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The West Dover Inn and 1846 Tavern & Restaurant
Categories: Hotels & Travel Bed & Breakfast Restaurants American (New) Bed & Breakfast, American (New) [Edit]
108 Rt 100West Dover, VT 05356
(802) 464-5207
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
21 reviews for The West Dover Inn and 1846 Tavern & Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...water holes, waterfalls, hiking trails, and general sights."
(in 3 reviews)
"We arrived to a wine and cheese platter."
(in 4 reviews)
"Phil and his team go out of their way to make you feel at..."
(in 5 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Victoria R.
Amherst, MA
11/6/2011
My fiance and I were in town from Amherst, MA this past weekend thanks to a Living Social Deal for the Deerfield Valley Inn. Through our stay at DVI, we were given a $25 credit for 1846 tavern and restaurant and I'm so happy we did!
There were a few things I noticed when I walked in but I'm not going to focus on the negative of our dinner. Instead we were seated at a table which felt like it was on stage because we were in the middle of the hustle and bustle and we felt stared at but that wasn't something the restaurant could fix.
We ordered the Butternut Squash ravioli for our appetizer and I was BLOWN away. I know pasta and this was awesome! Totally worth every bite. My fiance ordered the pumpkin soup and a burger. The pumpkin soup was like pumpkin pie in soup formation. I hate pumpkin so I didn't enjoy it but she LOVED it. The burger was overcooked. She ordered it medium well but it was most definitely well done. Regardless it was tasty.
I had the salmon and I ate every bite. It had fresh beets, asparagus and mashed potatoes under it. The piece of salmon was he perfect size and glazed with honey. I was so full. All in all it was a great meal. Pricey but great. -
Review from D P.
Fairfield, CT
1/10/2012
New Years Eve 2011/2012
Perfect score.....both food and service were terrible! -
Review from Saab G.
East Norwich, NY
12/31/2011
Very bad experience. Long wait despite a reservation, neglectful service; no bread or water despite numerous requests. Problems with entrees, including one entree brought out twice totally cold and other entrees lacking elements described in the menu. Mgmt. did take the entree off the tab, but added a 20 percent tip without asking. Very long Dissappointing dinner, as it took over an hour to get the entrees and with kids after a full day skiing, that was close to a disaster.
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Review from Jamie G.
New Haven, CT
11/26/2011
We ate at the restaurant while staying at the nearby Deerfield inn as we had a $25 credit. I'm glad we had a credit since I would have expected a $70+ dinner for two people to be substantially better. Maybe I'm spoiled from living in San Francisco but if I'm paying that much for a meal I expect it to be amazing and this fell very short. The pumpkin soup was painfully sweet with the great amount of maple syrup added and the butternut squash ravioli was served at a tepid temperature. The pumpkin pie was ok but the crust was rock hard. Overall I would not recommend to anyone based on the prices. Lower the prices by $5-10 per dish and this might be worth it. Also the restaurant portion is very awkwardly arranged and lacks some ambiance. The tavern/bar area has a nice vibe though.
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Review from John C.
Natick, MA
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Top of the line. Used to be a stop for stagecoaches. The best pumpkin-maple soup ever. Ask about the on tap ales. Smuttynose dark ale is excellent. Superb quality meals. The salmon fillet and steak tips were delicious.
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Review from Brian C.
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stayed here with a living social discount. I will review both the Inn and the restaurant seperately here:
The INN:
Staff is very friendly and efficient, room was a good size (Garden Room), plenty of amenities. We had a window air conditioning unit, a queen size bed, a huge closet and a dresser with an LCD tv on top. Good amount of TV channels for some late night surfing.
The bathroom left a lot to be desired. The shower stall is pretty tight and the shower curtain is over sized and hogs the floor. (stepping on it skeeves me out). Also, the towels smelt funky. It smells like when you leave towels in the wash for too long when the cycle is over. Not a big fan. Ditto for the bedding. I also learned the hard way that the outlet is powered by the switch, lights off, no phone charger.
We arrived to a wine and cheese platter. The cheese was great, the wine was very good. There is also a porch on the 2nd floor (2 actually) and a porch on the front which are great for relaxing.(the are currently replacing the front porch).
We also got some help marking up a map for water holes, waterfalls, hiking trails, and general sights. Along with that, they packed a picnic lunch for us for our day trip.
Unfortunately, the towels/bedding paired with not much in the area to do in the summer is enough of a turn off for me to probably not come back.
The Restaurant:
We ate here twice for breakfast and once for dinner.
The breakfasts were including in our package. The prices are a little high, but not too crazy. Pricing changes in the off season would probably be a good idea, but it is a pretty captive audience. Food was good, served the way we like it, and plenty of food for a round breakfast.
Dinner was pretty good. The hours are supposed to be until 9:30-10 on the weekend. We got in at 9 for dinner and one of the staff members said we would have to order immediately as the kitchen in closing. That put me off a little, but our actual server made no mention of it and was very friendly (even though we were the only ones there and were obviously keeping her from going home). We got the scallops with rissoto and a lobster special.
The lobster special was a 1.25lb lobster with potatoes, soup, and corn on the cob. Great deal especially considering the prices being pretty high (especially off season). I had the scallops with risotto. The scallops were huge and the risotto was great. My only complaint was the salt. The scallops were def overly salty.
Prices in general on the menu were pretty high. The scallops were 26$ and everything else was in the same neighborhood. While everything was good and presented very well, I thought this was pretty steep.
We had dessert too, the apple pie alamode. Delicious.
If I didn't have the discount to the restaurant, I probably would have stayed away due to the prices. Luckily I did have the discount and was able to enjoy myself. I think the total for a round of drinks (or 2), entrees and dessert was about 80$ plus tip. -
Review from Nicole R.
9/19/2011
One of the only things within walking distance from the bed and breakfast i stayed at was the 1846 Tavern & Restaurant. The Mister and i both ordered burgers and an appetizer of shrimp cocktail to share. When the shrimp cocktail came out it was 4 very small pieces of shrimp in a mini martini glass which clocked in at about $12. The burgers were ok but not spectacular. Mine was not cooked the way i requested, which kind of ruined it for me. I don't think the prices are in line with the portions here. The staff was pretty sterile and didn't engage in any conversation other than: "Here's the menu" and "Can i get you any dessert?" I did go in the off season... Maybe they are just buying time until the ski bunnies come back....? I didn't see anything coming out of the kitchen that looked similiar to the pictures posted here... Either way, i won't be eating here again.
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Review from Jordan D.
Astoria, Queens, NY
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for dinner with my group after a long day of skiing at Mt. Snow. We weren't expecting much from this place, but we ended up being pleasantly surprised at the quality and service of this place. /our group ended up splitting 3 appetizers which were all delicious. We sorta stuffed ourselves with the apps and by the time we got our entrees, none of us could finish our food! My burger was out of this world, wished I didn't eat so much of the appetizers! Our server was really friendly and helpful.
The place is a great spot to have a Longtail, relax, have a great meal and unwind after a long day of skiing. -
Review from Alex A.
Brooklyn, NY
7/5/2011
It can be a chore to sort through the daily barrage of Living Social deals, but luckily this one caught our eye and sent us cruising to the West Dover Inn over a long weekend. So glad we came. This might be the off-season in southern Vermont, but the Inn was booked solid. Our room was not the ritziest but was spacious and had everything you could ask for - tasteful antiques on the mantelpiece, beautiful dark wood furniture, a fireplace, a big bed, and a view of the garden. Oh, and the wine and cheese tray that greeted us when we first opened the door.
Innkeeper Phil and his family take good care of their guests. They are Boston transplants - note the subtle and not-so-subtle Red Sox paraphernalia - but the effort they put in tells you they are here to stay. Phil showed us around the property, and gave us maps and tips for hiking trails, swimming holes, kayak rentals, and sightseeing destinations. He also told us about local lore and celebrities such as cartoon artist Skip Morrow. Phil's son, a recent transplant from LA, made us feel especially welcome.
A good-sized breakfast including coffee/tea came with the room. The Inn also packed us a free picnic lunch the day we went hiking. As if that weren't enough, the Living Social voucher featured a $50 credit towards dinner at the 1846 Restaurant, which was one of the better meals we've had in or out of New York. We started with a cool strawberry and mint soup made from locally-grown ingredients and followed it up with the sweetest, creamiest butternut squash ravioli I can remember. Both the ravioli and the duck entree we ordered were superbly prepared and came right away. Between courses, we watched the magician's show by the bar, which had good local brews on tap dispensed by an easygoing fellah from Orlando. Is anyone here actually *born in* Vermont?
When it came time to relax, we could pick from one of three porch/garden areas in which to read our books and sip our wine, or settle into the big leather chair in the living room and leaf through old magazines. The other reviewers are right - the shower can be temperamental until you find the sweet spot. And yes, you absolutely need a car to get around. Also - be aware that taxes and tips are not included in the Living Social price. All the same, we enjoyed terrific food, terrific company, and the best two nights of sleep I got all year. Highly recommended. -
Review from Jay W.
Summit, NJ
2/3/2011
Last Friday night was a busy one in the valley. We had originally set out from our condo wanting to try the new Last Chair (formerly Deegan's), but the wait was over an hour. Next we tried the Saloon, which also had no seating. Finally, as we kept driving, we stopped into 1846 and asked how long the wait was for 4. We were told 30 minutes "at most." There was live music playing and room at the bar, and I spied a couple of decent offerings on tap, so we decided to wait it out.
We sat down and were served right away. This was the highlight of the evening. From this point onwards it as issue after issue:
1) If you sit on the left side of the bar, be prepared for cold draftiness. The door to the bar is barn style, and no one closes it all the way. There is no sign that we could see asking people to close it fully. So instead, I became the defacto doorman. While the door doesn't lead to outside, it does lead to the chilly entranceway.
2) The men's bathroom had no paper towels or napkins or anything else on which to dry your hands. There wasn't much soap, and there were dead bugs present (notably, inside one of the eye-level picture frames!).
3) While the bartender was initially attentive, trying to get her attention for a refill round was a 20 minute challenge.
4) There were 2 draft beer offerings that, when we first popped our heads in, helped me/us decide to stay: Otter Creek Black IPA and something (maybe an Amber Ale?) from the Von Trapp Brewery in Stowe (hard to find). Well, during the long wait during which we could not get her attention, the bartender was filling rounds of this Von Trapp beer for other customers, during which she kicked the keg. The action of the keg being kicked shot foam and beer all over my friend, and there was not a word from the bartender. She acted like she didn't notice. How do you not notice that you just shot half a beer of foam all over someone that is 3 feet and directly in front of you?
5) After 50 minutes, we were finally seated. Next to a table of extremely drunk people who were making a scene. Awesome.
6) Our waitress was curt at best. This may be understandable as I am sure her nerves were fried from dealing with the neighboring table.
7) Our orders were: #1 - Caeser salad to start, braised lamb (I think, maybe it was pork) shank; #2 - steak tips medium; #3 - cheeseburger w fries, medium rare; #4 - bacon cheeseburger with onion rings, medium rare. What we got: a 30+ minute wait, no Caeser salad (never came out), steak tips that were blackened and charred on the outside and rare-medium rare on the inside, and a bacon cheeseburger with no bacon. Of course at this point, we were not sending things back. We were too hungry and had waited too long. The check revealed that the bacon and the Caesar salad were never even written down.
We arrived a little after 8:00 and we did not leave until almost 11:30. I will certainly never be going back to this place.Comment from Phil G. of The West Dover Inn and 1846 Tavern & Restaurant 2/3/2011
This is a cozy, relaxed family place that prides itself on… More » -
Review from Pat A.
Sharon, MA
11/8/2011
The inn is a historic building with about 14 rooms. Our room was large with two rocking chairs, a dresser and a queen bed. The floor are not even which adds a bit to the charm. The owner, Phil, is very helpful and accommodating with maps and directions to various spots. We had purchased a package from Living Social so had a wine and cheese plate in the room when we arrived which made for a nice start to our stay. The restaurant was excellent, and the duck tender appetizer was fabulous, as was the pumpkin maple soup and the pulled pork spring roll appetizer. They had a $9.99 burger and brew special M-T-W and we returned for that. The cheese burger was perfect and a nice way to end a long day.
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Review from Jules B.
Charlotte, NC
8/3/2011 3 photos
This is the highlight of our Vermont trip to eat at this wonderful restaurant! We come here just to order the butternut squash ravioli or the salmon entree ever year we visit. Both of these dishes are amazing and beautifully prepared. The wait staff are very friendly and polite. The decor in the dining room is very casual and low key and you would never guess that this place would serve food sooo good! The chocolate dessert is very good also. Our favorite restaurant in Vermont!
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Review from Paul Y.
New York, NY
Updated - 2/18/2011
In response to the above review, I received the following message from the restaurant:
"You are no longer welcome here. Our staff has decided you are too much of a problem guest. Please do not try to make any reservations under anyone's name for this winter. Thank you."
Most restaurants upon disappointing a good customer would strive to gain that customer back...I guess not this place. Just goes to show how much they care about their customers. Good luck!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2010
The 1846 Tavern is the former West Dover Inn, however, it has the same owner. I will preface my… Read more »
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Review from Samantha H.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2009
We ate at the tavern part of this restaurant/inn on the last day of our honeymoon, and had a fabulous meal.
My husband, the vegetarian, must have had about three butternut squash ravioli dishes while on our honeymoon in Vermont. It was the only veggie option on every fall menu, and that's what he had here. I tasted it, and I was in love. It's probably my new favorite pasta dish.
Me? I got the crab cake sliders and salad and french fries (I gained about 15 pounds on this trip). They were good, not great. I've had better and worse, so hey, what can ya do?
We finished with dessert: espresso creme brule for him, blueberry pie for me (I also had about three blueberry cobbler/desserts that week). Both were delicious, and on par with every other dessert we'd had that week.
And then my pants didn't fit, and we were off. I would definitely come back. I loved that this upscale restaurant has a more casual dining room/menu as well. Yay! And live music is playing almost every night. -
Review from PJ M.
West Dover, VT
3/16/2011 4 Check-ins Here
My favorite place in the West Dover area to eat. Fantastic food and service in a beautiful Vermont setting. Phil and his team go out of their way to make you feel at home.
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Review from Rosabeth E.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2008
If you are skiing at Mt. Snow or traveling anywhere in the vicinity (18 miles from Bennington, VT) you should make the West Dover Inn & Restaurant part of your travel itinerary.
The restaurant is off to the side of a classic VT Inn, and all the warm and friendly personalities expected of a small Vermont Town are present at this restaurant.
When we first arrived, Christmas Eve 2007, we were greeted by the owner who then spoke to us about his wine cellar and helped us select a great Cabernet (Chteau Ste. Michelle, Washington). The setting was delightful and private with working fireplaces and table arrangements that allowed for feeling like you were the only couple in the place.
The wait staff was knowledgeable of the menu, which had many variations of the standard meat, fish and pastas. The food descriptions looked so good it was difficult to finally decide. We wound up ordering for our main courses the Trio Ravioli and a filet mignon which we shared (the compromise to our inability to decide). The Trio each with a unique filling and sauce could rival the most gourmet ravioli establishment, and the steak was tender, flavor packed and accompanied by the ever necessary delicate balance of green vegetable, mashed potatoes and carrots that rounded out what turned out to be a perfect meal.
Our expectations were not high given a Christmas Eve dinning out, however the restaurant was clearly also a local favorite. Every table was filled, and our request for a 1900 reservation could only accommodate us at 1930 due to the popularity of the West Dover Inn & Restaurant. Dinner was reasonably priced for 2, with appetizer or salad, main courses and wine at ~$100.
Next time I am in VT I'll make certain to stop by the West Dover Inn and Restaurant to try my taste buds on something else which I have no doubt will be just as enjoyable. -
Review from Jonathan B.
Manhattan, NY
2/23/2011
Highly recommended!!!! Found this restaurant via Yelp. The owner Phil was extremely nice and helpful accommodating my party of 10. The food was delicious, the price was reasonable and the dining experience was characteristic of a charming restaurant in a cozy ski town. Jay the magician entertainer helped pass the time. It did take a while to get the food... but I wonder if it was because we had such a big party or if it was part of the entertainment act. For food, I would recommend the duck, it was out of this word. If you like brie, the appetizer is delicious.
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Review from Sara F.
Manhattan, NY
10/4/2011
This was the most wonderful place I have ever stayed. The innkeeepers were friendly, kind and welcoming. We got upgraded to a suite room for free, and the room was adorable: warm, cozy and inviting. It had a jacuzzi which was an unexpected perk. The wine and cheese was amazing- of course, it is Vermont! The innkeepers were involved with our stay, but not intrusively so: they made sure to ask what we were doing that day and if we wanted any suggestions they were happy to give us options. They also made an adorable welcome package for us, and gave us a puzzle map that we had to piece together in order to find something. They were creative and funny, they made us laugh, they showed us around, and they made us reservations at the local chocolatorium. They were so giving, and can I just add that the food was DELICIOUS- it was the most amazing French Toast I've ever had. Breakfast for kings both days, and dinner at the restaurant far surpassed any dinner I've ever had. I've been eating ravioli since I was able to chew, and these were the best raviolis I've ever had. The mushroom soup was earthy and delicious and they even brought up small samplers of strawberry soup for us to try. Our server was the nicest guy I could ever imagine, talking to us for a few minutes and giving us time to ourselves And, everyone in that community is so nice. The artist nearby is one of their friends and everyone in the community cares about how you are doing. The innkeepers are happy to plan hikes for you, and are genuinely caring and funny. Right nearby is the Robert Frost house, a couple of nice breweries, and wonderful hiking trails. And sometimes a magician performs at night in the restaurant. What more could you ask for? It's a wonderful place to visit; a better place to eat, and the best place to stay.
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Review from Mike P.
Monroe, CT
2/14/2011
Very good food but considering the price not worth going to. The service was absolutely horrible. It took an hour to get our food, I had to ask for bread and when we asked for more I was told they were all out. How can you run out of bread. I got a $29.00 duck dish that was really good when I finally got it. I asked for a side salad with my meal and was charged $7.00 for it!!!! I don't know where they get off charging me $7.00 for a SIDE salad after I ordered a $29.00 entree. All together food was very good but terrible service and expensive prices make me never want to go back.
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Review from Kristin C.
Brighton, MA
4/30/2008
I really enjoyed my stay at the West Dover Inn. The room was clean and comfortable. The common room was plentifully equipped with games, cards, magazines, and a warm fireplace. The Inn was very convenient to Mt. Snow, just a quick drive up the road. And for such a small place, the restaurant bar was always hopping. They had live music in the bar, and often had a piano player at dinner. The food at the attached restaurant was excellent, one would expect to be at a 5-star restaurant in Boston, and not at a scenic Inn in VT. The service at the restaurant was excellent as well. Kathy and Phil, the owners, were often found in the dining room or behind the bar, serving up food and drinks with a smile. They made us feel like part of the family.
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Review from J C.
Suffolk, MA
3/15/2011
Food was awesome, as well as the staff. It was a bit pricey given the quality of the meal, but overall it was a good time. You really can't go wrong with such a great wine selection and good, stiff drinks!!
