Just attended our niece's wedding at this venue. If you are looking at this venue for a wedding, consider the information below. You may want to choose a venue that meets your expectations with more professional employees. Where does one begin based on the experience, especially realizing how much they paid for the venue. 1. The wedding planner should be fired based on the getup that she was wearing. Stringy hair, tennis shoes, bad personality, and 1970s hippie style dress do not exude confidence. 2. Although the weather was calling for rain, she wouldn't let the bridal party rehearse in the playhouse the night before because she didn't have time and had an appointment. The wedding was ultimately held inside and was clear no rehearsal. When the wedding was moved inside, the gazebo and barrel weren't. So instead of using something picked out by the bride and rental fees paid, the planner chose to use faded, creased, table clothes on a table as the backdrop. 3. The planner had the floral swag upside and then attempted to dismantle it in front of the audience because she needed 2 flowers. 4. The folks from the facility that were passing out programs were arguing when we approached and were dressed like they were ready for an excursion at Wal-Mart. 5. The planner misplaced the throw away bouquet that was tagged in the box. Broke some of the flowers in the head table pieces and didn't even use one of the arrangements made for the cake table. She left it on the bench with other items and bags that she didn't clean up. 6. When I was congratulating the bride, one of the venue folks came up and abruptly interrupted, rolling her eyes and said to the bride time to move along. When I mentioned that it was the bride's day, she even was more rude by saying "that dinner is in 5 minutes" and walked off. 7. Speaking of food: the venue ran out of the piddly reception food in 10 minutes; The waitress serving the food didn't even know the type of dressing on the salad; my 9 yr old son said his kid's chicken fingers sucked (I tried, they did, were like styrofoam and the fries were cold); and, the green beans weren't steamed, were raw. 8. Although the venue is rustic, it isn't an intimate venue for a large wedding. Tables were down the side corridor. Folks couldn't hear or see the wedding party arriving or the toasts. Also, since the dance floor was where the wedding party sat, dancing couldn't occur until after their tables were moved and the DJ couldn't start because of spacing. 9. At 9 pm, when we left, the wedding cake hadn't been cut. 10. When waiting for a soda at the bar, "the assumed owner or manager" was arguing with a support staff about her schedule for the night and ignored me for 2 or 3 minutes until she finally told the lady, "go, if you don't want to work." In conclusion, as a visitor to the area, wasn't impressed.
(1)
Sean H.
I have been coming to the Mountain Playhouse to work since 2011, and one of the highlights of spending the summer in Jennerstown is enjoying the food at Green Gables. Chef Susan Kroft is always coming up with great ideas and serving some of the freshest and best ingredients (and I live in NYC, where you can find some of the best!). My favorites new additions this year have been the PEI mussels and the seafood fritters. Their specialty cocktails never disappoint - I enjoyed a blueberry mojito this season! And their wine & beer list is second to none - my favorites are the Chateau de la Vieille Tour Bordeaux Blanc and the Montoya Pinot Noir.
(5)
Joseph K.
Green Gables is quite possibly the best restaurant between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. I was born and bred in the area but my palate has grown since I decamped for more urbane environs long ago. I am always delighted by my experiences at this restaurant. The menu is thoughtful and and its execution is exquisite. The atmosphere is charmingly rustic and the grounds are lovely. My sister had her wedding here and it was perfect. It's the apotheosis of the culinary arts in the Laurel Highlands.
(5)
Catherine H.
The first three times I was here everything was perfect. This time, not so much. The lobster 'nacho's' were not made with fresh lobster, and the balsamic was way overdone. It had potential but never made the mark. The green bean salad also had potential but only had three green beans, way too much feta, and was over dressed. My veal with gnocchi was good, but my husbands risotto was more of a rice cake than risotto. I wish that if a chef can't make risotto that they leave it off the menu. The menu reads like a dream, but it's not being executed. Because I love staying in their rooms and rental houses, I will try eating here again, but I don't give more than one more chance.
(3)
Jessica P.
The ambiance at this location is perfect. The restaurant is quaint, charming and romantic. We joined 2 other couples for New Years Eve and the consensus is mutual regarding this review. We were immediately greeted at the door by a pleasant hostess who made us feel very welcome. We ordered off the New Years Eve menu and felt that our appetizers and salads left something to be desired. Although they did grill the romaine for the Cesar salad, which was wonderful, the dressing for the salad was extremely overpowering and left a very unpleasant aftertaste on our palates. Our entrees where incredible, however, and the reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars.. We ordered the flank steak, lamb, pork and filet and we were all very satisfied. Last but not least, our service was far from accommodating. We waited a substantial amount if time before our waitress took our drink order, came back with our drinks, took our food order, served us our 3 courses and came back with our bill. The entire dinner took 2 hours and 45 minutes. I can appreciate not being rushed through a dinner service and feeling that you can take your time to enjoy. This, however, was exorbitant and left us all feeling disappointed.
Since 1927 when a farmer had milked his last cow and decided to follow his dream of opening up a roadside restaurant, the Green Gables has transformed over the years into a beautiful fine dining establishment. Beautiful gardens, waterfalls and landscaping surround this gorgeous restaurant. Inside tasteful decor and fireplaces are seen from your perfectly dressed tables. Chef Shay MacDonald, formerly of the four star Charleston Place Hotel, SC. conjures up gastronomical plates that are artfully constructed and you actually feel guilty diving in. Sommelier, Ben Grace has selected over eighty wines to pair with your meals. The first Friday of each month has a wine tasting of six wines along with hors d'oeuvres for $25.00. The second Friday of each month has a beer tasting menu with hors d'oeuvres for $20.00 pp. The menu is so creative from beginning to the tasteful treats ending an awesome dining experience. I love the chorizo stuffed dates with the smoky bacon and tomato coulis to start, however do plan on as many courses as you can fit in your belly as their innovative and delicious soups and salads are not to be missed. Their roasted beef tenderloin melts in your mouth and the barbecued pork tenderloin is perfection. They must have a master pastry chef, who conjures up creations like chocolate cake stuffed with chocolate cheesecake, covered in ganache with a peanut butter crème anglaise and garnished with peanut bacon brittle. Outstanding service, ambiance and food will welcome you at this historical landmark. Do be sure to call in advance and to inquire as to their hours because they are short and sweet.
(4)
Ann R.
We wanted something other than fast food during our trek across PA on the turnpike...and found this gem. Fresh food and beautiful grounds make it worth the stop.
(4)
Simon B.
My girlfriend and I had the pleasure of staying at the Huddleson Court, and we booked a package with the Green Gables restaurant that included beer & wine tasting, a dinner for two (appetizer, entree, desert, and non-alcoolic beverages). Beer & Wine Tasting ($20 6 wines, $25 8 beers): I chose the beer tasting, she chose the wine tasting. We enter the restaurant, and the room for the tastings is all the way at the back. To our left, two tables with the two ladies who served the drinks and offered information about each product. The wines and beer were interesting, all coming from American independent owners. The staff was knowledgeable, but some of the information felt very rehearsed. The very nice lady responsible for the beer tasting was throwing out beer jargon like it's nobody's business, but couldn't always answer very simple questions. Other than that, it was a pleasure. The room was cold (it was a freezing cold winter night) but after a couple drinks we felt fine. The hors-d'oeuvre were filling, but nothing special. We could have absolutely skipped dinner, and just had more hors-d'oeuvres and left satisfied :) The meal: It was about 8PM when we sat down. We had a lovely small table in the main room, fairly close to the giant fairplace that illuminated and heated the room. It was romantic, and gave an excellent atmosphere. Our meal was prepaid through the package we had booked (including gratuity and taxes), so I wasn't surprised to see that the waitstaff gave us a little less attention that would be warranted in this kind of establishment. Our waitress, an older lady, was visibly tired from a long evening. I ordered a beer from their nice selection of microbrews, and we both had appetizers. The oven oysters were particularly delicious. I had the filet mignon, and she had the clams. The filet mignon was very cook, and of perfect size. It was served with a red wine reduction that I didn't care much for (way too acid), over beef-stuffed blini's (think thin Russian crepes). The desert menu looked very appetizing. I had the phylo and fruits dessert, which had blueberries, peach and other small fruits wrapped in phylo. It was supposed to be topped with creme anglaise, but was instead topped with the same fruit-based couli that my girlfriend had on her cake. I guess the chef felt a little lazy about 10PM, and hoped it would go unnoticed. At least, I would have welcomed a head-ups. Summary: We had a fantastic time at the Green Gables. The beer & wine tasting were fantastic, and so was the selection. When it came to dinner, the meal was mostly excellent, although not enough so that I see us driving another 1.5h back to the restaurant. Judging on what we saw, taking a package deal with the courthouse may not have been the best idea ever. I felt our service was a little rushed, and similarly for our food. Not 5 stars in my book, but still very recommended. Tip: If you participate in the wine/beer tasting, you get 50% of night's stay at the courthouse, which for two, effectively makes the wine/beer tasting free :)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
John D.
Just attended our niece's wedding at this venue. If you are looking at this venue for a wedding, consider the information below. You may want to choose a venue that meets your expectations with more professional employees. Where does one begin based on the experience, especially realizing how much they paid for the venue. 1. The wedding planner should be fired based on the getup that she was wearing. Stringy hair, tennis shoes, bad personality, and 1970s hippie style dress do not exude confidence. 2. Although the weather was calling for rain, she wouldn't let the bridal party rehearse in the playhouse the night before because she didn't have time and had an appointment. The wedding was ultimately held inside and was clear no rehearsal. When the wedding was moved inside, the gazebo and barrel weren't. So instead of using something picked out by the bride and rental fees paid, the planner chose to use faded, creased, table clothes on a table as the backdrop. 3. The planner had the floral swag upside and then attempted to dismantle it in front of the audience because she needed 2 flowers. 4. The folks from the facility that were passing out programs were arguing when we approached and were dressed like they were ready for an excursion at Wal-Mart. 5. The planner misplaced the throw away bouquet that was tagged in the box. Broke some of the flowers in the head table pieces and didn't even use one of the arrangements made for the cake table. She left it on the bench with other items and bags that she didn't clean up. 6. When I was congratulating the bride, one of the venue folks came up and abruptly interrupted, rolling her eyes and said to the bride time to move along. When I mentioned that it was the bride's day, she even was more rude by saying "that dinner is in 5 minutes" and walked off. 7. Speaking of food: the venue ran out of the piddly reception food in 10 minutes; The waitress serving the food didn't even know the type of dressing on the salad; my 9 yr old son said his kid's chicken fingers sucked (I tried, they did, were like styrofoam and the fries were cold); and, the green beans weren't steamed, were raw. 8. Although the venue is rustic, it isn't an intimate venue for a large wedding. Tables were down the side corridor. Folks couldn't hear or see the wedding party arriving or the toasts. Also, since the dance floor was where the wedding party sat, dancing couldn't occur until after their tables were moved and the DJ couldn't start because of spacing. 9. At 9 pm, when we left, the wedding cake hadn't been cut. 10. When waiting for a soda at the bar, "the assumed owner or manager" was arguing with a support staff about her schedule for the night and ignored me for 2 or 3 minutes until she finally told the lady, "go, if you don't want to work." In conclusion, as a visitor to the area, wasn't impressed.
(1)Sean H.
I have been coming to the Mountain Playhouse to work since 2011, and one of the highlights of spending the summer in Jennerstown is enjoying the food at Green Gables. Chef Susan Kroft is always coming up with great ideas and serving some of the freshest and best ingredients (and I live in NYC, where you can find some of the best!). My favorites new additions this year have been the PEI mussels and the seafood fritters. Their specialty cocktails never disappoint - I enjoyed a blueberry mojito this season! And their wine & beer list is second to none - my favorites are the Chateau de la Vieille Tour Bordeaux Blanc and the Montoya Pinot Noir.
(5)Joseph K.
Green Gables is quite possibly the best restaurant between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. I was born and bred in the area but my palate has grown since I decamped for more urbane environs long ago. I am always delighted by my experiences at this restaurant. The menu is thoughtful and and its execution is exquisite. The atmosphere is charmingly rustic and the grounds are lovely. My sister had her wedding here and it was perfect. It's the apotheosis of the culinary arts in the Laurel Highlands.
(5)Catherine H.
The first three times I was here everything was perfect. This time, not so much. The lobster 'nacho's' were not made with fresh lobster, and the balsamic was way overdone. It had potential but never made the mark. The green bean salad also had potential but only had three green beans, way too much feta, and was over dressed. My veal with gnocchi was good, but my husbands risotto was more of a rice cake than risotto. I wish that if a chef can't make risotto that they leave it off the menu. The menu reads like a dream, but it's not being executed. Because I love staying in their rooms and rental houses, I will try eating here again, but I don't give more than one more chance.
(3)Jessica P.
The ambiance at this location is perfect. The restaurant is quaint, charming and romantic. We joined 2 other couples for New Years Eve and the consensus is mutual regarding this review. We were immediately greeted at the door by a pleasant hostess who made us feel very welcome. We ordered off the New Years Eve menu and felt that our appetizers and salads left something to be desired. Although they did grill the romaine for the Cesar salad, which was wonderful, the dressing for the salad was extremely overpowering and left a very unpleasant aftertaste on our palates. Our entrees where incredible, however, and the reason I am giving this restaurant 2 stars.. We ordered the flank steak, lamb, pork and filet and we were all very satisfied. Last but not least, our service was far from accommodating. We waited a substantial amount if time before our waitress took our drink order, came back with our drinks, took our food order, served us our 3 courses and came back with our bill. The entire dinner took 2 hours and 45 minutes. I can appreciate not being rushed through a dinner service and feeling that you can take your time to enjoy. This, however, was exorbitant and left us all feeling disappointed.
(2)Linda S.
My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in a quiet way but still have a meaningful experience. This restaurant fit the bill. We made reservations for 6:00 pm to accommodate leisurely dining before we enjoyed an 8:00 pm performance at the adjoining Mountain Playhouse. From the moment we walked through the door, it was clear we were in for an unusual experience. The decor is fascinating. Everywhere you look there is something interesting. I describe it as a fusion of rustic-gothic-cottage. Weird sounding, I know, but here it works. We were seated by a pleasant hostess and presented a menu filled with pages of craft beer selections, wine and of course, the food offerings. I have never seen so many craft beer selections in a restaurant. I walked in with a preconceived notion of ordering a glass of wine. They also had an entire menu dedicated to wine by the bottle. But the beer was more enticing. We spent a lot of time deciding on which to choose. The food was equally unusual to the decor in the combination of styles. Fresh local foods, some of which were grown right on the grounds, paired with influences from around the globe. Not just French and Italian, but you could see Middle Eastern, German, Asian and Latin influences throughout the menu. My husband selected the oyster stew as a starter and the Pennsylvania surf and turf as his entree (venison and wall-eye). He loved the entree but the addition of sweet potatoes to the oyster stew was odd to him at first. He was remembering his mothers version when he ordered it, but said that it grew on him as he ate his way through the bowl. The venison was a chop with a bone in it, and he was expecting a filet, but he said the favors were outstanding . I ordered the blueberry Brie salad as a starter and the grass fed beef filet as an entree. The salad came piled high with home grown red tipped leaf lettuce dressed in a light honey balsamic. Candied pecans, red onions and blueberries were mixed in and a slab of grilled Brie completed the dish. Delicious and light! My filet was perfectly cooked and was a generous portion. It sat atop a bed of mushroom pasta and blue cheese chunks. I was in heaven! Since my husband can never pass up dessert, we agreed to view the dessert menu. He chose the creme brûlée of the day, which was blackberry. I shared it with him and it was the perfect ending to a great meal. An unusual find in a beautiful setting with above average food and an efficient wait staff. We will definitely go back for more.
(4)DJ M.
Since 1927 when a farmer had milked his last cow and decided to follow his dream of opening up a roadside restaurant, the Green Gables has transformed over the years into a beautiful fine dining establishment. Beautiful gardens, waterfalls and landscaping surround this gorgeous restaurant. Inside tasteful decor and fireplaces are seen from your perfectly dressed tables. Chef Shay MacDonald, formerly of the four star Charleston Place Hotel, SC. conjures up gastronomical plates that are artfully constructed and you actually feel guilty diving in. Sommelier, Ben Grace has selected over eighty wines to pair with your meals. The first Friday of each month has a wine tasting of six wines along with hors d'oeuvres for $25.00. The second Friday of each month has a beer tasting menu with hors d'oeuvres for $20.00 pp. The menu is so creative from beginning to the tasteful treats ending an awesome dining experience. I love the chorizo stuffed dates with the smoky bacon and tomato coulis to start, however do plan on as many courses as you can fit in your belly as their innovative and delicious soups and salads are not to be missed. Their roasted beef tenderloin melts in your mouth and the barbecued pork tenderloin is perfection. They must have a master pastry chef, who conjures up creations like chocolate cake stuffed with chocolate cheesecake, covered in ganache with a peanut butter crème anglaise and garnished with peanut bacon brittle. Outstanding service, ambiance and food will welcome you at this historical landmark. Do be sure to call in advance and to inquire as to their hours because they are short and sweet.
(4)Ann R.
We wanted something other than fast food during our trek across PA on the turnpike...and found this gem. Fresh food and beautiful grounds make it worth the stop.
(4)Simon B.
My girlfriend and I had the pleasure of staying at the Huddleson Court, and we booked a package with the Green Gables restaurant that included beer & wine tasting, a dinner for two (appetizer, entree, desert, and non-alcoolic beverages). Beer & Wine Tasting ($20 6 wines, $25 8 beers): I chose the beer tasting, she chose the wine tasting. We enter the restaurant, and the room for the tastings is all the way at the back. To our left, two tables with the two ladies who served the drinks and offered information about each product. The wines and beer were interesting, all coming from American independent owners. The staff was knowledgeable, but some of the information felt very rehearsed. The very nice lady responsible for the beer tasting was throwing out beer jargon like it's nobody's business, but couldn't always answer very simple questions. Other than that, it was a pleasure. The room was cold (it was a freezing cold winter night) but after a couple drinks we felt fine. The hors-d'oeuvre were filling, but nothing special. We could have absolutely skipped dinner, and just had more hors-d'oeuvres and left satisfied :) The meal: It was about 8PM when we sat down. We had a lovely small table in the main room, fairly close to the giant fairplace that illuminated and heated the room. It was romantic, and gave an excellent atmosphere. Our meal was prepaid through the package we had booked (including gratuity and taxes), so I wasn't surprised to see that the waitstaff gave us a little less attention that would be warranted in this kind of establishment. Our waitress, an older lady, was visibly tired from a long evening. I ordered a beer from their nice selection of microbrews, and we both had appetizers. The oven oysters were particularly delicious. I had the filet mignon, and she had the clams. The filet mignon was very cook, and of perfect size. It was served with a red wine reduction that I didn't care much for (way too acid), over beef-stuffed blini's (think thin Russian crepes). The desert menu looked very appetizing. I had the phylo and fruits dessert, which had blueberries, peach and other small fruits wrapped in phylo. It was supposed to be topped with creme anglaise, but was instead topped with the same fruit-based couli that my girlfriend had on her cake. I guess the chef felt a little lazy about 10PM, and hoped it would go unnoticed. At least, I would have welcomed a head-ups. Summary: We had a fantastic time at the Green Gables. The beer & wine tasting were fantastic, and so was the selection. When it came to dinner, the meal was mostly excellent, although not enough so that I see us driving another 1.5h back to the restaurant. Judging on what we saw, taking a package deal with the courthouse may not have been the best idea ever. I felt our service was a little rushed, and similarly for our food. Not 5 stars in my book, but still very recommended. Tip: If you participate in the wine/beer tasting, you get 50% of night's stay at the courthouse, which for two, effectively makes the wine/beer tasting free :)
(4)