I had never been to The International in Bolton, Mass. so I had no idea what to expect. The restaurant is called the Fireplace Room. As its name implies, there is a beautiful wood-burning fireplace throwing off generous amounts of welcoming heat. The dining area is very large, but it’s not cozy as the name suggests.
The prominent sign that greets you as you enter states, “Cell Phone Use Prohibited.” We joked about it as we approached the bar. “It’s a good thing we have hand-held computers and not cell phones,” someone quipped.
The bar is long and well lit with plenty of seating. We ordered drinks to enjoy while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive. An attractive young lady approached and gave us a short introduction to the facility before seating us.
To start, I had a Caesar Salad with anchovies, of course. The anchovies were not the dark salty kind that I prefer, instead they were the light pickled version. Despite that fact, the salad was crispy and fresh with a tangy dressing.
My ravenous appetite made the wait seem like forever, but I am sure the main course came within a reasonable amount of time. The New York, New York Sirloin Steak I ordered was cooked to perfection. This thick and juicy piece was easily cut with a butter knife. I was surprised by how flavorful it was because normally I don’t like a steak if it is too tender.
The steak came with two deep-fried potato and mozzarella croquettes. These were consumed with much vigor and reluctantly shared.
Other than the wait, the service was excellent. Our server knew the menu well and offered advice freely. Perhaps the kitchen was backlogged because it was extremely, and perhaps unusually, busy for a Tuesday night. Despite the delay, we all had a fantastic time. I will definitely return.
If you enjoy fine dining, you won’t be disappointed. When you go, make sure you use your GPS for guidance, otherwise you may find yourself lost on the labyrinth of winding roads that you must traverse to get there.
