By Scott Stafford | Berkshire Eagle | Nov. 18/2007

Adams, MA
An old-time, pre-fabricated diner that has been operated as such since the 1920s recently set sail on a new course as a seafood restaurant called the Captain's Tavern.

At the helm is a veteran seafood chef, who piloted the galley at the popular Captain's Table in Williamstown for 18 years.

Restaurateur Jae Chung still owns the restaurant, and he worked closely with new manager/chef Randy Beaudoin to finalize the concept, decor and menu. Chung said the total investment in renovations and new equipment totaled less than $10,000.

"Jae made a real good decision about doing this," Beaudoin said. "And we really got rid of the diner feel, as much as you can and still be in the same building."

The building began as "Worcester Lunch Car No. 821." It was moved to Adams in December 1949 and is one of few remaining pre-fab diners in the area.

The Miss Adams Diner closed in late July. Since then, maritime artifacts were installed and ocean fantasy scenes air brushed over the walls, and Jimmy Buffet songs piped throughout to accent the theme and menu of the new eatery.

The kitchen received a thorough cleaning and thousands of dollars in new kitchen equipment.

"It was an extensive remodeling job throughout," Beaudoin said.

He noted that some folks who miss the diner still mourn the loss.

Chung noted that its very difficult to make a profit in a diner without a lot of foot traffic.

"It's very hard to make a profit with a diner in a small town," he said. "And Adams needs more dinner places."

"Unfortunately it was not making it as a diner," Beaudoin said. "It was time for a change."

Meanwhile, there seems to be plenty of customers happy to find a seafood place in North county.

"So far, the feedback has been very positive," Beaudoin said. "We've had a lot of customers coming back for more, and some of them asking us to do parties for them. There really are few seafood offerings in North County, which may be why Jae really wanted to do this — it was meant to be."

Open since Oct. 26, the Captain's Tavern welcomed back many of the same employees from the diner.

Today, the eatery employs 15 full- and part-time people.

The new menu, which will take some time to finalize as the customers decide which offerings will be the most popular, includes appetizers from $5.95 to $9.95, and entrees from $10.95 to $19.95.

Chung said the menu is still under development. He and Beaudoin are trying to find the right balance of fresh seafood and modest price to fit well into the Adams market.

"Fresh seafood isn't cheap," Chung said. "And we want to offer quality food, but we don't want to charge too much. We want the food to be consistent and with good pricing."

There are also wine and beer lists, and docking soon will be six draft beers on tap.

At the Captain's Table, Beaudoin recalls the popularity of the fresh seafood offerings, and the atmosphere, and tried to bring some of those elements back at the Captain's Tavern.

It seems to have brought out some old friends.

"It's only been a couple of weeks, but I've seen quite a few familiar faces coming in," Beaudoin said

Originally published online here: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/localnews/ci_7495816