For those foodies in the area sick of the alarming number of national chain restaurants that have emerged in Dartmouth, Stoneforge on Route 6 offers a refreshing deviation from the usual cookie-cutter menu and obnoxious restaurant décor of places like Applebee’s and TGI Friday’s.
With a relaxed atmosphere and diverse selection of both traditional and innovative entrees, Stoneforge is the culinary change of pace that Dartmouth has been in dire need of. Located next to Cardoza’s wine and spirits on Route 6 (the former home of Ixtapa Cantina), Stoneforge is the fourth and newest location for the restaurant, the other three residing in Raynham, Easton, and Foxborough.
My two guests and I made a late-night dinner trip to the establishment very recently (10 p.m., Friday), and easily found a table in the nearly-empty dining room. The restaurant oozed a rustic, casual feel from the inside, with hardwood floors, wooden tables, and simple (yet attractive) wallpaper.
A gigantic square bar takes up the center of the dining room, stocked with an extensive amount of alcohol, and a smattering of flat-screen televisions giving extensive coverage of the night’s sporting events. Of course, the most important aspect of any restaurant is its food, and the cuisine I indulged in left me satisfied, with the exception of my appetizer.
I ordered the stuffed mushrooms for a starter, intrigued by its “lemon pepper aioli.” While most appetizers allow diners to dip their toes in the water of the pool that is their meal to come, the stuffed mushrooms threw me in against my will.
The dish was pretty ambitious for a main course, never mind a starter. The combination of melted feta cheese, bacon bits, and cooked spinach saturated in the aioli was very salty, and the large portabella caps didn’t cut through that saltiness. Add a pool of mushroom and spinach water at the bottom, and this starter had too many awkward elements on the plate to be considered satisfactory. (Although I pawned it off on my friend, and he thought it was delicious).
Luckily, my entrée of chicken marsala I ordered made up for my disappointment. The dish came with a Caesar salad, and Stoneforge’s version was done right. It had the proper amount of tangy dressing to coat the crisp and vibrant romaine lettuce. The croutons and parmesan cheese left me feeling better and ready for my chicken marsala.
This dish was cooked well, as the marsala sauce had the right amount of sweetness. There were plenty of pieces of chicken that were moist and tender for the most part (with the exception of one of two dry pieces). Finally, the mushrooms tasted fresh, the linguini was thick and hearty, and the parmesan cheese topping added another pleasant layer of flavor.
The portions were very generous, although I enjoyed my meal so much that I finished in one sitting. My brother ordered a giant piece of salmon, with plenty of broccoli and asparagus to boot. He said the fish was cooked perfectly, although I found it a little dry when I tried it. And my friend had to take the other half of his burger home with him.
The service was average at best. Our waiter forgot to separate our bills like we had asked for prior to ordering. But overall, the experience was enjoyable. And with a diverse menu containing burgers, grilled pizzas, steaks, beer and wine, and seafood, Stoneforge’s attractive options will have me making a return appearance very soon.
Stoneforge is located at 466 State Road in Dartmouth. Visit stoneforge.net for restaurant hours.
Trevor,
ReplyDeletelove that you reviewed this place. I've been there twice now, and was satisfid my first time and very, very satisfied my second time.
You are right that the inside is a great and the menu items are daring and creative. But I can see how daring and creative can sometimes turn into a mess, like with your appetizer.
You described the chicken marsala dish quite well; I really could imagine it.