Great, great great, and a real pleasant surprise. Discovering 2 great restaurants so close to each other, this and Taco Loco, on a street that looks somewhat run-down compared to Davis Square, has been one of the highlights of my summer. We heeded the advice of Will S. and came right at 5 for dinner. Sure enough the Saturday night crowd started lining up soon after. But our waiter was really attentive, service was fast, and the food was excellent. My fiance had the lobster special ($16.99 for 2 lobsters). The lobsters were perfectly cooked. We've had the twin lobster special at Whiskey's but Mt. Vernon's was far, far better. I had the prime rib which was not very flavorful but quite tender; served on the side were 3 large lobster raviolis, stuffed with fresh lobster and topped with a lobster claw. There was way too much to eat, and it was all good. We noticed none of the "localism" mentioned in other reviews and in fact the dinner crowd was very diverse. The dining room was clean, service was good, and prices were quite reasonable. The only hitch was that the popovers didn't start coming out until about 5:30, but we didn't come for the popovers. So we didn't miss them. So, take your date, take the family, whatever, this is a wonderful place to have dinner. read more

This is an old school spot with old school servers and patrons. I've been here 5 times or so and each time I realize more and more how bad their food is. The pasta is always overcooked, scampi is watered down, and baked scrod is really heavy and lacking any flavor. On top of that, the prices are high, they haven't remodeled since the 70's and the dark walls, and booths that are falling apart and sometimes have fallen off while sitting are just some of the things that have convinced me I should stop wasting my money here and you shouldn't either. read more

Waited ten minutes at host table before anyone came. We were seated for the buffet. Some things were good. Many were bad. Oysters were bad. Little necks were good. Raviolis and meatballs were inedible for my daughter. Price was a good value if you just want to load up for the day. Stuff was broken and not fixed all around the place. Seems like this place has been dying for 20 yrs. read more

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Ordered delivery through grub hub, but the restaurant still called to make sure I got the sides and everything I wanted. AMAZING service, even through online delivery. The food is also delicious and the portions are generous for a super reasonable price. I'm a meat and potatoes girl and I will definitely order again and recommend. read more

I don't know if many people know, but this place has brunch on the weekends... in fact this place has an entire room in the back of the place that is full of brunch, and a practically empty dining room, which means there's hardly anyone to stand between you and a room full of food. The brunch buffet includes just about everything one's heart could desire between the hours of 8 am and 2 pm. on a Sunday. Anything from Special K to prime rib, they've got it. I can't really say that everything was perfect, however, I did try practically everything, and the ability to do that alone, is pretty awesome in my book. Also, this place has a very old school somerville vibe- located over on the wrong side of the tracks, sitting in the lowly-lit dining room with somerville's retired citizens makes you feel like you're feel like you're part of something... something very old and original. read more

If I had to sum up Mount Vernon: Old-school solid American comfort food in a relaxed setting with excellent service. On a cold Saturday night in January we went here on a whim. I have always wanted to try the place, and I guess I was even a little surprised when I suggested it when we were driving by. We parked across the street in some metered spots (bring quarters) and were seated immediately. The place wasn't crowded, so we didn't have to wait a minute before we got our menu's and drink orders were taken. Let me say this right off the bat-this is huge. So many restaurants these days have servers (and even hosts) that really shouldn't be in the business. We felt welcomed, and this is something every restaurant should get right. Service really exceeded my expectations though, but more on that later. So, what about the food you ask? We were brought some turnovers, which I liked-but didn't love. I guess my expectation was built up from my date-but I think basic warm rolls would have suited my taste more. I don't know if we got an off batch, but if these were better, I may have even leaned the other way and gone with five stars, but in all fairness that may have been a little much, even though I really did like the place. For apps we got the Calamari and the clam chowder. Both of these were good-not exceptional-and we were hungry. The chowder was what chowder should be-creamy, w/a fair amount of clams, potatoes and maybe a hint of buttery taste. I like a little more spice or herby taste to it, so with a little pepper, it suited me perfectly...really no complaints and I am admittedly a bit of a chowder snob. The Calamari was breaded and thick and I liked it. I have had some great Calamari in the last year or two, so I have been spoiled, but this really held up-solid 3.5, maybe 4 stars. If you want some killer Calamari-try some of the Portugese places in Fairhaven, MA-they serve it spicy!!! That said, I think most people will enjoy this. We were served salads before our entrees but after our apps. Everything was timed very well by the kitchen and Elaine our waitress. I have to say, the staff here seemed to be great and our server was the best. I hope the owner reads this because they really do have a great employee in Elaine. When it comes to dinning out, I have come to really appreciate a good server. They can make a good meal bad, or an OK meal good. Elaine made a good meal GREAT!!! As for the salad-what's really to say about salads-vegetables on a plate w/dressing-it was what it should be-filling, tasty and relatively healthy. Entree time (Yum-Yum). I had the steak tips, and the lovely lady got the pork chops. Both of these were served with potatoes and a choice of steamed veggies or Delmonico broccoli (read: creamy cheese sauce), we both opted for the latter-and they were great!!! My baked and her mashed were solid, but it was the entrees that were awesome. We shared our food, and both loved our own entrees-the chops were great-and plentiful. The tips though were some of the best I have ever had!!! Cooked to perfection (Medium) and obviously marinated with love. Honestly I was pretty full after the salad...don't get me wrong, I packed it all in, but I say this because as you get fuller-your taste buds don't deceive you as much...So I can say without hesitation, if you like tips, do yourself a favor and try these!!! Bottom line, I have paid a lot more for solid meals like this, and while this seems to be a place that is frequented by the older set, I think that is partly because of it's location and partly because the place hasn't tried to change to fit in with food trends and what have you. Frankly I don't think this is a weakness, I think it's a strength. I must add it's nice to eat at a non-mega chain, food by the numbers place that has some character... That's my take on Mount Vernon anyway. read more

Arright, arright, ANOTHER update because my boyfriend and I got the "Dinner for Two" special last week and it was yummy and value-licious. For $22, you each get a soup or salad, entree of whatever it is that night (it changes each day of the week; the night we went it was Baked Scallops), peas or mixed veg, a potato served in the style of your choice, and dessert! Don't expect to be blown away by the dessert, though - we had our choice of vanilla ice cream and "Grapenut Pudding," which sounds like a dish someone's clueless Midwestern mom would serve at a potluck. read more

I've been going to the Mt. Vernon, off and on, since I was but a wee lad (under 10 anyway, 30 plus years ago...) and after recently visiting for my birthday I decided I HAD to give it a quick Yelp shout out. My wife and I arrived around 4 ish on a Sunday and, despite having reservations, we were the only ones in the dining room. And let me tell you, that dining room hasn't changed in YEARS. It's easily the most Tarrintino-esque spot in all of Somerville complete with red vinyl booths and fake wood paneling. The waitress, and old-school 'ville resident for sure, calls you "hon" and treats you like family. We order a king cut prime rib for the wife (so I can share, natch!) and the twin lobsters for me (one boiled, one baked-stuff). The popovers arrive (hot and tasty!) and the drafts cold and tall... My lobsters were HUGE, perfectly cooked (I'm a stickler for properly cooked seafood and the lobby's were divine!) and, perhaps the biggest surprise, my wife's King Cut prime rib was INSANE - cooked to medium rare spot-on goodness, it was meatier (ie less fatty) and bigger (and, all in all, a whole lot tastier) than Frank's King cut (albeit slightly more expensive) and, when the bill arrived less than expected we were that much happier. By this time, 6:00 or so, the place started to fill up quickly - young townie parents enjoying the 2 for $20.00 turkey dinners, families and groups of friends all poured in happy and excited for some vintage Somerville fare. Full and buzzed, I left with enough in the doggie bag to keep our Cairn terrier happy and as I stepped outside the time warp of the Mt. Vernon dining room I felt more than a little bit like an extra from "Jackie Brown" and was reminded, once again, as to why I love and live in Somerville... read more

Labeling this place a "steakhouse" is gross overstatement. At best, it's a dingy little dive with frosty bartenders and mediocre Italian food. I was not impressed. My whiskey and lasagna were the same temperature and the booze had far more flavor. The only plus, it's cheap and nearby. read more

As they say in the famous jingle - the twin lobster special is something to see! and this is a 'what you see is what you get' kind of place. Decor is late 80's Holiday Inn, the wait staff are all 'lifers', and the food is no-nonsense. I would describe the clientele as a mix of Asians (who know where to get a good deal on lobsters), the blue-haired retirement crowd and large groups of local families. There is free parking in back, kick-ass popovers and oh - those lobsters. On a Friday, they were $16.99 for two pound and a quarters, but on some nights they are as low as $11.99! Every table seemed to have at least one order. They are hot and sweet but a la carte, We split lobsters and Prime Rib which came with potato, veg (canned peas - yuk) and an iceberg salad. This is no haute cuisine, but a great deal none the less. read more

Think back to the early 70s if you're that old. Remember that family restaurant...this is it decor, servers (some have worked there that long) and menu. I'm NOT saying this in the negative but with nostalgia and giving them kudos for staying true to their customers. When you walk in they serve you popovers warm from the oven. Since I can't invite you to my sister's for her A+ popovers, I suggest you get them here. There were 4 of us for dinner. We were so adventurous... 3 prime ribs and a turkey dinner. Dessert..grapenut pudding which was our only disappointment because it was served cold. We should have asked when we ordered it. We will comeback. read more

Great food and catering service. Helped us stay within budget and supported the set up for the event. Would recommend!

Don't expect high class or to impress a new date here. This is a place to go with your family, buddy, or loved ones to just enjoy good food at a reasonable price without feeling rushed. The food is relatively simple, but that's not a terrible thing, is it? I've been here for a holiday function and enjoyed their full spread, particularly enjoyed their beef wellington, the outer layer heavy on butter, flaky, and brings dread to my waistline. The popovers were a bit on the crisp side for me, but hot. The steak was done just fine and the hours passed by briskly. Wonderful to have hot and hearty food with the snow cascading outside. The most important thing I can really say about this place is... trust their seafood. What you don't see is the wonderful thing you get. There is no holding tank. The lobsters never mingle with that treacherous water that you see in so many other restaurants, a rare practice in my experience, and you can taste the difference. I've had wonderful oysters here as well, though I know not the origin. I'll ask next time. And no, I haven't worked here, I've just been a fly on the wall. Dishes to try: Lobster, Beef Wellington read more

I moved t0 East Somerville back in April leaving behind my old Union Square favorites and was very happy to find that I live so close to the Mount Vernon. My wife and I have gone almost weekly and enjoyed both their tasty food and their fantastic customer service. We are on a first name basis with a few of the waiters at the Mount Vernon and it's little things like having the waiter know what I want to drink before I even order it. We are even club members and can earn points to get discounts on our checks. We still haven't gone for brunch yet but it's coming one of these days. I suggest trying the Mount Vernon burger with onion rings, some of the best I have ever had. Come to East Somerville some time you will be pleasant surprised. read more

The seafood here is pretty decent. I will state that I am a Marylander. I eat blue crabs and love raw bars. This is not a maryland seafood restaurant. BUT they have a cheap twin lobster special that totally hits the spot if you're not a lobster expert. I don't know much about lobster. I know that when you eat crabs, you want to eat males. The lobsters that I had the last time were quite clearly female. So that was gross for me, but it might be totally normal. I gave this place 4 stars based ENTIRELY on the popovers. As I'm writing this review, I'm trying to plot cheaper ways to go back and JUST eat popovers. Sometimes I dream about them. They're so amazing. I mean maybe, MAYBE I can just make my own popovers.....But the service here is also pretty fun. The ambiance of Mount Vernon Tavern is hilarious, you might be detered by the bowtie wearing staff, and the rather old person, early bird special decor....but it's also amazing for the same reasons, and the staff, even if they don't love their jobs, they act like they're having fun! PLUS THERE ARE POPOVERS. read more

The best thing: two lobsters for $14.99. Can't get that in Maryland! Everything else: super blah. The waitress had a definite attitude and gave us a look when only one of us ordered a beverage other than water. She refused to take more than two credit cards. She gave very confusing answers when a friend asked about the contents of the "seafood stuffing" in one of the menu items. My friend's stuffed haddock tasted, in her words, "like rubber." The popovers that came out initially were not fluffy and didn't seem to have risen enough. The lobster mac and cheese had barely any lobster and cost nearly as much as two lobsters-- at a place like this, you'd think they'd give generous chunks. The lobster roll was fine. The location seems a little sketchy and the decor is definitely dated. read more

Mt. Vernon can be a great place. It all depends on what you order. Stick with the specials or their highlights and you really can't go wrong. Veer off that, and maybe you should try that elsewhere. A few weeks ago, we were headed toward the South Shore to grab steak tips but our stomachs screamed out "I WANT FOOD NOW!" just as we happened to pass by Mt. Vernon. The boy has been wanting to try this place for awhile, so the snap decision was made to go here. And there happened to be a parking spot, literally right outside the front door. It's a sign! My sister and her bf each had the steak tips. They were just ok, nothing phenomenal. The boy ordered the roast beef special advertised on the window. This included a roast beef sandwich, fries and a beer for $7. He says the roast beef was amazing. I took a bite and it was pretty good. I ended up with the chicken dish recommended by the waiter (not sure what it's called but it was in the top box). He did not steer my wrong. It was so good and so plentiful that my sister pushed away her dish to dig into mine. Seriously, how can you go wrong with a couple pieces of grilled chicken breasts covered in cheese with garlic and spinach on top surrounded by a spinach ravioli. It's like someone was digging around in my brain asking what all my favorite foods are, then took it here to develop an amazing meal. Our waiter was pretty cool, very friendly and joked around with us, just a little bit slow, though but I think it's because he was attending to others around the bar. He was super nice about everything so that made up for it. read more

Came for my birthday and my fathers birthday today, the food was absolutely disgusting. I order the seafood casserole only to receive a gross chewy plate of lobster, a smelly bottom of fish, and slimy scallops. The peas I received were an un fresh shade of green. The meat my mom had was chewy and dry. The waiter I had was kind and young. She said we could use the 2 birthday coupons we had. Which was really great! Then after lunch, an older lady said we couldn't use both. She blamed the waiter for being too young and other excuses.I will not be eating here ever again. How is this place still 4 stars? The food is gross and frozen, and the service was okay. read more

Mount Vernon - Looks fine. Tastes disgusting. - Steakhouses Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Ok, So i completed trashed the Mt. Vernon last time. I saw a sign on outside saying "12.99 twin lobster special", and I'm a sucker, but I decided to give it a shot. Well, for this particular dish, I was extremely happy. I got two lobsters that if I went to Market basket I would pay maybe $1 less for the same amount of lobster. However, of course, there's 0 prep time involving a restaurant. The waiter was honestly friendly, and I even tried their chicken soup which was good, but not great. It was a very slow Monday at lunch time, and i was generally very happy. The only complaint was my coke tasted awful, like someone hadn't clean the soda pipes in forever. read more

Food is good like always, yet tonight got extremely bad service, the red hair lady and all the male are good except the waitress with black curly hair. Never asked us need anything, totally ice face the whole time before I left tip, we never got our water during dinner. And the only "service" is she told me to pour the source in the bowl with a ice face and an order attitude, Makes me feel I was in jail, My friends come Boston the first time and bee treated in this way, I was so upset and angry, yet I still give her a 18 percent tip which she doesn't deserve at all. Make sure when you come avoid the lady with black curly hair with a strange accent. read more

I truly believe that had the fine folks on The Sopranos wanted to place to off Carmela Soprano, they would have sought out Mount Vernon and fared beautifully. It has that certain somethin'-somethin' that'll make you think, "maybe my uncle really didn't work in the waste management business after all", or, "Yelp Central Jersey sounds like a really cool idea all of a sudden". I invite you to muse over these thoughts and more while treating yourself to all that is Mount Vernon. Sure, it's somewhat rundown and you have a great view of the highway while you dine; sure, it's more crass than class. All it will take is one bite of the scallops wrapped in bacon, though, to let you start your love affair with Somerville's best kept secret. Or perhaps the lobster bisque. (Hint: order the lobster ravioli for your entree and you'll see that the lobster ravioli's sauce *is* the lobster bisque. That's right. You're not reading that wrong.) Try the New England Sampler for an appetizer, which is oysters Rockefeller, the aforementioned scallops, and clams. And not only are the portions huge no matter what course you're ordering, the prices are quite reasonable. Mount Vernon is known for the twin lobsters, but it's entrees such as "lasagna and chicken parmigiana combo" which sets it miles apart from the competition. They know that both those entrees on their own are so great and that it's sometimes hard to choose, so they give you half and half. Perfect idea. Mount Vernon has won me over and then some. That's probably why, since being introduced to it a month ago, I've been back once a week. Maybe more than that, but that's my little secret. I know, I shouldn't keep secrets, but I shared the best one with you already! See you there! read more

Went out with a few friends in search of a good, cheap lobster dinner. Atmosphere: Large geriatric crowd, we were definitely the only people under the age of 60. I normally don't mind this but the whole restaurant has a sterile retirement-home feel. A bit strange. On the other hand, the restaurant was very quiet - a good place to go for conversation. Service: Our waitress was a sassy Bostonian, quick to make fun of those asking questions. It was all in good fun but I probably would have been ticked if I was not in the mood. Food: Two of us got the lobster special (2 lobsters for about $20) and the third got a chicken dish. The lobsters were okay. They are definitely small, and we didn't get any sides, which makes having 2 lobsters a necessity. The chicken dish was pretty bad. It looked like a chicken breast that had been pounded out and baked with a slice of cheese on top. There was some sort of sauce that went with it. Not impressed, especially given the price (~$17). Overall we were disappointed. True, the lobsters are very cheap but I would gladly fork over another $5-10 for a larger lobster with quality sides. If you just want lobster and nothing else, and don't mind eating in a retirement home with a slightly rude waitstaff then this is the place for you! Otherwise, keep looking. read more

The BEST lobster I have ever tried in my life!!!! Even thought this place is a little bit far from the station, it's really worth it to try!!! I went their with my boyfriend last spring break, the price of 2 lobster was $39.99. It was expensive than other season but still good! The service was very good and friendly. I really enjoyed LOBSTER here because i LOVE seafood! read more

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We have been coming for the past 4 years. We enjoy the local atmosphere and have found the food good. Tonight my wife had the salmon and I had the broiled scrod. The fish has lost it's freshness. The cut looked very portioned controlled, the taste was blah and the texture was chewy. My fish was either not scrod, was frozen or both. Their scrod was always light, moist and flaky. What I had sucked and I left over 1/2 of it. I had to ask the waitress if the fish is now frozen, but she denied it. Screw with portions but don't screw with quality especially fish in Boston. read more

It's a family-run restaurant with great servers and a solid bar crowd. It's big enough to throw a party, yet laid back enough to bring your kids. If you're a lobster fan, you're not going to find a better deal in the Boston metro area! Everything food item is fresh and made in the traditional way. It's old school comfort food including sandwiches and burgers. You can't beat the fresh, made on site popovers that arrive shortly after you sit down. They are also great toasted the next day for breakfast if you don't scarf them all down. read more

Don't let the fact that your grandparents have been eating here since 1967 prevent you from making a stop at Mount Vernon. Yep... it's old school. Nope...It's not hip or pretty inside. The last time we were in, they were playing Neil Diamond's greatest hits over the sound system and I suspect they've had that album since it came out. But.... it's a good old-fashioned Somerville icon with some really good food. Let's start with the popovers. I can honestly say... ANY restaurant that starts you off with freshly baked popovers already has my attention. Big, hot popovers with lots of butter arrive shortly after you are seated and they are everything you imagine a good popover to be. The menu is pretty standard American fare. There is a focus on seafood, and it's exactly what you think it would be.... scrod, stuffed shrimp, fried scallops et al. They always have lobsters on the menu and are known for the Twin Lobster special. There is also a nice assortment of "red sauce" Italian favorites, like the Chicken Parm that comes in a portion so big you could easily make two meals out of it. The double cut pork chops are a great choice, too. Plan to take one of them home unless you are really hungry. It's priced fairly, but don't expect Mount Vernon to be super "cheap". Entrees run in the $17 - $20 range for standard fare and the Baked stuffed lobster tops the menu at $32. We had a Groupon for our most recent stop and it made a $60 dinner for two into a $40 dinner for two. That's a great value! read more

Same rating, but new information! The twin lobsters special during the summer is a main draw. Last summer it was $9.99, and this summer it's $13.99. Still a great deal, and that's what most people seem to come for. If you don't like lobster (you silly fool), come on Wednesday, sit in the bar section, and get a meatloaf dinner for $5.99. Definitely the best meatloaf I've had in a very long time. read more

Ditto the the other reviewers on that this place is really only good for the cheap lobster and the prime rib, everything else on the menu tastes pretty dismal. I came here a few months back with the fam for a birthday dinner. We ordered a couple of prime ribs, a salmon dish and a haddock dish, as well as the New England sampler app. The Cons of the Meal: While the bacon wrapped scallops in the sampler were good, the stuffed clams and oysters were quite salty and not too delicious. The salmon and haddock dishes were extremely overcooked and came topped with these putrid sauces. The Pros: The prime rib was juicy and delicious, as were the complimentary popovers that come with the meal. Service was very friendly and attentive. Prices were reasonable. I'd be back for the prime rib and to try the lobster deal, but the rest of the menu needs some revamping. read more

I've been going here about once a month for a few months now, and the food has been consistently pretty great. Michael has been our server and he's amazing! read more

This restaurant looks like a dive from the outside, but is much better inside. The clientele is older, those looking for an early-bird special, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! They have a pretty broad menu, ranging from classic Italian plates, to steak, to seafood. Prices are very reasonable. I ordered a lobster pie/casserole dish, which was packed with lobster meat, and it was $20; easily $10 cheaper than every other place. Our waitress was meh; she got the job done. The quality/preparation of the food was mediocre, I accept that since it's at such a good price. A nice place to add into the occasional dinner-out rotation. read more

Twin Boiled Lobsters Special: July 20, 2014 to July 26, 2014 served between 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Twin Boiled lobsters $13.99. Steamers $9.99. A cup of homemade clam chowder $2.99. Must be seated before 3:00 pm for this offer. WHAT A SWEET DEAL!!!!!! read more

Mount Vernon - Steakhouses Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Came here on the East Broadway Foodie Crawl and I wanted to like it so much. Lobster mac n cheese?? Yes! But it wasn't great. Odd color too. I also tried the corn chowder which needed to be put through a sieve to get the gritty part out. read more

This place really surprised me, in a really good way. I spent two weeks walking past this building and never thought twice about it until a friend told me about a great restaurant in Somerville by the T station that her entire extended family had been going to forever. She drove me here and I had to do a double take. The outside isn't the poshest location, but don't let that deter you! This place serves old school American fare, very 1950's feeling. The prices also seem to be a few decades behind - which at first made me think everything would be disappointing. I was wrong on so many levels about this place. I got the twin lobsters and they were cooked perfectly. Absolutely perfectly. All the meals come with "popover bread". Now, I'm not a bread person, but I ate two of these warm, fluffy creations. Ultimately I had an amazing night. If you want a cheap and fun night out look no further than Mount Vernon. read more

Awesome place to get together with family and friends for a bite. I enjoyed their Sunday brunch with a lot to choose from. The staff is friendly and our waitress Linda was such a doll! Nancy read more

Came here for the two twin lobsters for $14.99. Not only did the lobsters lack a lot of meat, but the waitress ignored us pretty much the entire meal. The bread before the meal was good though. read more

First was the bread, very unique like an exploding muffin, very moist, although it seemed like it could cook for a little longer. Two lobsters in one dish? How can you go wrong. Boiled to perfection, no additional flavors except for the lobster and the ocean. That is all the dish comes with. The clam chowder soup had lots of clams, but was more on watery, less on the chunky side. It was okay. Clams, cooked with garlic, these are some big clams. They even leave the clam broth for you, although it was a tad bit salty. read more

Went there today and the food was excellent but the bartender/keno lady was not. I gave her two keno slips and she insisted I gave her four! When I told her I'd pay for them, she yanked them back and crossly told me that the house would eat the bets. When I returned with a 100.00 winner, she refused to cash it in, claiming that she did not have enough money. My table's bets were at least 50.00 that we gave her! She was very very mean and obnoxious. DON'T SIT ON THE BAR SIDE! read more

I like this place a lot! I had a large party, 21 people, and the manager was friendly, clear and flexible when we went to speak to him, offering us some appealing options. We made a reservation for the homey back room two days in advance, and our waiter, Cathy, was incredibly nice and patient, dealing with a challenging multiple credit card situation, and being both attentive and respectful in her service. She's also fun! We'd love to have our club meeting here every month. Great value on the food, especially the twin lobsters, and also the popovers are super delicious! read more

I don't understand how this place has such good reviews. Came for the lobster, which they were out of, which is fine. Ordered the "Artichoke Stuffed Rigantoni" which was possibly the most disgusting thing I've ever been served. The cheeses and artichokes, if they were present, were tasteless, and the dish was essentially a soup of microwaved butter with a few clumps of garlic, pasta and other UFOs tossed in. My boyfriend's food (pasta) was at least edible, but had clearly also been prepared in the microwave as parts of were crunchy, hard and cold while other parts were soft and cheesy. While we came in three hours before their stated closing time the restaurant was practically empty and I got the feeling they were trying to close early because of the dismissive and annoyed feeling of the service. Perhaps that's also why our food was tossed in the microwave. It seems like brunch is very popular, but I would recommend avoiding it later on during Sunday evenings Note: The second star is for the popovers. They were AMAZING. read more

So's me and the family go to the "Mt Vernon at the Ship" in Saugus next to the Xmas tree shop for Sunday breakfast for my wife's B'Day. (Her parents chose the location.) We called them a day or two in advance and asked what time they open. The answer we got was "9am". Having been there before at opening and being disappointed at how NOTHING was ready for us, we decided to go a little later, we chose 9:30 for a reservation (just in case they were busy with a party or something) for the five of us. We showed up at 9:30 and were shown in to our table. Our waiter came to our table and introduced himself. He was the only outstanding part of this entire visit (Dave). He was finishing putting his tie on while he spoke to us and told us that there was no food out yet. Ok, we'll take coffee while we wait then. He apologized and noted that it was just starting to brew now but he'd get it to us as soon as it was ready. (And he did.) So we sat and chatted about everything under the sun drinking our coffee, Dave came and told us that some of the food was being put out now. So, at 9:40, my 85y/o mother-in-law (5 foot tall) decided to scope out the available food and figured she'd grab a bit of pastry while she was in there. She comes back to the table sheepishly with a few things on a plate and tells us she got scolded for looking for any of the food! She didn't even talk to anyone, just looked for it! 9:48 - Still no food, only bacon and sausage. 9:55 - Still no scrambled eggs. Ahhhh... 9:57 the eggs arrived. Obviously rescued from a flooded room. They were *SWIMMING* in liquid. I mention it to my wife who's behind me (and I didn't do it loud) and someone in the staff was smart enough to hear it and attempt to correct the problem. Minutes later, freshly cooked scrambled eggs, nice and dry, was brought to our table by someone. (Very nice touch.) Still none of the other hot items were available on the tables yet. So, all-in-all, it's 10am before we're able to sit down and eat for a 9:30 reservation for a 9am opening. And, the next customer shows up at 10:23 for a private party in a side room. Seems the word's getting out about breakfast here. The quality of the staff hasn't declined (although they did lose ?Pete? the omelet cook) but the management really screwed up again. Oh... BTW, while telling the wife of my review here, we looked at their website and it says "The Sunday Brunch Buffet includes Raw Bar, Carving Station, " which they claim is no longer being offered and hasn't been in a while. Add another negative to the mix. We're scratching the "Mt Veron at The Ship" off of our breakfast menu. The only good things we can say about it are: + It was a nice change to not have that idiotic piano player there for breakfast, last time we dealt with that we had to yell to be heard across the table. + Dave the waiter was courteous and attentive and very very pleasant as was most of the staff. (However, we could hear someone in the kitchen yelling at people to get things done.) read more