Palmer, MA seems to be a good halfway point if you are meeting up with old friends from the Springfield and Worcester areas the day before Thanksgiving. Location-wise, it's convenient...right off of the mass Pike and route 20. Dining option wise? It seems like the Steaming Tender (I can't stop laughing like Beavis and Butthead right now....heh heh. what an awful name) is the biggest attraction in this sleepy town once known as the Town of Seven Railroads. So much so, that a huge welcome sign from the Steaming Tender lets passersby know about the attraction RIGHT AFTER the state-issued "Entering Palmer" sign. We weren't expecting "classy". (Those expectations flew out the window when we passed a nearby bar that hosts Jello wrestling matches on Saturdays.) But the Steaming Tender seemed like it could be a good option instead of the Friendly's nearby. The concept is cute. A restored railroad station with some pretty beautiful architectural elements has been repurposed into a restaurant. Antique locomotives that I can imagine train enthusiasts and little conductors would certainly appreciate. The food and service, however leave much to be desired. I'm willing to give the staff the benefit of the doubt because it was the day before Thanksgiving. And we were the first people there for an early dinner. We ordered appetizers since our friends were having another dinner a couple hours later. The sampler plate (boneless hot wings, mozz sticks, jalapeno fritters, tater skins) seemed like a good option...it was just bar food, but it left much to be desired. The jalapeno fritters were just fragments of batter with a hint of jalapeno flavor. the potatoes were dried out, the mozzarella sticks were cold. The chicken was inedible. We also ordered the "award-winning" chili. Who gave that award? Their 8 year old daughter? Their own chef? Awful, awful, and surrounded by stale tortilla chips to boot. Our waitress was very sweet, but pretty slow on the service. We didn't mind initially because we were enjoying our friends' company, but when it took 25 minutes for her to pick up our credit card, that wasn't so great. Bottom line...Okay option for those who hate chain restaurants but have a strange obsession with trains. And it's a nice diversion for kids. The food won't kill you unless you already ate 2 McRibs earlier in the day. But the Cracker Barrel is down the street (and right off the Pike), and if you're seeking decent highway food, I would detour there first. read more

3 stars for slow service. I stopped here on my way to an event in Palmer. It was about 2pm on a Saturday. I was by myself. The dining room was busy, but not so busy to cause a wait. After about 45 seconds in the lobby, a host buzzed through & seated me and another party. Once at my seat, I waited nearly 5 minutes to be greeted by a server. My beverage was dropped off, but the server didn't stick around to answer my menu questions (soup of the day, etc.) About 5 minutes after that, my order was taken. I ordered a Portobello burger. After a 20 minute wait for my food, it arrived. It was exactly as I had ordered. There were 2 mushroom caps in the sandwich and roasted peppers & onions. I ordered without any sauces and It really didn't need them! It was hot and fresh and the caps were tender. The sweet potato fries (substitute/upcharge) were thick & crispy & delicious. Worth the wait? Not sure, but SO glad it wasn't a disappointment! I would come back to try again. read more

Steaming Tender - Beer selectio was small, but varied. - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

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I agree with Karen K's opinion that the ambiance and woodwork here are lovely. However, the food is awful. I ordered some vegetarian pasta dish that was overcooked noodles and a sauce that I swear was made of Elmer's glue. I don't recall if there was a bar here, but if so, it'd be a cool place to have a drink. read more

Great building, unimpressive restaurant. Still, an alright detour from the highway. Had the fried chicken, which was about KFC caliber. Potato wedges were lukewarm. Girlfriend's burger was bland and her fries were downright cold. Still, it's a weird-ass spot, and it's worth checking out. read more

Let me just start off by saying old timer trains, train station and homestyle food are always a great mix. I live about 2 hours from here but made the journey just to see all of the hard work put into this historic building. The place looks great, from the high ceilings to the huge windows in the dining room you can see trains passing as you eat. I saw maybe 4 trains when I came in for lunch. It was great. Now down to the nitty gritty the food,,,, First we started with the crab cakes...Delicious, No complaints about those! Then... I had the half chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and crispy spinach. This is where I am supposed to break it down to what was wrong with it and criticize some small aspect of it that the average person wont notice...but I will not...DELICIOUS!! My girlfriend had the ribs, scale from 1-10 they are about a 7. I have most definitely had better ribs at steak houses and rib joints but these were tasty and fall off the bone. The veg du jour was pureed butternut squash, that was tasty as well. This is my favorite part of this place...the bread pudding. They have advertisements about it and they have prices of whole pans and half pans, so I had to try it. SOME OF THE BEST!! I love bread pudding and I order from American places from time to time and this was by far the best I have ever had with the brandy sauce over the top. If you want just come here for bread pudding and trains. read more

Even if the food wasn't good I'd come here because it's SO COOL. I had no idea what I was getting into when someone sent us here, but I fell in love upon arrival. It's so neat that I don't know why anyone would sit outside! Most of our food was GREAT, however the lobster roll was really wet and soggy, so I wouldn't get that again. Their famous bread pudding was out of this world, I'm glad we got it to go even though we were full. One complaint from a friend is that it's very hot inside during the summer, so I'll probably stick to three-season visits. read more

Restaurant is set in an old train station. After dining here a few times the food and service have been great each time. Everyone is generally in one large room so it can be a bit noisy. Also the parking lot and surrounding area are a bit rough but that adds to the old train station experience. They have some quality beers on draft that are not carried many places. Also the holiday buffet brunches are a hit. read more

Pleasantly surprised, although I should not have been as I went here based on Yelp reviews. We stopped in the middle of the week,between lunch and dinner, so it wasn't busy. Service was prompt and friendly, with all servers working as a team. They all seemed to be experienced or trained well. Although it was a slow, weekday afternoon, everyone was professional and cheerful. Both my wife and I broke my standing, personal rule and ordered seafood, which I usually do not do during the week. I was glad I did. Broiled to perfection, I had scallops, fish, and lobster, lots of lobster. I figured it out; if I had gotten just the lobster for that price, I would have been satisfied. Bottom line, good deal. I was impressed with the building/ museum. Cool stuff. I wonder, though, what the sound level is like when it's busy. But I will probably check it out for myself, anyway. read more

Maybe we hit it on an off day? Went for a late lunch on 5/27. Had awesome service at the bar. Ordered broiled haddock and buffalo tenders. Fish arrived and after one bite, I thought I'd be sick. The fish was definitely off. And if you eat a lot of fish, you know what I mean when I say it tasted super 'fishy', and not in a good way. It was also mostly grey and the breadcrumbs were super mushy. I had an event to attend the next day and there was no way I could risk getting sick so when the bartender came around and asked how things were, I politely explained the fish was far from fresh. She kindly offered to get me something else but we just didn't have time. She raced off and I'm thinking to myself, 'wow, she's going to get this taken care of!'. Sadly the bill came and she explained her lovely manager took 50% off the dish?! It was all of $13 to begin with but in my opinion, they should have taken it off completely. That was pretty poor. I had one bite! I would have also expected the manager to come by and apologize but even though the restaurant was empty, they were no where to be seen. The buffalo tenders weren't hot either but my husband ate them anyway (burnt to a crisp). One star for service. Maybe they should rename this place the 'Steaming....pile of sh*t'. read more

Always bring my son for date night at least once a month. He loves trains and I love the ambiance of the restaurant. The staff has a nice balance of making sure you're taken care of but not checking in every five minutes. The food is great so it makes it a neat spot to visit every month. Never go wrong with Steaming Tender! Also, during the holiday season you can dine on the outdoor caboose that is decorated festively for the holidays. Don't miss this restaurant if you're traveling through town! read more

Tasty food and great decor!!! Will go back any time. Too bad they are not near Boston MA read more

Awesome restaurant! Wait time wasn't too bad, especially since we had the old phone booth and shoeshine station to entertain us. The decor is very cool and I love the idea of a train station restaurant. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. I ordered the scallop tacos, which were great, and had a bite of my sister's steak fries--delicious! It was a bit loud and crowded, as the tables are close together in a large room so people are always trying to get by, but I didn't mind at all. For dessert I had the cheesecake, and it was good, but definitely not worth $7. Next time I'll get ice cream--they carry Graham Central Station, a flavor my family mourns all winter. Overall, it was an excellent dining experience, and we'll definitely come back. 4.5 stars! read more

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I have visited the steaming tender a few times. The good had always been good, but the building is so cool. This is set in an old train station and has a ton of charm. We have seen trains pass each and every time we have dined here. This is a great place for children and only minutes off the mass pike exit 8. My loves to sit on the antique bulldozer in the parking lot as well. read more

Date of service: Dec 31, 2014 Meal: Lunch, Eat in All Ratings out of 10: Quality of food: 10 Food to Spend Value: 9 Quality of Service: 9 Overall Rating: 9 Steaming Tender is part restaurant, part train depot antique museum. From the moment you drive up, to when you walk in, to when you see a train go by during your meal, you realize you are in for a special experience. I had never been before and thought it would be a great spot for a parent's anniversary celebration, so we had a fairly large group go for lunch. They brought out rolls to the table which were soft, fluffy, and very tasty. We ordered fried pickles as an appetizer, and the pickles were perfectly done, with a really tasty batter that was light and crispy. Good rolls and appetizers are generally a good indicator of things to come, so I was excited for the main course. There a ton of choices on the menu, making it difficult to decide what to order. I will highlight three items that were ordered from the table. My son ordered the kids mac and cheese with hot dogs, and my brother in law ordered the lobster mac and cheese. The lobster mac and cheese had liberal amounts of lobster chunks in it, with broccoli, penne pasta, and bread crumbs, and an ultra creamy cheese sauce throughout that was simply to die for. The kids version of mac and cheese is simpler but still way fancier than what you get most places (this wasn't Kraft!), and it came with a hot dog sliced up on the side. It was also delicious, and it was easily one of the highest quality kids menu items I have seen in a while. I ordered the Broiled Fisherman's Combo Platter. It contains a sampling of haddock, scallops, and shrimp broiled with white wine and butter and topped with buttered breadcrumbs. Many restaurants, especially seafood restaurants, offer these types of broiled platters, but generally when you receive them they contain very tiny portions of each item, making for a disappointing entrée even when prepared well. This couldn't be further from the truth here. The menu describes the portions as hearty, and they are spot on. And to describe it as delicious would actually be an understatement. The sauce that the seafood was broiled in was so rich and tasty that I found myself grabbing rolls after finishing the seafood just to soak up the sauce. I practically licked my plate clean, and I could savor that flavor on a daily basis. The entrée also came with a starch and veggie, and I chose rice pilaf and butternut squash. Both were great, but the butternut squash was especially well prepared and provided a flavor explosion in my mouth. I was thoroughly impressed with every aspect of my meal, and that is a rarity for me. If I had one disappointment, it was with dessert, but it had nothing to do with the quality or taste. I have heard wonderful things about the carrot cake and had my mouth set for it, only to find out that they were out, denying my desire for cream cheese frosting and cake goodness. They are also known for their Signature Whiskey Bread Pudding, so I ordered that instead. And though it wasn't carrot cake, boy was it delicious. It was super rich and indulgent and came out hot, and it is easy to see why they are known for it. Just don't think about how many calories one piece contains! Someone else at the table ordered the Chocolate Obsession Cake, and it was creamy rich chocolate decadence. Steaming Tender just seems to do it all well. The service was amazing, particularly for the size of the group we had. I want to give a specific call out to Jen H, our waitress, who was always on top of things and made our dining experience awesome. Request her if you can, and you won't regret it. As I have already raved, the food is amazing, the portions are huge, and the prices are very good, particularly considering both the amount and quality. With the variety on the menu it is fairly easy to find something for anyone, and the quality of the food combined with the neat ambiance of the restaurant make Steaming Tender a place to visit for sure! read more

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Brought the Mass Miata Club in today for lunch. There were 12 of us and Jen (Our Server) did an excellent job of taking all our orders and receiving accolades from our members. She even prepared individual checks. And the food was fantastic as well. Most members were from eastern Mass and they all said this is a must do again lunch. Hope Robin is reading this. Gary read more

Friday was my first visit to the restaurant and the broiled scallops were so fresh and well prepared that we had to return because I had no room left for the bread pudding with whiskey sauce (a house specialty). Sunday we returned and I ordered the pistachio encrusted salmon with vegetable melange, again, fresh well prepared with a teriyaki sauce that was just enough and not over powering at all served with julienned vegetables. The bread pudding was to die for. I had my husband sample it, and he is no fan of bread pudding, but he thought it was great also. The Steaming Tender is 50 miles from my home and I will be returning. Staff is friendly and very helpful, prices are reasonable, food is wonderful read more

Kind of pricey but the food is good. We did takeout a few times during Covid and everything was always good.

The Steaming Tender is a special spot. The restaurant is located in a converted railroad depot, and the restoration is brilliant. From the shoe shine station to the ticket counter take-out window, the Steaming Tender is a really fun and special spot that is actually quite beautiful. The rail line that runs next to the Steaming Tender is still active, and it's a kick when trains pass by while you eat. The food is fine. The menu is ridiculously large, as are the portions. On one visit I ordered a turkey dinner and the amount of food on my plate was approached the grotesque. The quality was fine, though, if not particularly homemade, and, again, you are here for the ambiance. You can't come to a converted train station looking for sophistication. The notable exception to the adequate food is the whiskey bread pudding. The restaurant touts it as "famous" and, after sharing an order, we all agreed. It's a "don't miss" standout. The beer menu is disconnect from the pedestrian food menu. The selection is authentic, thoughtful and focuses on the local BBC brewery. The Steaming Tender also has a great bar, and if we lived closer I think it's a bar we would go to quite often. (You'll want to steer clear of the "martini" list, but you knew that.) The food is two stars, but the ambiance and surprising beer list are four. read more

Beautiful Dinning Room, great atmosphere. We went for the all you can eat Sunday Brunch. There was the usual breakfast choices, all very tasty. they offer a make your own waffle which was the lightest and most tasty thing I've ever tasted. servers kept the table clear of dirty plates. Women should also visit the ladies' room - it is gorgeous!! would definitely visit again read more

Friendly and accommodating service, especially with two small kids. Very unique atmosphere and quiet outdoor patio. The lobster roll was fantastic - big chunks of well cooked meat. Sweet potato wedges were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and fluffy and moist inside. Lobster mac was very good and a huge portion. Potato and tuna salads were a bit dry and could have had better seasoning. Kids loved the trains, of course. read more

Steaming Tender - Lobster roll - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

Steaming Tender Restaurant is in Palmer Mass. This top-notch restaurant is a famous tourist attraction located in an historic railroad station. The menu had excellent choices: Steaks, Ribs, Fried and Broiled Seafood, Pork & Poultry, Pasta, Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads, Soups and Appetizers. Elizabeth had the Half of Roasted Duck with Plum Sauce. I sampled it and it was delicious. I had the Whole Belly Fried Clams with French Fries & coleslaw. The clams were crispy and tasty, 100 percent perfect. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. The next time we go there we will try the "All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet" on Sat/Sun Mornings. Seniors (55+) get it for $7. read more

Good place to eat every once and a while. the steak is good not great. a little pricey for what you get . The location is strange but the building is very cool and well kept. My daughter loves watching the trains go by as you eat. The service is very good but the food is hit or miss. read more

Tucked into a corner off of Palmer's Main Street is a former train station lovingly refurbished into a casual eatery. The classic architecture was build by the famous American Architect, H.H. Richardson, who designed many train stations and libraries. His best-known buildings, however, are a warehouse (his was a new kind of structure at the time), and Trinity Church on Boston's Copley Square. The dining area, because it was an open train station, can seem a bit out of scale, but looking at the building around you will make up for it! Or, you can peek outside at a train going past. As for the food: it's casual American fare at decent prices. A little odd, perhaps, because of the architecture, but who am I to complain about getting a gourmet setting at burger & fries prices? read more

This place is a great alternative to Friendly's if you're driving across the state. It's a little further away from the exit, but it's totally worth it. If you have a train enthusiast in your group or perhaps some kids to amuse, this is a great place to stop for a bite. The atmosphere is pretty casual, so don't worry if you're not dressed to the nines. The menu features American dishes, such as fried chicken, BBQ ribs, burgers, and more. Nothing costs more than $20.99, and most things are between $7 and $12. The service was a bit slow at times, so if getting in and out quickly is important, this may not be the best place to stop. read more

Can't beat the Sunday Bfast Buffet, gets a little pricier during the evening but food is well worth the price. Prime Rib is always cooked good and choices of wine and drinks are good as well. Can't say enough about the Atmosphere! A very Historic feel to the place that you simply don't get at many Restaurants. All around a great place to be around family and eat. read more

What great food! I had the cowboy steak and it was perfect. My wife had the rattle snake pasta she loved it! Great service in s very cool space trains going by outside and the kids where blown away! Must stop here you will love it. read more

Steaming Tender - The bar! - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

Love this place. It has a ton of character. Great historical building that was tasteful remodeled. I always feel like I'm stepping back in time when I enter! The food is great as well. I have tried many of the menu items. My favorite has to the their Reuben with the potato logs (big thick fries). Their Mac and cheese, burgers and fish are all great as well. They have good beers on tap and the service is always friendly. Don't be surprised if you feel the building shaking while eating, if you do look outside and you'll be treated to a passing train. Just a fun place to eat. Would be good for the family or even for a date night. We always look forward to going here! read more

This breakfast was terrific & it made my day! To top it off my boyfriend made me a homemade Waffle!! Wow The waitress's are very friendly & efficient! SUPERB read more

Steaming Tender - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

Beautiful, turn-of-the-last-century train station converted into a special dining experience in Central Massachusetts. Cocktails, food, and service are all fabulous. If you love history and great food, this is the place for you. A must see Summer travel to do list item. Tangible living history at it's best. read more

Steaming Tender - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

I hate to disparage a place like this. Allow me to first note that the physical structure, an old railroad depot, is amazing. The owners have done a remarkable job of restoring the place. But, unfortunately, the quality of the meals, at lunchtime, came nowhere close to matching the decor. My daughter ordered baked stuffed shrimp, I ordered shrimp scampi and my wife ordered stuffed haddock. Both my wife and daughter praised the stuffing but my daughter felt her shrimp were overcooked. My wife found the surface of the stuffed haddock to be dried out and a bit chewy. I found that the pasta in the scampi was undercooked and the shrimp was overdone. On a positive note, the amount of shrimp in the scampi was ample. Even with the bad experience on the entrees, we all ordered from the dessert menu to go. And the desserts were amazing. Hint, if you order nothing else, try the bread pudding. The whiskey sauce is decadent and amazing; they could have skipped the rest and served just that. The carrot was good if somewhat skimpy; really good carrot cake is tough to find and theirs almost measured up to our favorite. All in all, a disappointing visit after hearing so much about the place and travelling more than an hour to get there. Perhaps they were having an off day in the kitchen. read more

Everyone was very welcoming,friendly and accommodating . Food was outstanding! Waitress was excellent and atmosphere was very unique,clean and comfortable. Can't wait to go back! read more

Gave the Steaming Tender a second chance after dreadful last experience. I have to say this time they aced it. Service was great and food was even better. I guess the trick is to avoid going on a busy weekend night. The brisket sandwich was amazing. read more

We are frequent patrons of this wonderful restaurant. During my last visit I ordered the turkey and brie sandwich on sourdough bread. This was probably the best sandwich I've ordered in such a long time. It was so filling that I ended up taking half of it home. I hope this ends up on the regular menu since it was a special that day. Very friendly staff as always. Ambience is truly one of a kind. read more

Went on a Wednesday afternoon, to sit at the bar and have a beer and some lunch. First off, no bar tender was on. They had 4 girls running around like crazy. It took almost 15 minutes until someone came over to me. Second, the beer selection is very limited. Only 3 beers on tap! Third, it took another 20 minutes for the waitress to come over and take my lunch order. The food was average at best. The croutons in my Caesar salad tasted like they were cooked in 6 month old oil. Yuck! Would it hurt you to put the tv on at the bar? read more

Good meal, great surroundings. We didn't get to see a train, though. read more

Met up here on a Sunday for lunch at 1pm and there appeared to be a little bit of a wait but fortunately we had a reservation. We were seated promptly at the back of restaurant, near the women's restroom. The only bad thing about that area was that every time someone went to the bathroom there was a draft, since the bathroom is not heated. Anyways, the restaurant is really cool and open. A former train station makes this dining experience that much more of a novelty and more of a real "experience" as trains do still operate and drive by. The food was good, the burgers were tasty and juicy even though it was a bit overcooked for me; you only have an option to order "pink or no pink". The burgers are half-pound and are good size; definitely will fill you up. They also have sweet potato fries! The Portabella burger was great topped with a nice pesto sauce. Lastly, we had the Pot Roast Dinner which looked good although I wasn't offered a taste. Comes with mashed and veggies. Very tender and juicy. Only complaint was we had to wait a while for our food. Maybe it was because we had 6 people in our party but luckily they give you fresh warm bread so that held us over. Service was attentive and friendly. If we're ever in the area again, we'll stop by! read more

The Lobster Macand Cheese was worth the 3,000 mile trip from AZ wicked good along with the clam chowder. Service was awesome highly recommended and not to even mention the really cool building.... read more

Excellent food, service. Vegan options available. Excellent cocktails. Will be back! read more

Steaming Tender - Spaghetti squash with spinach, chick peas, garlic, sun dried tomato (vegan). Totally delish! - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

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One of our favorites! The food is excellent and our server was fantastic! We have to travel an hour to get there but it is always worth it!

Good service, a little green but they did okay for being new in the industry (my guess). We had the Mother's Day buffet and although very busy it was a lovely experience and the drink service was quick. They didn't remove empty bar glasses when they would come over, which I believe to be a very important part of service. The food choices was broad and all very tasty. Good for families and those with children and those who are not looking for a high end dining experience but rather a traditional meal with a cool environment (train station). We had fun after a few drinks too taking pictures around the station. The waiters in conductor outfits is a cute touch too! Great place to take Nana or your Nephew for sure! read more

Steaming Tender - American Near Me - Palmer, Massachusetts

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