Echo Bridge Restaurant

We visited this spot with my in-​laws recently and everyone was happy with their orders– soup, burger, pizza, chicken. We’ll be back in a few weeks!
Also, this is clearly a spot for locals over all else (but they are great to everyone). It has a bar side that was full of regulars on a Wednesday night. Everyone was very friendly.
Also, there is a small parking lot on the right. It may be easy to miss if it’s dark out.

You can’t beat this classic Newton upperFalls Italian restaurant.
Reasonable prices great food. Laid back atmosphere.
I’ve been goin there for many many years and will continue to do so.

A very retro early 1970s atmosphere. I love it. They have great Grilled Chicken Caesar Salads and I think their pizza is about the best you will ever find.
Note to owners” Please DON’T EVER change the interior… keep it 1970s forever

Old Skool place with home cooked feel and great prices but the décor could definitely use an update

In our opinion, there is no better way to celebrate and experience a culture than to dive mouth first into the traditional cuisine that ultimately shapes these well-​known family traditions that all of us are so familiar with. Given that ideology, «The Guy’s», (Ellio, Celeste & Tombstone) decided to head out on this brisk Saint Patrick’s Day to do just that. On their endless quest for cultural enrichment and self-​improvement they followed their noses, which led them to straight to Virilio’s Echo Bridge Restaurant located in Newton, Massachusetts.
This arduous journey in search of ethical enlightenment brought them to the door of a cozy family oriented place that offered exactly what these cultured guys were yearning for, which you all know, resulted in the consumption of a good olé fashioned Irish fare… eh hem…3 large Pizza’s! With all ignorant joking aside, you should note that the crew did decide to order a bacon pizza, which was in fact the traditional protein consumed by the Irish during the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration of earlier times. Yes it is true; boiled bacon was, in fact the protein of choice for the Irish when establishing this age-​old tradition during the Middle-​Ages. Although, the ye-​olé Irish folk of yesteryear decided to boil their bacon, we made an executive decision to bypass that aspect of their tradition and add a little crispiness to the porker on our pie.
So here’s the deal. After indulging in the following: (cheese, the special, & a half bacon/​garlic sausage) we decided that there is good stuff going on here but the consensus agreed that it’s best to keep it simple. Why? After our first cheese pizza, which we thought had good overall flavor and cooking consistency, we thought it was only right to see where the pizza would go if the kitchen sink was added to their overly doughy, yet very tasty and well-​cooked crust. Unlike the cheese, which was well balanced and topped with flavorful cheese and complimentary sauce, The Special just failed. All the toppings, (i.e. green peppers, onion, flavorless hamburger and packaged pepperoni) seemed to lose its luster amongst the mix, making this pizza taste watered down and bland. With that in mind, the Guys decided to order up one more pie in order to give a fair and well-​balanced assessment of their pizza. That is when we decided to go with the third and final pizza of the evening, which was topped with bacon, fresh garlic and bland sausage. This pizza was surprising delicious and although, all of the pizzas could have been stretch out a bit more to even out the crust, this pie was harmonious. The garlic did not overpower the flavor and the other toppings seemed to add to the enjoyment of the overall experience. Add higher quality toppings and this pizza could have earned another slice on our scale.
The gracious and welcoming wait staff was pleasant enough to include the Holy Trinity without inquiring, which added to the flavor of these pies, so with all said-​and-​done, Virgilio’s Echo Bridge Restaurant was a satisfactory experience. All in all, this was not the best pizza the world but it wasn’t the worst. We discussed and concluded that they earned 4.5 Slices on our Slice-​O-​Meter, deeming Virgilio’s, mezza mezza.

Went there with friends, had pizza, veal parm, chicken parm and some other apps. It was ok. I would only go back if I had to, but I would rather go else where if possible.

Came here this past friday, i should have known by the empty dining room on a friday night at 6pm that this place was a big pass! The bar was packed with regulars but the resturaunt was a ghost town. We got chicken parm and steak tips. the sauce for the chicken parm was so acidic it was uneatable, the tips had zero flavor. The mash potatoes had no flavor as well, even the gravy tasted like the metal can it came from. The staff seemed unorganized, (2 waitresses were serving tables at random). And you gotta love the bar tender coming in and out of the bathroom every 10 – 15 mins… go somewhere else, this place isnt even as cheap as some people claim it is… Oh and theyre cash only… guess that goes with thier 1970s theme too :-/

We went to Echo Bridge Restaurant because of the reviews, but the food was defrosted supermarket food. The food was over cooked. The price is reasonable.

This place is really good! My wife and I ordered quahogs and buffalo wings, steak tips and stuffed shells. They where all great! The simple rolls that come with the meal where so good. Trust me I’m a chef. This is a must stop in place not fancy and they make you feel right at home. Thank you

«The more things change, the more they stay the same.» No change here at Echo Bridge, and I love it. Just stepping in the door you are instantly transported back in time to Newton in the 70’s.
Staff is friendly and hardworking. The food is solid and respectable, nothing fancy but good and a good value. The meatballs are some of the best I’ve had and the pizza is terrific. Salads are fresh. My son loved the homemade lasagna which looked fantastic. Wine selection could be better without making any real effort, though you should be drinking beer when you come here.
You can hear the echoes of a simpler time at Echo Bridge.

This review is based on a single take-​out experience…
Felt like stepping back into the 1970s as I walked into Echo Bridge restaurant, and I mean that in a good way! Outside was cold and wet. Inside was warm and lively, with wood paneling (from the 1970s) and many of the older locals sitting in the booths also looking like they hadn’t updated their look since then. Maybe I was just feeling nostalgic, but felt a little like stepping into a time capsule. Another night it would definitely be fun to put on some polyester and come back and have some drinks at the bar.
Staff was welcoming, and pizza ready right when they said it would be when I called the order in ahead.
Pizza was pretty good. I thought the crust was very good, not paper thin, but definitely not thick, and perfectly cooked with just a hint of char.
I thought the sauce was a little odd, just a bit too sweet for my taste. But not bad.
The cheese also wasn’t anything standout. But overall a good pizza experience. Pies were one size only, maybe 16 inches. Would come back, but not my favorite pizza in the area.

It’s so nice to have a cool restaurant/​bar right in my neighborhood of Newton Upper Falls. I usually dive straight into the lasagne which is great. I’m a little picky about my Italian food, yet have no complaints whatsoever about this meal. The wait staff is always on it and the bartender is nice and attentive. The staff here always have a smile on their face and that goes a long way with me and my Southern upbringing.
The bar can get packed a few nights a week, but everyone there is nice and chatty. A great change from many places in Boston Metro (most of which I will not return to). The fried raviolis are superb as well.
We’ll return soon!

My girlfriend and I decided to try this place after seeing it pop up for an option in Newton several times. The dining room reminds me of my parent’s kitchen which hasn’t changed since the late 70’s. (Not a bad thing!)
We sat ourselves and the very friendly waitress came over very quickly. Throughout our meal, she kept checking on us, but not too much. The chicken parm was very good and the pasta was cooked just right. It didn’t taste like it had been sitting in a pot all day.
Great place for a casual, friendly meal with a nice atmosphere.

Always a great meal! I’ve also had planned gatherings in the back room and service and food are always a big hit! Thanks Paul!!!

Came here a couple of days ago. Friendly traditional pub-​type establishment with seating ranged around the well stocked bar. There is a large restaurant out the back which was empty on a Friday afternoon. I didn’t eat but I will come back as the menu looks good and the other reviews in the food are complimentary. I had a very generous glass of red in the company of other good natured and friendly punters. Staff very efficient and helpful. Great atmosphere and fun place to be.

Awesome Pizza! Cash Only

I came here for lunch. Their parmesan items were recommended, and I can see why. The eggplant Parmesan was out of this world. The chicken parm was also quite nice. The sizes are very large, so splitting with a friend is reasonable.
Sitting at the bar has a real homey feel. The chairs face each other and conversations fly. The dining room is also nice, if you want a more traditional restaurant setting.

A place I frequent at different times. Lunch, dinner or drinks.
There are alway friendly people at the bar. The drinks are big and priced ½ of some of the other establishments close by. When bringing my family in for dinner we always get the Pizza it is hands down the best around!

An occasional stopoff on the way back from the Airport as my «driver» is a regular here. Always a fun time, very welcoming locals (even the miserable old ones… they know who they are!!) and bar staff. Everything a local bar should be. Good food too with typically generous American portions when I’ve eaten here.
If you’re nearby and feeling thirsty or hungry, it’s a solid choice.

Everyone who watches TV knows Cheers is the place where everyone knows your name. Here in Boston we also know that is a bunch of BS since it is a tourist trap.
The Echo Bridge Restaurant is the real Cheers. A friendly super efficient bartender who seems to know everyone who walks through the door by name and what they want to drink, a dated (in a very cool way) old style wood paneled bar area, and a killer menu; all for an incredibly low price make this place the best deal in the area.
Service: This was probably the best part of the experience. Great bartender who makes a terrific martini, pours a generous glass of wine and serves everything with a smile.
Food: Old fashion no nonsense absolutely delicious fare is served here. Beware in your ordering. A small antipasto is enough to feed two easily. A side of eggplant Parmesan is killer but again it was enough to feed ½ of the people in Newton. The toasted raviolis were simple but once again excellent.
The Bar Scene: Best described as a cast of characters from really well dressed folks to folks just getting of work from construction sites. An eclectic group with some interesting and diverse opinions all being loudly and entertainingly discussed.
Finally after 2 beers, two martinis, a glass of wine, an appetizer and two huge meals (granted they were the sides) the bill was $ 45.00.