Phantom Gourmet: Great 8 Restaurant Legends

Some restaurants are more than just another place to dine; they're eating institutions that have been doing it for decades. These are the 8 Greatest local restaurant legends.

Frank's Steakhouse
Cambridge

Frank's Steakhouse on Mass. Ave in Cambridge is a classic restaurant and bar that's been a local landmark since 1938, making it the oldest steakhouse in Greater Boston. The most legendary dish on Frank's menu is their New York "Sizzler" sirloin, a pound of boneless sirloin delivered to the table on a smoking hot metal plate.

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La Cantina Italiana
Framingham

La Cantina Italiana has been a Framingham institution for over 70 years. Before it evolved into the big, 300 seat Italian restaurant it is today, it started out as small neighborhood market. The same family is still making the time tested recipes that made them famous. There are hand-rolled meatballs; garlic bread smothered in melted mozzarella; Fanny's salad dressing; fluffy, jumbo-sized fried ravioli that are crispy around the edges; and of course, their truly legendary Chicken Parm.

Winthrop Arms
Wintrhop

Another Great 8 winner is The Winthrop Arms. Located in Winthrop, of course, the Arms is an out-of-the-way restaurant that serves all of your old school favorites like scallops and bacon, chicken pot pie, and mac and cheese. Plus, it's tough to beat their famous prime rib, served only on Friday and Saturday nights.

Kelly's Roast Beef
Multiple Locations

From their birthplace on Revere Beach, to their outposts in Saugus, Natick, Danvers, and Medford, Kelly's Roast Beef has become one of the biggest names in Boston sandwich history. Since they invented the roast beef sandwich back in 1951, you can trust they know how to make it right - slow roasting and slicing each one to order before it's topped with Kelly's tangy barbecue sauce and stuffed inside a toasted bun.

Cask 'n Flagon
Boston

The Cask 'n Flagon is a Fenway favorite that's been serving Red Sox fans drinks for decades, along with a menu full of made-from-scratch comfort food favorites. There's everything from pizzas loaded up with sausage, peppers and onion, to overloaded nachos perfect for sharing, to real deal southern barbecue coming out of their giant smoker. Whether it's baseball season or not, you're sure to always find a lively crowd at the Cask.

Virgilio's
Gloucester

Another Great 8 winner is Virgilio's in Gloucester. Since 1934, this classic Italian bakery has been serving top notch sandwiches on hot bread that's baked fresh every hour. The one you've got to try is the Steak Mudiga, a breaded steak cutlet sandwich, topped with salami, sautéed peppers and onions and provolone cheese.

Aprile's European
Chelmsford

Aprile's European in Chelmsford is a spinoff of the original European restaurant everybody knew and loved in the North End. While this new location is pretty far from Hanover Street, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a stream, it sure does taste like the Old European, right down to the insanely large, and hugely delicious 25-inch pizza.

Amrheins
South Boston

Rounding out the Great 8 is Amrheins in South Boston. This charming, old school restaurant and bar has been serving Southie since 1890. Comfort food dominates the menu, with popular dishes like Chicken Pot Pie, Boston baked scrod, and an eye-popping, 24-ounce Bone-In Prime Ribeye. For a legendary experience at this legendary restaurant, order Amrhein's famous Lobster pie, loaded up with tons of lobster, house crab stuffing and topped with lemon butter.

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