157642 Fri Feb 02 08:28:39 -0800 2001 46 13 New England 0 848438 IÕll get right to the point: steer clear of a potential trap lurking in Manchester, VT: Bistro Henry. Bistro Henry is billed as a casual French bistro. My wife and I went there MLK weekend. As we were being seated, the maitre dÕ offered us a choice between regular water or Pellegrino (an Italian mineral water we both like). We opted for Pellegrino -- neat trick, getting us to order something before we even opened the menu. We then realized that the prices on the menu were much higher than we were expecting (the cheapest entree being $17.00), but having already asked for Pellegrino, we decided not to get up and leave. We figured that weÕd keep the cost down by skipping appetizers and wine. However, the moment our waitress realized we werenÕt big spenders, both she and the maitre dÕ began to be extremely snotty. It was clear that they were not going to expend any effort on us if we werenÕt going to run up a large bill. We had to ask for a basket of bread, while we could see our waitress puttering around. She was kept touching her hair, and worse, her nose (yuck!). Incidentally, the table next to us ordered several drinks and appetizers, and was engaging the waitress with small talk, but we caught her rolling her eyes the minute her back was turned. Now, our usual approach to table service is that we never mind cheerful incompetence. Screw up everything, but if you really try to get it right and do it with a smile, weÕre prepared to forgive just about any gaffe. But, we will not forgive rudeness. To make matters worse, the chow sucked. Our steaks were both very tough and flavorless. My steak au poivre was just peppery. The frites were droopy, fried in oil that wasnÕt hot enough. The best food on the plate -- indeed, the only flavorful thing -- was the garnish of sautŽed snow peas. 2 entrŽes, and a large bottle of Pellegrino came to $52.00. IÕve had excellent meals, including drinks, appetizers, and dessert for less. All in all, avoid Bistro Henry, and the whole Manchester, VT area -- itÕs too touristy, overdeveloped, and rude. For a better Vermont vacation, head further north, to the Northeast Kingdom area of Vermont, especially to the town of East Burke, and visit our favorite restaurant anywhere -- the River Garden CafŽ, which IÕve written glowingly of previously in this space. Fri Feb 02 08:28:39 -0800 2001 0 Justin 1 848453 Sounds almost as awful as Seasons at Stratton, Vermont. You can find very good food south of Manchester. Try TJ Buckley's in Brattleboro or Max's in West Brattleboro. You may be pleasantly suprised. Head a little east to Keene and try Nicola's Tratorria. Mon Feb 05 20:56:58 -0800 2001 848438 0 JPR 2 848466 Also in Keene, NH try Tony Clamato's a great small get away. Tue Feb 13 12:33:08 -0800 2001 848453 0 Mike 3 848518 I live near Manchester and here are some alternate restaurant choices in the area. For lunch or early dinner (11:30AM - 4:30PM), go to my absolute favorite place, Steininger's, in Salem, NY. Its soups are the best I have ever had!! I have enjoyed the following Manchester restaurants: Little Rooster Cafe (breakfast and lunch only), Up for Breakfast (breakfast), and The Perfect Wife. I have heard good reports about Candeleros and Mistrals At Toll Gate Lodge, also in Manchester. In Bennington, try Alldays and Onions, for a range of good food, and the Blue Benn Diner, which offers diner food and vegetarian choices. For good family-type meals and bar food, try Kevin's at Mike's Place III in North Bennington. Wed Feb 21 11:56:34 -0800 2001 848466 0 Sandy 1 3945368 Justin,Sorry you and your wife had a bad experience at Bistro Henry. My wife and I (along with other friends from Manhattan) have been coming to Manchester, VT for over 3 years now. We actually just got a vacation home here. We LOVE Bistro Henry and have had a wonderful dinner and experience each and every time. The food is comparable to any fine Manhattan restaurant and the waitresses are extremely nice. We have gone for a full dinner including wine, apps, dessert, etc and have also gone just for a quick meal and did not notice any difference in how we were treated. I believe that you definitely get what you pay for at Bistro Henry. Wonderful food, ambiance, and friendly people. We hope that people will not read Justin's experience and not give BH a try. It is one of our favorites! Sit outside if you can in the summer - it has a great view of the mountains! Sun Aug 10 14:53:50 -0700 2008 848438 217409 polarbear96 2 3945466 Sorry, but this place is still on the low end of the food chain in Manchester, VT. Sun Aug 10 15:44:57 -0700 2008 3945368 15128 RichK 1 3961253 My husband and I just returned from our third delicious meal at Bistro Henry. All three times, we've been very happy with the food, service and ambiance. We have heard through the grapevine that Justin may be a disgruntled employee, and based on our experiences there, I'd have to suspect it. There's no question that it's on the expensive side for up here, but a good value. We love the veal chops, linguine with lobster, scallops and shrimp - the seafood portions are large, and the linguine just a bed for it to sit in - and my husband loves the gnocchi. We'll definitely dine there again for a treat. Fri Aug 15 18:24:50 -0700 2008 848438 218831 choclover 1 4066540 Justin i would have to agree. We live in Manchester and had guests in town so we thought we would make the trip to try the place out for dinner. he host was very professional, the owners were nice, now the facts: the prices were extremely high for the quality of service. The wait staff seemed lost they never filled glasses, plates sat until we complained. We were extremely disappointed that the menu was 1/4 of what was listed on the website. when we asked the waitress she said to bad.( we should have left at that point), the bill for 4 came to $150 without drinks . Bottom line stay home, we did try the Ye old tavern and it was half the price and twice as good. PS I'm not a past employee and have no other interest beyond a good meal in Manchester Sat Sep 27 16:25:51 -0700 2008 848438 228988 be123 1 4089525 My wife and I have been going and staying in Manchester at least once a year for 10 consecutive years. We enjoy good food and like going back for the solid restaurant scene. In fact we just visited last weekend and will be returning this Columbus Day weekend. I agree that Bistro Henry is nothing special and overpriced. I am going to be heretical here and say the same for the Perfect Wife. Below are our hits and misses. To be fair, except for Swiss Inn, even the misses were okay but just not special or compelling enough for return trips. Hits: Little Rooster - breakfast and lunch all good, everything on the menu is excellent Up for Breakfast Gourmet Deli & Lunch - surprisingly good, under-rated Laney's - we always get the baby back ribs Chanticleer - very special but you'll pay dearly Inn at West View Farm - this place is unbelievable, try the short ribs Barrow's House - great for dinner Inn at Ormsby Hill - great breakfast Misses: Swiss Inn & Restaurant - maybe I don't know fondue well, but this place was disgusting and had bad service Perfect Wife - not sure what the fuss is about Bistro Henry - ditto above Ye Olde Tavern - just okay Johnny Seesaws - just okay, nice atmosphere and setting Candeleros - just okay Tex mex, great salsa Garlic John's - one step above Prego Tue Oct 07 19:31:21 -0700 2008 848438 45017 giralda 2 4089938 Giralda- Enjoyed your "take" on places in Manchester. We've been going there twice a yr. for the past few decades also and we agree with many of your hits. We especialy like Up for Breakfast and Chanticleer although the latter is a bit pricy we find it a special "treat" when we can sit at the bar,talk to the owners,and have dinner add-on's now and then. We haven't hit Laney's as yet but we'll try them next trip up. The only "miss" we might disagree with is the Perfect Wife although we like sitting at the bar and just having burgers there. We've never had a bad meal there and the place is more like a local "Appleby's " than not. Another "hit" for us is Mulligan's where we love just their smoked wings. These are some of the best smoked wings we've ever had but the rest of the place is yet another local Appleby's. We miss the Black Swan. We thought their food was exceptional also and the last time we ate at Angel's the food was fanatatic also(but that was a long time ago.) Another "miss" for us is the Reluctant Panther(way overpriced for what you get in a stuffy.cold atmosphere) Enjoyed comparing notes with you!!! Always-hungry-Catnip Wed Oct 08 03:16:43 -0700 2008 4089525 16716 catnip 3 4091142 Nice to know we have similar tastes! At the Perfect Wife, we've only eaten in the restaurant, not in the tavern. Maybe we should try the tavern... If you have any other Manchester area recs, please send them my way! We're going there this weekend, and we're going to try The Bean and Depot 62. Wed Oct 08 12:37:45 -0700 2008 4089938 45017 giralda 4 4093036 The tavern at The Perfect Wife is just a bar menu operation much like the bar menu at Mulligan's except for the smoked wings that Mulligan's has we like so much. If "The Bean" is the name of the mexican restaurant across from Orvis FORGET IT!!! The old owner,who ran a 1st class opertion, commiteed suicide last Spring and when we got there we had a lousy meal and,if you can believe this(it's true)I we had to tell the "barmaid" how to make a margarita ----in a mexican restaurant!!! How bad is that! The new operator was hiring high school kids to run the place and they didn't give a darn about anything:service,food,ect. We swore we'd never go back and even their salsa,which was very good,was bland and tasteless. We haven't tried Depot 62 yet. Let us know how it was when you get back. We haven't done any other restaurants there lately but we usually stop at Zoey's for a grinder(sub,hoagie,different names for the same thing--LOL)to take home. Zoey's homemade potato chips are great but they must be eaten qucikly or they really lose their taste and texture. We're swinging down through Manchester on the 18th just to have breakfast at Up for Breakfast and then we're heading down to the Mt. Snow area for a few days. Good Eating!!! Catnip Thu Oct 09 08:21:39 -0700 2008 4091142 16716 catnip 2 4090422 Have to give a cheer for the Gourmet Deli and Lunch. I have been going there for lunch whenever I go to Manchester, lots less by the way than I used to. I think there was a mother daughter combo there initially and I have always raved about their chicken salad. Soups are great as well.... Wed Oct 08 08:36:25 -0700 2008 4089525 133355 jspear 2 4225787 giralda, I too love your list. We thought there was something wrong with us for not liking the perfect wife (but didn't try the tavern either)...we'll be up for X-mas and are looking forward to trying the Inn at West View Farm. Thanks for the great list! Sat Dec 06 14:40:55 -0800 2008 4089525 94969 gramercyfoodie 1 4097436 I completely agree about Bistro Henry. I'd seen some good reviews, and the "bistro" label is often attractive (though I've become quite suspicious of it in the last few years). I DID wonder about the name "Bistro Henry" - shouldn't it be "Bistro Henri"? I was right to wonder. I've never seen worse service in a restaurant anywhere. I had a reservation, and though it was by no means full, I had to wait at leasts ten minutes for my table - yes, I was on time. After I was seated - a tiny table for two in the middle of the room, very unpleasant! - it took another 15-20 minutes to get water and a menu. I was not asked if I wanted anything to drink, but a box (I'm pretty sure it was a box) of dry old Italian breadsticks was plonked unceremoniously on the table. When the waiter eventually returned, I'd eaten two or three of the dreadful dry breadsticks, and he promptly removed them - BEFORE I'd ordered!!! I had a veal scallopine dish that was dried out, tasetelss, and extremly expensive. I had to wait interminably for my check. An entirely dreadful experience. Please note if you are travelling in Vermont that this awful dive is not to be confused with the well-regarded Chez Henri near Sugarbush resort. Sat Oct 11 07:14:56 -0700 2008 848438 12205 sophie fox 1 4181292 My mother-in-law lives just north of Manchester, and we visit with the kids a few times a year, so we've been to many of the places in and around Manchester. It's been a while since we've been to Bistro Henry's - when we did go, the food was great, the service was OK, and the prices were just short of stratospheric. For breakfast, we really like the Little Rooster, but it's small, so go early or be prepared to wait. Everyone else in our family likes Up for Breakfast, and the food is usually pretty good, in my experience, if a little uneven, and I think a touch expensive for what you get. Had some really nice, expensive dinners at Mistral's, but it's been years. Same with the Wilburton Inn, just south of Manchester- pricey, but tremendous views. Garlic John's, Mulligan's,Zoey's,Sirloin Saloon, etc., etc.- meh. Candeleros is OK, but only for addicts who need their fix. I've suffered through many dinners at The Barrows House while my father-in-law was alive, have not been back in the past couple of years; I think "colorless" describes both the food and service there pretty well.. We really like Johnny Seesaw's. up by Bromley Mountain; it's really a more meat-and -potatoes place, though. A couple of other places I haven't seen mentioned- the Southern Vermont Art Center occasionally serves a nice lunch- check the schedule to see if they are open. We also are partial to The Barn up in Pawlet, but that's a bit of a drive from Manchester. Mon Nov 17 15:43:59 -0800 2008 848438 95236 momnotmom 1 4250437 Justin sorry to hear you had a bad experience. My wife and I live in the area and really enjoy eating at Bistro Henry. We've never had a bad meal. I feel the prices at Henry are comparable to the rest of the Manchester area. Maybe even a little cheaper than some of the other establishments in town, and the food much better than most of the other restaurants. It seems that if your such a sophisticated gastronomique that you would know that you have to pay for the Pellegrino. As for the steak au poivre I have never had it here, yet I would guess that it would be peppery because that's what steak au poivre is. Everytime we have eaten here the service has been fine. MLK weekend is a very busy time for the area so I could understand how service could be a little slower. The McDonald's in town is great! The service is a little slow but the prices are cheap, and the fries are always crispy! Tue Dec 16 07:22:45 -0800 2008 848438 49365 johnnycake1 2 4250644 And there, you get what you pay for ;) Tue Dec 16 08:36:37 -0800 2008 4250437 133355 jspear 1 4347072 We have been visiting the Manchester area for more years than we can count. Bistro Henry is, by far, the finest restaurant in Manchester. Upon entering, you're met with smiles and light conversation; service is always wonderful; food outstanding! We have NEVER had a bad experience, and we look forward to our meal there each time we visit. In fact, on our next long weekend, we'll probably dine there twice since Manchester lacks restaurants that can provide good food. We live in the New York area and are accustomed to dining in fine restaurants. On our last trip to Manchester, we visited the Chop House at The Equinox which serves inedible food at ridiculous prices. Ye Olde Tavern is also a very big disappointment. Bistro Henry is Manchester's answer to great food in a casual setting with a friendly staff. Thu Jan 22 07:03:43 -0800 2009 848438 259423 dwood24 2 4347745 Hee! I just noticed that the original post was written eight years ago. :) Sounds like maybe Bistro Henry has improved! :) Thu Jan 22 10:14:41 -0800 2009 4347072 119275 Morganna 2 4529608 Well, the Chop House at the Equinox was a great disappointment! We were looking forward to a great dining experience, however, I would only recommend this if you have lots of money to burn for mediocre food and service. We were seated at a window table. For starters, the tablecloth would not stop billowing up in our faces. It seems the heater/blower blows the tablecloth up at you even anchored by a heavy triple salt cellar! After being asked, a staff member placed some menus on top of the heater to calm the wild tablecloth. We could have overlooked this if it had not been for other issues. I must preface this by saying that we have dined at the Marsh Tavern and found the food very good. However, for starters, we expected a fine dining experience. I was surprised to see so many children dining. Most of them were quite well behaved. However, there was a family with a young infant. Although we love kids, when spending $45.00+ for a steak, one would prefer to enjoy the meal without screaming babies. The baby wailed incessantly throughout most of our dinner. The parents seemed oblivious and reluctantly took the child outside a couple of times, only to repeat the scene. The maitre d and waitstaff seemed oblivious. The crying baby might be a bit out of the control of the staff, but the service and food should not be. I am always a very generous tipper, unless the service is extremely bad. I have to say that I was compelled to leave less than my usual 20%. My dining companion ordered the Prime Rib which was quite good. However, my Rib Eye was inedible, I was only able to cut a couple of small slices with the provided steak knife-the meat was so tough. The Prime Rib was listed as 16 oz. The Rib Eye was listed at 18oz on the menu. I expected a nice thick cut of meat. My Rib Eye was thin, very tough and overdone. It was half the size of the 16 oz Prime Rib! I ordered the Bernaise to accompany the steak. It was cold. The "Creamed" Spinach was a bitter, over-garlicky dish of sauteed spinach with some cold cream in the bottom of the dish..... The mac & cheese was overly garlicky and ranged from stringy to watery, not a typical mac and cheese. It was made with wagon wheels, which did not hold the cheese. It was impossible to get the attention of our server to have our drinks refreshed. I finally had to get up from the table an ask someone. The only thing that was very good,,,was the amuse bouche.....a small spoonful of white asparagus soup. When the waiter/server cleared my plate, he asked of he could wrap the streak. I told him that it was very tough., and I was unable to cut it. He did not comment at all. So very disappointing and so very overpriced. I would not mind paying those prices if the food had lived up to the description in the menu! We were so looking forward to a great steak house ..drove down from Stratton for it. I ordered it rare. My steak was thin and definitly smaller than the 16 oz Prime Rib Mon Mar 23 08:38:44 -0700 2009 4347072 276655 chatham 3 4529908 If it had been me, presented with that rib eye, I'd have sent it back immediately. Any reason you didn't? Mon Mar 23 09:49:13 -0700 2009 4529608 119275 Morganna 4 4798618 Good question. I ate once at the Wquinox, in the bar. An adequate salad with about an ounce of crabmeat that cost probably $20. A place for people with lots more money than taste or sense. Manchester strikes me generally that way. Tue Jun 23 11:29:39 -0700 2009 4529908 12205 sophie fox 1 4484142 My wife and I love Bistro Henry. We both feel great about eating there regularly. Sometimes we just have drinks and appys at the bar. ( Sue enjoys escargot ). The Lamb is delicious. They've never given us a hard time or forced us to down Pellegrino before ordering. Nice crew, great food. Price is about what you would expect. Not cheap but not crazy. Jason, it's been a long eight years. You sound a bit sour in general. Others in the area, Perfect Wife: Dependable and really very good Mulligans: informal and good food Black Swan: was very good , miss them Bean: Has become pretty so so Mistrals: My dear. Don't bother. Too full of themselves Garlic Johns: Easy and good, never let us down. Up for breakfast: How fun on a weekend morning. good stuff. Sun Mar 08 07:55:44 -0700 2009 848438 272645 Richienow 2 4488390 Agree with most of what you said Richienow. We like Chanticleer for dinner as well. We always do Mulligans(great smoked wings) and Perfect Wife but Bean ,in our opinion,has gone straight downhill since the old owner killed himself last year. We too miss eating at the bar in the Black Swan and chatting with the nice lady who owned the place. The food was always great there as well. Up for Breakfast is our favoirte but you have to get there early because the place fills up fast. The Rooster is also a good breakfast place. We haven't tried Bistro Henry yet. The posts here help to keep us away and we've never heard much good about Mistrals either. WE abhor the look of the new bar at the Equinox but the drinks are very good but very expensive. The whole "new look " of the Equinox is NYC and out of touch with the "flavor" of Vt.,imo. We find the food at the Equinox medicore at best. We avoid the Reluctant Panther as well;Snobby,very expensive ,and pretentious Catnip Mon Mar 09 14:34:26 -0700 2009 4484142 16716 catnip 3 4489901 "The whole "new look" of the Equinox is NYC" Unfortunately or fortunately, as the case may be, catnip, NYC, Westchester County and those Southern CT Yankees fans are the target audience for the Equinox and the premium shops (never outlets) in Manchester. And let's face it, there aren't enough well-healed gentry north of CT to sustain that shopping pyramid indefinitely. It may seem like glorified Wal-Mart employment but a job is a job is a job these days. Me? I'm hangin' out at Up for Breakfast and The Perfect Wife as usual and Chanticleer on special occasion. Harp Mon Mar 09 23:19:35 -0700 2009 4488390 45436 Harp00n 4 4491094 Hapr- You're right! I kep forgetting that the way Vt. used to look(New Englandy) is not acceptable in many cases to outlanders from the cities who expect to find city styles in what they perceive to be the "country". And,like you said,these are the folks who pay the freight that keeps places like the Equinox going and the "premium shops" as well. Guess my hitting Perfect Wife ,Chantecleer,and Up For Breakfast and avoiding the Equinox and "premium shops" has "warped" my sense of what is local in Vt. any more---LOL. Catnip Tue Mar 10 10:22:00 -0700 2009 4489901 16716 catnip 5 4492340 Yup, sigh, you won't see a Ted's Fish Fry at Malfunction Junction anytime soon. :-D Harp Tue Mar 10 15:38:25 -0700 2009 4491094 45436 Harp00n 4 4497235 I'm up at Stratton every weekend and I agree with Harp. Up for Breakfast is terrific ...not your typical breakfast joint...Perfect Wife is consistently good. Three Clock Inn is great if you want to make the 12 mile hike to South Londonderry. Equinox is great for celebrating Grandma's 90th birthday. Thu Mar 12 06:58:23 -0700 2009 4489901 145071 pondrat 5 4497351 Up at Stratton every weekend. eh pondrat? I guess that mean you don't need the breadcrumb trail or GPS for navigating anymore. Have you or any of the other Hounds been to Johnny Seesaw's in Peru at Bromley lately? At one point it was a pretty decent option but the service and food turned very erratic later on. Harp BTW, went by it many times but never been to the Three Clock Inn but will on your strong rec. Thu Mar 12 07:30:48 -0700 2009 4497235 45436 Harp00n 6 4498410 Only ate at Johnny Seesaw's once, about 3-4 years ago, and found it rather pedestrian. Ate there with a friend who's up there for most of the summer and likes the place, and has continued to eat there and finds it consistent. Also has very bland taste preferences. Thu Mar 12 12:05:09 -0700 2009 4497351 158319 mjoyous 7 4498660 Thanks mjoyous, That pretty much jibes with what I remember from 4-5 years ago. People would go there for the drinks and "the scene", what there is of it, LOL, in beautiful downtown Peru. Harp Thu Mar 12 13:08:09 -0700 2009 4498410 45436 Harp00n 6 4498849 Yup, teach at the snowboarding school. Don't get to Peru often but haven't heard any buzz about Johnny Seesaw's around Stratton. Do spend a fair amount of time at the Red Fox tavern in Bondville http://www.redfoxinn.com/tavern.html If you can't make it to Three Clocks Inn you should try Serge's upmarket Village Pantry du Logis where he sells many of the dishes from the restaurant for takeout. http://www.villagepantry.com/ Thu Mar 12 13:48:14 -0700 2009 4497351 145071 pondrat 7 4504467 You know pondrat, I've been meaning to stop in at the Red Fox Tavern probably a dozen times. But it's usually during the summer or early fall when we're over that way and the Jeep just kinda does a sharp right turn into the OutBack at Winhall River rather than a left for the Red Fox. I'm a sucker for their big river-side deck. River? It's more like a creek or stream. But hey, it's a nice peacefully bucolic spot. The food, most times anyways, has been more than decent but not anywhere near knock-your-socks-off good.Their little subterranean pub is also a good place to grabs some apps, watch the Sox and BS with the locals. Being my resident Goomba expert, how's Verde on Stratton Mt.? I've heard lots of good reports and I just know that your Philadelphia Eagles-loving butt has graced their establishment! Harp Sat Mar 14 10:41:14 -0700 2009 4498849 45436 Harp00n 8 4504857 I've stimulated the cash flow at all the places you've listed many times....Many nights at Outback and I concur with your review. Funny how the food improves as closing time approaches. I've never been there during an hour or season where I could see a river..It's a great mix of people there what with the locals and the ski-birds that head north on the I-91 flyway every weekend.. Red Fox does have a good restaurant upstairs from the tavern. Pretty standard New England fare with an international twist at times. Usually some Vermont maple, cheese or honey treatment to meats and vegetables as you'd expect. Like going to the Wayside Inn near us. I've been a huge fan of Verde since the day it opened. I personally think that, of recent, the price/performance ratio has slipped. But if you want high end food without going into Manchester or S. Londonderry, Verde is your place. Oh and the price performance is excellent when our guests take us there in exchange for staying with us on the mountain :) C'mon up Harp ! Sat Mar 14 13:55:22 -0700 2009 4504467 145071 pondrat 9 4510015 The only "sport" you'll find me involved with in the immediate area is fishing at Gale Meadows Pond which is probably the best warm-water fishery in Southern VT. and Smallmouth fishing on the West River. What's the matter with Stratton anyhow? There's no beer or chili festivals like Mt. Snow or even Highland Games where I could dominate the Caber Toss competion. As nancyl126 verifies below, there is actually a Winhall River over there yonder beyond the OutBack's deck. It's what's called a freestone river than runs heavy in the spring thaw and becomes a trickle by late spring. I guess you never done what's known as a Duval St. Crawl, aka hands and knees, due east off the deck :-D Harp Mon Mar 16 12:56:52 -0700 2009 4504857 45436 Harp00n 1 4507846 Had a great dinner at Outback last Sunday night. kale, white bean and andouille soup, cornmeal crusted fried calamari and their consistently good rack of lamb (with roasted red potatoes and julieened golden beets. The river was really rushing, too Sun Mar 15 18:09:41 -0700 2009 848438 26109 nancyl126 2 4508501 Is this a member of the chain? Mon Mar 16 04:03:17 -0700 2009 4507846 119275 Morganna 3 4508625 Hi Morganna, Nope. I think it actually pre-dates the chain but your question is certainly understandable. Harp Mon Mar 16 05:43:50 -0700 2009 4508501 45436 Harp00n 4 4509182 Ooh good, I thought I'd stepped into some alternate chowhound universe there. ;D I'm going to have to keep this place in mind! :) Thanks! Mon Mar 16 09:20:24 -0700 2009 4508625 119275 Morganna 2 4508915 Wow...I'm going to have to give upstairs a try again. Love the sound of the soup. Will be nuts there next weekend with the US Open Snowboarding Championships in town. Will look like the bar room scene in Star Wars ! Mon Mar 16 07:55:16 -0700 2009 4507846 145071 pondrat 1 4575683 I have been to Bistro Henry's many times and I've never had a bad experience there. My husband and I ate dinner there this past weekend. We found the staff to be very friendly, attentive, and helpful. I'm really shocked by Justin's article, but then again it was written in 2001 and really should be taken down now. At Bistro Henry we ordered the lobster bisque, pork dumplingsand crab cakes for appetizers. Everything was perfect. I have to say they were the BEST crab cakes I have ever had!! That is a big statement and I stand by it. The lobster bisque was also amazing. Our entrees were just as impressive and delicious. Henry is a very nice, casual, and funny man. I believe his food can stand up to the best in NYC (where I used to live). His prices reflect the quality of food and service you will receive. I suggest you don't listen to Justin, but give it a try yourself. You won't be disappointed!! Sue Munson, Boston, MA Tue Apr 07 12:05:43 -0700 2009 848438 280829 sue munson 1 4575985 Justin, your sense of the place is right on. My wife and I dined at Bistro Henry in their old location just down the road and also experienced a very negative situation. Foolishly I stopped by after the move to check out the menu - prices up and the sense that I would not be happy there. The first visit btw resulted in a challange to my refusing the wine offered (it was CORKED, big time). But we still frequent the Manchester/Manchester Center area as we have since our honeymoon many years ago. Other posters have suggested alternatives so I will leave it to them but for casual snacks etc you might try Up for Breakfast on the main street or Zoey's on the rt leading up the mountrain for lunch. Tue Apr 07 13:18:08 -0700 2009 848438 11468 feelinpeckish 1 4794493 Bistro Henry is the best restaurant in town. Sorry you had a bad experience but i've been going to Bistro Henry regularly since I moved to the area four years ago and it is always a delicious & pleasant experience. If you're that much of a foodie you could probably have anticipated that the Pellegrino would have an additional charge and you were given the option to choose a free alternative. In my experience the food is always perfectly cooked, the menu caters for all and the staff are genuinely friendly and down to earth. As for other restaurants in town; just check out the health inspectors reports posted on the local newspaper website. Mulligans (which we call Hooligans) and Candeleros are often borderline passes. The Perfect Wife upstairs does not have good food; downstairs is better but ridiculously expensive. My advice for visitors is that if you want quality food, good service and a well run kitchen try Bistro Henry and decide for yourself, you won't be disappointed. If you want a bargain go to Bob's Diner just across the street. Mon Jun 22 08:13:57 -0700 2009 848438 1087385 Tahloula 2 5016878 I have to agree with you. I had a superb dinner there recently. Carmine gave me a warm greeting and seated me at a lovely table, though I had no reservations, and my server was very professional and nice. The menu is stunning - with favorites that are difficult to prepare well - like sweetbreads. The bread is also outstanding and I could not stop eating it. From start to finish, everything was fresh and home made. Not only am I a serious foodie, but a former chef and caterer, as well. Sounds to me like Justin has a personal vendetta against this wonderful restaurant. Or he simply does not know what he is talking about. Wed Sep 09 12:37:30 -0700 2009 4794493 1099403 genny 1 5100289 I'm using this post to select some places to eat in Manchester. Does Up for Breakfast have a website? Is it only breakfast or do they serve other meals? Tue Oct 13 12:48:58 -0700 2009 848438 129259 wintersummer 2 5100602 I think it's only breakfast. Am not a breakfast eater, but every once in a while I must have their sourdough pancakes, and gladly drive the 1.15 hrs to get there (ok, so we shop afterwords.) The sourdough pancakes are unique--very light and very sour. Served with warm maple syrup. When I was there a few months ago the server, after I ordered, asked if I had ever had them. Seems a number of first timers complain that they're too sour. Had a really nice eggs benedict there once, and the wild boar sausage is interesting. Fresh squeezed OJ too. Tue Oct 13 14:20:56 -0700 2009 5100289 158319 mjoyous