Love the Waxwing. Food, service are great. Ambiance - a little crowded for my taste. I'll go for a special meal, but with the prices up, a bit out of range for weekly dining. Maybe 3-4 times a year when I'm willing to splurge near home. Wish it did't feel so cramped. When the weather is warm and nights are longer, if the service is under the tent outside, it's a definite bike ride over and lovely outside dining. read more

How did I not know about this place? Super friendly service, great food. Not packed, so the noise level was fine. No loud music, almost no music. The lobster & salt cod brandade was delicious, as was the venison (something one doesn't usually see on a menu) & the short rib. They have a very eclectic wine list. We had a red from Hungary that was lovely. Will definitely be back. read more

Always a hit, never a miss. Dont let the chic casual vibe of this cafe fool you: the food is very serious and very delicious!! Watching 1 chef push push put a zillion dishes is Be aware that, because of 1 chef, there are set seating times, and a rez is pretty much necessary. Try the duck, the bolognaise, and frankly anything you want, because it will be elegantly, fragrantly flavored, with a level of sophistication that I associate with Manhattan bistros. *Chef's kiss* read more

Food was great. Service (Anne) was attentive and stellar. We were seated in the Chez room which was cooled by an over enthusiastic and noisy ac unit. Music was not conducive to the cuisine. Waxwing was a previous breakfast and lunch place and that's how it made me feel - a definite mismatch for the menu. Needs subdued lighting. Chick pea pancake, scallop app, bolognese and short ribs were world class for sure. Not sure we will return. Wanted to love waxwing but it just didn't happen. read more

See all

Waxwing is awesome !!! Probably the best restaurant around Northampton for service and quality of food. Highly recommended Team Balagan read more

The Waxwing - Pasta bolognaise - Mediterranean Near Me - Hatfield, Massachusetts

We had a fabulous meal at this delightful restaurant. Great drinks, menu excellent, oysters, chicken schnitzel, chocolate pie, short ribs- all terrific. The best old fashion . Erica is the bar tender - all excellent. read more

The food is amazing. It's of the highest quality, and you won't find better French inspired American cuisine in the entire River Valley area. The selections are fantastic, but I especially love their short rib. The service and cozy ambiance are also top notch. The one chef is phenomenal, and so are the hostess and wait staff. They always make me feel welcomed like a special guest. I also like the reservation style of service. The system works well and the restaurant flows nicely. I never feel rushed just always welcomed. This is an exquisite fine dining experience with the comforts of a relaxed/friendly environment. I highly recommend checking it out. read more

We had a very mixed dinner experience. Four different entrees, several different appetizers, several shared desserts and some drinks. The food and drink were uniformly excellent! The chicken mousse pate was smooth and full of umami, the zucchini fritters were substantial without being too heavy, the roasted garnet yam was spicy and delicious, the drinks were great and the desserts were well-executed with something for everyone. The chocolate enthusiast in our group noted the chocolate torte with an almond pistachio crust was the best torte she ever had. The service was fantastic- friendly, knowledgeable, fun. We almost didn't have this meal. Before we even ordered, a table near us asked the server if the music could be turned down - right before we were going to ask the same thing. The server went to check and apparently the request got to the chef/owner. He came out and angrily spoke to the requesting table - saying that he would NOT turn down the music, he had turned down the music at his previous restaurant because people asked and that restaurant had ended up closing! (What the heck?) He went on to say something to the effect of - so if you want to eat my food, the music stays on! Very hostile tone. Our whole table was horrified but we didn't want to leave because we didn't want the server to miss out on the business/tip. To sum it up, the meal and service were excellent but I would never return after seeing the chef throw such a hissy fit. That is not a business I want to support. read more

Easily one of the best options to eat out within 25 miles. I haven't ever seen a solo chef kitchen operation handle a 45 seat restaurant with this level of quality. Waxwing has one of the best thought out beer and wine lists I've seen in a while. Food highlights: - Escargot, - Garlic, Anchovies, Chilies and Mustard Greens, Tossed with Bucatini - Swordfish with Patatas Bravas Great service. Look forward to coming back read more

top 5 places i've ever eaten at ever. the fact that it is only one chef is phenomenal as there is not a long wait - clearly this guy knows his stuff. great service team too. please know that this place is brimming with love and you will have the best meal of your life there. read more

Off the charts good. Can't believe you have a Parisian bistro type place in the middle of nowhere. One chef cranks out impressive fare. Very friendly place. It is run by a husband-wife combo which ensures quality of experience. One of the best restaurants in Massachusetts. read more

Ordered several different dishes, which were all good but relied on the cheap trick of one fried item and one puree on every plate. Flavors were good but heavy. We kept questioning whether the calories and price were worth it. Thinking on it now, I'd say no. read more

I had very high hopes for Waxwing. The menu looked interesting, and I've heard good reviews from friends. We started with the salmon nduja, which we had been told would come as a seared piece of salmon topped with spicy nduja. What arrived could best be compared to a stick of butter, which had been rubbed on a piece of raw salmon, then whizzed in a food processor and stuck on top of a few fried crackers. Inedible. The crab had potential, had it not been brutally drowned in sauce and chickpea puree (how many times can chickpea puree arrive during the meal? At least 3). What may have been crisp fried crab was rendered to the texture of something a snake shed and got rained on. The salad, though edible, was outrageous for its price. Sadly, it was probably the highlight of the meal. Palates shocked, we braced for the main course. Willy Wonka may have enjoyed our duck, which came with a carrot puree and fruit reduction so sweet it would make my dentist cry. The duck was fine, albeit the skin was a bit flabby, but everything was tainted by the sugary goop underneath. I'd prefer not to write a review, but if you are going to spend so much money on a meal, it should at least be edible. Needless to say, we will not be returning. read more

Best food and service in the area And 2nd place isn't close It's that good Chef Paul and Amy always mome our experience memorable read more

Very disappointing. I liked Chez Albert when it was in Amherst so had high hopes for this chef in new venue. Instead, setting is dismal in old house amid asphalt parking lot on highway with small/loud rooms. Hard to even find entrance. Wait staff over-explained, twice, menu and dishes as if we'd never eaten out before. High prices for mixed results in food. Cider came in a can with a juice glass on the side. Heirloom tomatoes with blue cheese appetizer was fresh and smooth. But then I had duck special which was served with polenta and a semi-sweet sauce. Bitter aftertaste, plus duck is always fatty but I had trouble finding three bites of meat. Chocolate ganache on almond-pistachio crust dessert was rich but not outstanding. Conversation constantly interrupted by staff asking if all okay, did we want more to drink, let us explain your dish, can I take that plate, etc. Intrusive. Overall, at $87/each, was not sure what premium we were buying but won't be returning. read more

Everything was delicious!! Inventive and good flavors. Nice staff. Was quite slow so just don't go with a limited time window.

Fabulous place for a celebratory dinner party! The atmosphere and service is perfection and the food is not like any other outside of NYC. The flavors are out of this world for every dish. Western MA has never been so lucky! read more

Food, service, atmosphere, backround music candles, presentation & vibe are all 10 stars! We had the mid summer 7 course tasting menu with drink pairing. Exceptional food & beautifully tailored drinks. Family owned. Amazing staff. Loved ittt. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Worth the trip worth a stop. We decided to get a few things from the menu to sample. We ordered hash, French toast, and a bacon egg and cheese. They were all perfectly executed and hit the spot. COVID - The staff is serious about wearing masks and providing instructions to patrons. read more

See all

Outstanding. A Michelin 2+. Amy (front of house) and Paul (chef) have created the best fine dining establishment in the pioneer valley; one which would be competitive in any urban setting. Jack V read more

Fantastic, small, intimate place with friendly wait staff wonderful cocktails and great food. Really happy they were able to pull through the pandemic and we will definitely be going back read more

The Waxwing - Lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Hatfield, Massachusetts

See all

Totally blown away by the food, the service, the cocktails and the ambiance. half of my group are vegetarians and the other half serious meat eaters and we were all thrilled with our meals. Couldn't have been better. read more

The Waxwing - Beautiful bar where the delicious and stunning cocktails are created! - Mediterranean Near Me - Hatfield, Massachusetts

Exquisite food, wonderful service, romantic atmosphere, and always creative. We went there recently for the vegetarian mushroom tasting and were blown away by the chef's innovative and luscious use of local fungi. As always, the team was terrific. Among the best cuisine in the valley and definitely perfect for date night. read more

We left because the music was too loud. Really a shame because the food has been so highly recommended.

Nice ambiance and good food. Yelp wants more words so I'm writing more words. I wish I could just rate restaurant.

Wow!!! I feel almost bad reviewing it because it is SOOOO GOOD I fear it will very soon be so popular one will not be able to get a random reservation when this place becomes as popular as it deserves... Very picky French guy here eating with folks from Switzerland and LA. ALL members of our parties literally stopped speaking at the first bites of each dishes because of how delicious the dishes were (vegetarian and otherwise)! On top of that, add INCREDIBLE HUMANS working there!! Bartender Christina and Chef Paul were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!! I CANNOT recommend this place enough! Amazing decor, great drinks, even better food and INCREDIBLE people! I couldn't have a better birthday meal! I would squander any Boston restaurant in the near future to come back. I dare you to prove me wrong! read more

Best food, drinks and service in the area. Paul and Amy don't miss a detail. Give them a try. You won't be disappointed!

What a wonderful restaurant!! We'd heard it was really good and it surpassed our expectations! It's been a long time since we've been served an amuse bouche, so that was a sweet surprise! The cocktails were inventive, and the food in general was beautifully prepared. It's fine dining without being pretentious. The service was great- they clearly want to please their patrons. The atmosphere is charming- who wouldn't love a converted diner?! Can't say enough good things- we're thrilled they survived the pandemic and look forward to going back and sharing this find with more friends!! read more

I had a fantastic meal at Waxwing, with plenty creative choices as a vegetarian. Everything was beautifully prepared and very tasty. The wait staff was very friendly and on the ball. I was glad to see they were no longer understaffed. read more

The food is wonderful here, and reasonably priced considering that it is top quality, unusual, so well and freshly prepared, so thoughtfully plated and served. I had fried oysters as an appetizer and the venison as a main. We shared a caesar salad. He had the blackened fish and an appetizer of cod and lobster on toasted brioche. It was all very good (I liked my dishes better). The servers were really good too, extremely attentive and kind. The pace of the place was nice- relaxed but not a big lag time between ordering and eating. If you don't mind a loud restaurant, then by all means check this place out; it's great! I told the server that I was not happy about the noise and she seemed to understand, and I did not feel sorry to mention it. That kind of atmosphere is not for everyone, and certainly not for someone who does not drink alcohol, and also has sensitive hearing. We discovered that speaking in low tones helped us to communicate through the noise, but it could not neutralize the bombastic cheer of our fellow diners, a few of whom were gifted and prolific orators. read more

In a surprising location somewhat off the beaten track, we found food that was creative, absolutely delicious, substantial, and well-presented. As a small operation during a time of heightened pandemic precautions, the proprietors brought a homey local feel to a thoughtful menu of food and drink. It was a cold night, and Waxwing had windows open a crack for safety's sake, so we had to bundle up a bit. But after the "amuse bouche" of chicken broth was consumed and our food started to arrive, things warmed up considerably. We are already looking forward to our next visit soon. read more

This place is truly one of a kind and is a combination of perfect food and people. The servers truly connect with you and the aura of the restaurant is authentic and true read more

My husband and I have been dining with Paul since the first day that he opened his first restaurant in Amherst. The food has always been the best and his wife Amy and the rest of the staff are great too! read more

I just had my first dining experience from The Waxwing, although it was an unconventional one it was exceptional. I grew up in Hatfield but have been living in New York City for over 10 years and manage high end restaurants for a living. I came back home almost a month ago to quarantine with my family and heard that there was a new fine dining establishment right here in Hatfield! Naturally I was excited to check them out, however due to the quarantine that was not an option. Today my mother noticed signs outside of the restaurant indicating they they were doing curbside takeout and suggested that we order some food. It was PHENOMENAL. From the fresh, crisp delicious caesar salad to my perfectly prepared Duck Confit. My mother had the steak, also cooked to perfection, tender and juicy even after traveling down the road. Every single detail was on point, and at less than half the price I'm used to paying in the city. They also have now made their beautifully curated wine list available for take out as well. If you find yourself wanting a special treat during these uncertain and scary times I urge you to get some takeout from The Waxwing and support a local business that is really doing something special. read more

Our first experience with The Waxwing- fabulous!!! Due to Coronovirus we did curbside pickup- it was seamless. The order was packaged with cold sauces and desserts separated from hot food and entree. Which always makes the reheat taste great when the sauce is on the side. We had chicken meatballs-Highly recommend We also order the salmon with brown rice cake and Ny strip with roasted potatoes both were served with delicious kale. Can't wait to try to dessert we ordered- but so Full we need to wait. We will be back and are so grateful they are open. read more

I and most of the Pioneer Valley have been waiting for a year or two to see what Paul Hathaway and his partner Amy would do after they closed their absolutely terrific restaurant Chez Albert in Amherst a coupe of years ago. They opened up the Waxwing Cafe about two weeks ago and it's nothing short of stunning. We went on a Saturday, the fourth day they were open. The restaurant has "bites" which are really fun apps on skewers; escargot, meatballs, anchovy..., small plates, and mains. Besides any number of bites, we had a pate plate and calamari for small plates, and salmon, and duck for mains. Desserts rocked, too. We will be back frequently. read more

Amazing, simply amazing! I knew it would be good but not this good! Food was extremely fresh and prepared in the most beautiful way. My friend and I started off with the bite of escargot which was perfectly garlicky and tender, so good that a first time taster of escargot would instantaneously love it! Next we had the crispy squid, as someone that loves calamari I have to say that was one of the best! The reduction of garlic and lime blew it away with the refreshing of the lime and sweet slices of mango and crunchy bean sprouts. Next on to the liver pate! Simply amazing! Not a liver fan? You'd most likely enjoy this! Very creamy and smooth with such nice earthy flavor! For the main course I had the catch of the day which was halibut, so flavorful for such a mild fish, the fish was cooked to perfection, was so moist and tender. We had to get dessert and find a space to squeeze it in! I got the refreshing ricotta with cara cara, which was superb! Cocktail list is impressive with a vast array of top shelf liquor and some local brews, impressive wine list! Staff is very friendly and knows the menu! Such a great vibe in the restaurant, go with time to enjoy all the different flavors! A wonderful addition to any town but extremely excited that it is in Hatfield! As it was my first time there we got more food then we normally would, portions are generous, we would have been satisfied with sharing an app and each getting a main course! read more

See all

The Waxwing is a huge surprise for Hatfield MA! I only post reviews for five star ratings and this is one of them. We had dinner last night and brunch today (meaning this past Sunday. I had the French Toast this morning. All I can say is it's the best. Huge French Toast with berries etc... WOW! Dinner was great too. Go try it, you'll be surprised too. read more

The Waxwing - Amazing French Toast! - Mediterranean Near Me - Hatfield, Massachusetts

I wanted to like this place, as it was recommended as one of the decent options in the area. unfortunately, my experience wasn't that great. I would say food is not bad, but we had to wait for an hour to get our appetizers, and we didn't start the main course until 1.5 hrs after we placed an order. The kitchen was clearly understaffed (one person doing everything???) but they kept seating people inside and outside, accepting the orders without bothering to tell us it may take a while. I guess I would feel a bit better if we were told ahead of time, but also didn't make any sense as to why to try to pack a restaurant which is not that small (plus big outdoor area) when their kitchen clearly can't handle it. read more

Food is delicious and service is good! Feel a little rushed but we plan to go back soon.