May 18, 2026
New Farm-to-Table Spot on Birchwood Ave Is Already the Hottest Reservation in Town
Fern & Hearth, a cozy new restaurant on Birchwood Avenue, opened its doors last week and has already earned a two-week waitlist — and it's not hard to see why.
MILLBROOK, June 3 — Fern & Hearth, the eagerly anticipated farm-to-table restaurant that quietly opened last Thursday at 442 Birchwood Avenue, has already become the talk of the town. Chef and co-owner Delilah Okonkwo, a Millbrook native who spent six years cooking in Portland and Denver, returned home with a vision: a menu built almost entirely on ingredients sourced within 90 miles of the city.
What's on the Plate
The opening menu features standout dishes like a roasted beet and whipped goat cheese salad with toasted pepitas, a slow-braised lamb shank from Hartwell Family Farm in nearby Crestfield, and a dessert selection that leans heavily on seasonal stone fruits. Prices run from $14 to $38 per entrée, which feels reasonable given the evident care in sourcing. The wine list, curated by co-owner Marcus Tully, is compact but well-chosen, with several bottles from regional vineyards most locals haven't heard of yet — but probably will soon.
Worth the Wait?
- Reservations are booked through June 18 on weekends
- Walk-in bar seating is available starting at 5 p.m. nightly
- A weekend brunch menu is planned for launch in mid-July
- The space seats 52 and has a small private dining room for up to 12
The dining room itself is warm and unpretentious — exposed brick, mismatched reclaimed wood tables, and soft Edison bulb lighting that somehow manages not to feel like a cliché. If Fern & Hearth can keep up the quality as the hype builds, Millbrook may finally have a restaurant worth a detour from the city. Call 555-0183 to join the waitlist or book online at fernandhearthmillbrook.com.
