Monarch & the Milkweed
111 St. Paul St., Burlington, monarchandthemilkweed.com
Entering tiny but chic Monarch & the Milkweed feels like stepping into a miniature marble palace. Fluted chandeliers cast warm light over white-stone pedestal tables; napkins are branded with the restaurant’s butterfly logo. You could keep it casual and meet for lunch, dipping grilled cheddar-Gruyère sandwiches into each other’s creamy tomato soups. But as dusk falls, the restaurant offers exquisite cocktails — get the milkweed punch — and classic fare such as crisp Waldorf salads and smoky bluefish-salad sandwiches. Save room for dessert; the chef spent years turning out pastries at the acclaimed Hen of the Wood.
Guild Tavern
1633 Williston Rd., South Burlington, guildtavern.com
Classy cocktails set the scene for a posh dinner. The wood-fired grill cooks dry-aged steaks and other local meats for a meal to remember.
Hen of the Wood
55 Cherry St., Burlington, henofthewood.com
Woo your date with fine locavore cuisine at Hotel Vermont’s rustic hideaway. On a budget? Swing by for $1 oysters in the early evening, or snuggle up by the fireplace with small plates.
Leunig’s Bistro & Café
115 Church St., Burlington, leunigsbistro.com
This cozy yet elegant French-style bistro has been a Church Street staple for decades. And, really, what’s sexier than steak frites?
Misery Loves Co.
46 Main St., Winooski, miserylovescovt.com
Need a conversation starter? Talk about the open kitchen’s seriously imaginative food — think scallop crudo and bacon beignets. The fare has twice nabbed the chef-owners James Beard Award nominations.
A Single Pebble
133 Bank St., Burlington, asinglepebble.com
Traditional preparation and presentation set apart Chinese dishes such as the mock eel — a fave of the Food Network’s Alton Brown. Meeting for lunch? Try the tasting menu.
Trattoria Delia
152 St. Paul St., Burlington, trattoriadelia.com
A firelit setting and award-winning wine list distinguish this authentic Italian spot. Try the housemade pasta or wood-grilled Vermont rabbit.
This article appears in What’s Good 2017.
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I’d add Honey Road.