This review is for the restaurant only. Didn't stay at the hotel.
A couple of friends and I dropped in for lunch here last week, as the lady at the Block Island tourist information center said they'd have the best view.
We were given a table on the patio overlooking the ocean and the view was a giant win. Not only did we have the most gorgeous ocean view, the grounds were very pretty and the decor was chic. Beautiful indeed.
I had a martini, which was a bit on the sour side (too much vermouth?) and chose a vegetarian pizza as my meal.
When my friends asked how the pizza was, I answered "it tastes like buttered cardboard". It wasn't revolting- just tasteless and quite difficult to chew.
They had fish and chips and some sort of taco dish. Neither was impressed, but again-nothing tasted bad.
The service was prompt and courteous.
Go here for the views, not the food.
My husband and I along with another couple stopped at the Spring House Hotel for a drink to enjoy the spectacular views. We decided to have a bite to eat while we were there and are glad we did-the Sicilian Pizza was AMAZING! Â We enjoyed ourselves so much that we returned the next day for more pizza and a burger-this time a vegetable pizza, also outstanding, and the burgers were juicy and delicious. Â Both times service was excellent. We would like to go back again to try the dinner menu. A stop at the Spring House is a must if you're on Block Island!
Review Source:I came to the Spring House for my cousins amazing wedding this past June.
Most of our family decided to stay here as we were not familiar with the island and it looked old and charming. My husband and I got a room in the house / inn to the right of the main inn and boy was that a better option. Our room was a nice size, was much quieter, and got a great breeze at night - which is very important due to not having much AC anywhere on the island. My other relatives splurged more for the ocean view rooms in the main house and were left with a noisy band below them and very hot rooms - no breezes.
There were many issues during our families stay though. First someone walked into the room of my cousin and his wife while they were sleeping in the middle of the night to look for a fan...what?? No, this should never happen. They should know who is staying in what room - and why would it be locked if no one was inside it?? We also called one day to get a hair dryer - I thought the room would have one but they don't. The person at the desk said sure, come get it. What... I am dripping wet out of the shower and paying a ridiculous amount for me to "come and get it yourself". Pft!!
We had dinner here one night and it was a disaster! We wanted to dine in the less fancier spot but order one dish from the other menu. We asked if this was ok, was told it was, and made a reservation. When we got there at the time of the reservation we were told that it could not be accommodated. We asked if we could switch to the other dining room and they told us that it was possible, but that it would be a 20 minute wait. Two hours late we were sat... and they forgot to put in one of the orders of my relatives dinner. Overall it was awful, the food was not even that great.
Moving on to the good. The wedding and meal which was held on site was stellar! The food, the service, everything. It was a total different experience. It really left me baffled that we were in the same place.
Given the choice I would not stay here or ever dine here again. I would however highly recommend having a wedding here - that they apparently know how to get right.
This review is for the hotel only.
I stayed here for four days this fall with mixed feelings. Â I have to start by saying that the view is amazing. Â Sitting in the chairs looking at the water is very relaxing. Â The porch was great as well. Â I also liked that it is walking distance to town. Â
The rooms were on the small side but I wasn't expecting something too large considering the age of the building. Â The beds were okay but so noisy (even if you were just sitting on them). Â There were bugs everywhere though. Â I am not sure where they were coming in from but nightly we were seeing spiders, flies and something else I don't know what it was.
My biggest complaint is about the staff. Â For the most part, they were not helpful at all. Â When we attempted to check in, we arrived slightly early and had to wait over 3 hours for the room to be ready. Â Knowing that your guest is there, wouldn't you make it a priority to get that room ready?
Our first morning there, we were unsure of when the breakfast ended. Â We were told 11 am. Â When we went downstairs to eat at 10:30, we were told that it ended at 10 am. Â When I attempted to explain that we were told 11, they were like, "well that is not correct". Â Needless to say, we ate in town that morning and every other morning
We asked the front desk for advice at times about where to eat dinner in town with no suggestions provided. Â When we went to check out, we were told that we had to wait 15 minutes to do so. Â When we explained that we had a ferry to catch and couldn't wait then someone showed up to help us.
I loved block island and want to go back there. Â I would stay somewhere else and maybe get a drink at the Spring house to see the view.
Horrible Horrible experience! I had dinner at The Spring House the weekend of July 21st with 6 other friends. We came in late but the kitchen was still serving. We are a group of 30 + year olds, not a bunch of annoying teenagers yet that is how the waitress treated us. We sat at the table for 15 minutes before we were even greeted, finally I went up to the hostess stand to ask for a server. I think the waitress was mad that she got a table shortly before the kitchen closed and was going to have to stay. Our bill was $600 and even with the crappy service we left her a 20% tip because a lot of us had been in the restaurant business, so she should of been a little more pleasant and asked how we were doing especially knowing the bill size and her potential tip. When I received my credit card statement I realized my card was charged twice. I called and spoke with Laurie the manager , she initially said she couldn't find the transaction. With a couple more phone calls she "found" it. Apparently I had signed for my  slip for the right amount but it was run through after for double? My friends who are a married couple had also signed their slips for right amount but only charged half. Laurie informed me that before I could be refunded, my friend would have to pay the rest of their bill!!!!!!!!! First of all..... We all signed our slips with correct amount! We had no idea of the mistake. How on earth can a manager tell me to contact my friend and maybe jut have them pay me for the mix up! How obnoxious and u professional. I've been going to Block Island since I was. Toddler and I'm officially done with the Spring house. The view is gorgeous so head there for drinks and skip the extremely overpriced food and horrendous service!!
Review Source:this review is for both the lodging and dining experience.
Where to start? Â
The room and our floor was 15 degrees hotter than anywhere else on the entire island.
I woke up every morning with lower back pain from their awkward beds. Â
Our TV barely worked and when we asked about the problem, they said that it was probably just our room and they would "make a note and look into it tomorrow". Never did anything.
We ate there twice (second time because it was raining so bad we didn't want to go out) and they never asked us the second time if we were guests as to get our dining discount. Â I could care less about the 10% discount, but it is the principle; you asked us and gave us one the first time and then the second time your employee forgets?
There were so many employees wandering around and it just seemed so unorganized because they weren't all on the same page and there was no consistency in their level of service.
My girlfriend and I were in the middle of something during one of our days there and either a random guest or employee tried opening the door on us. Â There was no knocking or keys jingling, just someone trying to shimmy the door open. Â ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
We saw a "Spring House Shuttle" multiple times while we were there and when we checked out we asked if we can take the shuttle to the ferry. Â The response? Â "No but I can call you a taxi." Â Really?! You aren't even going to explain why the fuck not? Â What the hell is the shuttle there for?
Food was mediocre as it was almost every else we went to.
Pros? Â Good views, decent drinks and ummm, well that's about it.
I would not stay here again, nor recommend it to anyone.
A trip to Block is not complete without coming to this romantic spot! You can sit on the adirondack chairs and have a cocktail while your kids run up and down the hill- I suggest bringing bubbles. Have dinner on the expansive porch and you will enjoy one of the most beautiful views on the island. We visit the Spring House every year. This time I had the bento box which was delightful. My husband's steak was just ok. Dessert was a blueberry and peach crumble and it was worth every calorie. Service was friendly. Our server was delightful with my daughter. The one thing I'd say is that she dropped my husband 's entree so we had to wait for a new one. Accidents happen but they probably should have comp'd dessert.
Review Source:I'm somewhat behind on reviews so although this is July-My Mom and I were there the first weekend of May; which I believe is the first weekend the hotel was open thisi season. Â Our room was on the 2nd floor right in front of the stairs so it got a little bit loud but wasn't too bad.
The continental breakfast is kind of that same breakfast they have everywhere. It was okay but we actually had another breakfast at the bagel place in town as the morning went on.
Restaurant: we had dinner here Friday night and I remember it being very tasty.
Block Island + Spring House Hotel  = A Hidden Paradise
The Location: We visited Block Island for the first time at the end of June. We loved the Spring House Hotel so much we extended our stay an extra day. This is the oldest hotel with the most breathtaking views on the island. It was the perfect escape for us since we love fresh food, outdoor activities and the ocean. It's perfectly situated within a few minutes' walk or bike ride to the ferry, center of town or the local farmer's market.
The Food: The farm fresh food is fabulous. We loved the baked stuffed lobster so much we ordered it two nights in a row. The pizza is the best I've ever tasted. My favorite appetizer was the Tomato Artichoke Bruschetta! The vegetables are fresh from the hotel's garden. And the breakfast ... wow... it beats 1661 Inn's buffet in case anyone was wondering. (I have pictures to prove it!) Spring House Hotel serves farm fresh eggs, vegetables, omelets,...oh my! Gourmet eggs benedict and decadent pancakes that are to die for! The owners sell their fruits and vegetables at the local farmers market. I think this is fantastic!
The Service: When I was trying to decide where to stay... I called many places and asked a lot of questions. The Spring House Hotel offered the best advice, answers and ultimately won my business based on their helpfulness over the phone. It didn't stop there! Once we arrived, we were greeted by the owner while checking in, presented with info on the area & assistance with our bags. During lunch, we learned our server spent many summers on the island. He was very knowledgeable and helpful not only with ordering our food, but he also took time helping us plan out how to spend our vacation days. The staff went out of their way to make sure we felt at home. Housekeeping went out of their way to make sure I had a blow dryer and extra towels every day.
We found ourselves wanting to head back to the Spring House Hotel earlier in the day to enjoy the views, the food & chat with the staff which we became friendly with and on first name basis.
The Entertainment: We enjoyed Martini Night with Marc Philip at The Spring House Hotel. I'm so glad we extended our stay. This really was a great ending to our vacation. We met other guests that shared the same passion for the Island and the Hotel. We met families that come to Spring House Hotel every year... it's their tradition. I understand it now! We danced, enjoyed more food, and sat on the lawn wishing we weren't going home the next day.
The Rooms: Our room was completely updated. It was a spacious studio with a beautiful porch. I enjoyed waking up in the morning watching the sunrise over the ocean. I will request the same room again. It was perfectly decorated to compliment the island's sense of serenity.
The Conclusion: Block Island offers a wide array of activities which we took advantage of including biking the entire island, site seeing the incredible lighthouses, and enjoying the fact that there are no traffic lights or chain restaurants anywhere to be found. The Spring House Hotel created an unforgettable experience in one of the world's most beautiful hidden gems! We are already planning to go back this summer and next! Thank you Spring House Hotel for creating fabulous memories!
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE RESTAURANT - NOT THE HOTEL.
If your meal sucks don't bother asking for Frank the Shank (aka the owner's son/manager). Â I would give them negative stars if the option was available.
My friend always raves about the Spring House so I went there twice this week - once this past Sunday evening and again tonight - July 4th. Both times the service was slow and when there were issues the owner's son and manager "Frank the Shank" was excessively rude, choosing to chastise me, the customer rather than addressing his restaurant's service/quality issues.
Tonight, July 4th, the family went there - arrival time 8:30pm.
We received lackluster food and service. When we commented/complained about the overcooked risotto and the nasty cheese in the poorly prepared eggplant - the manager temporarily placated us with a vinegar-like glass of wine that they couldn't have paid me to actually drink, and didn't even take them (the offensive food) off of the bill.
Appetizers took well over an hour to be served and entrees were overpriced and poorly prepared. Apparently the owner's son needs to take customer service 101. Rather than apologizing and having the brains to get his $10,000 cappuccino machine serviced (the foam dissipates immediately and is basically nonexistent) - he chose to reprimand me as a customer and say that he sees me every day (only went there twice) and he hasn't seen me smile yet. Well FRANK, I'm sorry, but smiles ARE NOT something you  are entitled to when your establishment has given me nothing but lackluster service and overpriced and poorly prepared food.
If you want a truly delicious meal head over to Eli's or even to the National or Ballard's (they have great 8 oz burgers and if you have any issues the managers there treat you with respect and INSTANTLY resolve any issues you may have).
I know this review seems a bit harsh, but one of the people in our party is actually a CHEF and has his own restaurant and another was a gourmet cook (me) and confirmed foodie.
Sorry Spring House, but I will NEVER GO BACK and recommend that others do the same. (My dad always says Service, Quality, Price - pick two - Unfortunately, the Spring House Restaurant offers none of these.)
The review is only for the restaurant and not for the hotel itself.
If not for the breathtaking views, it would be 2.5 stars at the most. The views of the ocean when you sit on the open terrace are just magnificent and definitely worth the visit.
Main point is on par with all other reviews - be prepared to wait ( and then wait some more).
There two restaurants at the hotel - one is a Bistro style, with less expensive menu, outside sitting and great views. Another one is a formal restaurant located mostly inside (there is still an outside portion) and more expensive. We ate at the Bistro outside.
Food was just okay. Stuffed dates sounded better than they taste as an appetizer. Clams were good, but the portion was tiny. Clam chowder was okay, but had too much potatoes and bacon to my taste ( and very little clams).
The wait for the main course was simply horrendous - considering that the restaurant was not full. Risotto Del Mare was tasty, with good amount of seafood, but steak didn't taste right, and the peppercorn sauce was just a pure fire. Plus, mashed potatoes tasted as they just had being made from the box. The dish was pretty much inedible.
We also ate breakfast next day at the hotel, and while food was okay ( not great at all), the wait was again was just incredible - all in all, the breakfast took about 1.5 hours, and absolute majority of it was just the wait.
Service was nice and friendly.
If you are ready to wait and want the views, this is the right place. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
This review is for the restaurant only, not the hotel.
If you look young, even if well-dressed, watch out--you'll get treated like a second-class citizen. Â From the get go, there something seemed to be amiss when the hostess invited every old couple in front of us to their choice of the dining room (more expensive), which had no wait, or the porch area (less expensive), where there was a significant wait. Â After the parties ahead of us were seated, the hostess didn't even acknowledge us. Â We informed her that we were a party for two and would take the next available opening. Â Unprovoked, she told us, "it'll be 20 minutes and there's nothing I can do." Â We asked why we couldn't be seated in the dining room. Â She looked us up and down and grudgingly brought us over.
After we were seated, we looked at the menu, which had a great lobster meal. Â As we were both excited, we told our waiter that we both wanted to order it. Â He told us, oh it's not available. Â We thought, fine okay, sometimes stuff runs out. Â No big deal. Â Then, later, we noticed that there was lobster all around us! Â At least two to three older couples who showed up after us (we saw them behind us in the line to the restaurant and saw them order after us) had steaming piles of lobster brought to the table. Â What was going on?! Â We asked for the manager, at which point the hostess came over--apparently she was the manager--and explained how disappointed the way the meal went. Â She explained that everybody else who got the lobster had special arrangements (yeah right...). Â Didn't apologize or offer to make it up to us in any way.
Food really isn't that grate. Â Guess it is if you're on an island... Â Later, we heard that Ballard's is the place for lobster, which was better and without any of the snootiness.
This review is for the food, not the lodging.
A drink in the afternoon on the Spring House porch might be one of the best places to be on earth. Â For real. Â Particularly after an around-the-island bike ride leaving you parched and a bit tired (don't be fooled - this little island has plenty o' hills - but I digress). Â Bartenders will create whatever you'd like - don't feel limited by the established cocktail menu.
As to food - you know, there have been some mixed reviews on here. Â But I'm gonna say this is some of the more reliable, tasty food on Block. Â You'll pay for it, but not entirely out of line with the rest of the island. Â It's well-prepared and nicely presented. Â Yes, waits can be very long. Â But that is virtually standard on Block. Order an appetizer to hold you over. Â I recommend skipping the more formal dining room and paying less for a very similar menu on the porch or in the tavern. Â Salmon was wild and excellent, as was the house made hummus - random, I realize, but try it. Â For vegetarians and clean eaters, this place knows how to cook their veggies - simple and delicious and not drowning in oil or fat (something frustratingly not abundant on the island).
The service is...well, a bit meh. Â But this is true everywhere on the island. Â My sense is the waitstaff at every establishment get pretty burnt out on demanding tourists, which, quite frankly, is understandable.
I would like to add to the other one star review...we have be coming to the Spring House every year for the last 10 years because of the wonderful view, the porch and ambience of the hotel.  Each year the eating  rules are different..
This year we were on the porch Sunday evening, sitting in the comfortable couches and chairs. Â We ordered some appetizers and after about 30 minutes they were delivered.. in "to go""containers. Â We were not told this would happen. Â
Additionally, our pizza was the wrong one..in a pizza box. Â Another 20 minutes went by and our new pizza came, unsliced. Â I took the pizza and my complaints of the to go containers to the manager, and she took my pizza and walked to the kitchen...ignoring my comments..I waited outside the kichen for the pizza and manager and she stated she was sorry..yep that is it, she was sorry. Â
Shame on the Spring House for lowering their standards with the "to go" section of the beautiful porch...and shame on the manager for providing sub standard customer service...I have had bad service in many a restaurant and how it was resolved makes all the difference in the world
I ate dinner at the Spring House a few nights ago. We were a party of seven, and had a nice round table in the large dining room which has terrific views of the Atlantic ocean only a hundred yards away. The Spring House is a grand dame of an old place, that definitely has some character and an interesting sort of shabby chicness that has come from decades of being in business. She's old and a bit worn, but the old girl is still lovely and knows how to treat her guests.
I started with a cup of New England style clam chowder, which was very good. Not the best I've ever had, but better than many. My wife had some sort of salad thing with fruit that she said was delicious - I'm sure it was but I had no interest in trying it. One of us got little-necks and she was very happy with them, and my brother had the smoked salmon appetizer that got high marks.
For my entree I had lobster ravioli. The pasta was not as delicate as I had hoped, but it was still quite good, just a bit too thick. Inside though, there were big chunks of fresh lobster, and even more lobster was scattered around the plate on top of the raviolis. The sauce was a creamy cognac-laced one and I liked it very much. The richness of the sauce worked well with the natural sweetness of the lobster, and made for a delicious entree.
A couple in the party ordered filet mignon which were cooked perfectly to order and disappeared quickly. One had the seared tuna, and enjoyed that as well. I was in some sort of lobster and cognac sauce induced haze because I can't remember what everyone else had, but we were all happy with our meals.
The service is very fine, with a classical feel to the style - waiters were all well dressed, our orders were all exactly as requested, water glasses always full, drinks arrived quickly. This is how more places should be, from a service perspective. They were all very well trained and did a great job.
The food while all very good, fell short of excellent which is the main reason I didn't go with 5 stars. The prices are also a bit on the high side, but that is the case out on the Block, so just expect to pay about 50% more for anything there that you would on the mainland. All in all, a wonderful place to have a nice meal, with a setting that can't be beat.
Review is based only on having drinks at the front outside porch bar area. Â Gorgeous view from the huge front porch. Â This place sits atop a hill so you get a great breeze to go along with the view. Â Bartender was nice and talkative and the patrons were are friendly. Â It's nice inside but has the typical Block Island musty old feel/smell to it. Â If you're looking to have a drink with a great view and avoid the crowds it's worth the walk up the hill to check it out.
Review Source:This review is based off of appetizers and drinks on their porch on a great summer day with an incredible view of the harbor. We had very tasty barbecued wings and clam chowder. There was a fantastic outdoor bar that was slowly filling up with wedding guests...Could have stayed here for hours. Check out the pics!
Review Source:Spring House is the ideal hotel in the ideal location on Block Island.
It's really beautiful. Like all places that have been renovated or maintained from an original structure, this is a great place to be. It feels as though you're in the middle of the era it was originally constructed, ~60+ years ago. Whether you're sitting on the porch sipping a drink, reading, or just gazing out onto the ocean, from the white Adirondack lawn chairs.
A nice sea breeze, and a picturesque environment make this place an ideal spot to stay.
As for accommodations, well, it varies. I wouldn't say a hotel stay is what makes this place ideal, but rather everything they provide for anybody stopping by.
The rooms are okay, but a bit rundown (mostly for the price, ~400/night) and the beds are definitely uncomfortable. However, if you have an ocean view room, and most of them do, you'll be really glad you did.
Continental breakfast comes with the stay, and it's surprisingly good. Plus waking up to watch the sun rise, from the same porch, while eating breakfast is a stellar way to star off your morning.
AVOID AVOID AVOID ok now the only good part, the view is phenomonal. so get your own bottle of wine, and go out on the chairs and enjoy the amazing bloock island view. this review is mainly for the restaurant but also touches on the hotel.  we went there early and was asking about food. they said at night they have a wonderful stuffed lobster and also entertainment and they told us the name of the singer,. great. we come back next night. immediately we notice that next to the gorgeous outside bat there appears to be a hangout. a bartender with several girls talking loud with the hostesses also there having a party while customers sat at their seats waiting for service. 20 minutes later someone came by. we say "its easy, we are gonna have the stuffed lobster" she gave us a look like we are nuts.  "sir we we uh uh dont have that. we said its in all the writeup for the spring house and they actually mentioned it to us the prior day. it was a busy end of summer week too. she said "oh maybe next week" lol next week no one would be here i said. then i said ok just a lobster "uh we dont have lobsters". ok we said and we ordered something else. more on that later. ok we said at the end lets go inside for the entertainment. we wnet in and nothing. we asked and were told there is no entertainment.  we said here is the magazine you put ads in, it says stuffed lobster and entertainment.  they said "maybe next week". i said you told us yesterday you had both and they looked at us like we were nuts. during the meal water glasses werent filled, dirty plates were left on the  table, basic condiments were never brought out.  the food tasted diner like. awful. the seafood was small hard and seeingly frozen mini shrimp.  bill with only one beer was over $100. to top it off we get back and we both get food poisoning in our hotel room, my wife worse than I and it has essentially ruined the rest of the trip. AVOID AVOID AVOID
Review Source:Wandered in this beautiful preserved hotel our first day on Block Island from the 1:30 ferry. Sits atop hill with beautiful views of the ocean and homes. But too many rules. "Sorry can't eat on porch, we've stopped serving there. Â Oh no sorry you can't have lunch in that room we're only serving in this room now. No sorry again we only serve light fare at this time. Oops can only order from this side of the menu". Sigh. A salad appetizer and a nacho appetizer two glasses of wine and $50 later. Â Service barely able to make her way to our table. TV blaring with soap opera and loud bartender telling people what she can't do for them rather than making them comfortable. Too bad, place was so beautiful it discouraged us from returning for dinner
Review Source:The restaurant at the Spring House is one of the finer dining experiences on Block Island. Â The menu has a nice variety including one or two daily specials. Â Whether you eat inside in a classic Victorian dining room our out on the patio you will enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Atlantic on Block Island.
The baked stuffed lobster is the finest anywhere but it takes about 1 hour to prepare. Â It is now served as part of a 3 course dinner starting with a cup of delicious creamy New England clam chowder (probably the overall best chowder on the island) followed by a Caesar salad made with grown on the premises lettuce and greens. Â Mixed vegetable sides are also from the garden and delicious.
For those looking for a more casual and less expensive experience, the new chef is now serving brick oven gourmet pizza on the porch. Â Although I haven't tried the pizza, I could vouch for a crowded porch of seemingly content diners.
The service is good and combined with the view and food provides a great overall dining experience. Â Don't miss it.
We stayed for two nights in the Annex, and the Victorian Hotel was everything we expected--with an updated bathroom. Â While the room was small, it was charming, with cross ventilation and a flat screen. Â The bar on the deck was was wonderful, and the view from the lawn at sunset was from a movie. Â Most of the staff was friendly, but needed more training. Â Dinner on Friday was quite good, but the kitchen wasn't up to the blitz, and the entre took over an hour to appear. Â All in all, I would recomend the hotel and dining room as a worthwhile Block Island experience. Â Adjust your expectations to Summer of 42, and you'll be happy.
Review Source:This is a very hard one to rate. Went to a wedding here. The wedding was first-rate. Food (wild salmon) was delicious, great bar, beautiful view. Great! However, I was also a guest here. Room was very small and run-down for the exorbitant price. Service was iffy at best, which is a travesty for the price. So, maybe have your wedding here, but book a room block elsewhere (?)
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