Only two HOJO Restaurants Left
 

Oh my G.. Howard Johnson's Chicken Croquettes - when we were very young, newly married and very poor, we used to go to Howard Johnson's on Rte 28 Andover, MA. for our weekly "night out". I absolutely loved their chicken croquettes and the otherhalf had their fried haddock. Also, loved Kitties on Rte 28 in N.Reading, MA. The original old Kitties, not this present one! The "old" Kitties served a chicken sandwich to die for - real crusty french bread with real sliced breast of chicken.

That brought back some great memories - thank you. :)

We had one on Rte 128 in Beverly. The fried clams were wonderful.

Did you ever get to the Red Barrel English Pub in Ipswich (I think) - they had fish and chips to die for.

I think that was the name. That was my second experience with fish and chips. Arthur Treacher's was the first. Ipswich had several good places to eat. Have you tried the Clam Box? Still in business.

I have not been that way in years (my children live in Southern NH). I remember we used to drive 128 and get off (again, I believe) in Ipswich and drive through back country roads until you got onto a strip where the lobster, clam and fish and chip "eat in the rough" shacks were. I do remember the green head flies in August! And, I do remember the Clam Box.

The best fried whole-belly clams, IMHO.

Been to Kitties many times. I worked at Hillview Country Club back in the eighties. We'd go there after work.

Did you know that Howard Johnson's first restaurant was in Wolaston? When I was a kid, my parents would take us to the one on Route 1 in Saugus.

You probably remember "Woodman's in the Rough" in Essex as well. It was on Rte 133 which also ran through Ipswich. Sorry I have to leave now and drive there. If I leave now I can eat dinner there tomorrow.

Absolutely

OMG - Woodman's, yes, loved it. Yes, 133 came off 128 and went across the Causeway where all the eat in the rough places were. Also there was one really upmarket restaurant along there, cannot remember what it was called, maybe Captains something or other. Thank you my memory is coming back and I had forgotten this part of my life, so long ago and so much fun.

Only two HOJO Restaurants Left
 

I think the upscale restaurant may have been called: The Village Restaurant.

I think the place you are also thinking of is Captains Courageous in Gloucester. .

Yes, that's it. We spent special occasions there, could not afford it too often!

Well this is like old home week ................ Hillview Country Club was very expensive when we lived in N.Reading, but super nice club. We were transferred to the UK during the 80s. Kitties was THE place to be on a Friday night, dancing the night away on that tiny little dance floor. If you could get a baby sitter we would head down Rte 1 to the really fancy clubs. Remember the Golden Banana? Last time I drove through there I thought what a dump, and it used to be great.

We lived on the other side of N.Reading, over towards Middleton down Rte 62. We could not afford to live there now - big $.