roycroft inn

consistently enjoyable sunday brunch. since the inn was restored, my family, friends and i have enjoyed many sunday brunches together, and it's the combination of atmosphere and menu that keeps us coming back. if you need to drop someone off, try the side lot that is reserved for inn room guests, then park across the street in the area closer to the old town hall, which was part of the old roycroft campus; by thetimeyou read this review, the lot may no longer be available, but try to park across south grove in any case.
i can't comment on the weekday menus, just the sunday brunch. favorites include prime rib, roast turkey and ham, flank steak (these selections change weekly) and the omelet station. recently, their scrambled eggs have been getting some attention with additions such as cheddar and ham and we've not been getting the custom omelets. bbq chicken, a pork item, mash potatoes (we usually skip the potatoes because they're available anywhere and are filling), two different types of salads with many healthy ingredients in each, smoked salmon, a thick soup such as minestrone, various pickled vegetables, many different types of desserts, the standard pork sausage and bacon for the younger crowd, as well as a special item that is created near the salads; in recent weeks we've tried tacos and cherries jubilee (it can be just about anything). the seating is not cramped, the conversation is lively and you'll have enough privacy to enjoy your space. i've been to a number of local restaurants where paying around $100 for 3 people made me feel like i had just spent a lot of money; i don't feel that way here, and again i think the overall experience; the unique combination of tradition, people-friendliness and high quality of food. for people going to the inn for the firsttimeas meal guests, i think the brunch is the best way to be introduced. i look forward to any new comments about the weekday menu. thanks!

they lost us. for years we have visited the roycroft for meals, to stay at the inn, and to shop. over the past year, the menu and food have gone downhill, substantially, to the point that we will no longer be going for dinner.

by thetimewe finished dinner last night, we were actually laughing because the food was so bad that it was comical. i sent back my steak salad and the shrimp and crab bisque (which i usually am crazy over) seemed old and the shrimp were actually brown. my husband had a chicken dish that came with some cut-up fruit and nuts, more thrown on the plate than prepared, and a scoop or rice, like we were at the high school cafeteria. he ordered hot tea and the water was barely warm. i opted for dessert, as i had to send my entree back, and an apple tartlet that i had previously eaten there and found to be wonderful, was chewy, doughy, and tasteless. my husband ordered the chocolate mint fudge dessert and was served a mystery item that had a texture like chip board. i don't know what's happening here, but i am so sad about it. as for service, from the minute we sat down our waitress treated us as if we had offended her in some way. she neglected our table for a large party and we were kept waitingtimeandtimeagain. i had previously recommended this restaurant all the time, but i won't be able to do that anymore.

went to the roycroft for a business dinner last week. this is the secondtimei've been to the roycroft this summer - and all i can say is don't.

the roycroft used to be one of those places that you could count on for really good food, but those days are obviously in the past. the firsttimei was there earlier this summer (also for a business dinner - i would have never returned if it was up to me) i thought maybe the chef was having an off night - it happens. now, after my second visit i wonder if there even is a chef. maybe as a cost-cutting measure they just put the dishwasher on the line.

one of my colleagues ordered the butternut squash in a sage brown butter sauce. it looked so unappetizing that i can't imagine how anyone could eat it. it looked like the chef's dog had heaved on the plate.

this visit we tried the cheese crab dip, normally one of my favs. a good cheese crab dip has both recognizable crab taste and texture. this pureed mess was predominantly bread crumbs and cream cheese. awful.

my entree was a roasted chicken breast, with risotto, fresh mozzarella, basil and roma tomatoes. the risotto was so overloaded with garlic that it was almost inedible, and the texture was less like risotto and more like spackle.

the chicken and tomatoes were virtually flavorless and completely unseasoned - no salt, no pepper, no herbs, no flavor of any kind. maybe the dishwasher/chef moonlights at a nursing home where they like their meals super bland.

i will say that the service was excellent. we had a rather large party and our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. sadly, that's the nicest thing i can say about this experience. save your money and go somewhere else.