Happy New Year!
The Sedgley Place
My brother, Will, and I have long felt that the need for experiences outweighs that of gifts. With the time we have on earth, it is wise to do everything we can with the people we love. For Christmas, we treated our parents to supper at The Sedgley Place. When I think of fine dining, this is it. The restaurant, based in Greene, Maine, is “housed in a stately Federal home built in 1786” (“About Us”). I enjoy the exposed beams and how they utilize the spaces.
Going to The Sedgley is not an every week occurrence. If anything, my folks visit annually or even semi-annually. The food is delicious and rich in flavor as well as texture. It certainly comes with a price tag. You receive a five-course meal for $62-$79 a person. We visited on December 27, 2024. In this review, grades represent taste, texture, smell, and presentation.
To begin, we ordered a Cortijo Tempranillo 2021, a light red wine. The bottles are actually pretty affordable, although this one cost $39. Still, with a glass of wine priced at $12, we made money here (don’t change this, please!). My mom gave this an A+ for its lightness, while it still maintained some legs. We all chose a salad to begin with. Nothing fancy here in the greens department, but they do have housemade dressings. Their blueberry dressing was perfectly sweet and appropriate for a salad. I also tasted the balsamic and decided that I’ll order a house salad instead of a Caesar one next time.
Appetizers
When the family dines out, we strategize our meal choices. My father ordered the roasted Brussels sprouts. Mom took the soup of the day, a sweet butternut squash bisque. Will and I had orders of stuffed mushrooms. We shared everything. In my opinion, the mushrooms were the best: flavorful and a nice crisp on the top. The middle included scallops and stuffing. My mom gave it an A- only for the lack of lemon wedges. A+ from me, since I don’t like lemon on my seafood. The soup earned an A- for its velvety texture and rich flavor. However, the sweetness slightly overpowered the natural taste of the squash, which kept it from reaching perfection. The Brussel sprouts were roasted with balsamic and Parmesan. They were my second favorite after the mushrooms. The sprouts were not too tough or too chewy. Perhaps a little less balsamic would be the only improvement. Very nice! With our appetizers setting a strong tone for the meal, we eagerly awaited our entrees, which did not disappoint.
Entree
I befriended the braised short ribs and mashed potatoes. Mom mastered the mariner’s pie. Dad savored the stuffed scallops. Will praised the pasta primavera with shrimp (but not the additional $12).
The ribs had the largest serving size. I was happily surprised at the portions. They were absolutely tender and cooked perfectly. No knife is necessary. We enjoyed the last of them for lunch the next day. The mashed potatoes were seasoned with garlic (as they should be) and the best blend of ingredients. There were no negatives on my plate.
Dad’s plate consisted of seven scallops and Brussels gratin, but I think he should have had an even ten. The scallops were extremely savory and meant to be eaten slowly. Dad offered each of us a scallop, which we accepted heartily. We felt this was an A quality entree.
Mom’s mariner pie consisted of scallops, lobster, and haddock, as well as an orzo salad. The seafood was tender and juicy. One thing we felt was that the sauce tasted off. Not necessarily bad, but not as great as it had potential for. It felt off balance. We took turns guessing the culprit from cumin to nutmeg. We were all wrong when it turned out to be tarragon leaves. I think a little less would balance the sauce out. Mom’s mariner pie earned a B+ for its tender, juicy seafood and well-cooked orzo salad. However, the tarragon in the sauce slightly overpowered the balance of flavors, especially compared to the stuffed scallops, which earned higher marks for their savory perfection.
Will’s pasta may have been my favorite. I thought it was crazy that a pasta bowl could rank with the likes of braised ribs, stuffed scallops, and a mariner’s pie (especially in price). But wow was that good! The pasta, vegetables (al dente), and shrimp were perfectly cooked. The ratios were nearly spot on. Will thought the oil was a little heavy. It comes with sun dried tomatoes that were not cut. Will thought those diced up and added to the pasta would improve it. They were delectable when we split one up. Lastly, for $12, Will received just 6 shrimp. He felt a little cheated. B+ from Will. A- from me.
We all ordered popovers. We didn’t know until later that they are $4 a pop. Not worth it in my book. They came out cold and didn’t feel as moist as I like them. There were mixed opinions among us in regard to these, but we all agreed that $4 is ridiculous. My dad enjoyed them the next day warmed in the oven with some braised ribs for a sandwich.
Dessert
We were stuffed by the time dessert was up, so we asked to have them boxed to go. We took one bite each before leaving. Mom, Will, and I ordered the peanut butter pie. My dad desired the berry cheesecake. The peanut butter pie, which we saved for the next day, was decadently dense. Each bite was rich enough to savor for minutes, making it a dessert best enjoyed in small portions. My dad’s cheesecake was a fabulous mix of berries with the soft cheesecake texture. I’m not always a cheesecake fan, so this was an A+ from me.
Overall, our meal at The Sedgley Place ranged from good to exceptional. Our wine choice set us off nicely. The roasted Brussel sprouts and stuffed mushrooms set a high bar with their perfect execution (A+ and A). While the mariner’s pie and pasta primavera were delicious, minor imbalances in seasoning and portion size held them back slightly (both B+). The braised ribs were certainly great in portion and taste (A+). Dad’s scallops could have included even one or two more, but they were very delicate and savory (A). The desserts, both the peanut butter pie and the cheesecake, ended the meal on a high note (A+).
Service
We were waited on by Deja, who was wonderful. She was kind enough to chat with my parents a bit about the new owners and wine list. She showed a sincere interest in our well being. I was torn between the ribs and the seafood pie. Based on her recommendation for the ribs, I was very satisfied. One of the greeters also assisted in taking a family photo. Jazz played in the upstairs lounge and we were blessed with a beautiful mellow level that allowed pleasant conversation too. Thank you. We enjoyed our meal.
Final Bill
The final bill came out to $376.92. That included the $39 bottle of wine and our four meals. Mom’s was $79 and the rest were $77. We debated the expense for some time on the car ride home. But this price included five courses (and all the associated costs that go with operating a restaurant). Consider that each of our entrees would ordinarily cost around $30 (except for Will’s at perhaps $24). Now divide the four other courses from $47 and that’s approximately $12. Pretty reasonable.
Mom felt that we shouldn’t have spent so much on her, but we hoped to show our appreciation for all she does. Dining out is an experience and one we must be grateful for. I hope to continue providing experiences rather than materials. I have enough things and I think we all do. The best gifts we can offer now are shared moments.
Another review…
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