The Boston Traveler

Canadian Rockies-themed Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse currently has a nice special in progress for diners with children. On Tuesday Family Nights through August 26, 2008, children 10 years old and under eat free after 4pm. The special, which includes an ice cream dessert but no beverage, only applies when orders are selected from the Children’s Menu. Just one child’s meal is free per accompanying adult meal purchase.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse is an award-winning, moderately priced U.S.-based restaurant chain with branches in ten states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. In Massachusetts, you can find Bugaboos in the twelve locations Braintree, Brockton, Burlington, Dedham, Framingham, Methuen, Milford, Peabody, Plymouth, Seekonk, Shrewsbury, and Watertown.

The last, Watertown, is a simple trip for most Boston residents and visitors because the city is located right outside Cambridge and bordered by Belmont, Brighton, and Newton. If you don’t drive, like me, the area is easily reached via the 70 and 70A MBTA bus lines that depart from Central Square in Cambridge and can be boarded at several connecting points.

Even better for shoppers, the Watertown Bugaboo is a quick walk down the block from the two retail outlets Arsenal Mall and Watertown Mall, which face each other across Arsenal Street. Sure, both malls are typically deserted enough to make one wonder how the stores manage to stay in business.

On the other hand, the relative solitude makes them great for people who prefer quiet shopping time rather than huge crowds. Watertown Mall is presently undergoing major construction and renovations, however, so it’s not as serene as usual.

I’ve eaten at the very atmospheric Watertown Bugaboo a dozen times or so, and I only had one bad experience, in November 2005, with painfully slow service, subpar food, and an entrée that looked nothing like the advertisement or menu description. Since all three things happened during a single visit, I promptly filed a complaint online.

Soon afterwards, a regional manager apologized and promised a replacement meal that never materialized. I stayed away from Bugaboo for about a year after that, which is easy since there’s a nearby Friendly’s, as well as a food court, Old Country Buffet, Papa Gino’s, and Ruby Tuesday inside the malls. Yet, when I eventually got over the branch’s poor performance and returned, everything seemed improved.

Visit Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse online for more details, locations, directions, and instructions on how to sign up for the Creek Club email list in order to receive a free dessert and other unnamed special offers.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse: 617 Arsenal Street, Watertown, 617-924-9000
Arsenal Mall: 485 Arsenal Street, Watertown, 617-923-4700
Watertown Mall: 550 Arsenal Street, Watertown, 617-926-4968

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