Jack Davis

Review of The Inn at Little Washington

We booked a night at the Inn in August to celebrat...

We booked a night at the Inn in August to celebrate a birthday under the "Far from the Maddening Crowd" package. The cheapest room was $1,360.50 and includes one night, dinner for two, complete breakfast and "all taxes and service." But they charged us $104.95 additional for taxes anyways. I pointed out that their website says that the package states that taxes are included. They said that they would correct the website right away and I took them at their word and agreed to the upcharge. We arrived an hour early on a hot Monday and they welcomed us to the beautiful patio while we waited for afternoon tea. They provided generous refills of the wonderful iced tea and some delicious treats. Our check-in was supposed to be 4 but at 3, the manager said that our room in "the Parsonage" was ready. It was lovely and decorated with incredible attention to detail. Elegant bathroom and private balcony.

Dinner was very good but fell short of expectations. A group at the next table was offered menu items not offered to us. My husband and I ordered the same menu with only the entree being different. But the waiter brought them out an interrupted our conversation to ask "Who ordered the duck?" The duck was delicious but the staff seemed unnecessarily focused on acting relaxed and un-stuffy while talking at us a lot about how great the food and the chef are. The lamb carpaccio with Caesar salad ice-cream was tasty but my ice cream was melted into puddles while my husband's was still firm and cold. The peach tart was fine but the peaches were a couple of days away from being ripe. A crisp peach in August that tastes like the supermarket is not acceptable in a $320 meal. Due to pandemic precautions, tables were well spaced which felt safe and made the luxurious dining room feel even more luxe.

The website said that the hotel would press our clothes for supper but nobody offered and there wasn't a sign in the closet suggesting how to get that done. The room included a hefty maglite flashlight which we used to take a stroll after supper. But the batteries were dead. A little decanter of port and a small plate of cookies were in our room after supper - which was lovely.

Breakfast turned out to be the disappointment that won't end. They steered us back to the lovely terrace despite the high heat. Waiter said that continental breakfast was free but that breakfast entrees were $25/each. We explained that they were included in our package and a manager came out to confirm. After our food arrived, we asked for napkins which they hastily brought. But 2 minutes later a waiter with a silver tray full of napkins came through when they realized that NOBODY had been given a napkin. And here is my rub. The guests were all too cowed to ask for napkins. The service is oddly high handed and doesn't encourage requests. Even though housekeeping is offered 3 times a day, the waiter interrupted our breakfast to ask if we really wanted our room tidied while we ate. Of course, we said it was not necessary. Breakfast was served with the same "who ordered what?" interruptions.

We cleared out our room and found an old dirty sock under the bed which was not ours. We checked out and were given the final bill with all of the taxes still on it which I did not contest. We were also told that they were no additional charges. Then 2 days later, my credit card was charged for 2 breakfasts. I called the Inn and they apologized and affirmed that I should not have been charged but over 10 days later, no credit yet on my charge card. They think that I am too cowed to call a second time but I will get this fixed. The website still says that if you order the package, the price includes all taxes and service. Good luck!