The Hancock Inn and Fox Tavern

It has been said many a time that the three secrets of business success are LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Well, if there is any truth to that old saw, then the Hancock Inn and other local business in Hancock, NH are assured of success. Bucolic is the word that came to mind when we arrived in town, but that isn’t quite an accurate fit. Rural, maybe even rustic but with a vibe that rings of now, modern times. It is hard to explain, so perhaps a brief tour will help. Scroll through the images below.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Perhaps a quarter mile in length, the center of town is eminently walkable, Indeed, that is the only way to appreciate the time warp to colonial times. As with most New England villages there is a town green, in this instance replete with a bandstand. The Congregational Church holds a prominence on the green and serves as the town hall for large meetings, as it was then it is today. Most of the houses are well over a century old many with dates to the late 1700’s. Businesses are housed in these older buildings and even the more modern structures seem to conform to the period architecture.

Norway pond lies just behind the church and is set up for boating and swimming in season. A bit chilly for a dip this day, but some intrepid canoeists were gearing up for a paddle.

Even the market is a through back with squeaky wooden plank floors and aisles packed with just about anything you could wanta treu general store vibe. They even have an interesting stock of beer and wines some I am hard-pressed to find in Connecticut.

And then there is the Inn, our destination for the night. Right up front, our stay here was a super experience, one I would recommend to anyone and one that we will repeat. The staff are friendly, courteous, and helpful. The good service begins from the reservation to checkout and beyond. I felt like a guest in a private home and we even received a thank-you note after our stay.

The grounds are spacious and gorgeous with a water garden and croquet court.

The Fox Tavern is an added feature that makes this destination, well … a destination. Delicious food served with care and pride makes the Fox a true fine dining experience. They run a prix fixe menu with three courses, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. There are three selections in each catagory so there is something to appeal to everyone.

I went for the Onion Tart as an appetizer.

A circle of puff pastry filled with goat cheese, caramelized onions topped with three different species of olives, it tasted as good as it looks in the pic above. Happy Nottobecooking ordered the spinach salad with cranberries, cheddar, and apples dressed with a chutney sauce. It looked good and Happy endorsed it. Both appetizers were just enough to wet the appetite for the main event.

Both Happy and I ordered the Rib-eye.

A slab of beef covering half of a twelve inch dinner plate, the meat was done to perfection. The seasoning was subtle but obviously present, just right and not enough to overpower the meat. The steak comes with two dipping sauces, au-ju, and creamy Horseradish. We had a choice of three vegetable sides, both of us chose brussels sprouts with apple wood smoked bacon bits. Everything paired well, even the sprouts with horseradish sauce. I would rank this steak right up at the top of the list of all the steak dinners I have enjoyed. Chef knows his way around a piece of beef.

For dessert I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramel sauce.

Couldn’t wait to dive in and it was half gone before I thought about a picture. Delicious ! And that creamy caramel sauce, yum. Happy ordered Pavlova, cinnamon ice cream and chocolate sauce. It disappeared quickly and there wasn’t anything left so I have to take her word that it was good.

As a tavern they obviously have a liquor license and sport a nice wine list as well as selection of local craft brews. I went for the Pig’s Ear brown ale, a local new Hampshire brewery offering. Full of flavor, not overly bitter, the ale went well with the rib-eye.

In summary, the Hancock Inn is a wonderful destination for a meal, a respite from the daily grind in a fine hotel, or both. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing, but unique experience. We will be going back.

Ambiance = 9

If you like the colonial era, you will love the Hancock Inn and the village. You will be transported back to simpler times, even the games available in the common areas hark back to earlier times. The only negative, which is not a negative per se, is the piped in music to the dining room, late fifties, early sixties pop ?? Seems a little out of character for the place, but then, that’s my era so I can’t complain too much.

Service = 9

The whole process, from checking in to checking out is geared to the guest. People are super friendly and accommodating. All the staff in the hotel and restaurant were wonderful and concerned for your well-being.

Food Quality = 10

For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I do not rate this high most times, but the meal at the Fox Tavern is deserving of this high a score. Fresh ingredients, superior preparation, and creative presentation make this an easy choice. You won’t go wrong dining at the Fox. I should mention that there is a complimentary breakfast fo overnight guests which carries the food quality right on through. to the following day A great selection of possible entrees with a complete set of add -on’s like fresh home-made sausage patties completes you experience.

CoVid Response = 9

We were early into the dining room so I did not see any table turned over, if in fact they do turn tables, but the rules spelled out when you make your reservations (they require masking in common areas) and the fact that the tables are nicely spaced, I do believe they are cognizant of and are following good protocols. I was at no point uncomfortable or concerned with CoVid safety. Happy and I always mask up even though we are fully vaccinated.

Asa’s Steak and Seafood – Winsted, CT

I do not normally use the term “cute” except for kittens, puppies, or the occasional baby. Certainly not for restaurants.  Indeed, I really abhor the term specifically when it is applied to Happy, myself, or us as a couple by some well-meaning Millennial or Gen-Xer.  I am too prickly and thorny to be labeled as such and our somewhat diminutive size I do not believe justifies the moniker.  But with all my dislike, the term came to mind immediately on entering Asa’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant in downtown Winsted.

A small, cozy place on Main Street, Asa’s is the very definition of “cute”.  With maybe a dozen tables inside and an equal amount on the deck out back, Asa’s has the feel of being in someone’s personal dining room. Add in the open kitchen where you can watch Chef Shane work his magic and it feels like home but with someone else doing all the work.

Nothing small or skimpy about the menu here.  With seven steak options, from filet to ribeye and ten seafood options and a hand-full of chicken and sandwich items available there is something for everyone.  There is even a kid’s menu.

When I passed through the door, I was focused on a steak option, but the swordfish with lemon mornay sauce jumped off the page.  Can’t remember the last time I saw swordfish on a menu and what better way to test out the seafood side of the menu. 

The piece of fish was sizable, taking up at least half of a twelve-inch dinner plate.  Cooked to perfection, medium, and well-seasoned to compliment the lemon mornay which in itself was a masterful creation.  Tangy and tarte enough, the sauce did not over-power the fish. Paired with pan seared fingerling potato slices and pan-roasted zucchini, a delightful and satisfying meal.

Now I’m not a particular fan of zucchini, but this version had me cleaning my plate.  Tender with crispy bits from the searing excellent taste and texture. Chef Shane is a master of the cast iron skillet and knows his seasonings.

The staff is welcoming and friendly.  It really does feel like you are invited into someone’s home. The only negative I could see is with the open kitchen.  While it adds to the charm and warmth to the place it also allows smoke and fumes from the skillet searing to creep out into the dining space. A little annoying, but with the benefit of having the odors of good food tickling your appetite. Perhaps a tweaking of the exhaust system would help.

There is a small, but reasonable selection of deserts.  Out server recommended the limoncello cake, which Happy and I split.  Not too heavy after a big meal it was a great ending. As full as we were, there wasn’t a crumb left.  

A minor drawback is that they do not have a liquor license. A glass of wine would have been nice with our meals. I think you can bring your own in, I saw a few patrons lugging bottles.

Ambiance  =  8

Cozy, homey. Certainly not opulent, with “for sale” art work on the walls it is what I would call comfortable.  Can’t think anyone would not feel welcome here.

Service  =  8

 Attentive without being overbearing.  Everyone is super friendly here, and obviously happy to have your business. The chef tours the tables when he gets a break to check on the quality of his dishes, and it is not an act, he is genuinely interested in the opinions of the patrons.

Food Quality  =  9

One of the best meals I have had in a long time of dining out. I’m going back.  I need to check out those steak options.

Value  =  7

Post pandemic, the concept of value has become a bit of a sticky issue.  Owners are trying to recoup losses and coping with increased labor and supply costs. I can’t fault the price increases that are appearing at every establishment.  I see it as the consumer contribution to keep the establishment in business.

The prices at Asa’s seem a tad high considering the market and location, but eminently fair considering the quality of food and the dining experience, hence the “stickiness” of trying to put a number on value. My over-all take was that I was satisfied with the fairness of the transaction.

CoVid Response  =  8

The efficiency of the staff is such that I was not able to observe in detail what the protocol was when a table was prepped for new customers. The two tables that emptied, were prepped with such speed I didn’t catch the whole process. I did see a disinfectant spray bottle and a wipe-down of the dining surface in one instance, but the whole procedure was over in minutes.  As a small establishment, they have to rely on rapid table turnover. The important thing for you to know was that  I was not uncomfortable at any point with regards to my safety against the virus.

Iron Horse Pub – Simsbury, CT

Went over to the Iron Horse Pub in Simsbury a few weeks ago for an author meet and greet on their patio.  The event was around dinner time and as Happy accompanied me as my less crusty persona, we decided to avail ourselves of the opportunity to check out the pub as a dining location.  First off let me assure those of you who may drive by this location that the outside of the building does not reflect on the restaurant inside.  The exterior is what I would call architectural nightmare chic. Place seems to reflect the ideas of a succession of different architects all starting but not completing the design. The scaffolding, ladders, fresh paint, and crumbling stucco mix really doesn’t produce a welcoming façade for potential customers.  It’s fortunate they have their regulars to prop up the business, as I have dined in Simsbury frequently and would never chose this establishment just based on outward appearance.  But carrying the author theme forward a bit, it has been oft quoted that “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” yet we do with books, people, and restaurants. Considering a place to spend my hard-earned dollars, uniformed and inexperienced, you can bet that I wouldn’t normally be seeking a meal here.  Fortunately, we had the benefit of more knowledgeable folks and chanced the experience on their recommendations.

The interior is huge, again belying the impression from the façade.  Two big dining rooms, each with large bar are available for patrons. They seem fairly well staffed to handle crowds, a pleasant surprise in this post-Covid era of labor shortages.  Maybe they pay a living wage.

The Iron Horse offers up a typical pub menu with some full meal specials that vary from day to day. One of the specials caught my eye, a Philly Cheese steak. Visions of previous sandwiches I have had in the city that lends its name to the dish floated through my mind, shaved steak, in a mix of caramelized onions, peppers, mushrooms held together with a gooey liquid cheese sauce. A mélange of flavors and impossible to consume without a stack of napkins on hand, a shaved steak Sloppy Joe. I could dream, but the reality was far removed.  A fresh baguette sliced open with a few pieces of dried steak topped with two slices of partially melted American cheese was what I was served.  I thought I could hear Ben Franklin spinning in his grave all the way from the city of brotherly love, but probably it was my own stomach revulsions.

Happy went for the chicken Parm. and declared it to be good. I guess it proves the old adage, “it’s hard to screw up Italian”.  Just cover whatever in red sauce and hide your mistakes.

The beer list is extensive and varied with a good selection of local craft brews.  They even had an offerings from Berkshire Brewing Company, my all-time favorite brewery.

I got through the meal with only one, partially used napkin and that folks is all you need to know about the quality of the cheesesteak sandwich from the Iron Horse Pub.

Ambiance  =  6

Interior was okay, but they need to finish the out-side of the building. For Simsbury, this place is a little shabby looking.

Service  =  6

I guess “stuff” happens, but we waited a long time before our meals came out.  The place wasn’t all that busy.  Others were served even though they were seated and ordered after us.  Our server apologized several times for the delay before finally admitting there was a mix-up in the placement of our order. Could have offered a free beer or something in compensation, but that never happened.

CoVid Protocol  =  8

The staff was on the spot sanitizing and disinfecting tables and chairs when diners finished and left.  Refreshing to see, as many places have become lax in this regard.

Value  =  6

If good food, good service, and fair prices make for good value, then mediocre food, service and moderately expensive pricing make a mediocre value.  That’s sums up my assessment of the Iron Horse.