Bites Nearby: The One and Only Lowell Inn

Opulence, old money, stuffy, pretentious, a blast-from-the past. Those are the words that often come to mind when thinking of the Lowell Inn, the grande dame of restaurants that’s been in operation in Stillwater since 1927.

Perhaps it's remembered as a special occasion only destination where your grandparents brought you as a child and made you sit still in your best clothes for what seemed like hours on end.           

Think again. Today’s is affordable, approachable and welcoming thanks to long-time Stillwater residents and owners, Judy and Dick Anderson.

“When we came in 2001 the whole place was in disrepair," Judy says. "We’ve been working on it for ten years. It’s on the historic registry and should be preserved as much as possible.”

The Andersons are committed to upholding the venerable institution's standards while adapting to the times by loosening its formality without sacrificing its grandeur and elegance.

“Many Stillwater people have never been in before except for the last four or five years. It was very formal and they didn’t feel comfortable, Judy says. "Today, it’s less formal; we don’t have the finger bowls or the Spode china anymore. Our prices are very reasonable also. People can’t believe they’re in a place with white table clothes and they’re paying these prices.”  

Other things have change at the Lowell Inn as well.

Some of the cuisine has been updated to reflect the times.

“People these days are being introduced to new flavors and new types of fusion dishes so that’s what we wanted to do," Head Chef, Jeanne Staloch says. "Over the past few years we’ve given that classic American menu a facelift. We still have the duck ala orange but our orange demi sauce is different than it used to be. Our fish entrees are now served with different flavored beurre blanc sauces. Presentation is huge here."

But Staloch still considers the Lowell Inn to be classic American.

"We still have the Beef Wellington, the Chicken ala King," the chef says. "We have Chicken livers and Duck ala orange.”

Dining Rooms and Menus

The Lowell Inn has two distinct dining rooms and menus.

There’s the gorgeous George Washington room with its American fare and the richly wood-paneled Matterhorn room that serves authentic Swiss-style fondue.

The Garden room is reserved for small parties and the newly built banquet hall with a patio and parking ramp is perfect for weddings and larger gatherings.

The Lowell Inn will always be a special place with its stately colonial architecture and elegant dining rooms and attention to detail that is so hard to find in today’s trendy restaurants.

“People think of The Lowell Inn as a white linen and an occasion only place and that you have to dress a certain way," Staloch says. "It’s just not that way anymore.”

The Lowell Inn serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.