Worth the Right Turn!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 3/6/08
The Beechwood building is beautiful. It is just large enough to have presence, but not so large as to appear gaudy or imposing. I was told, the same person responsible for building the West Baden hotel in 1901, had Beechwood built to be his personal residence.
We were greeted by a very nice lady named Betty. She was both hostess and server. Throughout the meal she was very attentive, sincere and sweet. Betty’s sincerity stood out, especially in contrast to an earlier meal elsewhere, where the waitress wore an obviously glued on smile and permanent laugh that cried out “I hate you tourists!.”
The atmosphere is warm and cozy. At first it seemed dark and a little eerie (it looks like the very place Col. Mustard killed so and so with the candlestick.) However, after a few minutes your eyes adjust and the light from the fireplace illuminates old regional photographs, a little library collection and beautiful styling on both the wood walls and intricate ceiling.
In a nutshell: We both ate, olive bread, shared a great appetizer, enjoyed fresh salads, well prepared entrees all while enjoying a unique beautiful setting, being helped by wonderful employees. When the meal was over, the chef even came out to see how we liked it.
When comparing this $50 dinner (including tip, no alcohol) to dinner at our hotel’s signature fancy schmansee Northern Italian cuisine that came in at $110 (including tip + bottle of low end wine), there’s no contest. It’s true you’ll get more complex flavors and a more “mature” meal at the expensive place. However, one thing you don’t have to deal with at Beechwood is a pretentious waitress, six dollar water, and a surprising level of discomfort. I enjoyed the Beechwood experience more than any other place we ate over the course of four days. While the food may clock in around a 7 out of 10 compared to 9 out of 10 at the more expensive place, having a genuine staff, engaged chef, and a cozier dining environment really makes the difference.
I’ll be sure to stop by Beechwood for dinner next time I’m in the Paoli Peaks, West Baden, French Lick area of Indiana.
If their Bed and Breakfast is as enjoyable as their dining, it would be worth your while to book a night’s sleep there.
Overall, this is a great place with great service at a great value that’s left a positive impression well after the experience. A lasting positive impression, how rare is that these days?