Ritcey East Brings ‘Adult Hawt Pockets’ and Burgers to Watertown

Watertown now has a new source for comfort food: Ritcey East opened at 208 Waverly Ave. on Thursday, September 7, filling the neighborhood with burgers, fish and chips, and more soul-warming dishes.

Owner Michaela Ritcey dreamed up the concept and took over the space from Raider Tavern. Ritcey comes from a restaurant family: Her parents owned Ritcey’s Sea Food Kitchen in Waltham (a fish market-turned restaurant) and briefly operated a second restaurant, Ritcey’s West, across from the operation, as previously reported. Now, Ritcey’s move to run a restaurant of her own pays homage to her parents’ businesses.

Ritcey East seats 55 people inside and has a full liquor license to go along with a hearty menu of comforting classics, with an emphasis on the “feel-good” and “homey.”

“Before Yelp, before you could travel everywhere, [restaurants] were neighborhood spots where you’d go and feel like family,” Ritcey previously told Eater. “I feel like my parents’ restaurant really did that, and that’s what I want to purvey in my restaurant. I want comfort food that I’m sourcing as locally as I can, that I’m not buying frozen, that I’m prepping in-house in a small space and trying to fill up people with the best food I can.”

Dishes range from a burger with “secret sauce” to what Ritcey calls “adult hawt pockets,” or ham and cheese empanadas. There are also cocktails, local craft beers on tap, and a varied selection of wine. Ritcey East is open for dinner from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Saturday.

Here’s a look at the full menu, now available:

• Ritcey East Is Coming Soon With ‘Adult Hot Pockets’ and Homey Vibes [EBOS]