Liberty Bell — Restaurant in Melrose

UPDATE Manager called me when he saw this review was posted, meaning he did not lose my number just chose not to call. He said he felt there was "nothing more he could do", even though he did nothing in the first place, and that he had "limited time" to call customers back, while keeping me on the phone for 20 minutes. Ultimately no resolution to the issue, and only follow up when negative review was posted. I remain unhappy with the experience, and feel even worse about it now that he chose to ignore my issue until an online review was posted.

Shady pricing-watch your bill and check your order before leaving.

I never write reviews of restaurants, but I actually signed up to write a review of my experience at Liberty Bell. My family has been coming here for years. Although I know there was a recent ownership change, the overall experience has remained good-not as good, but good. The prices have gone up every visit for the last 4 trips we have made. Understandable I guess, but it is not what I would consider an affordable option anymore. Quality is still decent for this kind of restaurant. Anyway, my experience:

Called in an order of 2 large subs, looked up the menu and called the order in. They gave us the total price, which sounded correct based on website pricing. When we showed up to pick the items up, the digital menu over the register showed my wife's sub had gone up 50 cents from the online price-no big deal. When we got home and opened the subs, one was large and one was small. I called in to let them know, and they said no the order was charged correctly, if I ordered a large they were sorry but I was only charged for a small. When I questioned the overall total being too high, they said the price of both items had gone up, and the website might be wrong or old. I mentioned that the in store menu didnt show the price of my sub going up, and they said yes its now $8 for a small and $9.50 for a large. If I wanted a large I could come back and pay the difference. I said forget it.

I then opened my sub and found all the ingredients were missing. It was a chicken kabob sub with tomatoes, lettuce, hot peppers and bbq sauce. The sub had chicken, tomatoes, and a small amount of bbq. I called back, and they said ok the manager wasnt there but they would have him call me the next day if I leave my number. I left my number, but no call back. It has been 4 days. Unfortunate, as I said we used to be regulars, but I am not happy with my experience or lack of follow up. Mistakes happen and I assume they entered my order wrong, but the way it was handled...

I live in land-locked Pittsburgh. So I try to get a roast beef sammie and fried whole clams whenever I'm in Wakefield. Unfortunately, my regular place closed for vacation. So we went to Liberty Bell in Melrose. I'd heard good things, so I wasn't too worried about it. The roast beef sandwich was a solid meh... nothing specific wrong with it, just not as tasty as my regular place. The fried clams were SO disappointing... they could have been good, but they kind of steamed in their cardboard box at the bottom of the bag, with everything else we ordered piled on top. The box was smashed flat. If they had been packed in their own bag, I think they would have been much better. The coating was steamed and slipped right off... they were pretty much slimy clam bellies. The coating really only stuck to the 'strip' part. The fries would have been better if they hadn't been smashed & steamed. Now the onion rings, even though they were smashed & steamed tasted amazing! I imagine with out the steam & press, they might have been among the best onion rings I've ever had. We also got a large order of mozzarella sticks to share. It was huge! More than we could finish. They tasted fine. That giant box of cheese sticks, a huge cup of marinara and a bunch of sandwiches were piled on top of the clam plate... guaranteeing their doom. Would I go to Liberty Bell again? That's a big fat NOPE! If they don't know better than to smash a $30 fried seafood plate at the bottom of a heavy bag, my money is better spent elsewhere! And... looking at other pics on other reviews here, I see that my experience was not typical. But unfortunately my experience was the one I experienced.... and it could...

I've lived one town over since 1978 and am an explorer of the best places to frequent for great eats. Many who follow my postings know that I'm originally from Hong Kong, know my seafood and certainly know deliciousness. This place hands down is the best for the Fisherman's Plate, for price, taste, freshness, portions and customer service. The place is a gem in the rough. Imagine a place locally well known for its amazing roast beef that has the best seafood in the state of Massachusetts and in my estimation in the USA. We have traveled North, south, east and some of the west coast and have yet to find better. The North and South Shore/Cape is known for seafood yet trust me, this is the place. Just try it and then counter post me if you disagree. I suspect another fan will be born... Enjoy my people...