Upon entering Stockbridge, Massachusetts, I am immediately struck with the eerie feeling that it isn't a town at all, but a row of cutouts, like a set from an old Hollywood movie. In this case, the movie is not a western, but "It's a Wonderful Life." Not being a huge fan of the picture postcard, Norman Rockwell inspired, Old New England aesthetic, I am often tempted to give one of the buildings a good hard shove and watch the whole WASPy facade come crumbling down. But this Christmas, I discovered a treasure in Stockbridge. Nestled among the overpriced "Ye Olde Tchotchky Shoppes" and ridiculously overpriced "art" galleries, there is a restaurant called Once Upon a Table. The owners and wait staff are genuine, friendly and down to earth. The atmosphere is cosy and casual. Most importantly, it serves delicious, seasonal comfort food at affordable prices (I had hot mulled apple cider, clam chowder and a wonderful salad). You will love this restaurant, whether you feel at home in Stockbridge or not. read more

So found on yelp. Got to restaurant last night 3/26 at 7:50 pm. Hostess I asked table for 2. She said closing in 5 min. First of all on yelp it says closing at 8:30, secondly even if 8 o'clock you still are open for 5 more min. She was rude and arrogant. Go somewhere else folks where they appreciate your business. BTW check your website it also says you close at 830. read more

Last minute walk down the alley but have been wanting to try this place for a couple years. So glad we did!...What a gem! Owner was so welcoming and fun. Escargot with puff pastry was delicious....clam chowder and chicken andouille soup very tasty. Neither heavy but full of flavor. Turkey sandwich was also top notch! read more

This was a great stop after staying at the Red Lion Inn. Fast friendly service, with delicious food. I had the chicken sandwich with caramelized onions, Gorgonzola cheese on herb bread. My wife had the crab cakes and clam chowder. Would absolutely stop here again if we are passing through. read more

Once Upon a Table - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

See all

My husband and I dined here last night and were more than satisfied. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. The atmosphere is probably the least lackluster feature of the restaurant. While it is located down a cute alley way the restaurant itself is very plain. With simple tables and chairs and minimal decorating. They do have a few tables outdoors but are not allowed to serve and alcoholic beverages there. Also, we were warned away on account of the bugs. The menu on the other hand is very creative and I had a hard time choosing what to order. I started with the pot pie of escargot. While it was packed with escargot the flavors weren't quick right for my taste. My husband had the steamed mussels and really enjoyed them. I tasted the broth and thought is was very good. Nice and garlicky. For our entrees my husband had one of the specials of the evening - a salad nicoise. He was happy with it. The highlight for me was the duck breast with a blackberry sauce. It was simply outstanding! We ended the evening with one of our favorite desserts, profiteroles. They were nice with a choice of ice cream flavors, vanilla, chocolate or coffee. I think that the value of the meal was spot on. Not over-priced or under-priced. read more

It's a stones throw from the Red Lion Inn. We arrived without a reservation after seeing a play at the BTF. We couldn't sit inside but there were tables outside in the courtyard which suited us fine. You just can't drink outside so if that matters to you, get a reservation. The food was great. There are warm rolls to start. Gazpacho was tasty and full of fresh diced veggies. Trout cooked perfectly. Shrimp fra diavolo highly recommended. The only thing I would change is the lack of a host. There's a sign outside the door asking you to wait to be seated, but I eventually went in to get someone's attention. Otherwise I may have waited quite a while. Be assertive and you won't be disappointed! read more

A cute little spot just past the big famous "tourist" hotel. Food was good and service very pleasant. We had a chance to sit outside on a glorious Saturday afternoon only to find out they don'y have a license to serve wine outside - get one! Add a few tables, clean up the outside to make it clean and neat and do some business - we would come back! read more

Very much enjoyed our meal at Once Upon A Table. The combination of a sassy waitress, a great meal, and a beautiful summer day made for a near perfect lunch. The menu has a nice selection of unique and local items. We ordered the salmon burger, the chicken sandwich, and the vegan black bean burger. All were served on different breads with unique toppings that completed the flavor profiles quite well (the salmon with guac and tomato, the chicken with lettuce and tomato, the black bean burger with vegan pepper jack and lettuce tomato). The only thing wrong with our meal were the sides. Almost all of the dishes are served with a side out couscous, which was very fluffy and well prepared....that is, except the vegan burger, which was served with a non-vegan potato salad. Not to be rude, but that made zero sense. Even if someone isn't vegan and decides to order the dish, it's always better to play it safe rather than get a very unhappy customer. Mistakes happen, so i hope this is an easy fix or was a simple error that only happened to me. Otherwise, highly suggest this small restaurant! read more

Street parking (easy during my early season visit). The restaurant is tucked behind the country store down a pedestrian alley. Initially I sat outside but after slapping away a few mosquitos I retreated inside. No alcohol can be served outside if that's a deal-breaker for you. (Some desperate women asked if they might buy it inside and then carry it out to the tables. Um.) The tables inside were disconcertingly covered with pergo style wood. So very odd: easy to clean I guess; hope it wasn't recycled from an actual floor (didn't look like that). There were only 32 seats in the restaurant so it is quite small, but not crammed. Escargot pot pie was a little disappointing--the esacargot were just the right size, but the garlic broth was a little thin. That said, I did try, unsuccessfully, to sop it up with the puff pastry crust which was also on the slight side. Ah but the ravioli. Perfect. Vegetarian, tangy, buttery, yum. I will come back for this dish alone. read more

Wonderful spot with great service and inventive dishes.. Had the escargot pot pie and loved it. My entree was well prepared and an unusual take on an American standard. (Oven fried chicken ). Finish it off with gelato filled profiterol. Add attentive service. How can you go wrong? read more

We visited Stockbridge for the first time only living 40 mintes from the place. It's a quaint little town with a few stores and restaurants all centering around The Red Lion Inn. So we stayed there for a night but decided to eat elsewhere. After reading some TA reviewsI decided on Once upon a Table. I wanted something small, less crowded to enjoy a 20th anniversary dinner with my wife. We could not have been happier with our decision. The servive was attentive but not pushy. My rack of lamb was one of the best I've EVER had. (My wife says not to say it was THE best because you never know what's around the corner.) It was cooked perfectly medium with a glaze that added, didn't overwhelm. The broccoli was steamed precisely and the smushed potatoes ;) were.. smushed smoothly. (I liked lumpy potatoes when i was a kid). For desert i had the creme brulee and it to was just to my liking. My wife had the pecam encrusted trout which she said 'could use more flavor' but her profiterol was delicious. I could not recommend Once Upon a Table with more confidence. Go and enjoy but make reservations! read more

Casual lunch with sandwiches and salads. I had the chicken salad-pecan-croissant & HH had the salmon burger with guacamole. Tasty. Had the strawberry shortcake for dessert- johnny cake on the bottom. Yummy. Pleasant surroundings & good service. Not to be confused with the Red Lion Inn courtyard restaurant next door. read more

Once Upon a Table - Outside the restaurant. - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Seriously good! Some one really knows what they are doing in the kitchen. The chicken salad on a croissant and green salad were excellent. The Cuban sandwich may differ from those in the keys but was great as was the potato salad. Good service! read more

Once Upon a Table - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

The only thing that stops me from giving 5 stars is that the inside of this small restaurant was ridiculously hot. Besides that everything else was great. The escargot pot pie and mussels appetizers were very good. Of the entrees the lamb chops were definitely the best, some of the tastiest lamb I've ever had. The steak au poivre and duck entrees were both delicious, too. Wonderful service, too, definitely plan on going again. read more

Great spot for lunch. It will be busy when you get there and for good reason. My chicken salad croissant was tasty and my husband's oven fried chicken sandwich was delicious. This place is tucked away in an alley, so it may take you but to locate, but worth a try. read more

Had a fantastic meal here last night! This was so much better than the insanely overpriced, slow, and dilapidated Red Lion - the food was skillfully done, original, fresh, and delicious. Everything had energy and flavor. Raves for everything we ordered. Staff was EXCELLENT! The difficulty in scoring a reservation here is well earned, as it was the best meal we had during our stay. Highly recommended. read more

The location was definitely a cozy spot (of Woody Allen) into an exclusive little street (of a Woody Allen's movie) and the service was wonderful; very hospitable and welcoming hosts. However, the food was average. My husband ordered oven fried chicken which was just about 3" in size, and I had ordered seared duck. My dish was completely regretted. Despite the perfection of the seared techniques, the duck had a little meat and lacked taste. The side vegetables were just plan steamed and so were the mashed potatoes. Nevertheless, Regardless of the disappointment in the dishes, because I can not deny the fact that the location and everyone serving were truly enchanting, we walked out with a smile, hence the 3 stars instead of 2 (for food). read more

Once Upon a Table - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

See all

This little gem of a place in the heart of Stockbridge provides a pleasant atmosphere and a very good Sunday brunch experience. Our host was a pleasant man who was happy to serve us, while making things quick yet relaxed at the same time. My Eggs Benedict was excellent (great fruit selection along with it, too), and my girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros. Everything just seemed so "fresh" and there was plenty of flavor to enjoy. The atmosphere might fare better in the warmer months, as it seemed a bit chilly inside on a 40-something degree day in November, but it is still quaint and cozy. A woman came in announcing quite loudly that she had "a bad stomach" from the night before, and she asked our host if he had any white rice. This was rather tactless on her part and rather comical on our part, yet our host was calm and pleasantly responded to her request (no, they do not have white rice FYI). Overall, we were quite impressed with our dining experience, and the price is not too bad at all. I am sure we would return here when we are in Stockbridge again. read more

Absolutely outstanding food and really wonderful staff. One of My party had the quiche daily special and it was to "die for". We all tasted it and decided it was the best one we've ever tasted. I had the turkey on sour dough toast. Very fresh and filling. I opted for the Cesar salad which was wonderful. The other person had the Salad Nicoise with salmon. All the freshest ingredients and very tasty. Coffee and tea were also good. Great value for the amount of food and price. Highly recommend. Right next door to the Red Lion Inn ( which had over an hour wait--glad we opted out of that!). read more

The butternut squash soup of the day was flavorful albeit a little thin, salmon burger was good, but slightly bland, if it didn't come with avocado spread, I think it would have been unimpressive entirely. The chicken salad was wonderful, mildly sweet and crunchy with grapes, nuts and celery, without being overly sugary or mayo heavy. Outdoor seating is nice, but limited. Service was very friendly and attentive. Probably slightly better food and drinks than next door Lion's Den. read more

Had a wonderful chow-dah here for lunch. It even had some bacon. The soup was creamy but not lumpy. It was just what I needed. Yum!

Very good food, solid service though not extraordinary by any means. DO NOT consider this restayrant as an option if you have a group larger than 4... even then you may need to wait.. read more

Their brunch is a great value and an amazing offering of fresh and delicious staples. read more

Once Upon a Table - Gingerbread waffles with just the right crispy exterior - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

See all

Food and service were both excellent. We stopped in for a late lunch, just half an hour before closing. We were afraid that our options would be limited, but the server assured us the full menu was available. We enjoyed the soups - butternut squash and clam chowder. I then had the escargot pot pie, and my husband had the Chatham chicken salad sandwich. Everything was delicious. read more

Once Upon a Table - Escargot "pot pie" and Chatham chicken - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

If, for some reason, you are trying to find the rudest people in Stockbridge MA - then go to Once Upon A Table restaurant - they are rude - and not just one random waiter but everyone we came in contact with; hostess (a huffy, abrupt man who told us we didn't need reservations which we found out we did) - waitress ( an even more ABRUBT yelling woman who said we needed reservations)- just poor attitude, disrespectful, dismissive attitude - also, although it's open at 4:30PM for dinner, don't bet on it - the stuff "did not arrive yet" - read more

Excellent venue... we sat in the garden (it was a warm day) and enjoyed the eclectic menu and great ambiance for lunch... The inside is quaint and perfectly acceptable for us, but it is a little small... this allows for very attentive service. Our waiter was definitely part of our enjoyable experience; very capable & knowledgeable. He offered up a few great menu selections.... definitely get the Clam Chowder... it was the best. Our entrees... equally special... we didn't partake of dessert, instead we partook of the next door chocolate & gelato store. Overall... a great meal in a nice setting. read more

Wonderful experience at this quaint 11-table restaurant in a house with lots of character. We were a group of four women about 30 years old in town for a ladies weekend. Staff was extremely friendly though not as attentive to detail (e.g. Forgot to bring wine, we had to remind, and poured water over the table so dripped on plates). The food was delicious especially the gnocchi on special the flourless chocolate cake. We would definitely go back, such a western MA feel! read more

Once Upon a Table - Menu as of 4/15/16 - American Near Me - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

We met family members for lunch. The food was fabulous and service exceptional. We had made reservations and our table was ready upon arrival. We explained that we hadn't seen each other for 15 months. The owner was very understanding. It was a great reunion over a wonderful meal. It's a small cafe so be sure to make reservations. Well worth it! read more

This address is definitely a must The service was great and the menu had a large choice of fish and meat The trout was generous, the half duck juicy and the shrimp with pasta were delicious This is really the best restaurant in town for this ratio quality / price Let's carry on the good cooking ! read more

My wife and I took a trip up to visit the town and discovered this restaurant tucked away in a ally way. I ordered the Boston Clam Chowder and the salmon burger both were delicious! read more

Wonderful menu well prepared at reasonable prices. Friendly. Passion for food shines through. Be aware that this restaurant does not front Main Street, as you expect from the address. Its about 75 feet down a wide, well lit alley. Great alternative to the overpriced, stuffy, and unimaginative Red Lion. read more

Our family visited Stockbridge recently. On a Friday night, without reservations, the staff managed to find us a table. Our servers were pleasant, warm and attentive. The food was fabulous. This was a fabulous last meal before we traveled home. read more

Wife found this place while on a visit to the Berkshires and it was a wonderful meal. Quaint little restaurant right off the main street in Stockbridge, tucked away down a sidewalk. My wife and I sat at a small table for two and the server was excellent, very professional and kind. We started with a gnocchi appetizer, which we shared, that was fantastic and then split the ceaser salad which was solid. We then split the Oven roasted Half Duck (breast and leg) with Raspberry Demi-Glace and Mashed Potato. The mashed potato was okay, nothing special, may have preferred veggies instead... BUT the so-so mashed potato's were quickly forgotten once we tried the duck which is quite possible the best I have ever had. Cooked perfectly with outstanding flavor. Small, but complete wine list that included many nice options in the $30-$50 range. Just as an FYI, they only have beer and wine and there is no bar area. Highly recommend this place and look forward to going back next visit to the region. read more

Had the mussels appetizer and glass of sauvignon blanc. The mussels were perfect and the wine wasn't bad either! Small place, very nice staff. read more

Had higher expectations when we went for the first time. The prices were reasonable for food and wine. Service was attentive. Decor was appropriate for the area and clientele. Food was disappointing. Escargot pie was missing anything interesting to recommend it. Both my duck and my wife's pork tenderloin were over cooked, neither with a sauce that was subtle or distinctive. The blood orange sorbet was excellent. Wine list was interesting and while small was widely diversified for good matching options. read more

I wanted to love it, but I really can only give it 2 stars. When we arrived at 6, we were told that our reservation was for 45 min later. I know it's nit-picky, but I'm sure this wasn't correct because I had made the reservation for 6pm two months prior, and always make dinner reservations for both on the hour and on the early side. They did seat us anyways, but we had to stand there while the host cleaned and reset our table. So it started the meal on an awkward note, as it's a tiny restaurant and reservations are pretty much required. And when I say tiny, I mean that there is literally no place to stand near the door that doesn't put you to far into the personal space of other diners. It was too cold to wait outside, so that was awkward and unenjoyable as well. In terms of the service, the host/server (owner?) was a really nice lady, but clearly understaffed. There was one other server, and the two of them were running around behind the clock the whole time we were there. To be honest, I don't think another server could have even fit in the space, so I imagine it's like this much of the time since it has a reputation for being hard to get a table. Anyways, she was really nice, but overwhelmed. We were also freezing once seated by the back door, which there wasn't really a remedy for because it was a draft, not an issue with the thermostat. I had to wear my down vest to get through the meal comfortably. Food-wise, it was a letdown as well. We had the dumpling appetizer which had a nice flavor, but they were chewy. I also had the soup of the day, which was fine, but nothing special. I had the lamb medium rare, but it was closer to too rare in spots. I should have spoken up, but it was piping hot and I thought a few minutes of letting it sit would take care of it, having cooked lamb chops myself many times and having had that experience. No dice. Meanwhile, one of my friends had already sent her meal back because the sides were hot but the chicken was cold, and she had to sit there for a bit while myself and our other friend had our meals. I didn't want to go through a second round of that, so I ate around the undercooked parts. It wasn't well-seasoned, and the meat had too strong of a flavor, almost gamy. On the dessert side, the profiteroles were lovely. We ordered 2 instead of 4, and it was plenty for the 3 of us. The creme brûlée had a nice flavor, but was unevenly cooked and had some granulated sugar on top that wasn't caramelized, adding a grainy texture to the custard. Basically, between the service and the food, nothing was amazing, which we expected for a place with entrees in the $25-30 dollar range. Should we have spoken up more? Yes, 100%. However, there was something minor wrong with everything, so we would have been sending everything back. It was our friend's 50th birthday and we didn't want to upset her as well, as she is not someone who would feel comfortable getting up and leaving. Nothing was outright AWFUL, there was just something wrong with everything, so by the time all of the little things added up to a bad experience, it was just too late. BTW, this was also in the off season, so I can't imagine how they manage in the summer when it's really busy. Maybe it was just a bad night, but I wouldn't risk it for the prices. I'm sad to say I can't recommend Once Upon a Table. There are just too many other good places in the area. read more

This is absolutely one of the BEST restaurants we have been to ANYWHERE! (And we are seasoned travels...) The food is delectable, the service is wonderful and the setting is downright charming. This dining experience is a refreshing breath of fresh air. read more

Absolutely a great little spot.Sat outside today,the host and waitress was very kind and responsive to our needs.The food was great had crab cakes and shrimp diavolo.Fantastic and great portions.Desert was great too. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here last night. Weather was iffy so we opted to eat inside. Service was excellent. I had the roasted cod and my husband had the tenderloin. They were cooked to perfection. read more

Everything about our meal was perfect! We started with a heartwarming and deeply flavorful coconut carrot and curry bisque. The soup alone could have made for a perfect snow-day meal, but equally yummy and full of surprising flavors was the wild mushroom polenta. Every element had a distinct flavor, from the woodsy mushrooms, to the savory polenta which remained smooth and soft even as it cooled, to the delicately sweet and slightly crunchy sunchokes studded with melt-in-your-mouth cloves of roasted garlic. Dessert was another winner, with razor-thin slices of pear and raspberries baked together into a delectable crisp and topped with ginger ice cream. So often when I eat out I think to myself, "I could have made this and made it better in my own kitchen." Not here. This was a meal worth paying for. And speaking of paying, their prices are pretty reasonable and remind me of what a meal like this used to cost before the recent inflation spike. Add to all this an attentive, friendly, but not-in-your-face staff and a truly lovely owner, and we have a winner! Go for your next special dinner and you will not be disappointed! read more