By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Hudson – As the co-owner of Checkerboards Restaurant & Bar for 23 years, Chris Tsiros knows how competitive the restaurant business can be. But while many other establishments have come and gone over the years, Checkerboards has not only succeeded but has actually thrived, enough so that the business has gone through two expansions, including a major one last year.
This success is due to three things, Tsiros believes: great food, great service and an immaculately clean facility.
“We are a casual, family-friendly, full service restaurant,” Tsiros said, who owns the restaurant with his sister-in-law, Jill Smith and father-in-law, Joe Martocci. “We don's have any gimmicks. Just delicious, healthy, homemade food.”
Checkerboards has a large dining room that features spacious booths, warm gold walls, and painted artwork and murals. Another room has more of a pub-type atmosphere, with bar seating and high top tables. It also has large flat screen TVs and Keno.
Checkerboards specializes, Tsiros said, in fresh seafood, homemade Italian dishes, steaks, salads, homemade soups, chowders, pizzas and much more.
The kitchen's staff starts the day off at 6 a.m., preparing everything from scratch, he said. Fresh seafood is delivered six days a week.
There are dozens of items on the menu from pizza, sandwiches and burgers to homemade soups and salads. Dinner entrees include a variety of pasta, such as penne a la vodka, lasagna, and tortellini with meat sauce, meatloaf and steak tips.
Seafood selections include baked haddock and scallops, blackened swordfish, crab cakes, sesame salmon, and fried seafood plates. The lobster seafood special is recommended, with scallops, shrimp and lobster served over linguine in a light cream sauce.
Entrees come with a large salad and a basket of warm bread.
The restaurant also offers vegan, low carb and gluten-free options.
Checkerboards is located at 10 Technology Drive in Hudson, in the shopping center at the intersection of Route 85 and the connector to I-290. It was important, Tsiros said, that the restaurant stay in the same location when expanding.
“It's a great location and very busy,” he said. “But there's plenty of parking here. You will never have a problem finding a spot.”
And with a seating capacity of 200, patrons almost never need to wait for a table, he said.
“You can come in and let your needs dictate how long you want to be here,” he said. “If you are in a hurry, just let the wait staff know. Or you can linger as long as you want. We will never make you feel rushed.”
For special occasions, such as a family reunion or baby shower, Checkerboards also has a room that can accommodate up to 100 people. They offer takeout and catering services as well.
Tsiros is quick to praise his staff, many of whom have been with him for at least 10 years and several who have been there since the restaurant's early days.
“We have such a great crew – I couldn's do it without them,” he said.
Checkerboards is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, call 978-562-4400 or visit the website, www.checkerboardsrestaurant.com. Be sure to also visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Checkerboards-Pizza-Restaurant-Bar, where they feature lots of fun facts about food and photos of the friendly staff as well as their featured entrees.
