Kitty’s Restaurant & Lounge
123 Main St, North Reading, MA, 01864
Kitty’s Restaurant & Lounge Menu
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Visit below restaurant in North Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in North Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
123 Main St
North Reading, MA, 01864 - Phone (781) 944-7448
- Website https://www.kittysrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Mon, Wed, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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dajian x.
On coming in and waiting, the hostess sat the person behind me first. When I asked, she first said, she did not realize this. This was a lie since they had a higher number, and were behind me. When I told her this was not true, she gave me a stupid smile and said they were friends. She was so classless that she failed to apologize and atone. The service was average: neither good nor bad. The food: the salad was long on lettuce and short on everything else. I felt like a bovine. The average cost of the menu items was near 20$. I thought that there was nothing exotic about an otherwise drab and cafeteria looking place to support the price of the menu items. The food was large in size, but also bland and salty. I have not been in this restaurant in quite a few years. While my recollection is dim, this visit did nothing to encourage either a good review or another visit. So if you want a mediocre, starchy, salty and overpriced experience, this is the place for you.
(1)Joe B.
If I could give it 0 stars I would. Place is horrible all the bad reviews about this place are pretty much spot on. Honestly I consider McDonald's a better meal and dining experience. Avoid this train wreck at all costs. Food is pretty horrible, the atmosphere is blah it's way too big I bet 50 bucks the kitchen is disgusting just like the rest of the place. Yea the townie bar on te other side was busy with the locals.
(1)Mark C.
This has always been one of my favorite places. Unfortunately on my last visit, the server seemed distracted. You should also make sure you specify entree or meal. I was surprised to be charged for refills on iced tea and soda. Still love the food and after 40 years I will try again!
(4)Matthew M.
We'll its not the Same place as it used to be go my food Quicker them my drinks and the food was cold and tasteless and it's pricy for what you Get
(1)J C.
This place is one step above eating from a dumpster......the staff are rude.....nachos were gross...pizza was trechorous.....canned mushrooms, frozen dough ...undercooked.....not to mention it's dirty there....you can just smell it when you walk in.....
(1)Michael F.
I went there with my family . The service was not too good they don't come around to see if you need anything else like a refill drink. They give a lot of food but it doesn't taste good just very plain. I won't be going there again.
(2)J S.
Kitty's has been a guilty pleasure for many years since my parent's introduced me to it years ago. The place does need a major remodel inside but it's also what gives it "charm". It's still exactly the same as I remember it from my childhood (30+ years ago). The best thing about this place is it's portions. The portions are more than generous in fact the portions are straight up obese. This is pretty cool, I'm a big eater and there is enough to bring home another full serving of your plate.
(4)Mark L.
This is still my favorite restaurant. My first stop after arriving home for the Thanksgiving weekend from California was Kitty's. They still have the best sauce there is. I went for a simple ziti with meat sauce dinner and it was great. I kept it simple - the rolls and salad were very good too. Excellent service topped off a great dinner. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Jen T.
Absolutely TERRIBLE. Live 30 seconds from Kitty's did a pick up order got the food home I think they forgot to put the steak tips on the grill (stone cold). My mom got the fried Haddock and Scallop plate they should be ashamed of even putting it on the plate. Smelled so bad. Same as the clam chowder. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)Jimmy S.
Menu is HUGE. Drinks are STRONG. Food is GREAT. Never had a bad meal. Notice my CAPS for EMPHASIS. That means I mean it.
(4)Kristin M.
In looking at the reviews, it doesn't seem like Kitty's has many fans, yet the parking lot is always full... (so THAT's where Grandma hangs out!!) Here's what Kitty's is not good for: foodies, decor, and a 'scene.' Here's what it IS good for: extra rummy mai-tais (only have 2. seriously), bar snacks, and watching sports on their big TVs in the lounge. It's nearby, it's cheap, and they have drinks and junk food. Oh, and Keno. That tells you a lot about a place. It's a neighborhood joint.
(2)Lisa B.
I am going to have to agree with Rhiannon here. At Kitty's in North Reading it is forever 1975, and not in a hip or stylish way either. And while this is a deeply unhip dining establishment, the clam bellies, and the scallops are delicious. This is a fun place to go with a group of friends and relatives, especially if you want to be kitschy and ironic.
(4)Kathleen L.
My Husband and I stopped by last evening on our way back from New Hampshire because we had heard about this place from years ago. Upon entering we were seated promply at a table that obviously had a small child sitting there before us as there were animal crackers all under the booth. Not a good first impression.From there it went downhill. We were sat facing the waitress station and got to observe one of the busladies leaning over the station "wolfing down" a slice pizza; pieces so large that she actually had to use her finger to manually push it in, disgusting! Thought the menu was way overpriced. I ordered the Eggplant parm for $20.50 and it was disgusting with absolutely no flavor. The side of pasa was very watery and also tasteless. The large salad wasn't too bad but was swimming in dressing. The service was ok at best but it took the waitress 10 minutes to come back with grated cheese because she went from table to table in search of it. My husband ordered the Chicken Parm. and was equally disappointed. He said it tasted like they boiled the chicken before frying it. In observing the wait staff most were seen sitting and conversing with each other, did not seem to be interested in "servicing" the customers. We left thinking "how does this place stay in business?" This place definately needs a visit from Chef Ramsey!
(1)Ronda J.
Love their jumbo shrimp! Add a salad and you have a meal! Portions are huge, surf and turf is a meal for 2 plus lunch the next day! We come here once a month!
(4)Manda J.
An awesome Dive bar!!! If you are looking for something fancy do not come here this is not the place for you. The waitresses and Bartenders are great most have been there for years. Like when they have live entertainment!
(4)Robin Z.
We go back to Kitty's on a regular basis and I do not care about the old fashioned decor. The house dressing is great and it is best to order it on the side as they give you an ample amount. The salad has a lot in it not just lettuce like some places. The Parmesan garlic bread is delicious. We order the Italian food - usually lasagna or stuffed shells with the veal on the side. Always enough for another meal or two and if you want to share a meal they are one of the few places that do not charge for the extra plate.
(4)Marc P.
It seems like a lot of the reviews for Kitty's has hit the nail on the head. First, let me say that we had a very large group, almost 20 people, so that would obviously affect both service and even quality to a degree. We were off in a private room, and 2 waitresses were quite attentive to us. (Personally, I like when servers do the little things, like bring water for the table, and that didn't happen here.) They were very accurate in bringing our drink and appetizer orders, which came out in a decent amount of time. The entrees took a considerable amount of time, which would have been fine if all the entrees were brought out at the same time, but that wasn't the case. Like most reviews, I'd agree that the portions were very large. Since most reviewers rave about the house dressing, I ordered a salad, not because I really wanted one, but because I had to see what the hype was about. I still don't see what the hype was about. It just seemed like a typical oil/vinegar type dressing. The croutons, on the other hand, were delicious. I believe everyone in our group enjoyed their meal. I ordered an individual buffalo chicken pizza. I subscribe to the theory that there's no such thing as bad pizza. However, something was off with this one. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I think the sauce was very sweet, and didn't mesh well with the buffalo sauce. My lady got the lobster roll, which she enjoyed. The clam chowder that accompanied it, however, was not as good as chowders we'd get down the Cape. In summary: Pros: Large portions, "homey" feel, decent wait staff. Cons: Dining room in serious need of updating, menu is overwhelming.
(3)Christopher C.
We were given two dirty wine glasses, both spotty and gritty to touch, one with lipstick traces. After more than a few minutes our server came back. We asked for new glasses. After even more minutes, we were delivered two of the grimiest glasses I have ever seen. The server just put them on the table and walked away. I had to then walk up to the bar to exchange them again. Even these were marginally clean. Never again.
(1)Jack M.
Please don't go here. The food is so bad. Ugh. I once went years and years ago and loved it. I remember the meal - lamb chops. Big portions. Decently cooked. A fine time. Went back not long ago. Wow. So bad. I remember my side of pasta alfredo was like a single coagulated block of pasta and cold cheese. Inedible. Gotta love their little blurb on the menu about "if you want to have more than 3 drinks, this isn't your place". THANKS. Makes me feel warm and welcome to be told what NOT to do when I go somewhere. You sort of want to like the place, cause it's huge and it's been here forever. But trust me, it sucks. DON'T GO.
(1)Biff F.
This place has been a staple in the Merrimack Valley for years. I remember getting SO jacked up about going to Kitty's when I was a youngster, and forty years later, I still enjoy the meals. I will say this -- if you're looking to get epicurean delights, this is NOT the place to go. This is basically about getting acceptable quality in your food -- but also getting monster portions. The consistency of the chow isn't what is was, but it's really about being a place that if you want to get your big gnosh on, Kitty's can fulfill it. There are other places I'd rather go for better quality -- Luna Rossa or Scola's come to mind here in the Valley -- but if you're seriously hungry and value quantity over quality, this is the place to be.
(3)gregory g.
OMG just one thing to say-" Stay Away". the place is so old & smelly. They give you so much food you can't finish it and charge lots of $$. I would rather pay half the price and get 1/2 the food. The portions are just way to big, I got the italian combo (Chix Cacciatorie, Italian Sausage Patty, Meatballs and i think Chix Parm) drowning in meat sauce. I couldn't even eat it. My wife got a Steak Tip Salad. Boy was that a mistake. The steak tips looked like Bottom Round (Good for pot Roast Dinner, very tough) cuts instead of Flap Meat. They are still in business on the name only. Sorry Kitty's, thumbs down.
(1)Gena S.
This place is HORRIBLE! I'm allergic to seafood and explained that to the waitress. The dish that I ordered came with onion rings. When they came my husband hit my hand just I was putting some rings into my mouth. He looked at what the fried content was and it was a CLAM piece part. The waitress came over to check on us and I explained what happened and she got the owner/manager on staff. He said- "Oh well... that happens". I explained that I had made the waitress aware of my severe allergy and that I wouldn't of ordered the onion rings if such confusion could of happened. He just shrugged his shoulders and said there's nothing he can do about it, and that it happens. DON'T EAT HERE! EVER!
(1)Joe Z.
We were starving hungry and probably would have eaten at McDonalds at that point, so we overlooked the fact that the inside looked like a very outdated and stale VFW hall. Food is crappy fried stuff and lots of other non-culinary favorites. I'm reading the glowing reviews and wondering if Kitty's contracts with local nursing home residents to write their reviews. I just can't imagine how the words "delicious!" and "outstanding" could possible be used to describe this moldy, crusty old Salvation Army function hall who's food matches the decor. However, no one got sick and tantrums were averted, so they get two stars.
(2)Mad C.
One of the best house salads I've ever had. The dressing is so addictive, they now let you buy it by the quart! Portions are huge, so you almost always have leftovers. Prices are fair. Selection is good. I'm not sure what to say about the atmosphere...yeah, the newest thing is probably the keno machines =D but for some reason I love the atmosphere....probably because I've been going there for years. It's well worth a visit, even if only to try the salad
(4)Will K.
With all the hype, mostly from the over-50 crowd, I really *want* to like Kitty's. I try it again maybe once a year, in hopes that I'm confused about it's charm. And alas, I'm not. The place is a dive, the staff are all surly, and the atmosphere is dominated by perpetual depressing Keno players nursing cheap beers at the bar. The food is typical giant-american-portions fare, very mediocre if it's cooked well. Maybe Kitty's was a hot-spot in the 60s, but that momentum died a long time ago.
(1)We D.
As our hero wandered into the dining room obviously designed by a blind man, his immediate thought was, "Have I entered a time warp?" There was the gaudy, greasy carpet, the half walls with worn tops, the waitresses with uniforms from a time long, long ago and the character actors from "The Twilight Zone" sitting at the bar, most with their chins in their beer. And that's even before you are greeted with the usual, "Hah-low, party of two?" When I was seated in the booth, the seats were so worn that my chin was almost on the table. The tables and chairs scattered about the room are somewhat better. I wiped some wet substance off my arm because I made the mistake of putting them on the table. Even though Massachusetts has been "non-smoking" in restaurants for a few years, I'd swear they were "light'n 'em up" at the bar. Maybe it was the smoke ejectors anchored to the ceiling that probably still have the filters from years ago yet to be cleaned and/or removed.... My order was taken by a woman who had 1) seen better days and, 2) had far better things to do than help me. I think she was one of the original waitresses from back when I was a kid in high school who took his girl up here for a special dinner. Some of the same spots on the carpet can attest to my memory. Anyway, food arrives and it's not anything like I remember it. Bland red gravy, huge portions of pretty tasteless fare and stale dinner rolls. I think Kitty's figures everything is better with red gravy on it. Unfortunately, this includes the floor, seats, tables and yes, even the ceiling. Everything's overpriced. Our hero chokes down about half of his meal and pays the check (only the third time his waitress appeared). As he gets up to leave, he sticks slightly to the fake leather seat making that velcro sound as he gets up.. So, kiddies, let's review: Atmosphere: none! Food: abominable! Service: service? Value/Price: no value/high priced I give Kitty's in North Reading 5 out of 5 barf bags.
(1)Ralph M.
I can remember when kitty's was just a little building on the corner back in the middle 50s
(3)Kevin B.
A recent trip to this place from my childhood made me long for those long days past, because this place is more than over the hill, it is over the cliff - Me and some friends ordered pizza, and some chicken parm with onion rings - Onion rings were at least tasty -- but pool of oil on the plate made the last few bites ones we took a pass on Chicken parm was average -- portions large -- but sauce was pedestrian, chicken was done ok. Pizza --- was lousy -- underdone, which could be why the crust added ZERO to this disc that most call a pizza - It's been moved from the Bucket list to the Chuck it list -
(2)Abigail L.
Not a fan, I have been here twice and would only go back for take out Pizza which is the only good item I have had here. This place is dirty and makes my skin crawl eating there. Last time I was there is reminded me of the show on fox Kitchen Nightmares and I was just imagining all the nasty things in their fridge! During this visit, I enjoyed sticky stuff on both the seat and the table. I could also view mold on the carpet from my seat. Their portions are HUGE but the food is not good so you don't want to take it home anyway. They are way to pricy for the junk that they serve. I love a good hole in the wall with good food but Kittys is not it! I have no idea why there are always so many cars parked there???
(1)Heather S.
I don't see myself going back here again. I went with my mom because when she lived in the area (30 years ago) she would go here all the time. Even she said that it just isn't what it used to be. It was very dark inside it was hard to read the menu, that and the print was so small on the menu as well. The house salad was good because of the home made salad dressing. It was delicious, but that was about it. I got a chicken and broccoli pasta which I've had TV dinners that have tasted better. my mom's 'well done' burger was medium rare and it took forever just to get a refill of our drinks. This is the kinda place you take your grandmother for lunch because of the nostalgia
(1)Rhiannon R.
Kitty's is the kind of establishment where it's best you know what you're getting into prior to getting into it. Don't expect any of the following: Chic decor, updated interiors, creative dishes, waitresses under 60, any yuppies within a 10 mile radius, fancy place settings, or a martini menu. Once you've properly formed your expectations, it's easier to appreciate Kitty's for what it is: a "family style" restaurant iconic for its menu's breadth and portion sizes as well as its Keno and early afternoon townie bar patrons. In my experience, Kitty's best offerings are its house salad dressing and tomato sauce. Hit the antipasto salad and hit it hard. The rest can be brought home in a doggie bag (or three). I like to think of ordering food at Kitty's as "grocery shopping" instead of "having dinner." If you require elegance as part of your dining experience, break out the cloth napkins at home, light a few candles, and order take-out from Kitty's. The food still isn't L'Espalier quality, but it'll always be "Northern" comfort food to me.
(4)Joel S.
House salad dressing is as good as it gets. Its has actually made me a fan of salad. (and that was hard to do). We buy 2 quarts to last us the month or until we return. (which we always do) Italian Meat Sauce is fresh and sweet. Not boring, over garlicy and tart like most of these crappy expensive italian restaurants. Portions are huge. One plate feeds two. This is how all restaurants should model their menu. Something for everyone and plenty of it. It is our favorite resturant and we drive 15 miles to go there. You can take your atmosphere and shove it up your...... My appetite doesnt recognize atmosphere, just good food. If Good food is what you crave you will always get it here.
(4)Steve N.
used to be a big draw back in the day. but it looks (and smells) like 'in the day' was the last time they cleaned the place. will agree about the salad, still the same good stuff. but for the rest it's vintage crap. overcooked and watery red sauce, pork that doubles as veal and a certain odor near the bar that most visitors to Fenway's bathrooms will recognize. bad smells and lotsa blue hair. go elsewhere unless your trying to re-capture that olde tyme feeling with your eye-talian.
(2)Me B. M.
More like Ye Moldy Olde. Food is average and overpriced. Has not had a facelift in decades. One of those places that you still smell smoke and see a haze even when no one has a lit cigarette.
(1)Brian S.
Low class atmosphere, low class service, and low class food with high class prices. The place is pathetically gross and 20 years behind the time. We had reservations, but they didn't have anything ready for us, and "had to find somewhere to put us". Went with a group of six, and they stuffed us into a booth that fits 4 normally. Our waitress forgot about our drinks for almost 20 minutes. Some people in our group had ordered bottled beers, and the waitress wrapped her grimy paws all around the mouths of the bottles. The menu is way too big. They apparently make everything under the sun. It doesn't seem like they have any specialties or make anything really well for that matter. The food came cold, and poorly-prepared. Salad came with barely any dressing, when I asked for more, the waitress forgot that too. It was Easter, and my mother wanted to have the Easter dinner that included ham. It came with a slop of canned fruit on top, still in the neon pink sauce it's packed in. Gross. I will never come back. This place is disgusting. Worst restaurant I've ever been to.
(1)Rachael K.
I'm not sure when the renovations happened but this place was certainly nicer than I expected from these reviews. Yeah, it has that old dive-y smell and atmosphere (think Spuds in Danvers) but the food exceeded my expectations and the portions are really ginormous. We started off with a generous portion of tasty fried ravioli, which was great with the chunky marinara sauce. I got a steak salad (thanks to everyone raving about the dressing) and it proved to be pretty good with decent steak. Others in my party got the baked ziti (very cheesy), lasagna (I tried a bite, pretty good), and chix parm with ravioli (also good). The food was good and nothing that any of us got looked or tasted watered down. Prices were a little more than I expected for the meals (less than I expected for the salad) but most of the meals came with a giant side salad and when you consider the portion size the meal prices are reasonable. The service was a little slow, especially for an empty Sunday night, but that's what I've grown to expect from places like this that have that close-knit townie feeling. I'd recommend someone to go there if they were in North Reading, and I'd definitely meet my friends there again, but I wouldn't drive out of my way to go there again without a reason.
(3)Barry S.
Warehouse sized atmosphere filled with creepy decorating that makes you feel as though you've gone back in time, scary old waitresses, exorbitantly large menu of disgusting food, high prices, this place is the epitome of everything that is obsolete in dining in 2010. Don't even glance at the sign on your drive by, simply mash the accelerator and try not to look. Go hungry before you go here.
(1)Jocelyn G.
I haven't eaten at Kitty's proper in about 15 years...back then, it was a place my grandparents would take us for a treat. Now, we just go there for the salad dressing on special occasions...did you know you can buy a quart of it and they won't bat an eyelash? So tasty.
(3)Erin W.
I've always wanted to eat at Kitty's Restaurant. There is something very old school New England about it with the cool sign and the ugly brick on the outside. Also, the parking lot is ALWAYS full! I think about growing up in the early 80's when the typical chain restaurant you see now (Bugaboo, Cheesecake factory, OUtback, etc) were non-existent. You often had to travel to Boston for good eats. Almost everytown on the North Shore had some sort of Kitty's Restaurant where you would go on special occasions. As a kid we did not eat out often, but when we did we would go to a Kitty's type restaurant. As of late I have been seeking that old school New england restaurant charm...and that I got! Like another reviewer said, you must know what you are getting into before entering the establishment. I don't know why anyone would go there if they are looking for five star, fancy, gourmet food. Kitty's is plain jane 1960s/70s eatin...nothing too ethnic, white bread, shirley temples, and nothing with spices. To top it all off there is a full bar! The portions are massive and the price is well worth the amount. Go to a TGI Fridays and you will get the same priced dish with half the portion. Yes, there are alot of fattys at Kitty's, but you gotta know how to order. There is no upcharge for sharing an entree and you can wrap the second half of your meal for lunch the next day. The decor is tacky and gross, but that was part of the fun for us. It really brought us back to a day when life was simpler and grandma was taking us out for Sunday dinner. The staff was very friendly and I felt at home. I give Kitty's TWO thumbs up!
(4)Djohnnyd d.
Kittys restauraunt is a great place to go.. I have gone here esince I have been 12 yrs old... THe wai staff have been there for years and the portions are huge.. The appetizers are all great and the salad with house dressing can not be beat.. I also recommend the back stuff shrimp, or evern the Steaks it is the same quailty as any steak house in Boston, Family oriented is the key here,,, Also they have since updated their restaurant, a must place to go .
(5)SteelyDanFan M.
One of the best restaurants north of Boston. No, it's neither fancy nor trendy, and yes, it's a local joint with a "retro" feel to it. But, so what? if you have a problem with that, go to Brookline or somewhere else. The food at Kitty's is nothing short of outstanding. The house dressing is out of this world, and virtually everything on the menu is incredibly delicious. The 20-ounce steak is as good as any you will find anywhere in New England. Portion sizes are large, so unless you're really hungry you'll always have leftovers for later or for lunch the next day. Lots of space in the restaurant, so if you come when it's busy you'll rarely if ever have to wait for long. The only drawback is that the prices are a bit high, but the food cannot be beat.
(5)Mary D.
really bad place. servce sucked. food was bad. worst restraunt ever
(1)Evan S.
Worst restaurant I have been to in many years. I know what veal tastes like and the veal cutlets were not veal no matter what they claim. The meat in the sauce was ground turkey not beef and looked like brains from a zombie movie. And speaking of zombies...let's not even discuss the service! The waitress was horrible preferring to talk to other waitresses about how much she disliked her job. I should have told her that the way she treated people she was not qualified for anything else. The seats were sticky...almost as sticky as the menus. And there was a spider hanging from a web above my sons head. I'm sure even he/she would not eat there though. Do not go to Kitty's unless you like bad service, inedible food, and filthy accommodations.
(1)Stephen H.
Kittys is not for people who go to restarants for the atmosphere or decor. Its probably not the best place to bring a date. That covers the negatives. My family has been coming here sporattically all my life ( my grandmother and grandfather came here before they had kids so were kittys lifers) For the positives. There house salad has the best house dressing I have ever had in my life. Its a little heavy on the dressing so perhaps you could ask for it on the side, but it is absolutely awsome. Their pizza is solid although i will agree it isnt as good as it used to be. Their portions are also HUGE!. I'm about as cheap a person as they come(most of my yelp reviews complain about the price), but I have no problem paying for kittys meals (15-25) as you most certainly get your moneys worth. I definitely pride myself on being a big eater but kittys always keeps my ego in check. Id reccomend their pasta dishes, honey mustard chicken, tip/ribs, and wraps/sandwiches, also their onion rings are quite good, big rings of onions that are lightly breaded. Also they usually have a couple decent beers on tap (Ipswich which is one of my all time fav's). Kittys is a great place to bring the family when you're craving some classic comfort food.
(5)Jenna L.
Old time eatin. Back before you could get ground pepper that is. I like it for some nostalgic reason... Massive amounts of food - beware before ordering. Waitresses from the school of Flo at Mel's diner. Salad was great, I like the garden salad of days gone by, it was fresh and simple. We ordered Italian dishes which were cheesy and somewhat bland and had food to eat for the next serveral days.. Great place to bring a kid. Friendly staff.
(3)Jenna D.
Had takeout twice. Nothing special and not as cheap as everyone says. Portions are huge. The parking lot always looks full though.
(2)Steve G.
I've been coming here for over 40 years and it is always the same. forget the pizza, stuffed clams and steak sandwiches. Fried seafood is usually pretty good as is anything Italian but be careful as things are not always consistent. Antipasto salad is one of the best there is. WARNING!! PORTIONS ARE HUGE!! Each meal feeds 2-3 people.
(3)Robo T.
ok... heres the deal white trash family style italian food conducive to obesity. Huge pasta portions (literally a pound+ of pasta per serving, even if its only a side!), fried foods, pork cutlets they try to pass off as veal and bizarro tomato sauce containing "meat" in a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. BTW- whatever you order, you're taking some home! The decor has not changed.....EVER. Some waitstaff and bartenders still dress like its 1988...teased up puffy hair n' all. The patrons are mostly trashy townies, over-tattood aging ex-bikers or the over 60 crowd who clearly have been regulars for 15-20 years...(btw - I am none of those!) Bottom Line - I FUGGIN LOVE THIS PLACE. Been going off and on for 25 years and guess what....i'm only 30. The sauce is yummy and i'm a pasta fatty so BRING IT ON. Last time I was there, a biker who looked like willie nelson held the door for me. He's also the type of guy who'd throw you out the door if you expected gourmet cuisine! Their food is consistant...you either like it or you dont. I'll continue to go to Kitty's cat box.
(4)Christine S.
Food is a step down from your local pizza shop that does take out Italian and I agree with other reviewers that the service leaves much to be desired. Ok what is the deal of charging 8 dollars for a sandwich and having to pay for a side of fries? Oh and don't be suprised your charged for the rolls too if you want some with your gravy. Eggplant parm. was very greasy. Actually turned me off from ordering it for a while until I had a wonderful suprise at Prince Pizza (another review I guess). Went here a few times, wrote it off the list. Too bad too because I had hopes of a local hang out place. Wouldn't go here even for a salad (also over priced). They need to re-invent themselves and stop resting on their long standing history in the neighborhood. Go to Papa Ginos up the street, at least you'll pay the right price for what you get.
(2)sarah l.
There should be something between one star-Eek! and two stars-Meh. Kitty's falls there. The food is okay. But food from my local Market Basket supermarket deli is also okay. Portions are big, but the prices are pretty high for a place "that time forgot" as my husband likes to say. Picture a large lounge stuck somewhere between 1970-1980. If you're craving nostalgia, head to Kitty's. I think it has a huge function space. Large food plates for large groups, that's the vibe I got. Also had a dedicated kids menu, so maybe that's a draw for some. But many entrees were in the $14-20 range, which was not what I'd expect to pay at a place like this. One nice thing on the menu, they will let you split/share plates for dinner. We split a salad and large pizza, one glass of wine (hearty pour) and one cup of tea, $34.00. I didn't leave hungry, but maybe the lack of friendly service and lame atmosphere was a clue why most of the Wednesday night business was take-out. Sorry Kitty's, you're not on my return list. I'm not sure I could recommend it to anyone.
(2)Jeff W.
Went with the family to Kitty's on a whim because we couldn't decide what we wanted and we've driven by there a million times on our way to somewhere else. The parking lot was pretty full, but we were seated immediately on a Friday evening at dinner time, which is important when you have a two year old with you. The decor is a little dated, it has an old pub feel to it, and the menu is a little too crowded for me (which shouldn't be a complaint because you can get anything you want but when you already don't know what you feel like eating, having a thousand options doesn't help). I ordered the lobster mac and cheese (as another reviewer did) and not only did it have large pieces of lobster in it, but there was so much of it, I saved half my meal for the next night. It was delicious. My wife got the salmon, which came with two large pieces of fish (and no, I don't know if it was wild or farmed salmon...only that she said it was really good). Both meals came with giant salads that didn't skimp on dressing, and an additional side. My son ate bread and tomatoes and left his meal untouched because that's how he rolls. Portions are huge, but the prices are also a little on the high side so I suppose you're getting what you pay for. The waitress was very friendly and a little boy from another family eating there gave my son a stuffed animal toy that he appeared to have won in one of those stuffed animal claw games. Nice to know that kids like that still exist. So we'll be going back to Kitty's and I'm pretty sure that I'll try the ribs next time because pub style places usually make good ribs. I'll be sure to let you know how they are!
(4)Jonathan G.
I can sum up a review of Kitty's as 'not good'. I went there a couple of times when we first moved to North Reading, a couple of years ago, and haven't been back since. Big portions of bad Italian food. If you like a dive atmosphere, take a drive to East Boston(Santarpios) or Cambridge(La Hacienda).
(1)Mark B.
My wife and I recently had Kitties take out because we were given a gift certificate. The Staff was mean, the food was absolutely the worst I have had anywhere. The prices were to expensive. Need I say more? DO NOT EAT AT KITTIES not one thing was right! Even the meat was overcooked (dont bother specifiying how you want the meat the have one chice dry and well done). This place @#%^$'s
(1)Felipe M.
Alot of food for the price.....................the place is retro 60 70 But I like it
(4)Liz A.
We were greeted at the door by a lottery machine. Like a sentinel guarding the entryway, you actually have to walk around it. We were certainly pleased to see television screens broadcasting the latest keno numbers for all to see. The waitress was original to the restaurant, like the wallpaper, carpet, and 95% of the ceiling tiles. Kitty's is not a classy place. You might hear "touchdown Patriots!" or "there's a lump in the ketchup!". We ate our fill. A small chicken parmesan sandwich was about two chickens in a greasy dish with a piece of roll on top of it. I could only finish half. We left satisfied, knowing that all the previous reviewers were honest. Although we live in town, we may never go back, but cherish the experience.
(2)Jeff D.
Everything about Kitty's is a spectacular experience that would make anyone want to Meow about the place to all their friends! Kitty's restaurant and Lounge in North Reading is convinient to Boston on route 28 and 62 just past the Wal-mart. It is convinient to I-93 via Concord Rd, and 128 via 28 North. The atmosphere is family friendly and there is plenty of space for dining. Both booths, tables, and at the bar. There are two bar areas, including one with Keno. Video games are there for the kiddies. Appetizers are between $5 and $10 and entrees range from $7-20. They have everything from steak, to quesadillas, to BBQ, Italian pastas, salads, seafood, chicken, and club sandwiches. They have an extensive sandwich list! They have quite a few desserts as well. parking is ample and right on route 28. The dish I tried was the Cheeseburger Club. It is a huge Club sandwich with cheeseburger patty it. It is basically like a combination of a BLT and Cheeseburger in a sandwich, since the Sandwich part had bacon, lettucs and tomato as well as mayo. The dish came with a option of fries, onion rings, and /or a combo. Best onion rings I've had in a long time! The servers are pleasant and you truly feel like you are in a small New England town. The atmosphere is one of local flavor at Kitty's . A lot of locals come here, but the place is inviting to tourists and visitors as well. The two bars have generous selection of drinks for those to indulge in. Overall I would say Kitty's is a meowarvalous place to eat! I'm sorry fellow yelpers but you are wrong about kittys they have improved in the past couple yeara and it is a true local flavor restaurant conveniently located on route 28. There is a huge variety of food to choose from and salads are great. Sure its not a five star restaurant because its not meant to cater to the yuppies, which it seems there's too many of these days.
(5)Dylan C.
lol ... reading the reviews this place seems like a hit for the senior set, oddly enough my friend's grandmother loves it here, when we went to see her she wanted to dine here, so we and several of her family members made the short drive over, i thought it was cute, of course its not modern or hi-end but its an old neighborhood stand by so i didnt expect eames chairs and photos of nate berkus anywhere, i had a lobster roll and frankly it was pretty tastey, the service was fine too, all of which is more important then how seyt the drapes are, maybe the place has a soft spot in my heart because i will always remember the company that i dined with, the family matriarch was soo kind to me and i just wanted to hug her, her adult children were very welcoming to me and they even took care of the entire bill, there were like 10 of us, so i guess to wrap up, the place was cute, as a tourist maybe i was easily pleased, mostly i luv'd the angelic grandmother who we took there and since she has now passed, and her grandson and i no longer speak, i regret that i probably wont get the chance to go back, or to chat with her one more time
(3)Neil P.
Went to Kitty's on July 3rd. This is a large place that has a function hall in the back, a dining room in the front and a large bar on the other side where people eat, drink, watch the many Tv's and play lottery games. Been here many times before. Always pleased. Tonight we started with the fried zucchini sticks and the toasted ravioli. Both had their own red sauce and both were excellent. House salad was fresh and large portion. Then had a 20oz sirloin. The steaks here compare to any fine steak house, always good. The portions are always large and enough to bring leftovers home. In fact often times we split a meal and it's plenty enough. Didn't drink tonight but, have in the past and this is not a place that measures drinks. They are always good. They revamped the huge menu about 6 months ago and I suspect the prices were raised slightly but, still a tremendous value for your dollar. All in all a great experience tonight. Even won a few dollars at Keno.
(4)Thomas L.
Decided to check this place out. Arrived on a Friday early evening and gave our name. Only a short wait, though the inside was bustling with activity. Very busy night. Although the place was jammed, service wasn't so bad. Our waitress was extremely attentive and continually checked in with us during the evening. Though the staff was obviously stretched thin; not sure why they couldn't bring a few more folks in to help out. Food was decent, though somewhat pricey. However, that was offset by the volume that we brought home; we ended up with three more meals! I went with the teriyaki steak tips with a side of onion rings and pasta with meat sauce. The tips were great; they were juicy, tender, tasty,and cooked perfectly. The onion rings, which were more of the shoestring variety as opposed to the standard giant type, were good albeit a bit on the cool side. The pasta was a nice touch to round out the meal, and the homemade meat sauce was decent. The wife went for the baked scallops, which came loaded with breadcrumbs and butter. I had a few bites and they were very good. The side of spinach was ok. The house salad was great, and the dressing - which I was told was their 'house' - was phenomenal. Overall, a decent trip to an enjoyable local eatery.
(3)Gail C.
I love this restaurant. It has been our family restaurant for 3 generations. Try the lobster pie or fried clams. I was excited that they have Guinness on tap. The onion rings are crunchie with thin real onions. Service and atmosphere is down home. I will be back...of course.
(4)Jackson B.
DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. First of all they have lots of people eating here for reasons I do not understand, but I will never be back at this place. Bread served is sandwich rolls, the ones you can buy from the grocery store and they are in the same packaging here. Salad was big, yet the "house Italian dressing" just tasted like vinegar. Sampler plate was a big pile of overcooked mystery meats that were hard and inedible. After I left I felt sick and was soon after. Lastly, the prices are high. If the food was good and authentic I would have no problem spending $20ish per dish, but when you hardly touch your plate and leave the massive dish (don't take the leftovers because you don't want to eat them) then it is a waste of my hard earned money. I will never come back here and suggest that you do not go here either.
(1)Mike C.
Vey underwheling. Place is tired and could use a major remodeling. Prices are high for the quality of the food presented. I'd just eat Pizza's there, everything else we had was pretty average at best. There are lots of better restaurants in the area.
(2)Diane A.
I hadn't been to Kitty's in almost 20 years until tonight and now I know why. The food was terrible and the service even worse. I think we went 20 minutes without seeing our waitress while empty drink glasses and dirty plates remained on our table. I ordered a chicken cutlet with linguine with garlic and oil and a side of spinach. The cutlets were 2 inches thick smothered in a meat sauce I did not order. The linguine was covered in so much jarred garlic it made the dish uneatable. The spinach was baby spinach with the full stems still on and the same jarred garlic. What kind of Italian Restaurant doesn't use fresh garlic? This place is overpriced with lousy food and lousy service whose time has passed.
(1)Erin L.
Was just okay. I've never had chicken parm with just chicken (no pasta) until I came here. Salad was very good. The Spanish waitress was a little rude..
(3)Pauline G.
Went to Kitty's for lunch today. Ordered an individual mushroom pizza, light sauce and a little crispy. After waiting 40 minutes it finally came out burned to a crisp. I ate it because I was starving but wanted to make sure I told my server about it. When I did tell Jan about it her response was "I didn't cook it". Really? That's how you talk to your customers? Jan needs to move on. She's indifferent and unprofessional and it's time for her to retire.
(1)Lucy T.
We had a function here Sunday in the new back room. The room is very nice, clean and bright unlike the old room next to it that you have to go through to use the bathroom.That room had a funky smell (rug?) Our waitress, Cheryl was great, very helpful, so was our bartender. Unfortunately that's where the good points end. The food was very bad. We had a buffet for the party of 60 and all the food was lukewarm at best. The chicken broccoli ziti was dried out, sausage, pepper, and onions made with sausage pattys that looked like hockey pucks. Even their red sauce on baked ziti was not good. So disappointed. We paid good money to have party here and feel very let down. Quality has gone down hill over the years I would not recommend it to anyone.
(1)Will S.
I was horrified by this place. There was a bad smell to the establishment and the salad was not fresh, the chicken parm was the worst I have ever tasted. I could not eat my meal and really should have refused to pay. I have never been served food so awful in my entire life. I wouldn't eat here for free because the little bit I had left my stomach feeling off. Beware! Oh, almost forgot to mention that the bread was the really low quality bread that is trucked in to really low quality chinese restaurants and homeless shelters. What a nasty nasty experience. Never have been more discusted by a meal. That awful chicken in the nasty what I can't even call sauce.
(1)Melissa B.
If you're seeking rude service or no fresh/quality food then you should go to Kitty's. Tonight I attempted to order a simple chicken cutlet sandwich with a side of buffalo sauce. The server brings me out a chicken cutlet smothered in a bolognese sauce with a side of hot sauce. I told her I just wanted a chicken cutlet and she preceded to scream, "You didn't tell me you didn't want sauce!" After arguing for about a minute, she took it back and asked the kitchen to remake it. (It came out without any cheese/lettuce/etc but at that point I said screw it.) She continued to patronize me throughout the meal, asking me with an attitude if that's how I wanted it. (Probably about 5 or 6 times in total.) It was so uncomfortable and I couldn't wake to leave. That's the last time I'll be going to that "restaurant!" PS: the sandwich was totally gross.
(1)John P.
Place is BRUTAL......I am a sucker for the older decor, environment....but this is the 5th time I've tried it in about 2 years. It doesn't change. Miserable severs, and the food is better at any high school cafe. HOW is this place still around!??? It upsets me. If the service and the food was a a bit better, I would be a regular every weekend!!! UGGGTH.
(1)Gigi M.
I really wanted to like this place. It's been around forever and so many friends have been here ... plus because of the fabulous car shows during the summer I've attended, I jumped at the chance when friends suggested we meet here. Oh, man. Sure, the portions were GIGANTIC and the prices were OK, but the restaurant smelled a little funky and the food wasn't even just passable. I had the veal parm. Pretty sure it was pork. Thick and gummy, with gelatinous coating, an acidy sauce and something that resembled mozzarella, but missed the mark. The bread was good, I'm a big fan of Piantedosi's bread, the kind the Hilltop used to serve, so that made me happy but I should have stopped there. The waitress was nice, also, and the drinks good (not great) but overpriced. The decor is definitely retro, which would be fine if it had been updated to retro and not just left as it was since the 70's ... with saggy cushions at the booths and in bad need of a cleaning. Sorry, Kitty's. Just NO.
(1)John H.
First visit in 21/2 years. Been coming here since growing up in Andover in the 60s/70s. Ok, maybe the carpet is dingy and the lighting dark. The food is basic homey Italian. Delicious and generous portions. Our waitress was very nice. I'm guessing the previous reviewers that complain about service don't follow the golden rule them selves. The house Italian dressing on our antipasto is still the best! Kitty's sells the dressing to take home in pints or quarts. We took a quart! Kitty's onion rings are outrageously good too. Full bar, good beer on draft. Keno if you've a mind. Kitty's is great. It's a treasure!
(5)Jennifer R.
Kitty's and Keno on Sunday has been something that my boyfriend, his father, and I absolutely love doing. I've had really awful service here (the waitress forgot about us for an hour) and I've had really great service here (the waitress was extremely attentive with refills), so I can't give a bad review or an extremely stellar one. This place has character, which is why I love coming here. The Kitty's House Dressing has me under its spell and there is no cure! I could eat their salad all day. In fact, I've seen people order a small salad for an app and then a large Kitty's salad for dinner. You can't get enough of it - addicting! My boyfriend always orders veal parm, his father always gets the italian assortment, and I'm always indecisive. The only bad thing about this place is that their chicken seems like they've let it sit in the DESERT all day and night, it is so unbelievably dry and I set myself up for disappointment every time. I've ordered the barbecue chicken once and I'm not so sure what I was given. It had an odd rotten tomato and honey stench, definitely not barbecue. That being said, everything here is delicious EXCEPT for the chicken. This place definitely has its regulars and it's always fun for me to hear fellow diner that are eating there for the first time, A great family style restaurant with a lot of flair, but the chicken could use a lot of improvement.
(3)Thomas F.
We attended a party here in January. The food provided was horrible. I am glad I ate something light before coming here. I was quite disappointed with the food. It has been at least 15 years since I was here last and remember then that the food was good. The room the party was held in was filthy. The back room for functions. Ceiling tiles were stained and some not even set in place, falling out instead and over the food; the walls were dirty and there was an odd odor near the bar (not alcohol either). For the money we spent for the function here, I will not recommend Kitty's for any function. I hope the restaurants' structural condition (ceiling tiles and general cleanliness) aren't as bad as the back room. I suspect it is though because the bathrooms were filthy. What has happened to this place to let it fall apart so badly?
(1)Stephanie C.
I ate here for the first time with my family. The waitress was nice and we were seated immediately. We ordered drinks and my sisters margarita had a fly in it. After having the drink replaced she took a sip and all you could taste was straight liquor, almost as if the bartender was pissed she has to make another one. After we got our food I took one bite, not impressed. The food made me sick I was up all night and I had to throw it in the trash $25 wasted. Also when we received our bill my sisters drink was still on there, I feel like because there was a fly in her drink it should have been comped. Needless to say I won't be back, what a waste of money.
(2)El B.
Went here for lunch, I had haddock sandwich, was great, fresh not greasy. French fries are frozen, cole slaw fresh, sweet. Waitress was good, my only complInt, I asked for,a Pepsi, and it was diet.... Husband had a pastrami sandwich, generous portion, served on two small rolls.
(3)Kelly ..
This is a zero star kind of place. I ordered the chicken broccoli with cream sauce (was told it was an alfredo sauce). Out comes alfredo sauce made with blobs of ricotta cheese and soggy fried chicken tenders. I asked the waitress to see the menu again, and tried the baked stuffed shells. Wtf?! This time, the ricotta has a jello like form instead. Seems like they scooped it straight out of a tub, into the pasta shell and put marinara sauce and mozzarella over it. You know what you should do if you want a good meal? Just walk across the street to heavenly donuts and get yourself a breakfast sandwich regardless of the time of day it is. You'll save yourself money AND have something delicious to eat.
(1)S. Dawn R.
First off the place is nasty. That is just the truth. Outdoor trash barrels inside the rug is probably original. And 1/2 the bartenders and waitresses are great and 1/2 have been there too log and act like they are doing you a favor. Some food is out right nasty some is good. Have to learn to navigate the menu. The pizza is good. Seems like it's for people the sacrifice quantity for quality. All that being said, they place is packed all the time. The tall frosty mugs of beer big and cheep. There is something honest about the whole place. It's like an American institution.
(3)Joshua C.
I went to this magical place I've heard of for years to play some keno and get some good old fashioned New England food. I have now been sitting on the toilet for 2 1/2 hours wondering why I ate there. So it's now your choice!
(1)Gail T.
Not impressed. used to go with my family years ago. Tried a few times since and will not go back. The lasted adventure,VERY DISAPPOINTED, the waitress was cold, unfriendly and didn't seem to care. my order was Chicken Parmesan, salad and au gratin potatoes. A large serving enough for a couple of people. the Chicken was overcooked and dry, salad was nice looking but had iceberg lettuce romaine would have been a nice touch, she never asked. and the potatoes were ice cold. The waitress never came back to see how we were doing. I had to ask for a manager and express my concerns. She was very polite and asked me if I wanted anything else, which I didn't. I always leave a tip, today I did not and even if my food was palpable I still would not have left, the service was terrible I recommend you train your waitresses to be a bit more friendly, check in with customer and not transactional. I will never return.
(1)Vladimir A.
Really, this place sucks more than anything I have seen in years. They should be ashamed to even call themselves a restautant. Interior awful, outdated. Feels like old country club. Their waiting area is better than that. Plates are not clean, floors are messy. So for the prices, too expensive for shithole as it is. I basically lost my apetite and we left really fast. Please do yourself a favor, skip goin there.
(1)Karen P.
At 3 PM on a Saturday, it was slow. we were told to seat ourselves, but not given menus. The waitress came to take drink orders, but had no menus. She did not return, so we had to find menus on our own. She came back to take our order, but was gone before I could order a drink. She stood at a counter on the dining floor, eating and texting, with other waitresses. Everyone was eating and texting! A waitress brought out a bag of Cheetos, and passed them around the dining floor! EWW!! One waitress took out a de-linter and de-linted her clothes---no lie--- ON THE DINING FLOOR!!! I never ordered a drink, I did not see my waitress long enough. An elderly patron, who was drunk, was not allowed to leave. He had been overserved! Two waitresses had to drive him home. What a circus! Someone needs to take control of this place. And the food was not worth the trip, anyway.
(1)Cynthia E.
Amazing nachos and strong drinks. This 70s gig will never get old for me and my crew of friends! There's a north reading loyalty to this place who have frequent regulars. This place hosted an old car show over the summer in their parking lot. Cute place and perfect for a drink meeting in their cozy bar area.
(5)Christine L.
This has been a place me and my family have gone to for decades and will continue to do so. Great drinks, meat sauce, salad dressing. (I'm a picky eater) My fave is the steak and cheese sandwich with shoe string onion rings. Its all delicious and gives you plenty for leftovers to take home.
(5)Devon N.
Gluttonous portions of mediocre food, the kind of place recovering over eaters go for a rousing relapse. I recommend the keno.
(2)Tegan S.
I like this place, while not my favorite - they have good food and the portions are so HUGE you should get a medal for finishing them with a salad. I love the Rhode Island Calamari here and the chicken parmesan is pretty good as is the chicken marsala. The wait staff has been there since the place opened and clearly has most of their attitudes. While some of them are nice, probably the majority of them, I've had horrible service there twice. I ordered a steak meal there (I know, I know stupid choice but I couldn't have pasta at the time) and I wanted it medium rare. It was burnt to a crisp on the outside so my husband complained to the waitress for me since she wouldn't pay me the time of day. After explaining my steak was charred, she informed me 'that's how they come, they cook them in the broiler' - having worked in a restaurant, I know that it takes neglect to burn a steak in a broiler. I asked if she could have them pan sear it instead - that was a no-go. So I asked her for another and the next one came out less charred but still charred. I could eat most of it but the meal was kinda ruined after that.
(3)Andrea K.
Well our server Christina was just a delight!!! I mean if you like a rude waitress then go to Kitty's and ask for Christina. As soon as she realized that we were not ordering alcoholic beverages with our meal and just water, we got an eye-roll. I ordered salmon with the two sides being a salad and baked potato. She came back to tell us that they were out of baked potatoes. I chose to just have my salad as my meal and pass on the salmon. She then came back and they miraculously found some potatoes but could only microwave it for me. Maybe I am picky but if I am spending $20 on a meal, I don't want it nuked in the microwave. I can do that for free at home. I still declined and said the salad was fine. She then said well I already put the order in so I dont know what you want me to do (insert another eye-roll).... Well I didn't order a microwaved potato with my salmon so I certainly wasn't taking or paying for it. Moving on..... So its bad enough that the restaurant is carpeted anyway but I then watched our waitress bring out our salads and she spilled half of the blue cheese dressing down the entire walk area between the bar and the high top tables. When the people at the other tables told her she proceeded to take her nurse like shoes and smear the dressing into the carpet until it disappeared rather than get a towel and spray and properly clean it. It was disgusting!!!! At one point during our meal.... she started to come over and ask us how we were doing and half way through her sentence it dawned on her that she was speaking to the family that didn't want the microwaved food for $20 and she waived her hand away at us in a "oh why bother asking" fashion and walked away. I was so disgusted with the filth and the poor service that I asked for the check. Upon leaving we walked by a large section of tables where no one was seated and the entire floor underneath the tables was covered in smushed french fries and dirty napkins, while the table tops looked just as dirty as the floor. If the front of the restaurant is any indication as to how the kitchen is kept then take this warning and stay far far FAR away!!!! Clearly the staff, Management, and OWNERS do not care about their business or customers. This restaurant needs a rescue BIG TIME!!!!!
(1)Raisa S.
I really have a love hate relationship with Kitty's... The decor is outdated and there is a lingering smell of ciggarettes from years ago most likely combined with wherever the staff takes their smoke break. It's not exactly a typical hangout place, but if I want an inexpensive italian meal, this is usually the place to go. My parents love to go to Kitty's because not only is it incredibly nostalgic for them but they have gigantic portions and incredibly cheap prices. The bread before dinner is average, and each entree comes with a gigantic salad. My most recent trip consisted of baked ziti with meatballs which was tasty and the french onion soup for an appetizer was surprisingly delicious, not too salty at all. I shared my entree with another adult and we still had plenty to take home. It's perfect for a casual weeknight meal and it's perfect for large groups since the place is so huge! It's not the best italian food i've EVER had, but it definitely does the trick and I'd recommend for an affordable bite.
(3)Rhianna C.
Came here tonight for the first time ever after being intrigued by Kitty's for years. I was surprised. Sure, the decor is dated and Kitty's seems to attract an older generation, but who cares as long as it is a decent dining experience? We were promptly seated upon entering, and the restaurant seemed a little busy for the number of staff on hand, but it wasn't full by any means. We spent a good 15-20 minutes distracted by scratch card machines and Keno, so we didn't notice that we hadn't yet been visited by our server until another 15 minutes went by. We weren't in a rush, so it was more a minor annoyance than anything. I was excited that Goose Island's Honkers Ale was advertised everywhere and talked everyone in our party into ordering one. Only problem was that the bar was out and I had to settle for Blue Moon. We ordered standard pub fare-- salads, fried clams, pizza, steak tips, and chicken parm. There was so much food we didn't know what to do. And we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was. While it wasn't overly expensive, I did find their prices to be a bit steep. Now knowing that you get a mountain of food, I'm a little more ok with it, but there was still sticker shock. Overall, it's a solid three star experience. Had they not been out of Honker's and it taken a half hour or us to give our drink order, it would have been four stars. I'd likely come back here again.
(3)Kyle D.
This place is alright, if you like Grandma's house. That is exactly how this place feels and that's exactly who this place caters. I swear, the wallpaper dates back to 50's, the 1850's that is. The service is fine and the portions are large, but that is all you will get out of this place. I have experienced much better in the quality of food in the majority of places that I have been. I ordered the honey mustard chicken sandwhich. The chicken was fresh, but a little bland. Even with the honey mustard sauce on it, I could tell the chicken was a little bland. You can't fool me, Kitty. The honey mustard was more water-based than actual honey mustard. And my sandwhich was drenched with it. It was almost disgusting. I had to go to the bathroom to decontaminate myself afterwords. The sandwhich really did not have much flavor. And a bottle of bud light is 4 dollars. For other places that is fine, but for a low-rent restaurant like this, I was a little surprised. This place is not a hip lounge, and they should not advertise themselves as a lounge. Hey Kitty, you may want to think of renovating this place. While you are at it, change the name and improve the food too. I could take one less chicken finger if you could improve the quality of it. And the quality of your seasonings too. If you are part of the geriatric squad, this place is for you. If not, just keep going down route 28 until you find an old favorite that you like. I may go back, but only if I am starving.
(2)E T.
First off ... I would like to say that just because I don't like Kitty's doesn't mean you won't. I hate to give bad reviews to 'classic' institutions because any restaurant that has been around since the 1960s in the same location has to be doing something right. The funny thing is that people mention the decor as being 'dated' even though it was completely remodeled only a few years ago ha ha You should have seen it before that! I kind of miss the 'old' decor which looked like something right out of 1960. Yellow stucco walls ... if that pre-renno decor was located in LA/Hollywood it would be deemed a classic. Because it was in North Reading, it was deemed outdated. However, it seems like they went back to 1995 to get their interior designer because whoever came up with the new design made it look like it hasn't been remodeled in 25 years, even though technically it was redone a couple years ago. The thing that struck me this last trip to Kitty's is it just seems dirty. The parking lot is full of trash (broken Dunkin Donuts coffee cups, cigarette packs, napkins blowing around. Anthony Bourdaine says in his book Kitchen Confidential that if he goes to a restaurant and the bathroom is messy, he leaves because the kitchen is likely kept the same way. If the parking lot is the same way ... that's just scary. It also seems like the landscaping has been neglected with the shrubs overgrowing the giant Kitty's sign. You will either like the food ... or hate it. If you are a local who grew up going to Kitty's, you will probably be on the 'love it' side. Just because you got used to it. It is simple, basic food prepared much in the way your mother in law who isn't a great cook would prepare it. If you are in the town of North Reading on business or something and say, 'I will try that place.' You will probably be dissapointed. The prices here are crazy! The first thing you notice about Kitty's is that the clientel tends to be in the 'Senior' range. Which usually means no item on the menu is over $5. I was shocked to see that the lunch menu lasagna was $14. Spaghetti and sauce is $12. Most of the subs are $10 for half and $13 for whole. The portions here are HUGE but the prices seem high to me for a local place like this. (Most patrons drink pretty heavily which no doubt helps the food taste better) I've had a number of things over the last few years ... the Macaroni and Cheese seems to be the dish that they hang their hat on. I found it to be incredibly oily and greasy. One of the worst mac and cheese dishes I've had. The pizza is pretty much as crunchy as eating it on a cracker with semi-warm slices of a whole meatball and canned mushrooms. An 'individual' size would probably be fine for two people. They don't roll it round, it is more kind of an oval shape. The pizza doesn't have much taste, except for the ketchup-like sauce which tastes as sweet as a can of soda to me. The dessert was slopped on a plate and microwaved. There is absolutely no care that goes into the prep of these dishes ... it is what it is. The menu features things you don't exactly see on many menus today. Escargot. Even if the decor was re-done to get Kitty's out of the 1960s, the food menu still looks like it could be from 40 years ago, with the exception of the expensive prices. If you are a 'Miller Light' person who drinks beer not for the taste, but because it is what you have always drank ... you'll like Kitty's. It's the 'old standard'. If you are more of a craft beer person who likes fresh ingredients and taste ... Kitty's won't be your bag, baby. There are other places you should eat in North Reading. If you like authentic, local joints ... and aren't someone who looks for good cooking, you'll enjoy the cavernous 'Legion Hall' like Kitty's. You don't get much more authentic than this ... it's been around for a long time, so you know for the right person ... it is a good match. I am sure there are some people who eat here almost every day because the staff seems to recognize most of the customers and treat outsiders with a grain of suspicion. Again, I hate to diss a local joint but for me ... this was a two star meal. (and I am being a little generous.) Also, the hostess is rude and seems like she has been working there for 30 years and just doesn't care anymore. You do what she wants you to ... requests are not welcomed or fulfilled.
(2)Becky M.
I really like this place! It's bar area is big and a great meeting place after work. It does look like it did in the 70's but that is part of the charm. Salad dressing is amazing!
(4)Fred M.
I have been going to this restaurant since 1960 when my parents first took me. At that time, it was a one room, very smokey, bar with loud music on the jukebox, that also served the most incredible Italian food around. The pizza, clams, onion rings, etc., were the best around. In the 70's and 80's, they expanded the restaurant to the size it is today. Unfortunately, over the last 20 years, the food and service has gone downhill to what it is today. Ignoring what the restaurant was, the bottom line is the food is just bad, with most of it being overpriced. Very bland and greasy. The only upside is the house dressy is still very good. Just be sure to ask for it on the side, since they like to drown the salad with it. The staff all seem like they want to be somewhere else, and that serving you is something they really don't want to do. The decor being the same as it was in the 80's would work (it was tacky even back then), but with the food and service being so bad, it just adds insult to injury. Although it breaks my heart to say it: I do not recommend this restaurant. There are many other places that are much, much better. I ate there with my sister, and she agrees.
(1)Amanda B.
I now understand why this place has a poor score. The food was just ok but the inside decor was so old and outdated, It scared me while eating there. It looked like a restaurant you would see on restaurant impossible and when I ate the food the quality wasn't there either. In the good side there portions are big. Customer service wasn't too bad but the place wasn't busy. I have no desire to come back here again.
(2)Stan G.
I grew up on this place.... The restaurant could use some updating but the food is right for the right price.. The pizza is great and so isn't life.
(5)Brian D.
Ordered baked ziti and got watery ziti with melted cheese in a soup bowl. I will never go back.
(1)Roger T.
I don't see how this place gets return customers/more then 1 star. It's disgusting. I'm easily impressed too. The decor is just a bad as the food. People keep saying "nostalgic", I say old and dirty. I've been here 4 times, dragged back each year from other people. Their "famous" salad - Soaked with nasty dressing that tasted like mayo Meatballs - I couldn't even swallow it, that bad. Sauce - Watery and tasteless Pasta - Overcooked and slimy Also - We ordered drinks, the bartender messed up each one worse then the next. For instance dumped orange juice into my vodka/sprite (yeah I'm fancy), why? Why not. Potatoes with white cheese sauce- were actually okay. Actually felt sick to my stomach when I left each time, dont know if it was in my head, but just saying. I don't write bad reviews like this, if I do then you know it's horrible. Trying to understand HOW they've been open this long.
(1)Courtney N.
In search of a good boiled dinner, my friend and I stopped at Kitty's. We had passed it several times but it didn't seem like our type of place. Boy, was I wrong! The dinner was outstanding. It tasted so delicious! You wouldn't think it'd be hard to mess up a boiled dinner, however, we had left another restaurant a few hours before totally disappointed so Kitty's boiled dinner was a welcome surprise. My friend got salmon and that was great. The sides were huge. We took home the pasta side and ate it as another meal. The prices for the amount of food you get are tremendous. Like I said- you could (and we did) make multiple meals out of the food you're served. And it's high quality! My only complaint was the slowness of our waitress. She took forever to come over to us. Then, never asked how our meal was, and after she gave us the bill, we waited a good 10 minutes and could see her but she never came over to retrieve our card. We ended up leaving cash instead because the wait was getting too long. Would I return? Definitely! I saw several items that I'd like to try and the price is right!
(4)Julie H.
Kitty's is a family tradition. The prices are on the middle-to-high end, but the portions are HUUUUGE. They have everything under the sun on the menu. I love the salad with house dressing. Plates are big enough to split, but I think there might be a splitting fee ? There is one really good waiter who we always request because he is the only really excellent one. The others are "meh". Try going during lunch when the prices and portions are a little more reasonable. Lots of people come here to play the lottery it seems. I have never been drinking at the bar part here, but the place always seems packed and that is a good sign.
(4)Amanda L.
Not the greatest food in the world, though their pasta and sauce is pretty acceptable for kind of a dive. Has a fun-ish bar if you're in the mood for a neighborhood divey spot.
(2)Rebecca G.
We were visiting in Massachusetts and went out to dinner. The restaurant could use a makeover. It is old and outdated. I ordered the veal pamesan dinner. It came with salad and spaghetti. The veal wad a little tough but tasty. The spaghetti was overcooked. The salad was fresh and good. Overall I would give it a 3. I was disappointed because it used to be pretty good,.now I don't like it and may not go back.
(3)Katy F.
Love this place. It's been around forever -- and I like that. Yes, it could use a sprucing up, but the food was great. Monday night: Fried clams were awesome, great, fresh cold salad, and my chix parm was fantastic. Not a compliant from anyone in my party of 4. BTW, the service was great.
(5)Matt C.
Is it possible to give zero stars? I ordered wings and many still had feathers on them!! Somehow I managed to choke down my baked ziti and instantly regretted doing so....I was running to the bathroom within minutes....do NOT waste your $$$ go to burger king!
(1)Stephanie G.
Kitty's is very much a love it or hate it place. I have been coming here my whole life so I am very much accustomed to it. I was not alive when it was first created but it has been in the same place since then so it has a following but the restaurant isn't for everyone. The portions are huge and fit the price. Although everyone is saying that you won't really realize what huge means until you receive them. The menu also has more choices than you could imagine but this place is primarily known for Italian and fried seafood. For starters you must order a garden salad with the house Italian dressing. This dressing is famous and amazing and they won't let you order any other dressing and you won't be sorry for that. I had the chicken parm over spaghetti with meat sauce last time I was there and it was delicious. The pasta was cooked al dente and the sauce is thick and delicious and the chicken was very good. We had onion rings for an appetizer which were also very good. The restaurant has been renovated and updated since its opening and I really don't see why people have such an issue with atmosphere/building. It is somewhat old fashioned but the appearance isn't unclean or poorly kept. It doesn't bother me nor do I really notice it. BE AWARE go here if you are very hungry and plan to eat a lot and even if you are you are guaranteed to have leftovers. Also, really don't go here if you are on a diet, the portions are huge and the fried seafood is classically greasy and I'm fairly certain the dressing is about as high cal in dressing as you can find. Delicious food but be ready to splurge.
(4)Middleclass R.
I stopped in this afternoon on my way back from the hardware store with my four year old daughter for lunch. The food was awful. My steak tenderloin sandwich was tough as an old tire. My daughter wouldn't touch her chicken fingers and only ate three fries. Nasty nasty nasty food. This place used to be good but I haven't been there in a long time and it has gone down the drain and so did my hard earned money. After tax and tip lunch for two including a sandwich soda kids meal and fries cost me 36 bucks. I should have listened to my little girl who wanted to go to the 99's but Kitty's was right across the street so we gave it a try. Never ever again. I should have known it was bad when there was nobody at the bar with the Bruins and NFL playoffs both on TV on a Sunday afternoon. What a waste of money and we both left hungry. I did not even bother to complain as they obviously just don't care anymore and I had my kid with me. I took the food home for the dog. I hope he doesn't get sick.
(1)The Hungry American E.
How this place is still in operation is beyond me. The joint looks like a fall out shelter after the apocalypse. If you choose to go inside, you'll understand why I say that. I'm serious. Everyone appears to be 100yrs-old (and wheezing). Staff just walks around aimlessly. Odd things hang from the wall. Busboy stands block every row of booths. Nothing has been scrubbed or replaced since 1965 at best. BUT... THEY GOT KENO! Do the community a favor, shut it down.
(1)Jayme S.
if 0 stars was an options that's what I would choose. French onion soup was clear and had no flavor whatsoever. horrible drinks. do not recommend this place whatsoever. save your money!!!!
(1)Pete M.
Went here at night (10:30ish) for a couple of drinks with a few friends. According to website they are open until midnight on Saturday. Our total tab for 2 wines, 1 beer, and 1 mixed drink was just under $30. We didn't order any food, so I don't know how it is. The waitress recommended a wine which my friends thought was terrible. I had a Tom Collins, which was mediocre to say the least. Being late at night there weren't many people in there. Though I think the other group may have known the owner. The waitresses kept interacting too much with the other people for my liking. They were a bit louder than one should be with no one in the bar. There was a kid that looked about 17 sitting at one of the tables... Our waitress, for lack of a better term only came over to take our order and give us our drinks. About 15 minutes before they closed someone came over and said, "Can you please leave, we want to go home." I found it quite rude. As we were exiting, they had no lights on in the parking lot, so we had to walk to our vehicles in the dark, which may or may not be a safety issue. I'd suggest going somewhere else if you want to be treated better. I will more than likely not be returning.
(1)Greg S.
ate there a few times years ago...it was ok...ate there last night...best seafood dinner i ever had.....sister had shrimp sciampi,said the same thing....beware..a lot of butter...we were raised in an italian neighborhood outside of boston...know what italian food should be...this was right on..!
(5)David J.
Kitty's is for the Dogs! Very disappointed in the quality of food. Not to mention the place needs a serious makeover.
(1)David P.
My wife and I happened upon Kitty's serendipitously while antique shopping. To put it briefly, we had a great meal, and the portions were huge. Upon returning home, I decided to see what Yelp users had to say. I know that everyone can have a bad experience now and then, but I was mostly taken aback by the fact that quite a few of the negative comments were not really about the food. (To be fair, some were.) A lot of folks complained about the ambience which you have to take as part of the experience. One of the most famous restaurants I ever ate in was one patronized by stars in California, and, measured by modern standards, it was either a dive or campy. It is a lot like House Hunters where a couple is shown a house, and the thing they don't like is the wallpaper. You have to take the décor as it is in a restaurant, and if you don't like it, Wendy's is down the street. The other thing was that the reviews tended to polarize toward very high or very low marks with no apparent middle. That pretty much reveals that the low marks tended to be folks who expected gourmet dining and up-to-the-minute stylish interiors. The high marks were people who just like to eat and eat a lot. Next time we are in the area, we will return--that pretty much tells you what category we are in. Oh yes, the house salad dressing (an Italian) is amazing.
(5)Barbara W.
I can't help but have a soft spot in my heart for Kitty's. Yah, a lot of their food is awful, yah their pizza isn't as good as it used to be, and yah if they could seriously use an interior decorator...but darn it if I can't stop going here...even if it is only once every 2 or 3 years. First of all, their house salad dressing is the best ever. Seriously. Forget all those fig oil/balsamic/frisee/blah...blah...blah salads at fancy places. Give me a gigantic bowl of iceburg lettuce slathered in Kitty's dressing and I'm a happy girl. If they sold it online and I could get it in SC, I would eat salad every day. As for the rest of their food...don't go fancy. Stick to the basics (lasagna, baked ravioli, etc.), and it won't be the best meal you've ever had, for sure, but it'll be 3 days worth of old school New England Italian food. Where else are you going to get served a gigantic serving of meat lasagna that comes with a side of two fist-sized meatballs?
(3)Steve P.
I really debated whether to write this review or not and feel compelled to. I used to go to Kitty's with coworkers over 20 years ago and really liked it a lot. My favorite was their Italian salad and Veal Parmigiana. We would make a weekly trek form our office in Billerica. Yesterday my wife and I happened to be in the area and decided to go to Kitty's for lunch. I was so excited, as the idea of going brought back great memories. As usual the lot was crowded with cars. When we entered it was like going into a time warp, the place was exactly the same as the 80''s. Same rug, same furniture, same stucco walls, bar, etc.. I mean the same as in old! The stucco was dirty and looks like it hadn't been painted since before I went there and frankly the place had an odor. We were seated in an old booth, I ordered my usual and my wife had the chicken cutlets with meat sauce. The salad was fresh and ok, nothing great, but good. Then came our entrees. My wife took two bites and declared she was done. She looked at me and said it was horrible with no taste and stringy dry cutlets. My veal was also tasteless, but the cutlets tasted like they had been cooked the day before, set in the pan, covered with sauce and cheese then cooked. I managed to get one down but just couldn't go on. The sauce was also tasteless and the pasta overcooked. We had the waitress box it up to bring home for our son. Our car really had an off odor on the ride home with it inside. We ended up throwing it out. Service was good, but frankly it was not crowded. Still can't figure out why all the cars. We wish this was the end of the story, but it isn't. My wife didn't feel good most of yesterday upon return. We both ended up not doing well. As my wife put it, the next time we need a colonoscopy, we should go to Kitty's instead of drinking a gallon of that liquid. No joke, bad food caught up to us. I really wanted to enjoy Kitty's but as the saying goes, you can't go back. Buyer Beware!
(1)Zadie B.
Definitely old school. Cavernous room with bare bones decor. I imagine this is what a "roadhouse" looks like. The waitstaff could star in a PSA about the dangers of smoking, but service is brisk and efficient. As others have said, portions are ample, and the food is quite good. I had lobster mac and cheese, and it was as good as I've had at fancier places, and there was 2-3 times as much of it for about half the price. My husband had an eggplant rollatini about the size of a football. The cocktails are very strong. If you get a martini, they bring you the leftover ice from the shaker.
(5)