Newtowne Grille — Restaurant in Billerica

I went for karaoke with friends from work. The place was full but not crowded. The service was quick, and reasonable priced. The sound system was very nice. Loud but not so bad you couldn't carry on a conversation. There was a man in the corner who stood silently holding a broom stick. This broom stick man didn't buy food or drinks. He didn't talk to anyone, he just stood with his broomstick waiting. When karaoke began he put his name on the list. He didn't rush to be first, he watched and he waited. When enough names where ahead of him, he chose his song, and again he waited. A few people drank and sang, but not broomstick man, he just stood silently waiting for his turn to take on a great hit from the 80s. His turn came, he stepped up to the screen. As he took the microphone,it was wireless,I realised why he had the broomstick, it was his microphone stand. He began singing toy soldiers by Martika, decent voice nothing fancy. He held that broomstick tight and belted out that second verse, his heart and soul was into it he was owning this song. Name third verse, and he's screaming hardcore style and going nuts about it. It was intense. I've gone back twice, and there he stand broomstick in hand and waits. It's beautiful, highly...

A very nice bar area with keno and great service; friendly staff. I always test American style restaurant's chicken ziti and broccoli as a test dish; Newtowne past the Litmus test! Great dish. I wish the owner wouldn't allow patrons to smoke 6" from the door. The cigarette smoke enters the restaurant. Also the kitchen leaves the back door open and flies enter and interrupt the experience. Maybe the smokers should hang out by the dumpster and kill two birds with one stone. With all that said, there is one bartender (Wednesdays) that obviously did not take serve safe classes. She leaves the fruit tray open where people are talking over the open fruit. Also she handles her cell phone and then touches your glass without washing hands. In case you don't know, there is more bacteria on a cell phone and computer keyboard than a toilet! After cleaning a drain strainer or something in the sink, she put her wet hand inside my to go container where I'm putting food in I'm going to eat. Definitely did not learn about food safety. Won't be back on Wednesdays. Don't let this part of my review turn you away. The food is good and there are elite bartenders on other days. I...

For over a decade, this was my favorite restaurant, the food was delicious, the service was good, and the amount of food you got for what you payed for was amazing. I still thought of this place as the best bang-for-your-buck place around, up until today. One of my favorite meals was their "Loaded Nachos" with chicken. It'd be my go-to meal whenever I was having a bad day. But today, I went to order, and the portion of chips I was given was literally half of what it used to be. I thought there was a mistake, so I asked the staff, and they just said "That's the way we do it now." I remember when I first went there many years ago, the same order was $7.99. Then, over the years, the same amount of food was raised to ~$14. Hey, prices go up, food's expensive, I get it. But now, paying the same amount for half of the chips that I got a few months ago? That's just a slap in the face. And the Buffalo Wings my friend ordered, according to him, didn't taste as good as they used too, tasted like cheap, frozen wings. I really hope the management comes to their senses soon, as this place is really something special, they just have to get their...