The setting is cute, but the overall experience was frantic. We went on a Friday night, the place was bustling. We ordered warmed olives, they were so hot they burned my mouth. We ordered shrimp tacos and got fish tacos because they ran out of shrimp, but no one told us. The lamb flatbread was delicious. I felt like we were interrupting a family gathering. People kept coming in and the staff was hugging them and chatting and trying to man the kitchen in between. Having an open kitchen and people running around and plating food and yelling back and forth created an uncomfortable atmosphere. I did not feel welcomed or relaxed. The quickest thing that happened was being given our bill. read more

We go almost every week for the fabulous local, delicious and elegant plates plus cosy space and friendly accommodating staff. Menu changes seasonally, Look out for specials for entrees and drinks! Kitchen viewing from front room. Outside seating in good weather a must. Tucked in Gill Town center. Visit Uppingil farm store down Main st too! read more

Lovely little dining spot in a rural area. Parking is all over and the building doesn't look like much from outside. Once you are in, it is cozy and inviting. I had a well crafted cocktail from Megan and ordered a few small plates while at the bar. Both servers/bartenders were great and nice to chat with. One of my small plates needed to be retouched by the kitchen. It was the smoked cheddar biscuit, it needed to be a touch warmer so the butter they serve it with could be used, but it was only a small bump in what was overall a great experience. read more

Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. For appetizers, we had the Gorgonzola garlic bread and mussels. Then he ordered salmon and I had the duck confit special. Appetizers were in point. Really great garlic bread and mussels. Would recommend that you dip the bread into the mussels broth. The salmon was super tasty and cooked just right. Same goes for the duck confit. It was rich in flavor, tender, and all around delicious. Also, try the Maple Manhattan. So good. read more

My bf and I found gills randomly on our road trip, total success! Love this place, the staff is super friendly and helpful. Our food was so good we scarfed it down and forgot to take a picture. Smoked pork tacos, cheddar biscuits, and smashed potatoes are all to die for. WILL be coming back read more

The Gill Tavern continues to be a cute place to dine. The food is unpredictable: sometimes fabulous, sometimes not so good. The last time we dined there for dinner, I had an absolutely AMAZING Salade Nicoise. THE BEST EVER. The 3 pieces of tuna was seared to perfection -- tender, fresh, perfectly seasoned, Haricot Verts were crisp but not too crisp, and so fresh (no doubt from a local farm), the lettuce was not the majority of the show, and thank goodness. Potatoes were cooked to perfection, and seasoned well, as was the butter-lemon sauce. It was served traditionally, with everything on the side (Sally from When Harry Met Sally would have approved!). A wonderful summer entree! The grilled trout, on the other hand, was another story. The fish, by itself, was perfectly-cooked and seasoned. But, it was served with a red pepper coulis that was much too heavy for this delicate fish. The fish had many bones in it. It also came with a heavy, bland, mushy risotto, with perfectly-cooked shrimp. The red pepper coulis went perfectly with the shrimp! A more delicate sauce (vinaigrette/olive oil base) would have been so much nicer on the fish. And, a light salad with lemon dressing in lieu of the risotto would have been better. The chef clearly knows his way around seafood. It was incredible. Just please pluck the bones? The desserts, too, were incredible! We had a lemon mousse tart, which tasted of Meyer lemon and was light on the tongue -- citrusy but without the tartness or overly sweetness of most lemon desserts. It was a heavenly summer option! The other was a tres leche cake with a hint of white chocolate. It too was light and delightful. The Gill Tavern is not air conditioned, and it was very hot the day we were there. I'm not a person who sweats a lot, but I left red-faced, and ready for a change in clothes. They really need air conditioning for the hot Massachusetts' summers! Table service is, at best, ho-hum (not much interest in the customer, but not rude either). Prices are moderate. Parking is on somebody's lawn when the 4 places outside are taken. Kinda weird, but yeah, local. There's alfresco seating. Yay. Seasonal menus, photography exhibits from Hallmark, and a blog to update us all make this local place a winner. read more

Small. Fresh. And careful. Those three adjectives are at the heart of my experience at the tavern and when you combine them all into one restaurant, you can't help but strike gold. A nice glass of BBC ale, garlic bread, salads, squash ravioli with a balsamic reduction, tiramisu cake - everything was flawless. I'll be back every time I get the chance! read more

Eat here. If it is the weekend, make a reservation. Small, homey, eclectic, and evocative decor. Full and fantastic bar -- especially for whiskey and gin lovers -- with unique cocktails served in gorgeous glassware. If you love thoughtfully curated boutique wine, look no further. Tannat rose from Uruguay -- seriously -- get it with the salmon. It holds up, and refreshes. The menu has something for everyone, while being concise and continental. The owner actually swapped out my full mussel shell bowl, and otherwise actively bussed while helping in the kitchen. From warm olives to pot au creme, an outstanding, intimate dining experience. We will come here every time we are in Gill. Bravo! read more

Loved it. In the middle of nowhere, what a gem. It compares favorably to the best of the upper Pioneer Valley, a smaller Hope & Olive, the sense that you've found treasure or learned a secret. Reminds me of the old Circa in NoHo, but hidden. Plus, they handled our kids easy. read more

Went in cranky with a midwinter cabin fever. Left in a heavenly food coma. The charming atmosphere, wonderfully attentive staff, and perfectly cooked, every-bite-delicious food made me want to go back for more. read more

The Gill Tavern is a quaint yummy secret, hidden in the small town of Gill. The night I went, seemed like I was walking onto the set of a movie. The atmosphere is darling. Small tables filled with bright, happy people, and the tables are covered in great food and drinks. Local beer is served along with a short menu of delicious entrees. The Gorgonzola garlic bread is delicious, hot and crunchy with the perfect amount of cheese. I tried the prime rib, it was cooked exactly right and the spices were delicious. A fresh peach cobbler for dessert with local ice cream finished off the meal to stuffed bliss. The service was quite good, friendly waitresses and not a long wait. I recommend you call for reservations, it can be quite busy. Enjoy! read more

I haven't had a meal like this since I have moved to this area! The food is perfect and amazing the service incredible and it was a great evening. I had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked and seasoned! I would highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Very nice! The gorgonzola garlic bread is amazing. I also ordered the Summer Flatbread and it was excellent. Very thin crust, and the toppings were perfectly fresh. It was packed on a Saturday evening, so plan to make a reservation for this small town joint. A lovely atmosphere, with an open kitchen, and fantastic service. I loved it! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the area. The Chef, Walker, is an amazing cook and a really nice guy, as well. The place has an open kitchen (which I always like) and it's fun to watch the well-oiled machine that is the kitchen staff. The owner, Laura, is always on hand making sure that things are running smoothly (she runs a tight ship) and service is always great. They have a good beer selection as well a good wine list, too. I suggest making a reservation, it gets pretty busy and there's not a lot of room to wait. I have never once had a food or service complaint, here, and have eaten here dozens of times. That's a pretty good record. read more

I have been to this place a couple of times. The first couple of times, I thoroughly enjoyed the food. From the warm cheddar biscuits to the mussels to the entrees to the dessert, I have always been happy. The food always tastes fairly fresh, which is expected because of the high prices. This being said, the last time I went, despite how good the food was, I was disappointed with the service. Our waitress was not transparent with specials or desserts, nor was she prompt about checking in on us or serving us. What should have been a quick dinner turned into a long night at the Gill Tavern. Despite the tasty food, the service was extremely disappointing. read more

One of my very favorite places in this valley. Especially because of the location! Helloooo idyllic Massachusetts! But also the food is delicious. And the cocktails. And the desserts. OH, and they use as many local ingredients as possible. Yeah, I pretty much love them! Would have resoundingly given 5 stars, but the last time I was here my fish came out raw and cold in the middle. The waitress took it back to be cooked more, but no one really offered any kind of apology or compensation. Please do keep in mind, however, that once everything was corrected my meal was stunningly delicious. Everyone has a bad night - I totally understand. I would have just appreciated some kind of gesture given the price of the entree. read more

Wow, absolutely, a must if you are in the area. Also, makes a long drive to Gill worthwhile. We travel for food and, live in a foodie heaven in the Midcoast Maine and this place is a real find! We were looking for a dining spot after a disappointing night at the much touted The Farm Table. What a lovely surprise to find this restaurant in the tiny town of Gill. The atmosphere is charming - an old house with an open kitchen, everything is happening in front of your eyes, and The Gill Store sign over the bar. The food was outstanding: we had a local rabbit sausage smoked in the house, which would have made Melissa Kelly of Primo proud, a local pork shop and the wonder of it all - a summer squash gratin with onion reduction, an amazing melt in your mouth goodness, a humble gardeners pest of a vegetable elevated into a once in a lifetime experience in this dish. Our own Ratatouille moment :). An almond financier to finish it all was a perfect dessert for this end of the summer meal. The service was wonderful, all waiting staff absolutely charming and attentive. We loved it and looking forward to coming back. read more

I've recently found the Gill Tavern and have had dinner there with friends twice now. Both times the dinner has been very enjoyable. The first time there we started with the Gorgonzola garlic bread, which is incredible. I'll never eat plain garlic bread again. For the main dish, I got the Alfredo pasta, which was average, but it came with a mixed green salad, with the best sun dried tomatoes I've ever had. I never used to like sun dried tomatoes, and now I have to get the salad just so I can get the tomatoes! Luckily the salad comes as a side with many of the main dishes. The second time I went for a lighter meal of the mixed green salad as a main dish rather than a side, and the Gargonzola garlic bread again. Very filling, even though it was light. My friends got a variety of dishes, burgers, grilled chicken, pot pie, pasta primavera, and Cajun scallops. Everybody thought their meals were very good. We'll definitely keep going back. Another interesting thing about the food, it's mostly (if not all) locally grown. And they have a number of vegetarian options, always a plus in my book. They have a full bar and their own beer. The beer is under the People's Pint label, since the owners of the Gill Tavern own the People's Pint in Greenfield. They have a hopping business, each time we've gone we've gotten a seat as we walked in, but it was one of the last available tables. They have 2 rooms, so even if you think you won't get a seat, go in, the back room may be available. If the Alfredo had been as wonderful as everything else, they'd have gotten 5 stars. I reserve the right to up it as we go back and I try other items! read more

First, let me say the atmosphere was darling. The aromas, divine. The food, piping hot or icy cold, as appropriate, and cooked to perfection. However... We walked in and it was nearly a full house. We sat down and it seemed unusually long of a wait before we were greeted by the waiter. Yes, the only male server. When he did come, he was helpful, efficient, guiding. Specifically, when two of us ordered the spicy margaritas, he was quick to point out--in advance-- that there might be only one, left. We were able to decide who would get it and what the substitute would be, while we still had his full attention. Great move! The drinks took a long while. Granted, two margaritas, a craft cocktail and a glass of wine. Had I been the server (which I was for 23 years), I would have dropped off the wine and explained that the bar was backed up and the cocktails would be a little bit. But, instead, we all just waited. And waited. Once our cocktails came, via one of the waitresses--the shorter one (which will be relevant, later), we saw the waiter againm shortly thereafter. We placed our orders, and--again--we waited. While we were waiting, two of my companions finished their drinks. Eventually, the short waitress came and asked if we wanted another round. One of the margaritas asked for ice water. To which the waitress replied, "Oh, you want more water?" (Note that every table has a green glass bottle of water on it, and it's light enough colored glass that any decent server could see it had been empty from within minutes of our having sat down. Regardless, this is something EVERY server, everywhere in the US should be on top of.) And, she never brought us another bottle. Odd. Still no water, and no food. Once we were delivered of our food, the waiter stopped back and HE asked if we needed more drinks. And, again we asked for water. And, again, the food took so very long. He got us a bottle, but also announced that he was doing this to the shorter waitress. We are guessing the bulk of his station was in the other room and we weren't in his path, which is why we hardly saw him. Meanwhile, as we were waiting, the table nearby left and the taller waitress went over to clean it. This is a pet peeve of mine, table sanitation. She hadn't cleared the water glasses from the table before she brought her rag and spray bottle to clean it. After she removed them, she set about straightening the salt, pepper, sugar, lamp and bud vase, back against the center/back of the table. But, NEGLECTED to clean up beneath them, much less wipe any of them down. Disgusting. Just shy of two hours later--no apps, no dessert-- we got our check. As we were figuring it out, I asked the taller, table-not-cleaning-waitress for some change for a $100 bill. "What KIND of change do you WANT?" She asked me, quite snarkily. Would not, " How would you like your change?" have been a more appropriate response? I explained what change I wanted. Two friends gave her credit cards, and told her how much to put on each, and explained we would figure out the rest when she returned. When she did return, she asked--inconvenienced--"You don't want your check back, do you?" Again, were I the server, I would have simply brought another copy of the check. It's all computerized, anyway. The food was scrummy and I will happily give it another go. My friends have been there before and had been bragging on it for months, now. But, the service was inexcusable. I've been to diners where I've had more finessed attentions. All it would have taken was some attention. Had they explained that the kitchen/bar were backed up, we would have been so very amenable. But, we were stranded or forgotten too often. And, the tall waitress REALLY needs to be schooled in how to make a sanitary table!!! read more

Last night my boyfriend and I went to the Gill Tavern for the first time. We'd both been hearing great things about it for years, so we were looking forward to discovering a new favorite restaurant. No such luck. Both our dishes were disappointing, mine was the worst scallop dish I've had. Both were terribly salty, and the mushrooms in the scallop dish, though supposed to be roasted, tasted more like poorly rehydrated ones, of indistinguishable types. The tagliatelle's sauce was boring. After waiting at least 45 minutes, neither of our dishes was hot. Everything was inordinately slow. Ok, the ciabatta with peppered oil was quite good. But, the best thing about our meal was the accompanying Steel Rail. Thank you, Gary! read more

Tonight we had a great meal in a warm, friendly environment. After a misstep the first visit, my partner and I were more than pleased with our experience. Food was wonderfully prepared, ambiance bustling and inviting, waitstaff attentive and friendly. Excited to have a new location in our area to frequent. read more

Cozy and warm venue with excellent food! Perfect Confit Duck and salmon entrees! Pistachio pound cake special was special! Full bar with nice wines by the glass. Look forward to returning! PS the Gorgonzola bread was a hit! read more

Food well presented but just disappointing. We were excitedly expecting more from such a cool and pretty place. The rib appetizer was delish but small for $13. The mussels were not consistently fresh. A number of them were stringy and had to be spit out. Our skirt steak was extra tough (I know it's a tough cut to begin with) and served without steak knives. Towards the end we asked and they apologized and came up with knives that could cut. The tagliatelle was tasty. No complaints with the pork tacos. The service was spotty all night long. We were here a few years ago and it was good but tonight, meh. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Sunday Special 7 Aug 2016 EXTRAORDINARY! Fresh Tuna steak with a deliciously light, spiced mustard sauce was out of this world. PERFECTLY cooked rare medium. 3 diners with me all raved...tagliatelle, pork ribs special and the mussels were most outstanding. Don't leave without sharing the Chocolate Board! Simply elegant sampling of Venezuelan sourced treats. Delicious! So wished I lived closer ~ read more

This restaurant was a treat, the food, the people including the screen door that kept slapping. It was wonderful

Delicious food in a lovely, quaint, funky restaurant, set in the beautiful country hills of Gill MA. Everything we ordered-- from the wines and the Blueberry-Peach Cosmos to our shared appetizer: Watermelon Salad with Sheeps Milk Fera, to our entrees: Chicken Schnitzel, Braised Duck, and Egglant Involtini to dessert: Blueberry/peach Crisp-- was deliciously prepared and beautifully presented. I would give this restaurant 6 stars out of 5 if I could. But, do make reservations as it is a small place and they are busy. read more

Well, I am kicking myself for not coming here sooner, especially because I live right down the road in Turners. The Gill Tavern is 5 stars all around. Great cocktails, great food, awesome service, nice people, GORGEOUS atmosphere, just a really great feeling place to be in. I can't wait to go back!!! read more

This is one of my top three places to eat in the Pioneer Valley. One can sit at the bar or grab a table. The setting is a nice mid-point between refined and rustic. Lots of wood and nice craftsmanship. Open kitchen. There are mid-priced burgers and small plates or $18+ entrees and specials, depending on what you are in the mood for and what your budget looks like. Lots of vegetarian options too, for those who are interested. Food is farm-to-table, new American. Creative dishes, sometimes leaning more towards rustic than refined. Draft list and bottles are dominated by local offerings; the wine list is thoughtful and well-rounded with selections ranging from $6.50 a glass to $49 for the bottle. I haven't dabbled in their cocktails much, but I can vouch for their Bloody Mary. Service is friendly and attentive but not intrusive. They also do a killer brunch. In short, I love this place and go out to eat here pretty often. Most recently we went to celebrate my new job, thus decided to spring for a bottle of 2012 Sancerre Bonnes Bouches; it was lovely and perfectly complemented our meals. We started with the mixed green salad. Simple, fresh, and well-dressed. We also tried the house-made Giardiniera, which were really good! Great texture and flavor. For entrees we ordered off the specials board: my wife got the Chicken Ballotine, which we were unfamiliar with. It turned out to be chicken thighs deboned, chopped up, wrapped in the skin, and cooked. Sounds a little weird, but picture a delicious chicken sausage, except instead of casing, you have beautiful, crispy chicken skin. The dish was slamming. My wife could not get enough of it. I had the trout with kale and brussels (subbed for potato I think) which was also a great dish. The kale was prepared with pickled veggies. They were cut into very tiny pieces and were like little surprise flavor bombs in the kale. I loved this preparation of the kale because it was a bit more refined and creative than what I've had here in the past--usually just kale in a pan with butter or oil and a splash of vinegar. Not bad, but not remarkable either. This kale dish was rocking. My trout was perfectly cooked, buttery, yet firm. We didn't do dessert that night, but have in the past. It's definitely worth it if you have saved enough room. In short, if you live in the area or are passing through, definitely stop in for a meal! I would recommend coming early or making a reservation as it does get a bit crowded--especially on weekends. read more

This place is wonderful! Fabulous appetizers, fabulous entrés, fabulous desserts. And awesome beers from People's Pint. Worth the trip. Reasonably priced for what you get. A lot of locally sourced food make it a localvore's delight. read more

What a meal! Every course was a real treat. Obvious consideration had been give to the juxtaposition of flavor and textures in both my salad and entree and all was topped off by outstanding version of pot de creme. I already made my next reservation... Thank you for such an enjoyable evening at the Gill Tavern! read more

We loved this experience. Excellent food. Cocktails were amazing. Music was on point. Artwork was new cool and of veggies. Service was really great. One comment on why not 5 stars is because my Pork was a little overdone and small. If you pay a certain amount you feel like a good portion is important plus temp. Will come back! read more

We were in the area and yelped the Gill Tavern. Our lucky night. Although most tables were reserved, they graciously fit us in at 5. We LOVED our dinners. I ordered the trout because of the ramps and I was amazed that the ramps in the lightest cream sauce, the lemony fiddleheads, the crunchy potatoe and of course the trout was superb. We think ourselves pretty picky foodies that appreciate good food prepared well and you passed with flying colors. Dessert was not your usual carrot cake, with an interesting other than cream cheese frosting, some kind of tasty filling and good cake, all of it tasty but not too sweet. Coffee was delish. coming back read more

We had our rehearsal dinner there for about 40 people. Their food and service was excellent, as always, above and beyond our expectations. We feel very fortunate to have had that special dinner in such a beautiful place with such great people taking care of us. Definitely consider the gill tavern for your next event or just dinner out. read more

We visited The Gill Tavern a few years ago in the fall. We drove by before they opened and the owner was outside sweeping the steps, then went inside. I knew the Tavern was closed at that time, but walked up to the locked front door and knocked with the intention of making reservations. The owner opened it and stated "we open at 5:00!"...and not in a friendly manner. We ended up having dinner, the food was good, seated right by the front door when there were plenty of good tables elsewhere, but was very put off by the owners lack of receptiveness. Will not go out of the way to visit again. read more

Update: We visited Gill Tavern with three friends on a recent Saturday night. Reservation in advance. The restaurant was not overly or unusually crowded. We waited over one hour for our food to arrive. The banging in the kitchen was over the top, painful to our ears. PLEASE put a lid on it! The chef and his staff were banging pots and pans with no apparent care for their patrons (and wait staff). This is an open kitchen. Work with it, or work somewhere else? Finally, the food was no better than meh. We had a pizza - it tasted like cardboard. 20% of the crust had no visible toppings whatsoever. It was not created by anyone who actually cared about the finished product. We had a scallop dish - the scallops were burned on one side - the sauce and vegetables were tasteless. It was a disappointing evening. We are indeed finished with this restaurant, a place we had hoped would become a small town treasure. Treasure it is not. read more

Delicious food made with love and the freshest ingredients. Farm to table excellence. Chef Walker hits the bullseye with every dish. Cozy, warm atmosphere ( nice background music AND you can still have a conversation), friendly service, great host. You' ll love it. Worth the drive if you're from out of town. read more

I've been here twice -- once in the summer, and a couple of days ago for Valentine's Day -- and the food and drink were excellent both times. Incredibly good salmon, extraordinary pot de creme ... I love that a restaurant of this caliber lives in Gill! read more

I get the news blast this week Wed. Thursday nights oysters one of my favorites put a note on facebook too bad I had classes Wed and Thursday night until 9 in Springfield. Got out early tonight could have stopped at Blue Heron Rest. in Sunderland Ma but decided to go close to home sign said OPEN on the door, all advertising on web says 5-10pm all lights on and it was 9:27 pm all I wanted was a glass of wine and a 1/2 doz. oysters was met at the door by an great old staff member from Blue Heron Rest.who is new to gill tavern at the door saying it was closed (yet all outside lights on and OPEN sign still displayed) he offered saying you can have wine and I said just wanted wine and oysters but I was turned away. That is why I don't eat in town.... Don't feel welcomed Barbara Edson-Greenwald read more

Went back two nights later and upgrading from 4 to 4.5 stars! Stand out panko encrusted haddock on a potato galette. Husband was delighted with his braised beef ribs on a bed of New England kimchee. Had a crisp Soave and husband once again enjoyed local brews. Jordan is a creative chef who imbues his food with nuance warmth and such great care. read more

Just celebrated our 10th anniversary at The Gill. Stunning meal. Great atmosphere. Can't wait to return!!