Tailgate Picnic — Restaurant in South Hadley

One of their employees illegally advised I can’t have a service animal without a vest one. That is inaccurate and illegal. They legally have to ask if the animal is service, and what duties it performs to qualify. They did not. The woman just said “You can’t have dogs in here,” which I can forgive, and when I did not immediately respond I advised “I’m processing my response” (calmly) but when I advised they’re service they advised “they need to have a vest” when I advised legally they do not she started complaining angrily out loud to all of her employees “she needs to learn the law… we can get shutdown because it’s against health code” etc etc. I am happy to calmly explain to employees, but I did not have the opportunity to as this employee was acting unreasonable, combative and unprofessional. A shame since I’ve visited several times without issue and the rest of the staff thus far have been nice and welcoming to myself and my service animal. Such a hard thing to have an invisible need and others feel that doesn’t qualify based on the stereotype that a service animal must look a certain way. Even if that exists, ask it in a polite way or take your concerns to the manager without it being in ear shot of the customer. For context, my animal is an 11 pound, calm and trained animal that was in my control (for this visit they were in my arms). I’m told that after I left they continued to make derogatory remarks towards people with invisible needs and that I might as well have a “bunny.” While I understand that every have their own opinions, I just wish it was handled better and left to management to discuss versus their whole staff taking out their personal opinions on the matter. We will not...

Used to eat here ALL the time when I was attending nearby Hampshire College in Amherst, because I was in a Massachusetts Teacher Education Licensure (MTEL) Program at Mount Holyoke, which I started during my third year at Hampshire; plus I took a Five-College Consortium course at Mount Holyoke during my fourth year at Hampshire that ended up being part of my Division III as symposium support.

After I'd graduated from Hampshire with my Bachelor's Degree and my MTEL Baccalaureate Credential, I moved into Northampton, but, then I got into the year-long Master's Level MTEL Program at Mount Holyoke as well to get my Master's in Teaching (M.A.T.), so I was in South Hadley 2-3 times a week, and I HAD to get my Tailgate Picnic fix in -- I was OBSESSED with their sandwiches! And their Coffee was good too. I'm a Jewish boy from NYC, so I KNOW good...

I've traveled the World and lived in a bunch of places, and nothing compares to Tailgate. I hate to say it, but it's so true, and it keeps me coming back even though I haven't lived in SH for a decade.

The ambiance of the place is phenomenal. It's so adorable and warming, like your visiting your favorite family member. Handwritten menus and knick knacks scattered throughout the place to make you feel at home.

The food is magnificent. I almost always get The Lumberjack on wheat wrap, and ALWAYS get the pickle 🥒. Do yourself a favor and get a side of pasta salad, and then pick up some delicious chips as you slide down towards the register.

I'm 2 hours away as I write this, and I'm now changing my...