Country Tavern has updated decor, menu

We decided it was time to visit the Country Tavern to check out their renovations and menu changes.

First, we really liked the new digs, and we think Elizabeth, the ghost who is said to walk the floors of this 268-year-old restored farmhouse, would like the new, subtle changes to the decor.

Gone is the dated 1970s look with a heavy emphasis on mauve tones. Now, with its textured, ochre-colored walls, which complement the exposed wooden beams, you really get the feeling of the history that’s such a big draw to the place.

On big-box, chain-restaurant-strewn Amherst Street, it’s nice to sit in a place where you can imagine a simpler Nashua. That, and the new carpets and other subtle touches, has given the Country Tavern a much-needed freshening up.

Let’s see if the menu changes were as successful.

We were pleased to see a $9.95-and-less Tavern Classics menu because, truthfully, the dinner at the Country Tavern is on the pricey side. Now, diners can enjoy the cozy, historic atmosphere and not have to commit to a night out with a bigger price tag, and save the higher-end items for a special night out.

There is also a calendar with different specials for every day of the week, such as $5-off steak entrees Thursday and $5-off pasta entrees Tuesdays.

Items on the classics menu include a half rack of Baby Back Ribs ($9.95), slow- roasted pork ribs basted with the Tavern’s own barbecue sauce, with french fries or fried potato wedges; Fresh Baked Haddock ($9.95), topped with seasoned cracker crumbs, with french fries or fried potato wedges; and Mini Quesadilla Basket ($7.95), spicy chicken and vegetables wrapped in mini-flour tortilla shells, salsa, french fries or wedges.

A house salad can be added for $3.95 and a Caesar for $4.95.

We decided to go the full-out dinner route and started with martinis – this being Wednesday and half-off martini night. This being winter, Mrs. T for T went for an Asian Pear Martini (normally $7.95, $3.88 on Wednesday), and another in our party had the winter special, a Cocomint Martini ($8.25, 4.13 on Wednesday), made with Bailey’s and white chocolate and peppermint schnapps.

The drinks might have been half-priced, but the they weren’t half drinks. These were generous martinis. Mrs. T for T, who usually eschews sweet martinis and prefers the classic with olives, found her drink to taste like a liquid pear with a kick that wasn’t cloying in the least.

We thought it was a little strange that we weren’t served bread with our drinks, but we went ahead and shared a Chicken Wellington ($8.50) appetizer, which we think is so great, we suggest the restaurant make these larger, serve them with a side and make it an entree, too.

This creative take on Beef Wellington is made with chicken breast and a mushroom duxelles (instead of pate) in four hot and crispy little puff pastry packages and served with a dijon dip. Fantastic.

We also considered the Homemade Tabbouleh Salad ($6.95), but knew our entrees would come with a house salad.

After much hemming and hawing, Mr. T for T settled on the Veal Oscar ($19.95). Mr. T for T doesn’t trust many restaurants with veal, having had some bad experiences with rubbery, overdone dishes. But these veal medallions, sauteed in white wine and lemon with fresh asparagus, lobster meat and bearnaise sauce on top, restored his faith. The meat was tender and lemony, and the bearnaise was exquisite and expertly drizzled without drowning the veal, the lobster or the tender, fresh asparagus.

He also enjoyed his chivey, creamy mashed potatoes and the fresh house salad that came with the meal.

Mrs. T for T wasn’t as lucky with her choice, the Baked Stuffed Shrimp ($18.95), which was described on the menu as four jumbo shrimp stuffed with seafood stuffing. There were four shrimp, but they didn’t appear to be jumbo at all. We understand that perhaps given the season, larger shrimp weren’t available, but if that were the case, for nearly $19, there should have been at least a half dozen of the smaller prawns.

The stuffing was, as promised, homemade and tasty, but the shrimp were dry and had a bitter flavor.

In addition, Mrs. T for T ordered wild rice as a side, expecting to see long-grain brown rice, but instead was served white rice with seasoning – not bad tasting – but not wild by any stretch of the imagination.

It must be said when our server checked in with us and we told him about our meal, he was polite, courteous and appeared genuinely concerned. He offered to bring another dish. Management also came out to check with us and was equally concerned.

That counts for a lot. Anybody can make a mistake. It’s how that mistake is handled in a restaurant that matters. Since her family was nearly finished with their meal, Mrs. T for T skipped another entree and ordered the appetizer Bruschetta ($6.95) instead. This was very nicely done, with Roma tomatoes, homemade pesto and crumbles of feta cheese on toasted garlic bread.

Had she had time for a new entree, Mrs. T would have gone with the Chicken Elizabeth ($18.95), named for the resident ghost and made with sauteed chicken, garlic, mushrooms, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts and proscuitto in a Marsala wine sauce. And by the way, it would have been a bargain, because Wednesday is also $5-off chicken entrees day.

Or, she might have chosen one of the seasonal entrees – Butternut Squash Ravioli ($18.95), Sundried Tomato Ravioli ($18.95) or Peppercorn Salmon ($17.95).

But the upside to not having a whole entree is room for dessert. The family was tempted by the Caramel Apple Pie ($5.25) and the Lemon Mist Cake ($5.75), but agreed on the Country Tavern Ice Cream Ball ($4.50) – french vanilla ice cream rolled in crushed walnuts and Oreo cookies with fudge and whipped cream.

It was enough for the three of us, but was so yummy, we battled over the last spoonful.

We like the physical changes and menu changes at the Country Tavern. We’re glad it’s offering alternatives to some of its pricey entrees, and for the most part, the food was good and the atmosphere cozy and relaxing.