Wiggins Tavern - Northampton, MA

Wiggins Tavern has been a Northampton establishment for many decades. My mother remembers going there as a Smith student in the '40s. It is now part of the Hotel Northampton and there is a separate daytime Cafe associated with it.

We went for dinner on a Friday evening and while the atmosphere was nice enough - large old fireplace and foundation walls - we found the food to be mediocre and the service to be extremely slow. We were the first ones in the door when they opened at 5pm yet it took well over an hour to get our food. Our waitress was very friendly and solicitous but would disappear for long periods of time though the place was barely half full. We waited for 15 minutes for her to reappear so we could pay our bill and I finally took it to the bar. It then took more than 10 minutes to get it back.

The menu is very heavy on meat. Our waitress tried to talk us into the prime rib at least three times. The half chicken was dried out and bland, the salmon in tomato sauce was a huge portion and passably tasty. The broiled salmon was also quite dry. The stuff shrimp were tasty by over priced with just four for $23. Dessert selection was varied and tasty.

I don't think we'll be going back. There are too many other fine places to eat in the are with better food, service, prices and selection. Try East Side Grill or Spoletos about one block away.