Finch at Stockton Inn — Restaurant in Stockton

I had dinner at Finch last night with four others, and from start to finish, the experience was excellent. We were greeted warmly by the host, which set a welcoming tone , it was the perfect balance between formality and familiarity.

The space is beautifully designed, stylish and clearly the result of thoughtful choices. It feels elevated without being pretentious, and the seating was genuinely comfortable.

What stood out the most was the consistency. The service was great. Our server was knowledgeable and present just the right amount. He knew when to check in and when to let us enjoy the meal without interruption. That kind of balance is rare, and it really contributed to how smooth the entire evening felt.

We ordered a la carte, and each course impressed us. The dishes were creative but approachable, and every ingredient felt intentional. You could tell a lot of care went into both the flavors and presentation. Each plate had a great sense of balance, nothing was overdone or over-complicated, just thoughtful food prepared with skill. Portion sizes were perfect for a fine dining experience, and the pricing felt fair for the quality and execution.

It’s hard to choose a favorite course because each one stood out in its own way. What I appreciated most was that there was no weak link. Everything from the pacing of the meal to the final bite was handled with a clear sense of purpose. The cocktails and wine selection also lived up to the same high standard as the food.

Finch is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need to be flashy to leave a lasting impression. It’s refined and focused on the details...

We were biking in the area, so we wanted to see how accommodating the Stockton Inn is for vegans. So, we asked two of the staff what vegan items were available on the menu. They were confused as they didn't seem to know what vegan means. One of the 'erudite' staff told us to just come and the chef will accommodate us. Then we explained that we live an hour and a half away, and we are not going to make a trip to the restaurant without knowing exactly what they could do for us. He told us he would speak to the chef, left, then returned a few minutes later. According to the chef, we could have the salad or, he may be inclined to take the cheese off of one of the menu items. So, for restaurant with a menu that ranges in cost from about $30 for an appetizer to $40 and up for a dinner, either the chef doesn't give a sh-t or the stellar résumé he posted is fake. I think maybe both, not to mention the overall pretentiousness of the place! One thing for sure is there is no hospitality to be found here. Go to the Sargentsville Inn. They care about...

Well intentioned, and well crafted menu that has interesting but very limited choices to select from. Portions are small and when asked about the plate sizes, we were told “they are reasonably adequate” which they weren’t and had we known would have likely caused us to order another dish.

Service and staff, when present, were good and detailed in their explanation, however it was having someone around to take orders and clear the table which was challenging.

The setting is clean, light and intimate, perhaps too much so as our corner nook table was so close to the adjoining table we literally had to shift our table to excuse ourselves to use the restroom.

We had what I would assume is an outlier experience in that we went to order a bottle of wine and were told they wouldn’t sell it to us because of low stock. So we had to order the wine we wanted by the glass, despite having a total of 4 glasses for the table which would have been the bottle. It literally...