The Hermitage Inn

Had dinner here tonight. This is one of the most beautiful places we’ve been to in Vermont. The restaurant is stunning along w the grounds. We had cocktails, crab, lobster rolls, wedge and eggplant. Beautiful and well prepared and seasoned. Really a great , beautiful evening!!

It is such a serene and peaceful place!! Unbelievably beautiful surroundings. The best location to make yourself centered and happy. Rooms are beautiful and comfortable. Food is amazing. There are hiking trails and other places to explore. I am glad they reopened and did beautiful renovations. I really enjoyed my stay 💜

Well worth the splurge. The carriage house was absolutely beautiful. Service was awesome. They were kind enough to bend our check-out time a little bit. Dinner at The Birches was fantastic. Locally-sourced ingredients and inventive menu. Basket breakfast delivered to our room and it was sublime. Thanks to everyone at Hermitage! Will come back soon! xx

We stayed at the Hermitage Inn over Thanksgiving with family, and it was an unforgettable experience. The snowstorm that hit during our stay turned the property into a winter wonderland, adding a magical touch to the whole atmosphere. The hot tub and sauna were perfect for unwinding after a day of outdoor activities (close proximity to Mount Snow and other adorable towns to explore). The electric fireplaces in our rooms created such a cozy ambiance, making it the perfect place to relax. Max at the bar made our experience even better. He was incredibly welcoming and made us feel right at home, enhancing our entire trip with his friendly hospitality and amazing cocktail-making skills! He took the time to get to know our preferences, making personalized recommendations that we absolutely loved. His warmth and enthusiasm truly elevated our experience! The whole team at the Hermitage was amazing—attentive, kind, and always ensuring we had everything we needed for a perfect stay. Overall, our stay at the Hermitage Inn was exceptional, we’ll definitely be back!

From the moment we arrived at The Hermitage Inn, we knew we were in for a special evening. Nick, our host, greeted us warmly, gave us a tour, and helped us find the perfect table — setting the tone for the night. The wine list was outstanding, reminding me of some of the finest wine cellars in NYC. But the real highlight was the incredible staff. Every team member we encountered was kind, patient, professional, and attentive, making us feel truly welcomed. And the food — absolutely exceptional! Every dish, from the soup to the entrées, exceeded our expectations. I’ve never had a New York strip so tender and flavorful. Every bite was worth every penny. The Hermitage Inn delivered a five-star experience across the board, and we can’t wait to return!

Lovely restaurant. Tastefully decorated. We appreciated the little touches like the fireplace (wood not gas), art deco drink glasses, comfortably elegant seating. The food was wonderful. The pork chop and halibut were each well prepared. And the brussel sprouts were deliciously dressed with a candied citrus vinaigrette. Pacing of courses was good and we were happy to see our server remembered who got what dish (it’s our pet peeve when they ask “who gets x dish?” in fine dining establishments). We will return.

When my husband and I decided to get married, we were extremely overwhelmed and had no idea where to even start with planning such a momentous event. We knew that we wanted the wedding to be intimate (not to many guests), in a setting that was surrounded by trees, and in a location that felt like home. Out of all the wedding venues in Vermont, the Hermitage Inn captured everything we were looking for. A gorgeous space and an attentive staff… making the day feel as effortless as possible. After a short call with the Events Director, Gina, we knew our big day was in good hands. She not only spent multiple hours on the phone with us, but she also provided amazing visuals for us as we were planning this wedding from out of state. I have never met a more dedicated person who works in a hospitality field. Gina is the definition of “going above and beyond” — even meeting us to tour the space on her day off last minute, so we were able to take the big leap in deciding this was our future wedding venue. She puts her entire heart in listening to her couples, understanding their vision, and bringing their dreams to life. And now to the part of the magical touches… this space is truly one that people are passionate to work for. Everyone who works in the space takes time to learn who their patrons are, so much so, that my husband and I has several interactions with the owners Mary Lou and Tim of the Inn before the wedding even occurred. The Hermitage Inn is not just a space where they churn guests in and out… the waiters to the bartenders to the check in staff all knew who we were, and did everything in their power to make the day special. On the day of the wedding, Tim personally delivered lunch to the bridal party and grooms party. The day after the wedding, when picking up our decorations to bring home, Tim himself was walking the grounds and taking care of some landscaping on his own in the quiet hours of the morning. It’s moments like that where you realize you are receiving first class service without the impersonal aspect of larger hotel and venues. On the wedding day itself, everyone was available to help where needed. I was looked in the eye, asked what I needed, and was never made to feel alone or out of sorts. Gina herself took our vision and DIY table settings, flowers, and glassware, and within hours had her entire staff create the space into the vision that we wanted. Lucky for us, we got married in the month of October, so the Hermitage Inn already was decorated with beautiful flowers, pumpkins, and corn stalks to provide additional ambience. The food… my husband and I have eaten at the Inn’s restaurant multiple times, and you are truly in for a treat. The high quality, amazing flavors, are exactly what you are served at your private event as well. I could go on and on about the amazing experience we had with the Hermitage Inn. So many of my guests stated… “this place is like a postcard.” We could not be more impressed with the attention and care we received with our wedding event. Even with a wedding of 30 guests, we were able to have an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception in the gorgeous Birches dining room. We highly recommend this space for a future event or even a weekend away in Southern Vermont. It is now a place where we call ‘home.’ Thank you Tim, Mary Lou, Gina, and the entire staff of the Hermitage Inn for making our day one we will never forget!

I had the pleasure of working with Gina Whalen at the Hermitage Inn while exploring venues for my wedding, and she was an absolute dream from the very start. From our first conversation, she was warm, professional, responsive, and incredibly accommodating. Gina went above and beyond to answer my questions, share thoughtful ideas, and provide beautiful details about what a celebration at the Hermitage could look like. I have no doubt that any couple lucky enough to work with her will be in the best of hands. Thank you again for everything — you made a lasting impression, and I’m so appreciative.

The day before Christmas we met one of the chefs at the restaurant, he gave us a personal invite to the place and said it would be no problem since there were only two of us. On Christmas day we called for a reservation and were told that they were fully booked, we told them we had a personal invite and they said "sorry we cant do anything for you" in a nasty voice. We were very nice and were refused on Christmas day, how nice, and so having faith in the chef we made no alternative plans and had to have Christmas dinner from 7 eleven.

One of the few places opened for lunch when we visited in late September! We were surprised that it was quite empty on such a busy Saturday. Service was great! We ordered the burger and the grilled cheese and enjoyed both items. A great spot for lunch and drinks! Beautiful restaurant!

This is a very well run establishment. Upon arrival the hostess sat us at a table in the main dining room, right outside the kitchen. There was a more desirable table along the wall with the mural. I asked to be switched and they graciously accommodated us. The decor was lovely, romantic with the fresh flowers & live fire. Our waitress was pleasant and knew the menu well. I decided on the chili old fashioned and and he got a Manhattan. The cocktails were served in beautiful crystal glasses. The beet appetizer was delicious with the blended feta & grapefruit & candied pecans. For dinner I had the barramundi special and he had the vegan entree with farrow, parsnip and Brussel sprouts. Dessert was the cream brûlée and superb. The following day we came back for the wine tasting that highlighted three merlot wines. This was situated in their "game room" that was again, decorated with fresh flowers and a lovely fire. The wine was flowing freely and they provided a charcuterie board. I would absolutely come again.

Some of the best dinners my wife and I have had for a very long time. Expensive but worth it! Sometimes high-end restaurant dishes look gorgeous but taste so-so. We've eaten here twice, both times on the attractive outdoor patio. The food is both beautifully presented _and_ delicious. Excellent soups of the day; make sure you check out what's on offer! The chef is Erin; make sure you dine on a night she's in the kitchen.

We ate here several years ago when it was under management by the Hermitage Club and I recall not being impressed at all. Clearly the management/ownership has changed and from the moment you walk in you feel welcomed to a fine Inn. This restaurant is a home run! The staff were so attentive and friendly and the renovation of the dining room and bar area were equally impressive. Our meals were outstanding and IMO probably one of the best dining experiences we have had in the West Dover/Wilmington area. The Cornish Hen was scrumptious as was the Seafood Chowder. Definitely will be back!

This place is a gem. Tasteful enough to be a special occasion place, yet cozy and friendly enough you could come here every day. The food is perfectly chosen, cooked and presented . Not one plate we ate here has missed the mark. It's a beautiful location, with lovely staff, a tasteful room, and serves delicious food. Only downside is you can easily get tempted to stay and empty your wallet.

In late December, seven friends and I booked two gondolas for the aprés ski Piedmonte fondue. Several of us had done the same the previous year and had a truly fabulous experience, so we were looking forward to coming back, this time with a few more friends. Unfortunately, while the gondolas are so cute and the fondue very delicious, we were extremely disappointed this year by the amount and variety of food provided to dip in the fondue. For each gondola of four people, we were surprised that we were served six green beans, a handful of croutons, a few slices of sausage and a single mid-sized cauliflower floret. Barely enough for two people to share, really. The previous year, we had plenty of food to dip, with both the variety and amount seeming appropriate to the size of our group (we even ended up requesting a bit more cheese, which was provided). This year, after we quickly finished the small amount of food provided, we requested additional food to dip (as there was quite a bit of fondue leftover) and were served some more croutons, which was fine, but we were very sad that we had spent nearly $100 per person for such a small offering. I know fondue is not meant to be a full/heavy meal, but we all left hungry and disappointed. Based on this year's experience, we would not return. I hate leaving poor reviews, but I did reach out to the restaurant to provide feedback and received no response.

What an amazing spot in West Dover! The food and drinks were outstanding! Terrific service with access to a sommelier always floating around. Highly recommend grabbing a night cap (espresso martini) at the bar after dinner. Cheers.

The Hermitage Inn's marketing implies (and claims) this will be an exceptional dining experience. It is not. The waitstaff is nice and pleasant, but completely incapable of delivering an exceptional dining experience. The food has potential, but does not deliver value, taste or texture. There was 1 exceptional item - a maple-apple turnover for breakfast was the one item that I would eat again. Kudos to the pastry chef! The inn's room is nice and quaint. If an expensive, mediocre experience is acceptable then this is the place.

The dining room is absolutely beautiful. We knew it would be an expensive spot based on how elegant this room looks. I and my partner came for a nice Saturday night dinner. We had a 6 pm reservation and left at 8. This was due to an exceptionally long wait to be served food. They appeared to have adequate waitstaff, our table was serviced by 4-5 different people, but clearly it was chaotic with waitstaff rushing all over the restaurant to serve all the different areas. We were seated near the exit door to serve those out on the terrace which had the Tavern menu with slightly less expensive options. With all the serving folks rushing past our table, the experience was hardly tranquil. I give them only 3 stars because while our food was absolutely delicious, the portions were tiny, totally skimpy. I had the scallops entree which was supposed to come on a bed of gnocchi. Well at $44 for this, each scallop cost $11. Had this dish been served with 5-6 scallops at $44 I would have been happy. My other complaint is that there were barely 5 little gnocchis with this. They were each the size of half a small wine cork! Potato Gnocchis cost next to nothing- The Hermitage Inn could have easily provided many more to fill me up. We didn't have a starter because those cost $14 to $26 each. My partner had a pork tenderloin which while he liked the flavor very much, this too was an especially skimpy portion. At $36 it was the least expensive entree on the menu I might add. We decided to order dessert because understandably we were both still hungry. We split their ice cream sundae. It too was very good and size wise not too bad compared to the other items we had. Because this is such a pretty place and in nice weather they have fire pits and a horse drawn carriage, I would hope to go back and try the Tavern menu. As I witnessed those dishes whizzing past me on their way to the patio diners, I could see the portions were more substantial.

So disappointed tonight. We have been coming to the Hermitage for over 40 years. We have always loved the ambiance, service, food and extensive wine list. We chose to eat in the tavern tonight, ordered a bottle of red wine to go with our charcuterie and eventual meal. However, we ate the entire charcuterie without any delivery of the wine. After several scans across the restaurant for our waiter. We finally saw him and had to inquire about our wine (typically at the Hermitage this would have been noticed by the waitstaff). He said if didn't show up he would go to the wine cellar himself and get it. However, moments later, we were presented with our entrees by other staff members.Still no wine or our waiter. When he finally checked on us we told him to cancel our bottle and just bring us two single glasses of wine. He remarked, "Oh, the sommelier must have gotten lost in the wine cellar." What was really lost was an extra bottle sold for the establishment, a satisfying evening, and a decent tip for a waiter who didn't have the foresight to comp a few glasses of wine for two obvious dissatisfied customers.

We have only rave revues for The Hermitage Inn and feel so grateful to have it back in business and better than ever. The new owners, Mary Lou and Tim have knocked it out of the park in every way. Every bite of everything on the menu is delicious, the staff is attentive and the atmosphere is charming and cozy. A true gem!!!

Outstanding cocktails, wine, service and even better food! Some people in our group commented that it was some of the best food they've had anywhere and I would agree. Congratulations to the new owners - they have done an amazing job executing on a well thought out vision for the Inn and have created a truly unique experience in Dover. We will absolutely be back.

This place is 10 stars, amazing drinks the food is better, we got the cheese board appetizer it was phenomenal, followed up by the gnocchi ( only regret not getting 2 cause it was so good.) Had the filet mignon as an entree which was a 9.5/10. Highly highly recommend, we made a tavern dining area reservation. Can't speak highly enough about it.

Unwind by the open fire over cocktails before settling in for a wonderful and memorable meal. Picturesque setting with cozy vibe. The food, drinks and service all off the charts. Upscale and sophisticated with great menu. Like having dinner in a snow globe when the weather cooperates.

Worst experience of our 32 years of travel. The Hermitage Inn was once a warm, well run inn with gracious hosts and a helpful accommodating staff. The new Hermitage is anything but. An expensive disappointment.

This is worth a visit and a detour. They have done a fabulous job renovating this inn and restaurant. Tastefully done, I prefer the tavern to the larger bright dining room. You can enjoy both menus in either restaurant. The sommelier is very knowledgeable. Everything we had from the truffle chicken pot pie to duck was superb. The cocktails are great as are the deserts. It is cozy yet elegant - a real winner.