When in search of scenic, beautiful, historic New England travel destinations, the 1761 Old Mill Restaurant, Cracker Barrel Pub and Country Store stands as of the the few landlocked dining spots topping the list.
The first sight of this former 1761 saw mill creates a
visual wonderland of traditional New England charm that wonderfully
saturates the senses -- even though it is hard to decide where to look
first.
Waterfall, side of restaurant.
The elongated rustic restaurant, the sweet-smelling waterfall,
the pond graced by ducks, and walk-through covered footbridges with
babbling brooks underneath help create a classic New England setting at
this rustic, rural dining spot.
Stream, covered bridge at the Old Millt.
If there was no restaurant here, the
scenery, alone, would be enough to satisfy the New England traveler.
The beautiful waterfall at the Old Mill.
For those who can never get enough of authentic New
England travel experiences, however, the quaint scenes continue right
into the restaurant -- and regional favorite foods to bring one right
into the authentic side of traditional New England. It all starts with the one of the covered bridge entrances, front porch outside dining porch and other exterior places to eat with wonderful water views and good settings for social distancing dining.
Covered bridge entrance/exit.
Dining on the front porch.
Dining by the brook.
The lobby features a seasonal roaring
fireplace while the front room, to the right, has a lovely view of the
pond through some lovely old-fashioned windows.
Roaring fireplace at the front lobby.
Each of the several quaint dining rooms provide a cozy, informal setting -- the idyllic type of place a
traveler would hope to experience in New England when looking for a
relaxing, regional setting for food and drinks.
Dining room at the Old Mill
Ultimately, every
step of the way through the 1761 Old Mill feels like a special,
one-of-a-kind dining experience that never gets old. I know, having
first dined here as a kid in 1972 and always remembering the joys of a
Sunday morning brunch, Sunday evening all-you-can-eat lobster buffet
and, outside, feeding the ducks with day-old bread graciously given to
us by staff.
The Sunday night lobster buffet went away many years ago,
but the Sunday morning brunch and the chance to feed the ducks still
remain traditional favorite things to do at the Old Mill. The
brunch is still the best I have been to in New England including
homemade corn fritters and pecan rolls, carved ham and roast beef
stations, scrambled eggs and bacon.
Sunday brunch at the Old Mill. Photo source: Old Mill Facebook page.
But the made-from-scratch desserts, cakes and pastries could very well be filling the plates first! 
Homemade at the Old Mill. Photo source: Old Mill Facebook page.
When dining off the regular menu, things start off in grand New England style with the aforementioned corn fritters and homemade rolls, including the pecan version -- accompanied by soft, whipped butter and maple syrup. It's easy to fill up on these so be careful!
Corn fritters and pecan rolls
Lunch and dinner recommendations include the mouthwatering
burgers, hearty New England clam chowder, roast country duck with a
pecan apple stuffing (choice of orange sauce or country gravy), and the
chicken vegetable pie with tender chicken,
fresh vegetables and a tremendous, flaky crust.
Chicken pie from the Old Mill
The Old Mill Sizzler is
a great choice, too, with a thick cut of prime rib grilled with
peppers, onions and mushrooms on a hot sizzle platter, with teriyaki
sauce.
Old Mill Sizzler Platter. Photo source: Old Mill Facebook page.
For seafood, go with the baked stuffed haddock with a
seafood stuffing and topped with a lobster Newburg sauce -- phenomenal! The baked scallops are a winner, also -- tender, juicy and flavorful.
Baked scallops.
After
sampling the excellent homemade deserts like apple crisp or carrot
cake, head down some narrow, creaky stairs and you'll find a
candle-scented, old-fashioned gift shop (temporarily closed; limited merchandise available at front lobby area) with stone floors and
comforting music in the background.
Gift shop.
For many of the aforementioned reasons, the 1761 Old Mill has gained
popularity as a special occasion place. I remember my mom and dad
always bringing family and friends to the Old Mill as a go-to place. I
followed in that tradition, as our morning-after-the-wedding get
together took place at the Old Mill for the Sunday brunch. Twenty years
later after that memorable weekend, some family members from various
parts of the country -- who had never been to the Old Mill before --
still reminisce fondly about their wonderful experience no matter what time of the year.
A beautiful Old Mill scene in the winter..
The 1761 Old Mill has been in the Foster family since 1946
and shows no sign of wear and tear -- quite remarkable for a restaurant
in business this long and located in an ancient structure. The
traditional New England fare continues quite wonderfully and,
additionally, the chance to order baked goods to take home like the
pecan rolls and corn fritters serve as a chance to take home a taste
of the Old Mill experience. Additionally, the 1761 Old Mill offers seasonal events including live music and dinner
theater, as well as accommodating weddings, showers, bereavements,
banquets and other events.
Whether serving as the center of a
New England day or a sidebar to exploring largely rural north-central
New England and the Mohawk Trail, the 1761 Old Mill represents true,
traditional New England dining and scenic beauty.
1761 Old Mill Restaurant, Route 2A, Westminster MA. Tel.
978-874-5941. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/old.mill.3/
Near the Old Mill: Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg. Features an indoor water park and four onsite restaurants!
Books by VisitingNewEngland.com Publisher Eric Hurwitz
Massachusetts
Town Greens -- Discover New England's first travel attractions:
town commons.
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