This is one of my favorite brunch places in Northampton. The restaurant is family-friendly and the service is impeccable. I am so sad to see them close.
Gentle Nomad
You know it’s amateur hour, when your egg Benedict is served hard boiled with no runny softness. Tipping your waiter before eating, for an experience that requires going to another room and standing in que is deceptive and greedy. This place may have a charming presentation, but the food is sadly subpar.
Danielle B.
Ambience is great. Food is beyond mid. Came every weekend and tried many dishes. I would definitely recommend the sweet dishes over the savory. Staff is strange, don't love it.
Fred B.
Went to Jake's but they were packed and not taking new customers for 40 minutes, so we went to Sylvester's because it looked pretty crowded, but there was a table out front and it was a beautiful day so we were delighted to eat anywhere, but especially delighted to enjoy a fantastic breakfast. With terrific service and a fair, in fact good price, we were very pleased and look forward to going back on our next visit up that way.
Lauren Salk
If you want to have a good, user-friendly eating out experience, maybe avoid Sylvester’s while they run this awkward experiment of trying to be a cafeteria in a restaurant’s body.I didn’t particularly enjoy the quality of my breakfast, which is ok… it happens. I can forgive that, especially if I still have a nice time.But coming in, not seeing a single employee, and being faced with a long list of instructions on how to do the job of a server for my own experience was very, very awkward and off-putting. It was confusing. I ended up just ordering online after reading and re-reading what i was expected to do. I had a mug brought to me, but I had to get up to get my own coffee. I had to clean up my own food waste and dishes. I used to try to eat here whenever I visited Northampton, but this will be my last time.Advice for the business owners: please don’t dismiss your customers, or the customer’s experience. It sends a message that you don’t want them there.
J WhiteFish
It used to be the best breakfast in western Ma. They used to serve the most wild Belgium waffles; I still dream about the Elvis style waffle with peanut butter, banana, bacon, whipped cream cream (and one other topping that was the piece de resistance but I just can’t seem to remember what it was). It’s decadence was made even sweeter by the irony of eating it in the historic home of Sylvester Graham.I get it… times they are a-changin… prices are up and staffing is down… I get it. But $50 for seat yourself, counter service, get your own coffee & water, and a significantly reduced menu? Outrageous. Breakfast was good, but not anything I’m going to dream about. I won’t go back. I’ll buy 10 dozen eggs and make 5 dozen breakfasts.One star because the food isn’t bad. And one star because some aspects are not their fault.Pro tip: no one wants a side of fancy lettuce with their breakfast.
F4599FQricka
Here's the deal. I know the food at Sylvester's is excellent. What happened to me.....? I had planned to go there on Easter Sunday for brunch. I checked their Facebook page and got their hours. I made the 20 mile trip only to see a sign in the window "Closed for Easter". To say I was disappointed was an under statement! I will give them another chance at another time. Let's just say they need to stay up on their social media accounts.
Kathryn Massey
This used to be my favorite breakfast place. Food is still good but the new ordering system and lack of serving staff leaves much to be desired. The reason for dining out is because you want to be waited on, not wait on yourself or bus your own table! This isn’t fast food restaurant.
Angelina Bragdon
Mother’s Day breakfast. Most of our food was delicious. We don’t understand why you have to leave a tip. You order your food either at the counter or by scanning the QR code with your phone. When you place your order you pay and it asks for a tip. We tipped 20%. If we had known what little service we actually would have gotten we wouldn’t have left a tip. That 20% basically was them bringing some of our drinks and our food. That’s it. If you order coffee, they bring an empty cup and you have to get up and get your own coffee. Then when you are all done eating they want you to clear your own table. What? Why are they asking for tips then? They should switch to a tip less system.Now on to the food. My eggs were delicious, bacon good, hash browns good, the toast was dry and not buttered well. My brother in law complained that his sausage was also dry.
George H.
I had always wanted to try Sylvester's for breakfast and the opportunity arose and we took it! As we waited for our table we each had a peppered rim bloody mary. It was definitely solid. We sat and it was required to order, pay, and tip via mobile device which seemed a bit odd now that there are no mask mandates but ok. I ordered the sylvester's special which came with 2 eggs (over medium in my case) 2 hash brown patties, a sausage patty, and (in my case) rye toast. The eggs were great, yokes runny but the whites cooked. The sausage was pretty lean and tasty. The hash browns nice but not crunchy if that makes sense, and the rye bread has a seasoning in it I couldn't quite place. Maybe a little cumin? Good meal, I think next time I'll try the sourdough
We were seated and advised the new QR ordering method or we can walk up to the counter to place our order. Strike 1! After placing our order at the counter we were handed coffee cups to fill ourselves. Strike 2! Food arrived at our table and my side of bacon was cooked within my meal. Strike 3. No matter how good the food was we wont be back. BTW - when placing the order the tip was requested and we weren’t served yet. What happened to going to a restaurant and being served. This change must have come from a LAZY millennial expected to be tipped before actually doing anything.
Hoosieronthemove
My friend was getting a tattoo down the street and I just was wandering around and stumbled upon Sylvester’s where I got myself a delicious macaron and coffee latte to go. Such a cute spot to pop into, the coffee and macaron were also delish.
Theresa Jones
Only reason they received one star is because that is the lowest. Food was horrible. And restaurant is pretty much self serve. You have to either order your food on line from the table or go to counter to order. Than for your coffee they give you a cup so you can get it your self. Oh and have the nerve to request a tip when you order your food. My suggestion is they can hardley call their self a restaurant. Oh almost forgot they expect you to clean the table after eating and water also self serve. Never again.
Giles Laplante
Not the same me and my wife haven’t been in a couple years and it’s not the same what so ever. The original owners are transitioning to the kids. There are no waiters you order your food online or go to the counter, and there is a New menu. In our opinion it is very over priced for breakfast when we got our food her food was way over cooked and burnt, they give you a salad with your breakfast and for the two of us it was $53! We where so excited to go it used to be one of our favorite breakfast places to go too but now we will ever go there again.
Christina W.
Had a great time trying out Sylvester's in Northampton MA over the weekend! It was a Saturday so obviously there was a 15ish minute wait, but it gave us time to browse the menu. We both got eggs Benedict; mine was the California one (goat cheese, tomatoes, spinach and hollandaise on fresh sourdough), and my boyfriend got the Irish Benedict (corned beef hash, hollandaise and cheddar biscuits). Both were delicious and filled us up. Loved their fresh homemade bread. The one drawback is the lack of table service. The ordering process was pretty chaotic and we had to get our own water and sauces. Plus you have to pay and tip ahead of time, so that was pretty odd. But the food was great and it was nice to try a new spot! Would go back.
This is one of my favorite brunch places in Northampton. The restaurant is family-friendly and the service is impeccable. I am so sad to see them close.
You know it’s amateur hour, when your egg Benedict is served hard boiled with no runny softness. Tipping your waiter before eating, for an experience that requires going to another room and standing in que is deceptive and greedy. This place may have a charming presentation, but the food is sadly subpar.
Ambience is great. Food is beyond mid. Came every weekend and tried many dishes. I would definitely recommend the sweet dishes over the savory. Staff is strange, don't love it.
Went to Jake's but they were packed and not taking new customers for 40 minutes, so we went to Sylvester's because it looked pretty crowded, but there was a table out front and it was a beautiful day so we were delighted to eat anywhere, but especially delighted to enjoy a fantastic breakfast. With terrific service and a fair, in fact good price, we were very pleased and look forward to going back on our next visit up that way.
If you want to have a good, user-friendly eating out experience, maybe avoid Sylvester’s while they run this awkward experiment of trying to be a cafeteria in a restaurant’s body.I didn’t particularly enjoy the quality of my breakfast, which is ok… it happens. I can forgive that, especially if I still have a nice time.But coming in, not seeing a single employee, and being faced with a long list of instructions on how to do the job of a server for my own experience was very, very awkward and off-putting. It was confusing. I ended up just ordering online after reading and re-reading what i was expected to do. I had a mug brought to me, but I had to get up to get my own coffee. I had to clean up my own food waste and dishes. I used to try to eat here whenever I visited Northampton, but this will be my last time.Advice for the business owners: please don’t dismiss your customers, or the customer’s experience. It sends a message that you don’t want them there.
It used to be the best breakfast in western Ma. They used to serve the most wild Belgium waffles; I still dream about the Elvis style waffle with peanut butter, banana, bacon, whipped cream cream (and one other topping that was the piece de resistance but I just can’t seem to remember what it was). It’s decadence was made even sweeter by the irony of eating it in the historic home of Sylvester Graham.I get it… times they are a-changin… prices are up and staffing is down… I get it. But $50 for seat yourself, counter service, get your own coffee & water, and a significantly reduced menu? Outrageous. Breakfast was good, but not anything I’m going to dream about. I won’t go back. I’ll buy 10 dozen eggs and make 5 dozen breakfasts.One star because the food isn’t bad. And one star because some aspects are not their fault.Pro tip: no one wants a side of fancy lettuce with their breakfast.
Here's the deal. I know the food at Sylvester's is excellent. What happened to me.....? I had planned to go there on Easter Sunday for brunch. I checked their Facebook page and got their hours. I made the 20 mile trip only to see a sign in the window "Closed for Easter". To say I was disappointed was an under statement! I will give them another chance at another time. Let's just say they need to stay up on their social media accounts.
This used to be my favorite breakfast place. Food is still good but the new ordering system and lack of serving staff leaves much to be desired. The reason for dining out is because you want to be waited on, not wait on yourself or bus your own table! This isn’t fast food restaurant.
Mother’s Day breakfast. Most of our food was delicious. We don’t understand why you have to leave a tip. You order your food either at the counter or by scanning the QR code with your phone. When you place your order you pay and it asks for a tip. We tipped 20%. If we had known what little service we actually would have gotten we wouldn’t have left a tip. That 20% basically was them bringing some of our drinks and our food. That’s it. If you order coffee, they bring an empty cup and you have to get up and get your own coffee. Then when you are all done eating they want you to clear your own table. What? Why are they asking for tips then? They should switch to a tip less system.Now on to the food. My eggs were delicious, bacon good, hash browns good, the toast was dry and not buttered well. My brother in law complained that his sausage was also dry.
I had always wanted to try Sylvester's for breakfast and the opportunity arose and we took it! As we waited for our table we each had a peppered rim bloody mary. It was definitely solid. We sat and it was required to order, pay, and tip via mobile device which seemed a bit odd now that there are no mask mandates but ok. I ordered the sylvester's special which came with 2 eggs (over medium in my case) 2 hash brown patties, a sausage patty, and (in my case) rye toast. The eggs were great, yokes runny but the whites cooked. The sausage was pretty lean and tasty. The hash browns nice but not crunchy if that makes sense, and the rye bread has a seasoning in it I couldn't quite place. Maybe a little cumin? Good meal, I think next time I'll try the sourdough
Restaurantji Recommends
We were seated and advised the new QR ordering method or we can walk up to the counter to place our order. Strike 1! After placing our order at the counter we were handed coffee cups to fill ourselves. Strike 2! Food arrived at our table and my side of bacon was cooked within my meal. Strike 3. No matter how good the food was we wont be back. BTW - when placing the order the tip was requested and we weren’t served yet. What happened to going to a restaurant and being served. This change must have come from a LAZY millennial expected to be tipped before actually doing anything.
My friend was getting a tattoo down the street and I just was wandering around and stumbled upon Sylvester’s where I got myself a delicious macaron and coffee latte to go. Such a cute spot to pop into, the coffee and macaron were also delish.
Only reason they received one star is because that is the lowest. Food was horrible. And restaurant is pretty much self serve. You have to either order your food on line from the table or go to counter to order. Than for your coffee they give you a cup so you can get it your self. Oh and have the nerve to request a tip when you order your food. My suggestion is they can hardley call their self a restaurant. Oh almost forgot they expect you to clean the table after eating and water also self serve. Never again.
Not the same me and my wife haven’t been in a couple years and it’s not the same what so ever. The original owners are transitioning to the kids. There are no waiters you order your food online or go to the counter, and there is a New menu. In our opinion it is very over priced for breakfast when we got our food her food was way over cooked and burnt, they give you a salad with your breakfast and for the two of us it was $53! We where so excited to go it used to be one of our favorite breakfast places to go too but now we will ever go there again.
Had a great time trying out Sylvester's in Northampton MA over the weekend! It was a Saturday so obviously there was a 15ish minute wait, but it gave us time to browse the menu. We both got eggs Benedict; mine was the California one (goat cheese, tomatoes, spinach and hollandaise on fresh sourdough), and my boyfriend got the Irish Benedict (corned beef hash, hollandaise and cheddar biscuits). Both were delicious and filled us up. Loved their fresh homemade bread. The one drawback is the lack of table service. The ordering process was pretty chaotic and we had to get our own water and sauces. Plus you have to pay and tip ahead of time, so that was pretty odd. But the food was great and it was nice to try a new spot! Would go back.