QUINCY – The Chowder House has long been a West Quincy staple, known for its traditional white-tablecloth fare and New England charm.
And while the eatery was popular with customers, owner Greg McDonald felt the space and concept were outdated and in need of renovation. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he saw it as an opportunity to close and work on a new concept.
After an extensive renovation, the space recently reopened as Ballast Kitchen & Bar – a bright and airy gastropub with some historic touches and a varied menu.
“We tried to be considerate,” McDonald said. “It’s an upscale tavern, but nothing too formal.”
Gravel – the gravel used as a base for railroad tracks – is a nod to the restaurant’s location. The country’s first railroad ran through West Quincy, where McDonald’s family lived for many generations.
Ballast Kitchen & Bar is located in the Common Market restaurants on Willard Street, which have been owned by the McDonald’s family for decades. McDonald said he “grew up as a restaurant kid” and gradually took over the business from his parents. Now his son, Shane McDonald, helps run the restaurants along with Brian Curley.
Common Market offers three dining options: Ballast Kitchen & Bar, Cafe de Paris and Darcy’s Pub, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Across the street, the Common Market Food Court features five takeout restaurants: Fish ‘n Chicken, Pasta Caffe, The Healthy Kitchen & Yogurt Bar, Creation Pizza & Salads, and Common Market Food Court Catering.
In addition to the restaurant on the ground floor, Ballast has five event rooms on the upper floor.
The renovation was a complete makeover that also included replacing a wall with a bank of windows that brighten the space. McDonald said they chose to keep some of the Chowder House’s charm, including wood beams in the ceiling and a brick fireplace in the bar, which now has several beer taps. The outside of the restaurant was also spruced up with a new coat of paint and a mural that pays tribute to Quincy and its history as a granite mecca.
The menu includes some traditional dishes like the Chowder House Schrod, but also chili glazed salmon, steak fries, a tuna poke bowl and braised short ribs. McDonald said the burger is popular, as are the short rib tacos and chicken tacos.
In addition to the return of old regulars, McDonald said there has been an influx of customers from Milton and West Quincy, some of whom are new to the area as continued development attracts new people.
“It’s a nice place for couples or people looking for a more relaxed experience,” he said.
Ballast also offers a seasonal cocktail menu, a variety of wines and a mix of craft and domestic beers.
- Location: 97 Willard St., Quincy
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. lunch and 4:30 p.m. dinner, Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. brunch and 4:00 p.m. dinner.
- contact: 617-376-3094 or https://commonmarketrestaurants.com/
