Wife and I are escaping to western MA for a birthday getaway over Veteran’s Day weekend. I live in the greater Boston area but have never spent any time in Western MA.
Any recommendations for restaurants (dinner mainly) out near Lenox?
Saw Boulud at the Blantyre which looked great incl the Dom salon is closed thru 2024 which seems odd. Anyway appreciate reccos.
James has a pretty baller list.
There are 3 great restaurants. The two mentioned above plus Wheatleigh. They should have cleaned up Wheatleign since we were there about 30 years ago and my six year old son ordered the fois gras torchon appetizer. When he finished, he called over the waiter and said, “this was good, can I have seconds.” The waiter peed in his pants laughing, hence the need for a cleanup.
An exceptional Champagne Wine Dinner featuring…
Ployez-Jacquemart at Wheatleigh
Friday, November 11 · 6pm
Ring in this holiday season with a very special
Champagne Wine Dinner featuring Ployez-Jacquemart at the incomparable, Wheatleigh in Lenox.
Please join us for this incredibly special evening to meet the winemaker, Madame Laurence Ployez, owner of Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart.
To discover the house of Ployez-Jacquemart is to share a passion for wines with a demanding clientele and to appreciate the French way of life.
Join us for a four-course dinner crafted by Chef Jeffrey Thompson perfectly paired to these wonderful Champagnes.
Menu
Selection of Canapés
Extra Quality Brut NV
Cured Black Cod
Compressed Cucumber, Radish, Citrus
Extra Brut Rosé NV
Seared Diver Scallops
Cauliflower Puree, Delicata Squash, Brussels
Extra Brut Passion NV
Ballotine of Rabbit
Root Vegetables, Chanterelles, Swiss Chard
Meunier Cuvée Parcelle AB390 Extra Brut 2016
Honey Poached Pear Financier
Quince Compote, Lemon Sorbet
Cuvée Granite Extra Brut NV
$185 per person, plus tax and gratuity
For reservations, please call Wheatleigh at 413-637-0610.
(Reservation required, seating limited)
Wheatleigh
Wheatleigh combines exceptional personal service and extraordinary cuisine with the elegance and comfort of the 21st century.
413-637-0610
Thanks Gil! Looks interesting, do you mind forwarding the email, I’ll hit your DMs.
Email forwarded.
Not Lenox but nearby and I think worth the drive - highly recommend the following - you will want a res for all:
John Andrews Farmhouse - Farm to table, around for decades, always great.
Prairie Whale - hipster New York chef escaped to Great Barrington, good vibe.
Cantina 229 - Owners live in the farmhouse next door. Always mixing up the menu, cool weird wines.
In a major city any would be Michelin worthy. Of the three Cantina is my favorite,
Ben
If you’ll allow me to wake up this old thread.
We’re spending a week at Tanglewood this July, and looking mainly for restaurant reccos. We will have our dog with us, so are renting an Airbnb in Stockbridge, and have some concert and theater tix - probably enough. Museums and other daytime activity suggestions would be welcome.
But on Stockbridge/Lenox restaurants, it seems Wheateigh has closed. Blantyre gets some iffy reviews but maybe still well worthwhile. The Old Inn on the Green does seem to be recommended. Any updated suggestions both fancy and more casual would be welcome.
Not sure about driving down to Great Barrington - John Andrews Farmhouse has closed, Prairie Whale seems to get mixed reviews now. Cantina 229 still there. But we would certainly make the trip on a free evening if there are new, exciting places to try.
Thanks!
It has been a while, but we like the Old Inn very much. Love staying and eating at Blantyre. We look forward to returning soon.
Alas it seems Blantyre has never reopened since it closed in 2021, and the property has been sold twice.
The Old Inn on the Green is like 20 miles in the other direction from the Shed, so not to be combined with a concert, but a possibility for an open night.
Any other ideas from folks or is this just posted in the wrong forum?
In Lenox, Pizzeria Boema is very good and they have a surprisingly good amaro selection. We enjoy sitting at the bar. Firefly is good for a burger and live music, but can get very loud. We have not yet tried Bea’s House and dulu, which are both new.
In Lee, we recently dined at the Station Gastropub and we enjoyed it. In Pittsfield, I like Sibaritas.
For food for your Airbnb, go to Guido’s (two locations, one near Pittsfield and one in Great Barrington). This is also where you will get your picnic things for lawn seats for Tanglewood. For wine, go to Spirited (and please tell Jim, the owner, hello). In Great Barrington, the cheese shop in the old bank building is great and has good wines, too.
John Andrews is long gone, replaced by Hilltown Pizza which is excellent and quite the scene, so you will need a reservation. Worth the drive.
If you’re into art, there is a lot to do: The Clark and Mass Moca are definitely worth a drive north, Art Omi is definitely worth a drive west (and it’s outdoors, so maybe you could even bring your dog; I’m not sure). If you drive north up Route 7, stop at the A Frame Bakery for some good pies and snacks.
You could also go hiking with your dog, as we do, but be careful - a couple of weeks ago, we came home with three ticks.
Enjoy the Berkshires.
Thanks. I’ll give some of these a whirl.
Dog is 12+ now and not up to a lot of hiking anymore I’m afraid.
Cantina 229 in New Marlborough is under new ownership, but I had a good experience not too long ago. Worth a drive.
Still vouch for Prairie Whale in Great Barrington, I’ve always had a good experience there but I suppose service can vary.
Roberto’s Pizza in Sheffield is a new add, low key vibe but best pizza in the state.
Reporting back from a week in Stockbridge. We grilled at our rental 3 nights and Guidos in GB was a very good suggestion for a ‘gourmet’ type market. In New Orleans we have specialty shops for the component parts that are as good or better, but nothing as good under one roof.
From the suggestion list we had dinner at The Station (very good actually), and Sibaritas (solid). Sibaritas advertised as ‘Italian fusion’, I didn’t find anything fusion about it but it was pretty good, straight up italian. The Old Inn on the Green was straightforward but good. Expensive for the food but you are paying for that candlelight atmosphere, so fine. The wine list (you have to ask) had some good things and was reasonable in my view. We got in a little late the first night and grabbed dinner at Once Upon a Table a few blocks from our stay. Nothing special but fine. Would go back if I didn’t want to cook.
Had a great afternoon at Art Omi, great suggestion. We spent 3+ hrs and still missed several things. Would have been too hot and too much walking for the old dog, who stayed home.
I had not been to the Koussavitzky Shed in 30+ years and had forgotten how incredibly uncomfortable those wooden seats are. Or maybe my 37-38 year old self had a different opinion. At any rate we abandoned them for the 2nd night and splurged for 2 in the boxes at $175 each. Considered it my donation to the bso. Glider lawn chairs, much more tolerable.