Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Growing up in Somerville over the last few decades gave us lots of delicious dining memories. We had a lot of very good local restaurants. I remember those Friday nights at The Continental on Somerville Ave. for pizza and orange tonic. There was also Frascatis and The Venice in Davis Square. The Paddock and The Mount Vernon were great places also, among many others.

Every once in a while, for a special treat we packed up the car and headed up Route 1 North. There were two extremely delectable restaurants namely Valle’s and Hilltop Steakhouses. Valle’s was in business from 1933 to 2000, and Hilltop, 1961 to 2013. Hilltop was the best. I remember how excited we were to see that huge neon cactus and brightly colored plastic cows in front. We knew we were in for a delicious feast.

Here are some more memories, in quotes, from my Somerville friends:

“When I was a little kid…nothing in the world I loved more than going to the Hilltop with my parents/family because it was special. I loved loved loved the Hilltop. It was a treat. It was ‘cause my dad worked hard to take us. And most of all … It was delicious. The salad and the steak unbelievable. Thanks dad.”

Another friend tells us, “We went to Hilltop for special occasions. Usually it was Friday afternoon and we would go just after school got out. Two-hour wait and boy was it worth it. My Mom was smart … ordered five salads, three without dressing so, we could take them home. We always got at least two meals out of one. I loved the half chicken. Those were the days.”

“Loved that Lobster Pie. It was so huge at the Hilltop. What a treat it was going there.”

“My mom saved pennies in a plastic poodles and we went to Valle’s once a year!”

“I remember the Hilltop Steakhouse. It was the best steak and salad anywhere. We went there many times. Couldn’t get over the girls carrying those big trays.”

In the waiting area we would be waiting to hear “Six for Sioux City” over the public address system. The dining rooms at The Hilltop had different western type names. You would wait to hear your destination called and head for Sioux City or Kansas City.

Speaking strictly local, we have some great family memories from the aforementioned Mount Vernon, Continental, The Venice, and more recently Redbones. Let’s not forget Memory Lane, La Hacienda and Dapper Dan’s and too many more to mention.

The only thing that made a trip to Hilltop Steakhouse better were a couple of rounds of miniature golf where the big orange dinosaur was.