Summertime in Vermont is for swimming holes, outdoor concerts and snack shacks. But unlike closely guarded swimming hole coordinates, everyone will happily share where they go to refuel on a steamy, sun-soaked day.

Seven Days asked seven chefs and restaurant owners — most of whom grew up in Vermont — for their faves. The picks ranged from old-time classics, such as Joe’s Snack Bar in Jericho, to modern reinventions, such as Honeypie in Jamaica. A few operate year-round, and in several cases, classic hot-dog-and-burger menus have expanded to include global flavors.

Bookmark this list and set out on summertime adventures powered by pro-vetted pit stops. ➆

Carmen Alexiou

Co-owner of Lola Mediterranean Woodfire, Manchester Center
Fried chicken sandwich at Road Runner Credit: Courtesy

My absolute favorite is Road Runner. The fried chicken sandwich ($13) is next level: It has Brussels sprout slaw and a spicy aioli. I dream about that sandwich. They also have a phenomenal burger ($13). It’s where everyone goes around here for their snack-shack type of food, because it’s the best.

Honeypie is also off-the-charts good. Their Slamber ($15.25) is amazing: two lamb patties, melted cheddar cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, tzatziki on a toasted bun. I always look for the Mediterranean spin on things.

Road Runner, 4961 Main St., Suite 2, Manchester Center, 802-367-3495
Honeypie, 8811 Route 30, Jamaica, 802-548-4999

Stephen Coggio

Chef-owner of Cloud 9 Caterers, Colchester

I love me a snack shack. My favorite in Vermont is Joe’s Snack Bar. Absolutely top-tier garbage, like if your grandma worked at Sysco [a mainstream restaurant distributor] … but respectfully. They have the best BLT ($8.50) in the state: griddled soft white bread, perfectly cold iceberg lettuce, underripe tomato and a varying amount of bacon depending on the day.

Joe’s Snack Bar, 45 Route 15, Jericho, 802-899-3934

Stefano Coppola

Chef-owner of Pearl Street Pizza and Morse Block Deli & Taps, Barre

My fave is Cajun’s Snack Bar. Their frog legs used to be my go-to, but I didn’t see them on the menu last time, so I opted for the gator bites ($16.99). Almost everything there is fried Cajun-style. The fried alligator was great. Their Drunken Fries ($9.99) — with jalapeño, bacon, cheddar sauce and chipotle ranch — and the oyster po’ boy ($24.99 with fries) are great, too.

Cajun’s Snack Bar, 1594 Route 100, Lowell, 802-744-2002

Andrea Cousineau

Former executive chef and current consultant at Park Squeeze and Black Sheep Bistro, Vergennes

Goodies Snack Bar was my favorite growing up. I haven’t been in a very long time, but when I was a kid I would get a hot dog ($2.55) and a small chocolate-vanilla swirl creemee ($3.50).

My favorite summer spot to stop at now isn’t a snack shack, but I love Arandas Mexican Cuisine. They are a chain of gas stations that have the best Mexican food I have found in Vermont. I love their quesabirria ($15.99).

Goodies Snack Bar, 6035 Route 17, West Addison, 802-759-2276
Arandas Mexican Cuisine, 1 River Rd., Waterbury, 802-244-8971; 745 S. Main St., Stowe, 802-253-7249; 108 State St., Montpelier, 802-225-6560; 377 N. Main St., Barre, 802-622-0453; 51 Lake Morey Rd., Fairlee, 802-333-3538

Maggie Fischer

Executive chef and co-owner of the Buttery: Kitchen + Pantry, St. Johnsbury
Maggie Fischer at White Cottage Snack Bar Credit: Courtesy

I grew up in Mendon, so the Village Snack Bar was a staple, as well as the White Cottage Snack Bar on the Ottauquechee River.

My order at both was always fried whole-belly clams (market price at the Village Snack Bar; $20.95 for half a pint at White Cottage Snack Bar) and a chocolate-vanilla twist in a cone with chocolate sprinkles ($5.70/$4.45). I am a creature of habit.

Village Snack Bar, 389 West St., Rutland, 802-772-7655
White Cottage Snack Bar, 823 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, 802-457-3455

Quinn Gervia

Sous chef of Majestic, Burlington
Bánh mì at Canteen Creemee Credit: Courtesy

I really like Canteen Creemee, where my pick is the bánh mì ($12.50) with fried chicken, pickled and fresh veggies, pâté, cilantro-Maggi sauce, and sriracha mayo on a baguette. I’ll always swing by Beansie’s Bus at least once a summer to get a good ol’ corn dog ($5.50) or two!

Canteen Creemee, 5123 Main St., Waitsfield, 802-496-6003
Beansie’s Bus, Battery Park, 1 Sherman St., Burlington, 802-343-7181

Jordan Ware

Chef and co-owner of Frankie’s, Burlington

There was a place in Bennington called the Dairy Bar. It’s now gone, but I have some great childhood memories of creemees and hot dogs after baseball games and races. I do love Al’s French Frys. A burger ($3.26) with onion rings ($3.92) and barbecue sauce is a staple. It’s nostalgic.

And I get a guilty pleasure from the clam-strip roll ($5.25) at Joe’s Snack Bar in Jericho. That feels dirty to say for some reason. [Chuckling.]

Al’s French Frys, 1251 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 802-862-9203

Snack Bar Map

The original print version of this article was headlined “Snack Attack | Seven Vermont restaurant pros share their favorite summer snack shacks”

This article appears in June 10 • 2026.

Melissa Pasanen is a Seven Days staff writer and the food and drink assignment editor. In 2022, she won first place for national food writing from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and in 2024, she took second. Melissa joined Seven Days full time...