Judie's

51 N. Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA
(413) 253-3491

www.judiesrestaurant.com

In difficult times, Judie's is still going strong. "We're a 32-year-old restaurant that's just doubled in size. We're reinventing ourselves," says Judie Teraspulsky (yes, the Judie), referring to her recently renovated restaurant, which features a much bigger bar area. "People love to drop in, go to the bar without waiting," she says. "We're trying to be more casual. We have 24 seats at the bar, so people can come by after a night at the movies. They come to Judie's for a drink and dessert." With money tight, Teraspulsky's strategy sounds smart: "We want people to spend less and come more often." A good bet for the cost-conscious: the signature fresh salad with almonds and poppyseed dressing. Oh, and Judie urges people to "check out the new bathrooms." Apparently they're something special.