Sullivan Station Restaurant - The Berkshires

Welcome to Sullivan Station

- ALL ABOARD! -

Marilyn Kelly and her staff welcome you to savor today's favorite cuisine while taking a step back in time, dining in our fantastic turn-of-the-century railroad depot.

With a deep appreciation of Berkshire history and a passion for cooking, our family enthusiastically converted our charming turn-of-the-century railroad depot into a restaurant. The original ticket window, the seating, and even the office safe has its place and a new purpose.

On September 11, 1981, the doors of Sullivan Station Restaurant opened. Through the years, family members continued to play a significant role in the restaurant's daily operation. Son Kevin, a local contractor, maintains the building with his craftsman talents. Son Jimmy returns from Florida each summer season to lend a hand. Daughter Marty waitressed while she was in college, and now her son, Johnny, comes on board as a dishwasher and her daughter, Maggie, is a busgirl. It seems too, that our loyal and dedicated staff have become an extended family.

Our menu reflects popular food choices of our longtime patrons. It is always a pleasure to serve you. You might have the good fortune to be here when the train, still in operation, chugs by!

Sincerely,
Marilyn Kelly

Conveniently located off exit 2 of the Mass Pike, Sullivan Station is close to everything in the Berkshires. Whether you're planning a stay at one of the area's many B&B's, a day of shopping at the Outlet Mall, a day simply enjoying Lee, a visit to Tanglewood, a ride on the Scenic Railway or any of the many other local activities, please plan to dine with us - in the depot, on the deck or in our restored caboose.

Steaming hot soups, overstuffed sandwiches, fresh seafood, steaks, choice dinner selections, creative pasta dishes and heavenly homemade desserts are served daily.

A Trip through history...

Sullivan Station was originally built as a railroad passenger depot in 1893 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Prior to this construction, passengers boarded and disembarked from a tiny wooden building across the tracks.The inconvenience of having to walk across the tracks to get to the village was one of the reasons for seeking a new structure.

Lee merchant and contractor Thomas Heaphy convinced Wellington Smith, a prominent resident and paper mill owner, to represent the town in meetings with railroad officials in Boston. When the new depot was approved, the construction contract was awarded to Heaphy, and the depot became a product of labor of the local citizens.

The new passenger depot opened on Saturday, November 4, 1893, and the first ticket was proudly purchased by Thomas Heaphy himself. It remained the Lee Depot until 1971. The structure, then in the possession of Penn Central Railroad, was used as a line office.

The real estate was purchased from Penn Central in 1975 by the present owner. The building was used to operate two businesses, Barritt Oil Co. and Iron Horse Realty until 1980, when the family decided to take on the task of painstaking restoration. Enthusiastically, the depot was transformed into a restaurant.

On September 11, 1981, the doors of Sullivan Station Restaurant opened. It has continued to be owned and operated by Marilyn Kelly.

FOUR STAR RATING

"Enjoy a good meal at Sullivan Station"
Excerpts from Berkshires Week, September 20, 2007

For some folks, it's a place where everybody knows your name; for the rest, a very welcoming, unpretentious restaurant in a renovated former train station. At Sullivan Station on (where else?) Railroad Street it's all about quality food well-prepared, and a relaxing atmosphere for romantic candlelit dinners, a family night out or a group get-together among friends or work colleagues.

Marilyn Kelly (formerly Sullivan) has owned the restaurant ever since it opened on September 11, 1981, and she's there from mid-morning until late evening; during dinnertime, she's the bartender, mixing drinks (including an especially good Bloody Mary) and passing them though the station's former ticket window to a staff of gracious, attentive servers who go out of their way to cater to their patrons' preferences. It's a family affair, with three generations involved at one time or another.

Former train stations always seem particularly appealing as dining spots, especially for those who enjoy the ambiance of a well-preserved stop like the former Lee depot. Lunchtime diners see Berkshire Scenic Railway trains stop on their Lenox to Stockbridge runs over the weekend at this time of year, and daily in the summer. It's possible to board the train in either town, stop over in Lee for lunch and then resume your round-trip ride.

With a capacity of 65 and a summertime deck that accommodates 15 additional diners, Sullivan Station fills up on weekends, especially in the summer, and it was especially impressive on a busy Friday night in late August to snag the final available table and have a fine meal within an hour, getting out in plenty of time for an evening concert. (The restored caboose is available by reservation for private parties in season.) A return visit, coincidentally on the 26th anniversary, provided a relaxing dining experience.

Few restaurants maintain the same ownership for a quarter-century. At Sullivan Station, a vintage setting and the dedication of the owner and staff seem to be the keys to stability and long life as an anchor of the active and varied dining scene in Lee.