7 Nights Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars

NOW THEY GOT IT RIGHT!: Reviewed by debunker on April 1, 2009; So much improvement! The new decor & lighting is so much more comfortable. The food is far better in general, and the soups are spectacular (try the chowders and vegetable-barley... which they even let us taste in advance). The waitstaff was full of tips on what was specially great. Since there is apparently a lot of turnover in the kitchen, it might just be a temporary improvement... but it sure made my day!; read more about this restaurant

Off to a good start!: Reviewed by debunker on March 21, 2009; First time was definitely not the last! So many things to like... reasonably priced and wonderful house wine, crisp and fresh salad with great housemade dressings, big menu with a lot of options... including a few carryover winners from Toscana. A few things need attention. The lighting is cafeteria-style. How about a little dimming? Also, the restaurant's concept begs the question of how entrees are priced. I appreciate that there are under $10 meals, but for those who choose to dine with wine and appetizers and dessert the cost rises rapidly to the cost of a steakhouse... and all you got was pasta. There must be some way to notch up from spag & sauce without going all the way to Toscana. I guess I feel that although the experience was enjoyable, that I got quite a bit less than I paid for. Maybe their "specials" could; instead of just being higher priced entrees... be something like a protein-based meal offered with an appetizer and a glass of house wine to redefine their niche as a lower-priced Barre version of Toscana. Honestly, a complete pasta meal here is too expensive, and as successful as they claim to be, I would like for them to "make it" in Barre in the long run.; read more about this restaurant

Last of its kind.: Reviewed by debunker on March 21, 2009; It is getting really hard to enjoy restaurants lately... they all have personal "issues" and it seems that the customer's enjoyment of food & drink is at the very bottom of the priorities. Not so with the Jammer! They really try hard to keep the old VT steakhouse vibe alive. Everything was delicious that came out of the kitchen. The wines by the glass were generous and delicious and reasonably priced. The salad bar seemed fresh and clean as was the bread & cheese station. OK--- nothing really "gourmet" about the offerings, but they do what they do well, and the staff made us feel like they cared.; read more about this restaurant

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