Three Chimneys Inn

Upstairs we had a fabulous meal. The service was excellent, and I even got a history lesson. I started with a maple walnut old fashion, then had the haddock in the potato crust, so comforting and yummy on a snowy winter night. Dessert was their huge brownie sundae, easy to share. A classically historic, charming spot in Durham, NH.

The food was fantastic, and our server Kiara (spelling) was one of the best I've had in a long time. She was attentive and personable, and did her best to make the evening enjoyable. But the manager, Dan, ruined the night. Our group of 15 was seated in a small room, having dinner and talking together. It was lively, but nothing outrageous or disrespectful. Dan stormed in with a huffy attitude and told us to quiet down because he was “losing business.” The delivery was condescending and shockingly rude, with no courtesy or professionalism. I've never felt so disrespected at a restaurant. Dan's behavior overshadowed the food and Kiara's excellent service. We canceled the dinner orders that hadn't been started and left, and we won't return. Three Chimneys Inn should be ashamed that someone representing it thinks this is acceptable. They lost a great evening, repeat customers, and extra money because of one manager's ego. Dan should work in an industry without customers. Be warned, Dan = not a great person.

Our server was incredibly kind and accommodating, and did everything she could to make us feel welcome. The manager's behavior overshadowed that and ended what should have been a happy birthday dinner in disappointment. We had reserved for 15, but were seated in a small, low-ceilinged room with three other two-top tables, not an ideal setup for a group. While we were laughing and enjoying ourselves, without being rude or disrespectful, the manager came over aggressively and said our fun and laughter were “making them lose business.” He scoffed loudly as he walked away. It was shocking and completely uncalled for. We felt uncomfortable and unwelcome, so canceled our food order and left before eating. Then we had to call around other restaurants to find a place for 15. This is the first time I've ever left a restaurant angry and hungry. We won't return and don't recommend it for celebrations or group gatherings. Hospitality starts with management, and sadly that was missing here.

The room itself was okay, but it fell short of the room I thought I had reserved. I chose room #6 because I liked its look, high ceilings, privacy, and upper-floor location. I was in Dover for a funeral and wanted a quiet place to sleep, so I’d weighed booking it against renting an entire Airbnb cottage. On arrival, I learned I’d been assigned another room because, I was told, a professor rents #6 every weekday all year. If I’d known that, I would have taken the Airbnb. I disliked the other rooms, but had to pay for one night either way, so I stayed. The front desk service was very uneven. Two people were kind and completely professional. Another was surly and argumentative, insisting I was wrong to think I’d reserved #6 and saying they don’t reserve specific rooms. I explained that the Three Chimney website shows a photo of that room and clicking it makes it look like you’re booking it. She snapped that it was generic and I should have looked closer. It felt abrasive and upsetting, especially when I’d calmly explained my disappointment while in town for a funeral. I told her I was a guest and was speaking calmly. She said I was rude and yelling, then stomped off. It was a strange exchange. Maybe social interactions are difficult for her generally. A few things in the inn could use attention. The shower had mildew that seemed baked in, and the WiFi gave me trouble. There was no night staff to help, so it was hard to contact relatives about arrangements after the funeral, though the connection eventually fixed itself. The pillows were about 10 inches tall and hard, so I couldn’t use them. I’d also have appreciated shower gel instead of bar soap, since gel can be gentler on sensitive skin, a full-length mirror, and even one bottle of water. I probably wouldn’t book again. The room I meant to get looks gorgeous, and the few others I saw were okay. I liked the inn’s charm and potential, but the hotel I moved to the next night was much more comfortable, with a better mattress, pillows, and little extras. I was also disappointed that the restaurant is open so infrequently. Please train the one sour person at the front desk.