There were 4 of us for lunch on a Saturday. We got there early (11:45) and were asked if we had a reservation. We looked curiously at the hostess as the restaurant was empty. Within 1/2 hour of our arrival , there was not an empty seat. 3 of us ordered the chicken pot pie and 1 the turkey panini. Both were excellent. I would highly recommend. read more

The Duck - Chicken pot pie was outstanding - New American Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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I meet me friends from Connecticut and western Massachusetts here for lunch frequently. The lunches are delicious. I have tried every salad they offer and you cannot go wrong with these offering especially coupled with the soup of the day. The service is excellent, the decor is rustic and lovely. The prices are appropriate and not excessive. read more

We were in the area and wanted to try something that wasn't a chain and wouldn't be greasy food. So glad we picked the Duck for lunch. The beer selection was good not just the regular options but something different for everyone's palette. I had the two roads espresso porter, which I highly recommend if you're a porter fan. I couldn't decide on a salad or a sandwich lucky for me they had a pick two so I could have the best of both worlds! The fig salad and blacked salmon wrap were wonderful and left me very full and satisfied! read more

The Duck - Pick two for $10 is a wonderful lunch special! - New American Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday a few months ago. It was the first time we had been here, and had a wonderful experience. We share the appetizer special and each of us ordered one of the Loft Classic entrees. I had the Bouillabaisse and he had the Chicken Parmesan Alfredo. Delicious isn't even the word to describe the two meals. He had a couple of cocktails and I a couple glasses of wine and the total bill was fairly reasonable for the quality of food we had. The service was great, ambiance was great, they even had a single guitarist playing some live music in the Loft. It was a great experience and we'll surely be back - both to dine here again and we'd love to try the sister-restaurant downstairs - Avellino. Great date night! read more

Saturday, mid winter day. Upstairs half full. 10 min to initial waitress fly by greeting. Another 10 to get beer list. 15 min to get first round of drinks, so I am going with SLOW service. Food was slightly above average but slow service kills any hope of a above average rating. read more

Great atmosphere and beautifully prepared food. Service was extremely pleasant and prompt. Lost 1 star for group of black flies buzzing around the dining area and our waitress keeping the dinner specials to herself. read more

I don't know man.... I think that hot fresh (unexpired) food is the bare minimum for any restaurant, let alone an upscale presenting place like this. Drinks were great and the pretzel bites were hot and tasty. Our mains were both cold before we even took our first bites. I got the vegetarian tacos that had marinated grilled cauliflower, red cabbage, and sriracha aoili. The tortilla was so hard and stale and the cauliflower was so crunchy and raw. It came with sweet potato fries which were also cold and hard :-( It just felt like i was eating someone's leftovers from yesterday. we were sitting in such close proximity to everyone else at the bar and I couldn't help but overhear 3 separate groups complain to each other about their food. My beau said the oyster crackers given with his chowder had to have been 5 years old. It sucks because it had such potential.. If the fries weren't hours old and the tortilla fresh and the taco filling actually cooked i think it would've tasted pretty good. read more

Great gluten free options including sandwiches and lobster mac and cheese. The atmosphere is rustic with a comfortable setting both at the bar and tables. For the beer drinkers, try the delicious caramel-rimmed pumpkin beer in the fall. You won't be disappointed! read more

The Duck - Pumpkin beer! Must have a caramel rim. - New American Near Me - Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Great bar atmosphere. Loved the fish and chips. The Cole slaw is great too. All food is fresh and prepared in house. Excellent service at the bar. I highly recommend The Duck. read more

We had great fried oysters as an appetizer--and split a delicious burger. We liked the bar with its low seats.

Excellent Food, and service. Had the gnocchi bolognese sauce, was to die for. The meatball was like my great-grandma used to make when I was a kid. One of the beat meals I've had in a while. read more

This isn't a lengthy review but the staff is very very friendly the atmosphere is that of a ski lodge/barn but has style and class. You don't need to be super dressy here which is really nice after a long day, I'm not saying show up in dirty paint covered jeans but you can wear something a bit more casual or you can dress up too it works both ways. My food was stellar I had the 12 ounce New York strip and it was cooked to order perfectly, although my main course was outstanding the best part had to be the dessert I shared the sampler for 2 and each different dessert I bit into was full of flavor and just about to die for. I would come back for all of it but especially for the dessert. read more

All I really can say about the Duck at this point is that it is very inconsistent. I used to go here all the time. Approximately once a month. So 12 times a year, on average, I think that is a lot for visiting a restaurant. When it's good, it's great. Certain meals are hands-down the best. The pork chop with the Apple dumpling, the chicken pot pie, the burgers and steak are all usually done well. However when it's bad, it's really bad. The waitstaff used to be very prompt courteous and helpful. I don't know who is managing things there now, but the service has been terrible. And SLOW. And when they mess up on your order, they don't really seem to care. After my last bad experience I'll be going elsewhere for awhile. It's too bad. I love the ambiance. read more

Stoped their a couple years ago with family to get duck and they wear all out of duck how is it when your named the duck and at noon time on a Saturday your out of duck. I got the chicken pot pie which was more like a soup with crust. For the price was not worth stoping in for the staff is friendly that and the drinks are good but that's all. read more

I went to The Duck last night with a group of 8. The food was incredible, the waiter was friendly and attentive, and the drinks were great! The atmosphere is rustic and beautiful. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great dinner!! read more

Went for drinks and apps before a wedding. Service was really slow, drinks were weak and the apps couldn't see mediocre with a step ladder .

The hazelnut cream butternut squash raviolis are to die for. Everything else is great too but those are amazing. Paired with a very intimate and lovely environment I love this place. read more

This restaurant is not ADA compliant. While I was able to enter the building, only the second floor seating for lunch.

The food is consistently OK, but we go to sit at the raised bar in the comfortable seats. It's a shame the bartenders, almost every one, have the personalities of dead fish. Worse, the fellow we had last time avoided even looking at us while we clearly wanted another round, and tended instead to his seemingly important load of glassware in the washer. I'm a good tipper, and the last time was the first I ever left 10%. We had gone many times, but no more. Too many bad experiences. read more

Had dinner at The Duck based on a friend's recommendation. We were looking for a new restaurant since our usual "go to" place has been subpar. We were welcomed by a very inviting host and the staff was equally inviting. Our drinks arrived promptly and I loved the white pear and lemon Sangria. We both had the braised short ribs and they didn't disappoint! I honestly don't think I have ever had spinach prepared so perfectly. Even though I was full we ordered the dessert for 2. We couldn't decide which sample was the best. I highly recommend getting this dessert so you can try a wide selection. read more

My wife and I had dinner there last night; trying a new place in Sturbridge. We were greeted and seated promptly in the Duck area of the restaurant. The hostess explained that there were beginning a "freshening" of the restaurant with new lighting and decor. Hopefully they will brighten up the level of light; it was a bit dark. Our server was efficient and competent. She explained the specials and offered her opinion when I could not decide between two entrees. She brought our drinks and some focaccia with butter (which strangely seemed to be unsalted). We ordered house salads, pan seared duck with toasted farrow and cabbage along with maple glazed scallops with butternut risotto. The house salads came with dressed greens, goat cheese, candied walnuts and grid cranberries. I have to say I expected something more simple as the "house" salad. The greens were well dressed but could have used a little more acid. The entrees were great. The duck was medium rare as requested, the farrow chewy but tender with bits of carrot and onion. The surprise on the plate was the braised napa cabbage.Yum! The scallops and risotto did not disappoint either. And again, the frisee arugula salad with house cured pancetta was a delight. Crunchy bacon bit with a sharp lemon dressing on the greens was a nice counterpoint to the rich risotto and perfectly cooked scallops. For dessert, a sampler of cardamom creme brûlée, white chocolate mousse in a pistachio tulle cup, red velvet cake and a white chocolate truffle rolled in granola. We couldn't finish it. All in all one of the best meals we have had. We were so happy with our meals that we sent the chef a drink. We look forward to going back soon. read more

Sat at the bar and ordered 2 apps. The candy bacon and the deep fried oysters. Simply amazing .

This place boasts about having a great gluten free menu & they do... if only what was listed on that menu was actually gluten free. I ordered the honey bourbon glazed salmon which was listed on the GF menu. It's supposed to come with gf gnocchi and a spinach/bacon hash. The waitress came back after I ordered to tell me that the gnocchi is not actually gluten free and asks me if that is ok. I say nooo. She offers me a gf parmesan risotto instead & I say that's okay. Over 40 minutes later the food comes out. She served me a plain salmon over what appears to be yellow rice (maybe saffron) which is not what I ordered. I ask her where the honey bourbon glaze part is and she tells me that the chef says I can't have it because it's also not gf. THEN WHY WOULD YOU PUT IT ON THE GF MENU. She brought some sort of maple glaze to try which was not good. The waitress did her best & took my dry salmon and gross yellow rice off of the check, but we will not be coming back unless the chef & management stop advertising things that are not gluten free as gluten free. I have a pretty serious allergy & situations like this are not OK. False advertising is dangerous. read more

The food was great except the buffalo chicken wontons. The texture inside was not what I was expecting and they were over crispy on the outside. I waited over 30 mins past my reservation time, only to be seated at a table that was open the entire time. That was a little annoying. The atmosphere was loud but fun, and the music was average. Our sever had a lot going on and though she was friendly, she wasn't very attentive. The duck poutine was really good. The duck was cooked perfectly. My NY Strip was the best! A little charred on the out side (which I love) and cooked perfectly. We will give it another chance, but maybe not on a busy Saturday night. read more

Normally love The Duck. We go for special occasions and the food used to be very good with a great menu, nice variety. Had a bad experience tonight and not sure when I will be back. Had an extremely overpriced, small and bland salmon dish. The person I was with ordered a cocktail that did not taste right. They had one sip and put it aside hoping the bartender would see there was an issue - or at least ask if the drinks were ok. We felt ignored for most of the meal and never even received ice water. Very disappointed in this visit and will not be rushing back. read more

Nice place with good food. However I asked ahead of tome for no mashed potatoes with my meal. It came out with them. I told the waitress and she took my plate. The meal came back with no extra vegetables and mash potatoes wiped off the plate. The vegetables that were there had mashed potatoes in them and I had to wipe off mashed potatoes from my steak. Not what I expected from a nice restaurant. read more

The Duck doesn't disappoint! It's not always perfect; today's service was rather slow because they were too busy for the limited wait staff. However, the food was amazing! I'd not been there since I've been gluten free. Let me tell you, the four family members who tried my Mac and Cheese couldn't believe it was gf! It was thick with a delicious three cheese blend and the pasta was done just right! I was in heaven! It's a starter, but I only ate about half of it along with my arugula salad (butternut squash, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, slivered almonds - no pancetta for me). I'm looking forward to leftovers tomorrow. One daughter had the same salad with a good sized portion of grilled salmon - moist and flavorful. My husband's turkey panini was oozing with turkey, havarti, cranberry and stuffing! Clam chowder, New York Sirloin, Salmon wrap with cheddar and tzatziki and open faced hot turkey dinners were all big hits with my family! I appreciated the fresh brewed decaf- smooth, hot, and delicious! The restaurant is upstairs from the fancier Italian partner, Avillino, so stairs might be a concern for some. The atmosphere is cozy, there's a full bar and clean bathrooms. read more

We were "regulars" at the previous Ugly Duckling and were sad to see it go and did not go back to try the new Duck until recently. We were pleasantly surprised. They now have many gluten free options. I frequently get the GF Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger. The Bouillabaisse is also very good. My wife, who is not GF, likes the fried calamari and crab cakes. We usually try to sit at the bar. The chairs are comfortable and Joseph, the bartender, is great to chat with. read more

We were excited to try The Duck based on the reviews we read. We dine out in many very good restaurants and are used to excellent food. I came away disappointed. I had the pan seared scallops special with lobster and mushroom risotto . The scallops were not seared at all and were flavorless . The lobster in the risotto was tasty and tender but the risotto itself had no flavor and was not seasoned . My husband had the duck two ways. The duck was good but the rice had no flavor. My husband ordered a glass of wine that was less than half full. He was okay with that until the table across from us ordered wine and received glasses of wine that were three quarters full . From the ongoing conversation we realized that one of the patrons either worked at the restaurant or knew several of the staff members. The table got a lot of attention and we did not get the attention we should have been given. Dessert was good, that is why you get the 3 stars otherwise it would have been 2 1/2. read more

My husband, daughter and I stopped here for dinner before a local fireworks display. The service was very friendly, if a little confusing. Our waitress probably should have spent a few more minutes with the menu before answering questions, but no big deal. My husband's burger was a little overdone, but fine. The fries though, were cold and floppy (ick). My daughter asked for a grilled cheese and received a shapeless blob of bread soaked in melted cheddar with a pile of the aforementioned floppy fries. NOT appealing to a 9-year-old. For myself, I succumbed to the clam chowder, which the waitress said was a "specialty". Ok. I know. Ordering seafood more than 10 miles from the shore is an iffy proposition, but this was truly nasty. It should have been listed as "Cream of Bacon" soup, because there wasn't a single clam in the whole cup -- but there sure was a lot of bacon! I also had a piece of baked haddock, which I think must have been sitting under a heat lamp since lunch. It was dry and tasteless, and "presented" on some soupy "mashed potatoes". As for the ambiance... it could be a lovely space with exposed rafters and brick, but again, just average. There are better burgers for the price. We won't be returning. read more

I had the blackened salmon ad it was great. It had the right amount of color in the salmon

I made a reservation to meet family members as it was an equidistant point for both parties. I can understand the very average food in this tourist area, but if so tickets should come out faster. Drinks took 15 minutes and main courses took well over an hour to the table. I can only imagine what the wait would be like if it was actually busy. Our server was nice enough, but when I politely pointed out that service was very, very slow I was surprised that the manager didn't follow up with me. We have these mini reunions quite often in the area but we will certainly not be returning here. FYI-anyone with an elderly guest, or issues with stairs you will have a big problem as it is 2 flights up a set of stairs. read more

This place seems to get a mix of locals and tourists. Theres nothing wrong with it....but its nothing special. I had an uninspired manhattan as my cocktail..wife had a glass of pinot grigio. we shared an onion rings as our appetizer---very good and tasty. For the main event..waitress recommended the sirloin tips....."99's" tips are better at half the price. they were smothered in some kind of mushroom and onion sauce. some of the tips were on the chewy side... wife had the salmon dinner...she always loves her salmon!! we had to ask for some bread..and four little pieces came out with some olive oil. also....no salads included with the meals....making the entrees expensive. no one really seemed in charge here on a pretty busy sunday evening. staff just roaming around. friendly enough but just going through the motions. read more

Made a stop for lunch here on a Saturday afternoon. Sat outside in their well-kept patio section. Food was pretty straight forward, we ordered a few wraps and sandwiches. Everything was good. Only complaint was the service was very slow but I think it was mainly due to a shortness of staff and a new server. Overall everyone was satisfied with their meals and we'd be happy to stop there again when in town. read more

My family and I have been here a few times and have always had really great experiences. The food is delicous and feels like upscale comfort food. Their chicken pot pie is delicous as is their meatloaf. Save room for dessert too as they do that very well too. I'd recommend the duck for a fun night out! read more

I'm an old time customer of the "Ugly Duckling" (It's original name for the last several owners). It used to be an interesting place with a diverse menu. No longer so. We used to eat anything from just a sandwich for six bucks to a sirloin steak or filet mignon. They've genericized the menu completely and eliminated sandwiches except for a couple of them elevated to some kind of "dinner" for twice the price. Their online menu said that they have a cheese sandwich for $9 which wasn't even on the menu when I went in. The place has lost it's character completely along with being considerably overpriced in my opinion. The food isn't actually bad, just boring and considerably overpriced. This isn't progress, just profit. read more

The dinner was yummy. I had the turkey burger and my date had not your average chicken cordon blue. He liked his too. They wait staff was nice and checked in to make sure our water glasses were full. We stayed long after we paid because the date was going so well and were still offered water. We practically closed the place down. If I didn't live so far away I would come back. read more

Good food and environment- meat in a ton of dishes- even seafood ones. Clam chowder didn't specify it's made with bacon fat and has bacon in it. Had to return. read more

So.....we went upstairs to The Duck to enjoy live piano guy entertainment. LOML and I both ordered the house salad, walnut goat cheese spring mix and just a little too much dressing, but still good. Decent wine list, me with the malbec, she with the pinot noir. Main courses were duck breast and mac and cheese with lobster, both good. Wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable and if the duck breast with potato was hot instead of warm this would have been four star. read more

The service was very nice , enthusiastic , my vegan companions were met with almost no options , in fact none , I ordered a crispy duck , a speciality of the restaurant , crispy it was not , dry and tasteless This place is lacking any talent but not afraid to charge high prices , would not go back read more