The inn is an oddity among old New England buildings in that the first structure -- a house moved to the site in 1667 and now known as the Indian Room -- forms the core of the building rather than the front. The main house, which includes the largest of the dining rooms, dates from 1740 . Other wings, less precisely documented, create a charming warren of dining rooms attached to the large tavern, the inn's liveliest spot.
We had to walk outdoors to reach Room 11, one of six on the back of the building with individual entrances along a covered porch. Though clean and fresh, the motel-like character was a letdown after the beamed ceilings of the dining rooms and rusticity of the tavern. A queen bed with dark wood headboard and posts took half the floor space. Two green velour wing chairs flanked a small table and lamp by the window, and another lamp glowed from a low dresser. (There were no bedside lamps.) A large TV balanced on a small oak cabinet. The bathroom had a shower stall and wall-mounted sink.
The Night Watch Tavern , with its rough wood walls and massive stone fireplace, seemed like the best bet for dinner. In true tavern fashion, straight-backed wooden benches and captain's chairs were drawn up to trestle tables. The Red Sox and Yankees were battling on TV and musicians were setting up for the evening entertainment.
The food transcended conventional pub grub. The General Stanton salad combined baby greens, thin pear slices, crumbled blue cheese, and candied walnuts beneath a raspberry vinaigrette. A bowl of chili proved to be a rich, spicy bean soup. Slow-cooked barbecued pork ribs were honey sweet and falling off the bone, while the chicken pesto over penne was laced with sundried-tomatoes, mushrooms , and artichoke hearts. Chocolate mousse was a respectable rendering of that classic, while the coconut-filled carrot cake was sweet and surprisingly airy.
By the time we finished, Daisuke Matsuzaka had loaded the bases and the band was ready to start. We opted for the game over the music and asked our server for two cups of Diet Coke to take back to the room. She brought them at no charge and invited us back for refills. Alas, our room reverberated with the sound of the band, which was scheduled to play until 1 a.m.
