5 New and Newish Berkshire Restaurants to Try This Spring
New restaurants are popping up like daffodils.
Dulu at Doctor Sax House
Like a bear rising from hibernation, spring always has us searching for something new to eat. Across the Berkshires, seasonal menus are changing, patio tables are coming out of storage, and new eateries are hitting the scene.
Here are a few members of the freshmen class of Berkshire restaurants looking to draw your hungry attention as the weather warms.
Dulu at Doctor Sax House Revives Lenox Speakeasy
The historic Candlelight Inn at 35 Walker Street in Lenox was meticulously renovated, reinvigorated, and reopened as Doctor Sax House in 2024. Blending Gilded Age and modern design elements, the inn dates to 1874 and has lived many lives, including a chapter as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
The on-site cafe and lounge, Dulu, offers a menu that emphasizes seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The name "Dulu" translates to “delusional” in Indonesian—an ode to chasing one's dreams, even when they seem out of reach.
The menu includes starters like chilled shrimp with cocktail and remoulade sauce ($25), and whipped chevre blended with lemon and spiced honey, served with sourdough bread ($19). Entrées range from hanger steak with chimichurri and smashed potatoes ($35) to arctic char served with pearl couscous and seasonal vegetables ($34). There’s also gnocchi with pork and beef ragu topped with Parmesan bread crumbs ($29).
Dulu is open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9pm, and Friday through Sunday from noon to 10pm. The bar often stays open later, embracing the house motto: “If you’re here, we’re here.”
In addition to its culinary offerings, Doctor Sax House is drawing crowds for events like the upcoming Fireside Jazz Wednesdays, Prom Pop-Up, and Masters Weekend: Augusta in the Berkshires.
The Station Opens in Lee
Launched in March, The Station at 109 Railroad Street in Lee is a chef-driven gastropub offering a globally inspired menu crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Situated in the historic 1893 Lee railroad station, the restaurant combines the building's original charm—including a classic caboose and outdoor train platform seating—with a contemporary dining experience.
The menu features a variety of starters, like burrata salad with arugula, golden beets, winter squash, cranberries, and champagne vinaigrette ($15), and black pepper tandoor chicken accompanied by mint chutney, yogurt sauce, onions, and cilantro ($12). For main courses, choose from dishes like whole branzino with caper sauce, blistered cherry tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peas, and fresh herbs ($40); hanger steak served with saffron mashed potatoes, sautéed greens, and compound butter ($41); and truffle ravioli filled with porcini mushrooms, winter squash, truffle crema, and sundried tomato sauce ($29). Vegetarian options, like a grain bowl featuring basmati rice, yellow lentils, sautéed greens, and ginger-garlic chutney ($18), are also available.
The Station serves dinner Thursday through Tuesday from 5 to 10pm, with a lunch menu that includes sandwiches and burgers, available Friday through Sunday from 11am to 3pm. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays. Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner service.
Golden Bamboo Relaunches in North Adams
Meng Wu “Jason” Wang and Yaling “Joy” Wang, longtime figures in North Adams’s dining scene, are launching Golden Bamboo on April 15 at 72 Main Street in the Berkshire Plaza. The couple previously owned China Buffet and Sushi House, which they merged into Meng’s Pan-Asian in 2017.
Though they sold the business in early 2024 with plans to retire, the Wangs decided to return to the restaurant world after the new ownership shuttered the space. With Golden Bamboo, they aim to revitalize their culinary presence with a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian dishes. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 11pm, and has secured a liquor license.
Amazing Pho Brings Vietnamese Cuisine to Lenox
In early February, Amazing Pho opened at 489 Pittsfield Road, in The Center at Lenox near Marshall’s. Owned by Xiaoqing “Iris” Pan and Kang Chen, the restaurant offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
The menu features steaming bowls of pho made with slow-simmered broths, banh mi sandwiches, and spring rolls. There are also gluten-free and vegan-friendly noodle dishes, making the spot accessible to a variety of dietary needs.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am to 9pm; and Sunday from 1 to 8:30pm.
Bear Butter Cafe Quickly Gains a Following in Great Barrington
Jonathan Vella, owner of The Spot in Pittsfield, expanded his culinary ventures with the opening of Bear Butter Cafe at 323 Main Street in Great Barrington last year. Since then, the cafe has built a steady following, offering health-conscious fare in a cozy, bear-themed space.
Folks are quickly becoming regulars, coming in for smoothies, acai bowls, and snacks built around Vella’s signature product, Bear Butter—a nutrient-dense almond butter enriched with vegan protein, cacao nibs, goji berries, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and coconut flakes. Standouts include the Healthy Elvis smoothie, with banana, spinach, chocolate protein, and Bear Butter, and the Fill Up smoothie, made with oat milk, mixed berries, granola, and Bear Butter.
Acai bowl options include the Go-To Bowl, with granola, strawberries, raspberries, banana, and honey, and the Power Bowl, which adds vanilla protein, bee pollen, cacao, hemp, and pumpkin seeds. The Bear Paw is a popular snack: toasted naan topped with Bear Butter, fresh fruit, chocolate ribbons, and a honey drizzle.
The cafe also sells jars of Bear Butter, including an original chunky version and a smooth blend infused with foraged mushrooms.
Bear Butter Café is open daily from 9am to 4pm.
