Owners and staff of Mendon 64 are (lfrom left) Michael Sassone, Molly Babigian, Dave Stott and Hilary Stott. Submitted photo
BY DEB AND TIM SMITH
When we sat down this morning at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon to interview owner Hilary Stott about her new venture, Mendon 64, she asked us if we wanted a cup of coffee. We politely declined and it was probably a wise decision. The woman is the most effusive ebullient person we’ve ever met and her energy is much more contagious than caffeine.
In February, Mendon’s newest dining destination, the Mendon 64 restaurant, opened on Route 64 after a major renovation of the building formerly known as the Mendon House. The establishment offers “Casually Elegant” dining in a beautifully remodeled setting with a custom built fireplace serving as the centerpiece of the main dining area. There is also a separate banquet room which can accommodate up to 20 people. The hours of operation are 4 – 10 pm Tuesday through Saturday with a Sunday brunch offered from 10 – 2 pm.
Hilary has brought some unique new ideas to Mendon 64, many of which have a local focus. Food is grown and raised locally to the greatest extent possible. There is a local artist of the month whose work is featured throughout the restaurant and the first Tuesday of each month is “Art Night” where the featured artist makes a personal appearance to share free hors d’oeuvres and mingle with guests. The event is co-hosted by St. Catherine’s Father Rob.
The other innovation that we thought was most exciting is the plan for expanded outdoor dining and socialization along their property closest to the road. Having walked by this property literally hundreds of times one quirky thing that we often joked about was that every spring a huge vinyl banner would go up along the fence of the Mendon House saying “Outdoor Patio Now Open” and in all the years we have been here we never saw a single person sitting outside. Current plans are to change all this with a new outdoor facility being designed and built by Hilary’s husband Dave Stott.
Beginning with the private opening, and continuing through our subsequent visits, we have found Mendon 64 to be top notch in every regard. You enter into the cozy bar area with a new modern look and six tables for dining. There is a piano in the room and guests enjoy music every night but Thursday. Wednesdays feature a jazz guitarist. The hospitality is wonderful, food is diverse and delicious, and service impressive. The open fireplace adds to the ambiance, pacing from the drinks, to appetizers, to entrees and then finishing off with the dessert was perfection. If you go, you’ll be planning your next visit back before you walk out the doors.
Having so successfully revitalized the Cottage Hotel we were curious about how anxious Hilary was to take on the challenge of bringing back to life another local eatery and her answer surprised us. The Mendon House was for sale for months before the Stotts became involved deciding that the overall business persona of Mendon would be compromised by yet another failed venture at this location, and rather than let that potentially happen, they would step up and accept the challenge. Hilary said that they put in a somewhat exploratory offer and, “Next thing you know, boom chucka lucka, we had a new restaurant!” The whole project has come together in a very symbiotic fashion for the Stott family. Hilary’s daughter-in-law, Molly Babigian manages Mendon 64 and Hilary’s father hosts on Saturday night which is her evening with the grandkids.
The new restaurant in town, Mendon 64, opened last month. Photo by Deb and Tim Smith
