwick, MA
Image courtey of ThePioneerValley.blogspot.com
Don’t let the name fool you; the Summer House is thankfully open year round, serving casual sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs and delicious ice cream since 1980. This restaurant is my personal favorite for a quick good bite to eat and a great place to take the kids if you’re babysitting. Known for always having pony rides during the summer and a big wooden train to climb on, it is the perfect spot for an afternoon ice cream trip.
The quirky thing about many of the meals here are that the sandwiches and burgers are served on bread. Yes, your burger will come out on toasted bread, and yes it will be awesome. I normally order a hot dog (or two), curly fries and blue goo ice cream, a kind of soft serve Flavor Burst flavor that tastes like cotton candy in ice cream form.
Max’s Tavern – Springfield, MA
Family & Friends at Max’s Tavern
The Max’s chain includes eight distinct restaurants based in the Hartford, CT/ Springfield, MA area willing and able to satisfy every craving from burgers to pasta. But the Max’s Tavern in Springfield, housed in the Basketball Hall of Fame (See? I knew you’d find a reason to visit) is my favorite of them all, and my family’s traditional nice dinner spot. Because it’s at the Hall of Fame, the décor pays homage to its basketball roots, but also has dimmed lights and big booths just like you’d imagine in a good steak restaurant. Certainly on the pricey side, Max’s Tavern serves up delicious steaks and other American fare to make a hearty meal.
My personal favorites here include the V-1 Max martini, made with local V-1 vodka, the Hall of Fame Garlic bread, which comes with gorgonzola dipping sauce (!) and any steak on the menu.
The White Hut – West Springfield, MA
Image courtesy of Improbcat
When people say it’s a hut, they really aren’t kidding. 600 square feet of small, you can easily drive by this restaurant on Memorial Drive if you don’t know you’re looking for it. Built on a lot of history and known for its quirky and personal service, the White Hut is THE place for a yummy bite for a good price.
To give you an idea about the charm of this wonderful establishment, there are a few rules to ordering, so I’ll walk you through them.
You should order a ‘cheeseburg fried.’ This means a cheeseburger topped with caramelized onions. If you want fries, which you do, you order your ‘cheeseburg fried with a side’. The kind staff calls out, “New order!” to the guy manning the grill and you grab your own drink from the fridge (I’m partial to the Stewart’s grape soda) and try to find yourself a seat at the bar or stand around the table in the back waiting for your meal.
They call you over when your order is ready and you devour it. Quickly. You go up to the cash register after you’ve eaten and tell them what you ate, as it’s an honor system. You pay cash.
You are happy that places like this still exist.
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Have you ever been to Western Mass? Would you add any places to this list?
Great slection of places to dine in Western Mass!
The Summer House is the best!! Great choice!! 🙂
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