Local Highlight: Ashfield Lake House

Perched over a pristine lake, the Ashfield Lake House is a picturesque destination for casual staples and delicious dinner options. The lakeside windows look out over the water and the beautiful rustic wood interior is perfect for a dinner with the family or a first date. In recent years the business and property have transferred hands a few times, but the restaurant and bar have landed firmly in the operational hands of Gretchen Gerstner with the financial backing of Gary Bogoff. Gretchen has a holistic approach to the business, with years of experience in kitchens and managing similar establishments.

It’s been three months now since the Lake House reopened under Gretchen’s capable guidance. The previous iteration of the business had struggled to make ends meet through the hardest years of the COVID Era. The land and business were initially put on the market in 2022, and the restaurant had limited offerings and hours through 2023. Then, in June of 2024, the property was purchased by Amanda Nash, who, in turn, leased it to Gretchen and her team to operate for the next three years.

Reopening was a huge effort. And Gretchen is no stranger to hard work, but it was the performance of the staff that truly blew her away. They were tearing it up, working doubles to make sure the opening was a success, and at the end of each day the staff was still happy to be there. It’s a rare thing to have such cohesion, but everyone wanted to see the Lake House back on its feet.

Heather Taylor, Kitchen Manager (Left), and Gretchen Gerstner, Owner (Right)

Gretchen also owns a bakery called Baked in Shelburne Falls. Between the two businesses she employs roughly 40 folks from in and around the area. Her restaurant staff includes old hands from earlier incarnations of the Ashfield Lake House, some who have worked at the restaurant and bar for over forty years through all the various owners. It also includes some of her staff from Baked, one who’d been there for 9 years and is now splitting shifts between the locations.

This sort of versatility and flexibility on the part of her employees is playing an outsized role in her ability to get this new venture on its feet without neglecting the needs of her bakery.

The staff functions much like a family. It’s hard not to be tight knit in an operation like this one, and in this case the metaphor is often literal. Nephews and nieces, brothers, spouses, and cousins all have been called upon to help maintain the forward momentum. And that’s the energy Gretchen likes to cultivate; a sense that she’s not going to push folks past the breaking point, that there’s enough work here to support her team and that’s what she’s focused on doing. She herself currently works from 10am till after midnight for closing, shifting from the Bakery to the Lake House midday, but says it’s not draining or overwhelming. The work makes the days fly by, and she goes to sleep excited to dream up new creations.

Gretchen knows people, and she knows food – a great combination for this line of work. She got her initiation into food and baking by decorating cakes at a young age for a mom-and-pop shop. She started her first business, in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York, at the age of 29. This is Gretchen’s fifth restaurant, and while many of her past endeavors incorporated a bakery, The Lake House is the first one to include a bar. While this has presented a bit of its own learning curve, the kitchen menu itself is a direct descendant of her first business, back in the Finger Lakes. It’s an ode to comfort food, offering the vibe of home-cooked dinners without the hassle and dirty dishes cluttering your own kitchen.

There’s something for everyone on the menu. She sources farm-raised beef from Porter Family Farms for most of her burgers. She’s got Smothered Steak Tips which fly out the door. There’s Seafood Alfredo, an Old Fashioned Tuna sandwich or a Tuna Melt, plenty of Small Bites, and options for the kids. It really is a casual menu that can’t miss. Heather Taylor, her Kitchen Manager, makes an incredible Classic Italian Lasagna which shouldn’t be passed over. 

One of Gretchen’s points of pride is the Roasted Chickpea Curry, a recipe she developed as a vegan option. Another is the Buffalo Chicken Wings, which are made in the authentic Buffalo NY style. And don’t forget about the fresh fried Fish and Chips every Friday and Saturday!

Gretchen actively tries to make sure there’s options for everyone. There are mocktails at the bar, vegan options in the menu, and gluten-free desserts and bread options from Baked. The English muffins substitute agave for honey. This simple swap keeps them vegan, and that’s the sort of way she finds to add options for everyone to the menu. The gluten-free bread recipe is her sister’s creation, and Gretchen serves it because she thinks it’s actually quite good, and serving good food is the goal. In fact all the breads and rolls are baked at Baked, it’s just another way the synergy of her work supports both operations.

As per the bar service, the Berkshire Brewing Company has long had a home on the Lake House menu. In yet another example of good business synergy, Gretchen has also forged a partnership with BBC co-founder Gary Bogoff. In fact, aficionados of BBC’s offerings may want to make the trek to the Lake House just to sample their exclusive name-branded Lake House Lager. Apart from great local beer, the bar has a broad menu featuring housemade margaritas, ciders, meads, and classic cocktails. Take a refreshing moment to sit out on their deck – there’s plenty of cover to sit away from the sun and enjoy the view of their beach. A beautiful stone stairway guides you down to the sandy shore and a pier, often with a small sailboat docked. Around the lake there are areas for swimming and boating. At this time of year the foliage is absolutely stunning, but the natural beauty shines through year-round.

Head on over to the Ashfield Lake House, and perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of Gretchen! She seems to know everyone who walks through the door. The service staff is always hard at work, as folks from all around love to come visit, and once you’re seated you’re home.

There’s a pool table for those who play, and the bar is open and engaging. When camps get out for the summer, they often come by for a meal and fireside songs down on the beach. Those are the sort of vibes you can expect at the Ashfield Lake House. That Lake House Magic is back – The Ashfield Lake House is open and happy to serve.

Looking for something more? They will be hosting their first event on the 1st of November, the Lake House’s own Halloween Party! Complete with Costume Contest and Karaoke, the fun starts at 8:30pm, you won’t want to miss this exciting hilltown activity.

Ashfield Lake House

141 Buckland Road Ashfield, MA 01330

lakehouse.ashfield@gmail.com

413.628.0158

lakehouse-ashfield.com

Hours: 11am to 9:00pm 

(10:00pm on Friday & Saturday)

Closed on Tuesday