WILLIAMSTOWN — Steve and Monica Lawrence marked the 20th anniversary of their well-known Williamstown restaurant, the Spice Root on Spring Street, by purchasing another.

The couple now runs the Chef’s Hat, at 905 Simonds Road, and promise to leave it largely unchanged, to the relief of staff and regular customers.

"We are not just owners, we are part of the team," said Steve Lawrence. "You have to support each other — we’re not here just to make money, we’re here to create community."

Fans of the Chef’s Hat needn’t worry about major changes, says Monica Lawrence. "We don’t want to change it because there are so many people with memories of this place, and some of them have been coming here since they were young," she said.

The couple says they enjoy the restaurant business mostly because they get to meet people and make friends.

"This is my passion, my whole life," Steve Lawrence said.

"He really is a people person," said Monica Lawrence. "We both are."

"We are local people, we have many friends here," Monica Lawrence said. "And we are happy to accommodate all kinds of people. Everyone should feel like this is their place."

 By Scott Stafford, The Berkshire Eagle 
Jul 26, 2022