Simon Pearce — Restaurant in Hartford

This is a copy of the formal report made through the Americans with Disabilities Act. This report has also been sent to head chef Jeremy Conaway and general manager Nick Karabelas.

Dear ADA Office, I am writing to file a formal complaint against Simon Pearce Restaurant in Quechee, VT, for discrimination related to my service animal, which occurred on February 20, 2025. As a service dog handler for the past three years and a disability advocate, I was deeply disturbed by the treatment I received, which I believe violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I made a reservation at the restaurant two days in advance and clearly communicated my accommodation needs, specifying that I have a large service dog and would require adequate space for her. Upon arrival, I was shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant, and I was told that my dog would need to fit under a decorative table surrounded by expensive glass-blown vases. When I attempted to settle my dog, a Great Dane, in the space, I was informed by the host that if she didn’t fit, we would be asked to leave. This was a direct violation of my rights under the ADA, as businesses are required to make reasonable accommodations for service animals. Despite my attempts to make my dog comfortable in the limited space, she simply could not fit. Our waitress, who was kind and accommodating, informed us that there were other, more accessible tables available. However, the host had previously insisted that only two specific tables—both similarly cramped—were available. It appeared as though the host intentionally withheld the more appropriate seating option, which ultimately led to an environment where my service dog and I were unable to be adequately accommodated. The situation became further distressing when my service dog attempted to alert me due to my heightened heart rate caused by anxiety. To add to the discomfort, a neighboring diner rudely remarked, "Please move, it’s unappetizing to sit next to a dog." This comment further compounded the emotional distress I was experiencing. As a result of this discriminatory treatment, I chose to leave the restaurant. I felt humiliated, unsupported, and discriminated against, which is the opposite of what I expect from any establishment, especially one with such a reputable name. I am filing this complaint to formally bring this matter to the attention of the ADA and request that you investigate Simon Pearce Restaurant’s policies and practices regarding the accommodation of service animals. I believe their actions not only violated my rights under the ADA but also created an environment where I was not treated with dignity or respect. I appreciate your time and attention to this matter and look forward to hearing about any actions you...

Great reviews and local recommendations led us to this spot with high expectations. They have wonderful views and a world class glass shop. The service is impeccable. The food, however, is confused, lacks value for the price and feels muddled in its flavors.

Bread service was cold bread and cold butter fresh from the fridge. Hard as a rock butter. Cold on cold and left us scratching our head. We love bread and we left this one sitting on the plate.

Oysters were great! Flavorful and plump. We just didn't have serving spoons for the accompaniment. Pouring from the small bowl didn't feel elegant.

The Vermont Cheese Plate was very ordinary. Almost an afterthought in presentation with little buisict type bread, hard as a rock crackers and some cheese. For $24, I say skip this one and just hit one of the local cheese shops.

They had a fish cake special which we ordered. This was a small, dry cake. Luckily, the salad they served with it was amazing. Balanced flavors and well dressed. It saved this dish. But, we ordered a fish cake appetizer, not a salad, so again we were confused.

The Maple Mustard Carrots had really nice flavors and were cooked perfectly. The hazelnut brittle added a brilliant crunch and the lime labneh a great acid touch. They were served with avocado (we are from California where avocado is served on everything) and it just didn't seem to fit. Although the flavors were great, we wish they gave you more carrots. These were the skinniest little carrots we've seen on a plate. Would advise skipping the $17 side.

Our main course was the most disappointing of all. The Long Island Duck. Described as kimchi fried rice, five spice duck and candied orange, we were expecting a flavor bomb of Asian cuisine. Instead, we got a very southern style dish. The hot sauce they douse the dish in is essentially a Louisiana style hot sauce and wipes out any other flavors they intended. Very confusing mix of flavors and textures. The duck was cooked very well and had a nice crispy skin. Tender and juicy meat. The rice, soaked in that sauce, did not fair well. Muddled flavors. Another pass for us.

Overall, I would say to go for the shop. Go for a drink and the views. And skip dinner. The value here is missing and the flavors are lacking the finesse you might...

Disgusting…. Had lunch here with my mom and sister. They’d had good experiences at the restaurant in the past. We will never go back. I ordered a crab cake starter. It was bland, mushy, greasy, and the crab had been over mixed, becoming stringy, and barely discernable amidst all the breading and egg. My sister and I had calamari with arugula salad for an entree. The fry oil tasted old, and the temp must have been low, because the calamari came out rubbery, and sodden with grease—but it was placed directly on the arugula, wilting the greens and soaking them in nasty fry oil. The seasoning was also lacking—and the dressing tasted like a horrible syrupy sweet dipping sauce from a bad Chinese buffet. My mother ordered mushroom quiche. It came out looking like it had been initially burnt, badly, then reheated several times, and then left under a heat lamp for many hours. It was completely inedible. The crust was heavy, thick, tough, burnt, and desiccated, and the filling was burnt on top and dried to the point of being leathery. We let the hostess know that it was completely inedible. Her response was “yeah, I know— it’s like that.”. No apology, no attempt to replace the food or offer us a refund. She just smiled and walked away, like we (especially since we didn’t look wealthy) were being childish and clueless for deigning to criticize anything associated with the great Simon Pearce. We would have done far better by going to any random greasy spoon. Hell, a badly run McDonalds franchise would be far better in terms of food quality and service. Then we checked out the glass. $70 for a single rocks glass? Nothing there was notable in any way. I suppose the pieces are “hand crafted”, or responsibly sourced, or fair trade, shade grown carbon neutral, blah blah blah…. The point is that none of his designs are interesting, and the only resonant theme I noticed was an air of gaudy Trum-esque nouveau-riche glitter. Add some...