The Conservatory at Blantyre
New England's table for New American-French fare
The Conservatory at Blantyre combines the idyllic French countryside with Parisian chic in this unique Berkshires dining room. Elegant chandeliers hand from a rustic wood ceiling and large windows flood the white-clothed tables with natural light.
Dinner starts with canapés and champagne in the music room, where pianist Karèn Tchougourian sets the mood for your evening. Your waiter will join you with menus and explain the chef's offerings for the evening and, when your first course is ready, you'll be shown to your table in The Conservatory, surrounded by candlelight and soft music.
Dinner in The Conservatory is a lasting affair, so plan to spend a few hours here enjoying the food, wine and ambiance.
Dinner starts with canapés and champagne in the music room, where pianist Karèn Tchougourian sets the mood for your evening. Your waiter will join you with menus and explain the chef's offerings for the evening and, when your first course is ready, you'll be shown to your table in The Conservatory, surrounded by candlelight and soft music.
Dinner in The Conservatory is a lasting affair, so plan to spend a few hours here enjoying the food, wine and ambiance.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- To truly appreciate The Conservatory at Blantyre’s unique design, turn back the clock to the late 1800s, when grand castles in England and Scotland were the architectural ideal and open countryside stretched between properties.
- Inside the Gilded Age estate, the French-inspired Conservatory is adorned with grand chandeliers, original artwork, antique furniture, exquisite crystal and heirloom china and flatware.
- The menus at the Berkshires restaurant change seasonally and often feature specials from the chef, depending on what's fresh and to his liking. The five-course tasting menus highlight the best of Western Massachusetts' bounty and taste even better paired with the restaurant's exceptional wines.
- Wine dinners are special. Throughout the year, Blantyre hosts elaborate, but intimate, wine dinners highlighting a specific vineyard. Vino is central to your dining experience here — after all, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Blantyre is home to more than 17,000 bottles.
Things to Know
- Hotel guests are always welcome. But if you're not staying at Blantyre, you're only invited to lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Sundays, by reservation only.
- The seating times are serious. Dinner service starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. There isn't room for delays, so make sure you’re on time.
- Though The Conservatory is slightly less formal than its predecessor (Dining Room at Blantyre), you'll still want to dress to impress at this French-inspired restaurant. Jackets are not required (but preferred) and you'll want to leave your denim at home; ladies will feel most comfortable in a chic cocktail dress or smart slacks.
The Food
- Menus change seasonally at The Conservatory, so it's unlikely that you'll enjoy the same dish twice. A summer menu might include plates like chicken liver mousse, heirloom tomato and crab agnolotti, and Q Farms chicken with braised lettuce and chanterelle mushrooms.
- Vegetarians won't feel left out here, where a five-course plant-focused menu is offered as well. Dine on a carrot, orange and Thai basil salad, black truffle tagliatelle with preserved lemon, and a selection of artisanal New England cheeses.
- Desserts are inventive and flavorful plates that provide a delightful finish to your meal. You might enjoy an orange-vanilla semi-freddo or a dark chocolate pate with raspberry and yuzu.
Getting There
