Swiss Hutte

So I think the joke started 14 years or so ago. Every-time we would travel past Catamount, on the NY-Mass border, coming or going from Great Barrington, Lisa E or I would say, with an imagined accent, Suisse Hutte , you forgot to take that old sign down. Well a few weeks ago on the way back from lunch in Hillsdale, on a rare occasion when I had service on my phone, I typed the properly spelled name into Yelp and was surprised to find not only that they were still operating, but were highly rated and the photos looked amazing! I said Lisa, this is no joke, we need to eat here!
We had a few hours together last night, I'm drinking a flight at a local brewery, and Lisa spontaneously called at 5 and asked for a 6 o'clock reservation on the patio. We pulled up and were blown away by how picturesque the Inn and ground were. The Swiss Hutte is an old farm house built in the mid 1800's and has been under continuous operation as an Inn for the past 50 years. The interior of the restaurant was, as one would expect, a perfect setting for dinner and drinks after winter skiing or fall hiking. We, of course, prefer al fresco 6 months out of the year, and when we were seated on the patio, the view was picture postcard perfect.
We shared 2 appetizers, escargot served blazing hot in an antique porcelaine. and plump mussels in a devine wine sauce. The simple salad as my side, featured fresh sprightly greens dressed in a light creamy and flavorful dressing. I'm thinking duck, and while I'm reading the menu, all I hear from surrounding tables, I'll have the duck, we will have the duck, oh look, they are having the duck, so it's settled, I'm having the duck too! Wonderful choice, perfect in every way. Crispy skinned and moist, with the plum & cherry compote a perfect foil for the rich meat. Then a wedge of the ultra crispy potato roti - just an over-the-top dish! My pictures should and will make you long for that too!
The dessert menu, verbally recited as were the specials, by our attentive server, expansive. It was so difficult to decide, but Lisa made a great choice. I don't even remember the name, but I can recall the taste. Hazelnut merengue, rich SOCO ice cream, freshly whipped cream surrounded by berries. Yeah, yum.
Update: Dessert was their riff on the classic flourless pastry marjolaine nutty meringue and pastry cream, here subbing premium local ice cream for the pastry cream and served with assorted fresh berries.
Give it up for - food 5 stars, service 5 stars, setting 5 +++ ; don't wait 14 years, do not pass .....go!

I came here over the holiday weekend with family for dinner. The meal was delicious and there were no complaints.

I ordered the beef medallions and they were cooked perfectly to order and melted in your mouth. We also ordered the salmon, the sole entrée (The sole was replaced with sea bass which they had as a special because they ran out of ole), prime rib special, and the grilled chicken salad. Everybody enjoyed their meals. They usually have a lot of specials, so it is worth waiting until you are there to hear the specials before you get your heart set on one item.

We ordered the crème brule for dessert and it was delicious and enough to share for the table.

If you can go to Gstaad this winter, Go. If you can't, get to Swiss Hutte you will not be disappointed. The charm starts before you arrive -- the view of the Catamount Ski slopes is captivating and visible from almost every table in the dining room even from the bar. The only competition for the views is the call of the woodburning fireplaces that are skillfully attended.
I was with 3 other diners and we all ordered unique appetizers, entrees, desserts -- everything was memorable and served by an attentive, friendly and skilled staff. (important to note this was a difficult-to-please NYC crowd).
We stayed in the inn and found the accommodations to be clean, comfortable, inviting and cozily warm on bitter cold February night.
Seldom have I visited an out-of-town restaurant and known I would be back. I know I will return to the Swiss Hutte.

PS - Be sure to meet Bentley, the resident golden retriever, who is tucked away behind a gate and rightfully has a devoted following all of his own.

Not sure why the "owner" of this establishment is so grumpy. We were considering dining here until we were rudely approached by him yelling at us about having our dog on a leash.. we didn't have a dog. He also rudely informed us that we were on "private property". We were checking out the type of seating they had in the restaurant...I imagine if this is how they treat perspective diners, they must treat you worse once your actually inside the doors. No thank you.

My husband (German) and myself as well as my family who have a vacation home in Hillsdale, love the Swiss Hutte. We have had many memorable meals here over the years. In the warmer season you can enjoy al fresco dining. In the fall the beautiful foliage views and winter of course the ski slopes and cozy environment.
The food is always spot on and Cindy always seems to seat us in the perfect quiet location. I love the salad- and crave it! I'm dying to know the secret pickled vegetable (I have to remember to ask next time! I think it may be celery root..) Cindy is a lovely host and we always look forward to going back regardless of the holiday or occasion. I tend to order the polenta with mushroom, and pork chops with apples- simply delicious! The traditional meals and desserts are exquisite! Enjoy!

This is by far the most beautiful and elegant hotel/restaurant I've ever stood in the owners are amazing Cindy and her husband are amazing! The staff is well trained in knowing how to explain the menus and the food that is out of this world! The desserts are so cool to listen to when the waiter or waitress tells you about all of their amazing and different choices of desserts which by the way are freshly made on the premises! The only other thing I can say is if you passed this place up you pass up one of the great things in life! Love this place me and my mother always enjoy the company of Cindy and her husband and all of the staff!!
One last thing anything you need weather it be a day or night anytime of the day, they will accommodate you the best they can and accordingly! See you soon guys.

Lovely patio with several space heaters, surrounded by a nice garden, then parking lots, then a pretty hill.

Wildly overpriced for good, but not as good as homemade, food--like a high-end Sodexo cafeteria. The lamb was overcooked and rather tough; the steak's "grill marks," which might have been applied by the food vendor somehow (just on one side) tasted bitter and nasty. The veggies accompanying our lamb and steak were indistinguishable from a frozen precut bag steamed in the microwave. In fact, we honestly think that's what they were. The potato side dish was quite buttery and tasty. The espresso was undrinkable.

My sense is this would have been considered quite a good restaurant in, say, 1955, although the waitstaff was amateurish.

This made us chuckle: the menu is written on a few chalkboards, which the waitstaff present to the table. But then our server rattled off a list of specials too long to remember--at least seven items. We had to ask her to review a few. If only there were some way to display them...something easy to erase for the next day...

Again, the patio was extremely pleasant.

Spent a night there ( got the last room on busy weekend)The restaurant was full but service was kind & professional but efficiency could have been better. The food was good " old school " French cooking style perfect fit to the location and to the audience, will we come again specially for the food probably no.
But if you are there ( and there're many reasons to be in surroundings) stay there eat there and do not skip breakfast

Sitting on the lovely patio on a warm summer evening, facing the ski lifts on the mountainside facing us, watching the beautiful birds alight on the flower boxes, and tasting the most delicious Continental cuisine I've ever tasted this side of the Atlantic, I was reminded of Switzerland, where I attended school as a child. This being a birthday weekend, we indulged in the chef's delectable desserts which were an unforgettable treat for the palate and the eye.
We stayed at the Swiss Hutte for the whole weekend and we had dinner and breakfast there twice. Everything was fabulous.

The best in our area with out a doubt. It has it all, great food, fantastic ambiance, excellent service, and great drinks. A jewel for the berkshires, especially Hillsdale. This was my first time here, but not my last. We dined inside because it was a chilly August night, but the patio looked like a wonderful dining experience also. Next time. Soon.
R