The lovely village of Lenox has a surprisingly varied offering for both upscale fine and affordable modern dining. Whether you lean towards hearty dishes or tend toward the gourmet, there’s probably a restaurant waiting to delight your palate just in town. The impressive array of options offers enough diversity to fill multiple visits, so make sure to keep a list of places to try next time. For now, we thought we’d start you out with five of our personal favorites.
Firefly
Chef and owner Laura Shack focuses on offering local, sustainable food that is incredibly delicious in a fun and friendly setting. The long, mahogany bar, couch seating and seasonal porch all offer completely different and equally enjoyable ambiances in which to enjoy a selection of gastropub specialties such as the quinoa feta burger, lobster Newburg, and grilled lamb lollipops with chimichurri sauce. With a seasonally changing menu and frequent specials, you’ll always find something new to try here.
Bistro Zinc
Craving some classic comfort food? Why not try a fresh, French twist? Form their tender boeuf Bourguignon and rich, hot French onion soup to savory fried chicken coq au vin and eggplant napoleon, this contemporary bistro offers fine traditional cuisine with a modern twist in an inviting atmosphere featuring comfortable red banquettes on a tiled floor with mirrored walls and an attractive tin ceiling.
Brava
Looking for something a bit lighter? Enter this intimate tapas bar and discover a masterful selection of more than 100 carefully chosen wines, with over 36 offered by the glass. Accompaniments include both Spanish and Italian small plate dishes including cheese & charcuterie, salads, and handmade pizzas.
NUDEL
For those who love trying something unique and unexpected, this eccentric and intimate restaurant serves up an array of enticing and often unusual dishes that change nightly. Start off with carrot carpaccio or salty game bird rillettes, follow with spaetzle and braised pork, cured breast of veal, or brown butter poached trout. The distinctive experience itself makes this 28-seat restaurant well worth a visit.
Frankie’s Ristorante Italiano
Who doesn’t love a traditional Italian meal? Especially when they offer incredibly wallet-friendly deals like $10 pasta night and three-course prix fixe menus for $25. From a long list of homemade pastas to Italian-American classics like chicken or veal parmigiana, you’ll find everyone’s favorite here. And don’t forget to save room for one of their fabulous desserts!
These are just a few of our local favorites. If you’re in the mood for something different, just ask the friendly staff at Seven Hills Inn for additional recommendations. We can even point you towards some of our favorite local breweries. And we guarantee you’ll leave looking forward to your next visit to The Berkshires!
*All images courtesy of the restaurants featured.