I desperately wanted to like this restaurant, as there are so few dining options less than 30 minutes from our home, but I'm sorry to say Coach Stop has a long way to go before it earns my praise.
I've read the other reviews that have been posted, and one common thread I've seen is sadly, many people judge a restaurant by the size of the portions, where I prefer quality over quantity. If you happen to fall into the first category, then take this review with a grain of salt, but if you are like me and appreciate well thought out food, prepared professionally and creatively, then read on.
My husband and I went with another couple on a Wednesday night, and in spite of the parking lot being nearly full, we were seated right away. Our server was very busy, as they were understaffed that evening, but nevertheless I have no complaints about the timing of the service under the circumstances.
Our first clue that perhaps the restaurant food had some issues was the 'versatility' of the menu. Escargot and eggplant parmigiana do not belong on the same menu! Don't try to be all things to all people or you'll just end up falling short on everything. This is not a diner.
We ordered a bruschetta appetizer to be shared by the four of us. It arrived looking more like a pizza...VERY large and not at all crispy. I can't imagine that appetizer being ordered by one person, as they would certainly have no room to eat anything else. Even with the four of us, we didn't finish it. It was not, by any stretch of the imagination, bruschetta. I mentioned it to our server and she graciously accepted the feedback and hopefully communicated it to the chef.
I ordered shrimp and scallops over noodles. It was smothered in sauce, and the noodles were sticky and stuck together. My husband and friend ordered lobster ravioli which was also smothered in sauce, and pales in comparison to the lobster ravioli at Nora's in Southwick. Our other friend ordered some kind of steak dish which was equally unremarkable.
Wine servings, unlike food, are happily accepted in large portions, and The Coach Stop gets high marks in this category. :)
I'm writing this review as much for the chef as the general public. I want this restaurant to succeed and hope they will streamline their menu and focus on a specific cuisine, whether that's Italian, American or French (or whatever). As for us, until the menu is improved, we will limit our visits to the bar area and hope the burgers are up to snuff. read more