White tablecloths, green walls, fresh flowers, antler-style lamps and hunting crossbows give the dining room at Midway’s Blue Boar Inn an immediately theatrical warmth. Boar heads are part of the décor, too, but the effect is more old-world inn than novelty restaurant: colorful, slightly whimsical and built for settling in.
The Blue Boar has the character of a European or Swiss-inspired getaway without requiring a complicated itinerary. It is a place to linger over breakfast, meet friends for brunch, make an evening of dinner, or turn a meal into an overnight visit at the inn.
The mood is generally calm and conversational, making it a natural setting for an anniversary dinner or an unhurried catch-up with friends. At the same time, the spacious room has accommodated larger tables, so a family gathering or celebratory group does not feel out of place.
Brunch with some heft
Brunch is not treated as an afterthought here. Scottish eggs have become a favorite choice, substantial enough to stand in as a full meal rather than a small starter before something else arrives.
Other brunch selections have included eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, salmon with risotto and corned beef hash. That range gives a table room to order in different directions: a classic egg dish for one person, something heartier for another, and perhaps a plate of French toast in the middle.
The eggs Benedict has at times arrived on a biscuit instead of the expected English muffin, a small switch that makes the dish feel especially suited to a leisurely inn breakfast. Cinnamon French toast has been notably thick and fluffy, while the corned beef hash has featured tender, well-seasoned meat.
A dinner worth taking slowly
Dinner has a broader, chef-prepared rhythm, with halibut, salmon, filet mignon, steak and fries, and molasses-braised pork shank among dishes that have appeared on the menu. The range works well when not everybody at the table is in the mood for the same sort of meal.
The wood-plank grilled salmon has been paired with microgreens, greens and pistachios, adding a little crunch to the plate. An heirloom tomato and burrata starter makes a good beginning for a summer-minded meal, while French onion soup brings the more traditional comfort-food note: plenty of onions, melted cheese and bread in a white china bowl.
Fondue for two can carry an entire meal, especially if the goal is to sit and talk rather than rush through courses. Bread service has included sourdough and wheat slices with butter, a modest but welcome detail for the table.
Dessert can stay classic with crème brûlée or cheesecake. For something lighter, raspberry sorbet has arrived with berry sauce in a crisp shell, a tidy finish after a richer entrée.
The pleasure of lingering
The Blue Boar suits a long meal. Appetizers, a main course, wine and dessert can comfortably stretch into an evening without the room seeming to push diners along.
Service is attentive and knowledgeable, which helps when the menu offers enough choices to invite questions. A couple can keep the evening simple, while a party of eight or a brunch table of nine can settle into the same welcoming dining-room atmosphere.
There is also a small pub within the inn, with its own entertaining character. It adds another pocket of personality to a property already full of decorative details.
A patio above town
In warm weather, outdoor balcony or patio seating opens the meal toward views over Midway. It is a pleasant alternative to the richly furnished interior, particularly for breakfast or a lunch that benefits from a little mountain-town air.
Indoor and outdoor seating give the restaurant two distinct moods: the dining room for a more enveloping old-world setting, and the balcony or patio for a meal with more open space around it.
Stay the night upstairs
The restaurant is part of a bed-and-breakfast-style inn, so dinner does not have to end with the drive home. The guest rooms carry literary names, extending the property’s sense of personality beyond the dining room.
The Ralph Waldo Emerson room is known for its charm and a comfortable bed. The Charles Dickens room has the same inviting, themed character; breakfast associated with that stay included eggs Benedict and cinnamon French toast, which is not a bad way to start a morning in Midway.
Free parking is available in the inn’s lot. Reservation arrangements can change, so it is sensible to confirm the current procedure before planning a dinner, brunch or larger gathering.