7 Nights Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars

Thoroughly Impressed: Reviewed by TonyO on April 27, 2010; I ventured out tonight and made a stop at the Bluebird Tavern. Wise choice ! I started off with a perfectly made Negroni (roasted orange is a really nice touch to this classic cocktail) to sip while perusing the menu. Tuesday's feature some menu items for $10, including the double burger, so I started there. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium rare and surrounded the always delicious Boucher Blue cheese. The frites were spot on and arrived with no downtime from fryer to diner (many great frites have been destroyed by sitting in a service window waiting to be delivered). The toughest choice was what to dip them in, the house made ketchup or aioli (the correct answer would be both). I like a brew with my burgers, and the Bluebird features many great choices including a lager from Trapp Farms in Stowe. I was enjoying my visit and conversation with bartender Chris (one of the best that I have encountered in Vermont) so I decided to order one of the small plates. The grilled squid came with fried peppers (padrons I believe) and was accented with house made chorizo, chick peas, and some fresh herbs. A glass of vermentino made for a well paired experience. Having offered some less than stellar opinions on the Bluebird Tavern in the past, I am thrilled to report that this experience was nothing short of superb.; read more about this restaurant

Recent changes are a great enhancement: Reviewed by TonyO on April 26, 2010; In the past week, I have dined at both Butler's (a wine dinner) and The Tavern. The food and service have been great on both visits. Last night I stopped in and ate at the bar. The gnocchi were perfectly cooked and complimented by fresh asparagus, morels, and beurre blanc making for a great dish. Additionally, the calamari salad was enjoyable with crispy fried calamari served over. I also tried a Misty Knoll turkey sandwich, another excellent option. The wine selection is varied in styles and price to suit all tastes and there is a nice selection of beer on tap. As an added bonus, they offered live music on a Sunday evening !; read more about this restaurant

A nice option in Stowe: Reviewed by TonyO on April 11, 2010; We dined at Santos Cocina Latina on 4/10/10. The entire experience was quite enjoyable. Our server, Aisha, was polite, well-paced, and professional. The food was delicious with fresh vibrant flavors, textures, and colors. The ahi tuna appetizer (Atun Tiradito) was fantastic as were the rock shrimp, and empanadas. My wife and I shared a paella for 2 and did so with much praise. The setting is family friendly (or lovely 5 year old daughter enjoyed her night out !) and seemed to get busier as we were leaving(we arrived at 6:00 and left at 7:20). My wife and daughter reported that the Key Lime Pie was tasty ! I would advise calling for a reservation (always a good idea) as this seems to be a popular spot even in the off season in Stowe. The tab for 3 appetizers, a paella for 2, a nice $36 bottle of wine, a sangria, and slice of pie was $133.54 before tip.; read more about this restaurant

Needs a facelift: Reviewed by TonyO on March 26, 2010; We dined at Sakura (Church Street location) tonight. The ambiance of the restaurant is really dreadful. Dingy colors, lots of dust (check out the ceiling vents), poor lighting. OK, so the ambiance is only one part of the dining out experience. The service was excellent. Well timed, professional, informed, and polite. The food was serviceable. The special Dragon Roll ($10) was nicely plated and tasty. The large dinner boxes ($21) come with miso soup, two types of seaweed salad, and other selections that you can customize including teriyaki, fried cutlets, sushi, etc. I opted for the shrimp cutlet (heavily breaded afried shrimp), tempura (lightly battered vegetables and shrimp) and sashimi. I must admit I have never seen the dreaded fake crab legs offered as sashimi before. Wine selection is decent and fairly priced.; read more about this restaurant

Perfection in Richmond !: Reviewed by TonyO on January 21, 2010; The KTB has always been one of our favorite dining spots whether it is a special evening or a casual meal on a Wednesday night. Last evening was the later that became the former due to an incredible dining experience ! The current menu options make selecting just one entree a difficult proposal based on the wide range of options including beef, poultry, and seafood. All are perfectly paired with creative starches, vegetables, and the amazing sauces that are one of the many attributes of the KTB. After great deliberation, I opted for the Boyden Farm Strip steak with creamed spinach, whipped potatoes, bleu cheese, and red wine reduction that was simply extraordinary. This steakhouse classic was perfectly cooked resulting in a perfect "10". My lovely wife had the grilled veal which was plated with sauteed carrots, another reduction sauce, and whipped potatoes. Each ingredient stood out on it's own accord but it is the combination of flavors and textures that make the KTB such a wonderful restaurant. The faces are always the same and are your assurance of professional and considerate service. This is the definition of what a chef owned restaurant is all about and what makes the KTB such a remarkable establishment. You owe it to yourself and your family to make a date at the KTB.; read more about this restaurant

Consistently Excellent: Reviewed by TonyO on December 7, 2009; My wife and I dined at The Belted Cow Bistro this past Saturday night. We started with the Tartine and Roasted Beet Salad. The tartine is a rich dish with tender smoked pork complimented by tart pickled onions and topped with a cheddar cheese fondue that all tie together nicely. The salad is among the best offerings in the area as it is properly dressed and bursting with fresh flavors and textures. Our entrees were the Seared Scallops (which can also be ordered as an appetizer, a nice touch) and Duck Breast. The main ingredients, duck and scallops, are paired perfectly with sauces, vegetables, and seasonings that make for top notch entrees. The wine list continues to expand with a large selection available by the glass. Desserts are also excellent and we have sampled a few on different visits including the Bananas Foster Cheesecake. Our server, Nick, was professional and considerate, as has been the case with all our servers at The Belted Cow. Our next visit will be on a Tuesday evening when John mans the smoker to produce some incredible BBQ. The Belted Cow has made it on our short list of consistently excellent options in this area. We wish John and Caitlin continued success !; read more about this restaurant

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