1906 at Longwood Gardens — Restaurant in East Marlborough Township

We have been coming to Longwood Gardens Christmas since 2015 and typically dine at 1906 as a family to celebrate the holidays. I can say that this is the first time we were disappointed with the experience. Service was disjointed at best. Our server was not very attentive and we would go long periods of time between table visits. The drinks we ordered to go with the meals arrived after the meals.

As for the meal itself the flavoring/seasoning was wonderful but not one item came out hot except for the lobster omelet. This is the only item that felt cooked to order. The rest of it felt very mass produced and meant to move people through. You could tell that because even though the service was slow the meals came out almost immediately after ordered.

1.) Gone is the quirkiness of getting your own bread in a flower pot. This was replaced by having to purchase a pull apart bread. This was reasonably priced and loved the crunch of the seeds but still some of the fun is gone. 2.) The sun-choke appetizer with the barley and turnips were the star of the show. Again they came out warm and I couldn't tell if the sun-chokes were supposed to be crispy. The item is listed as "crispy" sun chokes but there was no crunch in ours but the interior was creamy as a well cooked sun-choke is supposed to be. The barley and turnips stole the show. 3.)The re-envisioning of the mushroom soup was very good. Bold flavors and the only issue was the temperature. Again Luke-warm on a cold rainy day when a hot soup could have crushed it. 4.) Scallops were well cooked and serving temperature was less impactful to the enjoyment of the meal. Loved the addition of the sea-beans but the price paid, ~$30 for three scallops seemed high. 5.) The Spaghetti Alla Chitarra felt like the best value we got. A strong portion size that that waitress kindly split into 2 dishes for our kids. The noodles had nice bounce and seemed to be handmade and the seasoning/flavoring was great. Again this meal suffered from only being warm at the time of serving. 4.) The lobster omelet was the best entree we had and truly felt cooked to order as the serving temperature was hot and steam came from the lobster stuffing when you cut into the omlete. The drink ordered to go with this meal did not arrive until after we had finished the meal so. 5.) The duck was the biggest disappointment of the day. Duck or a pork chop have generally been staples on the Christmas menu. Previously you would get a full breast (4-5 slices) and for this service we received 2 slices. In addition there was a blood vessel or clot in the breast that made for an unappetizing site. This breast should have never been served. In addition the skin was not rendered well and made for a floppy chewy bite that in the past would have been crisp. The flavors were excellent with the cherry complimenting the duck. This could have shined but seemed to be poorly executed. The Pinot the chef recommended to pair with the duck was excellent even though it arrived well after the duck had been served.

The ambience of the new spot was beautiful. Anyone who has eaten on the covered porch in previous years knows that this is a step up with a view of the fountains.

I do feel that the price point felt about $10 more per entree then it should have been for portion size. I understand this is more of a fine dining experience now then a high end restaurant like the previous 1906 but the experience for the price point did not match. I wondered if we were the only ones that encountered this experience so I checked google reviews and the fact that there were so many reviews echoing our experience gives me concern.

We will give the new 1906 another shot as in the spring hoping that it finds its stride. Again the flavors/seasoning of the meal was truly a standout but the execution did not seem on par with previous experiences at the old 1906. Otherwise the cafeteria, fountains room and fast service booths offer reasonable alternatives for food options...

--UPDATED 08/19/2025-- Been coming to Longwood Gardens for many years and have been to 1906 a few times. We were excited to try the newly renovated restaurant and wanted update my review as it's completely different now. We visited 8/18 and had reservations at 3pm.

The new location is fantastic and the interior is absolutely stunning. Great design, space, and view. Very spacious and modern. The staff are very professional and friendly.

We were greeted and seated immediately after confirming our reservation time. Our waiter I believe his name is Patrick although our receipt says Colven (maybe a last name?) He was super professional and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu. We told him we were visiting the Gardens for my birthday and requested a candle with dessert at the end of the meal which he acknowledged.

To start, prices have gone up quite a bit since our last visit and sadly they no longer offer complimentary bread. It used to be mushroom shaped popovers served in a terracotta pot. Portion sizes were never huge at 1906, but seems like it got even smaller, which considering the prices, is also unfortunate. Food came out very quickly but it was also a Monday and not very busy at the time.

For drinks we got the summer bree's, have a smashing summer, and paper plane. All 3 drinks were expertly crafted and super refreshing. We enjoyed the booziness as well.

For apps we ordered the mushroom pate. The pate is served on small ceramic tree stump and is served with 6 slices of brioche that is shaped into a mushroom. Presentation was adorable and the pate was phenomenal. Earthiness and umami goodness.

For entrees we got the mushroom tagliatelle, and 2 crab chitarra. Once we saw how small the portions were we also ordered the pull-apart brioche.

Both pasta dishes had excellent pasta texture and presentation was again, quite delightful. Definitely won't be filling anyone up with the entree size but it was delicious. There was a good amount of crab within the pasta and it was very fresh. Compared to the mushroom tagliatelle the crab pasta was a bit more salty.

The pull-apart brioche comes with a honey butter that was so light and creamy. Went together so well with the herbs on the brioche. We also enjoyed how hot the bread was when it arrived.

For dessert we opted for 3 scoops of gelato. Two scoops of peach and one scoop of creme fraiche. Unfortunately it seems our waiter forgot about my birthday as the ice cream came without the candle. In the past 1906 would give you a card on your birthday along with a candle on your dessert. It wasn't even busy on Monday so it's unfortunate they didn't remember. Anyway both the gelato flavors were creamy and delicious.

--ORIGINAL REVIEW 3 Years Ago-- Came here on a Thursday evening for dinner. Staff was very professional and kind along with my waitress.

Cocktails were superb and boozy. Got the fall fashioned and the pear martini. Loved how the brioche bread came in little terracotta pots. It was so soft and delicious. We started off with the shrimp gratin and the naan was a perfect combo. The shrimp was fresh and seasoned perfectly.

I ordered the rohan duck and it was amazing. The parsnip puree complemented the duck so well. I only wish the fat was seared a tiny bit. I tasted the short rib and the salmon and both were stellar. Salmon skin was crispy and the short rib was comforting.

Finished the meal with the peanut butter flower pot and it was soooo good. Presentation can't be beat here, it was so cute. The chocolate crumbles really added another layer of awesome on top of the already delicious dessert. It was surprisingly not too sweet either even with all the layers of flavor.

Each dish came out very fast. Didn't wait long for the app, and once we finished that the entrees came out a few mins later. Dessert came out right after we finished those too. Overall, great experience. Will definitely be back every time I make the trip to...

We chose this restaurant to celebrate a early birthday and the holidays, expecting a memorable fine dining experience as advertised. While the ambiance and some dishes stood out, the service, misleading policies, and disorganization completely ruined the evening. Lounge Experience We arrived over an hour early to our reservation and asked to enjoy drinks and appetizers before our reservation, thinking this would set the tone for a great evening. Unfortunately, the service was abysmal: • After ordering drinks and appetizers, we were completely ignored by the lounge staff. No one checked on us, and we would have gladly ordered more rounds of their $17 cocktails if given the chance. • While the Olives were excellent—perfectly seasoned and flavorful—the Fries were just okay: small portion and unremarkable. The people next to us discussed how their gluten allergy wasn’t respected and how to manage that their excuse was that they’ve only been open a month.

Despite notifying four different staff members and reminding them five times about our reservation, very respectfully of course, we weren’t seated until 45 minutes past our reservation time. This delay was baffling because there were 5-6 empty tables in our section of the dining room which made up maybe a third of the dining area.

Dining Room Experience When we were finally seated, the dining room’s ambiance was beautiful—calm and serene. Unfortunately, the service continued to disappoint: • My cider didn’t arrive until after the salads and entrees were served, despite ordering it promptly. • Other people’s cocktails were brought to our table twice, showing a complete lack of attention to detail. • No one checked on us after our food was delivered. • The waitress didn’t even realize it was my birthday until she checked on the reservation deposit and saw that they hadn’t removed it from the card. And then wished me a happy birthday as she took the check away.

Adding insult to injury, the table next to us, who were relatives of a kitchen staff member, received VIP treatment. They were offered caviar, cocktails, and constant attention from the staff. While we were happy for them, they deserved this but the disparity in service was glaring. Showing they are capable of better service but can’t perform.

By the end of the meal, we had planned to order dessert, but the thought of waiting another hour without drinks or basic service was unbearable.

The Food The food was a mix of hits and misses: • Flower Salad: Surprisingly large with fresh, peppery flavors—a great start. • Beef Carpaccio: Delicate, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. • Spaghetti Alla Chitarra: Outstanding; rich, satisfying, and cooked to perfection. • Rohan Duck Breast: The biggest disappointment. It was overpriced, bland, and the smallest portion of duck I’ve ever had at a fine dining restaurant. The accompanying cabbage was excellent and outshone the main dish was worth the $12 price tag.

Misleading Policies The restaurant also misled us with its reservation policy. They claim to have a “no-charge” fee, but they actually charge your card as a deposit. This is a completely different practice and felt deceptive. The waitress said she went and checked on it and they hadn’t charged it. Honestly was just confusing and messy.

Overall Experience This was one of the worst “fine dining” experiences I’ve ever had. Fine dining is supposed to offer exceptional service, attention to detail, and a sense of occasion—none of which we received. Instead, the evening was marked by poor service, misleading policies, and zero accountability.

Applebee’s and McDonald’s are far more put together than this place. At least there, you’re treated with respect, and the service is consistent. heck they’ll even sing you happy birthday before your check at Applebees lol. Save yourself the frustration. Head toanother reputable restaurant where your time, money, and patience will be better...