ROOTED IN WILLIAMSTOWN
A new chapter at the Orchards Hotel.
Fine dining, casual evenings at Orchards Social, and meaningful gatherings—under one roof in the Berkshires.
THE STORY OF THE HOUSE
Honoring the past. Creating a place to gather.
The Gala House Restaurant & Bar is a hospitality destination located at the Orchards Hotel in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The property has a longstanding connection to dining and hospitality in the Berkshires and was previously home to the Gala Restaurant & Bar, from which the new concept draws inspiration for its name.
The Orchards Hotel has been part of Williamstown's hospitality landscape since the mid-1980s, welcoming residents, travelers, families, and visitors to the region for decades. After the hotel and restaurant closed in 2020, the property remained vacant for several years before efforts began to restore and revitalize it.
Today, local restaurateurs Chef Xavier Jones Sr. and Dully Saimbert are bringing a new restaurant and hospitality concept to the space. The name The Gala House Restaurant & Bar pays homage to the property's history while establishing a new identity, culinary vision, and guest experience.
The Gala House offers several distinct experiences under one roof. The main dining room provides an elevated fine-dining experience featuring Mediterranean-American influences, thoughtfully prepared cuisine, attentive service, and an atmosphere designed for celebrations, special occasions, date nights, and memorable evenings out.
For a more relaxed experience, Orchards Social serves as the casual bar within The Gala House. Designed as a comfortable gathering place, Orchards Social offers an approachable setting for food, drinks, conversation, and socializing while maintaining the quality and hospitality standards of The Gala House.
The property also features dedicated event and conference space for weddings, celebrations, private dining experiences, corporate functions, conferences, meetings, and community gatherings. Together with its catering capabilities and location within the Orchards Hotel, The Gala House serves local residents as well as visitors, businesses, organizations, and groups traveling to the Berkshires.
The Gala House brings new energy to a property with a meaningful history in Williamstown while creating something distinctly its own. Fine dining, casual social experiences, celebrations, business gatherings, and genuine hospitality come together in one destination—honoring the property's past while creating a gathering place for the Berkshire community and its visitors.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE HOUSE
Chef Xavier Jones Sr. & Dully Saimbert
Co-Owner & Executive Chef · Co-Owner & Restaurant Manager
The Gala House Restaurant & Bar is owned and operated by Chef Xavier Jones Sr. and Dully Saimbert, longtime friends and colleagues whose professional paths first crossed while working together in the local hospitality industry.
Working alongside one another, Xavier and Dully recognize a shared work ethic, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a similar approach to hospitality. Their professional respect developed into a strong friendship and eventually a business partnership, with each bringing different strengths and experience to their ventures.
Chef Xavier brings more than 20 years of culinary, catering, and hospitality experience to The Gala House. His career spans private dining, restaurant operations, catering, community events, and large-scale celebrations serving hundreds of guests. As Co-Owner and Executive Chef, Xavier leads the culinary vision of The Gala House with a philosophy centered on creating experiences that extend beyond the food. For Xavier, hospitality means understanding the people gathered around the table, paying attention to the details, and creating an experience that feels personal from beginning to end.
Dully brings a complementary focus on restaurant operations, guest service, team leadership, and the overall guest experience. As Co-Owner and Restaurant Manager, he oversees the day-to-day restaurant experience and helps establish a service culture that is polished and professional while remaining warm, comfortable, and genuinely welcoming.
Xavier and Dully also work together as co-owners of BIGG Daddy's Philly Steak House at MASS MoCA in North Adams. Their work at The Gala House builds on that experience while allowing them to expand their shared hospitality vision into fine dining, casual dining, private events, weddings, conferences, catering, and other guest experiences.
Outside of their roles as business owners, Xavier and Dully are both fathers and share a commitment to building businesses that contribute positively to the community around them. Their focus extends beyond operating successful restaurants to creating employment opportunities, supporting the local economy, building meaningful community relationships, and establishing businesses their families can be proud of.
At The Gala House, their roles are distinct but complementary: Xavier leads the culinary vision, while Dully leads restaurant operations and the guest experience. Together, they share a commitment to thoughtful hospitality, strong service, quality food, and creating a destination where guests feel genuinely welcomed.