The true test of a good family restaurant is when the children of
grandparents and parents continue a tradition of eating at that given
restaurant through the generations.
The landmark Prince Pizzeria in Saugus, MA, is one of those rare places
that has touched past and present generations with equal affection.
There may be critics out there who unfairly expect Prince to be
something that it isn't, but the thousands of "real world" people who
have frequented Prince know it as a happy, positive and tasty dining
experience. Who could ask for anything more, unless it's overpriced,
self-promoted gourmet food with an attitude that you want?
The real world has been going to Prince since 1961, loving the fresh, delicious
pizza with ample toppings and the pasta with the perfect red sauce. --
all at fair prices. The real world has seen lots of fads, trends and
other cultural woes come and go, but places like Prince Pizzeria remain
timeless and durable, thanks to a passionate quest for quality food and
service with a commitment to excellence. In effect, going to the Prince
is like taking a trip back in time. Good products may expand --as the
Prince has done through more seating and an attached comedy club -- but
there's no real need to change the format when you're this great. So,
while the Prince has turned into the largest family-owned pizzeria in
America, there has been absolutely no drop in quality. It's as good as
ever!
Pepperoni pizza from Prince Pizzeria. Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/Prince-Pizzeria-94980217367/.
And although we read in the news and see in the neighborhood that
families don't eat together anymore, you would never know it from the
gatherings within the colorful, festive dining rooms at Prince Pizzeria. It's
easy for a moment to forget that it's the 21st Century, as a scan
across the dining rooms look like a scene out of the 1960s -- the times
when we fondly remember, as children, the Prince. The collectibles and
memorabilia on the walls -- as ample as the toppings on Prince pizza --
have stayed intact through the generations, thus lending further
assuredness that the memories of yesterday can be lovingly revisited at
the Prince Restaurant. It's quite a comforting feeling.
Now our children experience the same feelings we had:
* The "leaning tower of pizza" structure
gracing the exterior
* The thrill of ordering at the counter and hearing
your name called when the food is ready
* The even greater thrill of having a nice waiter or
waitress put the food on the table
* The ultimate thrill of eating some of the best
pizza and pasta in the region (as well as great salads) over family
conversations. Regarding pizza, we liked the "real" pepperoni pizza
loaded with that topping, and the "Margarita," a unique, tangy blend of
cheese and tomato (that you can still request today).
For us parents we appreciate the moderate prices, in addition to all of
the above!
What puts Prince Pizzeria in the hall of fame family restaurant category, however,
is the personal touch. As children, we saw owner Arthur Castraberti (so
sad he passed away many years ago; we miss you so much, Arthur!) race around
the restaurant offering a personal "hello," a kind word or two, and a
terrific memory. He actually remembered his customers by name, a
remarkable feat considering the thousands that frequented his
restaurant. We also saw Arthur work as hard as his staff, doing
whatever it took to make his customers happy and restaurant run
properly. He took orders from customers, gave orders like a kind father
to his staff, and ultimately made things run orderly. Arthur retired
years ago, but his family has managed the restaurant in the finest,
personal-touch tradition of their father. Like Arthur, they treat their
customers and hired help very well. Everyone working at Prince Pizzeria
seems to enjoy their line of work.
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Eric
wrote this helpful, fun New England travel book just for you...
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