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Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
9 reviews for Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant
Note: this is a review of the restaurant not the lodging.
I had never been to the Bedford Village Inn (BVI) and had no idea of what to expect. I knew the restaurant is somewhat upscale, but I had pictured a New England crafty themed dining room full of with country nicknacks. Nicknacks and fine dining rarely go hand in hand. The dining areas achieve a cozy NH theme and fortunately are not cluttered at all. The decor is rather classy actually.
I went for lunch and was seated immediately. The menu has a good variety and the lunch prices are very reasonable. I decided on the sliders (mini burgers). Yes, it sounds like a poor choice and that I should join the rest of the cretins at Apple Bee's. However, these hamburgers were unlike any other. Even the standard fare items are crafted and presented in a uniquely gourmet fashion.
They provide ice water and warm artisan bread without a request, a big plus in my book. I had heard that their wine list was of legendary proportions and decided to try a glass. The server suggested a red wine from France. For a red wine it was very smooth with a delicate footprint.
The entree arrived quickly and I was presented with my three miniature hamburgers cooked to my liking (medium rare) served on homemade rolls. Each sandwich offered a distinct taste: marinated mushroom and blue cheese, caramelized onions and cheddar, and an interesting tangy yet sweet relish. Each was equally delicious, probably as good as a hamburger can get, I was very impressed. Aside from the sandwiches I was also served a generous portion of fancy french fries complete with a serving of ketchup in a small glass receptacle.
Through the entire meal the service was friendly and attentive. They were knowledgeable of the menu and able to pick out a fine wine (their extensive list is unbelievable). The atmosphere is upscale, but not to a point where it becomes uncomfortable. Although keep in mind that lunch is especially casual. The food was spectacular and rivals quality found in the more prominent establishments of Boston. Lunch definitely doesn't break the bank and in fact barely costs more than an ungodly chain restaurant. Check it out, I'd go back!
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Overpriced, pretentious.
They have top Mobil ratings because they have LOTS of inexperienced waitstaff. Their food is overpriced. They can't keep a chef when the owner doesn't take his meds. Sorry, it will never make the Best 50 Small Hotels of the World. Please prove me wrong.
It's a favorite of the network newspeople during the primaries. That should say something.
If you want fine dining go to the Hanover Street Chophouse.
This is my favorite restaurant!! I love the way it is decorated (especially at Christmas) and their food is AMAZING!!!! I have never had a bad meal and the menu changes constantly. The best thing to do here is to try to the chef's tasting menu. The chef will create the menu off the top of his/her head that night and it will be wonderful. They will serve you things you would never think to order. I recommend having them pair the course with wine and it will definitely add to the experience!! Although, if you do order off the menu I suggest completing the meal with the chocolate bag. It is a large dessert but it is wonderful.
I have never stayed at the hotel so I can't comment on it. But, I can't imagine it being anything less than wonderful.
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Overrated, overpriced, overdone and just plain OVER. This place is so overrated it's beyond comprehension. The abience is lovely, but no better than any decent inn or country restaurant in New England. And the prices are...well, let's just say be prepared to drop a few hundred and still have room for dessert. The food is mostly delicious (although my chicken was somewhat dry) and, unlike most lower-priced places, the portions aren't overly large. Take note there: this place charges through the roof for smaller portions. Hmmm. And you are required to order a minimum of the overpriced faire. My cousin came late for our aunt's birthday and was initially denied service because he wasn't ordering $30 worth of dessert (huh?). That crystalizes what's wrong here. This highfallutin' joint makes you PAY DEARLY for your time there and presents itself as "class supreme" but they are simply bilking their customersw for a bill-of-faire barely beyond most others places. Pass this one by.
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Fussy, Fussy, Fussy.
My husband and I have been here twice. Not impressed.
For the amount of food they offer, their prices are just too steep for what's on the plate.
Yes, it's quaint, it's beautiful; especially during the holidays; but as far as food goes, it's just too fussy for my taste.
We decided to not cook and went there for Thanksgiving. The choices for the prepped menu were very limited. No substitutions were allowed, and they didn't have mashed potatoes. A somewhat strange arrangement of food for a very traditional holiday. IMO, don't mess with tradition and give me what I want on Thanksgiving.
Any substitutions were not welcomed by the "chef"... again, it's Thanksgiving... I personally want and expect my traditional items.
On a positive note: The turkey was moist and very good; but again, very small portions, and when we asked for additional gravy, the waitress was somewhat snooty, but to be fair, I realize she was put in the middle and just doing what she's told. She did however, in turn, make us feel as though we were inconveniencing her. Which is not good.
In place of mashed potatoes, or au-graten potatoes, they had sliced very under-cooked sweet potatoes, which my husband will not eat. I think if my husband wanted mashed potatoes (which were listed on the children's meal??)... I don't feel that is a way out strange request.
However, due to his persistent personality, he practically begged the waitress to bring him some. She did, reluctantly, bring a VERY small bowl for him, (children's sized portion...) and asked for us to not exploit it, as she was afraid others would ask for them. Just put them on the menu !!!!
I'm sorry, but that was just silly to me.
We spent way over $200 on a Thanksgiving dinner for just the two of us. Good thing the kids weren't with us.
The prior Thanksgiving year, we went to the Homestead in Londonderry, which was Excellent.... they bent over backwards to make you feel at home. We also tried the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester, (which I've posted), for Thanksgiving dinner, also excellent.
Therefore, if we choose to dine out again for Thanksgiving, those two are on the top of my list.
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The Bedford Inn is exactly what you'd expect from a quaint boutique hotel in the Northeast -- completely charming grounds, suites with four-post beds, and colonial-like light fixtures. It also doesn't hurt that the leaves are a-changin' this time of year or that it is a balmy 70 degrees outside at the end of October (!).
The staff are extremely courteous, walking you to your room upon check-in and handing you the metal key as they leave. Although I love that an actual key and not some plastic key-card opens my door, I'm scared shitless that I'll lose it and not be able to so quickly replace it as I would in a key-card establishment.
The inn is on the smaller side (I'm in room number four) but has the feel of a larger hotel in terms of amenities such as free Internet, in-room snacks and coffee, and spa bathroom products.
There is a restaurant at the inn, however we chose to have dinner in the adjoining tavern, only a short walk from the main guest area. The food was wonderful -- I had chicken scallopini with mushroom orzo and spinach -- yet the atmosphere was casual. We were not the only business travelers, but it was nice to also see both a younger group of women dining as well as an older couple.
Without traffic, the Bedford Inn is supposed to be a short 48 minutes from Boston; however, arriving to Logan at 4 p.m. put us in prime commuter traffic hell and the drive was more like an hour and half. Still, I would definitely recommend it as a weekend get-away from the city or for a holiday weekend.
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This inn is perfect for a girls' trip or a romantic getaway -- too bad I was there for work. Still, they pamper the business traveler as much as any other guest, and the Starwood hotels we normally frequent could take a cue from the Bedford Inn when it comes to pleasing guests.
Like Nina said, we were each taken to our rooms upon arrival, and I was shocked at how large mine was. I normally associate "inn" with "quaint, tiny, and cozy," and my room was anything but. A large sitting area with a work desk opened into an even larger living area with plasma TV, which opened into the huge bed area. The bathroom featured a deep jacuzzi tub and issues of Wine Spectator for your reading pleasure...
I really enjoyed my turkey burger at the inn's tavern that night, along with some tasty wine. When I got back to my room, there were freshly baked cookies on the bed that, alas, due to my vigilant calorie counting, I had to ignore.
Early (REALLY early if you consider the time difference from the Pacific Coast) the next morning I got up for a run and the front desk man described to me a really nice two-mile loop around the inn. It was like running in Fall Land at a theme park -- turning leaves, bubbling brooks, sprawling homes on acres of green grass.
Next time I come to the Bedford, I better be with a man I don't work with to truly enjoy the experience!
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This is a review of the restaurant. The Cliff notes review: It's nice, but for the price I want more than nice.
16 of us descended on the restaurant. There's a group of us that all get together at random spots & someone (not me!) picked the Bedford Village Inn. The restaurant is in a big old house and it's been decorated in a very nice but fussy style. Service was great. Someone was always there no one ever had a water glass out of place for more than a few seconds. We're not the fanciest bunch of people and probably half of us don't own a suit that fits, so it was a bit much. The food was very good. I had chowder , a small filet, maybe 8 oz, and a cup of coffee after dinner. My piece of the bill came to $80, but we just divided it evenly so I'm sure someone else's drink was in there.
There seem to be a number of private rooms where mostly business people were eating. If you're looking for a weekend getaway where you can relax and get waited on in excruciating detail, this might be a fun spot. I can see where this would be a romantic spot, a girls weekend spot, etc., though the endless procession of random business types might break the mood. Maybe on weekends it would be better.
But for what I was expecting, what I paid, and what I got, I'm not really excited about it. When I go somewhere with my wife & we spend $150+ for dinner, there's going to be a bottle of wine involved and a situation where we don't have to drive after. But to pay that money, not drink, and hang out with some really good people that usually meet at Uno's on the local Chinese restaurant, I can't get excited about it. It's not all the fault of the Bedford Village Inn, but it's the way the evening went.
Nina F.'s review said is was what you'd expect from a "quaint boutique hotel" and I'll agree that if that's what you're looking for this place should do way better than 3 stars. Unfortunately. it wasn't what I was looking for.
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This is a restaurant and function review. I do not stay at the Inn but I have put people up here on business trips.
I've been to the BVI many times on business and pleasure. The atmosphere is amazing, just what one would expect from a New England country inn. There have been some recent renovations which have brought the inn up with the times....the bar has been expanded, making room for more casual dining which is great! There's also a new wine bar that I haven't visited yet, I'm sure it's up to the same standard of the inn. The only disappointing issue is some of the Bedford mom's think it's OK to bring very small children to an upscale restaurant which is very uncool. Get a babysitter!
The food is always prepared to an excellent standard, I like the salads off the bar menu. I don't typically eat in the main dining room but when I have the food has been top quality. The wine menu is extensive and amazing. If you have trouble with a selection the sommelier is always there to help (although he's quite snobby!!).
The staff is attentive although average. The hostess, who has seated us many times, Chilla, is lovely and very accommodating.
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