I was very impressed with the new Brew Moon on Route 1 (northbound lane) in Saugus. I've visited a fair number of microbrew places here and a few outside Massachusetts, and this was by far the best pub food of all of them. The fried flounder was delicious, an enormous portion, very fresh and lightly battered with an interesting dipping sauce. The half chicken was a winner and quite popular as 4 people out of six at my table ordered it. The ribs are out of this world (as Bill Marlowe says" the meat falls off the bone"). Ribs are soaked overnight which makes them incredibly tender. I think the key is vinegar in the marinade ???? Anyway, these ribs are outstanding. Garlic whipped potatoes is a nice touch. How about the beer? Quite good, with a selection of five beers made on premise. I would have liked a red ale, but they are not currently making one. The India pale ale was very good and the others were acceptable. Place was packed with yuppies in both the bar lounge side and the more formal dining room. This is the 2nd in what is going to be a chain of Brew Moons. Some in the restaurant industry say the landscape will be littered with failed brew pubs a few years from now. Judging by the excellent food at Brew Moon, this outlet will not be one of them. John Gallagher
Boston, MA