WOW. This visit shows a VAST improvement from previous dining experiences. The food is thoughtfully labeled on the menu, offering various options for folks with dietary restrictions. The shrimp was fresh and cooked to perfection. The steak frites was prepared to a medium that melted in my mouth. I was the first person to arrive for lunch and was seated immediately on the outdoor patio. What a beautiful place to sit and relax for a while between spa services. Hands down a redeeming experience. read more

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This place is so good, and I cannot understand how it doesn't have a higher rating! We go every time we go to the spa, and it has always been consistently delicious! The drinks are delicious, and I've tried many food items that are all great. The servers are all kind, especially Chris, and it is very pretty inside as well! The steak sandwich and homemade bread are a highlight. Also recently I tried the potato flatbread which was also great! read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Potato pizza - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

Never have I ever; gone to lunch in my robe. But I tell you, it was a hoot. Not just that, but to have the famous Ed wait on my daughter and me. Phenomenal professional and friendly service and probably the most delicious salad I ever had in my life. Did I mention the sticky pudding? The historic building and the breathtaking views? Such a delightful treat, and you don't have to be visiting the spa to dine here. Really a very special place. read more

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Delicious burgers, yummy cocktails and charming atmosphere, create a perfect lunch! Service was lovely and always came with a smile.

Very bougie spot for dinner to have dinner with your girls or something more romantic with your loved one. We had a great waiter who was very responsive to our needs and had great suggestions when we couldn't decide on what to order. By the time we got there for dinner I was very hungry and was happy to start my meal with some bread. The bread came with nice whipped butter and it was toasted. For my app I ordered the burrata and eggplant. I'm not sure what I thought this app would be but I didn't enjoy it as much as my friends did. Their mussels were amazing! That sauce was everything. For my main course I ordered the mango chili tuna and it was delicious! It was filled with flavor and vegetables with a good portion of rice. The meal was so filling we didn't even get dessert! It was a nice way to end my spa day with my friends. read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

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We made a group reservation for tea at Kensington's and were excited to go. With the exception of the macaroons, which were delicious, the baked goods were underwhelming. Some baked goods were incredibly hard and stale. Quality of finger sandwiches varied between guests. Clotted cream, jam and lemon curd were not made by the restaurant. The waitress was lovely. They may have been short staffed. We will not be back. read more

I recently went to Kensington's when staying at the spa at Norwich Inn with my family, and we had two amazing dinners and breakfasts. The French toast was delicious, and the yogurt "parfait" was the best I've ever had with Greek yogurt, berry compote, fresh berries and homemade granola. My husband enjoyed the pancakes and my sister liked the breakfast wrap. The coffee was also outstanding. Our server Ed both nights was phenomenal and the chef was incredibly accommodating for my allergies! I also appreciated that they had non alcoholic beverage options. The vegetarian risotto, Caesar salad and stir fry were awesome. Others at the table enjoyed the tuna steak, sea bass, burrata salad, shrimp, tiramisu filet, steak and pork specials, and short ribs. Chocolate lava cake, apple crostata, and bread pudding were fantastic! Portions are huge which helps with the prices. read more

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Unless you're staying at the inn, you're probably not venturing over here. The staff is absolutely wonderful and the restaurant has a very "old colonial" feel to it which is pretty nice. But other than that, it's nothing special... overpriced food and drink (over $4 for coffee, although refills are unlimited) and while the food wasn't bad, it's certainly nothing to write home about. read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Brioche French toast... I was expecting the slices to be much thicker - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

Forgive the presentation because I couldn't help myself when the food came. Then I remembered I needed photos! This place is inside the Norwich Inn & Spa. I always add the lunch option when doing a spa day. Spa guests are permitted to stay in their robes too - it's heaven. The menu is slightly more upscale with unique flavors. The restaurant has an old Victorian feel. The server was polite and friendly. The food was delicious. Expansive cocktail options. Non-hotel guests welcome. You can make reservations online or take your chances with walk-in. This place is a little pricey, but it's not your run of the mill sandwich/burger. I will definitely return at my next Spa day! read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

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This restaurant was delicious! I came here for a quick mom getaway. I have never stayed at the hotel, only used the spa. I ate at Kensington for dinner. When I say everything was delicious, I mean everything was DELICIOUS! I had the asparagus for a starter and it was so good. I had the duck, and added fingerling potatoes, for dinner. I had the tiramisu for dessert. Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The cocktails I had were so good. Everything was made with love, and I appreciate that. The staff were great as well. I can't wait to go back. I would recommend this place. read more

We've been going to the Spa for years now and part of our day is eating up on the deck in what is Kensington's Restaurant. This past week we were very disappointed for the first time. Beginning with the hostess who was overwhelmed with something and taking it out on the patrons. Very rude! The drinks we ordered were fine, but we had ordered an appetizer to share that was listed as a "French Onion bruschetta." It was ok, kind of soggy but more beefy than French Onion flavored. It was one small slice of bread for $15. Wayyyy over priced for what it was! Two of us ordered the turkey club sandwich which we've ordered in previous visits but this time, it was so dry and tasteless. We had to order extra mayo and I emptied a lot of salt but nothing helped. Presumably it had an avocado spread but that was applied sparingly. The bread was over toasted, hard to bite into, the turkey meat overly dry. I hope corrections are made because the idyllic setting makes for a lovely spa day. read more

I had a good time at Kensington's restaurant. The food was tasty and they do seem to have their basics down, however I do think it seemed like breakfast was a little underwhelming for a restaurant on the Spa resort compared to other dining options offered at the spa. The home fries were fine but tasted similar to that of something sold at college campuses/cafeteria food places for the masses. While everything was cooked perfectly, it is missing more flavorful options/seasonings. I do have to say they have a gorgeous view out of the windows and the fruit bowl was very tasty and fresh. read more

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During my most recent stay at the Norwich Inn and Spa, I was able to dine four times at their on-site restaurant, Kensington's. I was there for two breakfasts and two dinners. THEIR BREAKFASTS: For my first breakfast, I ordered the "Innkeeper". This included two eggs (over easy for me), toast (whole wheat for me), sausage (I chose turkey sausage), breakfast potatoes, and 2 small pancakes. I was given coffee and water right away and my choice of creamer. I drink coffee black with Stevia, if available. I was delightfully surprised to see that they had Stevia stocked (nitpicky gamechanger for me since I hate chemical sweeteners and need to watch sugar intake with all the dining out I do). My eggs were cooked exactly as ordered and the breakfast potatoes were so memorable that I made a note to be sure to order an entree with them the next morning. For my second breakfast there, I ordered the eggs Benedict which came with the potatoes. The hollandaise sauce was more lemony than I am used to, but that gave it a lighter feel gave the illusion that this was somehow healthier. (Eggs Benedict are my indulgence whenever I am staying at a hotel/on vacation for at least one meal). THEIR DINNERS: For my first dinner, my server, Ed, described the specials in a way that made me order both the appetizer and entree from their list. The appetizer was one large piece of crostini topped with tabbouleh salad. It was accompanied by arugula covered in shaved parmesan and sliced figs. The entree special that evening was swordfish in a lemon sauce with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives served over polenta cakes. To my surprise the dish arrived with the small stringy fried onions on top--that was a game changer for the textures of this dish. All of the ingredients were fresh and cooked as they should be. I splurged that evening and got dessert, opting for ice cream, but the portion was huge and I left overly stuffed. Lesson learned, but kudos to the restaurant for not skimping on portions! My second night's dinner was one I had to muddle over for a moment. The appetizer specials didn't wow me, so I planned to order a caesar salad. There was another swordfish special and I am crazy about fish of all kinds, especially dishes I don't normally make at home. Ed was my server once again, and this time he asked the hostess to seat me near a window (very sweet and considerate of solo diners/travelers--even though I am extremely comfortable traveling and dining alone in any setting). When I ordered the caesar salad, he told me he would suggest I try the amaretto shrimp since I hadn't yet and it was my last dinner there. Ed was SPOT ON. The shrimp were tossed in hazelnuts and placed upon an amaretto cream sauce. The combination of textures upped the quality of this dish. With 3 large shrimp, this was a generous appetizer. Ed loves what he does and is the kind of server most people look forward to when dining out. For his service alone, I'd dine there again, even when confronted with choices off-site while at their spa. Overall, the quality of food is great for the price. You won't see a lot of staff there when it is off-season, and many restaurants are reducing personnel as it is (or cannot find help). There were no delays in service whatsoever. I highly recommend that you give them a try when staying there. They are also a wedding venue in the area. I am looking forward to my next trip there and the dining that awaits me. read more

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Came here for a spa day with my friends bridal party and set up a reservation for Sunday brunch. Brunch options are pretty good. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered chick pea has with pita which is an appetizer. It was really good. So filling and it's also vegan and gluten free! My friends ordered the brunch burger, scrambled eggs which chorizo and grits and a bread basket with jam. Everything was absolutely delicious! The brunch burger was HUGE. My friend didnt finish it because it was a big burger. Also we ordered drinks and the bride was offered a bottle of champagne just to celebrate which was so nice! The only thing I'd change was the service. Our server kind of forgot about us and food items that we ordered. He was extremely kind but service could be improved. I'd love to come back next time! Very nice restaurant! read more

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Thanksgiving buffet was bad. Waste of money. Food was low quality. Way overpriced for the selection. Never again.

Liked the eating here. The restaurant is attached to the spa so upon arrival you may see patrons hanging out in their spa robes. The vibes of the restaurant is low key. Natural lighting a a relatively quiet in comparison to a traditional restaurant. I'm Sure kids are allowed but I would not recommend it solely based on the environment. That's just my opinion. I ordered the amaretto shrimp with an organic strawberry Margarita. Everything was delicious and light. The strawberry flavor in the drink taste more like a spritzer but I didn't mind because it was refreshing. The amaretto shrimp was light on flavor as well. Perfect lunchtime meal. They're a little pricey everything came out to around $50 but since this business is located in a spa/ hotel. It makes perfect sense. read more

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I've eaten here a few times and have always enjoyed myself and the food. I've been here for work parties, spa days and anniversaries. I've eaten here dressed to the nines for dinner and in my robe for lunch. Eating in your robe I don't think is recommended but I was young and no one was going to tell me otherwise! The wait staff are professional, the food is good and although I'm gluten free I'm able to find things without settling on their changing menu. read more

We have been to Kensington's a few times. The last time was for Thanksgiving dinner and it was wonderful. In the warmer weather there is a deck that overlooks the grounds, it's magical. What a hidden gem here in Norwich read more

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We had a wonderful evening celebrating our 54th anniversary! We took photos and posted on Facebook. See you for New Years Eve!

This restaurant in the Norwich Spa is both delicious and pretty. They recently renovated and it's very modern and beautiful. The food did not disappoint. I had the burrata appetizer which was prepared in a way I hadn't had it before. It had mixed greens, a tomato purée and crushed pistachios, very different but so good. For my main dinner I had the filet mignon. It was cooked just how I ordered it and had a delicious sauce. The garlic mashed potatoes were a very nice side. For dessert I had the churros and wow! They were warm, crispy and so good. They came with a warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream and it was out of this world. We also ate breakfast here and it was nice. I will say the pancakes tasted as though they were made from a mix so that was disappointing. The eggs, sausage, potatoes and toast were very good though. read more

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just tried the pasta with their new chef and new menu . was very good. i am a regular and have been going to Astor's and Kensingtons for years. one new policy I don't like however is that you can no longer order the Kensington's menu at Astors. they should change that policy and revert to the way it used to be. sometimes you want casual atmosphere sometimes you want formal. I will be back soon ! Ed read more

This restaurant is located inside the Norwich Spa hotel. We had a reservation, were seated promptly. The restaurant was pretty crowded, as it was a Saturday Pm! We had very good service. The food was very good! Prices were fair! No complaints from us! The appetizer sizes are on the small size! Well the ones we ordered anyway. We ordered, tuna tartare, shrimp almaretto, and the scallops. For entree we ordered the scallops over risotto! Plenty of risotto, only 3 scallops, and the mussels with chorizo! All food, was served very quickly, presented very nicely, and had good flavor! Everything was very good. Went back for breakfast! Again, the restaurant, was busy. We entered, and were served quickly! They started us off with some nice homade danishes! I had crab benidicr! It was real crab meat! Very good! read more

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I went to Kensington's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while staying at the Norwich Inn and Spa. I thought that both the inside and outside seating were gorgeous. The inside of the restaurant is especially beautiful. The service and food was great. I do wish that the food menu was a bit more unique for lunch and dinner since I found that the drinks menu and the breakfast menu both were. Either way, this restaurant interested me much more than those within Mohegan so I think that should speak for itself. read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

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Have visited this restaurant in the past and was always disappointed. I have totally changed my opinion. Had dinner last night the chowder was delicious my husband had the fried clams over salad he said was amazing. I had probably the best oso bucco ever it was amazing. Hubby had fish he said was also very good. The chef came out to speak to us and I made sure to tell him how amazing our dinner was. Proves it's good to give places like this another try. read more

Bread with three spreads; whipped butter, whipped goat cheese & butter and Tapenade. Nice wine list. Tuna tar tar Charcuterie Very nice. Duck breast real good. Mussels just right for main or shared appetizer. Desserts selection somewhat pedestrian. Server Michael courteous kind and knowledgeable about the menu. A true professional. Overall experience was very good. read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

Dining in robes at the spa restaurant. That's what half the diners were wearing. I prefer to be fully clothed for meals. But I digress. Breakfast here is solid. Coffee was scrumptious. I got a blueberry and banana smoothie. Really really good, and not too sweet which was perfect. I had egg whites; husband had eggs and pancakes. Pancakes were fluffy with the nice golden crisp to them, so you know they were cooked properly on a griddle. Service stellar. Every time I took a sip of water, my glass was refilled. Definitely will come back. read more

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I've been several times for lunch when visiting as a guest of the spa. There is nothing lovelier than enjoying a delicious lunch and glass or two of wine in a bathrobe. There are numerous options to choose from. On my most recent visit I noted numerous items, from the apps to soup and entrees had fish. I wasn't in the mood and there was still plenty to choose from. I was surprised at how large and heavy the portions are considering the lunch crowd is typically spa guests. I think I'd like to see more soup and salad options and more lighter entries. It is thoughtful that nutritional information is provided for all meals, however. I normally don't leave much food behind when I eat out, but the portion was so large I had to. I'd rather pay a little less and receive a smaller portion, at least at lunch. I'm not going to pack up leftovers, as I can't refrigerate right away. Our server Michael was stellar. He clearly knows how to up-sell as he convinced us to get a bottle of wine and share dessert (which I didn't want or need). I didn't need dinner that night I was still so full and content from lunch. read more

Dining is outdoor only right now. Absolutely gorgeous setting, limted menu but food was very good and service very attentive. Outdoor space large enough for good social distancing read more

I cannot say enough good things about Chef david stenson!! I have been coming here for 18 years and I have very severe food allergies. Chef David works very hard to keep me safe but he also creates truly delicious food. The service is also excellent! read more

Came here during the week for lunch with my sister in law while we were guests at the spa. We arrived a little before 12:30 and they were unable to seat us for about 15 minutes because they were waiting for guests with 12:30 reservations to arrive. I would understand waiting if there were no open tables. However, 75% of the indoor part of the restaurant was open. We were seated outside and not given the option of inside or out...which is fine because that was our preference. It took about 10 minutes for someone to come to our table to take our drink order, then maybe about 10 to take our food order. Despite the slow service the food was delicious and I felt appropriately priced. I had the seared ahi tuna entree and it was fantastic (see photo). My SIL had the turkey burger and sweet potato fries which she said were delicious. We split the falafel for an app which was also very good! Overall the food was 4 stars, service was 3 stars. read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut

This spa is so fabulous that one expects the beautiful formal restaurant to be perfect. It looks lovely & the staff is also very engaging and helpful, almost doting at times. But...surprisingly the food is just okay. Nothing special and rather expensive. Don't get me wrong, some of the dishes looked great, but everything we tasted was bland and uninteresting. The major plus is that you can enjoy the rare experience of being served in your bathrobes. "Like royalty". Better to catch a quick bite at the juice bar for less $$ in your bathrobe. Or...Do like we will later tonight: heading to Michael Jordan's at nearby Mohegan for a better dining experience. Come for the spa, not the food. read more

This restaurant is a total ripoff... $4.25 for a cup of hot water with a tea bag.... Clam chowder with no clams. Waldorf salad sandwich served on OLD bread.... Tuna wrap barely had tuna in it..... waitstaff did not care because their 20% tip was included... Another set of 2 friends sat outside...as we were requested to do the same. It was very windy and cold!!! Not many customers there.... the waitstaff should have been more accommodating... BUT THEY WERE NOT!!! It appears that they may be closing soon since it was so depressing to be there and spend $75 for a terrible lunch!!!!!!! read more

Food was AMAZING. Inside has been renovated and is beautiful! Our waiter was above and beyond. They made the experience safe in an unsure time but still extremely pleasant. read more

Probably my favorite part of staying at the Norwich inn and spa was coming here for dinner ! My boyfriend Joe and I were so please and felt so special- special thanks to chef David and his apprentice, Marie ! They made us have the most incredible experience- from making a special dish for us since we have diet restrictions. They went out of there way for us and went above and beyond. Rich, the bus boy was so great! He was such a hard worker and always had a smile on his face. Overall, had a great experience here and the staff was amazing- we will be returning. read more

My friend and I spent the day at the Norwich Inn & Spa, and a lunch at Kensington's was included in the package that we had for the day. We arrived for our reservation and were promptly seated. We were given the option of eating inside or outside, and we chose inside. Our waitress Cassandra was wonderful, and was attentive and personable throughout our entire meal. With our package we were able to get an appetizer, an entree each, and a dessert. We had the curried cauliflower as our appetizer. This had a good flavor, but was a tad bit oily for being roasted. For my entree, I had the Spa Wrap with chicken, and my friend had the special which was truffle gnocchi with chicken. The wrap was good, and while it had an aioli, there was not a lot of it. The gnocchi was delicious, but there was no sauce with it, and it looked as though the gnocchi was baked - it was a bit crispy. For dessert we had the berry tart with salted caramel ice cream. This was served hot, and was not overly sweet. The food was ok, and even though the service was outstanding, I would not go out of my way to eat here. If the food was not included in the package, it would be on the pricey side ($15 for the wrap). I will be back if I take advantage of the spa package with lunch again. read more

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Wife and I had a truly nice dinner here. Restaurant was totally empty when we arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday evening. Sat us in a rear room...very cozy and comfortable. Our excellent server Dawn offered us two complimentary glasses of wine to begin. Happy hour? I had a cup of the soup de jour ...a decent chicken cordon bleu. Wife had the classic Caesar salad..very good but the croutons were stale(only misstep of the evening). Not sure what kind of bread we ate but it was delicious and they brought seconds. I had the lamb Bolognese entree...cooked perfectly with rigatoni and delicious sauce and decent chunks of lamb. Wife had the salmon with honey glaze...very happy with it.. especially with the unusual Okinawan sweet potato hash side dish. We split a triple berry tart for dessert. Really fresh fruit and some outstanding salted caramel ice cream. Coffee topped off an excellent meal. Our server...the surroundings...the pleasant dining area and the very good food...all combined for a really nice experience. You don't have to be staying at the Spa to dine here. read more

I'm reviewing this separately from the spa because I didn't want to take points away from the spa. I had lunch with some friends here on our girls' day and was really disappointed. Service, atmosphere, and food quality were just nowhere near what I would expect for this price. I don't mind paying a higher price for things as long as the quality is there, and it just wasn't. I understand we're a captive audience since we're all walking around in robes, but that's no reason to charge 8 dollars for the world's most shallow bowl of chili. And of course gratuity is included, so no reason to make an effort there. Next time I visit the spa, I will try out lunch at the juce bar. They had much more reasonably priced wraps and sandwiches plus delicious smoothies. read more

The Norwich Inn and Kensington's has a great Old New England charm... ambiance is great. We however did not have a great experience at Kensington's for dinner. The two stars is for the staff - food gets zero. First let me state that Ed, our waiter, was GREAT all night. We ordered the lobster squash risotto and tuna steak... The tuna, ordered seared rare, came back medium at best but was suitable enough for my wife. The $38 lobster squash risotto was another story. - so salty after a few bits I simply couldn't eat anymore - risotto was watery - lobster was tough because it was mixed in with the hot risotto - pieces of the squash were under cooked This was only the second plate I've ever sent back... but at $38 I had to say something. I got the tuna next "seared rare" , pointing out my wife's was over done. What did I get ? A well done tuna steak that was so dry I literally couldn't eat the first bit after having the salty risotto. Both Ed and the chef came out and apologized, which I appreciate, and comped the meal and finally got a third plate with rare tuna right. Bottom line - nice setting, great staff, food less than desired... read more

Thanksgiving Dinner is special. I made reservations for my wife, mother and myself. We tried different places for holiday meals, since it's just the three of us, the kids are gone, we work and Mom is 92. So far this is the best we found. From dropping Mom and my wife off at the front door with help from the doorman and parking, it was a good first impression. Inside there were comfortable chairs as we were early and had to wait. The staff was tentative and the buffett was abundant. As a vegetarian, there was no shortage of items and variety. You aren't hurried to make room for he next guests. And there was space between the tables so no one bumped into you. So why 4/5 stars? $8 for ice tea (no free refill) and a mandatory 20% gratuity. We weren't a large party. Just 3 of us. Gratuity was well deserved, but gratuity is a choice for good service, not prepaid. Additional thought, do the servers get the 20%? read more

I am just leaving from the Spa at Norwich Inn and I have to write about the great care and service I received while at the Kensington Restaurant towards my food allergies. I informed the Waiter, Michael, of my food allergies (gluten, soy, corn). Michael was able to guide with my choices if they were safe or not and whatever he was not sure about he went and asked the Chef, Dave Stenson. Dave came out personally to speak to me to discuss how he could prepare a meal for me and eliminating the allergens. Since I was unable to eat the accompaniments that come with the bread, Dave gave me toasted GF bread with warm olive oil mixed with herbs and sliced butter of the side. For lunch we agreed on the Baja Beef Tacos but on gluten free bread and the other ingredients would be made fresh without soy. Dave also made pan fried chips to go with it. Since I was unable to eat the accompaniments that come with the bread, Dave gave me toasted GF bread with warm olive oil mixed with herbs and sliced butter of the side. Everything was fresh and delicious. Thanks to Michael and Dave's teamwork I was able to add the enjoyable lunch to my great spa day! read more

Kensington's Restaurant - Gluten, Corn, and Soy Free Baja Beef Tacos - Italian Near Me - Norwich, Connecticut