I don't know that I'd call this "fine dining", as it's described on their website. It just doesn't…read morehave that feel, due to factors like flimsy paper napkins instead of cloth, glass-covered tables instead of tablecloths, etc. But first impressions from my limited experience (lunch consisting of a fried fish sandwich, a drink, and a "Citrus Tarte" for dessert) are it's a decent full-service sit-down restaurant, and locally owned (not a chain). Because this was lunch I didn't try any of their numerous seafood entrees.
The fish was haddock. A single, thick piece of a generous size that fit the bun well. The fish was very fresh, flaked nicely, and the batter was crunchy, just the right thickness, and adhered to the fish without coming off. The brioche bun, butter-brushed and shiny on top, was fresh and slightly sweet. It's served open-faced with the lettuce (good greens, not iceberg) and tomato (a thick slab, pretty good for a restaurant tomato) on one side and the fish on the other. So the greens stay crisp and you can season to your liking and then assemble it. It was served with generously-sized lemon wedges and tartar sauce on the side, and the waitress brought a bottle of Tabasco on my request.
This comes with choice of one side. I chose french fries. I feel that it should come with two sides. A small portion of cole slaw would have been nice but I wasn't going to order a large portion a la carte. But the fries were excellent: standard cut, with skins, double fried but not greasy, and generously salted. Perhaps a little more fries than I needed. Half fries and half slaw would be better.
It was the middle of the day so I didn't try any of their interesting sounding specialty cocktails, many of which included maple syrup this being Vermont. And the sangrias sounded interesting (2 kinds; the red included amaretto and the white, peach schnapps and Sprite, both made with fresh fruit). Instead, I got a Citizen's Cider, refreshing and bubbly, filling the pilsner glass to the brim, and just slightly sweet. Perfect.
My waitress, and service overall, was good. There was a bit of a delay after ordering my drink, and I was very thirsty, but she eventually returned, with apologies for the delay, and also brought water at that time without asking. No other issues with service. She even noticed a mistake on the bill and corrected it before I even noticed: charged me for the wrong dessert, saving me a whole dollar!
For dessert I got the "Citrus Tarte". From the description it sounded like a Key Lime Pie so I asked and she said that's basically what it is. I imagine the only difference is they use a generic lime juice or other citrus rather than key lime. It was ok but not spectacular. The filling wasn't really tangy enough and lacked that special key lime flavor. The crust, loosely pressed graham cracker, was very good, with more than the usual amount of salt. However, it was served with an excessive amount of whipped topping out of a spray can, and it was definitely not real cream. Moreover it was starting to melt so it was not attractive. I didn't use it. Either use real whipped cream - even if it's from a spray can - or leave it off completely please.
The dessert was HUGE though. I wasn't planning to eat the whole thing but in the end I did.
The place was clean but a bit run down. The floor was covered by outdated wall-to-wall carpeting and was stained (but not dirty). Wood paneling was chipped and in need of refinishing. Curtains on the windows have seen better days. Overall though, it's an attractive, comfortable place to eat. The bar was especially attractive with its dark wood and mirrors, and quirks like an antique grandfather clock (not woking) gave it a a homey feel. Bonus: I saw no television anywhere!
Restroom was also clean.
I don't know that I'd get an expensive seafood dinner here. But maybe I would. They do have quite a large selection, not all standards. I'm a bit bothered by their vagueness about sourcing, saying only "We strive to ... support local farms and other local vendors as much as possible." Without listing the names of those farms and vendors as is customary. And "as much as possible" really means nothing at all as far as I'm concerned.
Ok, so first impression, based on a limited lunch experience, is 4 stars. This could go down or stay the same on a return visit and I'll update if that happens. It was good enough that I'd certainly consider a return visit someday.