Location: Sturbridge
Top Restaurants in Sturbridge
Where to Eat in Sturbridge: The Best Restaurants and Bars
History comes to vivid life in Sturbridge. The town is a portrait of old New England charm, with grassy commons, distinctive antique shops and boutiques, country orchards and creameries, wooded trails and delightful bed & breakfasts. Nearby Wells State Park boasts miles of trails and a picture perfect pond for swimming or canoeing. Learn firsthand about 18th and 19th century New England life at Old Sturbridge Village, a living museum with landmark buildings, stagecoaches and interactive crafts.
Things to do in Sturbridge
1. Kaizen Sushi Bar and Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By cgkingston - Charlton, Massachusetts
This place is off the charts amazing always fresh. You'll need to make a reservation as it's a big hit locally and tough to get into on weekends. If you're not into sushi, they still have an amazing steak and seafood on the menu, even these offerings are better than most of the local choices.
2. Sturbridge Coffee House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By Katherine p - Boston, Massachusetts
We had breakfast here today and also a sandwich to go on our trip back to Boston. The Sweet and Salty (French toast bagel with homemade maple syrup cinnamon cream cheese, an perfectly done egg and bacon) besides the coffee was more than enough for us to decide that we could easily detour from the Mass Pike on frequent trips to NY. And that was before we had the chicken salad sandwich. This is the kind of place you wish you had in your own neighborhood. Where everybody knows your name...
3. Jimmy D's Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Jimmy D's is a throwback 1950's ice cream shop, offering tasty specialty sandwiches, soups, salads, and seasonal goodies! Come visit our warm staff and say hi to Elvis and Marilyn!!
Reviewed By Kristin M - Johnstown, New York
Traveling back from Maine and needed a place for lunch. Sandwiches and ice cream did the trick. Owner very friendly and so was young woman he was training. Reasonable prices. Downstairs is tight but big room upstairs and outdoor seating. Clean and quick service.
4. Cedar Street Grille
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 392 reviews
A lively American bistro with a menu that encourages sharing, exploration and the celebration of food. American specialties with a unique flair on the standards.
Reviewed By sandiegoheidi - San Diego
We stopped in here while we were driving back from Boston and the Turnpike had a backup from an accident and it was about 4:15 PM on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and just pulled off in Sturbridge. We tried a few other places but came in here after looking on Yelp. So, we walked in and it was very busy, looked like every table was filled. But they got us into the bar area at a high top and we were there before the happy hour crowd. At the suggestion from Kimberly, our very helpful waitress, I had the fantastic chicken dinner with potatoes and veggies. So, so good and filling and helped me drive back to Syracuse, NY after we left. The bar seating was full and everyone seemed to be loving their drinks and food. As we were seated, more people kept coming into the dining room.
5. Sturbridge Porterhouse
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By terryw678 - Holland, Massachusetts
Our first visit to a newish restaurant that we’ve been waiting for the right time to go there. They did a great job with New Year’s Eve. Food was well prepared (steak and seafood). Seasoning was perfect and portion size ample to bring home leftovers of both. Sever was very nice, atmosphere unexpectedly casual but nice. Cesar salad was excellent. Food was a bit heavy for me, but you have to expect that at a steakhouse. Prices were reasonable for this level and type of restaurant. Only odd thing is no place to hang coats, everybody had to sit with them on back of chair and they were big coats since it was 0 degrees out.
6. Sturbridge Seafood
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
Sturbridge Seafood is offers a variety of creatively prepared dishes from sea and land featuring the freshest seafood the area has to offer. Our menu changes almost daily to reflect what is available. From award-winning chowder to shared plates to entrees there is something for everyone. We have 14 taps of craft and American brews, over 20 wines by the glass and artisan as well as classic cocktails that change with the whim of our bar staff. We are excited to add our unique culinary perspective to the Sturbridge, MA restaurant scene!
Reviewed By makingchoices - sequim
We started by ordering some mac and cheese for the little person with us from the "kids menu". It arrived, enough to feed two adults. Piping hot and nearly raw pasta. Let's just say it was NOT a hit.
Then we three adults ordered Fish and Chips with Coleslaw. Almost an hour later (it was not very crowded} our orders arrived. Although the food looked appetizing, there was no coleslaw and we weren't willing to wait for it. The fish was quite good but the coating tasted of baking soda and it was quite greasy.
Lastly, the waitress didn't seem to have a full understanding of what was available in the kitchen and nor did she seem interested in finding out.
Although this restaurant was recommended to us sadly I can not do the same.
7. B.T.'s Smokehouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 565 reviews
B.T.'S Smokehouse is a dry-rubbed and slow-smoked barbecue restaurant located in the downtown section of Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Owner and Head Chef Brian Treitman is committed to delivering the very best barbecue to Massachusetts and beyond. Focusing on Southern-style cuisine, the menu offers natural grass-fed beef, chicken, pork, and other meats that have been dry rubbed and slow smoked for up to 24 hours with local apple and hickory woods. In addition to standard barbecue fare, the restaurant also offers more unusual entrees such as smoked salmon, chili made with brisket meat, and smoked Turkey and chicken. We are also BYOB, so grab your favorite 6 pack on your way in. B.T.'S has won numerous awards since opening its doors, including the New England Regional Chili Cookoff and placing in the Top Ten Barbecue Restaurants in New England, and the Boston Globe named B.T.'S one of the "ten best places to bask in barbecue".
Reviewed By Christine D - West Greenwich, Rhode Island
They by far are the best BBQ meats!!! The brisket Reuben is phenomenal and we shared it with a couple of sides. The brisket melts in your mouth and they offer so many different sauce sides- no wonder this counter service restaurant is packed!! I didn't love the cole slaw- but given the greatness of the sandwich and brisket-who cares!
8. Annie's Country Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 193 reviews
Reviewed By _dantenapoleon21 - Northfield, Massachusetts
Totally senior themed.Hub &i went for Dinner spent almost $ 50.00 for not much food and that was without ordering a beverage. Maybe they should stick to breakfast??.
9. Publick House Historic Inn
Overall Ratings
4 based on 736 reviews
Reviewed By Ms. Elizabeth C - Ware, United States
I previously wrote another review that has been very popular. It stated this place, which was one of our favorites, had slipped seriously. After that experience, I was in contact with the management, they were very apologetic, and as such, to make up for the terrible experience we had, gave us a complementary dinner for two.
Well, we went back to give them another chance, after all, who would not use a complementary dinner for two in a place that is not low end fast food? As such, we decided to try menu items that we had not previously tried.
The shrimp cocktail at $13 for 4 shrimp is expensive, but these were 4 very succulent large shrimp, and the cocktail sauce was spicy and good. You will have to decide if you feel it is in line for your budget. The Caesar salad was crisp, and I did like the slices of parmesan cheese on it. They were a bit stingy on the dressing, it could have used more.
We tried the lobster pie, and the baked scrod, two dishes we had not eaten there before. The lobster pie came in a casserole dish with a newburg sauce. This sauce was unlike other newburgs I have had, it was thin and not exactly cheesy, but it was very delicious. It appeared there was the meat of an entire lobster in the dish, there were big chunks and you could clearly see two claws. Served with a side of mashed potatoes with skins still in it and squash, it was a hearty meal and some came home with us. At $32, it is expensive, for basically a single lobster. Our other dish, the scrod, was unremarkable. It was a fish, it was baked, it came with rice and squash, it was edible. That's all I can say about it. It appeared to me to be banquet fish made in a large batch and doled out when ordered. The bread crumbs on top were not crisp. It was a piece of fish about 5" by 2 that was the loin of the fish, but at $22, definitely overpriced for what it was. I rarely season food I get at restaurant, but I had to put a fair amount of salt and pepper on this to give it some taste. There was a sauce over it that was very good, but the rice pilaf with it was bland. We had a raspberry tart and creme brule for dessert. Both were very flavorful, however, I found the creme brule to be more of a pudding with some sugar seared on top, than a thick custard. The bottom of the dish has some black coating on it under the pudding. The strawberry on top was white and meally, and no where toward ripe. The tart was very good, but could have used more of the raspberry sauce.
Our waiter, Sheamus, was wonderful, properly attentive and well deserving of a 20% tip if you go and get him. Heck, if you go, request him. The waiter we had previously during our terrible experience was waiting on the table next to us, and we overheard that he 'forgot' to tell them about an upcharge and had to explain the additional charges on the bill. Seems this waiter's inattentive service to us was not an isolated incident.
All in all, I can't complain about the meal. But I can't give it a resounding thumbs up either. This place has atmosphere to spare, and some of the wait staff is wonderful (Sheamus) but the prices are high for the quality of the food you are getting and as such, makes it not a place that I would recommend to others They have quite a bit of work to do to get back to where they were in the past. The management is trying, but I think the management has to look at the their chefs and maybe they need to get rid of some long time waitstaff to raise the bar. This place has a very limited menu of about 15 or so main courses, and sometimes some specials. It's shouldn't be hard to make those limited selections the absolute best that they can.
10. Rovezzi's Ristorante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 213 reviews
Reviewed By Duffy B - Ellington, Connecticut
We've dined at Rovezzi's a number of times and are convinced that you can't go wrong no matter what you order. They serve Italian done right. The pasta is homemade, the sauces are flavorful and the portions are generous. The mollusk appetizers are in a delicious sausage sauce that begs to be mopped up with their great bread. The specials are truly special although the regular offerings are always tasty. If there's an event going on in nearby Brimfield, you'll have a hard time getting in but otherwise there's plenty of seating. Sturbridge has a number of very fine restaurants (we've tried most of them), but if you're considering Italian, this is where you want to be.
