We had dinner at C&M last night and it was terrible. The service was slow and indifferent, the appetizer I ordered was inedible and the only thing that saved the entree is that the salmon was decent. There's next to no ambiance and the lighting is too bright -- at least adding some candles and turning down the bright overhead lighting would soften the ugliness at bit. I remember, a long time ago, another restaurant in what I guess was the same location called "Carpenter Street" (not big on naming originality in Norwich, apparently) and it was quite nice. What is in the location currently is quite the opposite. I can't imagine ever returning which is too bad because the area could use a nice restaurant. read more

What a delightful evening we had at Carpenter and Main. Great flavors, wonderful ambience, and good service. We'll be going back soon. read more

Carpenter & Main - Creamy, savory sweet and just scrumptious! - French Near Me - Norwich, Vermont

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I cannot say enough about our experience at Carpenter and Main. The food was fantastic, the service was fantastic, the atmosphere is great - relaxing, attentive service but not overly so. The 4 of us enjoyed each others company without feeling rushed or interrupted. It was the feeling of being in someone's home. FOOD We all ordered apps, mains and dessert. We don't typically order dessert but when we saw it was homemade ice cream we had to try it. It did not disappoint. We all ordered different everything from each other - Bruschetta, Split pea soup (amazing), Artichokes for Apps. Scallops, risotto, duck, glass noodles with edamame and other veg for mains. The food was amazing. And I mean amazing. Nate our server is a class act and made our overall experience one we want to repeat. WINE ETC The wine list was really good but I have to give props to Johnny the bartender. A talented bartender for sure and one of the reasons we'll be back. ATMOSPHERE There are multiple rooms plus a bar area. The rooms are quieter but we wanted something less quiet so we asked to be moved to the bar area. We also wanted to be able to hear each other talk which was not an issue. We could enjoy the music which wasn't too loud and hear each other comfortably. I wish we had this restaurant in our neighborhood. read more

We live about a half hour away and we were tired of eating in the same old restaurants. We discovered Carpenter and Main and we're happy we did! The appetizers (small crepes with shrimp, asparagus and a delicious sauce), cocktails (creative and delicious), entrees (salmon for one of us and pork for the other) and dessert (a bread pudding with bananas soaked in rum) were all outstanding. The service was excellent and the team seemed to work well together. They could not be friendlier or more helpful. We will return; we can't recommend Carpenter & Main more highly. Hail to the Chef! read more

Wonderful place to eat. Amazing chef prepared food, wonderful cocktails, and great services. A quant restaurant in an old Norwich Vermont house. read more

Truly an AWFUL experience. We have been here for dinner many times however this will be our last. The service was horrible. The food was brutally slow to arrive. We ended up having a 3.5 hour meal because we had to wait for our food. The menu had changed since our last visit and that should have been our first warning of danger. In addition, the prices were higher, the portions smaller and the food tasted terrible. After such a horrific experience, you'd think the staff would offer a dessert on the house. Nope. Think again. I will never return after this experience. read more

The corn tart appetizer was the best thing I had at a restaurant all summer and the service, wonderful. The two of us sat in the cutest cozy nook. Exquisite cocktails and lots of vegetarian and vegan options. 10/10 would go back. read more

Bruce MacLeod runs perhaps the best Fine Dining restaurant in the Upp Valley. His preparations are fresh, inventive, and classic. The dining rooms bring an air of Victorian dining rooms and are comfortable and relaxing. We come there from the Seacoast all the time. Worth the trip! read more

This little gem of a restaurant exceeded our expectations. We called ahead for our date Nate reservations and had the most romantic nook as our table. I had a ribeye and she had a special Asian dish with tofu and rice noodles. We loved both of our meals, the antique feel and our romantic night for two. I would highly recommend. The cocktails were top notch, get the living's easy! read more

Used to be the best place in the area. Went for a date night there and couldn't finish anything we got served. My date broke up with me later citing this bad dining experience. To be specific, the service is still pretty good. But the food... it used to be a very nice selection of treats, small platters to try various delicacies you wouldn't find in any other place around, larger platters to enjoy full sized meal. It used to be recipes from offfe rent cuisines. Now it's just poorly executed Asian fusion. There might be guests who would enjoy that, not me though. read more

It's a strange story about how I found this place. The short version is, I met the bartender at another restaurant randomly, and he started telling me about these new spirits they were carrying at the bar. That was all I needed to hear. The spirits... were amazing. But, the real find here, was the restaurant, the food, the people, and the overall experience. I was on my way to Manchester from Randolph, long story. This place was on the way, though, and I'd promised the guy that I'd stop on by to try the maple bourbon on the way down. Thinking I'd just pop on by the bar for a drink or two, maybe a snack, I was intrigued immediately by the daily specials, especially after they were ordered by patrons at the bar. So, a drink or so in, and I'm thinking, "You have to have dinner sometime." Seated, I proceeded to peruse the menu. It wasn't overly huge, but it was extremely difficult to make a decision, as nearly every option looked enticing. From new offerings to classics redesigned, I was scratching my head fervently. I ended up on the charcuterie plate, which was heavenly. The Tennessee Brown Jam was the clear star of this dish, but everything from the homemade pate and terrine to the in-house pickled onions, mustard and figs was perfect together. Dinner was the special, Steak au Poivre, but made with hanger steak instead. A bit surprising, but one bite, and you knew why. The steak was so full of flavor, so meaty, but yielding, and exceptionally well-cooked. The sauce was velvet, pure and simple. Creamy, but not heavy; spicy, but not overbearing. Just, perfect. I couldn't help it at this point, and I plunged head-first into dessert. Chocolate trio... oh, heavens. I still get misty-eyed when I think on it. I think my favorite was the white chocolate and toasted almond brittle. Every element was beyond reproach. The salted caramel chocolate was equally amazing, and the mousse-like offering was melt-in-your-soul delicious... Words fail. The service was amiable and inviting, the décor was cozy and warming, and the food and beverage were beyond description. I sincerely hope to find myself in that neck of the woods again in the future. Thank you, kind bartender, for beckoning me to your wondrous establishment! read more

Inedible food. I hate people who yelp negative reviews but I feel like it's my civic duty to let people know that this place should not be allowed to serve food. It was repulsive. We didn't eat any of it and they charged us for everything. We went to the the carnival and got hot dogs afterwards. Please get a new chef! Staff was very friendly but clueless. read more

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It's been a number of years since we visited Carpenter & Main, and I'm saddened to report that the quality has gone downhill since. In my last review and my memory, I raved about the deliciousness of the food, but alas no more... We were up in the area for a weekend and decided to stop by. This was maybe 7:30PM on a Sat and the dining room was half empty. For a holiday weekend, this was probably the first sign. The cocktail list actually looked interesting. My drink was fruity and tasty, albeit not very potent. For starters, we had FIDDLEHEAD SOUP and CHARRED KALE SALAD. The soup was rather bland and the salad was quite small and nothing special. For entrees, I had the DUCK CONFIT and my husband the TROUT. I'm not sure why I keep ordering duck confit when majority of them end up disappointing. The skin was nice and crispy, however the meat was rather dry. The dish being paired with potato salad, and a green salad with an overwhelmingly lemon-y dressing also didn't quite do it for me. My husband's trout was cooked fine, however again the wild rice and bare green beans were just so basic and unexciting... So overall, the quality of the food here has declined over the years, and I don't think it's because our taste buds got fancier over time. I seem to remember it being more expensive back in the day as well, perhaps the drop in price is also a reflection of these changes. read more

DO NOT GO HERE!!! NOT EVEN IF YOU HAVE MONEY TO WASTE!!! From appetizer to entree this was by far the most tasteless overpriced excuse for a meal!! Had we followed the other reviews that said this food was inedible, we would have saved our money! We literally paid $60 for a meal we could not finish. We started with appetizers and no one, absolutely no one at the table enjoyed the food! No one at the table finished their food! I wanted to throw up after tasting the lamb ribs plat du jour special they had!! This was not just a disappointing experience, it was SAD!! Summary! Tasteless Poorly cooked Poorly presented Overpriced It should honestly be a crime to serve this food to human-being You are better off dressing up and going to MacDonalds than eating at this place!! read more

Incredible service and chef!! My sister had her rehearsal dinner here and the food was out of this world. The cocktails were also delicious. Highly recommend!! read more

My husband and I used to patron this establishment every Saturday evening for three years straight. However, the restaurant recently changed its menu, reduced its portion sizes and increased its prices. The food options are now too funky to say the least. I'm not sure who the restaurant is trying to target, but it definitely doesn't fit into the area we live. In fact, I'm surprised the restaurant has remained in business. Not a fan anymore. Go straight to tHe Norwich Inn right across the street. Better options and good value. read more

This is really a terrific restaurant, one of my Upper Valley favs. We often sit at the bar. I have to say that while many dishes I've eaten have been very good, this is one of the few places I'll eat a hamburger and love every bite. Homemade English muffin buns; juicy, locally raised meat; homemade condiments. Great (!) fries. Combine that with a glass of wine or a draft Long Trail and it's bliss. Not to mention the chicken leg, various house-made charcuterie choices, and lots of other delights. Never had a bad bite here. House-made rolls are excellent. Service is really good, never obtrusive. It gets full, so make a reservation if you're planning on sitting in the dining room or take your chances at the bar/bistro. But in either case, you won't be disappointed. Did I mention the great (!) fries? Oh, I did--just don't miss them. read more

What a lovely room to sit to have a college graduation dinner, in a historic building. Great choices on special dinner menu. Staff friendly and efficient. read more

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The chef himself called me back to set up our reservation. I mentioned it was our wedding anniversary. We had never been to Carpenter and Main and we walked in to a lively bar area, full to brimming on a Saturday night at 7. The hostess brought us to an adorable alcove, just big enough to squeeze two lovebirds and a table. It was private, cozy and very romantic. Our waiter arrived promptly with two glasses of champagne on the house wishing us a happy anniversary. Our waiter was very knowledgeable. He discussed the menu and specials with us, and knew so much about the wine list. He brought a little asparagus and hazelnut amuse bouche. Just right. My husband started with a quinoa beet salad which was fresh and sweet and the perfect foil to my rich, garlicky, creamy escargot. The escargot is served in a flaky croissant and is so over the top in terms of richness! I absolutely loved it. My husband had the rabbit cooked 3 ways for dinner. It was pretty and lighter than he expected rabbit to be. It was a bit dry, but maybe that's how rabbit should be? The sauce was delicious. I had a pan-seared rib eye. It came with a nice big blob of local bleu cheese butter. It was cooked to absolute perfection. It was accompanied by sautéed broccoli and a little cake of crispy matchstick Yukon gold potatoes with a filling of sweet potatoes. The entire dish was perfection! Our waiter recommended an Oregon Pinot Noir which could not have been more perfect for our dinner choices. We finished it all up with a trio of homemade sorbets for him. The honey mint sorbet was out of this world but they were all fresh and delicious. I had the 3 cheese plate. I had my choice from five local cheeses. They were fantastic, the thinly sliced apples were crisp and perfect, and the three different bread choices were crispy and still warm. We had a wonderful dinner at Carpenter and Main. We felt pampered and fussed over in a way that was not intrusive. Pricey but an elegant choice for a special occasion. read more

Is it possible to give 0 (yes zero) stars. Quite possibly the worst restaurant I think I have ever been to in the USA, the theme of "upmarket, classy French" is like the equivalent of eating pancakes with soap powder. We arrived at 6.30pm for 7pm table of two reservation so decided to have a cocktail at the bar. Within 10 minutes there was probably 10/12 walk-ins and the (so called) Maitre D couldn't cope. We were asked 3 times by separate people if we wanted to eat at the bar, surely if we wanted to do that why make reservations.....? Hand formed chicken pot pie, an underdone pastry lid splattered into a bowl of what was reminiscent of cat food.... Not even sure if it tasted of chicken?????? And the price well.......... $$$$$$$$ not worth it!!! Steak & frites adequate... After speaking to Vermonters this place used to be amazing and we may have caught it on a bad night, me I'm not sure too many staff ill experienced and not pleasant. After reading other Yelp reviews I wonder if they are friends and relatives because anywhere else after that night this place would close within a week. read more

DISAPPOINTING FOOD, disappointing service. I went to carpenter and main last night. After having a bad experience a few months ago, I decided to try it again. It was disappointing at best. The avocado fries were soggy. The gnocchi was ok, the flatbred, absolutely horrendous. It was a round piece of bread, medium cooked with one asparagus chopped and thrown on it, some mushrooms and mozzarella. No sauce, no garnish, NO FLAVOR. My 5yr old niece could've been more creative with it. Server mixed up our drinks. We were served wine that had turned. Just so disappointing for the price we paid. They do have good ambience, some good drinks and desserts were good, but I'm definitely NOT going there again! read more

Before getting too negative, I do want to mention that the service here is really good. But I also like eating good food when I go out and this place is just... okay. And when you consider the prices of their entrees, it becomes... not okay. We've gone a couple times with friends and the bill generally comes out to about $30 to $40 per person. Last time, I got the least expensive item on their entree menu - other than the burger - which was a chicken stew dish with a couple biscuits on top that they marketed as "chicken pot pie". The portion size was small, and it tasted little better than something from a can of Campbell's. For the same price, I could have gotten a guaranteed tasty dish from Stella's or Norwich Inn. Disappointed. read more

We booked for graduation dinner. We did not realize that almost everyone leaves in the afternoon. Our table of six was seated in a small room with a large party. They were naturally loud. It would have been awkward to move. The mistake was to put us in the same room. Afterward, the manager said we should have asked to move. That is our responsibility? Why were we seated there. The restaurant was otherwise vacant. Many regrets. read more

4.5 stars Maybe it's the lack of options or maybe it's just simply amazing. This is my absolute favorite fine-dining restaurant in Hanover / Norwich! I LOVE CARPENTER & MAIN and was here at least 2 times a month in my last year of school in Hanover. Favorite dishes include the bouillabaise and many a fish dish here. I've also tried their steaks (which one time was a wrong decision as I was not particularly hungry... so felt overly stuffed after - my fault though. The food was just so good I couldn't stop ;p) They also have a cafe / bar area but I've only always dined in the formal dining room. Desserts are pretty amazing here too. Love it, love it, love it. read more

Really great service and cocktails! They have a way of making even simple foods delicious

We went here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner, and it was absolutely worth it. They placed us in a nice nook table that was both beautiful and romantic. Our waitress was also incredibly fun and engaging, and helped us make all the right choices. We started off with a cocktail and a few appetizers, all of which were good. Then, we did the cheese plate, which is not to be missed. Afterwards, we moved on to wine and our main course. She accidentally brought out a version of the chicken with nuts in it (an allergen we had warned her about) but she quickly corrected her mistake and brought out a new plate within 5 minutes. Anyway, I got the steak tartare, she got the chicken; both were fabulous. For dessert, they brought out our order with a candle in it, which was nice. The bill came out to about $100, and we left feeling very satisfied. Overall, it's a place I would highly recommend checking out; we'll definitely be returning here in the near future. Happy eating! read more

From Lyme to Enfield and Strafford to Windsor, you will not find a better place to eat. The attention of the service, the atmosphere and the food both expertly crafted and served perfectly, you will not find a better place in the Upper Valley to dine. Every course was delicious and the price was hardly matching the quality of the food, I expected my bill to be much higher. Compared to other eateries in the area, there is not one reason why I shouldn't be eating here exclusively. Bravo to the staff!. Just an addition: I was however scolded for calling the "Bistro" a "Pub" by the greeter, which I felt was a little up tight. Cheers! read more

I had heard so much about this local place that I was looking forward to finally going here for the first time. The setting is idyllic, beautiful small town Vermont and the atmosphere is actually quite charming. Unfortunately though the service was terrible (ignored by the waiter for ordering, bringing us our food, and even checking if we need more water), the food was pretty tasteless and unimaginative, and certainly was not worth $22 for a piece of overcooked fish and even more for a tasteless small piece of duck confit with a couple of chunks of boiled potato on a few leaves of lettuce. Overall, can't recommend. read more

There's nothing like strolling into the quaint wooden interior of Carpenter & Main's bistro on a weekend night, knowing that ahead of you is a casual, relaxing dinner with great food and terrific service. I highly recommend eating in the bistro rather than the formal dining room; you can still order off of the dining room menu if you'd like, but the atmosphere's much better and there's rarely a wait. If you're craving a good burger, this is the place to go. It's served on an English muffin with a side salad and a generous cone of fries. They also bring a trio of dipping sauces (in addition to regular ketchup): tomato chutney, bearnaise sauce, and some kind of special mustard. The bearnaise sauce is highly addictive and goes great with the fries. read more

I can't say for a gastro-pub its top notch. I was actually expecting the food to come out close to say maybe what you'd get in Quebec at perhaps a place like La Buche but this wasn't the case. So a few accolades are: -Really nice atmosphere, very New England feel -Gnocchi smothered in brie was actually quite good and recommended by nearly the entire town. Definitely would recommend myself. -Service was pretty attentive overall (at least for me) and accommodating -Fairly creative menu, definitely inspired BUT.... ...the ultimate point of critique: Its all rather bland. Local, yes. Fresh, yes. Inspired, yes. But flavorful? No. Totally agree too on the duck confit and potato business. These two items of interest pertaining to this dish were particularity bland and the potatoes actually came off unfavorable due to poor choice of seasoning. Even Moroccan lamb meatballs, roasted oysters, and an eastern inspired lentil soup all were misses despite the ample opportunity and potential these dishes had in concept. Escargot was also shamefully plunged into this category. Actually had better at a Greek restaurant of all places in Montreal. But alas alot of this has to do with the very fact that one is not in New France at all but rather New England despite the obvious French connotations to the name 'Vermont'. There are some diamonds in the rough on this menu and I wish I had more time to explore but for now I am left with a somewhat mediocre gastronomic experience overall that was garnished by the unique charm and atmosphere of the venue and town itself. Which is actually what partly saves this review from being a two. That and the brie smothered gnocchi. read more

My friends who live in the area and I went there to celebrate a birthday. Our wait staff was super attentive bringing the birthday girl's dessert with a candle though none of us had said a word. I agree the gnocchi was the best I ever had next to my mom's. My reasoning for a 2 star review is with its handicap accessibility. We had a person in our party that has difficulty due to a medical condition so we carried her in and out of the restaurant as staff at the bar watched us. We also assisted another gentleman into the restaurant due to challenges with the building. We do not drink so I have no idea how the alcoholic beverages are and am on the fence if I would return. If we are mistaken about the handicap accessibility, I am more than willing to change my review. read more

Main gripe was the service. Were there recently (August 14 I believe) celebrating my father in law's 86th birthday. We were in the front formal room and there were eight of us. While the food and wine (and beer) were good, the waiter was surly, overbearing, unhelpful and generally ruined the evening. One example was when one of our party asked about olive starters and was informed he could go to the bar and pick them up himself. No doubt she collected the 20 percent tip from my father in law who was treating and we did not create a fuss for obvious reasons. We have experienced service problems with large groups there before but when there were two of us in the bar area everything was fine as regards food and service. Would never book for more than two there again. read more

My five star rating would be compared to a four-star in Boston or a three at some of New York's and L.A.'s finest. But this is a beautiful little village in Vermont and the five stars are relative to many of the top-rated restaurants that I have visited in northern New England... not bad indeed. If you glance at the ratings, you'll see quite an inconsistency... from one star (and the reviewer stated that "zero" would be more appropriate) to five. I have been to this restaurant five times, and my lowest rating would be a three for one of the times. If you agree that service plays a significant role in the experience, I recommend that you make an effort to have "Kayt" serve you. She's very friendly, engaging and knowledgeable about the nuances of the various wines, as well as the imaginative cocktails-of-the-day. She is just as fluent and enthusiastic about the food preparation and ingredients. She has mastered the knack of making you feel like you're the first person she's talking to about it. She recommended the pinot grigio for our dinner selections, and she was right. My friend and I both chose the trout prix-fix dinner ($31) recently and it was the basis of my rating. We started with perfectly baked oysters. The breading (topping) was flavorful with just enough garlic to make itself known, and a very nice delicate crust and soft interior. I could have been happy with just that, but then underneath was a plump (which you don't get very often nowadays) succulent oyster with its own sea salt seasoning. Delicious. The trout was baked with a light breading that did not upstage the sweetness and delicacy of the fish. String beans that looked and tasted like they were picked when we walked in the door were still "snappable" but not raw. To my taste, they were free of any flavoring but their own... just great. A rice pilaf was the starch... again perfectly cooked so that the grains separated from each other, but fully cooked and nuttily flavored. We had the "sticky bun" dessert... like a bread pudding with caramel sauce and ice cream (I forgot the flavor) topping. Delicious, but I would have been just as happy without the ice cream. If you want a quiet, "white tablecloth" experience, I recommend that you sit in the dining room to the left of the entrance as you walk in. Avoid the two-seat table tucked into an alcove unless you are of very small stature, or are taking children who would enjoy their own table. read more

Poor quality food. Way overpriced for what was ordered. I came here with 4 other people and we all ordered different apps and meals. Shared each other's food and it was all terrible. The servers were nice, however, but I wish that I would have chosen another restaurant and saved the money. read more

Quaint atmosphere -- very New England. Nice service. Food was disappointing. For a place that sells itself as progressive, there are woefully few vegetarian entree options. I got a veggie burger that had no flavor or salt. For dessert, we had cookies, which tasted fresh, but other than that, forgettable. read more

File under neighborhood gem. A great place to have dinner while visiting friends or family at Dartmouth. The wine list is not big, but it has excellent selections of both old and new world wines and the price points are very reasonable. They also have a nice selection of cocktails. I was able to enjoy an incredible piece of pork and they were equally good to my vegetarian guest. Super well run. read more

Totally inattentive waitress, Bridget, brought me the wrong meal, then she took so long to get our desert order I gave up paid and left. When I tried to express my dissatisfaction they said they would find a manager which they never did. Then they said they would contact me to discuss it they didn't bother. My miso soup was v good. I shared my wife's main course as they brought me the wrong one. It was so so. It was a pretty poor excuse for fine dining. read more

This is my absolute favorite place in the Upper Valley. I have a love affair with the Maple roasted chicken with carrots and turnips and hand cut fries. Seriously, I'm salviating. Service is always top notch. I have only sat in the bistro area and it's awesome. Atmosophere is perfect. A must visit. read more

Eaten here 4 times now, we have enjoyed every meal. Cocktails are tasty and the wine list is good. Stick to small plates for a really delicious meal. Avocado fries, lamb meatballs, golden beets are my favorites. I have had really good large plates but they can be hit or (an expensive) miss. Service is good. read more

I'll start by saying that the staff @ Carpenter and Main are wonderful. The bartender Jason was very polite and accomodating. I wish I could be as complimentary of the food. As it was bland and over cooked. The drinks were marginal at best. A trip in for 2 of us which consisted of two burgers and 4 drinks (not from there cocktail selection) and resulted in an $80.00 bill (not including tip) . ... read more