Five well-deserved stars. This place is a Woodstock staple and the backbone of any visit to Woodstock, VT. We were delighted by the renovations and felt the new space configurations gave it a more elegant and open feel. Great ambiance, superb small-town dining.
Service was perfect from greeting to seating. The menu offered lots of local-flare choices, and plenty of options for all. We ordered burgers that were cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients. Wine and beer selection was average, however, we are pickier than most.
It was so nice to come back and visit Bentley's on our five-year wedding anniversary and reminisce about the events we held at Bentley's (rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch), on our wedding weekend. It's even more nice that after five years, we got a greeting from the GM who remembered us. If you're considering an event in Woodstock, Bentley's is an over-accommodating must have to include in your weekend of plans. Â We love this place. Go here.
I recently spent 10 days in Woodstock at my daughter's home and was anxious to return to Bentley's having enjoyed it tremendously on previous visits. Â They have recently changed owners and I have heard are trying to maintain the same vibe. Â On our first visit I ordered the Chicken Schnitzel, a particular favorite of mine. Â It was not a Schnitzel, more of a breaded, fried chicken breast. Â On this visit, also, I noticed the staff just kind of wandering around, chatting and laughing with each other. Â Our next visit was 4 days later and this time I ordered a burger, medium rare. Â It arrived medium to medium well and dressed with a horrible limp piece of lettuce and an anemic tomato slice. Â This particular day the staff seemed to be hanging around the bar being regaled by the hostess who was dressed in what appeared to be workout clothes, an extremely short, tight, spandex mini and a sleeveless vest. Â As we left the restaurant she said "you guys have a nice day". Â I know it is difficult to get good staff and new management probably necessitates new employees, however, at no time did I see any type of management person in the area. Â On the other hand on the first visit the bartender was very competent and friendly and on the second our waitress was extremely good. Â I did not complain about my food on either occasion since I was a guest of my daughter and son-in-law. Â I am writing this in the hopes that someone in management monitors these types of sites and gets a clue. Â I want to be able to continue to enjoy Bentley's and their sister restaurant, formerly Firestones, which has not yet opened.
Review Source:Valentine's Eve dinner last night; both lobster ravioli and ribeye steak were just perfect. Service was, as usual, attentive, friendly and efficient.
Thanks, Andrew, for your multitasking presence and warm welcome. We got married at Bentley's in Sept. 2011; greatest wedding venue, food, service...better than I could have hoped! don't come to Woodstock without spending an evening at B's.
I used to come here every so often and never really raved much about the fare. It was just 'bar food' to me. Nothing to write a Yelp about really. But--- I found myself coming in a lot more this past fall and early winter. The food has improved TREMENDOUSLY! Â It's really a rather enjoyable experience anymore. I'm not a huge fan of fried or fatty foods either, but after I saw the fish and chips being brought out to another table--I just HAD to order it! Â And-- to my delight the fish was amazing! Huge, too! Not greasy at all and just soo flavorful. The french fries were incredibly tasty, as well (I don't usually care too much for FF's). This enticed us to come in more often for dinner (or even lunch)-- and each time we've had some really good food!! The steaks, chili, and salads are also fresh and tasty-- and the chef/cooks will pretty much do all they can to accomodate any special requests. The bartender gals are always on top of things here (even when the place is jam packed). It's a fun little place! FYI-- call ahead about the Fish N Chips. It's a special they only have couple of nights a week.
Oh yeah, and the place was decorated very nicely for Christmas-- so cheerful and bright... and yet very tastefully done (Dave Creech??). Some nights there is live music from local talent, too-- not sure of which nights, though. Â All in all a fun restaurant to dine in or grab a quick drink (or 2) while in Woodstock. Â :)
We loved the Jack Daniels Steak, the Maple and Mustard Chicken. Â The roasted pear salad was delicious, as was the maple sundae. Â We had wonderful seats that were elevated and right next to the winow ocerlooking the quaint village of Woodstock. Good service and great atmosphere topped it off. Â I would come back here again.
Review Source:We stopped here for a bite to eat before heading back to our B&B and thought this place might be worth a try. As a bonus they even had a 10% coupon if I checked in via my yelp account.
We were sat at a high top table pretty much in the middle of the floor but managed to move to a corner one which was very nice. The interior was interesting and I actually liked the way some tables were partitioned off with railings and the different levels inside.
However, the 4*s missing is due to the food and service. I work in this industry as a manager and I fully understand how hard servers work, especially when it is busy like it was when I visited. However, other than taking our order and bringing it out our server only stopped by our table once, and that was because we were finally able to flag her down. She always kept her eyes averted from her tables as she was walking through her section, obviously because she had other issues to take care of, but it was rather irritating to flag her down multiple times just to get a lemon for the fish. Thank goodness neither of us needed more than one glass of water.
The food was also an issue. I ordered a half chicken special that was ok, but lacked seasoning other than on the skin. However, my friend's salmon was pretty awful (baked plain, heavy fish taste/smell with a couple lines of some maple sauce squirted on top) and the rice it was served on was room temperature/borderline cold. I told her to send it back but given how hard it was to get a lemon we didn't want to be stuck there forever. The rice was also super spicy, which my friend enjoyed, but at the table behind us a lady started choking because she couldn't handle it or wasn't expecting it. The person next to us sent his plate back too, so I'm wondering if maybe it was just an off day in the kitchen.
Regardless, The service was nonexistent, the food wavered between mediocre and disgusting and the server had to re-ring up our order because she left off the yelp discount.
I wouldn't bother unless you want to watch sports on TV. Â The food is very average bar food, the place is kind of dirty with unstable furniture, and I thought the wait staff took FOREVER to take our order and deliver it. Â And if you have any type of disability or trouble walking, the bathroom is up a huge, steep flight of stairs. Â For much better bar food, go to Richardson's Tavern at the Woodstock Inn - much better food, much better atmosphere!
Review Source:I thought I'd give this place another try for lunch since I was in the area doing business and the fact there is limited options. Â There's a lot wrong with this place from the food to atmosphere. You think with a name like Bentley's you be getting quality, but this isn't the case.
First off let's talk about the menu. Â For lunch they have a traditional fare of "pub grub"and sandwiches. There were some decent choices but the selections overall were uninspiring. Â I ordered that flatbread pepperoni pizza and it was less than stellar. Â I am not sure if Bentley's knows what a flatbread is supposed to look like.
Basically, it looked and tasted like like someone toasted a piece of supermarket pita bread, threw it on a plate, topped with Hormel pepperoni,about 12 slices of pre-sliced provolone deli cheese, and cooked it in a microwave.  The flatbread  looked like something a 5 year old would make if you let them play in the kitchen.  The quality of the flatbread is something I'd expect a drunk college student to make for himself or a friend after coming home from the bar.  At that point, I guess you'd eat anything.  If there was pepperoni on it, I didn't see it.
Second, the decor looks like it came out of a haunted house. I wonder if the interior design included checking out estate sales and bidding on the cheapest antique furniture you could get. Â The fabric on the chairs and barstools look liked furniture that has been left out the rain that no one wanted even though a sign said it's free.
Lastly, Â the bartender and waitstaff seemed nice but for the most part inattentive. Â There was no host to greet customers and it seemed like at least two of the staff found it more productive to gossip at the bar.
I'd save your money, it's not worth paying $12 for a meal that tastes like a someone left a plate of sliced deli cheese and pepperoni out in the sun too long. Â Stick to the drinks instead.
Good service, good food, nice atmosphere. Three adults, two children (one infant one pre-k) had a great experience at Bentley's. Our server was attentive, thoughtful and kept all the consumables covered (never empty water, soda and milk for the kids). Our meals arrived the proper temperature, and together, despite a busy mid-week crowd. We'll return, for sure, on this visit to Woodstock or in the future.
Review Source:Don't get me wrong, the food and atmosphere of the place are quite nice. In fact, it feels like an old saloon. It's also very conveniently located right smack in the middle of the busy main street intersection and is reasonably priced compared to some of the other options in the area.
So why the one star you might ask? Well, my wife and I had dinner here a few nights ago. Our waiter was nice and we enjoyed our meal of wings, scallops and chili. We paid our bill and were on our way. Here's where it gets interesting. Yesterday I checked my online bill...and noticed that instead of the total I had written down, I was charged MORE! I pulled up my receipt to confirm (I always now check to see if the waiter accurately entered in my total) and my suspicions were accurate.
In short, I had put down a 15% tip yet somehow the tip was inflated to 20% on the way to the register. Now typically folks don't check these things and it doesn't get noticed because it's a small amount. Yet in reality...this is really stealing. I say the waiter is entitled to x amount and then someone increases that that amount to be x + $$$ without my consent.
I immediately called the restaurant and was told that I needed to call the next day because the accountant needed to verify this information. I did call this morning and apparently the accountant was not in. This is a SERIOUS matter and I'm waiting to hear back from someone soon. The response was not encouraging from those I spoke with but will give them the benefit of the doubt and wait.
I will post an update on what I find and how this is resolved. Until then, steer clear of the restaurant or make sure you check your credit card bill afterwards or pay in cash!!!
Cool decor, lots of character. Â Can't comment on the entire menu, as I only had chicken quesadillas, but if they were any indication I would not eat here again. Â Chicken was super dry and tough. Â
Would however for two reasons come back for the bar scene. Â One, the bartenders were very nice and knowledgeable, two, it's the only bar in town....
Worth mentioning, I realize we're in VT, but 4 of the 6 beers on tap were long trail? Mix it up bentleys. Â Rock art, another harpoon offering, magic hat if local is important to you.
I stopped at Woodstock, Vermont to explore the village. Â After perusing the shops, I went to Bentley's Restaurant for lunch. Â There didn't seem to be many other options in the area.
I was seated immediately. Â The menu was mostly sandwiches, burgers and salads (i.e. a standard lunch menu). Â There were plenty of good options, including a vegetarian chili made with local ingredients. Â I ordered a half-pound chili burger that used that chili. Â It came with french fries.
The food came quick and it was all better than expected. Â Unfortunately, I only saw the waitress every 15 minutes or so after that. Â Water refills stopped and it took a while to get the check. Â The lack of attention made the end of the meal a little inconvenient.
Overall, the food was good and the food arrived fast. Â That made for a nice lunch spot, even if the service lacked at times. Â
ALSO: Â Bentley's Restaurant had a 10% off all food coupon for Yelp users. Â I redeemed the coupon and the waitress recognized it immediately, which was awesome. Â The coupon made the tourist town prices very fair!
Well maybe 3 1/2 stars for the ambiance, polite and helpful wait staff, and the fact that Woodstock, Vt. is a lovely town.
The problem is the food, well named on the menu but clearly not quality nor prepared with skill. I had Chicken Schnitzel over mashed potatoes and asparagus which turned out to be a plainly crusted, deep fried breast with a sparce amount of almost flavorless sauce on the plate and a few capers thrown on top. It all seemed to be right out of the freezer or jar. Â The mashed potatoes were, ahhhh, mashed potatoes, the (plain) asparagus surprisingly were fresh and delicious. The tap beers were good but a bit expensive.
My wife was equally disappointed with her meal.
There are not many better restaurant choices around, but tweaking the kitchen could sure help attract more customers.
Meh. The service was friendly, a little slow. My favorite part was the french fries. I tried the turkey pesto panini and it was ho-hum. It came with bacon that was soggy, and was otherwise just kind of... Flat.
Also ordered at my table was a burger (only slightly overcooked) and the woodstock chicken sandwich, which wasn't great.
I don't think I'll go back. :-/
I love Bentley's. I want to give Bentley's a hug. This is one my all-time favorite restaurants for the following reasons:
1. It's placed on the loveliest, most picturesque street in all of Woodstock. At night, when the lights are lit in the trees outside, it's really like something out of a movie. A wonderful setting to enjoy a beautiful dinner.
2. The Maryland crab cakes are so creamy and flavorful and buttery. Every bite is heaven.
3. They have this wicked hot drink with Bailey's and chocolate liqueur. It will get you very tipsy and tastes sooo wonderful.
4. A dance party every Friday and Saturday!!! And they play cute music from the 90's. And they have disco lights!
5. The fries are PERFECT. Very hot, not oily, crispy on the outside while luscious on the inside.
6. The decor is all leather and wood and cozy earth tones. Very old-fashioned and romantic. My significant other and I had our first few dates here and I can't imagine a better place for love to bloom.
7. The staff is really nice and service is always awesome.
Take someone you like...take someone you love! Enjoy good food in a gorgeous space-- and maybe follow it up with a little bit of dancing. :)
This is a mixed review. Â We had lunch here last weekend. Â The service was very good, the staff was very friendly.
We ordered nachos as an appetizer, which was very good, enjoyed by everyone. Â My husband had the steak sandwich and one of my daughters had the chicken tender meal off of the children's menu - both of them thought that their meal was very good. Â My other daughter ordered grilled cheese off of the children's menu - she ate only one bite of it and after tasting it, I realized why. Â There was a hint of a cheese taste to the sandwich, but no visible cheese, even after we peeled apart the slices of bread. Â I would give the sandwich a 1 star rating, because of the lack of cheese and because really, how hard is it to make a grilled cheese sandwich that will please a 4 year old? Â I had a chicken ceasar salad. Â It was enormous, but far from a good ceasar sald.
I must say Bentley's has got it made with this location. Without many cost effective spots in Woodstock to eat, Bentley's generally wins out. The decor is old west meets 1940's meets shamshackled Vermont and they have A LOT of seating. I can't ever imagine this place full. The prices aren't too bad compared to a few of the other spots around town.
The food isn't anything to write home about, but it's food and on a cold winter day my French Onion Soup and Pulled Pork Sandwich, sure hit the spot. They also have a lot of local brews on tap, which is always nice. So hey, it's nothing amazing, but it's a great spot to stop if you want to grab a bite in Woodstock (a crazy cute, amazing little Vermont town, completely worth the trip...I might add)
I'm giving this place three stars simply because of slightly mixed feelings. As much as I loved the lobster and shrimp roll I was served I have to say this place just doesn't do much to stand out. They are obviously guaranteed business as they are one of a few places in the area that look decent enough if you want a nice meal. The staff is not trying hard to impress you and sometimes seems even a little bothered approaching you with "aah, just another day at work attitude". We ordered butternut squash soup and when our waitress brought the clam chowder she was reluctant to take it back and correct the order. The ambiance of the place is ok but again - simple things could be done to improve it dramatically.
Review Source:I've been here a few times now over the years. Â
Others have done a more than adequate job describing the interior, but to me the whole experience is always just blah. Â It is one of only a handful of places open during evening hours in Woodstock and casual apparel is acceptable here. Â
I've just never been terribly impressed with any of the food. Â Drinks are fine and the table service ranges from average to barely interested. Â Prices are too high in my book.
Thanks so much to the great staff at Bentley's for replying to my review and clarifying the point about the oils they use in their kitchen.
I'm always a fan of businesses and owners who go out of their way to respond constructively to review comments. I look forward to giving Bentley's a second chance on our next trip.
We were driving through Woodstock a few weeks ago while on vacation, and Bentley's was the only place that seemed to be open for lunch. There was nothing else for miles, and we were hungry.
The food was not spectacular. The service was OK. Â Prices are a bit on the high side. Good beer selection.
We drove through Woodstock last week on our way from New Hampshire back to Chicago. Â I was hungry, and Woodstock looked like a cute place to stop. Â We walked around for a few minutes and found this place and a cafe open for lunch. Â This place looked cute, but then I saw how expensive lunch was and thought we would try the cafe instead. Â We headed over to the cafe and realized their lunch was just as expensive but the place wasn't as cute, so we returned to Bentley's.
Our server was quick and attentive, and while not overly friendly he certainly wasn't rude. Â He even let us order brunch, even though it had officially ended a couple of minutes earlier.
I had scrambled eggs, with sausage, potatoes, and fresh fruit for just about $10, and my fiance had a bagel and lox plate for $13. Â Everything I had was tasty, and the sausage was really incredible. Â It just seemed over priced to me. Â But maybe the whole area is, because of tourists like me who think it's a good place to stop.
I thought the dining area was really cute, and we sat in the top corner where I could people watch out the window. Â That was lovely. Â I was admiring how pretty everything was on my way to the bathroom, and then I saw the bathroom. Â I was really surprised by how bad it was, since I thought everything else was so nice.
I LOVE the idea of this place. Sadly, I'm not sure the execution works.
First of, it's HUGE. Thankfully, we snagged two of the best seats at the bar. Â If you go, do sit there; the bar is where it's at.
I was thrilled to see so much Long Trail on tap. As for food, the lunch selections were meager. We ended up choosing the quasadillas, which were good and satisfied our mild hunger.
What really got us was the beer, though. Oh, and having the Red Sox beating the Yanks was great too! We were able to relax, munch on some grub, enjoy great craft beer and watch a great game.
The music I thought was distracting, though I guess it was nostalgic. After all, how often do you hear "Johnny Be Good" come on when you're at a bar?
I visited Bentley's for the third time this past week and absolutely adored it. The decor is Victorian meets 1930s meets good ol' fashioned pub. Comfy chairs, nice dark wood. The service was great, quick, efficient. i had french toast with bacon, and it was absolutely delicious. If you're ever in Woodstock for the day, I would highly recommend Bentley's for a bite.
On a side note, the women's bathroom is delightful! So pretty. The walls are painted a deep mauve color, and the Victorian-1930s decor is at its best.
Great location, interesting decor, acceptable food. Â Really nothing special, but we enjoyed our visit - service was good, food was tasty, but not remarkable. Â I think it is a great place for locals looking for a quick bite, but it isn't a destination restaurant in the area, that's for sure. Â
Price isn't cheap, but itsn't too expensive either - for a point of reference I'd say it is similar to what you would pay at a Friday's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesdays or similar chain, and depending on your taste, you might equate the quality of the food with any of those places.
The Bentley's Salad was good - cranberries, walnuts, blue cheese - but I've had that combo before.
The Maple Mustard Pecan Crusted Chicken was delicious! Â The portion of rice was a little tiny, but the chicken was juicy and tasty.
Try the Maple Sundae. Â Who knew maple syrup + vanilla ice cream could be so dreamy! Â I was full, but still gobbling the stuff down.
First and foremost, after too many disappointing quaffs of iced tea in New England, I am proud to say that Bentleys HAS THE REAL THING! Their food (lunch) is perfectly fine, too.
After a morning of touring the Rockefeller Estate, we wandered back into town for a bite. Bentleys was busy and had a great selection. I had their grilled BLT flatbread. The flatbread was grilled with lots of cheese and bacon and piled high with Cesar salad. Â My partner had his fav lunch dish: grilled cheese, which he declared to be one of the best he had ever tasted. Great place to eat without having to mortgage the house.
The food here is the good side of pretty typical and can be found in a number of other restaurants around. but. Oh My God. the sausage crespolini is seriously almost orgasm good. it is so decadent that you feel instantly guilty but Must Have More. the pastry is light and crispy and melts in your mouth, the cheese and the sausage are oh so warm and chewy and delicious. if you are in the area i recommend stopping here and trying it for yourself. you will Not be disappointed.
the actual restaurant is cute and quirky with low-backed couches at some of the tables and nice ambient lighting. the service has always been friendly and efficient as well.
I really like Bentley's. I eat here almost every time we go to Woodstock. The portions are big and the decor is always eclectic and inviting. Its both bustling and romantic all at once.
Try the bolognese...its unbelievably good. (although one time it was only mediocre, which is why I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5...im assuming the cook that particular night wasn't the best).
Very affordable for the amount and quality of the food they serve.
UPDATE: BENTLEY'S IS DEAD TO ME AS THEY HAVE REMOVED THE BOLOGNESE FROM THEIR MENU. THE MENU IS Â ABOUT HALF AS BIG AS IT USED TO BE.
Bentley's has been a staple of Woodstock experience for several years. The environment and ambiance is quirky, but tasteful and nice. The food and service vacillates depending on the day- some days its great other times its horrible. My recommendation would be to go early evening on a non-holiday weekend.
Try the bolognese... you wont be disappointed.
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