Discussion:
Gibbet Hill Grill, Groton, MA
(too old to reply)
Stephen Stein
20 years ago
Permalink
My friend's birthday and mine are very close, so every year we and our
wives go out for a "special" dinner. This year we went to the Gibbet
Hill Grill in Groton,MA (aka "the boonies" to a lot of this group :-).
We had heard some good things about the place, but we didn't really know
what to expect.

We were NOT disappointed. We had a great time and a great meal.

Gibbet Hill is a working black angus farm near the center of Groton.
The restaurant is in a big barn - two levels with a lounge, dining room
(with fireplace) and open kitchen on the lower level and a private
dining room upstairs. The atmosphere (on Saturday night) was bustling
and a bit loud, but not annoyingly so. The place was full, but we were
seated promptly at our 7:30 reservation time.

A couple of us ordered steak dishes. My 10 oz sirloin was a
softball-sized cut, grilled medium rare and absolutely perfect - tender
and juicy. It was accompanied by garlic-mashed red bliss potatoes and
an au poivre sauce (served on the side - they don't cook the steak au
poivre - too bad, but wonderful nonetheless).

My buddy had the special - a 12 oz bone-in sirloin with lobster macaroni
and cheese (sounds a bit strange, but it was a REAL treat), and a
spinach arugula salad to start.

My wife's choice was baked stuffed shrimp - her favorite. The shrimp
were done perfectly, served with an herb/crabmeat/bread stuffing - tasty
and just slightly spicy.

My friend's wife enjoyed a couple of appetizers instead of an entree -
"beef and bleu" - tenderloin tips with bleu cheese sauce, and an
asparagus gratin.

Three of us had Ceasar salads to start - dressing and homemade croutons
were very good, but no anchovies were offered.

The meal (no appetizers or desserts) with 2 bottles of moderately priced
wine ("Two Hands" Australian Grenache/Shiraz/Mouvedre blend - very nice)
and tip came to $200 for the 4 of us, which is definitely on the low
side for our "special" meals.

The menu (http://www.gibbethill.com/GHG/htm/menu.htm) is surprisingly
varied - all the way from $9 burgers and Mac and Cheese to the $31 filet
mignon. It seems heavily weighted to New England farm fare - chicken
pot pie, shepherds pie, some seafood dishes, baked beans. But the
highlight for me was definitely the beef. Great cuts, great preparation.

The wine list is mostly Califonian and Australian, with most bottles
ranging from $30-$50. There's a special list with more expensive
bottles. The two I recognized were marked up 100% from retail (Penfolds
RWT Shiraz and St Jean Cinq Cepages were $120, iirc), which is OK for
the bottom of the list, but it seems a bit steep for the more expensive
bottles.

Jackets and ties not required. Nice business casual was the norm - some
jeans were in evidence.

Service was just a bit on the casual side but very knowledgeable,
attentive and efficient. We had some concerns about ingredients and
preparation, but all of our requests were handled with no problem.

There was a party without reservations who waited a couple of hours for
a table - so make reservations!

Gibbet Hill Grill
61 Lowell Rd.
Groton, MA
978 448-2900
http://www.gibbethill.com/GHG/index.htm
Cheryl Isaak
20 years ago
Permalink
Thanks for the review Steve! We go by this if the eldest plays at Lawrence
Academy (in Groton). Sounds a bit much for after rink fare, but maybe one
night, the husband and I can try it!

And Happy Birthday! (sans the chorus of how old are you now)

Cheryl

On 10/23/05 4:34 PM, in article
...
Model Citizen
20 years ago
Permalink
I hope I can manage to say this the way I mean it: after
hearing all the praise for Gibbet Hill Grill we'd been
"saving" it for a special occasion. When we finally did
have a meal there, it was good, and I had no complaints,
except maybe that all the praise I'd heard made me think
it'd be a magically wonderful experience when it ended up
"just" being good. I hope I don't scare anybody away,
because they treated us well, the setting is unique, the
food is of understated good quality and it's definitely
worth a visit (I'd be happy to go back) but if anybody
else's expectations have been unrealistically elevated as
mine were, you might consider throttling them back a bit...
dave grace
20 years ago
Permalink
HA, I'll second that opinion. I've eaten here twice. The second time
because someone gave us a gift certificate. Both times, I've said that
it was good...OK and I could do better in downtown Nashua or in Manchester.

My girlfriend lives in Groton. For the Groton folks, it's a big deal to
have a descent place to eat.

Cheryl, for some after-rink fare you might try:

Filho's Cucina
235 Main St

Less than a mile away, on 119 West (I hope - Take a right onto Main
Street, on your left). They have a few tables and do a big take-out
business. Descent italian.
...
Robert La Ferla
20 years ago
Permalink
I'd say that Gibbet Hill is similar to The Harvest in Cambridge but
located in a scenic setting and not as upscale. It's all hearty
American fare. However, I don't think you can do better in Nashua.
Maybe you're thinking of Michael Timothy's? Never ate in Manchester but
I hear they have quite a few restaurants. Have you ever been to the
Herb Lyceum? If so, I'd like to hear about it...

As for Filho's Cucina, I've eaten there many times. It's a good place.
I love the Brazilian style interior design. It's really wonderful.
They serve large portions of everything and have kid-friendly service.
Their salads and dessert are good. However, the main entrees are
missing something. I can't describe it but if the food was like Cafe Il
Cipresso in Tyngsboro, I'd go more often.
...
Smokey
20 years ago
Permalink
...
Well, I'm NOT near Tyngsboro, but I think this warrants further information
about Cafe Il Cipresso, please.

Smokey
Robert La Ferla
20 years ago
Permalink
Post by Smokey
Well, I'm NOT near Tyngsboro, but I think this warrants further information
about Cafe Il Cipresso, please.
Sure. Cafe Il Cipresso is small restaurant run by a Tuscan family and
their daughters. They make all their pasta, sauces and soups from
scratch. There are about a dozen different sauces that you can match to
different pasta. In addition, they have several entrees including a
bechamel (vs. ricotta) lasagna. They also serve dessert including a
chocolate gelato served inside a real cocoa pod. The restaurant is only
open Wed-Sat. It's located on the same road as the Pheasant Lane Mall
but about 2 miles south in a small strip mall. The service is friendly
but a bit slow. However, it's worth the wait. I believe Cheryl
recommended it in the first place and I have been many times. Very good
food!

Cafe Il Cipresso
130 Middlesex Road
Tyngsboro, MA
Robert La Ferla
20 years ago
Permalink
Post by Smokey
Well, I'm NOT near Tyngsboro, but I think this warrants further information
about Cafe Il Cipresso, please.
Sure. Cafe Il Cipresso is small restaurant run by a Tuscan family and
their daughters. They make all their pasta, sauces and soups from
scratch. There are about a dozen different sauces that you can match to
different pasta. In addition, they have several entrees including a
bechamel (vs. ricotta) lasagna. They also serve dessert including a
chocolate gelato served inside a real cocoa pod. The restaurant is only
open Wed-Sat. It's located on the same road as the Pheasant Lane Mall
but about 2 miles south in a small strip mall. The service is friendly
but a bit slow. However, it's worth the wait. I believe Cheryl
recommended it in the first place and I have been many times. Very good
food!

Cafe Il Cipresso
130 Middlesex Road
Tyngsboro, MA
Cheryl Isaak
20 years ago
Permalink
...
It is a small slice of heaven. The soups there are wonderful and perfectly
balanced; the mushroom soup is my favorite, closely followed by the squash.
I can't remember the name of the veal dish with the olives, but it is my
favorite entrée. Unless of course, they have the rosemary chicken.


I wish DS's hockey game Saturday nigh was just a little later, 'cause we'd
swing down for dinner after. I suspect that 8 PM is still prime time there.

And, Robert, if you see a harried looking Mom with a hulking teenager and
much younger daughter, come say hello!

Cheryl
Mark E. Mallett
20 years ago
Permalink
...
Great place; it's gotten an occasional post here over the years. Note
though the limited days-of-week and that it's very small. I do mean
small. We have good luck going Wednesday night, which I probably
shouldn't say, because a few extra people may change the wait time :)

-mm-
Model Citizen
20 years ago
Permalink
Smarten up, people - if you don't stop mentioning
the decent places like Cafe Il Cipresso then it'll
be mobbed by hordes of The Great Unwashed and we'll
NEVER get a table... sheesh!
dave grace
20 years ago
Permalink
I have never been to Herb Lyceum, but my girlfriend (Nancy) has at least
twice. She has suggested we go there, but it has not happened yet.
They have a 'set' menu, I think only one seating an evening, (saturday
only?), and you (unless you have a large party) will end up at a table
for 8, or 10, or 6...with people you do not (or may) know.

Nancy has gone with a large party that all shared a table and has eaten
with a smaller party, sharing their table with people they did not know.
Both times were enjoyable even though they were serving lamb, which
she is not a big fan of. I think they may have cooked her chicken...I'm
not sure. She does highly reccomend the place.

Have you checked out their web site? The FAQ is helpful.
http://www.gilsonslyceum.com/herbal_dining.html
...
Larry Weissman
20 years ago
Permalink
I have to respectfully disagree with you about the entrees at Filho's
Cucina. I eat there a lot - I have friends in Townsend and we often do
a nine mile round trip walk from Pepperell down the bike trail. I
think all the veal dishes at Filho's are outstanding particularly the
veal parmesan which is lightly breaded and the veal marsala which is as
good as anything I had in Sicily. Also, their daily specials are also
usually great - last night they had a pork loin served with squash
ravioli.
Lee Derbenwick
20 years ago
Permalink
...
My wife and I tried it once a few months back and it was okay.
Large, busy, loud, and the food wasn't all that interesting. Maybe
if you're really into steak (which we didn't have), or if you want
a bustling atmosphere -- but I wouldn't see much other reason to go
there.

For a special occasion near Groton, I'd vote for Acton: either Number
5 Strawberry Hill or Le Lyonnais. And on a more casual basis, I'd
certainly vote for either Scupperjack's or the Crossroads Cafe over
Gibbet Hill.

There's also a storefront being turned into a Not Your Average Joe's
on Rt. 27 near downtown. (Yes, I'd put NYAJ well ahead of Gibbet
Hill. At least the Methuen branch, where we ate fairly often when we
lived up that way. They did pretty badly mess up one meal served to
my wife, but then almost fell over themselves making it right.)

The Herb Lyceum in Groton is on our list for the future...
--
***** I'm sure I parked my opinions somewhere around here. *****
Lee Derbenwick <***@mvcde.inse.lucent.com>
Lucent Technologies / Bell Labs, Westford, MA, USA
Robert La Ferla
20 years ago
Permalink
Post by Lee Derbenwick
For a special occasion near Groton, I'd vote for Acton: either Number
5 Strawberry Hill or Le Lyonnais. And on a more casual basis, I'd
certainly vote for either Scupperjack's or the Crossroads Cafe over
Gibbet Hill.
Scupper Jacks? You've got to be kidding. That used to be the Rusty
Scupper now it's just rusty. It is not in the same league as Gibbet
Hill. I've also been to both 5 Strawberry Hill and Le Lyonnais. Le
Lyonnais is a nice country French restaurant. I love the dining room
with the picturesque view of the ducks in the bubbling brook. The food
is good but limited and sometimes spotty. Last time, I ordered the
onion gratinee and i swear it tasted like vomit. It's a shame because
I've eaten there many times and it's usually good (never great but never
bad except for that one soup.) 5 Strawberry Hill which used to be
Maison Maison lacks the charm of Le Lyonnais and the food is not that
great. For example, they have a panko crusted chicken which is just an
overpriced chicken cutlet (chicken katsu) Never tried the Crossroads
Cafe. Is that the Acton Jazz cafe? I can never determine when it's open...
Dick Margulis
20 years ago
Permalink
Post by Robert La Ferla
Never tried the Crossroads
Cafe. Is that the Acton Jazz cafe? I can never determine when it's open...
Crossroads is in the strip mall behind Scupperjack's, at the left
corner. Dark wood paneling. Lots of photos of old Boston street scenes.
Heavy and expensive for lunch (office birthdays when you're tired of the
99 and there are people in the group who won't eat any of that there
furrin' food), not a particularly interesting place for dinner. Service
is friendly and attentive; portions are ample; food is well prepared and
somewhat more interesting than you would guess from the basic
burger/chicken/fish/etc. selection. Some people love the place.
Clientele skews toward the elderly and near-elderly. Good place to bring
visitors who are older and not too adventurous. Never had a bad
experience there. Wouldn't go out of my way to go there, either.

Acton Jazz Café is downstairs and around the back in the building where
Tables to Teapots is (also a savings bank the name of which escapes me).
It's a fairly small space--probably holds no more than fifty or sixty
people. They have their live jazz schedule and their hours posted on an
easel in front of their door (inside the building). The menu is limited,
but the food is light, mildly interesting, and freshly prepared. People
go primarily for drinks and music, not dinner. On any given night it
seems that at least half the people in the place are personally
acquainted with one or more of the performers.
Stephen Stein
20 years ago
Permalink
Post by Lee Derbenwick
For a special occasion near Groton, I'd vote for Acton: either Number
5 Strawberry Hill or Le Lyonnais. And on a more casual basis, I'd
certainly vote for either Scupperjack's or the Crossroads Cafe over
Gibbet Hill.
I've lived in Acton for over 20 years and been to all of the above
mentioned restaurants several times. And at those places, there's not a
chance of getting anything near the cut of steak I had at Gibbet Hill.

And I agree, I like both Le Lyonnais and 5 Strawberry (which used to be
Maison Maison, and Chez Claude before that) for special occasions.
We've been there many many times and wanted to try something new. I
have had a memorable steak au poivre at 5 Strawberry, but the cut of
meat wasn't as good.

I think Scupperjacks or Crossroads is OK if I don't feel like cooking.
The Scupperjacks early-bird menu is a pretty good value, and I had my
son's Bar Mitzvah party there (10 years ago) and they did a good job.

- Steve Stein

Continue reading on narkive:
Loading...