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 When I checked in, my first impression of the interior reception area and adjacent rooms was "tawdry and outdated" ~ but there is more.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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Publick house in Sturbridge, Ma is a fabulous restaurant as well as a great place to have a function with old world charm. At the restaurant, the staff are very friendly and accommodating. The food is absolutely delicious! So if your driving down the mass pike near Charlton, Ma take a little detour to The Publick house for a meal you won't forget! If your looking to have a function with an old country backdrop, this is also the place! I highly recommend The Publick house! Oh!!!! Also try their bakery!!! You can't miss it, you walk through it if you come in the back entrance read more

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

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

This review is about dining experiences only. I grew up in NJ and have family in MA and for as long as I can remember we always stop here on the way up to visit. Delicious comfort food in a relaxing and historic atmosphere. I have always loved the food and service. When I dined today for lunch we did not need reservations for the weekday. Your bread basket includes sticky buns, cornbread, rolls, and pumpkin nut bread- all fresh, warm, and delicious. They sell them all downstairs in the bakery to take on your way out. We got the veggie soup and side salad. You can choose any of their salads as a side. They charge you to split plates but not for sharing. Your dressing for the salads comes in a large portion so I cant imagine ever having to ask for more. Our main meals were the chicken pot pie, open faced turkey sandwich, and pork chops. All portions are large and so good. The chicken pot pie was creamy and had such a buttery/flakey crust. The sandwich came with cornbread, fries, cole slaw, and thick stuffing. The pork came with sweet potato mashed and broccolini. Everyone loved their meals. read more

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The Publick House is a piece of history, and it feels like a piece of history. It's warm and charming and fireplace lit. The bar is cozy and well equipped. The little pastry shop outside the dining area has lovely options. But the food at the Publick House is just okay. The goat cheese appetizer is good but two small pieces. Like tiny slices. For 8 or 9 bucks. The potato chips terrible. Dry. Unsalted. How you you fail at potato chips? They do. Soup of the day is unmemorable. Seriously. I know I had soup. I DO NOT REMEMBER IT. And the pan-seared salmon was edible. Not exciting. Not terrible. Just edible. This is a wonderful place to take your grandmother. The cinnamon rolls, however, that they serve with the bread basket and also that you can buy is the bake shop... ARE AMAZING. Like... really really really really really really good. So there's that. read more

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I would agree with Jonathan R. and give 3.5 stars as well. I was here for two nights for a wedding. My overall impression is that you do have to sacrifice some modern niceties for the colonial feel. If you're cool with that, you might enjoy yourself here, but if you are type of person who wants everything new and fresh and fully functional you might have some issues with this place. The positives: Beautiful colonial setting and decor, in particular gorgeous paintings, chandeliers, pottery, needleworks, etc. Beautiful grounds and a fascinating colonial cemetery next door Cool independently owned gift shop also next door The negatives: Chipping paint in the room I stayed in at the Inn, both in the bedroom and the bathroom Seriously ancient plumbing Cold! (windows are old) had to crank up the heat, which was very old school and made tons of noise, constantly waking me up at night. TV was unplugged when I settled in, had to move dresser to plug it in myself. Extremely meager continental breakfast. Maybe I just arrived late but tiny little muffins and coffee. Can they at least have some bagels or cereal and maybe some juice or fruit? I'd recommend coming here and checking out the place for the history and cool colonial atmosphere. Not sure that I would stay here again, however. The worst was the fact that I was continually awakened by the noisy heating system. Also, while I did not have any issues with the staff some of the other people staying with me for the wedding did. In one instance, despite a specific request that an elderly family member's room be ready in advance, it was not. I also had lunch at the restaurant. It was okay but I would not rave about it. For the price, I found it rather mediocre. read more

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This is what I was handed for thanksgiving dinner. All of the beginning meal pieces were missing including the cider cheese and crackers with relish and the pumpkin bread and banana bread. There was no shrimp cocktail with horseradish. The salad had no dressing that I could see. The turkey seemed dry and had very little stuffing and very little gravy. I normally have no problem getting extra stuffing or gravy. They have a whole berry relish that is great. That's not here. The desert had no ice cream or toppings I could see. All in all not worth $55. Very pricey and Boston Market could have done better for $15.95, I am a customer who has gone here since I was little along with my grandparents and parents and aunt and uncle. I also was a culinary intern in the bakery in 2003. I know the quality they are capable of. This does not cut it. I'm hoping a manager gets back to me. Otherwise I call my bank and tell them it's fraudulent. read more

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Three of us had a lunch reservation for 1 pm on a Friday. I got a call while entoute telling me they had to cancel the reservation. The woman offered me a 2 pm reservation instead. I told her we were on the highway and on our way and that this meant we would have to wait an hour to be seated. I asked why this had to be cancelled but she wouldn't answer me. While I was discussing this with my friends in the car, I heard her say "Do you want the 2 o'clock or not"? She was so rude about it. At least if she gave me a reason, offered some kind of compensation, anything, but none was given. Such poor customer service. Needless to say, I declined her offer. Later on when talking with a manager he told me he would look into it and return my call.He never bothered. I will never return there. Christine read more

We love stopping here when we come through Sturbridge! The pecan sticky rolls that come with the meal are delicious. Everything we had was very good. My only complaint was that they forgot the pesto aioli on my crab cake sandwich. We always have to pick something out in the bake shoppe before we leave too! read more

This is an awesome place not withstanding the rustic feel to the building, the food is just superb and wholesome. I had the prime rib and it was just perfectly done on a bed of potato and sweet potato mash. My wife had the trout stuffed with crab meat served with asparagus and spaghetti squash which was equally good. Although we had no room for dessert they have a nice range; for another day! The bakery serves up some awesome treats and indeed worth a try! We'll surely be back soon! Warning: anyone on a diet, just go to wind up your dietician read more

I always love dining or visiting the Publick House. They have done such a beautiful job with renovations...I wish them success in 2021 as 2020 has been so stressful for everyone. I look forward to dining in soon and have also enjoyed the extreme effort they have provided to let everyone enjoy some of their dine out entree's in these tough times. read more

Lived 20 miles from the Publick House in 1970's - many fantastic dining memories with friends (cold Winter snowy nights sitting around one of their warming fireplaces). - since moved South but four years ago took my daughter who had never been - an indescribable experience. The Food: easy on the breadbasket, it could ruin the upcoming meal (plus you can get a take out 'bread feast'). Favorites include baked scrod, Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey and all the trimmings, vegetables and everything on menu is great - and service is Five Star. One of my favorite New England restaurants and there are many. read more

Love this place, my family & I have been coming here for years. My wife & I even got married here, but unfortunately the food has really sucked the last few times we've dined with them. A new chef, a new menu... something has to change. Last weekend I ordered a burger for lunch in Ebeneezer's... the burger was awful. The bun was stale, the burger was over cooked and dry as hell. The Publick house is better than this. Please fix this! It's a great venue... read more

Amazing, traditional New England food served pleasantly and efficiently in a well-kept historic atmosphere make this the perfect restaurant in my view. 'Gorgeous Greg' recommended the clam chowder to start and with bacon and exquisite flavor the meal only improved from there. The scrod, rice pilaf, and green beans were tremendous and the rolls that came before brought us to the bakery later, but not before the best blueberry dessert ever. All told an excellent value for a very special lunch. read more

Had a delightful lunch at the public house on our way home from Maine today. Perfect place to stop service was great by Randi. Chowder, salad, and flatbread with lox were excellent. A nice bonus was picking up some sweet treats at the bakery! read more

We made reservations for my Husband's birthday on Feb 12, 2023. Our waitress was Lori. We have come a few times. I remember telling my husband I already know what I am having. Clam chowder, Turkey dinner and Creme Brule. Lori the waitress was lovely. We were very disappointed that the creme Brule was taken off the menu. It was very sweet of her to bring my hubby a birthday cupcake. I mentioned to her that management should have soft music playing because I can hear conversations from across the room and it would be ​ read more

Based on the size of the parking lot, this restaurant must once have been good. My experience today makes it impossible for me to understand how that could ever have been the case. We had a reservation at the historic tap room - the hostess was unfriendly, and they have an absurd system in which they will not seat anyone until the entire party is present. Moreover, although I had received a text that my table was ready, I had to give my name three times before we were seated. The food was of poor quality and I ate hardly any of mine. The facility felt worn, and the directional signage inside to find your way to the different areas was terrible. Do yourself a favor and find an alternative - this one is resting on its laurels. read more

This historic Inn dates all the way back to 1791 when Colonel Ebenezer Crafts planted the tall magnificent elm trees that still remain on the colonial style property to this very day. We scored a great deal on one of the 63 country lodge rooms via Expedia. It was fairly basic, but comfortable. We did however love cruelty free Verbena yummy smelling soaps and lotions and relaxing on the balcony overlooking wooded areas which come standard on any second floor room. Ask for one! They also have suites and guest rooms in the fancier Chamberlain House. All stays come with a variety of freshly baked pastries, delicious coffee, a selection of teas, and hot chocolate for the kiddos in the morning in their 18th century bakery. You can also enjoy your treats outside in a lovely garden area. In the Bake Shop you will also find whole pies and goods to go! Local syrups, homemade sauces, jams, and children's books for purchase also. The Inn also has a Historic Tap Room, serving traditional Yankee fare: breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week and Ebenezer's Tavern, serving a lighter more casual Yankee fare for lunch and dinner.   The Inn is quant and boasts of all that New England charm you would want to experience when in this region. This stay went perfectly with a visit to Old Sturbridge Village which is less than 10 minutes away, and a place we would HIGHLY recommend especially if you have kiddos with you! The Inn hosts many cooperate and private functions also. They were setting up a beautiful wedding with an outdoor ceremony when we visited. Checking in and out was simple and quick. Everyone on the property was helpful and kind. We would definitely stay here again when in the area! I can imagine it's pretty lovely when snow covered. read more

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Thanksgiving 2022 at the Public House seemed well organized. Service was great. Every employee encountered was smiling, friendly, and accommodating. But the food was pretty bad and no where close to being worth the $60 price. The turkey was dry and tasteless. Most likely from a turkey factory farm and cooked by faux chefs. The butternut squash and stuffing were also bland. The best parts of the meal were the pecan rolls, martinis, and coffee. Very disappointing. read more

Tastiest baked scrod I ever enjoyed. Excellent attentive service. Historic Colonial ambiance. All-in-all a perfect dining experience.

I'm so disappointed. I suggested a family meet up at the Publick House based on previous visits years ago. We were not impressed. I am handicapped and was fortunate to find a parking spot just in front, just as recommended on the website. Discovering the door to the pub was a challenge as was the path to the correct check in desk. Our reservation had been confirmed by text and told our table was ready. When we checked in, we were not seated but to "sit over there". Three times we asked to be seated. Finally seated, I informed our server that I was GF. There were a few choices available to me. The huge portion of truffled potato chips was overwhelming even for all of us. Each of us ordered salads, unremarkable and each soggy with too much dressing. The dessert choices were very limited for my dietary issues. I'm sorry to write this review, being so negative we had such high hopes. read more

I keep wanting to return to this place for the traditional turkey dinner - so delicious and comforting especially during the fall & winter.

We came for lunch to celebrate my son's accomplishments. We chose this place because it seemed to be special. We really wanted to like it. The food was terrible. My arugula salad was nothing more than a pile of greens loaded with dressing what made it inedible. My husbands salad was brown and wilted. The bread basket was stale. The chicken wings over cooked and the ribs were gray without any sauce or care put into them. The waitress never checked on us. When she came with the check i told her about the salads and she credited us and then asked if we wanted something else. At this point, why would we? It's unfortunate but i wouldn't waste my time going back. read more

We had been here years ago and loved it but it is not the same. Our room had only warm water and no beside table. Restaurant had bright lights like a basketball stadium. There were dirty dishes piled up all around. We had no table cloth and paper napkins. Nothing like the historic inn we remembered. read more

The staff is very accommodating. Beautiful, easy on and off the highway too.

Nothing wrong with this place at all ... the food is sometimes too bland and sometimes overly sweetened ... but for the most part, you know what you are getting when you come here. Old people love this place ... it is one of those 'white hair' establishments, which usually means the value is good and people have been coming here forever. This is a very Colonial feeling spot and almost has the vibe of a Disney-type of restaurant it is so over-the-top with New England old fashionedness. The menu is exactly what you'd expect ... Pot Roast, Chicken Pot Pie, Roast Turkey Dinner, etc. I always get the Roast Turkey Dinner, just because its the most famous thing on the menu and a dish that you wouldn't always make for yourself. For the most part it's dry-ish ... the stuffing is way too sweet, almost tastes like a dessert and the mashed turnips look like something that came out of a baby's bottom. However, the atmosphere is very Colonial with wood posts and beams. The event space is a lot less cramped and more modern whereas the dining room and tavern are very cramped. This place often books up for lunch during the week, so its always a good idea to make a reservation. They also have lots of weddings and events. Don't sleep on the bread basket which contains enough sticky buns (their specialty), corned bread, pumpkin bread and rolls to cost about $15 if you bought it in the bake shop downstairs, which isn't cheap ... but is fresh. Generally I haven't heard too many people complain about the food, even thought to me it tastes and looks like wedding food. (the chicken pot pie is basically a thick bowl of chicken chowder with a cracker placed on top ... not an actual pie, which would be much more authentic. I guess the food is more mass-produced looking and tasting ... not authentic colonial food, even though it is billed that way. I actually stayed in one of the rooms here in the back ... what they call 'the annex' building. My goodness ... it looked like a Stanley Kubric movie set. SCARY! Think of it this way ... there is maroon carpet with a maroon bedspread and maroon and white oddly patterened wallpaper with matching curtains. And its a converted building from the 1960s which feels like the 1960s. They do have sliding doors with a small balcony (overlooking a highway where trucks whiz by) ... luckily the heat/ac unit is so loud, you couldn't hear one of those trucks drive into the room much less drive past the room. My friends stayed in the main inn attached to the restaurants and said their room was nicer looking but had thin walls and they could not only hear the people in the next room as clear as a bell, but also they were woken up in the morning by some sort of a reception or event in one of the ball rooms. If there are other places you can stay in the area ... don't hesitate to do so! read more

We just went for dinner on a Tuesday night and were so thrilled with everything from the best clam chowder to great service and dinner rolls We had the pot roast and the chicken and they were amazing. Also good salad and dressings. But before you leave have an awesome dessert you wont be sorry!! We cant wait to go back read more

Nothing but great things to say for the restaurant...the bread and pastry bowl that comes with your meals is vast and delicious. The clam chowder was the best I had at any spot on my trip to New England (and I got Chowder at every place we dined at!) All of the food was delicious (I had the fried cod sandwich - which was outstanding) Also tried the Indian Pudding for dessert, wouldn't really recommend this item. Very molasses-y and just didn't work for me (and I love molasses but the texture and aftertaste was odd). Go with another option. We ate in the tavern downstairs and apparently they have to carry everything from a goodly distance as all dishes came covered to keep them warm (appreciated!) read more

Publick House - Hotels Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Michelle is exactly the wonderful person who manages the reception and makes the difference between a good hotel and an excellent hotel. If you're looking for historical times charm you got it here. Wonderful continental breakfast too. Remember it's a real old hotel so set your expectations accordingly. Will definitely go back. read more

I made as special trip to the public house bakery just for the carrot cake that I heard was the best around. Well let me say that was primo and well worth the trip.Bravo to the chef! God Bless all my fellow foodies always! read more

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