Was such an amazing experience. I am not sure if they still have a tasting menu after the fire, but it was one of my life's great experiences that I wanted to send my daughter. It seems like they only do wedding events. I hope this is not the case read more

Went to a wedding here. The barn burnt down and has not been rebuilt. They cook on a truck and the food is mediocre at best. It feels like a picnic. The venue is one long table and those at the end cannot see the event in front. The grounds are messy and there is no place to cool off on a hot day. Very disappointing. read more

We purchased tickets to the "Father's Day Pig Roast". I understand they had a fire last year so went into it giving them the benefit of the doubt. Left wanting to do a charge back on my credit card because nothing was as advertised. When we got there, no one greeted us or checked our tickets. We absolutely could have shown up without paying and no one would have known. The event description specifically called out a selection of local brews, cocktails, mocktails, and juice for the kids. When we got there, it was basically like a bad wedding bar. 3 macrobrews, 3 pre-made cocktails, and coke products. No mocktails and no juice, and they immediately ran out of seltzer water. One of the reasons I picked this place for Father's Day was that it was outdoors and they advertised corn hole and lawn games. There were zero games out. Not only that but there are piles of scrap metal and literal trash everywhere on the property, which is challenging with 2 kids exploring. I was willing to get past all that since we were there for a Pig Roast after all. Zero pig roast to be found. Nothing even smelled like food. The "servers" at the buffet just stood there as the serving utensils all slide into the chaffing dishes and we helped ourselves. Nothing was labeled, which is crazy if you're going to line up 3 bottles of sauces and 3 random dishes of salsa/toppings (?) and expect people to know what they are. The event description said "pig roast with sides of chicken and salmon". They had pre-sauced pulled pork, swordfish and beef tips. I am absolutely positive no pig was roasted at this event. It really sucked because I wanted to support a local restaurant, especially after their fire last year. But this was basically a bad wedding buffet with zero entertainment or even a drink to enjoy. read more

We enjoyed our evening here so much. Derek, who was serving that night, is so warm and helpful, and the space is lovely and inviting. It felt intimate, almost like sitting down to a lovingly-prepared holiday meal with family. I especially loved the fruits del mar appetizer of mussels, clams and shrimp in a saffron broth, served with french fries. And the lemon mousse dessert was delish. We thought it was wonderful value for the whole experience and will definitely return when we visit Groton again. We went to the first seating before attending a concert at Groton Hill Music Center - and most of the people who were there for the first seating were also on their way to the concert. It makes for a fabulous double-header. read more

This is truly a magical dining experience- everything from the moment you walk through the garden archway into the barn that is glowing with sparkling glassware, fresh flowers and flickering candles, to being greeted and seated among those who will become friends across the evening- to the fabulous courses that unfold at just the right pacing with chef descriptions before each bite - to the savory, salty and sweet adventures that comprise every mouthful. We also had the added pleasure of a delightful server who sensed we were an fun-loving group and in addition to his impeccable service, he entertained us with (at our beckoning) a clever joke with each course. You won't find an experience like this anywhere. Indulge! read more

Perfection. Beautiful setting with gardens and lovely views. Wait staff was extraordinary attentive and engaging. The food was wonderful and unique. I highly recommend the wine pairings. A lovely evening read more

Had a lovely evening. It's like an intimate dinner party with friends without the fuss. Interesting food prepared in unique and creative ways. The waitstaff was attentive to our needs and the chefs did a great job explaining how the food was prepared. You can tell they put a lot of thought into sourcing and preparing local food and are careful not to waste anything. We've already purchased tickets for our next dinner. read more

The food, the ambiance, the location and interesting concept makes this feel like a destination. For $80 including gratuity for a multi-course meal served in a beautiful barn sitting family-style with others is unique and special. Our courses were delivered with a description by the chef and each dish was prepared with great thought and the freshest ingredients. read more

AMAZING!! The food was impeccable and the service was spot on!!!! And how can you go wrong with the ambiance!!!! I cant believe I have been driving by it for 30+ years and never knew the hidden jewel that it is!!!! read more

This is fine dining at it's best. has lovely gardens and terrace. Serves local meat and in season produce herbs and flowers come from on site gardens. totally gracious living. Thank to Melissa B my Yelp friend for pointing this out to me. Its BYOB so bring some of your favorite wine and be sure to make a reservation. Open seasonally in warm months. read more

I had my wedding at Herb Lyceum (just immediate families, so only 14 people total). The venue was beautiful, the food and drinks were delicious, and the staff was great to work with. It was a hot summer day, and as we were setting up and taking pictures, the staff surprised us with some delicious rosemary lemonade to keep us cool. We set up the ceremony in a little paved area under a big tree, which was a really lovely setting (the event coordinator worked with us to figure out the setup and had several options for us). For dinner, we sat all sat around one long table in the carriage house, and each guest got to order from a set menu. All the food was great, and featured fresh produce from their farm. read more

The Herb Lyceum at Gilson's - a wedding dress hanging in a window - New American Near Me - Groton, Massachusetts

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I live in Los Angeles but I'm home for Christmas in NH. My sister made us reservations far in advance and we were all looking forward to this spot. (She has been there before) Thanks to good ol' New England weather, a snow storm hits rendering us unable to drive to the restaurant. We then call to cancel our reservations (obviously due to safety) and are met with a rude woman informing us that if we don't show we will be charged full price anyway. They have our card number "and will be charging it". While we explain that, yes, we understand the cancellation policy in terms of personal conflicts, etc: this was none of the above. This was weather beyond anyone's control and it would be unsafe to try and drive. She explains more or less that she doesn't care ("we're running a business here") and the best she can do is charge us $100 dollars for the food we're not eating. My sisters husband once again explains the situation and the woman hangs up on him. Food may be great (they'll never get my business, so I guess I'll never know) - but to put money/profit over the safety of the customers gets one star from me. You charge good money to eat there. I get charging people who cancel willy-nilly or even for personal reasons. However it should be policy that you can take a small hit due to inclement weather for the safety of your customers. They say on their site "reservations are like having tickets to an entertainment event". Well guess what: events are cancelled/rescheduled and tickets are honored when bad weather hits. Practice what you preach. TL;dr: Had to cancel reservations due to nor'easter. Rude woman explains "they're running a business here", says they're charging our CC the full price of the meal anyway, and hangs up on us. read more

My first experience at the Herb Lyceum was a dinner for two about 4 years ago. My husband and I were seated at the larger of the two tables, near other diners, and we mixed and mingled nicely. Dinner was exceptional, and we decided to do it again, and again, and again! We have brought friends, gone as a couple, had family events here, hosted our son's rehearsal dinner, and every time we go we've been delighted with everything. Service, attention to detail, meeting other guests...it is a wonderful concept and I have never been disappointed. I make it a point to check the menu each month, and now my husband I have dinner there almost every month! We've done the wine dinners,; since it is a BYOB establishment, the wine tasting is done at a nearby wine shoppe, then one can choose to select wines from the tasting or enjoy whatever we've brought from our own cellar. Brilliant chef, lovely hostess, charming servers. Cool idea! Edit 11/19/07 We brought some friends here on Friday night for the November dinner. Main course was cider brined pork chops, thick yet perfectly cooked throughout. This is about the 3rd or 4th time I've been since Chef Guida Ponte has been doing the cooking, and she is impressive. Very shy, humble woman, but get her talking food and she comes out of her shell. She told my friend how to cook some fresh pheasant, and even came back out a few moments later with some fresh thyme for him to use. Again, a memorable dinner and we had a lovely evening. 5.12.08 We dined here on Friday night with son and daughter-in-law. I had received the newsletter announcing Greg Whiting as the new chef and wondered if things would be as good as with Guida or Wil. Well, in a word, yes, things are just fine and delicious and the menu (main course was beef tenderloin with pureed beets, just fabulous and a crazy passion fruit gelee with basil creme for dessert, heaven!) was inventive and superb. Another lovely evening at Gilson's! Edit: 8.05.08 Enjoyed yet another special evening at Gilson's on Saturday with husband, brother CZ, and daughter Jussi. I received the Herb Lyceum newsletter earlier in the week which announce a very special pairing for the weekend: the return of the elder Mr. Gilson who has had some health issues, and the young Wil Gilson as chef for the weekend. Immediately made our reservations without giving it a second thought. I requested a veggie dinner for daughter and her main course and amuse bouche were the two things that differed from the published menu. Instead of the wonderfully tasty morsel of bass and veggies that we had, her amuse was an assortment of diced tomatoes, chinese cukes, and something else in a refreshing splash of something. First course: crostini with an eggplant spread and a riccota cheese concoction. Both very tasty. Next course was a chilled watermelon gazpacho that had a bit of heat, maybe cayenne pepper. Main course for the group was flank steak on a nicely peppered terrine of yellow squash and zucchini with some mango infused barbecue sauce (like nothing that ever came out of a bottle, that's for sure.) Wil presented Jussi with a special risotta made with cauliflower as the rice, with various mushrooms. It was delicious. Next was the cheese course, a grilled Greek goat cheese with squash blossom, pine nuts and honey and slices of apricot. Am I in Santorini or Groton? Dessert was a picture perfect array of fresh berries, currants, and gooseberries, served with lemon verbena infused cream. We all just about screamed with pleasure. Actually we gave Wil a very well deserved round of applause. Seriously, if you have not been to the Herb Lyceum yet, what are you waiting for? read more

Attended a wedding here for 50 guests. If you're considering a wedding here, some things to know: - The food is amazing. Wonderful. I was very impressed by the freshness and that despite such a large group, every dish was served hot, nice presentation, including edible flowers. - Lovely backdrop for pictures -- nice garden, lawn, a rustic-chic barn. - The venue is HORRIBLE in the rain. We were especially unlucky to get a very rainy, cold day in June, but a combination of poor event planning and a site that doesn't lend itself well to rainy days made it very unpleasant. There was a two-inch deep river of mud walking from the parking area to the event area. Anyone wearing fancy shoes had their shoes ruined, and multiple people almost fell. The dance floor got covered in dirt and gravel. The tent was unheated, and FREEZING, and we went to the barn hoping to warm up -- but that was completely unheated as well, and freezing. (Add to the complaints, one bathroom for 50 guests -- a constant.) It was so awful that I left early, which I never do because I want to support wedding people. Mother nature didn't cooperate, but the owners of this place should have been able to better advise the couple on how to make their guests comfortable. It felt like amateurish event planning to me. read more

I have been to the Herb Lyceum several times. Most recently I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there. The Gilson's were amazing at accommodating our guests. Our best man and his wife are vegan, and we have some vegetarian family members, the Gilson's and chef, Guida Ponte, made delicious menu substitutions when necessary. The Gilson's have a different prix fixe dinner each month. We were lucky enough to have been allowed to create the menu for our event specifically. We had great help from the chef and the Gilson's regarding what produce would taste best and be most fresh in late June. On the garden, before the meal, we indulged in herbed roasted almonds and wonderful dips made from the contents of the Gilson's garden. Delicious fresh punch was also served. We ended up with an amazing dinner menu, watermelon gazpacho, risotto, duck breast and a fruit tart. It was all delicious! The risotto and duck especially exceeded all of my expectations. Gilson's is a BYOB establishment and my father-in-law brought some incredible wines. The food here is so wonderful, make sure you bring a wine along that will do it justice. The Gilson's were outstanding hosts throughout the meal service making sure we were all very happy. They even tolerated our (my) drunken wanderings around the grounds outside. It was a magical experience and much needed after months of stressful wedding planning. I can't wait to go back and try something new from their delicious menu. read more

I went here a couple of weeks ago for my friends' rehearsal dinner. What a wonderful place! Hors doeuvres were served outside surrounded by their beautifully landscaped grounds. They do not have a liquor license but allow you to bring your own, the wine was flowing that night! Dinner is inside a renovated barn in 2 adjoining rooms with long tables. Since this was a private party we knew everyone who we were sitting with, but normally you will be seated with other people. The food was incredible, the duck cooked to perfection & melted in my mouth. It was complemented by risotto with peas & beans & watermelon gazpacho (something different but very tasty). It is pricey ($50 a person) but totally worth it. They have a set menu that changes from month to month but will take care of any dietary concerns if you let them know ahead of time. They had no problem fixing up a vegan meal for some friends in the party. The Gilson's are charming, wonderful hosts, if you are looking for a different type of dining experience, check this place out. It's anything but run of the mill. read more

Made reservations for Saturday November 29th. Showed up to the restaurant and the place was completely closed. It turns out that they had to close the restaurant. They had called everyone ahead of time but us. They initially stated that we cancelled the reservation which was not true. After realizing their mistake they made up for it by paying for our next visit to the restaurant. Thank You Herb Lyceum! This is the type of customer service that is needed when a mistake is made. We were fortunate enough to visit the restaurant a few weeks later. The meal was a take on a traditional English meal where we had sirloin and yorkshire pudding. Like our past review we would characterize the meal as some highs, lows, and middle of the road moments. The appetizer were some nice heirloom looking carrots that were delicious. This was followed by a mustard green salad that were very delicious. This was followed by a turnip and apple soup. The soup was pretty good. Like before, the main meal was good, but not great. It was seared sirloin and yorkshire pudding. The sirloin seems like it was seared in a pan at a low temperature. The meat was gray on the outside and lacked a ton of juice which made it tough to cut. The yorkshire pudding was delicious but we were only given half. So rather than a full yorkshire pudding (i.e. popover), each popover was sliced in half and each guest got half a popover. The chestnuts and mushrooms were awesome. The cheese course was okay. I believe it was some form of cheddar with some honey to accompany it. The dessert course was okay but not what we expected. We were served a deconstructed brownie. It was supposed to be a chocolate torte. The dessert was good, but was not a home run. The best would have been a little more sea salt. There was one bite that had the sea salt which made the chocolate really pop. That was the only sea salt that I tasted. One of the guests said that they don't come for the food. They come for conversation and experience. While I love the experience, I go to restaurants for the food. We will definitely go back to Herb Lyceum. The service is really nice and the atmosphere is great. The food is good, but somehow we expect just a little more for this type of experience. read more

Lovely place for a scenic dinner. Absolutely worth the drive from Boston. Ideally, you should come when you can walk around the grounds and enjoy the surroundings. Even in the winter, though, the setting is charming. The food is generally outstanding. It's a great place to host large parties, especially since it's BYOB. I also love their crystallized honey and pick it up when I can at the SOWA open market in Boston. read more

Unbelievable destination dining spot.One of the most romantic meals of my life (look, I even married the guy!). Five course menu for $50 a head (as of this writing). Make reservations in advance and inform them of any dietary concerns. They do a monthly menu, but will do everything in their power to accommodate your needs, as long as you give them fair warning. The Gilsons are incredibly gracious people. The dining experience (I won't even call it a restaurant... it's so much more than that) takes place in a restored carriage house. The house seats probably no more than 40 people, and there are no "two-tops." Thus, if you come as just a couple, you will be seated with several other couples. The evening feels like a dinner party, as though you've been blessed to come sup at these wonderful people's house along with other friends of theirs. The evening we went here, one of the larger tables was a business dinner of about 10 people. They were drinking heavily and one fellow was getting really boisterous. Considering the intimacy of the place, you'd think having someone behaving like that would ruin the experience, but, in fact, he just blended into the background. I only remember him because someone else at our table said something about him and we laughed. We drove from Boston to eat at the Herb Lyceum, which is about an hour's drive. It was totally worth it. The drive is beautiful, and even adds to the sparkle of the night. We headed out early enough to be able to drive around on back roads out there in the country and take in the autumnal views (yes, we were being certifiable leaf peepers). The food is fresh, local, sustainable and fantastic. The setting couldn't be more romantic. Go. If you live in New England, but too far to make an easy trip of it, call the Gilsons and ask for a recommendation on a local B&B or inn to stay at and make a weekend trip of it. You will not be disappointed. read more

Friday evening we visited the Gilson's Herb Lyceum in Groton for a relaxing evening. Arriving with our own wine selections at 7:15pm, we enjoyed a nice glass of wine under the sweeping branches of the hickory tree while basking in the beautiful weather. With dinners offered on only Friday & Saturday, reservations are required for the 6 course meal that began at 7:45pm. Within the large barn sit 2 medium tables and 1 long table where strangers meet for great food, good foodie conversation & a memorable experience. With all locally-sourced ingredients (mostly from on-site when possible) and thoughtfully crafted dishes, this experience is a real steal at only $60 per person, despite the fact that the whole experience lasted 3.5 hours. We started with a delicious succotash... followed by grilled proscuitto wrapped asparagus, farm egg, tallegio and thyme mornay. This may have been T's favorite, it was one of mine mostly due to the mornay sauce mmmm. Third was the chilled sugar snap pea and mint soup with tomato concasse, chili oil and creme fraiche. Another of T's favorites, this was a bit too cucumber-y for me, but was still deliciously light and refreshing, and the hint of chili oil was a perfect contrast. Our main dish was the best of all, perfectly sized herb rubbed hanger steak with pommes duchesse, baby carrots, and a sauce choron. Unbelievably delicious and tender. The potatoes were T & my favorite bit, they were pretty much twice-baked mashed potatoes piped out into the pretty shape. Everything was perfect with this dish. Our cheese course was a blue perfectly paired with a few slices of green onion & a house tomato. We finished with a strawberry gelato, short cake cookie, fresh cream, and some crumbles that tasted just like gingerbread, but turned out to be lavender cookie crumble. As the night dwindled and the stars came up, we headed home full, happy, and looking into the menu for July. With dinners being offered Fridays and Saturdays year-round, with a monthly-changing menu, we are definitely looking forward to trying another evening, and bringing along some friends to share in the experience. read more

Overall, the food, ambience, service: all great. This was a wonderful experience and I'd definately go again. Just know that this is an all-evening thing. We got there at 7:15 and didn't leave till about 11. the experience: When we first arrived, we were greeted by Mrs. Gilson, and then we mingle with the other diners (the place seats about 30) while we waited for everybody to arrive. This is when most people enjoy their first glass of wine... The place is BYOB, but we hadn't thought to bring any wine, and were envying everybody else who was enjoying their glass. But there's a great little wine shop about a 2 minute drive down the road, so we ran there while we were waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive, and bought a bottle. Once everybody arrives, you sit down for a group dinner. Since there are only 3 tables, you will be sitting with other guests. now, the food: the food was amazing. After we were served each course, the chef came out and told us how he prepared it, and what his inspiration for the dish was. Everything was very fresh and tasty. We had: lobster mac and cheese, hanger steak (to die for), and for dessert was sticky toffee pudding with homemade ice cream. I'll have to say, that my grandma was with us and usually she will have one bite of dessert, then give the rest away. But she gobbled the sticky toffee pudding up so fast. It was superb. We came here for my Dad's birthday, and it was wonderful. A lot of people that came that night were also celebrating birthdays. While they don't give out a special cake or anything for somebody's birthday, they will put a candle in the dessert. And then everybody sings happy birthday together. ambience: since we went in November, we couldn't really walk around outside. But the building the dining room is in is like an old converted barn. there's a large dining room and a smaller one. both are cozy and rustic. You must make a reservation ahead of time. You can pay by credit card, and cash; I am not sure about check though. It is a little pricey (I think it was $60 each) but definately worth it, especially for a special occasion. read more

December 2008 Menu Amuse: Plate of home cured olives - Excellent! First Course: Wild boar meatballs with tomato confit, kale and aged provolone - The meatballs were a little bland, but the background of minty on the tomato sauce was great. Second Course: White bean soup with winter vegetables, pork cheeks and pistou - A nice winter soup, had no problem finish this dish, good flavor, but barely any pork cheeks to be found. Entrée: Bacon wrapped duck breast with pears, chestnuts and calvodas gastrique - A little sloppy in presentation and preparation. The stuffing could have been chopped up finer. The duck was over stuffed and the portion was too large for a 4 course dinner. The duck was cooked correctly and the sauce was nice. Dessert: Apple crisp with rosemary and brown-butter ice cream - The combination was great success. The rosemary, the brown butter ice cream all combined perfectly. Cheese Plate: Strawberry and goat cheese pastry - A little dry, but a nice combination. read more

This is a tough review to write - because this is not a dinner destination for all. Gilson's offers a locally based, small plate dinner menu. A huge part of the draw is that it is a destination evening - plan to arrive at 7 and enjoy small plates over the next 3+ hours. The menu is fixed (check to see that you enjoy what they are serving before you make your reservation) and it is BYOB, which is a great opportunity to play with wine pairings. We went with one other couple on a beautiful summer evening. After enjoying the grounds (which to be fair are lovely but could use some weeding!) we were all seated in group tables in the barn (which is beautiful). The tables were artfully set, and it seems sort of a self-selecting process for dining companions. We met people we actually had a great deal in common with and exchanged email addresses with. The food, over all, is very good. The portions, however, are small. I enjoyed the size of the meal, but of the four of us (all women) at least two left saying they were still hungry. Our Amuse course was a beautiful salad served inside an edible lily flower. The starter courses included a beautiful snap pea/mint soup and roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and served with a poached farm-fresh egg. I'm not a fan of egg and avoided it and still found the course delicious and satisfying. The main portion - beef - was a very small serving. I was good with that. I'm not sure if I were more of a carnivore, or a hungry man, I would have been too pleased. They make a point at the beginning of the meal to say that they don't serve bread because they don't want you to fill up on "extras", but personally, I think the meal would have been improved with a small bit of bread (and I'm not even much of a carb person!). The cheese course? Fabulous! Dessert - I remember liking it but at this point I cannot remember what is was and I'm not that motivated to go back and check my notes. I guess I would have to say dessert was not memorable. Unique and special: The presentation of all the food. The fresh flavors. The novelty of the dining experience. Negatives: We felt all the (hot) courses should have been hotter when they got to the table. Would we go again? Absolutely - for a treat night out. Tips/suggestions: try going with at least one other couple. If you are wine drinkers, it allows you to bring a couple different wines to enjoy with the various courses and you know you will at least have someone there you have something in common with. On the other hand - talk to the person next to you! There are lots of interesting people in the world if you pick your head up and say hello. Book well in advance. And believe them when they say it will be long evening. We were actually there until after 11 pm. Not suitable for vegetarians, unfortunately. I did enjoy that by the end of the evening you could see that there were many people who had arrived not knowing one another enjoying each other's company. read more

My wife and I go to Gilson's several times a year. My first experience was their (last) Robert Burnes Night Dinner. The Scottish poet shares a birthday with my wife, and they used to do a big Scottish fare feast. Usually the BYOB is a bottle or two of wine, but this night everyone BYO'd single malt. Glad we live nearby! Last time was 6/15/2013. New chef. personally vetted by Will Gilson: he can handle a kitchen! Molly K posted 6/17/2013 and we were there the same night, so I'll let her describe the food. The lack of the fifth star: I save five out of five for truly transcendent dining experience, which I've had at the Lyceum many times. But the seating is a bit of a crap-shoot. Unless you go in numbers, you don't know who you'll be next to. Most of the time, it old friends that you haven't met yet: the clientele is somewhat self-selecting. But some folk just don't get it. Five courses, six including the amuse. It is a long evening to savor. if you don't have the time to savor. try Gibbet Hill. read more

Frankly, the only recommendation here is the BYOB policy and the leisurely dining atmosphere. The service and the food need real, meaningful improvement. I went as a party of six on a Saturday night, so I would expect a good experience...the menu was on it's way out for the season, so I would have expected polish. I really had neither. The cost factor is reasonable, but if you go away hungry, because these are tiny, tasting portions, like a two, yes, two bite rack of lamb bone, yes, one bone... And for this I drove 40 miles each way.... Of course, the dinner companions are the real story, but if the food is over-hyped and under-delivered, then what kind of evening have you had...? Coupled with service faux pas, and a lack of attention to individual diners' needs, let's say that was the only time I expect to go here. I would rather have paid more and received more. read more

What a great experience! From the food, to the service and byob policy this place really is a great dinner experience and definitely worth the money. The chef came out to explain each dish and was very accommodating and prepared a separate menu for our vegan friend that was just as good as ours! I can't believe I just heard about this place and with the menu changing each month, I will definitely be back again to try another month's menu. read more

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Outstanding. Our first ever visit in June 2011 was amazing. The weather was lovely, the ambiance was delightful. The antique, rustic barn dining environment was so simple, it allowed the food to take the spotlight. The food was simply perfect. I ate at Menton 6 months ago and this was equal to that experience in terms of food quality and creativity. Book waaaaay in advance as it fills up 3-4 weeks ahead of time. You can bet we will be back, probably every month (menu changes once a month) until we burn out on this new eatery. read more

This was like going to a wedding, without the ceremony or dancing. Middling food served in a rustic setting that's way out of your way, while you talk to strangers through long waits. Sure, it's hard to serve 30 people simultaneously, but why would you pay for the privilege? The garden is nice, the servers are nice, the cabin is cute, the food is okay - not bad, but nothing special. The "clambake" amuse was a nice touch, then downhill the rest of the night. The Cornish hen was no better than any other boring hotel banquet - I eat more moist and flavorful chicken any night of the week at Temple Bar in Cambridge, much less at the great restaurants that Herb Lyceum aspires to compare itself to. If this were near home, maybe it's an okay night out. Definitely not worth the trip out of town. I love a tasting menu so had my hopes up - so disappointed. read more

Herb Lyceum is a hidden gem of a place and BYOB to boot! My friends and I dined here twice this past summer for their 5 course weekend dinners and each time enjoyed the wonderful service, delicious food, and great feel of the charming dining area and the beautiful grounds. Upon arrival and after pouring a glass of wine, we walked through the outdoor garden and lawn enjoying the scenery, plus the snacks put outside for diners to nosh on before dinner commenced. Simply wonderful! read more

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I was recently here for family wedding. The place was the perfect fit for the bride. The grounds are beautiful and the food was delicious. I am curious on what the place is like for their standard dinner service and am planning on coming back for that eventually. The only drawback is that some of the staff seemed really awkward. That they were uncomfortable with such a large group (it was about 60-74 people). read more

I took my husband here for a surprise on his birthday. I had no idea what to expect, except that it was on a farm. If you are looking for a different kind of dining experience - with incredible food - this might be for you. It's a crapshoot who you sit with, so hopefully you will have good company at the large shared table. If you are 25, you might be bored out of your mind, but anyone in their late thirties or older will fit in. More than anything - the food was fabulous. The food was better than most restaurants I've ever eaten at/. Really. It was that good. I live pretty far from here - so I don't think I will be back often - but I will definitely return in the future. We still talk about the cauliflower garlic soup.... and the sausage covered lamb. This was finer than fine dining - and it wasn't pretentious or stuffy. Love the barn setting and how you pay via iPad right at the table! PS. The people across from us didn't tip AT ALL. I thought that was inappropriate since they had nothing but good things to say about the service and meal. It is a restaurant and they do serve you. If you can afford the $60/person, you can afford to tip. Especially if you spend the whole evening talking about the "incredible new addition with slate fireplace" and how you spend the day sewing. You jackass. Yes, you. read more

Extremely disappointing - after touring the facility for my nieces bridal shower- 6 phone calls placed and never returned. So unprofessional I would be surprised if they are still in business read more

Let me start by saying that Will Gilson is a very talented chef. If you don't mind waiting 30 to 40 minutes between every 3 or four bites of food while sitting in a hot room full of sweaty people then check this place out! Unless you like touring a decaying and unkempt garden, don't show up early to tour the grounds. If you're hungry you'll have to bring a sandwich because the portions are minuscule. Don't worry if you don't bring enough wine because you'll have plenty of time for a trip to the local wine shop in between courses. It's very sad because the food is great! read more

While the food was tasty and imaginative there was very little of it and within the tiny portions there was confusion and a lack of symmetry. For example, the chunk of uneatable salt pork in the center of the soup completely overpowered the dish and competed in size with the salmon in the main course. The amuse-bouche was notable as an example of how many portions one could wrest from a single, undersized, fingerling potato: apparently 5 or 6. After dinner the gentleman to my right said he was ready to go out for a hamburger. Kathy our hostess, who was charming and friendly on the phone taking credit card numbers, was in person, indifferent to the point of rudeness. If you arrive late as we did, you will be first ignored, then scolded, and then watch in horror as she tersely makes previously-seated guests move themselves and their plates and drinks to make room for your party. Seating is apparently neither prearranged or planned to accommodate expected attendees. Add in crowded tables, cramped quarters making trips to the rest room uncomfortable if not impossible, noisy dinner guests who talk over the chef as he comes out to discuss courses and interminable time between courses and it makes your local diner look downright posh and inviting. The coup-de-grace happened when I called a day later to make arrangements to retrieve an inadvertently forgotten gift and learned it had been thrown out in the trash. Three words sum up the experience: Pretentious, parsimonious and paltry. read more

We've been living in town for about 4 years and never experienced The Herb Lyceum until last night. The place was everything I would've hoped it would be and more. The rustic feel to the barn, the attention to to detail with the chef and wait staff, the music, food and everything in between were great. We went with a large group, who took up the place, which made it extremely fun, but I can see this place being amazing with smaller parties too. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great and unique dinner experience and we'll be going back again sometime soon. read more

My husband and I live in the area and try to come every few months to try the new, seasonal menus. The Gilsons are wonderfully kind, and open their home and grounds to strangers for dinner - we love that concept! The food is excellent, never been disappointed. The meal isn't rushed and I always leave full. I think $60 for a six course, freshly prepared meal in an elegant country setting is a great deal. We've had several chefs cook while we were there and we've always enjoyed the meal. read more

This was the perfect venue for my small wedding. The scenic grounds were in full color for the autumn wedding. After the outdoor ceremony we went into the charming farmhouse barn for dinner. Our delicious 4 course dinner consisted of roasted pumpkin soup, roasted apple salad, duck breast with root vegetable, and creme brulee with lavender flowers. I already can't wait to go back for my anniversary dinner. read more

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Wonderful and unique dining experience. The restaurant is set on a rustic farm. A pre-dinner meet and greet sipping garden starts the evening. Diners are lead in for a single sitting prefixed dinner. The edifice is a refurbished barn. On the night I was there, there were two tables, one larger and one smaller. While I was at the smaller table with my party, I believe the larger table was comprised of many smaller parties seated side-by-side. The purveyors are happy to uncork your self brought wine with no cork or pouring fee. The chef came out and introduced each course. I believe there were six; main courses being chicken and scallops. The chef explained when food items were grown locally; or, in some cases, literally on the premises. I am not a foodie so I will not describe each course, except to say it was fresh and pleasing. Go there! read more

I've been to this restaurant a few times over a period of almost a decade. While the restaurant has never been a real top tier restaurant, if my most recent visit was an accurate representation of its current state, the place has declined remarkably. The gardens were no longer beautiful country gardens but instead were unkempt, weed-infiltrated areas mixed among walking paths with occasional litter strewn about. The food was incongruous, lacking any apparent forethought. The preparation was poor (steak served well done; souffle indescribably). For more details on the food, see David's (currently filtered) review as he goes into more detail on the food (he was part of our dining party). Bleh, we don't ever intend to revisit. Food - 2 (maybe 2.5) stars Service - 2 (maybe 2.5) stars Ambiance - 2.5 stars Oh, almost forgot... The best part of the meal was the wine list. Well, it's BYOB. So, I got to pick my own wine from my own cellar (and without a markup). read more

A small restaurant in Groton, Mass, this jewel offers more than just cutting edge food. With only 3 large tables, a hostess that treats each night as if she were entertaining a group in her home, and a chef whose culinary visions are exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented, this is a place for even the most world-traveled foodies. You bring your own wine and, after meeting and mingling with the other guests, you sit down to a 6 course meal of the chef's choices that will knock your socks off. This fresh, young kitchen maestro comes out to detail the ingredients of each course and even takes time to sit and chat. It is a delight that will not disappoint. I suggest that before confirming your reservation, you learn what is on the menu for that evening. read more