Honoring Tradition While Shaking Things Up
If you haven’t visited the Red Lion Inn lately, you’re in for a treat, and maybe a few surprises. Now run by Sarah Eustis, a G3 (third generation) Fitzpatrick, the inn holds fast to its 250-year-old history (yes, it’s older than the U.S.) as it also strives to evolve and expand its relevance to a broader range of patrons. Like her mother, Nancy, and her grandmother, Jane, Sarah holds a deep appreciation for the inn’s rich traditions, but she’s not afraid to shake things up. Here’s what’s new:
- The Lion’s Den, which features live music and small bites, got a post-Covid full refresh and renovation. “We moved the placement of the music to be more engaged with the audience and took the lighting and mood to make it a bit groovier,” says Sarah. The vibe is more cocktail lounge than night out with the kids, but you can still get a great burger for $12. “It’s been incredibly successful,” says Sarah.
- In 2021, Jon Sterrett signed on as the inn’s new executive chef. The goal: to elevate and broaden the dining room menu while maintaining standard favorites at the adjacent and more casual Widow Bingham’s Tavern. “While dishes like the turkey dinner and chicken potpie remain an important part of our culinary history, we also want to be able to add to that history,” says Sterrett. Making the distinction between the dining spaces has allowed more freedom to do so.” Sarah stresses, however, that all the menu items can be enjoyed anywhere. So, yes, you can order the potpie in the dining room, but why not try something new, like Sterrett’s braised salsify or bourbon-glazed duck breast.
- A newly created living room, situated between the lobby and the main dining room, is a great place to sit in cozy chairs and enjoy a cocktail and “Lion’s Bites”—small plates such as New England clam chowder, charcuterie, or a turkey sandwich. Sarah notes that when her grandparents bought the inn in 1968, the space was similarly configured, so the change is “consistent with history.”
- Afternoon tea is now being served on Friday and Saturday in the lobby, the side piazza, the living room, and the front porch. “It’s in partnership with Harney (the Millerton, New York– based tea company) and people are loving the experience,” says Sarah.
- The inn’s second-floor hallway now hosts art exhibition space that is curated by longtime patron and music producer Michael Cash along with the Norman Rockwell Museum. Among the exhibits: Ride the Thunder, featuring illustrator Ralph Steadman’s work, inspired by his contemporary Hunter S. Thompson; and Isaac Pelayo, an edgy Los Angeles artist whose work is a cross between street art and Renaissance. “We get people who love it and people who hate it,” says Sarah. “But I’m okay with that. I want the Red Lion to be a place that’s reassuring and comforting but that also stimulates some different thinking.” Coming in April: a dual show featuring artist Charlotte Rose and actor/painter Billy Zane in collaboration with Shakespeare and Company and the Berkshire International Film Festival.
The expanded offerings, says Sarah, have been attracting new people to the Red Lion. “It’s not just about youth,” she says. “It’s more about creating experiences that are inclusive. I want people to feel that they can pop in and have a really high-quality experience within their budget and have a great time.”
The Red Lion Inn
30 Main St., Stockbridge
413-298-5545
redlioninn.com
