Salem Cross Inn — Restaurant in West Brookfield

My husband and I tried this establishment for the first time tonight and unfortunately were beyond disappointed. Reading nothing but wonderful reviews, we had to see for ourselves- the building and decor was beyond charming. Beautiful property and the atmosphere all around was perfect. We only ate in the dining area, not for the fireplace feast.

Upon walking in, the hostess had a very unprofessional attitude. My husband waited to be seated as I used the restroom. Moments later I went back upstairs, did not see my husband, so I asked the hostess if he was seating... her response? "How would I know? I didn't seat him." Fortunately, a couple sitting on the bench infront of the hostess podium advised my husband went downstairs. I was just at the bottom of the stairs and called my husband to see where he was (establishment was a LOT bigger than what we thought). Right around the corner, my husband greeted me and walked us back to the table. Downstairs was not busy, maybe 6 out of the 10 tables to the left of the hallway, primarily 2 tops, 1-4 top and someone sitting solo. After waiting for about 13 minutes, my husband asked a waitress if she was our waitress, she acknowledged then advised she be with us in a moment. A few minutes after that, she came to collect our beverage order. At that point, we knew what we wanted and put in the order. For our appetizers, we ordered a 1/2 dozen oysters, Ceasar salad and a mushroom bruschetta. Another 15 minutes goes by and my husband asked if there was bread or anything really (we were starving)... our waitress came back with a small plate of 2 apple muffins... and her other hand had a soaking went cloth to clean another table. After clearing said table, she sat a 4 top and carried a plate of muffins over to them using the same hand the dirty cleaning rag was in (without washing her hands). After 45 minutes from placing our order to still waiting on our appetizers, we asked another waitress if she would kindly grab the manager. While waiting for the manager, our waitress seemed to take a liking to what we were assuming were "regulars" to the restaurant... my husband had to go up to the bar to ask for a soda refill (bartender was very nice). Our waitress finally came back over, I advised that we weren't really thrilled about the wait time on our appetizers and the wait times. The waitress then tried to tell me I was wrong and we were only seated for five minutes (although I had a time stamp from when I called my husband). About 15 minutes after requesting for a manager, a man named Patrick came over to speak with us. He was wonderful. Apologized profusely and we felt heard. Apparently he's been with Salem Cross for quite some time- very personable. About 15 minutes after that, Patrick delivered our entrees himself. He offered to take our appetizers off the bill for the inconvenience. Assuming the waitress probably wasn't happy with that, she never checked on us once during our entrees...but had no problem being very attentive to everyone else around us. Asking the other waitress (again) if she would mind refilling our drinks- she did so promptly.

Overall, the waitress we had provided us with the bottom of the barrell experience. My husband and I are foodies, the food could've been a 10 out of 10 but if the service is bad, we 9 times out of 10 will never go back. To be honest, I'm pretty devastated overall. The food was decent, nothing to rave about and the prices were a little high considering the food. I ordered duck and my husband ordered a steak pasta (forget the actual name of it). If we were to give this place another shot, it would only be for the Fireplace Feast as that seems to have the most (and best) reviews.

Thanks again to Patrick for hearing our complaints and...

In the heart of a New England winter, tucked within the bucolic folds of West Brookfield, Massachusetts, the Salem Cross Inn offers not merely a meal but an evocative journey back through time. My wife and I had the distinct pleasure of attending their renowned Fireplace Feast this past February—a sold-out celebration of historical cookery, equestrian charm, and immersive colonial hospitality that nearly delivered perfection, save for a faltering encore.

Upon arrival—second or third to check in—we were greeted by a hushed hum of anticipation and the welcoming aroma of woodsmoke and spiced cider. The antique barn setting, with its hand-hewn beams and rustic chandeliers, radiated warmth, both literal and atmospheric. The Inn’s attention to period-authentic décor elevates the experience from mere dining to theatrical reverence; it is as though the very walls lean in to listen to the crackle of the hearth and the murmur of guests wrapped in winter scarves and wonder.

The Fireplace Feast began with a delightfully arranged cheese board, complemented by steaming mugs of mulled cider, rich with cloves and citrus. Guests mingled beneath strings of warm light while just steps away, slabs of prime rib rotated slowly on an ingenious 18th-century rotisserie—a pulley-driven marvel powered by clockwork precision and time-honored technique. It was an awe-inspiring prelude, a visual overture to the rich symphony of flavors that would follow.

Then came the seafood chowder, served piping hot in generous portions. Creamy and luxurious, each spoonful delivered briny depth and silken consistency—neither overly thick nor meekly diluted. It stood proudly in its simplicity, the kind of chowder that whispers of fishermen’s fires and sea spray, rather than shouting through modern embellishment.

But the crown jewel of the evening was indisputably the prime rib. Thanks to our early arrival, we were granted our preference: the end cut—rich with caramelized crust, deep beefy character, and tender marbling. Each bite struck a perfect chord of succulence and seasoning. It was a triumph of traditional open-hearth cookery, elevated by its elemental, smoky embrace.

Before the meal, guests enjoyed a horse-drawn wagon ride across the snow-blanketed property—a whimsical interlude that added a storybook dimension to the evening. Our guides, Kash and Kaptain, were towering draft horses of impeccable grooming and gentle disposition. Their strength was matched only by their serenity as they led our cart through the frozen landscape. Another team of drafts pulled a second cart to accommodate the sold-out crowd, a gesture that spoke volumes of the Inn’s planning and hospitality. These animals, clearly well-cared-for—with clean coats, polished hooves, and bright, healthy teeth—brought grace and life to the event in a way no décor ever could.

Then, just before dessert, an enormous bowl of freshly whipped cream was paraded triumphantly through the dining room like a decadent finale approaching its crescendo. The crowd delighted at its volume, a gleeful, fluffy spectacle that summoned nostalgic joy.

And then... the apple pie.

Alas, the evening’s one misstep. Despite the beauty of its presentation and the ambition behind a classic close, the apples within were sorely undercooked. The result was a jarring contrast to the soft warmth that had carried us thus far. While many guests, full and content, smiled past the issue, I could not help but feel a pang of disappointment. Dessert deserves to be the ovation, not an afterthought. Redemption is needed here. The apples should yield tenderly to the fork, whispering sweetness and spice, not resisting like an...

We booked the Salem Cross Inn nearly a year before our date and we were very excited. The grounds are beautiful and the barn is perfect for a rustic wedding. However, every step along the way is like pulling teeth with Nancy. We both worked 50+ hours a week at the time and needed to rely on e-mails to communicate with the wedding coordinators at the Salem Cross Inn - this is something we expressed to them multiple times. The only issue was that they never got back to us in a timely manner. Nothing could be completed through e-mail and it resulted in the need of a phone call. Then we would call and she would tell us that we would really need to make an appointment to have our questions answered and wouldn't answer simple questions over the phone nor through e-mail We both worked over an hour away and this was extremely inconvenient for us. When we got there for appointments we felt very pressured to do things the Salem Cross Inn way and not our own way. It was hard to customize things even though they kept assuring us that they were very flexible.

Nancy kept telling us leading up to the wedding, "you don't have to come here too early the day of you wedding - there will be nothing to do!". We told her that we made arrangement with the photographer to have shots done of us getting ready with our respective wedding parties in our respective rooms. We also wanted to set up our decorations that we have bought in the barn and outside by the aisles. She assured us that we would have adequate amount of time to do everything and that there was no need to worry.

When we arrived at the Salem Cross Inn on our wedding day we were shocked to see another wedding in progress. Nancy told us that there would only be one wedding per day and that we wouldn't have to be worried about being double booked, but clearly that was a lie. We didn't have time to hang up our placement cards (which we were told that they would be doing - not us) we didn't have time to set up the decorations outside, nor in the barn. The previous wedding party had their belongings in the wedding suites so weren't allowed to enter them. The wedding party was taking pictures outside so we weren't allowed to set up things there. And their guest were having a cocktail hour in the barn so were weren't allowed to decorate in their either.

The time that we allotted for getting ready pictures were compromised and we feel like everything just felt rushed. We had to have our wedding guest and wedding party set up the placement cards outside - which is embarrassing.

When it came time for us to enter the reception with the wedding party the DJ informed us that Nancy wanted to change the timeline of events in order to rush getting the food out to our guest. We felt like she did not care about what we wanted and only looked out for herself.

The Salem Cross Inn is a Wedding Factory - and not a very good one I might add. We do not recommend having your wedding here, unless you want a cookie cutter Salem Cross...