Ashfield Lake House, Inc. — Restaurant in Ashfield

Wish I could give no stars to this restaurant but google won’t let me do that. Anyways, here it is: we had a disturbing experience at this restaurant — as the only person of color in the restaurant, we were treated aggressively and angrily. This is the first time in my life I have had to walk out of a restaurant because of racist treatment by a staff member.

We were very excited to this place which just re-opened a month or two ago. Being new here in Western Massachusetts we were excited to check this beautiful spot by the lake. We were seating in a shade area where my wife (who is visibly pregnant) was feeling chilly because it was windy so we wanted to move to a table where there was some sun. So my wife asked the server who was assigned to us to see if we could switch the table and she said “of course, let me clean that table for you”.

As we were moving to the new table there was another server loudly complaining about us to a large group of motorcycle riders at another table. , “people should be sitting where they should be in the first place…Oh I said that very loudly.”

Before my wife asked our sever about switching to the sunny table, two other people had switched tables on their own without even asking the server. We did ask the server politely and were enthusiastically welcomed to move to a more comfortable spot. However, we were the only people singled out by this other server — and I was the only person of color in the whole restaurant. This wasn’t a good feeling, but we tried to shake it off.

However, once we were seated on the new table, the other server came to us and was very aggressive and rude, repeating her complaints. My wife politely said that she had asked the other server and that she had ushered us to this other table. The server told us that they discourage people from switching tables, as if we had not asked, and as if we should have known the rules we were not told. Then, very short, she snapped at us about whether or not we were ready to order more food. We declined to order more than our fries, as it was clear we were not welcome. We left more cash than the bill and tip with the first server who had been kind and walked out.

My wife started to cry. As a mixed race couple, we are used to stares and occasional hostility, but this was a level of aggressively making us feel unwelcome that we have rarely had to face. Maybe we have been lucky…

Apparently the owners have been promoting themselves as an inclusive restaurant in a beautiful spot in the hills in Western Mass. We went enthusiastically, thinking we would be welcome. But that was not our experience… maybe inclusive means various kinds of white folks — rich ones, rednecks and of course white...

Major Update!!

New owners!!!

With new ownership and new direction it was a joyful return to an amazing restaurant. The new menu was exciting along with some old favorites.

The review below is over 5 years old and doesn't reflect the current owners at all.

I'm sad that I am writing this review, I am hoping if we visit again things will improve but our last three visits were less than ideal. This place has been one of my husband's favorite places to eat since childhood.

1st visit we were met with some push back to order a sandwich without bread because one in our party has a gluten intolerance. After explaining that the request was a dietary need the sandwich was served without bread.

2nd visit we were there with a large party to see a performance, and knowing it was going to be a busy night we were prepared for a long wait but we were not prepared for the waitress to offer some chips and dip as an apology for the wait and then charge us for them. There was also a few dishes that were not delivered and substitutions that were offered and then denied that made a few in our party unable to eat at all. None of the substitutions were things that many in the industry would find shocking, sweet potato fries in place of regular fries, and a change to a non rye bread. In the end we opted for no bread at all.

3rd visit figuring a quiet rainy Saturday after labor day would lead to quieter less eventful meal it sadly lead to no meal at all. Per the chef's saying he would not change the bread on the Reuben sandwich on my last visit but would serve it without bread I made that same request this time. I was refused any change to the sandwich. I was quite upset as I rather enjoyed the sandwich without bread on our last visit and was looking forward to having it again.

I had heard rumors that the chef was a stickler about changes to things on the menu but I am sad to find the rumors are true. I am not one to make up dietary restrictions in order to eat out. A menu full of sandwiches served on rye and sourdough is well and good but they are not flavors that are...

This was a horrible experience. A friend had recommended we go here so we did, and initially we sat at the bar, ordered some drinks and appetizers, it was really pleasant. And about an hour later we found out that there would be bands playing. More time passed and we ordered our meals, the first band of supposedly four had played and I had to go out to my car, I went to re-enter and they said I had to pay a cover charge. I told them I was just inside for about two hours, and they gave me a hard time allowing me to re-enter. But they eventually let me in. So after about 20 minutes we got our meals and decided it was a bit to loud and busy, we decided to go elsewhere to eat. We went outside and decided to sit in the parking lot that overlooks the lake. Then a little while later a woman who appeared to be a waitress, I later found out was perhaps the owner had made some remarks in passing and something about cover charge. We couldn't even hear the music from there. And by the time we were done eating, two guys came over and told us we had to pay a cover charge. It seemed odd as they came right to us and it was very intimidating. I really felt singled out. We paid, And left. How petty it seemed for ten dollars when we had planned on returning. This is a really bad set up. Maybe it would be better to let their guests know ahead that there will be bands, and if they are not done eating. They will be expected to pay. So either hurry and eat.. or pay. Perhaps something equally as pleasant... like: "There are bands starting at such and such a time, I know you may still be waiting for your order because we will be extremely busy, so while you sit here and enjoy the music, you will have to pay a cover charge. So either PAY the cover or LEAVE NOW." Lovely. Thing is the manner of it all. I have been a musician most my life and I would happily have paid a donation to the bands, though I only heard...