Boston Restaurant Blog -- September, 2012

In the spring of 2011, a blog entry on five road trip-worthy restaurants in New England was posted here, and toward the end of last year a slideshow on ten dining spots in scenic locations was posted as well. Well now, with foliage season just around the corner, I figured that it might be a good idea to create a "Part Two" of the road trip-worthy entry, with one place from the aforementioned slideshow included. The five spots are all close enough to Boston to be part of a day trip of leaf peeping, though one of them (the Silvermine Tavern) would probably be a better option as part of an overnight trip, as it is about three hours away from the Boston area. And now, on to the five, in no particular order:

1) Putney Diner, Putney, VT
The southeast corner of Vermont is one of the most beautiful sections of the state for foliage, with picture-perfect villages, valleys filled with sugar and swamp maples, and lightly-traveled roads that wind through the high hills and low mountains of the region. Outside of Brattleboro, there aren't a lot of restaurants in the area, but the little town of Putney has a good one in the Putney Diner. If you like stick-to-your-ribs dishes in an old-fashioned greasy spoon environment, this place is made for you while on a leaf-peeping trip. (Note: The maple walnut pie may be the best thing on the menu.)
REVIEW: http://www.hiddenboston.com/PutneyDiner.html

2) Eaton's Sugarhouse, South Royalton, VT
Further north in Vermont (but probably easier to get to from Boston) is another old-fashioned eatery, with this one having outstanding foliage views right from its front door. And Eaton's Sugarhouse has "classic Vermont" written all over it, as it is a combination maple sugarhouse, country store, and restaurant where you'll see farmers and truck drivers dining on eggs, pancakes, chicken-fried steak, and other comfort food items. There isn't a whole lot to do in the immediate area, but with gorgeous towns such as Woodstock, Barnard, and Norwich nearby (and oh, by the way, South Royalton isn't too bad, either), Eaton's Sugarhouse is a good center point for a fall foliage tour in East-Central Vermont.
REVIEW: http://www.hiddenboston.com/EatonsSugarhouse.html

3) Old Timer Restaurant, Clinton, MA
Much closer to Boston--but in a wonderful area for fall foliage--is this cozy restaurant and pub in the old mill town of Clinton. While by no means a tourist destination, Clinton is in the picturesque Nashoba Valley region of the state (and the heart of apple country), with numerous hills bursting with foliage in mid-to-late October. The Old Timer is a great place to stop while apple picking or wandering around the narrow country roads in the area, with its charming old interior (it looks a little like an old church), pub grub, and hearty American dishes.
REVIEW: http://www.hiddenboston.com/OldTimer.html

4) Silvermine Tavern, Norwalk, CT [NOTE: Restaurant Closed As Of Now]
Too many people think of Connecticut as a traffic-filled state that should be driven through as quickly as possible while traveling from Boston to New York City. And yes, while Route 95 between New Haven and the NY border can easily give you that impression, much of the state is rural, with some of New England's most beautiful areas found in the western part of the state. The northern section of Norwalk is proof of this, with its Currier and Ives feel (rolling hills, deep woods, winding lanes), and right in the heart of it is a rustic dining spot called the Silvermine Tavern. This creaky old spot is a true gem, with a fireplace, Colonial paintings on the walls, and a mill pond and waterfall next to the structure. And the regional New England food is excellent, with the honeybuns being one of many standouts.
REVIEW: http://www.hiddenboston.com/SilvermineTavern.html

4) Parker's Maple Barn, Mason, NH
Speaking of Currier and Ives, there is a section of New Hampshire just over the Massachusetts border that is often called "Currier and Ives Country." And it is a lovely area, with some of the best foliage in all of New England and roads that don't seem to have all that much traffic, even in the height of the foliage season. And in the eastern part of the region is a charming old restaurant called Parker's Maple Barn that is literally in the middle of nowhere, sitting on a narrow, twisting road that is difficult to find if you don't know the area. Breakfast is the main thing at this barn-like spot in the middle of the woods, with eggs, pancakes, bacon, and sausage being popular items here (and you can get all on one plate with the popular Parker's Special).
REVIEW: http://www.hiddenboston.com/Parkers.html

What are some of your favorite road trip-worthy restaurants in New England, especially in the fall during the foliage season? Tell us about them in the comments section here, thanks!

Related Blog Entries: road trips

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on September 20, 2012.
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2 COMMENTS:
Charlie said:
I have heard varying reports on whether Silvermine Tavern is still open. I note that your review is dated 2009; I suggest that readers verify its status before making a trip. If it's closed, it's a sad loss.
Posted on 9/24/12
MH said:
I just checked, and it recently reopened as a bed and breakfast, with food apparently being offered to guests, but for now, anyway, it appears that there is no more restaurant open to the public. Thanks for letting me know about this.
Posted on 9/25/12

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