Wareham? Restaurants? Food Culture? The people and community?

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by jetle25

I heard that cranberry Highway lost a lot of traffic when a new highway was built not far away. So many business closed down because of the decrease in tourism traffic.

You mean Rt-25 which is basically an extension of I-495 to the Bourne bridge? I was curious how old it was, so I looked it up - it opened in 1987. Any longtime residents know if Wareham used to be nicer prior to 1987?

[CaseyB]

While never upscale, it used to be a little nicer.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by jetle25

I'm just interested in why Ella's being a nice place serving city quality food is located in Wareham of all places. location location location right? I heard that cranberry Highway lost a lot of traffic when a new highway was built not far away. So many business closed down because of the decrease in tourism traffic.

Have any of you tried Hong Kong Island restaurant next to the water wizz? Don't see many of the polynesian chinese places anymore in MA.

Have never tried Hong Kong Island.

In regard to Ella's people will travel for quality. I have never been there on an evening when you didn't need a reservation so it's not a "let's drop in for dinner" spot. It's a place you plan to go to. The building is very non descript so there is no curb appeal either. It is definitely a restaurant built by word of mouth that has found success by doing things right.

[ladyalicemore]

Back in the olden days, I was taken to the White Rabbit in Wareham by my parents, who remembered it from road trips to the Cape in the 1930s. The little building (I have heard) is now a bar. It used to be a tearoom and a lunch place. Nice buttered toast instead of rolls on the table. Teahouse, bar: this may be the difference between the early twentieth and early twenty-first century.

Wareham is a gateway to the Cape and should be a viable restaurant venue for people who live there or who are in transit. I am sad to hear that it is now raffish. I knew a retired schoolteacher, very elderly (she was trying to be the last surviving grad of her year at Bridgewater State, and almost made it when she died at 98 or 99). She lived in Wareham, not in fear, in a nice clean little house, and loved it there. She was a most respectable person.

I am sorry to hear there are so few places left in southeastern Mass that are safe for retired schoolteachers, as in a few years that is what I hope to be. My sister told me Wareham had gone south, but I am a historian, and if anyone knows the main reasons, I'd love to hear.

It was quiet, quiet when I would go there to visit Ellen, but in no way scarey. Or "armpit"-like, to cite an earlier post.

[RLCMA]

Originally Posted by jetle25

I'm doing some research on Wareham, MA. Parents own a restaurant and I am trying to see what the market is like for the residents that live in the area. I've only visited a sliver of the town of East Wareham, know some locals and from what I see its Working Class and I heard from a resident that its a bit depressing in Wareham. Lots of welfare and some petty crimes like theft and drug abuse and alcoholics, but cleaned up a bit now. But I did notice a new fancy Brick Oven Pizza, Ella's Wood Burning Oven opened up and to me it feels a bit fancy for the area. Seems like it should be in Boston or NYC. There are nearby organic farms and organic cranberry operations. Are residents interested in healthy food, local food, different flavors or cuisine, are people knowledgable of what is authentic cuisine from China, Italy, Greece, or mediteranean? Anything missing like sushi, farm to table, local food, ice cream, experimental or fusion play with american cuisine? Anything that isn't your typical big box and chain stores and restaurants? Seems like plenty of seafood but typical fried clams and lobsters. Are people willing to pay a certain amount for dinner? Is it all about fried food and unhealthy stuff? I hate generalizing an area but I'd love to get to know from locals and past residents think.

Thanks in Advance

Justin

Overall, Wareham is a fairly depressed town. It's definitely a "working town" and has its issues with welfare and everything you mentioned and really always has. The place you're talking about on Cranberry Highway is not fancy and fits in well for the area. There aren't many fine dining or ethnic restaurants in the area because the incomes are below average in the area and it's not a very diverse town (mostly black and white). My parents live in Onset and they enjoy it but the restaurants in the area are basic. Even the upscale restaurants on the Cape are basic by most standards. Most venues are quaint in Wareham and the surrounding area whether they are considered upscale or basic.

[brienzi]

I lived and worked on the cape for about 8 years..my last residence with the ex being Wareham.

It's a blue collar town that has so much..like great beaches, cheap real estate, it's BEFORE the bridge! (when compared to the cape) but it does have a darker side. My point is one would have to seek out that stuff to find it..the criminal element of Wareham, which is there and mostly with the younger year round teenagers..

I liked it there as it wasn't as snobby as the Cape proper..and never felt that it was unsafe to live there. And there are some
really great spot's in Wareham. It's the dowtown area that feels cheap and maybe seedy. But in summertime you don't see that vibe as much as u do in the winter..

As far as an eatery is concerned any form of upscale pub i think would thrive in Wareham..There are plenty of dives there already that serve the "lower class" group, but there are enough year round residents to support a more upscale pub with good food.

My 2 cents..

[thenewtexan]

Everyone equates Wareham only to what they see passing through on Route 6. Most Wareham residents don't live in that corridor. Last summer, while leaving the Cape, I took a ride off the beaten path actually explored the real Wareham. I went along Main St, saw downtown, and some really nice neighborhoods. It's actually a neat little town with a lot of character. I must admit I was a bit embarrassed because I probably "passed through" hundreds of times throughout my life thinking it was nothing more than what I see on Route 6.

[jetle25]

My next adventure to Wareham will include going down Main Street and checking out Ella's. Any other good restaurants in the area?

[HG123]

Wareham Crossing, which borders West Wareham about 10 minutes or so from East Wareham by car, is a nice plaza. The couple of restaurants and few places to get food there seem a little more upscale than average as do some of the small stores. There's no well-known unhealthy fast food chain in the immediate area. I'm not sure how popular authentic cuisine would be though since it does not seem to have the diversity of areas surrounding Boston. If your restaurant gets a good reputation you could potentially get business from the people who travel to the area for the shopping plaza or even people from nearby towns. I think people would prefer to pay a reasonable amount for a meal, so if you're looking to open an expensive fancy restaurant, it might not do as well as an affordable one.

[Beachcomber4]

Two popular restaurants are Lyndsay's and Mezza Luna (Mezza Luna is in Buzzards Bay at the rotary) I am not a Lyndsay's fan. I think it's gone down hill over the years but many still rave about it so it just may be my taste. Mezza Luna is a big Italian American place. Large portions of typical Italian American fare at moderate prices. They are always packed so they are doing something right. I like their minestrone. It was always a good place to take hungry teenagers. They do a prime rib special mid week that could feed Feed Flintstone. I am picky about red sauce and think theirs is well done. Some say their fried seafood is excellent. I have never tried it.

Bon appetit!