Since 2020, Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. has been happily supporting local food spots by spotlighting a new one each month. A local business, specializing in estate planning and elder law, they're sending us out to great local places like River Junction in Marion, which creates a small-town vibe and great bar pizza well worth heading over for.
Sometimes, you want to go to a neighborhood joint and not even think about what you’re going to order. Especially on a cold windy night when you’re really ready for the warm weather to arrive.
On those kinds of nights, the River Junction in Marion is where you want to head. Word was that the honey and pepperoni pizza was delicious and the beer came in frosted glasses. So that’s what we ordered.
The Bees’ Knees pizza arrived and was everything it was billed to be. “Hot honey” drizzled on top of a pizza really changes everything. It adds a little sweetness but the heat keeps it from being too much. It's got that thin, crunchy crust of bar pizza, but it tastes different from other bar pizzas -- in a delicious way.
The next time I went in, I was all set to order the same thing. But I asked Manager Taryn Gomes what her favorite pizza was: “I’ve been having the special da Vinci pizza all the time lately. The meatballs are amazing.”
She told me that one of the owners, John Mello, makes the meatballs himself (“is he the chef here?” No, Taryn said, he’s a chiropractor. But he has a great meatball recipe.)
So I ordered the da Vinci and it was true. It was delicious. Homemade meatballs were thinly sliced and placed atop that thin crunchy crust…so good. But truth be told, the Bees’ Knees is still my favorite.
River Junction feels like a place that’s been around forever although it’s been updated since its time as the beloved Gilda’s Stone Rooster with raised ceilings and an airy, spacious feel to it. Busy and popular, it's got a small town, friendly feel to it and sits picturesquely at the junction of the Sippican and Weweantic Rivers. The beer tap is cleverly designed to look like the Railroad Bridge on the Canal.
There’s a juke box and pool table and, it’s worth mentioning again, the beer comes in frosted glasses!
River Junction, 27 Wareham Road, Marion.
Photography by Liam Connor Photography.
***
Last post in the series:
Just when you thought the holidays were over, the holiday spirit is alive and kicking in New Bedford at Destination Soups who makes it easy for those who need a little extra help to find some nurturing soup. Learn more right here.
I’ve heard about their pizza ! Gotta go!