[rating:4]

One of my longest, dearest friends was recently married. When we were kids she moved to Massachusetts and has since built her life there. Naturally, when she invited me to her wedding, I knew I’d be in Massachusetts. The reception and our lodging accommodations were at the Historic Publick House.

Let’s start with the food:

After a very long commute my wife and I were starving, so the priority was eating right away. Once we arrived at the Publick House and checked in, we headed over to the restaurant with our luggage. It was time to eat!

They started us off with fresh squeezed orange juice, which was great. None of that bland, watered down stuff you sometimes get at other places. They also brought out a variety of breads, from regular to cinnamon swirl, and all of it was really delicious. For starters, my wife and I shared a crab cake dish.

This dish was really good. The outside texture was just the right amount of crunchy, not soggy or oily like at many places. The inside was spot on in texture. The taste was just as it should be, and the sauce on the side was absolutely delicious. The food felt like it was made with care, and you can sense that as you eat because the quality really comes through.

For the main dish, my wife had the fish and chips, which I also had a good portion of. It is not a dish I typically order since it tends to be fairly simple, but this version was impressive. I had fish and chips in Australia and do not recall being particularly wowed, but the Publick House version was genuinely good.

For my main dish, I had the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. This was outstanding. I even had the gravy, which is not something I normally go for. The meatloaf was simply delicious, and those mashed potatoes were excellent as well. It is hard to put into words how satisfying that plate was, but trust me, it delivered.

During the wedding reception, I had the salmon dish. This meal was not quite on the same level as the lunch we had at the restaurant, but it was still pretty good. We tried some smaller dishes as well, and the food was enjoyable, though that meatloaf remains the clear frontrunner.

Let’s move on to the hotel:

Coming from a city where everything moves at a fast pace, arriving in Sturbridge was a noticeable change of atmosphere. We were only in town for one night, so we did not get to fully settle into that rhythm, but you could feel it in the air. When checking in, the young lady at the front desk was relaxed and easy to work with. When ordering our food, the woman who served us was sweet, patient, and attentive. You could tell the pace of life there is much calmer, and it was genuinely refreshing to experience.

Getting our room was smooth. We arrived a bit before the official check in time, so our rooms were not quite ready, but the young lady at the front desk handled it well and moved us into another available room without any trouble.

The room was nice, clean, comfortable, and overall quite pleasant. They had the usual amenities including a TV and comforters. We slept comfortably and I woke up feeling well rested. Do note that you will need a car if you come here since everything is spread out. Even the walk from the front desk to our room was a bit of a distance.

Overall, the experience at this historic hotel and restaurant was quite pleasant. If you travel to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, the Publick House is definitely a nice spot to visit for dinner and to spend a couple of nights.