Philo Ridge Farm in Charlotte has announced reopening dates for its market and restaurant, which have been closed since late 2023 as the regenerative farm transitioned to a nonprofit. The market — which features organic produce and grass-fed meat grown on the farm, as well as picnic lunches, pastries, coffee and local goods — will relaunch on Wednesday, June 18. Hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dinner service returns on Friday, July 4, with Wednesday through Saturday hours. Led by recently hired director of food and beverage and executive chef Marc St. Jacques, the meals might include smoked ham with savory beignets and housemade mostarda; grass-fed, bone-in rib eye with crispy beef-fat potatoes and garden Béarnaise; and rhubarb-glazed half chicken with farm-foraged shiitake mushrooms. Reservations, which are required, go live on philoridgefarm.com on Monday, June 16.
The farm will also add two casual dining options this summer: the outdoor Summer Barn (no reservations required) and Sundays on the Ridge, a family-friendly weekly event with grilled dishes, tours and children’s activities, starting Sunday, July 20.
Elsewhere in Chittenden County, several food businesses have closed their doors. This spring brought the end of Burlington’s Café St. Paul — a counter-service breakfast and lunch spot at 196 St. Paul Street — and Sushi Maeda, which closed for renovations in mid-February. Master sushi chef Kazutoshi (Mike) Maeda’s Cherry Street space now has a large “Building for Lease” sign in the window.
Despacito, the vegan restaurant at 294 North Winooski Avenue, announced its closure on social media on May 23. Earlier that month, the music venue attached to the business had stopped hosting shows, citing capacity changes imposed by Burlington’s fire marshal.
The Despacito name and business are not for sale, the post said, but an open house showing the leased restaurant space and available kitchen equipment took place on May 24, along with “a proper goodbye.”
The Cup & Leaf, a specialty coffee shop in the Essex Towne Marketplace off Susie Wilson Road, has also permanently closed after a short run. Owner Michael Sands, who opened the café in late 2024, confirmed the news in a message to Seven Days, writing, “Circumstances have forced my hand.”
The original print version of this article was headlined “Entrées and Exits: Chittenden County Restaurant & Café News”
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This article appears in The Animal Issue 2025.
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