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.
Verba Mea 