Notch 8 Grille — Restaurant in Northampton

Our recent supper at Notch 8 Grille in Northampton, MA, was nothing short of first class for all three of us. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and appealing, setting the stage for a memorable feast. Every detail of the evening reflected the care and attention put into ensuring a delightful experience. For example, in the comfortable banquette seating we chose, a gap between table and bench was a bit wide for me, so our helpful waitress quickly moved the bench to solve my request.

We ordered the same starters - Notch 8 Crab Cake. Wow! It was a seductive start to what would be a benchmark culinary journey for us. The meal continued with beautifully prepared salads, fresh and crisp, with a perfect balance of flavors.

For the main course, I opted for the Filet Mignon, medium rare, and it was grilled to that precise perfection — tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, and accompanied with high end steak sauces. I paired this with the Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. It was a combination that I savored at every bite. I enjoyed a glass of Tribute Cabernet Sauvignon, a rich and velvety wine that paired well with the steak.

My spouse and her sister enjoyed their selections: Duck Breast and Seared Salmon – each delicious and top notch. We all shared my generous dish of Fingerling Potatoes. The sisters’ entrees were accompanied by glasses of Elouan Pinot Noir. All the server’s recommendations were spot-on, enhancing our experience, and she gave great credit to her “A-Team” in the kitchen!

Desserts! Each was a pièce de résistance: two classic Crème Brûlée presentations (with live torch applied at our table) yielding a crisp caramelized top - and beneath, a creamy, indulgent custard. As it was my wife’s birthday (somehow overheard by our waitress) her Crème Brûlée arrived with a birthday card signed by our staff – Paige, Mes, Liv and Joe! My wife’s sister chose and relished a flourless chocolate torte of ultimate heaven. Those Notch 8 desserts were the ideal sweet ending to a flawless meal. Cups of freshly brewed coffee, served with the same grace and attention as every other course, provided the perfect finish.

What truly stood out, beyond the exquisite food, was the impeccable service, led by Paige. The staff was alert yet unobtrusive, allowing us to enjoy our meals at our own pace without ever feeling rushed. Mind you, almost 3 hours had elapsed, and never once was uttered “Are you still working on this?” nor were plates cleared as a hint to us to speed up. Notch 8 civility and grace came remarkably close to a “dining at the Ritz” environment. Their professionalism and warmth added to the overall sense of relaxation and enjoyment. If you’re looking for a dining experience that combines extraordinary cuisine, a welcoming atmosphere, and superlative service, the Notch 8 Grille is a priority. I recommend it strongly - and look forward to...

Strongly not recommended. Worst service I got in the past several years. We are all human so I won't leave bad reviews for honest mistakes. But this one is different. They didn't serve (or even cook) our order for 2 hours and blame us for it. Here's the timeline proving this is not just an honest mistake from miscommunication: About 18:20 We ordered Tomahawk, a steak for two. My gf said we still want a few minutes to decide other things. About 18:30 we ordered another starter and drinks and said we were all set. But they didn't take back the menu. (At this point, it's understandable if they think we didn't order the steak.) About 18:40 we return the menu. (At this point, it will be a really weird logic to assume we still didn't decide our order. But it can be an honest mistake.) About 19:20 we already finished the starter and asked about the steak. The waitress explained to us about why Tomahawk takes longer than other dishes to cook and it takes about 30 minutes. (She knew exactly what we ordered and what we were waiting for) I even said it's already more than 30 mins since we ordered. She didn't explain that we didn't put the order yet. For the next hour, even customers on the next table started to look at us in a weird way, but no waiters or waitresses came to check. About 20:20, we still didn't get the steak after another two 30 min. We felt we wasted too much time here. We decided to leave and asked for the bill. The first reaction of the waitress is to blame us. Here's the exact quote of her first sentence: "to clarify, you never put anything in the order." So they knew exactly that we were waiting for too long and exactly why we were waiting. Even there was indeed a misunderstanding, they never bothered to communicate or clarify anything before we decided to leave. After story: my gf left a mild negative review here. The reply from them is only about how a 2 star can be a damage to their small business. Not a single "sorry". Because they don't care our experiences at all. They only care about their business. This reply is an evidence that this attitude is not from one waitress, but their philosophy of business: treat customers as troubles to deal with. This is the point I decided to give my first negative review in Google map. I'm already being very generous through the process. I just can't find an explanation for them. Strongly not...

My husband and I found Notch 8 online and wanted a nice night out with amazing food (presumed by the prices) so we decided to try it out. We were greeted by nobody at the front desk and had to wait a while but figured it happens, oh well, no big deal. Our server was kind and attentive and our drinks were great. Unfortunately, everything else from there out was a complete and utter failure. My husband ordered the beef carpaccio which was way too thick and chewy to be a carpaccio. The lobster bisque was mealy and grainy and came with 0 lobster despite the menu stating lobster would be served on top. It was also completely separated, so we don’t know why it was served in the first place. Even the greenest of chefs know better than to serve a separated bisque, but I digress. The wedge salad wasn’t even a wedge, or a quarter. It was scattered, wilted leaves on a plate. The prime rib was completely flavorless. It had no crust on it, showing that the meat hadn’t even been seasoned prior to cooking, which lead to the au jus tasting like literal water. It lacked flavor EVERYWHERE. Even the baked potato tasted like nothing. The menu is good in theory, but it is painfully clear the chef does not have the skill to execute it. You are charging FINE DINING prices for D quality food. They charge 115 dollars for a tomahawk and I’m so glad we decided not to get it because the way this grille that is supposedly “known for they’re steaks” treated the meat was disgraceful. Do not waste your money on people severely overcharging for food they’re not skilled enough to prepare correctly. Service was great though, as were the bartenders.

I’m disappointed to see the way they respond to bad reviews, giving HR coded responses that lack genuine understanding that the food they’re serving is simply not good. The time you’ve spent responding to reviews to tell people how shocked and amazed you are that you didn’t meet “your high standards” could have been spent actually...