1. Elizabeth’S
City: Pittsfield, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (413) 443-8244
Address: 1264 East St.
Description: Located a little off the beaten path in Pittsfield, this no-frills spot stays just under the radar but is without a doubt one of the Berkshires’s best restaurants. Watch the action in the open kitchen and order from a menu that is deliciously laden with buttery pasta dishes like baked shells with Gorgonzola and baby sweet peas and a 4-cheese lasagna with caramelized onions and spinach. There’s also a market-driven fish and a meat entree per night and everything is very gently priced. Note: It’s cash or check only and reservations are essential. Open for dinner only Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wed through Sun, and Wed through Sat the rest of the year.
2. Trattoria Rustica
City: Pittsfield, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (413) 499-1192
Address: 27 McKay St.
Description: Almost a throwback to another era, with its candle-lit grotto-like subterranean space, Trattoria Rustica offers traditional Italian meals with a focus on classic preparations and ingredients. While a few up-to-date twists dot the menu, for the most part it’s a reassuring roster of antipasti (Caprese salad), primi piatti (linguine with clams), and secondi (brick-oven roasted chicken with potatoes). Portions are generous, so dessert may seem impossible, but the homemade tiramisu is too good to refuse. A well-chosen wine list and service that is friendly and informed help make Trattoria Rustica a fine Berkshire choice for date night or a low-key dinner with friends.
3. Hancock Shaker Village
City: Pittsfield, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (413) 443-0188
Address: 1843 Housatonic St.
Description: The Shaker community thrived in Hancock Village from 1790 to 1960. Its inhabitants made their living through farming and creating simple but exquisitely well-made furniture. Today Hancock Village is not only a working farm (the public can buy CSA shares) but also a museum that chronicles the history of the Shakers. The Round Stone Barn is the centerpiece of the restored village. Kids especially enjoy visiting the calf nursery and watching milking demonstrations. The village offers engaging interactive/learning programs that include options like learning about turbines in the Laundry & Machine room and touring the village heirloom gardens.