Dinner and New Year's in the Berkshires

[NY TexMex]

I'm heading to the Berkshires for New Year's with my girlfriend. Any suggestions on restaurants for the weekend and a good New Year's spot near Pittsfield, Lenox or Great Barrington? We're two 30-somethings looking for dinner and dancing.

Thanks in advance!

[Dana1949]

I don't believe that anyone mentioned the Dream Away Lodge in Becket, MA. The menu, entertainment, and pricing are currently mentioned on their website. The only problem would be a snowstorm, the going in the hills of Becket can get tough. The Dream Away is located in the middle of nowhere so bring your GPS with you. The meals and atmosphere are worth the trip.

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Dream Away Lodge
1342 County Rd, Becket, MA 01223

[magiesmom]

I want to suggest you stay away from dreamaway if you care about food. mediocre at best.

[hopegoode]

I got an email notice that Gateways Inn, one of our favorite restaurants in Lenox, will be serving a three-course New Year's dinner. However, it doesn't state the cost. You might want to check with the owners if that sounds interesting to you.

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Gateways Inn & Restaurant
51 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240

[StatenIslandSara]

I am so wary of Inns in Lenox.
Both the quality of the meal and the venue itself - not good and rundown and shabby. I think they must be counting on tourist business alone because I don't think locals go there.

[magiesmom]

+1

[catnip]

We did the New Year'sPackage at the Gateways last year and it was wonderful.
This year however there is no band just dinner.
Last yr. was a 7-course dinner and dancing way past mdinight.
They have really scaled back from last year's event.
I have no clue as to why.

[hopegoode]

The special menu for New Year's Eve is now posted on the Gateways Inn website- $55 per person.

Another excellent restaurant offering a prix fixe meal that evening is Rouge in West Stockbridge. It is pricier than Gateway's but you might prefer the menu.

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Gateways Inn & Restaurant
51 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240

[visink]

The Gateways Inn is amazing and reasonably priced. I recently went to a 5-course scotch tasting dinner and it was $70/per person including the flight of scotches. All food is homemade on the premisis by the owner's wife. Her pasta is incredible.

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Gateways Inn & Restaurant
51 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240

[Bookistan]

I honestly don't know about the dancing part but figure more romantic and charming than young and hip. Mission might be among the most lively places, but it's casual; I don't see it as a super special destination place. Lion's Den, the casual tavern attached to the Red Lion Inn, will have live entertainment and definitely less stodgy than the Inn itself. You should also check out Jae's Spice in Pittsfield (a large pan-Asian restaurant that has a more urban vibe than many other restaurants. Have fun! The Berkshires may not be known for its night life, but it's a truly lovely part of the world.

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Red Lion Inn Restaurant
71 S Main St, Cohasset, MA 02025

[City Kid]

The Lion's Den, downstairs from the Red Lion Inn, is great fun for live music and a drink but the food is virtually inedible.

[catnip]

I agree 100% with you City Kid.
We can't believe anyone would eat there but,like you said,a drink and a lively crowd.

[nfnebwiri]

Forgot about Jae's Spice - this would probably be a good bet for a lively but casual New Years' Eve spot. The food can be variable, have had it range from very good to just ok.

[StatenIslandSara]

Good luck with your search!
My advice is stay away from Inns in Lenox.
We had a pretty awful Thanksgiving dinner at the one across from Tanglewood. (my mil's rec - she recalled it being a dining destination)

[catnip]

That would be the Apple Tree Inn Sara.
We had a miserable breakfast there one time.
We'd never go back there.

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Apple Tree Inn & Restaurant
10 Richmond Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA 01240

[StatenIslandSara]

Thanks! That was it. I didn't know if it was ok on this site to post the name with an unfavorable review.
I can not recommend it at all.

[catnip]

NY TEXMex-
Go to (www.therberkshires24-7.com )to find out about all the eating and entertainment for the upcoming Xams and NYE season.

[jfood]

Just spent a weekend at Equinox in Manchester VT. They had greass fed local steaks that were outstanding. The bar was small but hopping on an early December Saturday night.

Beautiful spot.

[catnip]

We were just in Manchester last weekend also.
We did the $30 3-course dinner at the Chanticleer which was outstanding and Mulligan's on Saturday night fortheir lively bar crowd and super wings and burgers.
I called the Equinox while we were up there and I asked what they were doing for NYE and I was told they have a DJ spinning records with a regular dinner menu.
A far cry from what I thought they'd have(live band and special dinner).

[City Kid]

The Red Lion Inn will certainly be festive, but I have found the food pretty awful and not inexpensive. If you want something romantic, try Chez Nous in Lee, don't know what they have for NYE.

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Chez Nous
150 Main St, Lee, MA 01238

[catnip]

I just found out that they have an electric keyboard player for New Year's.
They are serving regular menu early and a prixe fixe menu later on NYE.
Check out their website(www.cheznousbistro.com)for more information.

[City Kid]

If you do make a reservation for Chez Nous specify the main/front room where the entertainment is, much more festive than the other.

[catnip]

You might want to check out the Interlaken Inn in Interlaken,Ct. right over the Ma. /Ct. border.
Dinner,dancing,good food,ect.
Tried to find a "reasonably-priced" deal for New Year's but Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge,and many other expensive Inns wanted a fortune for the evening.
Seems like a good time of year to rip people off for some average dining and entertainment.

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Red Lion Inn
30 Main St, Stockbridge, MA 01262

[NY TexMex]

Thanks. Agreed, New Year's is always seems to be twice the normal price. Red Lion looks interesting. I also saw some place called Bogie's and Mission Bar and Tapas. If anyone else has any suggestions, would love to hear them.

[nfnebwiri]

Agree that food at red lion not that great. Chez Nous is really good but would not be a "party" atmosphere, more quiet and romantic as suggested.

Bogies and Mission Tapas about as far apart as you can get atmosphere-wise. Bogies is I guess kind of an old school steak and potato and salad bar kind of place, would be near the bottom of my list for young people looking for something festive. Mission on the other hand has tasty and interesting if not exactly authentic tapas-type food, it's pretty small but likely to have live music with more of a "hip" atmosphere (if such a thing is possible in the Berkshires).

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Chez Nous
150 Main St, Lee, MA 01238