A baked potato priced at $97 has become the most talked-about item at Martha Stewart’s new restaurant in Connecticut. The dish proved so irresistible that one customer returned to order two servings during a single dining experience. The Bedford by Martha Stewart opened its doors at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket in March 2025, featuring upscale American cuisine with signature touches from the lifestyle icon.
The dish, officially listed as “Martha’s Smashed Baked Potato,” comes with crème fraîche, chives, and bacon as standard toppings for $17. The price jumps to $97 when customers add a one-ounce serving of premium caviar. Wisconsin-based content creator Jason Boehlke discovered the luxury side dish while exploring the restaurant’s menu and decided to try the experience firsthand.
YouTube creator impressed by tableside presentation and flavor combination
Boehlke, who runs two YouTube channels focused on gambling and unique food experiences, shared his enthusiasm for the potato preparation. The dish arrives at the table on a cart, where servers perform the smashing and mixing ritual in front of diners. The presentation culminates with the addition of an entire jar of caviar, transforming the humble potato into a luxury experience. “I would not usually be into something like that, but [the caviar] brought something different to that baked potato that I’ve never had before,” Boehlke explained. He consumed every bit of the dish, including the skin, and immediately planned a return visit to order two portions.
The content creator’s channels serve distinct audiences. His Mr. Hand Pay channel documents high-stakes gambling sessions where viewers watch him win and lose significant amounts daily. His second channel, JasonWasTHERE, focuses on food that meets specific criteria: exceptionally expensive, excellent value, unusually large portions, or highly rated by critics and customers. Martha’s Smashed Baked Potato checked multiple boxes on his list, qualifying as both a premium-priced item and a unique culinary experience worth documenting.
Restaurant features 10,000 square feet inspired by Stewart’s New York farm
The Foxwoods location represents the first Bedford by Martha Stewart outside Las Vegas, occupying a sprawling 10,000-square-foot space with seating for 204 guests. Stewart announced on her website that the restaurant was “thoughtfully decorated much like my Bedford, New York, farm,” bringing her personal aesthetic and culinary philosophy to the casino resort environment. The venue emphasizes first-class dining experiences with attention to detail in every aspect of service and presentation.
Boehlke recalled a previous encounter with Stewart at a culinary festival in Kohler, Wisconsin, two years earlier. That event recreated the Bedford atmosphere, featuring signature dishes like pumpkin soup served inside a hollowed pumpkin. The oversized bread basket served at the beginning of meals made a particular impression, and the same offering appears at the Foxwoods location. “When I started eating the bread, I couldn’t stop,” Boehlke noted, highlighting the quality of even the simplest menu items.
Big Martha’s Pierogies offer another caviar upgrade option
The restaurant’s menu includes another dish that allows caviar enhancement: Big Martha’s Pierogies. The $17 appetizer features five pieces with potato filling and brown butter. Adding caviar brings the price to $102, creating another ultra-premium option for diners seeking luxury ingredients. Boehlke and his fiancée Kristy attempted to order one of everything on the menu during their visit, resulting in what he described as “way too much food.” The ambitious sampling strategy demonstrated the restaurant’s generous portion sizes across multiple dishes.
The menu structure follows Stewart’s philosophy of offering accessible base dishes with optional luxury upgrades. Diners can enjoy the smashed baked potato or pierogies at moderate prices, or elevate the experience with caviar additions that multiply the cost. This approach allows the restaurant to serve different customer segments, from casual visitors to high-rollers seeking premium experiences at the casino resort.
Customer’s weight loss journey doesn’t prevent indulging in signature dish
Boehlke’s enthusiasm for the $97 potato comes despite his significant personal health transformation. Over recent years, he lost considerable weight, dropping from approximately 400 pounds to 285 pounds. Even with his changed eating habits and focus on healthier portions, he found the smashed baked potato substantial enough to serve as a complete meal for most diners. The loaded dish with all toppings and caviar provides enough substance to satisfy hunger while delivering the luxury experience that defines the Bedford brand.
The content creator described the overall experience as “phenomenal” and emphasized that Stewart maintains first-class standards across all operations. “Everything Martha does is first class, and that’s exactly what you’re getting from those [potatoes],” he stated. His willingness to return immediately for multiple servings underscores the dish’s appeal beyond novelty value, suggesting genuine culinary merit justifies the premium price point for customers seeking memorable dining experiences.
Viral attention brings national focus to Connecticut restaurant location
Social media coverage of the $97 baked potato has generated widespread discussion about luxury dining prices and value propositions in upscale restaurants. The dish joins other Stewart menu items that have sparked online debates, including her bagel preferences and potato salad recipe, which divided social media users over ingredient choices and preparation methods. The tableside presentation and caviar addition create shareable moments that extend the restaurant’s marketing reach beyond traditional advertising channels.
The Bedford’s location inside Foxwoods Resort Casino positions it to serve both destination diners traveling specifically for the Martha Stewart experience and casino guests looking for upscale meal options during gaming visits. The 204-seat capacity accommodates substantial traffic while maintaining the intimate atmosphere Stewart cultivated at her New York farm. Boehlke learned about the restaurant opening through his connections with casinos for his gambling content, illustrating how the resort partnership expands awareness among different customer demographics.
