22 hours Ago
Tucked in the woods of Mason, at the end of a long and winding road, lies a treasure. And there’s no better time to seek it out than the holidays. Atmosphere: 19/20 Service: 18/20 Menu: 18/20 Food: 19/20 Value: 19/20 Total: 93/100 Pickity Place has been delighting generations of guests for decades with its creative, herb-based cuisine and charming atmosphere.
It’s been on our bucket list forever, and we finally got the chance to visit on one of the last days of November. It’s a bit like stepping back into a simpler, and yes, more elegant, time. Well-appointed dining rooms and knowledgeable waitstaff who offer friendly and attentive service make for a memorable experience.
Pickity Place offers a five-course, fixed menu every month, with two choices of entrees, one vegetarian, for $32.95. They’re open seven days a week, year-round, with three luncheon seatings, at 11:30 am, 12:45 p.
m., and 2 p.m.
They’re closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, and reservations are advised. The red cottage at Pickity Place was the model for the cover of “Little Red Riding Hood.” The quaint red cottage has been around since 1786 and was chosen by Elizabeth Orton Jones as the model for her illustrations in the 1948 Little Golden Books edition of “Little Red Riding Hood” — the one many of us grew up with.
Menus are posted online months in advance, so you can pick one that most appeals to you. That’s what we did with two old friends, choosing to visit in November because the menu seemed the friendliest for this pescatarian with celiac. And here I’ll admit it was a bit off-putting to read this disclaimer on their website: “We are not responsible for food allergies.
” Fortunately, the actual dining experience turned out to be far more accommodating. We had arrived a bit early for our seating, a chance to do some Christmas shopping in the wonderful gift shop, which is packed with items sure to please foodies, youngsters and young at heart. An old-fashioned dinner bell summoned us to our meal, a memory from the past that made us smile.
The November menu featured “Dilly’s Favorite” dip served with crackers, creamy ginger butternut squash soup with cranberries, a “fruits and roots” salad and grilled garlic bread. The entree choices were braised pork cacciatore and spaghetti squash aglio olio primavera, and dessert was apple pie with melted gruyere. The dips and the soups at Pickity Place are infused with herbal flavors.
When I informed our friendly server, Ashley, that I have celiac, she promptly waved me off the soup — a shame, too, because it was delicious, creamy and flavorful with just the right level of heat from the fresh ginger, according to my fellow diners. In its stead, Ashley offered me a larger sized salad, and I was glad she did. Fresh crisp lettuce was buried under a cornucopia of seasonal treats: watermelon radish, golden raisins and currants, candied walnuts and apple slices, with a citrus vinaigrette.
It was a work of art. Indeed, at Pickity Place, the beautiful presentation of each course is part of the charm. And the food tastes as good as it looks, each dish elevated by fresh herbs grown on-site.
The vegetarian entree was superb, with shaved asiago cheese atop expertly cooked spaghetti squash with sauteed mushrooms, peppers and summer squash, and a savory herb and garlic sauce. It was divine. The spaghetti squash aglio olio primavera entree was a vegetarian’s delight.
My three companions all opted for the pork and were happily surprised at the chef’s creative handling of this dish. Instead of the expected red sauce, the pork was adorned with a savory brown gravy and served atop creamy risotto that proved the perfect complement. Somehow, the efficient waitstaff managed to get soup, bread and entrees to the tables still hot, an impressive feat considering they serve everyone at once.
We all appreciated the reasonable portion sizes, leaving you room for dessert. I knew the pie was off-limits for me, but again Ashley suggested a gluten-free option: the day’s featured ice cream, salted caramel with chocolate truffles. The other three were happy with the traditional apple pie, served with the same ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Even the beverages at Pickity Place are something special. All meals come with complimentary beverages, including decaf mocha coffee, spiced tea, raspberry peach tea and lavender, mango or strawberry basil lemonade. Ashley was quick to offer refills, and even suggested we try different options.
We agreed our favorite was the hot spiced tea, but the raspberry peach iced tea would be a great choice for summer. There were families dining the day we visited, and Pickity Place does offer kids’ meals, including Grandmother’s Basket with a choice of sandwich, fruit, home-baked cookies and a beverage. In my view, it’s not a great spot for the youngest children, but for well-behaved youngsters who have reached the age of reason, it’s a lovely outing that could quickly become a cherished family tradition.
We can’t think of a nicer spot to gather with loved ones over the holidays than Pickity Place. It’s more than a meal; it’s an experience. 248 Nutting Hill Road, Mason.
Phone: (603) 878-1151. pickityplace.com .
Cuisine: Creative herb-based dishes, drinks and desserts. Five-course luncheon for $32.95, includes choice of beverage.
Children's baskets available. Hours: Dining room seatings at 11:30 a.m.
, 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.
m. Gardens and store open 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. April through December, and 10 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
January through March. Closed on certain holidays, including Christmas and New Year's Day. Reservations strongly advised.
Pickity Place 248 Nutting Hill Road, Mason; 603-878-1151, pickityplace.com . Cuisine: Creative herb-based dishes, drinks and desserts.
Pricing: Five-course luncheon for $32.95, includes choice of beverage. Children’s baskets available.
Hours: Dining room seatings at 11:30 a.m., 12:45 and 2 p.
m. Gardens and store open 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. April through December, and 10 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
January through March. Closed on certain holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s Day. Reservations advised.
{related_content_uuid}01bba054-94e5-44d5-aa7c-1039e293a199{/related_content_uuid} Scores for Pickity Place Atmosphere: 19/20 Service: 18/20 Menu: 18/20 Food: 19/20 Value: 19/20 Total: 93/100 {related_content_uuid}982c2e5c-45bc-4a16-bdda-5713ef9aa16f{/related_content_uuid}.
