Pizza, calzones and a lively bar have long been the draw at The Brown Jug on Revere Beach Parkway. By the restaurant's own account, it has been a Chelsea institution for more than 50 years. The menu covers pizza, calzones, wings and salads, alongside more than 25 varieties of bottled and draft beer, martinis and other favorite drinks.

The Jug is best known for its thin-crust pizza and homemade calzones, and the attention has reached beyond Chelsea. Phantom Gourmet featured the restaurant, and Barstool's Dave Portnoy gave its pizza a 7.5 out of 10 in a One Bite review, as reported by Fun 107 in December 2023.

Behind the scenes are owners Mike and Cheryl Matrinko. The Chelsea Record profiled Mike in 2020, describing him as a proud 1971 Chelsea High School graduate. The paper also called Cheryl a longtime supporter of local events, including the Chamber of Commerce's Pot-O-Gold Dinner and the Taste of Chelsea fundraiser benefiting HarborCOV. The restaurant now operates from a plaza on the parkway.

Guests can settle into the dining room, the outdoor patio or the sports bar, which features weekly entertainment. The Jug also caters, hosts parties and delivers seven days a week. Orders can be placed online.

The Brown Jug is at 1014 Revere Beach Parkway, Chelsea, MA 02150. Call 617-884-9579.