Willows Inn
Restaurant · Grove
10905 Main St, Sinnamahoning, PA 15861
Highlights
Offers steak night, burgers, pizza, and fresh-cut fries
Offers steak night, burgers, pizza, and fresh-cut fries
"A destination restaurant on Lummi Island that has influenced contemporary fine dining but was the subject of an investigative expose about abuse and sexual misconduct, calling into question leadership practices despite its culinary prestige." - Reem Assil
"Situated on a remote island with eight guest rooms, the property was transformed into a fine-dining destination after chef Blaine Wetzel joined in 2010; his cuisine and leadership—he assumed general operations in 2015—made the restaurant the central reason people visit, with lodging complementing the culinary experience." - Dana Hatic
"A remote Lummi Island restaurant led by chef Blaine Wetzel — a Noma alum who took over the kitchen at 24 and turned the inn into a destination for multicourse, island-focused feasts — is accused in a New York Times report of routinely misrepresenting ingredients and fostering a toxic workplace. Thirty-five current and former employees say many purportedly “island” ingredients were actually sourced from the mainland or abroad (reports cite “Pacific octopus” from Spain and Portugal, “wild” venison from an Idaho farm, bulk roasted drippings made from organic Costco chickens, supermarket beets and broccoli, and frozen Alaskan scallops trimmed and reshaped to pass as pink singing scallops). Staffers describe pervasive abuse, including physical intimidation, public humiliation, racist, sexist and homophobic slurs, sexual harassment of female and teenage island employees, and a boys’-club culture in which women were routinely passed over for promotions and pressured to alter their appearance at personal expense. The operation has faced formal labor actions — a 2017 Department of Labor finding and fine over long unpaid or underpaid shifts and the use of unpaid interns, and a recent $600,000 class-action settlement over alleged wage theft (without admission of wrongdoing). The chef has broadly denied the allegations." - Rachel Sugar
Thomas
Max Aronow
Tyrelie
Jason Landman
Me`Me` Madore
Ted W
Timothy Haut
Sheila Thoman
