The International in Bolton, Mass. is a world class golf destination with its own signature restaurant tucked away in the middle of nowhere. I knew about the location, but I never knew the restaurant was open to the public. When I arrived, I walked into the rich-looking dining area called The Fireplace Room. I immediately noticed the comfy and spacious restaurant’s spectacular view of its immaculate grounds.
I began my dinner with the Classic Caesar Salad without the optional anchovies. This Caesar, my favorite type of salad, did not disappoint. The portion was large for a pre-dinner salad. Fresh romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, large shavings of Parmesan, and a delicious dressing came together to make an excellent starter.
For dinner, I chose the Cast Iron Swordfish. This blackened swordfish steak with white cheddar polenta, roasted garlic spinach, San Marzano tomato, and sun-dried corn was cooked to perfection. It pretty much melted in my mouth. The char and smokiness didn’t taste overpowering either. The crunch of the sun-dried corn provided a nice texture to the dish too. I’m not a polenta fan, but the white cheddar polenta was fantastic. The slightly cheesy flavor and creamy consistency of complemented the swordfish perfectly. The garlic spinach also provided a flavorful punch. I will certainly return to have this amazing dish again.
I found the service to be very attentive and knowledgeable, but I don’t think they were ready to handle our group of 18. We also arrived around the same time as another large party so our food took quite a while to arrive. While waiting, the waitstaff was very quick to refill water, snag drink orders, and keep us updated. Even though the service was slow, I understood why and still thought the servers were outstanding.
The Fireplace Room combines quality food, attentive service, and a beautiful location to create a wonderful overall dining experience. Despite the distance, it’s a trek I plan to take again and again.
