An Early-Bird Special by Any Other Name...

E, K, and I went to dinner the other night to celebrate K's birthday. Fortunately for us, she chose Tavern on the Hill in Easthampton to celebrate.

If you've not been, go. I always remember how much I love their food, but I tend to forget between each visit there how much I love the restaurant and atmosphere. Whether it's a couple of hours on a "Sunday Funday" spent at their bar, drinks and dinner on a summer evening on the deck that offers crazy good views of the Valley, or a cozy table in the dining room (in front of the fireplace, if you're lucky!) - you won't be disappointed.

So, Wednesday night, we met up after dinner after work. I arrived first, hungry and thirsty, and started with a glass of wine and their great, warm rolls. By the time E arrived, I knew what I was having, and I surprised myself by deviating from my traditional Tavern meal (fodder for another post) and selecting a meal from their Sunset Menu.

When I told B about their Sunset Menu he said, "Oh, lots of places do that..it's like the early bird special." Perhaps, but no one does the early bird like the Tavern.

Served from 5 - 6:30 Monday thru Thursday and 4 - 6:30 on Sundays, the menu offers a three-course meal for $20. You get your choice of an appetizer (soup, salad, and traditional apps like stuffed mushrooms, mussles, and garlic bread); entree (many of their standard menu with a few new items thrown in); and dessert (creme brulee, chocolate mousse...the usual suspects).

The problem with such price fixe menus, for someone who likes to eat anyway, is that the courses are typically a mere shadow of a regular course. You get what you pay for, and all of that... Not so at the Tavern on the Hill. I heard another waitperson assuring the table next to ours that the portions were "generous," so figured I'd go for it - and learned she was absolutely right.

K and I both started with the Equinox salad, for which I typically pay a $3 up-charge when I order it instead of the regular house salad with a traditional entree, and E had stuffed mushrooms. The salad is one of my favorites, with pears, candied pecans, and Roquefort cheese and the mushrooms had a nice herbed veggie stuffing and cheese. For dinner, I chose the chicken and mushroom risotto - a steaming, heaping bowl of creamy, rich pasta - and K and E both had the spice rubbed pork with potoato and vegetable. Neither of these is on the traditional menu, but would be welcome additions if they were.

Now, a complaint I have about price fixe menus is that they always offer dessert, which almost never get if left to my own devices - I'd much rather an app or a glass of wine in place of the dessert (which B has successfully negotiated, smart man!). But I went with the flow on Wednesday and am so glad I did! E and I got the creme brulee, which was too much to finish after such rich meals, and the birthday girl enjoyed every last bite of her warm brownie sundae.

I'm not sure how long the Sunset Menu will be available, but if you're looking for a very delicious, very reasonable meal in a lovely setting, you won't be disappointed.