My husband and I have been patrons of the Inn for many years. We enjoyed going there for the…read moreambiance as well as for a hearty, reasonably priced meal. In August of 2022, we even stayed at the Inn for a few nights and had a nice time. However...
We just got back from staying a few nights at the Inn and I wish I could rate our experience better. I know change is inevitable. I realize that restaurant staffing is also an issue for many restaurants. Costs have increased. That being said, here is our experience in the following categories:
Room: Be forewarned those who have not stayed in one of the older rooms which would be #9 and #10. As #10 was available, we decided to give it a try. (Previously, we stayed in the other section of the Inn and really had no complaints other than we asked that the AC be turned up a bit.)
First, there are very, very steep steps to get to the room. If you have any issues climbing, I would advise not to book these rooms. The nice front desk person asked if we need help with our bags which we did not. But you may. If your knees are not good, book another room. The room itself dates from the late 18th century and you get late 18th century. There are only three outlets in the room and they are only on one side of the room. If you wish to recharge your phones and/or have a medical device like a CPAP, bring power strips or book another room. There is no usable drawer space to place clothing and the closet only had a few hangers. The bathroom has no shelves to put any of your toiletries and only one hook to hang wet towels. Speaking of towels, they are the small version of a bath towel. No body wrapping is going to happen. The tile in the bathroom was missing a tile (note to Inn, I found it in one of the small drawers in the little jewelry chest on top of the bureau). And one of the lightbulbs was out in one of the wall sconces (or perhaps it just does not work?) The fire escape, for those who worry about those things, is trying to figure out how to open the window and fit your body through a very small space onto the roof below.
Is it worth $250 per night? If you only care about the ambience, than I guess that it would be a "yes". (We paid only $230 because the Inn does not serve any food, including b-fast, on Mondays and Tuesdays). For that amount of money, having missing tiles as well as lights that do not work is really not acceptable. Management: Put some more hangers in the closet and get some hooks and shelves in the bathroom! And a few larger towels would be nice. And I know you are selling the 18th century vibe, but it is 2026 - put in some more outlets!!
Was it totally a bust? No. The grounds are lovely. It was quiet. Well, relatively. Also note that these rooms are above main dining areas, so until the Inn closes you will have noise. Unfortunately, we had to listen to a party of what I would assume were folks staying a night, talk very loud until 9:00p.m. Luckily, they stopped at nine. The bed was comfortable and the two sitting chairs were also very comfortable.
Food: Alas, the food at the Inn was never four star but our meal was a disappointment. It seems that the menu has gotten smaller and the prices larger! And the quality of the food does not match the prices. My husband and I spent $63 and got a Coow Woow, Diet Coke, 2 cups of clam chowder (very small and salty), and the vegetarian egg roll and chicken satay appetizers. With a tip, we were pushing close to $100 for what was basically food that seem to have come out of a package and was reheated. The clam chowder, which was always rich and creamy is now a light salty mess and, as I said, for $8.95 a cup (I was expecting a bowl), it was more like a small tea cup from the 18th century. The bread basket, which was always promptly served before the meal, came with the meal, so we ended taking it back to our room. The server was very nice and attentive but, in general, it took a while for her to come take our order. Whereas before, the service was impeccable. The cheese and crackers that were always free now cost $4.95. If you are going to charge these prices, please do better.
It seems that the Inn has made a business decision to focus more on events (which probably bring in the bulk of the income?) as well as having new endeavors like the seasonal beer garden. (We arrived on Sunday and got the tail end of a good amateur high school group. In case you are wondering, the beers were $9). Thus, the rooms and the food are taking a back burner to the events. I get it - it is business not personal.
But for a few days away which cost us around $600-700, chump change for some but not for us, the value we received was not worth it. And we will probably not be back anytime soon.