![\"Dining](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-dining-outside.jpg\")
Dining by the gazebo – a traditional New England staple at town commons<\/a> — provides a nice local ambiance…<\/p>\n Enjoying a meal closer to the historic structure brings the customer into a Colonial New England experience.<\/p>\n Looking farther down the 600-acre field lends rural site points that take one away from a fast-paced, divided world and into a peaceful sanctuary shielded from the year 2020 as we know it. Along the way, you also might see a community of cows peacefully co-existing!<\/p>\n Prior to the Pandemic, the Salem Cross Inn stood as our number one go-to restaurant in New England for special occasions. Yes, the historic, Colonial New England atmosphere has always played a main role in our returns but the food, ultimately, keeps us coming back. The flavorful prime rib roasting over open open-hearth fireplaces is our number one choice.<\/p>\n Delicious baked goods in the form of bread and muffins come out of a restored 1699 Bannister Tavern beehive oven. Additionally, the Salem Cross Inn sources heirloom vegetables and herbs grown in its own gardens. They also offer local wines and beers.<\/p>\n Besides the prime rib, my personal favorite meals include…<\/p>\n Maple Jack Chicken with Monterey jack cheese, local maple syrup, bacon, roasted tomatoes — and accompanied with a vegetable and starch (pictured here: mashed potatoes and squash).<\/p>\n Cedar-planked salmon enhanced with fresh herb-lemon butter…<\/p>\n Seafood Pasta with skillet-seared scallops, penne primavera and a light romano cream.<\/p>\n On our most recent visit, we found the short ribs to be incredibly delicious and generously served…<\/p>\n and the Strawberry cheesecake shooter in a shot glass to be a perfectly sweet companion to the main meal…<\/p>\n Chances are that your favorite local restaurant offers outdoor dining. Keep on supporting those places! It is critical to the foundational strong fabric of small businesses in American.<\/p>\n We have cautiously and sparsely (due to personal budgeting) frequented local restaurants in this dangerous age of the Coronavirus. When dining out, we have made it count as a truly special experience. Consequently, the Salem Cross Inn first came to mind when celebrating our 23rd anniversary. The classic rural New England setting and marvelous food was simultaneously like being in a Currier and Ives painting and a Food and Wine Magazine article coming to life.<\/p>\n I hope you can also experience this outdoor dining experience!<\/p>\n You can read the full story on the Salem Cross Inn (including scenes from the indoor dining rooms) for free at http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/salemcrossinn.html.<\/a><\/p>\n The Salem Cross Inn is located at 260 West Main St. in West Brookfield, MA. Tel. (508) 867-2345. Log onto the Salem Cross Inn web site<\/a> for more information including current business hours.<\/p>\n What is your favorite place when dining outdoors in New England? Please comment in the box at the end of this post.<\/em><\/p>\n Additional reading<\/strong> Please share the following graphic on Pinterest…<\/strong><\/p>\n Dining outdoors at local restaurants has increased greatly during the Pandemic given strict state requirements on the maximum number that can dine indoors and people’s reluctance to eat inside. It’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[269,264],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Gazebo,](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-gazebo-table.jpg\")
![\"Outdoor](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-backyard.jpg\")
![\"Cows](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-cows.jpg\")
Dining Outdoors is Nice But What About the Food?<\/h2>\n
![\"Prime](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-prime-rib.jpg\")
![\"Maple](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-chicken.jpg\")
![\"Salmon](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-salmon.jpg\")
![\"Seafood](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-scallops.jpg\")
![\"Short](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-short-ribs-dinner.jpg\")
![\"Strawberry](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-dessert.jpg\")
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
![\"Salem](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/salem-cross-inn-front-buildings.jpg\")
\nEnjoying fresh local seafood and amazing ocean views at the Coast Guard House in Narragansett, R.I.<\/a>
\nDining out at a special restaurant tucked away in the hills of Uxbridge, Mass.<\/a>
\nDine inside or outside at a converted car ferry in Portland, Maine<\/a><\/p>\n![\"This](\"http:\/\/visitingnewengland.com\/blog-photo-tour\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dining-outdoors.png\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"