Farmhouse Restaurant

I feel bad posting a less than stellar review, but if someone else had given us heads up it would have been helpful. We made reservations for the infamous fried chicken lunch & were looking forward to visiting the Serenbe Community for the 1st time. We live in Marietta & with the price of gas today, we decided it sounded so delicious it would be worth the hike. We arrived 5 minutes before our reserved time, checked in and were told it would be a ""couple of minutes"". After 10 minutes I checked back in and was told it would be about 10 minutes longer. We were seated 45 minutes after our reservation time. Again, we were patient because we were looking forward to this scrumptious southern meal. We ordered our food and several tables who were seated after us received their food but we apparently were overlooked. It was difficult to even get our water refilled. Our server was sweet but she chatted at length with other tables about subjects unrelated and would forget what we had asked for. Still in anticipation of a great meal we hung in there. Our food was at last delivered. The squash casserole was gray in color and the portion size of the sides was 1/4 of a cup. The fried chicken was not very good at all. We were going to order dessert but changed our minds at this point. I know the reputation is stellar for not only the quality of food but the service, as well. It sadly bombed on every single front. We wasted a lot of gas and spent way too much money on a less than satisfactory meal. more

My friend (who had visited the Farmhouse Restaurant a few years ago) suggested that we have our Christmas lunch there yesterday. What a great disappointment. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great but that's where it ended. Two dinners were offered, their ""famous"" fried chicken, which I had and pot roast, which my friend had. The chicken appeared to have been oven fried and was a bit dry and tasteless. The mashed potatoes were just a big clump of cold white stuff on the plate, the green beans had to be chewed many times before swallowing. The pot roast did not resemble anything I have ever seen and looked like a compressed brown thing on the plate with no texture. Other friends of mine who have read recent articles about the complex and the restaurant were waiting for my reviw which is...don't waste your time. I am shocked that more attention isn't being placed on creating a dining experience...or at the very least hot food that has a taste. more

After reading many articles on Serenbe Inn and the Farmhouse Restaurant, I was so looking forward to dining at a farm to table restaurant. While the accomodations and atmosphere of the inn are outstanding, I had one of the worst meals I've ever had. There were only two entrees- meatloaf and salmon cakes - and I was expecting close to perfection. The starter salad was so salty it burned my mouth and made it difficult to taste the remainder of the meal. The meatloaf, along with having a spongy almost undercooked texture, was also too salty. My rice and kale on the other had were bland and seasonless. When we complained, we were told this was the way the chef like it. The only thing that tasted good were the mashed potatoes and they were cold. The other thing that troubled meis with all the wonderful fruits and vegetables in season in Georgia right now, none of them appeared on our plates. I would recommend before you go here to see if they have a new ""chef"". I would also recommend the owners tast the food themselves before it goes out to the diners. more

Pros: Beautiful drive in from Atl. Cons: Food more

Our visit to the Farmhouse was outstanding. The food was fantastic with the chef using local produce. The flavors were bright and unique. The service was adequate if not exceptional. We tried the suggested wine pairings and were delighted with the results. Our server was able to answer all of our questions related to the food and the wine. The only complaint we had was the seating. We felt a bit cramped in the crowded dining room. However, this will not keep us from returning. This restaurant is worth the drive for a change of pace away from it all. Pros: fantastic food, unique wines, ambience Cons: cramped dining room more

We have been to the farmhouse many times since our first trip on opening night, and have witnessed a continual improvement. The first chef, Tony Seachrist, set a high standard for 'farm to table' cuisine (much of the produce comes from the nearby serenbe organic farm, or the restaurant?s own nearby garden), with simple dishes artfully prepared. New chef Nicolas Bour (formerly Iris in Atlanta) has made significant improvements in the consistency and quality of the cooking. His Montreal upbringing shows in his deft touch with both sauces and soups, and his meat and fish preparations have been perfect ? truly world-class ? every time we have tried them. Pros: Food, location (simply beautiful!) Cons: location (it is a drive for most folks...) more

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with dinner at The Farmhouse in June. What a wonderful experience! Dinner is prix fixe and the quality is outstanding--a steal at $33 per person, with fresh organic vegetables picked just that afternoon from the gardens on the Serenbe property. The corn muffins were rich yet melted in your mouth. Crawfish appetizer was a nice, light introduction to a wonderful salt-crusted pork chop seared till lightly crisp on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside, and for dessert--a berry kuchen my German grandmother would be proud of. Our server was young, but attentive and cordial without hovering. We had a reservation, were seated immediately (it was 7pm on a Friday night) and were shown into the dining room, which can only be described as simple country inn meets soothing spa--comfortable and homey without being overly pretentious. The room is very intimate--enough for about 25 guests--making for a combination of quiet conversations one moment and a very ""social"" food experience the next. This is truly a new gem in the crown of Atlanta's foodie scene and well worth the drive! Pros: Wonderful food for the price, romantic Cons: not open every night of the week more

The Farmhouse at Serenbe is fantastic. My husband and I have had dinner there four times, and the wonderful Sunday fried chicken brunch once, and every time our experience has been nothing but the best. Tony Seichrist, the young and very talented chef, uses farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients and the meals are always artfully presented and delicious from beginning to end. Their heirloom tomatoes served with the salad are to die for! From the cornbread muffins served at the beginning of the meal to the last spoonful of desert, it's a wonderful dining experience. Pros: Scenery on the drive to the restaurant, ambience, parking, Serenbe community more

We went there with a reservation and got there on time. They didn't greet us but told us to sit on the couch and they will let us know when the table is ready. Put us on a table right above the air vent, so we had to physically moved the table. Bunch of teenager/ young servers don't know what they are doing. more

My boyfriend and I (both New Yorkers) were staying in Atlanta for the Masters and had dinner here on Saturday night. What a phenomenal experience! The drive to get there was incredible (you'll see what I mean when you go!) and the Farmhouse itself is beautiful. You walk right past the open kitchen on your way into the dining room and the chef and everyone in the kitchen smiles and says hello. Super friendly Southern service from the manager to the waitstaff. And the food........is incredible. The menu is set in advance so there's nothing to actually ""order."" The night we were there they served a beautifully presented and tasty fresh salad using organically grown vegetables straight from the garden. There were warm roasted carrots on the salad along with a smattering of blue cheese and a homemade green goddess dressing. Dinner was roast lamb over the best tasting cheesy grits I have ever had in my life. The meat was perfectly prepared and topped with a fried mint leaf. Gorgeous presentation, nice small serving size and wonderful taste. Dessert was a ""fried strawberry pie"" with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream - really like a warm turnover. What an experience! The restaurant is very small and quaint and romantic. We absolutely loved it and highly recommend that you visit! You won't be sorry. But, don't forget - if you want wine with dinner, bring your own because they don't yet have their liquor license! Pros: Food, Service, Ambience Cons: None! more