The Hopkins Inn & Restaurant

I had a wonderful stay at this lovely inn overlooking beautiful Lake Waramug. The staff at the inn exceed expectations with their warm hospitality. The view from the inn and the rooms is breathtaking. The inn has several inviting spots to sit and enjoy a meal or drink including the outside patio, the pub and the dining room which have views of the lake. We went there with my son who had fractured his ankle and the managers were so incredibly warm and accommodating. A few steps away is the Hopkins Winery where we enjoyed live music, delicious wine and delicious charcuteries! I wish I could have stayed here for a week!! Can’t wait to go back.

Simply a 5 star experience. Amazing food. Beautiful location. Excellent service. Nothing else needs to be said. There's nowhere better in CT for authentic German food I've only ever eaten here so I cant comment on the inn

Beautiful setting which is about thing only good I can say. The food was sub par. The staff was less than gracious. To top it all off, I left my sunglasses on the table and when I called to retrieve them they didn’t know anything about it after telling me to send an email with my inquiry. I’m not one to write these reviews but I feel compelled to speak out if for no other reason than to get through to the manager who may not have a clue.

I surprised my notoriously picky, German wife for this Austrian restaurant after a local hike. And surprise surprise she loved her Veal Kidneys Dijonase and I loved my Chicken Cordon Bleu. And if it wasn’t for the two $6.75 beers, our bill would have been a little more than ordering two giant Jersey Mike’s sub sandwiches! Great value for our money. And did I mention great views from the outdoor deck? See pics! As a bonus, we got to meet the owner who was very gracious and friendly. Go on a weekday to beat the crowds because food this great, word must get around! Five Stars!

I had never visited Hopkins Inn. Today I had the PLEASURE of dining there. Where to begin…..The atmosphere is wonderful, beautifully decorated for upcoming Easter. It is warm, cozy, immaculate. The wait staff is second to none, the young man greeting us and to seat us was friendly, professional and had great knowledge of the inn seating. He gave us a few choices of where we may want to sit, in the nearly full restaurant. What a pleasant surprise.||It is the end of restaurant week. We chose to select the restaurant week menu. It was positively delicious! Warm bread, a lettuce, julienne beet, walnut dressing with a delicious dressing. Next our entree of fresh carrots, fresh green beans, julienne roasted potatoes and the juiciest, moist chicken cordon blue. And as though it wasn’t sensational enough, our choice for dessert was coffee chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate icing and pecan brickle. I’ve eaten at many choice restaurants, I’m a finicky eater. If someone asked me, what could have made this experience even better? My honest answer, would be, positively nothing. It was perfect from beginning to end. Thank you Hopkin Inn’s staff. I look forward to dining here again. Sincerely, Sheryl S.

Our party of 4 had a wonderful lunch at the Hopkins Inn terrace restaurant -- didn't sleep here. The food is fabulous and the service is superior. It was a perfect weather day so overlooking Lake Waramag was wonderful.

We ate dinner there with some family members and really enjoyed it. My husband is Austrian and that's what attracted us to go. They have several Austrian specialties on the menu. It was all delicious!

This place is historic and the setting is spectacular. It's too bad its food and service are so careless and just below average. We went there on a beautiful autumn Sunday evening after a lovely hike and drive around the lake. Expecting a special experience, we ordered from a promising but pricey menu. Our server took over 20 min to ask if we would like a drink. Fifteen min later he came back for our order. The food was very average - and disappointing considering the price. A piece of salmon, string beans and cauliflower $30+. No one checked on our table throughout the meal, and it was not until we waved to the waiter that our plates were removed and a while later dessert menus were dropped at the table. Our waiter seemed overwhelmed, very stressed, and altogether distracted. When I went to find him to request the check, he was no where to be found. Considering the reputation of the Hopkins Inn, and our expectations considering the gorgeous setting and the prices on the menu, we were all together disappointed.

The food, the ambiance, the service are all perfect. During this most recent visit and also in the past, I have ordered the Wiener schnitzel. I love it and will probably order it again next time I go. My husband ordered the Bratwurst, as an appetizer, and the seafood saute, as a main dish. He had also ordered these the last time we were there. He likes them so much, why try anything else? The pre-dinner cocktails we had - Barr Hill tonic for me and Aperol Spritz for my husband - were very refreshing. Every time we go to this restaurant for dinner, we have sat outside overlooking Lake Waramaug. What a view! Our server was very competent. We never felt rushed and we truly enjoyed every minute of our meal. We went on Saturday evening and the restaurant was packed; however, the staff was able to manage it well and they were very welcoming. We are looking forward to our next meal here.

We just had the most delicious lunch! Love driving up this way for one of the best foliage in Ct. We called to make a reservation and while it took a while for us to get seated just because of the group in front of us, it was worth it! The very nice lady with the long, silver hair was able to accommodate our request and found a table in the sun for us. She was able to bring our lunch fast since we didn't had a lot of time and it was perfect. You have to try the fresh made garlic bread , Caesar salad and French onion soup. It doesn't get better than this! The interior of the restaurant was beautifully decorated for fall and very busy! Great ambiance! Will definitely return!

What a cute little restaurant nestled under an old fashioned inn. The views of Lake Waramaug are great. If it is rainy then you can retreat inside and enjoy the air conditioning. Portions are generous and service is top notch. I'm a huge fan of fried foods and the wienersnitzel hit the spot. I was craving some warm German potato salad but the fried potato pancake did the job in a pinch.

The restaurant has beautiful views of Lake Waramaug. The interior is cozy and rustic, but a bit dated. I had a beef stroganoff with spaetzle and veggies. It was delicious! The beef was amazingly tender. They could have been a bit more generous with the spaetzle, but it was homemade and tasty. The bread was warm and crusty...perfect! The food came out to the table fast and piping hot! The staff was ok. All were teens and they needed a bit more polish and professionalism.

My wife ordered Wiener schnitzel and I ordered the shank dish To start the service was not what we expected with this type of establishment..Well the shank was on the dry side. The veal was deep fried.Never heard of it.That should have been pan fried. So taken back that we told most of our friends that we will not go back.

We have dined at Hopkins Inn often shortly following Franz and Beth Schober adopting the place in 1975. Every anniversary, every back-to-school night for our son in Septembers, Easters with friends, and a host of other ordinary and special times. Each and every meal has been exquisitely fine. Imagine and behold: the menu has been basically the same for nearly 50 years and the constancy of quality is solid testimony that the Hopkins Inn is the very best of the best dining experiences in Litchfield county. From a warm greeting at the door to an attentive wait staff to the presentation of the selected meal: excellent!

After reading other yelp reviews. I won't be staying there. Seriously Mold in the Closet And you store pillows in the closet too near the mold.

We re back seven months later. We're sitting outside under the porch, but ask to be seated in the sun! Not a problem. Things are decidedly better. Quinn comes right over to ask if we're being served. So he hops right to it! We order the Lohr Cabernet and have had a 1/2 bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne. Both are great! Perfect. Ready to order. First appetizers neon melon and prosciutto, pate with red onions, hard boiled egg, cole slaw etc. and the delicious escargot All just wonderful!! For entrees we've ordered. Weiner schnitzel, chicken cordon blue, roasted duck with vegetables and Jager schnitzel with red cabbage and potatoes All is just wonderful. Really good! It's the end of the meal and it's getting chilly. So we pass on the dessert. Just a couple of espressos will be fine

Last nights meal and service was excellent. Sauerbraten was really good. Always enjoy going here.

I will be eating there this summer for the first time in six years. My Dad knew the owners and we had been going for decades from our home in South Kent. I'm so excited to be going for the first time with my granddaughter- the 4th generation!

This review is on the takeaway and therefore just the food, I have not had the pleasure to dine at the restaurant yet. The Hopkins Inn was a lifesaver during Covid - fancy meals that you could bring home! My most recent experience was Easter 2022, where I got to try sweetbreads. They were almost buttery and smooth, I would definitely have them again. The dessert was flavorful and traveled very well, not a jiggle out of place. Thank you for making holidays special during these challenging times!

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our night at the Hopkins Inn. She commented that every single staff member we encountered was positive, upbeat and helpful. Quaint, comfortable room with a king bed was very nice, but the restaurant is what drew us there, and it did not disappoint. We were looking for Swiss/German fare, and the Inn's menu was authentic and delicious with hearty portions. Thanks to everyone who made our stay so enjoyable!

Great view of the lake. My friend and I begin the summer for my birthday here and we end the summer in September to celebrate her birthday. I mentioned that we were celebrating her birthday as an aside conversation when reserving the table. Didn't think about it and her dessert came out with a candle lit.

Wiener Schnitzel with veal, but with brown sauce! We have never seen this in Europe, particularly in Vienna. The Hopkins Inn should have a disclaimer next to this item on the menu. Even though the entrée was tasty and the breading light and crispy, it was simply not authentic. Everything else about this birthday meal from salad through dessert was great.

Great views Accommodating staff Wonderful food. The schnitzel was excellent We went without reservations for an early dinner on a Saturday in September. We're seated inside and then the skies opened up. The restaurant moved all of the guests dining on the outdoor patio inside. Other than the hubbub of moving 20 or so people into the restaurant, our service and meal were great. Highly recommend the patio on a day without rain. The views are amazing.

Yes the food is always excellent, yesterday the service was very good our waitress was Isabelle, wonderful girl. But one problem we had the room we were in was set for twelve people which was beautiful the problem was other people were coming in & out while we were eating to use the bathroom or to leave the Inn, I'm sorry but that was very annoying and the nerve of these people which they could of exit another entrance, that's the only problem, next time please let other guest when there is a private dinner party not to disturb the room. Thank you

Atmosphere and views abound in the restaurant! Historic Inn vibe, their winery right next door. Food is old school Americanized-German, large portions and rich meats. We go for the place rather than for the food. Huge outdoor shaded patio when the weather is fine has great views and shade. The winery, a separate building next door has a shop and has live music in early evenings out on a gorgeous lawn but I don't recall seeing seats there, maybe a few picnic tables, people were sitting on blankets with picnics.

We went there on a Saturday afternoon, had a reservation. Service was great, appetizers of clam casino and escargot were delicious. For entrees, we had Tuna Caesar which was outstanding rare seared ahi tuna, scallops, and pan fried trout. All entrees were outstanding. Views are beautiful. Definitely will be back!!

Hopkins Inn was just the most beautiful place to have lunch on a Saturday afternoon in the fall. We ate outside on the outdoor patio under the big beautiful oak tree with a view of Lake Waramaug. We were given a choice of indoor or outdoor. It was packed and the people kept coming. The service was slow. We were seated and had to wait 15-20 minutes to see a waiter and get our water. They had an excuse though , that there were no clean water glasses. Upon receiving our water we immediately put in our food order. I emphasized that I wanted my coffee before anything and my husband got an appetizer of cream of garlic soup. They were both brought out at the same time. She also brought out bread. Now this is when the big wait started. My husband waited for his wine but never got it. She was hardly ever in the outdoor area for us to even ask about the wine. Then one time she was outside, she said," It'll just be a second. It's on its way out ." It came out 10 minutes later. We waited for 30 minutes. I would score the food as five stars. I had the sauerbraten and my husband had a seafood casserole type entree. The sauerbraten was tender and the gravy had the perfect amount of vinegar. Cooked red cabbage was excellent but the spatzle looked like it had been fried and I didn't like the taste. My husband's garlic soup was nothing special, not horrible but not great. His entree had swordfish, salmon, shrimp and the rest was chunked fish in a delicious sauce with dry rice and fresh broccoli/cauliflower. I would definitely go back because the food was worth it. It's hard to find good sauerbraten.

Atmosphere is beyond beautiful when seated outside. My husband and I have been going for our anniversary dinner for the past 21 years. For the last 10 of those years, we hoped that they would eventually offer gluten free options as part of their regular menu, but they haven't. I called this morning to be sure, and the woman who answered could not have cared less to entertain the idea or even offer something in advance knowing ahead of time that we were coming. Her answer was, "there is no way around it, it is in everything." Interesting that every other restaurant in the world has figured out a way around it. Very poor customer service. Sadly, we won't be back.

Loved the food and their decor. They have such nice views from the restaurant. The food tasted awesome. The price seemed fair. Portions are proper.

My first trip to the Inn after wanting to come for many years, I was not disappointed. Stayed in room #15 which overlooked lake Waramaug, what a great room with a private bathroom, the food at the inn was top notch from dinner to breakfast the next day.

First time there to celebrate Mother's Day. Not sure what others are talking about regarding terrible service and mediocre food. The reservation process and maître-d were very organized. The wait staff could not be more attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The ambience speaks for itself on a beautiful spring afternoon with the gorgeous lake as a backdrop. The food was appropriate for a German style restaurant - hearty, delicious and ample portions for the price reflexive of the elegance of the venue. IMHO, I think the bad rating were from jealous competitors... I'd go again in a heartbeat, especially if I wanted to make a great impression.

A find where one can relax over a good meal with a gorgeous view. The drive was long but worth the time find delicacies long forgotten in the rush clone 'good dining'. My Eggs á la Russe and Veal Kidneys Dijonaisse were a wonderful last from the past. Great service, a nice pour of Rosé and good coffee added an edge to an afternoon delight.

We have dined here many times and the view and setting is absolutely beautiful. The food and service this time was very disappointing. The special of cream of tomato soup had little taste and was watery. 2 of us had the duck special, one came out completely burned. When we pointed that out to our server the only reply was "you are right, I will let the kitchen know". Not sure what has changed here but no longer a place we will drive to.

basics like Bernais done perfectly. wait staff efficient. view, out of this world. right across lane Hopkins vineyard, go there early & make reservations to eat at Zinn afterward.

I just stayed at the inn and the room was super clean and comfy. Haven't eaten at the restaurant but hear it's very good. Great view of the lake.

This place is awesome!!! The authentic food is great and the views from the outside dining porch is amazing. Friendly and efficient staff

Wednesday afternoon lunch for two. No reservations - no problem. Fantastic Austrian European menu in a mid-1800s well preserved, three-story, classic Litchfield Hills, New England Colonial. Fireplaces. Wonderfull proportions and unrivaled views make for a tranquil setting. Food and service were excellent. We both Chose non-Hopkins Wines from CA that were outstanding at $7 per glass. I ordered Sauerbraten, which was good. If Saubraten is suppose to have more of a vineger hit than a beef flavor, then it was true to form. Guessing there are various ways preparing this dish, I feel a bit more beef flavor would have made it perfect for me. Wife's dish was wonderful. Frozen Eclair rich and lucious for desert. Service folks were wonderful. We love this relaxing unhurried place for my wife's b-day!. Will be back soon!

We had a party there for 25. The food and service was very good. Be sure to visit the Vineyard next store.

Went to the restaurant for the first time yesterday and had an amazing time. The food was excellent. The service was great and the views were beautiful! Definitely going to come back.

The view was amazing. It is like walking into and older different world which I thought it was cute. The problem was that the service wasn't great. The waiter was rude and kind of set up the mail for failure. The food was just ok. The bread they gave us was really good.

This is the most unorganized restaurant I have ever dined in. We had a reservation, and the manager walked by us numerous times without helping us. After 10 minutes, I finally had to ask if someone was going to help us. During our lunch today, we had 5 different waiters. There have been dirty dishes left on the tables the entire time we were here. The check was brought to us and we had to wait a very long time for the waiter to return to take the check. The food was just okay. Our water glasses were not refilled. We felt like we were forgotten the entire time. Definitely not worth the trip and will not come back.

No one to greet us our key was just sitting there. If you want to stay here don't pick room 17. Barely can feel air-conditioning. No fridge in the room, but, fellow traveler has one in there's. Advertised with private bath with hand held shower. It does have a hand held shower but it can't be used over the tub line because there is no shower curtain. Sign in bathroom room says water on the floor will leak into dining room downstairs.

We had lunch here today. It's the 3rd or 4th time we've eaten here and we have never been dissapointed. We live an hour away, otherwise we would come here much more often. The ambiance is lovely with the most amazing view of Lake Waramaug. I had the Clams Casino (amazing) and the spinach salad (also amazing!-I always order that) My husband had the Garlic Soup (YUM) and the pork medallions (he loved it) The prices are very fair too. Our service was top notch with Anna as our server. She was great! You must come here! You will be happy you did! Kudos to the Chef and staff!

Another excellent meal and wonderful evening at the beautiful Hopkins Inn. It was a perfect summer evening on the porch where our favorite Austrian specialties were served by the ever-friendly staff. Coming to the Hopkins is one of the highlights of our summer and is like a trip to a European lakeside destination. Don't miss the Toblerone Sundae for dessert! We will be back again and again.......

We stopped by the Hopkins winery to take a look and ended up having lunch by the lake at their restaurant - what a treat! The atmosphere was really nice with the lovely lake view, sitting under the giant oaks relaxing on a perfect-weather Friday. We both had the salmon special which was wonderful and each had a glass of their house chardonnay which was perfect. This is a great place for lunch if you are on the CT Wine Trail. Worth the stop for sure!

The Location and the view are Amazing but that's where it stops. The service was painfully slow, and we had two waitresses, I had to ask each of them 3 times for a refill on my beverage. Me and friend both ordered the broiled scallops because she had them last year and she said they were fantastic, this time not so much . They are not whole scallops there are sliced to give the illusion you are getting your moneys worth , they're were also incredibly salty. You get a serving of steamed and flavorless Broccoli and Cauliflower on the side along with a tiny portion of rice . Definitely not worth the money .... The desert was good and that's about it

Lovely drive and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are traveling on the European mountain side. Austrian Food at its Best, fresh ingredients and the staff are very intelligent in the meal. Chefs are amazing at their craft. Viewings make this place for special people in your life. Birthdays Anniversary or New Memories.

Delicious!!!! A perfect fall and holiday destination. The staff inside and out are true professionals. It's always a pleasant visit.

With its old world charm... these types of places are far and few between... a dying breed indeed, but the food is consistently good and a wide variety of classic Austrian/German staples to choose from. Save room for desert as a myriad of delightful sweets awaits.

The setting is beautiful but service and food so so. So a good place to go if you want to enjoy the view of the lake( sorry can't spell it). I'd go back for the setting

This is one of those times when you want to give more than 4 starts, but it's way too premature to do so. Stopped by for a light lunch the other day and my wife and I shared a salad, appetizer and main dish of Wienersnitzel. First of all, we very much appreciated them plating us separately. I was not asked for or expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. Everything was superb, especially the veal which was extremely tender and flavorful and not overwhelmed by the delicate breading. The salad (I believe that it was the Hopkins Inn Spinach Salad was one of the tastiest that I ever had. The spinach was partially warm/cooked by a bacon-based mixture and take to the next notch with the excellent house vinaigrette. As for the view, atmosphere and service --- all were off the charts. Real old-school charm -- and with the bend of the lake view from the outdoor patio, it's not too hard to imagine one being in Cologne having lunch with a view to the bank of the Rhine! Given the limited exposure, I have to reserve something until I have a bit of a track record, but looking forward to 'awarding' that 5th star is my 2nd experience is close to my first!

Since members of the family work in healthcare and public service not all of us had off on Thanksgiving so we decided to celebrate the Sunday before the holiday at Hopkins Inn. we make an excellent choice. Upon entering we were warmly greeted and immediately shown to our reserved table. The waitress was so accommodating; Took our cocktail orders as soon as we were all comfortably seated. The old fashioned interior was spotlessly clean and the roaring fireplace made it warm and inviting. The meals were beyond delicious. This is a must visit on anyone's list of finer dining.

We had a really exceptional meal at the Hopkins Inn. The scallops were so delicious as was the chicken salad. The garlic bread smelled as good as it tasted, so good. The Hopkins cheesecake is memorable and a bit decadent. Service was wonderful , our waitress was cheerful and so accommodating. The atmosphere relaxing and quaint. The view quite amazing from the terrace to the lake. It would be worth your while to enjoy some time there. Happy Diners

View was amazing! The food was good but not worth the 1.5 hour drive out there. If I lived near there I could see myself going there every once and awhile. The prime rib with very good and tasty but the chicken cordon bleu was very dry and not very tasty. The fresh vegetables were delicious. The staff was very friendly and polite.

We sat on the patio outside with an excellent view of the lake, We both had the Wiener Schnitzel and for dessert, the Apple Strudel , both were excellent. The waitstaff was very attentive, but not intrusive. Every thing was clean and spotless. They follow Covid procedures. Both of us are Registered Nurses and we do pay attention to this factor.

Went to the Hopkins Inn for a bridal shower. (Which by the way was perfect if you're looking for a beautiful Venue) The food was excellent and delicious. The View was beautiful. The staff was friendly and polite. One waitress in particular was very helpful! Her name was Kate and she went above and beyond to get anything our party needed. 10/10 will recommend this Venue all my bride to be friends!

Top notch. Seating/service/food(quality-quantity). One of our favorites. Long time diners. We wouldn't change a thing.