Massachusetts: Popular IHOP On The South Shore Has Closed

In the beginning of the year The Sun detailed that one of the most well-known IHOP locations in California had suddenly closed. Unfortunately, the same thing has happened here in Massachusetts, with the IHOP in Quincy closing for good.

This location at 115 Parkingway was in a high-traffic area. Just around the corner was a Boston Market, a grocery store, and numerous strip malls. The IHOP seemed to be a fan-favorite destination, always having a breakfast crowd. The same held true for those bringing kids out for an early dinner. On National Pancake Day, or when IHOP would give out free pancakes, there was seemingly never a spare seat in the house.

NBC 10 In Boston reported that this restaurant is now closed and being cleared out. "The closure of the Parkingway restaurant means that the only remaining locations on the South Shore are in Braintree and Plymouth, with a handful of other locations being found elsewhere in the Greater Boston area.

Last year, Mashed released a detailed piece that explained, "IHOPs across the country are closing, and part of that is because the company is only slowly coming to terms with how the industry has changed." Here, they detailed their carb-heavy menu, being late to the game in online ordering and delivery services, and the decline of casual dining are some of the reasons why IHOP is struggling.

However, for many communities IHOP was more than a place to just grab breakfast. It was a gathering spot where you would you could start your day off with a smile.

The Quincy IHOP was in a busy area where cars were always driving by. However, you could not really walk there, nor would you likely then go stroll around the neighborhood post-pancakes. In other words, you had to drive here.

I had not been to this Quincy location in a few years, but it was always on my radar. I would often take my two oldest kids here on a Saturday morning when my wife was pregnant with our twins. They loved pancakes (still do) and it was a great opportunity to allow the house to be noise-free so my wife could sleep, and treat them to the best pancakes around.

There was an IHOP a mile away from where I grew up as well. I can say with confidence, after all those years, that magic pancake recipe always resulted in the best tasting plate of short stacks every time I went there. Pancakes are seemingly simple to make, but the IHOP rendition is on another legendary level.

Perhaps that is also part of the problem. Pancakes are the selling point. The name of the food is even in the name of the restaurant. So, why cast such a wide net and venture into other items that are so different. Does IHOP need burgers? Why not just stay in the lane you own and continuously hit it out of the park? Isn't it better to sell 100 orders of pancakes than 25 orders of pancakes and 25 orders of other random dishes?

Nonetheless, IHOP in Quincy had some sentimental value, and I am sorry to see it go. This breakfast spot fell into the category of an establishment I'd plan to go to when I was in that town. It still holds as that, it will just now have to be in Plymouth.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.