Cover Story
7 Nights: The ‘Seven Days’ Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars (2010-11)
Historically, restaurants and recessions don’t pair well. But it doesn’t appear last year’s “down economy” stopped Vermonters from eating out. There’s good news to report from the food front: A number of restaurateurs had the courage to open new establishments in 2009. Stowe celebrated the arrival of Santos Cocina Latina, a bona fide Latin American…
A ‘Saveur’-Celebrated Chef Helms the Kitchen at Perkinsville’s Inn at Weathersfield
It looks homey as soon as you turn off Route 106 onto the short dirt lane: The Inn at Weathersfield is a classic white-clapboard, two-story building with a couple of centuries to its credit. The Inn at Weathersfield 1342 Route 106, Perkinsville, VT 802-263-9217 website If you’re booked into one of the 12 guest rooms,…
Hit the Brakes for Diner Delights at P&H Truck Stop in Wells River
Truck-stop fare tends to get lumped into the fast-food category: Both are quick, convenient and available 24/7. But P&H Truck Stop, at Exit 17 on I-91, has another thing going for it: The food is really good. At the Northeast Kingdom diner, beloved by Jane and Michael Stern of Roadfood fame, everything from pies to…
Slurp a ‘Nervous Breakdown’ — or Maybe a Margarita — at Vergennes’ Up Top Tavern
The Up Top Tavern looks like the spot where a crusty New England judge in a Shirley Jackson novel might stop for a scotch on his way home from chambers. Tucked on the second floor of a 19th-century Greek Revival building on the town green, it’s all low lighting, dark wood and maroon walls. There’s…
Martha Stewart Digs the ‘Delicious’ Fare at Stratton’s Verdé Restaurant
Not many Vermont restaurants have Martha Stewart shilling for them. But when she’s in Vermont, the domestic doyenne heads for Verdé in Stratton Mountain Village, where “Chef Rogan Lechthaler’s creations are inventive, locally grown, and delicious,” Stewart gushes on The Martha Blog. Verdé Restaurant 19 Village Lodge Rd., South Londonderry, VT 802-297-9200 website The restaurant…
For Adventurous Eaters, Burlington’s Bluebird Tavern Soars
It’s easy for new restaurateurs to play it safe with their menus, piling on dishes that are crowd pleasing and easy for servers to sell. Once established, they figure, the chef can branch out and play. When Burlington’s Bluebird Tavern opened in July of 2009, it was immediately evident that caution wasn’t part of the…
Eggs Benedict for Breakfast, Maple Meringues for Dessert at Chef’s Corner in Williston
There aren’t too many neighborhood eateries left at Taft Corners in Williston, the big-box capital of Vermont. With its ever-changing chalkboard menu of specials, Chef’s Corner bears little resemblance to a “chain.” But like one, it’s open seven days a week, for breakfast and lunch. Chef’s Corner Café & Bakery 300 Cornerstone Dr., Williston, VT…
Pig Out on Barbecue at Killington’s Back Behind Restaurant
Even on Killington’s restaurant-clogged main strip, Back Behind is impossible to miss. A large part of the dining room is actually a cheerful red antique caboose. Another brightly painted train car serves as a snack bar. There, passersby can indulge in homemade ice cream and the spot’s signature barbecue. The aromas of pork and burning…
Inspired Comfort Food Draws Crowds to St. Albans’ One Federal
In times of trouble, there’s nothing like comfort food: homey fare prepared and served as simply as it was in Grandma’s dining room. Think meatloaf, macaroni ‘n’ cheese and bowls of steamy soup. The Old Foundry at One Federal Restaurant & Lounge 1 Federal St., St. Albans, VT 802-524-0330 website Problem is, comfort food at…
Dine Like a VIP at Stowe Mountain Lodge’s Solstice Restaurant
Plenty of restaurants are pretty. But the earth-toned dining room at Solstice has a grandeur that’s at once rooted right here — the room’s furnishings and pottery were created by Vermont artisans — and totally out of this world. There is nothing else like it in the state. Solstice Restaurant 7412 Mountain Rd., Stowe, VT…
Green Cup Café & Bakery Finds Big Success in Small Waitsfield
It’s rare enough to find exquisite fare in small-town Vermont. But to find a restaurant that serves it up at breakfast, lunch and dinner? Almost unheard of. The Green Cup in Waitsfield does just that. Located on Bridge Street, the eatery is owned by its 35-year-old chef, Jason Gulisano, whose pedigree includes a stint at…
It’s Not All Tempeh and Tofu at Montpelier’s Kismet — but It Is All Delicious
Spelt flour. Steamed greens. Roasted beets. Yup, Montpelier’s Kismet is that kind of place. But this charming restaurant way off State & Main manages to be wholesome without being austere. Here you can get steamed veggies over grains and a spicy Bloody Mary. Kismet 207 Barre St., Montpelier, VT 802-223-8646 website Kismet welcomes diners of…
