Had dinner there last night... turkey and chicken pot pie. Both were good, but not exceptional. From the moment we walked in, two young women at desk on first floor, never smiled or welcomed us, just directed us to upstairs dining room. Elderly white haired man on second floor ...same thing...no greeting, no smile, actually a scowl on his face. Waitress not welcoming...but adequate. Staff appears distant and uninterested...going thru motions. Seems like they want to be somewhere else. As i said, food was good, but nothing special and did not overcome apathy of staff. read more

My go to spot. You think golf course and you think uppity. Well, I do. Nope - not here. Local pub that is very casual. They have a full bar, great selection of beer, excellent food and my favorite- the nacho's! Beware they are not only delicious, they are huge orders. 1st time getting them, I was with my husband and another couple (2 large men). We ordered the large as an app. Not one of us was able to order dinner. Note: if you are handicapped and/or unable to walk up a hill, this is probably not the best place for you. Lots of parking...,at the bottom of the hill. I do not think vehicles are allowed up the hill. Not huge but worth commenting on. Outdoor seating on a deck, in the summer months. read more

Went there tonight after a long trip in traffic. Sarah was the best server! She was nice to chat with and made great suggestions! She didn't rush us and the food was fabulous! This will be a stop when we next come back this way! read more

We have visited there twice. First time we went in November, and everything was just perfect. Service was great, the drinks were really good, and the chicken pot pie was really good. At that time we decided to book the Christmas Eve dinner. For that visit, the service was poor, the food Was bland, even the atmosphere felt off. Otherwise The atmosphere of this place is quite amazing. Big fireplace to sit by. Cozy, tons of history, and creaky wood floors, which I love. Hoping for a better experience the next time we go. read more

We often will take the hour drive to go here. The food never disappoints and the bake shop makes awesome cakes. Today we went to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, we started out with the homemade potato chips with Parmesan and truffle salt served with a side of ranch. This was our first time ordering them and they were delicious. They also bring a basket of variety of rolls to your table, the type rolls are usually seasonal. Today we had regular dinner, corn bread, and glazed pecan rolls. My boyfriend had his usual turkey dinner which is served with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and normally comes with butternut squash, except he substitutes French fries as he does not like squash. I had the chicken pot pie which had a crispy round of flaky crust over a nice thick chicken gravy with chunks of white meat chicken, baby pearl onions, peas, celery, and corn. The waitress was very attentive, and friendly. If you bring your receipt to the bake shop they will give you 10% off your bake shop purchase. They sell a variety of sweets and you can also custom order cakes, I ordered a 2-layer chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and topped with chocolate ganache with chocolate flowers for $28! read more

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Accommodations are fresh & clean. Lovely surroundings in Sturbridge and delicious bakery items on site. Dining rooms offer delicious New England fare as well. read more

A restaurant is only as good as its wait staff. They are the first ones to set the impression of the rest of your experience. Myron was exceptional! He seemed to know exactly when he was needed without appearing like he was hovering or without being able to flag him down if needed. He was courteous, friendly and charming, (if anyone uses such a word anymore). It might have been nice to have had a golden mustard instead of just the yellow but that is very insignificant. My burger was suppose to be medium rare but had no pink what so ever. The food is always good here and the staff are some of the finest I've ever come across. read more

Every time we dine here, we love the historical ambience provided at the Publick House venues. According to the Historic Hotels of America website, the inn debuted during the 1770s, originally called "Crafts Tavern." But the Crafts also referred to the structure as the "Publick House" in recognition of the inn's mission to service the people of Sturbridge. Now known only as the "Publick House," the inn fortunately survived the depression. The inn hosted both the Marquis de Lafayette and his son, Georges Washington de Lafayette, when the two famously toured the nation during the 1820s. In the 1770s, the building's ground floor featured several public rooms and a large kitchen, with 13 guestrooms upstairs. There was a general store in what is now the Pumpkin Room; a men's smoking room (now the Card Room) for daily gatherings, news sharing, and gossip; and a Ladies Parlor connected right next door. The kitchen, which is now the Tap Room, held a huge fireplace for cooking large batches of food in what is now a hearth. And it was in the Tap Room where we were seated for lunch. The food at the Publick House ranges from very good to merely mediocre, and unfortunately, the latter best describes our lunch. We were promptly seated at 12:05 by a pleasant and attentive waitress. We selected the Chicken Pot Pie ($19) and the Turkey Dinner ($24). These hearty meals are typical of the comfort food offered at the inn. The food arrived quickly, with 10 minutes, and judging from the temperature of the food, a bit too quickly. The food was luke warm, not hot. My co-diner, who often orders the pot pie, commented that it typically arrives so hot, you need to wait a few minutes before eating. She also lamented that they changed the crust from a delicious puff pastry to a new flat, hard, round top. The pot pie used to look "home made", whereas it now appears like a factory production model, diced chicken, bland gravy, industrial round pastry top. Oh well, we're not likely to order that again. Meanwhile, my turkey dinner was fairly good, though too cool. Temperature can have a big impact on this dish, as the stuffing is much better hot than cool. The menu is more limited that it used to be, due to the impact of the pandemic. We all hope to see restauranteurs succeed during these challenging times. That said, the food still needs to be tasty. On the way out, we stopped the awesome bakery, and selected a delicious slice of carrot cake to go. I was looking forward to their eclairs, but alas they were not ready yet. Note that this place is very popular, has many events and that reservations are typically needed. We will return, and hopefully to a more robust menu and better execution! read more

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Something bad happened in the kitchen at this place My family has gone there for years but we will not be back anytime soon. We went July 21st for an early dinner. I tried the chicken pot pie. It was very salty and not very flavorful. I can buy better pot pies in Randall's freezer. My Moms dog would not eat the pot pie leftovers we brought her. My sister had the Cesar salad with chicken. She was sick all night from the chicken. I did walk around to the back to get some sweets in the bakery. The landscaping was awesome and the sweets divine. Skip the restaurant right now something is not right there. read more

The family & I stopped into tonight for dinner and as it always is... it was delish. My daughter usually gets the meatloaf plate which I decided to copy tonight, lordy it was plentiful and very flavorful. Hubs had the chicken pot pie and was very happy with that as well. Large portion and filling. Our waiter tonight was Charles, we haven't had him before, he was so funny! And nice! And attentive! To the point that I would ask to be seated in his area next time. Very well worth the stop in and a nice way to end this Wednesday read more

Publick House - Stopped in for a yummy dinner :) - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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The bakery and restaurant are finally back open! Still no weddings until probably August, but it looks like things might be slowly returning to pre-COVID19 normal? I have so much to say about this place. We've eaten here many times for dinner, and every meal has been good homestyle New England food that reminds me of my mother's cooking. Most of what I have to say about this place is in regards to is as a wedding venue. I wrote a review to that effect that maxed out the allowable characters, and it looks like Yelp didn't save it, and I can't even go "Back" and copy/paste like sometimes works. Great. My first big review after the not-going-out COVID19 Yelp lull, and it's gone. Grrrrrrrr. Still love ya Yelp, but ugh. Long story short - I'd definitely recommend checking out the Publick House as a wedding venue, and have a few quick tips like putting their pies on your dessert table and getting the lobster roll cocktail hour apps. Both were massively popular at our wedding. I'll write a more detailed review when I calm back down. read more

Publick House - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Terrible restaurant manager. Poor customer service. I complained that the piece of salmon had bones in it and she told me fish has bones

Somebody needs to help with the meatloaf recipe, it had no flavor. My dad got the fishing chips and he said that was good.

Weird place starting with where to park. Handicaped spaces are limited to the bake shop which is one small showcase of pastries as you walk in from the parking lot. It's a narrrow space that goes directly to the dining room. You are not allowed to walk through it but have to fol;low signs outside to go around and then in a side door. It was cold and raining which seemed stupid if you are trying to actually sell pastries. We were a party of 8 but they wouldn't allow two tables together even though we had reservations. They have weird rules. One of us asked for bread and we were told "you can't have bread until you order". I had a simple hamburger that was pink but dry like it had been cooked before or at least partialy cooked. The men's room was semi clean however. read more

I mean New England is without doubt the gloomiest part of the continental United States. And Publick House is a perfect example of the gloomiest of the gloomy. Seriously, why is this part of the USA so dark and unfriendly? At the beginning, the outside of the Hotel / Restaurant looks inviting. The grounds are neatly trimmed and the buildings are painted a glossy white. But once inside - WHAT? The floors are dark wood, covered in ancient throw rugs of dark color. The walls are dark wood... and the trim is a yicky yellowish green. The ceilings are painted off-white. The furniture is all old brown wood and ancient musty fabric. The place just smells of mustiness. There is a bakery on property but the sweet smell of pies and buns could not over power the stink of old fabric. I know it is an old historic building but why must it be a gloom pit. The front desk peeps are as friendly as the locals who burned the witches at Salem... or wherever they were burned. They call it New England hospitality. I call it unfriendliness! I am not young and I had to carry my luggage up three flights of winding stairs. There were three front desk agents. No one offered help. The food in the restaurant was as gloomy and unattractive as the design. The Roast Chicken was smothered in some glossy brown gooey gravy. The Brussel Sprouts were as mushy as the mashed potatoes. At least it was all tasteless. I'm afraid that if it had a taste, well it would be a very bad taste! When we checked out I went to the front desk to give them back the keys to the room. I told the front desk person that I was checking out. I told her the room number. She nodded and then went back to staring at her computer screen. She never looked up. I guess she was watching The Witches of Eastwick or something similar. Watching and practicing on how to be gloomy and unfriendly and kill business. read more

Exactly what we wanted after a fun evening at Old Sturbridge Village. Had a great chicken pot pie and the house chips were fantastic, although the lava cake was only so-so. Good beer, too. read more

I wouldn't stay here again for all the tea in China! Paid well over $800 for 4 nights stay to perform a wedding. First night we discovered there was no refrigerator in the room and toilets had non-elongated bowls. First morning there was extremely low water pressure such that I couldn't take a shower. Then we came back at 8:30 pm for our second night. Keys didn't work! Had to DRIVE to the front desk. The lady at the front desk acknowledged we were there 5 nights. Had to correct her to the 4 nights we told them the night before. Now get this: They thought we were staying there 5 nights but only programmed the keys for the first night! All they had to say was "sorry!" This place is expensive and proclaims to give customers the "Colonial" feel of a past-gone time. instead it is run worse than a super 8. Not recommended. instead there are many hotels much better nearby for a lot less! read more

I came here for dinner in their historic tap room (which doesn't seem to have a separate page) and I thought it was amazing! A great place to enjoy a historic atmosphere and good food. The only real problem was the first, where it wasn't clear where to park (all the front spaces are handicapped), so we had to turn around and go down a hill, which was really full because they host large events. We got a spot though, and then an elaborate labyrinth between event rooms and hotel areas, but once you follow the signs and finally get to eating area, then you are all set. We had reservations, which I recommend because it really filled in. The dining area has a dark wood aesthetic with some historic portraits hanging on the wall. Our service was great, and it was hot that day, so I went through a lot of water but our waitress was on top of that. I had the roasted half a duck because I can only get that dish at these historic/old taverns. Duck is great! And it was a lot of it. It came with asparagus and mashed potatoes, so even for $27 it was a lot of food, and for a rare occasion it's great to try. My boyfriend had the scallops, which had a great baked crust on top that really enhanced the flavor. The bread basket had assortments of little pecan rolls, cornbread, white buns, and pumpkin bread (or something similar). It was a great variety, and those pecan rolls were so sweet and delicious. For $9 you can get any 2 of soup, salad, or dessert which is a great value. The clam chowder was rich with clams. For dessert we shared the Peanut Butter Decadence which had a peanut butter meringue (soft like ice cream but not as cold) and a big dollop of whipped cream with pieces of peanut brittle (good but hard to bite into). ANYWAY. We got a great variety of food with great service in a place Thomas Jefferson ate at. It's a cool establishment and definitely worth the visit. read more

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We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Publick House. It was wonderful. The staff made us feel relaxed and welcome, especially our very kind waitress, Chrissy. The food was excellent, and the whole atmosphere was very good. read more

It's what you would expect based on what you read. I had not been since pre-Covid. We got the perogi appetizer and they must have started from frozen and they were either air fried or microwaved - very VERY dry. Could have been tasty if prepared well and proportionately paired with the rest of the plate (way too much arugula, but onion jam was tasty and tried to make up for the rest). It felt like the toppings were trying to compensate. Our waitress never checked in on the appetizers. They passed by our empty drinks 3+ times and didn't come back until immediately before our entrees arrived. We gave our feedback on the appetizers and heard nothing. No explanation, no apologies. Main course was mediocre. Had the turkey dinner and crab Mac and cheese. My advice - anything I've ordered from the bake shoppe has been great. Don't go for dinner - the food and service are lacking. read more

Taken whole, this was one weird experience. Arriving at 12:30 p.m., the host informed us that it would be a 20 minute wait although we saw two tables empty. He told us that they were reserved. Yet, later our waitress apologized for ignoring us as she was the upstairs waitress and our table and one other were given to her because upstairs wasn't being seated but now it was busy and she was forced to work two floors. Then why were we told to wait if she had tables upstairs? We sat at the bar for our wait, told the barmaid that we were waiting to be seated. It was dirty, she was snarky. We had to pay the bar bill as it could not be included to table service. The barmaid actually told us that if we wanted to, we could leave a tip. Another couple was seated, not at the reserved tables (that we saw were never seated) while we sat there. It was only when I got up to see where they were seated that the rude host told me that our table was ready. The meals failed. The bolognese was dry, pasty and tasteless. Parmesan cheese was not offered because bolognese was listed as a vegan meal. I asked about the cheese, after the waitress came by to clear the table, and was told that vegans don't eat cheese, so it wasn't offered. My wife isn't vegan. The scallops lacked the orange-basil flavor stated in the menu, only tasted of butter. I blended in my rice and green beans into it to flavor them in the butter. The Indian pudding was runny. My wife told me that my cooking on my worst day was better than what we got here. The waitress was pleasant but we both agreed that this would be our only visit. We were the youngest there, I am 63 my wife a year younger. The only under 30 year olds were two bored girls that accompanied their grandparents. read more

Yeah. Dropping this down to 1 star. If I could give it 0, I would (please change this Yelp.) Response to my first review in a nutshell is pretty much, we are too popular and historically known to care that you had a crappy experience. So if you are in the area and have heard great things about this place, keep in mind, those stories may have been from before when this place cared about their customers. So you've been warned. read more

Publick House - Back of restaurant, walkway to dining room is to the left of the column. - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

We stopped by last week for lunch. It was delicious as always. But, it was the first time we had Lori as our waitress. What a bonus! She's fun and friendly, making us feel like she was just waiting for us. Today we were in the mood for turkey dinner. Nobody makes it better than the Publick House! Lucky us, we had Lori again. We found out that we could request her next time. And we will! And soon! read more

Even though we didn't eat lunch until 2, this place was great. It's ginormous - a main dining room and then a tap room upstairs, which is just a less fancy dining room with the same menu. Their menu was expansive, lots of chicken, fish and some veggie options. We got the scrod (which apparently means catch of the day. Surprise, it was cod), the crab stuff trout, fish and chips and citrus crab salad. The butternut squash bisque was bomb. It was sweet because of the squash but had a thick consistency obviously. The trout came with several large asparagus spears. The scrod came with a side of butternut squash and rice pilaf. The crab salad was yummy and came with fried crispy things too. Pecan and pumpkin bread to start and stellar service by Haley. Thanks for curing our hangriness. read more

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My partner and I are in MA visiting family. We spent two days in Sturbridge being tourist. We had a fabulous time including dinner at the Publick House. We loved the atmosphere! The menu offered a variety of traditional New England fare which my partner and I throughly enjoyed. Both of us enjoyed our meals; they were quite tasty though not as hot as they should have been. Service was great; our server was attentive and friendly. I'm a little bit of a beer snob, so I was happy to see a nice selection of draft beers. The beers my partner and I tried were delicious, but were too cold making them taste somewhat watered down. Again, nothing horrible; just too away from our overall enjoyment of the meal. Definitely, worth another visit. read more

Always a good meal Comfort food to be sure. We sat in the Tavern room which was very cozy

I didn't realize when I tried to make an online hotel reservation from their webpage that they automatically shift you to a third-party system that adds a $22 nonrefundable fee which doesn't show up until you've hit the confirm button. When we saw our $189 room rate jump to over $270, we knew something was wrong. When I called the hotel to cancel the reservation, the clerk told me that I must have used a third-party provider to make the reservation and he couldn't cancel it. Uh, yeah, I did use a third-party system. The one your site shifted me to with no indication that I was going to be hit with a non-refundable fee, or that I had been moved from the Publick House site. I had to call the 3rd party company to have the reservation canceled...all but the $22.00 fee of course. read more

Fun environment, good service, food is ok. Had the chicken fingers, pork belly fries, Brussels. Eating outside was awesome part. Will Be back to try other items read more

STICKY BUNS--reviewers rave about the small versions served in their bread baskets. --We sampled them as part of the motel's comp continental breakfast. --They are good--but Flour Bakery, Boston grabs your senses more. read more

October, 2022 We have stayed here various times over the past 40+ years. At this stay, the first in some time, we noticed that this venue is now under the same ownership as a few other New England "upscale and historic" hotels. When I checked in, my first impression of the interior reception area and adjacent rooms was "tawdry and outdated" ~ but there is more. Upon entering into the motor court portion of the Inn, we noticed the lack of maintenance of the exterior of the units, to the point of being hazardous to guests and staff. (see photos) Upon entering our room, we discovered that the towel racks were bare. Also, the trash from the previous occupants were still in the waste receptacles. The water in the tub did NOT drain while taking a shower. An unappealing musty odor was detected. The entire unit was definitely rundown and poorly maintained. I suggest that the owners spend some $$$ to alleviate any safety hazards, update the rooms, hire more staff, and give the entire facility considerable maintenance and renovation. read more

Publick House - The condition of the stairs to the second floor of the units. - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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1/31/2020 - The Public House is a Historic Inn and Country Lodge. I've never visited. I was only gifted tasty treat from their bakery. The box of goodies contained: Chocolate Whoopi Pie: the filling was way too sweet and the baked pastry was not soft. Stale it was. I actually cut the pie with a knife to consume. I've tasted better from a corner store. The Turtle Cheesecake was Yummy. The Chocolate Cup Cake was good and so was the choc jimmies and frosting topping. Very moist. The Tiramisu cake was also good. The coffee they chose to use i liked. Not too bitter. The Carrot Cake was one of the best I've ever tasted. Would i eat pastries from the Public House again? Yes! I actually would like to drive up and stay in their Inn/Lodge for a weekend getaway. Happy Eats read more

Publick House - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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Seven of my family members ate here on 10/15/23. Some had meatloaf, one had the turkey dinner, two had the pot roast, one swordfish and one tofu dinner. EVERYONE added salt at least once to their dinners. The meatloaf was flavorless, no onion or garlic or even herb flavors. In hindsight we should have asked for ketchup. And it took forever to get our meals. We will not be back. read more

The food is mediocre and boring. The drinks are uninspired. The service is apathetic. Very disappointed. Not returning. Do not recommend.

We went there for a quick meal after a conference. The chicken my wife had was salty but the pot roast was delicious. I usually like my pot roast cooked a little bit more but it was still delicious. read more

I was told by my wife that they have the best cheese danish. She is aware of my cheese danish passion so she brought me to their bakery. I was super surprised at their prices. They sell danishes and pastries for $2.95 and slightly higher. Other places would sell these guys for double and triple that price. We got their cheese danish, one eclair and a lobster cream roll. I'll speak to their cheese danish....I'd have to say that this has to be the perfect blend of fresh cream and a doughy yet flakey crust. It was the perfection of magic in one sugary treat. Their location and decor was fun and inviting - it feels as if you are in a wonderland. It's a real break from the world when you come here. read more

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His name is Charles. He sports a gray handlebar mustache while his head barely clears the low colonial-era ceilings that warp and wave like a candy building melting in the heat. If I had to label him, I'd say he's "old-school." The kind of server I'd like to be drinking with at the bar rather than dealing with as a customer with my family. But, cheers to Charles. He listened to my Mom as she referred to herself in the third person. He made sure she was taken care of, even as she ordered a seafood dish she didn't understand. He kept the water glasses full and the meal moving forward like an icebreaker navigating the dinner frozen in time. The food here is fine. It reflects the clientele, old and white. Short-sleeved oxfords tucked into slacks. Gray hair slicked back with black plastic combs. Quiet chewing at a deafening level. Dinner's perpetual busy signal. The inevitable bread service includes what appears to be fruit & nut loaf (not on your life), cornbread (sure), and pecan sticky bun (odd for dinner, but candy is always appreciated). Then, I had the icebergiest wedge salad imaginable. It's rather blank but serviceable. It reminds me of an anxious 10-year-old with a coloring book that they refuse to "spoil." I act as if the salad's plain soul is a bad thing, but has anyone failed with a solid raft of blue cheese and bacon? No, they have not. On to the Chicken Pot Pie. Only real complaint was a tough crust. A perfectly round pastry top with flaky layers on top, and a firm burlap bottom. Not really bad, just kinda' eh. Chicken chunks are well seasoned and plentiful. Vegetables are present. Just a tough crust, which means more chewing. Oh, wait. I understand now. I am one with the chew. Mom orders a soft shell crab thinking it's a crab cake. Disappointed on arrival, Charles remedies the situation like a zen master. Dad eats the softshell. Mom crabs the cake. All is well. Thank you, Charles, for your shepherd soul. No dessert. The time came to depart. Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet feels shorter than the day I first surmised the horses' heads were toward eternity. (Still chewing.) read more

Publick House - Wedge Antilles Salad - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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A dated property (motor lodge and court section) but spacious rooms. I would suggest 2nd floor unit to avoid noise above. Our dog enjoyed walking the large grounds of the property. The shower pressure and mist was relaxing and refreshing. Beds were comfy and even a deck to sit out on. Would highly recommend. Great muffins, coffee, and sticky buns await your palate at the bake shoppe in the AM. A great road respite for the weary traveler. read more

If you are looking for a restaurant that has a combination of atmosphere and a quality meal the Publick House is your place. A true colonial environment, yet all the modern features. The service from the moment you walked in the door was excellent. These folks are customer oriented and did a great job even with us having reservations during prime time. The food was excellent and delivered to our table in a reasonable amount of time. We had order fresh scallops, spinach salads and lobster mac and cheese. The helping were generous, well prepared and flavorful. For desert we had a wonderful home made blueberry pie. The food was excellent and we would highly recommend this establishment and look forward to dining there next year! read more

Not as large a menu, as in the past, but still excellent nonetheless. Excellent service! read more

My wife and I live locally and decided to have dinner here. My wife was very upset and disappointed because the Pot Roast dinner she ordered came with cold Pot Roast. The only thing that was hot was the green beans. Her squash was also cold. I ordered the vegan ravioli and that wasn't hot either. Only the spinach that was with it was hot and I want to mention the spinach was very salty. We had the absent minded professor for a waiter which didnt help matters. We ordered a dinner plate to go and my wife had to remind the waiter 3 times that we were still waiting for an order to go. This is the second we had an issue with cold food being served at the Publick House dining room and the last time. read more