Sturbridge has two types of restaurants—fast food and colonial-style taverns. In the latter category, costumed interpreters provide music and circulate among diners at Wight Tavern (1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, 508/347-3362, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, $9–14), a family-style tavern at the center of Old Sturbridge Village that serves up burgers, sandwiches, and affordable Yankee dinners. Four different rooms are each filled with antiques and exhibits drawn from the museum’s collections.

The best in the category is the Whistling Swan (502 Main St., 508/347-2321, www.thewhistlingswan.com, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun.–Thurs.; 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sat., $24–37), a formal dining room with quiet New England ambience that prides itself on the freshness of its ingredients. The menu includes hearty entrées of the likes of rack of lamb and lobster filet mignon.

The less pretentious Ugly Duckling Loft ($14–37) offers up the same menu, along with lower-priced items, in a pub setting next door.