Proudly privately owned and operated for over 30 years, The Halfway Café’s legacy started in September 1990 when co-founders John Grasso and David Steen, opened the first Halfway Cafe in Dedham, Massachusetts. A second restaurant followed in Watertown in 1995.

The original Halfway Cafe unit, was founded by Tom O’Riordan in 1964 in Dedham. Grasso and Steen renovated and relaunched the concept in 1990. Today, the mission statement remains the same: The Halfway Cafe is committed to offering quality food at reasonable prices and friendly, attentive service in a clean, comfortable family atmosphere, as well as supporting the communities of each restaurant location.

You hear the feedback from the neighbors and locals, but in 2013, the original Dedham spot was ranked the 13th overall most popular restaurant in Massachusetts by Zagat. The chicken wings, hand-cut fries, and Turkey Tips are routinely recognized as area favorites. In addition, The Halfway Café has gained recognition from several food journals in Boston for outstanding value and service.

Beyond burgers and beers, together, the Halfway Cafe team has created a culture of mutual respect and teamwork. It’s a culture that was a culmination of John and David’s mutual experiences with key influences taken from Grasso’s days at the Hampshire House in Boston.

“Once a staff member understands the culture, they either embrace it or they move on. Treat everyone, guests, coworkers exactly the way that you yourself want to be treated,” says Grasso.

While many small restaurants are shuttering, the Halfway Cafe has been applauded for being operated by a small but strategic management team that has a combined 52 years of food, beverage, and hospitality experience.

One of the keys to their success has been the loyal and reliable family of staffers. They are a team who are tight and talented, and who, by necessity, may have multiple responsibilities and thus feel more invested in the brand. The culture that Grasso has started shines through annually when he hosts an all-staff ‘Hall of Fame’ celebration and ceremony.

You can visit The Halfway Cafe at 174 Washington Street in Dedham and 394 Main St in Watertown or order online.