The finer side of dining in Hampshire County
The Lumber Yard | Amherst
Guest post by Don Lesser
Like all college communities, Hampshire County has a large proportion of inexpensive dining options. Some are quite good, especially for a weeknight or on-the-go eating. But there comes a time when you want something a little finer.
Perhaps you're here for a wedding, bar mitzvah, or some other special event. Perhaps you're a parent or grandparent, up for the weekend and wanting something more special. Or perhaps you just want a really good meal. Where do you go?
In Amherst, there are two places you'll want to check out. Chez Albert, a very French bistro-style eatery, now in larger and more spacious digs (178 North Pleasant Street, Amherst; 413-253-3811). The recipes are very French and very well-done—cassoulet, veal blanquette, and so on, though I had a swordfish with an orange jus a while ago that was simply stellar. You'll want a reservation for the weekend, and most weeknights. If you're conversant with restaurant French, you can trade complements with the headwaiter for that Francophile touch.
The Lumber Yard, (383 Main Street, Amherst; 413-253-4200) so named because the building used to house one, is worth a second meal in Amherst. There is ample parking out back. A reservation will help on the weekends. The cuisine is "American bistro." The menu is ample, but not overdone and there is a bar menu with some less expensive items. The sausage and cheese plates are local. Even the chicken—usually my last choice dish when dining out—is worth ordering. The menu is seasonal, which will determine what's available. The owners have another restaurant on Nantucket and they close the Lumber Yard during the summer and ship everyone to the Island. This results in a very seasoned kitchen, but disappointment during those summer nights when you'd like a table in Amherst.
In Northampton, I tend to go for Asian food for a special night out. My top choice is Zen, (41 Main Street, Northampton; 413-582-6888). The menu lists some Chinese restaurant staples (like General Tso's chicken), but the difference is striking. "Polished" is the word that keeps coming up. There are Korean, Japanese, and Southeast Asian items, good sushi, and a sake collection for those who want to explore a little. When I want to really impress someone, I generally recommend the Mango Curry which combines coconut milk, mango, and chicken or shrimp with vegetables, including a cooked cucumber last time I was there. Reservations are not as necessary and they are open seven days a week. For a full review, see Enlightened Zen on my website.
If you're in South Hadley, or even if you're not, you'll want to try Food 101 across the street from Mount Holyoke College (19 College Street, South Hadley; 413-535-3101). The food is hardly first year as the name might suggest, and pretty much everything I've had there was interesting, well-cooked, and flavorful. I did a full review a while ago and as of this past summer, the food is still up to par.
Don Lesser has lived, eaten, and worked in Hampshire Country for 30 very odd years. He blogs about the local scene at russelnod.com.