Bergson's 1790 House Westboro Restaurant Review
Planning a visit at Bergson's is like stepping back in time, in many ways. You have to be in the mood for it. When I wrote my first review of this restaurant, I said "It is like visiting an elderly aunt in the New England countryside, listening to your feet echo as you walk down her halls." The restaurant owner wrote me to complain about this characterization and asked that I come back to try it again. I asked around if any of my friends would go with me to add an opinion. Most came up with descriptions extremely similar to that one when describing the place. I found a friend who was free, and off we went.This classic, white colonial house was indeed built in 1790, and while it is now on a busy stretch of Route 9, you can almost imagine it as a resting spot for stagecoaches. There are tin candle-holders in the windows, holding electric-powered candles. Most rooms have only 3-4 tables in them, lending to a very private and cozy atmosphere. There are ivory linens on the tables, and the rooms retain their traditional colonial fireplaces, decorations, and curtains.
This is where the stepping back in time first becomes apparent. While other restaurants in the area give a colonial feel with a well cared for look, you get more of a threadbare feeling here. The curtains are faded, and the rugs worn.
The staff was very friendly and attentive from the very beginning. We began with 2 glasses of wine. The wine list gave a nice selection and included three intriguing by-the-glass specials. Most of the appetizers were pub-fare variety - shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms - so I wanted to try something needing a bit more energy. Our Brie Puff came out relatively quickly and was quite nice - a light, flaky pastry around melted cheese. The crackers provided had interesting sesame seeds on them, and there was also fresh grapes and pineapple. I suppose melting brie doesn't take a lot of "work" but I was very happy so far.
We also had fresh bread, which came in two styles. One was a roll while the other was a raisin bread. Both were quite tasty.
The dinners run quite high in price - from $25 to $32 per plate. My friend got the baked stuffed shrimp (a favorite dish of mine) and I got the veal with lobster over it. First, the shrimp. They were very plain, almost tasteless. The stuffing had little spice, and the shrimp just didn't taste very flavorful. Since shrimp is apparently a speciality at this restaurant, I was rather disappointed.
My veal, being one of the top priced items on the menu, was equally a disappointment. It also had little to no flavor, nor much texture. It almost tasted as if it'd been boiled. Normally the meal comes with a veggie and rice, but being low carb I opted for a double veggie serving. The zucchini had been grilled, but they were also very plain. I'm not saying they had to be fancy - we grill zucchini at home all the time and love it that way, fresh and succulent. These just weren't great. The starting vegetable must not have been high quality, and however they grilled or cooked it did not add to its flavor.
Normally I would have been stuffed before it came around to dessert time, but in this case I now had a large doggie bag and did in fact have room for dessert. We had some coffee and my friend had the white mousse with raspberry, while I had chocolate cake with buttercream. The cake was quite tasty with the coffee, although again it seemed very plain. The flavors were very mild.
Looking around the restaurant, there were primarily older people here, as well as two functions. It strikes me that this is very much like a hotel restaurant where their aim is to feed people without making waves. I understand this mentality completely and wouldn't have any problem with it at all - but at $32 a plate for the entree? I don't need heavily spiced foods either - I'm not a hot sauce fiend. But I want at least the natural flavor of a good food to shine through. The food didn't taste fresh, it didn't taste flavorful. Perhaps that is exactly what the people who come here are looking for.
I've talked to other people before and afterwards about this restaurant and have heard this consensus many times now. So I feel better that I didn't just happen to hit the restaurant on a strange day. It's just the way they are. I fully appreciate the great service! I appreciate that they want to keep up the fading original items to keep the place authentic. But the end result is that the environment feels faded, the food is very low on flavor and the prices are extremely high for what you get. I personally can think of many other restaurants in the area where I can pay less money and receive a far more delicious meal.
Total price for 2 people, 2 glasses of wine each: $134.00
UPDATE: It's funny how the web works. I originally had a review up of Bergson's up based on a visit a few years ago. Bergson's owner explicitly wrote me and asked me to come back, to provide a more updated review. In Kurt's words, "you should visit us- let me know when. thanks, Kurt." I agreed to do this. That is how this new review was posted. Then on July 28, 2005, Bergson's sent a message out to their email list saying "Regarding a review that is on the internet that was brought to our attention; LisaShea.com wrote a less than complimentary review on The 1790. If you have the time, please visit her site and let Lisa and myself know your opinions, I truly value your candid opinions on what we can do to improve your experience with us. Thanks, Kurt". It was "brought to our attention"? They make it sound like my visit and review was a "surprise" to them and that their loyal cadre of followers should all write me and harass me for speaking out against their restaurant. Surely that is an extremely biased way to go about doing things - he didn't write ME. He wrote all of his members, thinking that if out of the blue 100 people all wrote me saying "but we LOVE Bergson's" that I would realize I was quite wrong in my opinion.
Actually what has happened is that I'd already been getting a ton of email from people saying they agreed with me completely on this review. So far despite Kurt's mailings I have only received two votes *for* his restaurant. Let's take a look.
Message #1: "i have read all your reviews where you state that the outback serves "healthy food" and that vinnyts serves great italian food and so forth,while possiably lording over the chophouse and the sole prop.as temples of fine cuisine i find your reviews pedantic,nonsensiable and irrevelant."
I find it curious that someone feels a restaurant review is irrevelant [sic] when it is in fact a review of a restaurant. As far as the individual claiming that 1790s is equal in culinary delight to the 111 Chophouse or Sole Proprietor, I have yet to meet any person who believes this to be true. The prices, on the other hand, are pretty similar.
At least the writer in Message #1 actually provided an email address. Pretty much every person who writes me provides an email address because the point is to have a discussion with me, not just to harass me. Not true for Message #2, where the writer chose to throw darts from afar without actually providing a return email.
Message #2: "I beg to differ in your opinion on the Bergson's 1790 House in Westborough. Have been there numberous times, and it is one of our favorite places to dine. This town has many, many eateries, but we find the quality of food, service, offerings and atmosphere is a nice, quiet change from most of what the area has to offer. I think you have done the 1790 house an injustice. The "wear & tear" of the carpet etc., may just reflect to multitudes that also enjoy this place. "
OK, fewer spelling / grammar errors here at least. I find it interesting that a place should look ratty because people visit it - especially since when we went, hardly anybody else was there. Many of the other restaurants I've been to are packed in the evenings, and those hordes of visitors manage not to make the curtains threadbare or the carpet worn. Certainly I will agree that the 1790 house is "quiet". And yes, it is a "change".
So I have these 2 messages to weigh against the hundreds who agree with my review. Undoubtedly by me posting these two, I'll draw out a few "me too!" messages from Bergson's fans. However, before you write, please take another look at my review. I didn't say the food was inedible. I said it was very bland and of "regular quality" which I found inappropriate given the high price they charged. If they charged in the $15 range for dishes, that would be one thing. To charge $32/plate for this quality food, given what you can get for that price only a few miles away, is unreasonable.
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