Hart's Turkey Farm facts for kids

Hart's Turkey Farm is a well-known restaurant located in Meredith, New Hampshire, United States. It first opened its doors in 1954. The restaurant is famous for its large menu, which features many different dishes made with turkey.

History of Hart's Turkey Farm

Starting a Family Farm

In 1946, two brothers, Larry and Russ Hart, along with their wives, Helen and Gerda, moved to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. They had often visited this area for vacations since the 1920s. The Hart family decided to start a farm. They sold fresh produce and meat, like chicken, turkey, fruits, and vegetables, directly from a truck.

From Farm to Restaurant

By 1953, the Hart family decided to focus only on raising turkeys. Then, in 1954, they opened a small restaurant in Meredith, New Hampshire. This first restaurant could only seat twelve people. It served turkey sandwiches and full turkey dinners, all made with turkeys from Hart's Turkey Farm.

Larry Hart passed away in 1960. After that, Russ Hart became the only owner of both the farm and the restaurant. By 1965, Russ stopped farming completely. He wanted to spend all his time expanding and running the restaurant. He decided to buy turkeys from other farms, making sure they met his high standards.

New Owners and Growth

In 1986, Russ and Helen's children—Lynn, Dale, Russell T., and Glenn Hart—bought the restaurant. Today, a member of the Hart family, Sam Willey, owns the restaurant.

Hart's Turkey Farm opened a second location in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2008. This second restaurant was temporarily closed for updates in 2011. A politician named Mitt Romney visited the original Meredith location during the 2012 presidential election. The Manchester location permanently closed in 2021.

In 2014, Hart's celebrated its 60th anniversary by hosting a special event for the tourism industry. More than 600 people came to the celebration. In 2018, a large tanker truck had an accident in front of the restaurant, causing only minor damage to the building.

Supporting Employees

During the busy summer months, the restaurant usually has about 230 employees. However, due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant had about 100 fewer employees in 2021. To help his workers, Sam Willey owns two apartment buildings. He offers reduced rent to his employees who live there.

Hart's Turkey Farm also helps the community. Every year, they sponsor a special Thanksgiving dinner. They provide free meals for families and individuals who need help or are celebrating the holiday alone. The restaurant also has a catering company that prepares food for events. Famous people like Katharine Hepburn and Caroline Kennedy have eaten at the original Hart's Turkey Farm.

Restaurant Style and Look

Hart's Turkey Farm is a large white building surrounded by parking areas. When you enter, you'll find a gift shop. In 2011, a writer from ABC News, Larry Olmstead, said the restaurant felt a bit like a "truck stop" but also had a "practical New England feel."

The restaurant has many different dining rooms. Together, these rooms can seat over 500 people. The walls in these rooms are made of wood. Each room also displays a collection of plates and dishes that have turkey designs on them. There are more than 1,000 platters in this collection, which was started by Mae Hart. The restaurant also has a bar and a bakery.

Delicious Turkey Dishes

Hart's Turkey Farm used to make dishes using turkeys raised on their own farm. Now, they buy turkeys from other farms. Their main supplier is from Utah. The restaurant's menu is very large and has many dishes that feature turkey.

Popular Meals

The most popular meal at Hart's is a Thanksgiving-style meal that you can order every day. This meal includes roasted turkey and comes in three different sizes. The largest size has over a pound of turkey. In 2014, this meal cost $22.95 and included side dishes. You can also order a turkey drumstick dinner. In 2011, this cost $10.99.

Turkey Sandwiches and More

They also sell many kinds of turkey sandwiches. These include turkey meatball sandwiches, a "Turkey Gobbler" sandwich with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo, and a turkey Rueben. Hart's also makes turkey versions of dishes like chicken divan, chicken alfredo, and cheesesteaks.

For appetizers, you can find turkey croquettes, turkey nuggets, potstickers filled with turkey, turkey quesadillas, turkey soup, tempura turkey, and sautéed turkey liver with onion, cranberry relish, and mushrooms.

Other Menu Items

If you don't want turkey, the restaurant also offers hamburgers and pasta. During the summer, they sell fried clams and lobster rolls. Hart's makes many of its own items, including salad dressing, mashed potatoes, chowders, and a relish made with carrots. They even make their own ice cream. However, the cranberry sauce comes from a can.

Daily Food Amounts

In 2011, the restaurant sold over a ton of turkey every day. They also used 1,000 pounds of potatoes, 4,000 bread rolls, 40 gallons of gravy, and 1,000 pies daily. In 2021, the restaurant sold an average of 100 40-pound turkeys each day. On Thanksgiving Day, the restaurant sells 1,600 turkey dinners to eat there and 180 dinners for takeout.