30Boltwood

We planned a summer wedding with 15 guests, just immediate family. Our ceremony was held at Abbey Chapel in South Hadley MA. We were looking to have dinner after the ceremony and photography. So a 4pm dinner on a Sunday. My friend and I began at the Chapel, walking in and out of restaurants just to get a feel for the atmosphere, the mood, the vibe and take a peek at menus. We had spent the evening walking in and out of about 5 restaurants. So many were not open on Sundays or the vibe was just off, or the food was just basic. I felt discouraged. We googled one more restaurant for the night before we almost gave up. I felt like 30Boltwood was the place just from driving up to the location before we walked into the restaurant. It is located in picturesque Amherst, across from the center green. There was a moody outdoor fire pit outside, outdoor seating, a rooftop deck.... But best of all a private room perfect for about 15 adults for dinner. The menu is farm to table and changes based on what is available, it doesn't get much better than that. It was not too too fancy for our simple wedding but quality food and a beautiful location. My now, Husband commented that it felt it was homey. The staff created a 3 course menu for our event specifically, since we were over the normal dinner party size, to use the regular dining menu. The menu had Gluten Free options and V/Veg options, which is reason we decided on this location, so everyone could find something to enjoy. There was space between the courses, which helped us to slow down and enjoy the moment more. I didn't feel we were in the way or a burden, the vibe was more like this space is yours. The staff was not rushing us out the door, they wanted us to stay. We really enjoyed ourselves. Our reservation was at 4pm on a Sunday in July, and I think we were there about 4 hours. The room has the vibe of a green house, with one wall and part of the ceiling made out of glass. There were curtains to provide shade in case of sun, so I didn't feel like we would melt or be cooked. The windows looked out onto a deck. It was a beautiful environment. The food was so delicious, it felt fancy and special and most importantly fresh. The food was served hot (I have been to weddings where the food was cold...in contrast). The staff was professional, they were patient with us, as well as kind and thoughtful. We brought in an outside cake from Auntie Cathy's Kitchen, Agawam MA, so it could be Gluten Free & V. The waitstaff was so thoughtful and asked if we wanted to do a little cake cutting moment. So we did a faux cake cutting for fun. The staff then actually cut the cake and served it to everyone. This was a detail I had missed and I was thankful for their thoughtfulness in giving us the gentle nudge that this was available to us. I had dropped off the cake on Friday for safe keeping, I was thrilled that the cake would be in a safe location, and not melt in my car during the ceremony. I felt it was in good hands. The waitstaff was never "lurking" but they were so observant and gave us space to be a family. They were professionals and clearly had experience and were very knowledgeable, on the menu. The room was separate from the bar, which was helpful for a member of our party is sober. They had mocktails which makes everyone feel included. Overall 10/10 for a micro mini wedding experience. It was an easy choice, based solely on a vibe check of walking in and out of restaurants. I had never been there before and I am so glad we made reservations here. Dietary restrictions: One of the reasons we selected this restaurant was the fact that they had V/Veg and Gluten Free items on the menu to accommodate different restrictions. Parking: We visited on a Sunday and the sign said Free Parking on Sundays, so our guests parked on the street in front of the restaurant

Amherst is pretty variable in its restaurant offerings - sometimes there are some great new places, but mostly not. 30 Boltwood is consistently first class. We ate there on a Wednesday night in June with a variety of food restrictions - one person needed gluten free, another had crohn's disease and so needed just meat. The staff was understanding and attentive and it was easy. Me I don't have any food allergies, and had the mussels in a garlicy wine sauce. Excellent, especially with the buttery and garlicky toast that came with it. Thanks everyone there for a very easy and excellent dinner. Just one note, fwiw, the "huge Angus beef burger" really isn't that big.