Jae's 7 Winter — Restaurant in Pittsfield

If you like Asian fusion cuisine (and we do), this restaurant is worth a try.

FOOD * Jae's 7 Winter offers an above-average variety of Asian dishes. Selections we've tried that fall under the Thai category -- like the classic noodle and curry dishes -- have all been very nicely prepared. The sushi is fresh, and includes interesting and creative variations like the tartar tower with avocado (and optional mango!). There is also excellent Pho, a large variety of soups, and specialty dishes like Jae's Duck and Pad Kra Prow that are, again, thoughtfully imagined and competently executed.

I have to say, we haven't found anything on the menu that we didn't like -- and we've tried quite a few -- with almost everything landing in the "above average" to "excellent" range. Despite the wide array of offerings, I think they've really nailed Asian fusion here in ways many other restaurants fail to do.

SERVICE ** This is where Jae's 7 Winter struggles a bit, though it does better than many other restaurants in the area. After the first four visits, we've learned that we need to repeat any customizations several times with the server, and that this still may not guarantee they are understood or carried out by the kitchen or bartender. For example, of the three or four times my wife and I have ordered brown rice with a particular dish, we've only received brown rice once. And the same lack of attention occurs with drink orders. So this is something to be aware of -- we've never sent anything back, but making our server aware of the oversight didn't result in a fix being offered, either.

However, despite this lack of follow-through, our servers have always been helpful, positive, happy to offer their thoughts on the menu, and quick to check in with us over the course of our meal.

LOCATION AND PARKING** The restaurant location is, as someone who has watched so many restaurants in the Berkshires rise and fall, a worrisome concern. Not only is it well off the beaten track, but first-time patrons who follow Google Maps to the location may simply not see the restaurant behind the large and obnoxious billboard perched at the corner of the lot. Parking beside the building is great if it's not busy, but the restaurant's capacity far exceeds available on-site parking spots.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS The one thing we found slightly off-putting at this otherwise great restaurant is that it feels a lot like you're in a basement bar without windows, and the old brown booths and dark tables and chairs are very dated. The first impression when we walked in was that this was a decades-old Italian restaurant (which it once was, of course) that hasn't been updated. That said, the layout is nice and the booths are big and comfortable -- so that's a plus.

An important heads-up for folks regarding the spice-level at Jae's 7 Winter: the default level of heat in the Thai dishes is high. I like spicy, so it doesn't bother me, but my wife will ask that they reduce the heat level for her dishes.

A really cool feature of this new restaurant is it's hours: right now it's open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. pretty much every day. I think the full menu is available, too. This is such a rarity here in the Berkshires I really hope it lasts!

One last note on prices: We actually think they did a great job pricing all the various dishes. So far, nearly everything has been reasonable, with higher prices justified by expensive ingredients. The one exception to this is the sushi, which is quite expensive...but it is also very fresh, very tasty, and good quality fish.

All-in-all, we look forward to exploring the menu even more, and hope to become regulars at...

Second time eating at 7 Winter St, in Pittsfield, and it was just as delicious and comfortable as the first time! I was with a party of five for a weekend of leaf-peeping, and we had all eaten a fairly late lunch, so were planning to go light on dinner. We started with some cocktails and appetizers. The martinis are the size of a bath! You should not be the driver if you get one of these. Other drinks were excellent, too. The menu is large and varied, but unlike Jae's other restaurant, this one leans toward Thai, which is the specialty of the Thai couple who run 7 Winter St. The Tom Yum soup w/ shrimp was delicious, spicy and flavorful. The Gioza appetizers were awesome and beautifully presented, as were the Vietnamese Spring Rolls and steamed Thai dumplings. For main course I had a broccoli and shrimp stir fry in oyster sauce that was quite tasty. Others had green curry w/ chicken that got rave reviews and Korean chicken Katsu. The staff were incredibly warm and friendly and were very attentive to us and, it seemed, to every other party in the restaurant at the time. I wouldn't say the service was fast, but that's not a bad thing. We arrived a little after 7, so there were probably a lot of meals already in progress by the time we ordered. But it's not the kind of place you would want to be rushed in because the interior is so comfortable and inviting. I was really impressed with the atmosphere and decor - it's a very handsome design with dark wood ceilings complemented by interesting bronze-colored tile work on the walls. There is a nice selection of Asian (Thai?) artwork around the room and on the walls. They also have a fireplace in one corner that is used when winter really kicks in. The restaurant is at the top of a T-intersection, so you need to use some caution as you cross the street in front of you to enter the driveway. It is also somewhat concealed by four massive billboards that have been there since forever. But that's how you'll know it's there - It's "Jae's Behind the Billboards!" If you are in the Berkshires area, I would highly recommend paying this...

Have been coming here since they re-opened. Food was wonderful, under Chef Ron Reda, then just okay. Service was very slow the last time and it was obvious that things had been cut back - like no Caesar salad prep at your table. This time three had the clay pot and found it fine; I had the grilled salmon which smelled upon presentation. It used to be served with a nice lemon/garlic sauce on top; this had a small tin of cold teriyaki sauce alongside. I tried dipping the salmon into the cold sauce to hide the smell and taste and then gave up, eating the vegetables and rice. Luckily I did not become ill. Sad to...