The Lantern Inn — Restaurant in Town of Amenia

I don’t leave many reviews on Google, but in this case I just had to. I have read the owner’s below rebuttal on a prior review regarding their 20% service charge. I could challenge it line by line, but suffice it to say I don’t agree with it, and his explanation doesn’t cut it. And, why is this fee only added to bills over $50? Does that make it ok to charge some people this and not others? How about a 10% service fee for everyone- isn’t this at least more fair? I will say that the owners statement about the business operating at a loss seems absurd to me; I’m not a business professional, but if a business doesn’t make money after a few years, how can it survive? It would be easier to stomach if the food was a good value, but it’s simply not. Keep in mind that value doesn’t equal cheap; it means getting your money’s worth. They kind of fail here too. $11 dollars for a small (75 cent tops) bag of Cape Cod chips and some French Onion dip. Are you freaking kidding me? This is just plain absurd. Pizza is decent, no better; at over $20 bucks for a small pie, it better be. Fries were I think $8 bucks; nothing special but at least it was a big serving. Last but not least, the wings; $12 bucks for 6; most places are no more than $13 bucks for a dozen. Again, nothing special. Credit where credit is due: the staff was very friendly this time, but prior times if felt like they were doing us a favor. Judging by the vehicles driven and clothing worn by most of their clientele here, most aren’t hard up for a buck or two, so they probably don’t seem to care about these prices or policies. They have ridiculous descriptions for their (expensive) pastas that only a foodie would understand, so it’s obvious who they are catering to. For this hard working guy,...

Stars are for the pizza and outside area only. I am not trying to bash a local place but about $50 on 2 club sodas, a small pizza, small beet side, and a hot dog I am going to give my opinion spending my hard earned money on a not so great experience. It was our first time there, walked into employees clustered at the bar area, no greeting or smiles. Confused on the layout and how things worked. Go to food area, and discover we get our own food and have to go to the bar for our own drinks. I stand at the bar with my number in hand to pay cash with 2 bartenders ignoring me until I state I want to pay. We sit at our table and the woman at the food area brings our stuff out with no plates, utensils, napkins, I’m in and out the entire time feeling like I was at work after getting off my shift and wanting to have a relaxing night with my family. The entire tipping situation at this place is extremely tacky when the customer is responsible for moving around to get their own stuff and buss their own table. I have been a server and bartender for over 10 years, small personable touches need to be made especially with a self- serve place where customers are doing most of the work. Everyone looks entitled and like they don’t want to be there. Employees had time to lean, they could at least buss tables to give customers a break. Tacky and arrogant vibe. A shame because this place is beautiful and not being used to its full potential! The pizza was delicious but we left still hungry and just annoyed about the...

Made it a special trip from Pawling expecting at least a good pizza considering is a casual place for pizza and drinks the ambiance is artsy and nice , The pizza has the aspect of Neapolitan product but thats all it was , the dough was super dense and in some places raw and for that price point the scars amount of mushroom and the quality of the mozzarella has nothing to do with a bufala used on a true Neapolitan but more to do with processed prepackaged one you buy at a deli, for $21 The salad was a mix green salad with so much red onions and some sprinkle of cheese on , served in a cheap plastic plate for $11 , you go at any farms around the area and you can get a huge bag of salad for the whole week for much less To top it all , there is no service you get your food your drinks and then you have to clear your own table , sorry but those are NYC restaurant prices , but you eat in a serviced restaurant Probably...