PUB — Restaurant in Town of Woodstock

It had been many years since my mother and I revisited the beloved old haunt, The Pub, where she and her wild friends once reigned over raucous political gatherings and danced until dawn at the Joyous Lake before stumbling home down Delisio Lane. Our recent visit was prompted by research for my memoir, and stepping into The Pub was like stepping back in time, evoking memories of my childhood spent wrestling with friends and spinning relentlessly on the old, worn bars of the porch balcony.

The newly glassed-in patio offered a delightful spot to watch the street below. Manager and hostess June warmly welcomed us, exchanging stories of old school names and setting the atmosphere for a perfect walk down memory lane. Our server, the multi-talented Mark, whose family's roots run deep in the town, was patient, witty, and engaging, adding to the nostalgic charm of the lunch.

Before we even delved into our meal, we treated ourselves to the fabulous Paper Plane cocktails, setting the stage for a memorable feast. The menu offered excellent gluten-free and vegetarian options, but as someone who seldom gets the chance to indulge in steamers, I savored every bite of the perfectly balanced butter, garlic, and crunchy bread, all complementing the tender seafood to perfection.

We couldn't resist sharing the Spanakopita, and my mother, who claimed she'd only take a bite, ended up devouring her share. Fresh New England cod being a scarcity on the West Coast, we couldn't pass up the addictively delicious fish and chips. Basking in the sunny spot, we lingered over a gorgeous local Chardonnay until the sun began to set, reluctant to leave the warm embrace of The Pub's ambiance.

Though my stomach wished for more room, I've already mentally bookmarked my selections for my next visit back east. The Pub's nostalgic charm, impeccable service, and delectable offerings make it a timeless gem that holds a special place in both my childhood memories and future...

My server who said her name was Brittany ruined an otherwise pleasant dining experience. After being presented with my bill, she went to sit down with a table of customers who were friends of hers to chit chat. I had my money ready for her and patiently waited while she socialized for ten minutes with these customers. She finally looked my way and I raised my hand to tell her I was ready. She took my $40 (2 $20 bills) on a $25 tab. I was planning to leave her $6 tip at this point. While I was waiting for my change, she sat back down with these same customers who were obviously friends of hers. I asked her if I could get my change. She disappeared into the back for several minutes. I got up and went to find her because I wanted to leave and she seemed to be in no particular hurry. She comes up to me and starts to hand me a quarter. I said, “I need my change.” She disappeared into the back again and when I tell her I gave her $40, she calls me a liar and said you didn’t give me $40, but here’s $15. She was extremely rude and was acting bizarrely. I told her she’s not receiving any tip at this point because she was so rude and nasty. She refused to give me the name of her manager.

I’m appalled that such a person can be in...

Reluctantly, but honestly, I give this place two stars. We had a very warm welcome and found the service to be cheerful and charming, which is why I'm sad to say that the food was so unforgivably bad it left me bemused. The nachos were overdone and managed to be, at once, too dry AND soggy?! There was simply no care for flavors - not convinced there was any tasting along the way before the plates went out. The wings claimed to be award winning, yet they were lukewarm and overly sweet...completely unremarkable but not inedible; think unseasoned fried wing smothered in store like sauce. Burgers were just okay, and seemingly the safest bet. The rice dish was eye wateringly SALTY...virtually inedible without exaggeration. I cant believe that anyone who would have tasted this would approve it going out, it was beyond shocking. Sp, with the pleasant wait staff being so nice, we politely paid and let the uneaten food speak for itself and our 'enjoyment' of it. Very disappointing, but mostly strange....I'm tempted to go back to see if that was just a blip/off day, it cant be what they are seriously offering? This place would be so awesome if the food was just good, not even...