Once again a large coroporation has purchased a charming place and thought they could do it better.
It is a sad day for the Homestead. Apparently Zermatt thinks they could improve on a tradition that has endured over many many years.
Folks went to the Homestead for many reasons, diving, wagon ridge, golf, and beautiful setting in the mountains away from the hustle and heat of the city. The many trees, the naturally heated ponds thick with koi and goldfish, the swans, and geese and ducks, enteraining both children and adults alike. Much if this is gone....
Trees that have stood for over 100 years, disease free have been sadly cut down, to ""Improve the view"". Get a clue corporate, they were the view! It was a little slice of heaven to sit out by the pond under the trees and watch the birds....
The dining room was quaint and welcoming. Country in decor, not quite shabby chic, but close. Now it is austere and cold. What were you thinking.
I will say the opening up the lobby is an improvement, but you have missed the mark and destroyed the magic of a cherised landmark.
Now for the food: Don't waste one nickel.
The Homestead has always had it's ups and downs when it care to their fare. If they had a chef who was good...then of course the food was good, but one never knew whether they had changed to another chef once again.
Well, we went to the ""grand re-opening"" on 5/20/12. I cannot convey how disappointed I was. This has got to be their worst chef to date!
I ordered the roasted chicken. It was very dry and over seasoned. The sides were grits and collard greens.
The grits tasted like wallpaper paste, and the collard were prepared by someone who obviously has never tasted southern style collards made with bacon, vinegar and a tad of hot sauce. These were watery with bits of bacon floating here and there in strong vinegar with loads of tabasco.
I don't think I will be going back. The loss of the beautiful setting in and of itself is totally offputting.
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