South Face Farm

Really nice and cozy atmosphere down a quaint road. Unfortunately, the service was awful, food was mediocre and undercooked. I left feeling a little sick, because the pancakes were undercooked :(.

South Face Farm really is a classic New England sugar house, as Bruce L. said. It is well off the beaten path, but certainly worth a trip. As recommended, we visited around 1pm on Sunday afternoon in order to avoid the crowds. The place was still pretty busy, but we were seated fairly quickly.
The menu is very basic; it features pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs, sausage and bacon, as well as a couple of novelty items like corn fritters and maple sugar donuts. My fiancé and I both ordered «Combo Plate #1″– one pancake, one piece of french toast, one corn fritter and two sausages. Though the syrup was delicious, the corn fritters were the standout– I definitely recommend them if you happen to find yourself in Ashfield.
If you’re a smaller party, be forewarned that you may be seated at a picnic table with another party. Not my favorite way to dine, but I knew that might be the case going into it, so I didn’t mind too much.
In addition to breakfast, South Face Farm sells a variety of maple products, and the aforementioned maple sugar donuts. Also, check out the old farm tools and tree cross-​section in the room adjacent to the dining room while you’re there. (It dates back to before the Civil War!)

I traveled quite a way to experience a traditional New England sugarhouse restaurant and South Face Farm certainly exceeded my expectations. I especially liked the opportunity to witness the manufacrturing process. The restaurant is located in one of the most scenic ares of Mass and easily accessible over well maintained roads.
The food was delicious although I do admit I have a weakness for pancakes and maple syrup. The aroma of boiling sap sure stimulates your appetite. The staff, although extremely busy, was friendly and partient. The short wait for a table was expected but was made pleasant by the aroma and firendliness of the staff.

South Face Farm is a classic New England sugar house and our favorite of the sugar houses in this area. The food is excellent (my personal favorite is the maple milk shake) and the staff are friendly. Tom, the maple farmer, is a character and knows tons about Maple farming. I think he used to be the head of the Mass Maple Association.

My farm: South Face Farm in Ashfield, MA. The sugar house maple syrup breakfast is so much more than supporting local farmers and eating locally produced food. It is the combination of these two values that foster a welcoming, community environment where separate parties are joined together in larger tables and you can catch up on the sugaring news for the season.

This review will be short and sweet, just like a stack of South Face Farm’s pancakes — this place is worth the drive, especially since the scenic drive is part of the whole experience. When the country roads finally bring you to South Face Farm, you know you’re in the right place, the air thick with the scent of simmering syrup; as the sign at the turnoff promised, they were «Boiling Today!», and the aroma was proof.
There was a wait for a table at the restaurant, but it was short and made pleasant by the maple breezes and lovely mountainside view, complete with horses atop the hill (although, truth be told, I initially mistook those horses for tall and elegant cows — I am still city folk).
The syrup-​making operation is in the same building as the restaurant, but not in the same room. The dining room is a bit cramped and not-​at-​all fancy, with simple vintage décor including local maps, tin containers, and mason jars.
The hostess was extraordinarily friendly, and responded to a corn-​fritters inquiry by one of my dining companions with a free sample fresh from the fryer. The waitress was warm and conscientious, as well.
Onto the food: The table was stocked with plenty of delicious maple syrup, as well as real butter and real half-​and-​half. My waffle was light, not too sweet, and just moist enough to soak up the syrup in just that special waffle way in which the waffle gets saturated without turning to mush. My two strips of bacon were tasty, too. I can’t comment on the coffee, as I am a teetotaler who usually opts for water, but my husband said it was tops. So there.
There were a variety of maple products for purchase, but I resisted, being already rather well stocked at home.
My only criticism of this establishment would be their use of disposable dishes, cutlery, and cups.
Anyway, there are just a few weeks left of the sugaring season, so anyone remotely nearby should get out to South Face Farm before they shut their doors for 2010!