Bartlett Pear Inn

One of the best traditional American-​fare restaurants I’ve ever been to!
We started with the chicory salad. The egg was perfectly poached and went very well with the crispy potato sticks. Meanwhile, the umbria truffle-​sherry vinaigrette was very creamy and delicious!
For the main entrée, we had the gnocchi, which were very light and fluffy (like mini pillows!) in a creamy truffle sauce.
For dessert we had the bourbon vanilla and chocolate ice cream. It’s always hard to describe vanilla, but this vanilla was totally not vanilla, and that’s a high compliment! We also had the chocolate mousse, and the wafer at the bottom had the perfect balance of airy and crunchy.
Besides the taste of the food, the presentation was delicate, detailed, and beautiful. The butter, topped with sea-​salt, was even shaped like a pear! I wholeheartedly recommend the Bartlett Pear Inn to anyone looking for a fancy night out.

Had a very enjoyable dinner here celebrating my wife’s birthday. Wanted to pick a special place as she is a chef and cook book writer. Knew that the «dirt to table» theme would fit with her. Had the Chorizo Spiced Grilled Shrimp & Wedge salad and wild halibut. Fish was fresh, lightly spiced and cooked to perfection. Chef made a special truffle butter pappardelle for my wife as she preffered pasta as an entrée. All was delicious.
Great talking with chef Jordan about how he makes their wonderful French style baguettes.
Look forward to going back.

I’ve agonized over what to put in my review, because I like the concept of this restaurant and I so wanted to love it.
Sadly, however, it was a big disappointment. My husband and I came here for our fifth wedding anniversary. Year four of our marriage had been a very rough go — health problems, a serious car accident, job loss, a mugging/​assault — basically, awful. We came to Easton to unwind, and to Bartlett Pear Inn wanting to treat ourselves and be pampered.
We were seated promptly, near the fireplace per our request, and were hungry and psyched for our meal.
We decided not to order apps because, well, none of the options really jumped out at us. So we ordered entrees and some sides. After about thirty minutes, I ask a server about our food. She says she saw the chef plating it and it would be out any minute. Nope. No food. Nada. I ask another server, no real answer, then I see a gentleman near us had arrived after us, ordered after us, and had not only gotten his food but had finished it and asked for his check.
At minute 45, famished and with a crushing headache, I asked to speak to a manager. The chef-​owner comes out and amid a bunch of kitchen jargon says it’s «fine dining» and we’re supposed to order multiple courses, and that one of our entrees, duck, apparently takes 45 minutes to prepare (news to us, nobody bothered to mention this before, and there was no note on the menu. I’m also not sure if that’s even true, I don’t think I’ve ever had a duck entrée take that long to prepare.) I didn’t appreciate the not-​so-​subtle implication that we are rubes who don’t know how to eat at nice restaurants. I also felt a bit like we were being punished for not ordering a first course. Why should we spend money on food that didn’t particularly interest us? He did offer to comp us dessert, and said he would comp our meal if we didn’t like it, so I guess points for that.
I think in a «fine dining» experience, the staff should be familiar with the menu and able to troubleshoot. I think the server should have told us about the 45 minute wait for duck and suggested we order an app or have our sides as apps. I also think at some point somebody should have leveled with us about the situation instead of doing the «just a few more minutes» song and dance, and comped us something to nibble on besides bread. (At one point a server expressed surprise that the chef hadn’t sent us anything to tide us over, so clearly it’s something they’ve done before.) As it was I barely enjoyed my halibut, I was so hungry I snarfed it in no time flat. I also noticed it was a little dry, not sure if that was how it’s prepared or if it had sat under a heat lamp for a bit. The duck was good, but it had a lot of gristle, and was not good enough to be worth the wait.
After we finished our dinner, a server asked if we wanted dessert. After we placed our orders, she said the chef is sending us a pear tart, which is not something we asked for. I found this a little weird — if we’re getting a comp dessert, why not lead with that info? And why not let us pick what we want? And why one dessert for two people? It was a nice gesture in theory, but a little odd in the execution. Unless we misunderstood the server and any dessert would be comped, but that could have been made more explicit.
I also noticed that people near us who had ordered alcohol were getting far more attentive, friendlier service — I have to wonder if that was a factor, or if we had just slipped through the cracks somehow. We had decided to wait until we were closer to eating before ordering cocktails, then decided to stick with water once it was clear we weren’t eating anytime soon. Booze on an empty stomach? No thanks.
I’ve asked myself if I am being too picky, if I am too hard to please, if maybe I was just cranky from being overly hungry and could stand to lighten up a bit. But I believe this review is fair — one should leave a «fine dining» establishment satisfied and feeling pampered, not with a pall cast over what should have been a very special evening. I mean, really, if you see patrons looking hungry and miserable, be proactive. Fix the problem. Don’t wait for them to come to you, then wait some more, and give misleading information, then have the chef come out and (politely) call you a rube. I wish we’d had even a tenth as wonderful an experience as the other reviewers here.

What can you say about a restaurant that is close to perfect? Flawless food, flawless service, and great ambience.
I honestly don’t know how it could be better. Jordan is a master chef and it shows

Ate there Wed night with a Big group of Businessmen. Wow what a treat! Awesome food, Great service! Owner/​Chef came out and greeted us. If you are ever in Easton, don’t miss gem.

I have only eaten here once for Mother’s Day Brunch but all of the food is amazing and very creative farm to table. If you’re a foodie and can appreciate good food without worrying about the check then this is the place to try. Reservations are a MUST! Also, dining qtrs are a little cramped.

Wow! Came here for our 1 year wedding anniversary and I have nothing negative to say. From the moment we walked in the door the service was spectacular. This is definitely a special occasion restaurant. We had an envelope with a signed card from their entire staff, started off with a bang. We had the 5 course tasting menu. Well worth it. Every dish was beautiful and so delicious. Everything was on point. Ambiance, décor, service, food. 5 stars!!! I would highly recommend this restaurant!

This is very simple… Fabulous! Great food, professional staff and owned/​operated by a marvelous couple.

This recently-​opened breakfast and pastry joint is an annex the the Bartlett Pear Inn, located just across the street. The food was, as you would expect, very good. Fresh and quality ingredients masterfully prepared.
Service was a bit of a mess, but we were there within the first week of their opening, so I’m sure they will get their legs underneath themselves.

It wasn’t the apple in the tree, it was the pair on the ground, but if you want to have an evening in edible Eden, head for the Bartlett Pear in Easton.
You can ignore the Unilocaler who recently gave it one star because he showed up with no reservation to hang at the bar and slurp soup. This is a small place, a hot ticket, and people reserve seats at the bar weeks in advance. Dude, go to Subway and don’t dis a great place for no reason.
The atmosphere is quaint, relaxed elegant. I appeared woefully under-​dressed in shorts and Crocs and was greeted and treated with the same genuine gracious welcome as the ancient Dowager, flea dipped in Jungle Gardenia for a night out and dripping with the Empress Carlotta jewels.
The staff was top drawer, helpful, professional, quietly anticipating the needs and wants of every diner without being asked. Nor, were any of them fawning, obsequious, sycophants swooning when you paired Sprite with your Diver Sea Scallops.
Few restaurant kitchens send out a tasting menu that is as perfect as these two Exec Chefs. Every dish sparkled and shined without making you feel like you just ate somebody’s art project or a hood ornament off a Bentley. These are composed beautiful plates of wonderful responsibly sourced food all served by grass fed wait staff and cooked by cage free line cooks.
The bread service came out quickly, warm and crisp sour dough baguettes in chunks with a pat or two of pear shaped cultured butter sprinkled with Maldon flaky sea salt. This was a perfect balance to the house cocktails which were gorgeous, well poured and refreshing. I had the newest creation. An American Pie. (Makers Mark Bourbon, house made Apple Cinnamon Compote, and a Luxardo Cherry… very classy indeed). Its the first thing I am going to share at my next AA meeting. And, the bread basket got refilled while I sipped with my eyes closed.
There is a great wine list of reasonable and well considered selections. Can’t decide? Your waiter and or the Somm will guide you without pretense.
Wild Radish Soup with Saffron Crème Fraiche and Fresh Sorrel came out next and had us licking our bowls like a litter of Labs.
A Crab Salad with Japanese-​Lime Vinigrette, Garden Strawberries, Sliced Fennel and an Old Bay Crostini followed. It too was superb. Light and oh so tasty. All the ingredients had a solo and yet sang well together like a well rehearsed choir.
The house made Pappadelle with Bacon Lardons, Capers, and Diced Heirloom Tomatoes was simple and simply spectacular. Batali, Conant, and Carbone should take a clinic in the kitchen here.
Duck Two Ways (Fois Gras and Roasted Breast) with Roasted Beets and Greens in a smear of Gianduia Jus (Chocolate and Hazel Nut). This was the best argument for being a carnivore. Yeah, Vegans and PETA People, I’m talkin’ to you.
A Yuzo (a Japanese love child between an Orange and Lemon) Sorbet cleansed the palate and opened up the taste buds for the Opera Cake resting in a lovely Sabayon dotted with Cocoa Nibs and Crushed Peanuts. But wait… there’s more. A riff on on a Fig Newton with Spiced Rum Ice Cream. Double yum.
If there was something to complain about it was that I could have eaten twice as much of every dish. Want a Wiener Schnitzel the size of a bath mat? You’ll have to go to Figmueller in Vienna, but you’ll be hard pressed to find better food prepared by true passionate experts than Bartlett Pear this side of Per Se.
You want to spend $ 800 for two people for food no better than Bartlett Pear (which was less than one quarter of the heroic gouge), go ahead, torture yourself and try to badge your way into The French Laundry.
I say go to The Bartlett Pear, and have a tartlet there… and everything else the kitchen sends out.

There are no words to describe how amazing this gem of culinary excellence is. Chef Jordan Lloyd and his wife Alice are a powerhouse team of amazing flavors and sophisticated wine pairings. Their local farm to table philosophy is what many of us aspire to achieve. The entire staff is attentive and they perfectly describe the great food this kitchen produces. You cannot miss the opportunity to dine here or stay in these luxurious rooms. We all hope that the Bartlett Pear Inn is here to stay.

Our best dining experience on the Eastern Shore. We were served well by Phil, one of the chefs. A very cordial and engaging man. We all had the halibut and it was really fine. The presentation was just as beautiful as the subtle curry flavor.
Our crab salad appetizers were beautiful and tasty as well. Some had the soft shell crab, a kind of Provencal preparation which was unexpected and excellent. A reasonably priced Chardonnay from France as well as French press coffee, house made ice cream and a lemon curd pudding dessert finished a really delightful dinner.
Don’t miss Bartlett Pear when visiting Easton.

Tried to go there for a drink because we had an hour to kill. There were four empty stools at the bar but the hostess stopped us. I told her we just wanted drinks and maybe a cup of soup. She said they had reservations. I’m not going to argue with someone who doesn’t want my business, so I just said ‘fine’ and left.
I don’t give business to places that don’t know how to treat customers. We were customers in the past, but no more!

All must haves…
Truffle Butter Pappardelle
Pressed French Fries
Bread & Butter
Cool little spot in a location where there is not much to choose from.

We enjoyed our anniversary dinner here with the chef’s tasting menu. As their menu options change regularly, I’m not sure what you’ll get, but don’t miss out on the truffle pappardelle.
The dining room is intimate, with other tables quite close; however, it didn’t feel overcrowded, even at peak time. They’ve got a couple of tables on small, enclosed porch with more outside in a patio area.

My wife and I recently stayed here when we were back on the east coast for a wedding in St. Michaels.
We would give the restaurant 5 stars! This was a great meal. The service was impeccable. The wine list was great, and our waiter was extremely knowledgeable. The food was expertly prepared using local ingredients. This was one of the best meals my wife and I have enjoyed in a long time.
We would give the bar 5 stars as well. After dinner we walked into the other room to enjoy a nightcap. Our drinks were excellent, and we really enjoyed talking to the bartender and learning about the area. He let us sample a lot of the ingredients they use in their drinks such as syrups and shrubs.
We would give the Inn itself 3 stars. Our room was very nice, and clean. We didn’t hear any of the other guests in their rooms at all during our stay. However, be weary of the shower. In our room, the shower head couldn’t have been more than 5’6 above the ground, which was great for my wife, but terrible for me, as I’m 6’1. Also, our shower backed up the first time we turned it on. I’m not sure if it is the plumbing in the building, or just a clog from previous guests in our room, but it’s very difficult to prepare for a romantic evening when you’re showering in dirty standing water.
My wife and I would certainly stay here again, we would probably just choose a different room. We stayed in the Seckel Pear Room.
We can’t recommend the restaurant enough though!

How this place doesn’t have 5 stars is beyond me. Our waiter was incredible, extremely personable, and knew every nuance to every dish on the menu. Speaking for myself, the NY strip was out-​freaking-​standing, especially with the Inn pressed fries to soak up a bit of the jus. The others in our group were all equally impressed with their entrees.
For dessert, it seems hard to go wrong, but you should definitely do something chocolate. Their local chocolate source apparently owns part of a cocoa farm in some far off land, and makes her chocolate directly from the beans harvested for her. The chocolate tart was hard-​to-​handle delicious, and the little after dinner nibs they gave us, reminded me of everything good in the world.
Also, the fresh made baguette, topped with house churned butter, which itself was topped with Hawaiian sea salt.
Yup

We enjoyed cocktails here immediately after a performance at the Avalon Theater. It was right at 10 PM, closing time, but they kindly opened the front bar area for the 6 of us. Everyone had multiple drinks, which were subtly and beautifully crafted with fresh ices, herbs and fruit in addition to small-​batch liquors and mixers. My favorite was the Silver Lining, which combined white rum, lime, fresh ginger syrup and an egg white. After shaking, a foamy meringue formed on the top, and it was sprinkled with a pinch of powdered red pepper. Exquisite!
Justin the bartender is AMAZING. He handmakes many of the garnishes; one of the highlights of the evening was when he explained how to pit a cherry while leaving the stem attached. (Hint: paper clip.)
We didn’t go beyond that first room, but it was beautifully furnished in the style of an upscale beach resort: classic finishes like dark wood and tile. The menu looks incredible, so I guess we’ll have to come back when the kitchen’s open!

Food and service was fantastic!!! Place is very quaint and upscale without being pretentious and everyone was extremely nice. We opted for the Chefs tasting menu, 5 courses, and let the chef pick. Everything was awesome. We had the Corn Chowder, signature pasta, halibut, lamb, and a chocolate cake… and everything was delicious!
I can not wait to come back here again. Definitely take significant other for a special occasion.

My wife and I decided to have dinner here one evening while we were having a weekend getaway in nearby St. Michaels. We had reservations so we were quickly seated upon arrival. It’s kind of a small restaurant and you aren’t far from the tables around you. They had us seated towards the back right next to the doorway that the servants go in and out of. The doorway was covered with a curtain as opposed to an actual door, but all throughout the evening, I had servants walking directly behind me as they would go in and out and I would feel a bit of a draft as they came through.
The restaurant was elegantly decorated and the tables were covered in a white table cloth and each had a small candle on it. I did notice one table for two that sat near a window and seemed a bit more excluded from the rest of the restaurant, so if you wanted a bit more privacy, I would recommend asking for that table.
My wife started with the Maine Lobster Bisque while I went with the Turtle Boy Farms Green Salad. My wife’s soup came out with the Cognac whip cream, lobster cake and cheese crostini in the bowl and then they poured the lobster bisque in. My wife loved the soup and the few bites that she let me have, I enjoyed as well. My salad was on the small side, but it was good.
For our entrees, my wife went with the Truffle Butter Glazed Inn Made Pappardelle while I went with the K.C.C. Natural Farms Chicken Ballontine. My chicken was tasty and delicious and I loved dipping the bread in the sauce that it came in. My wife loved her meal and I’m usually not a big fan of mushrooms, but that dish was excellent! My wife also wanted to try the Inn Pressed French Fries, so we got an order of those as well for the table. Unfortunately, the fries came out nearly by the time we had completed our entrees and we were full, so we didn’t eat much of them. They do make their own ketchup for the fries, and it was good.
We ended the night with an apple pie and I had vanilla ice cream with Amaretto liquor (there are others you can choose from). Both were quite good.
Service throughout the meal was excellent and the pace was just right for us as we were looking for a nice romantic evening. We were there just a little over an hour and a half. We are so glad we picked this place for one of our dinners while in town and we wouldn’t hesitate to go back.