7 Nights Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars

Tasty Option in Essex: Reviewed by TonyO on August 3, 2010; We visited Rustico's tonight for the first time. As we were dining "family style", we tried a bit of everything on the menu including salads, pastas, flatbreads, and the homemade potato chips with gorgonzola dip. Everything we ordered had plenty of flavor, arrived hot and attractively plated, and in ample portions. Service was friendly and well paced and fellow guests seemed to be enjoying their meals. Rustico's should be a popular spot for outlet shoppers, movie goers, and those seeking tasty food, friendly service, in an inviting atmosphere !; read more about this restaurant

An enjoyable visit: Reviewed by TonyO on July 4, 2010; My wife and I were on Church Street and decided to have a late dinner (9:00p.m.). As many restaurants stop serving early during the week, we were pleased to see Leunig's seats guests a bit later than most. We started with the oyster appetizer (fried, Rockefeller, and raw on the 1/2 shell). A great starter ! We also ordered two entrees from the offered Bistro Specials, one Steak Frites and one Beef Bourguignon with choice of a house salad or cup of soup for only $15. Both entrees were well prepared and presented and represented a great value. Service was well paced and friendly making for an enjoyable visit.; read more about this restaurant

Always a few pieces short ...................: Reviewed by TonyO on June 7, 2010; The menu at Cider House is well thought. The portion sizes are generous. The prices are certainly fair considering quality/quantity of food. Service, while friendly, always seems rushed and frantic. I watched one server make multiple trips to a 4 top (why not just get a tray and carry the whole parties food) while other employees/owners watch tv (my advice, put down the remote and interact with your guests and maybe run some food). One of our sides was WAY overcooked (hush puppies that were nearly brown and hard as sheet rock). We brought this to their attention but with no response/explanation/apology. And here is my biggest complaint: DO NOT CLEAN THE PLEXI-GLASS TAPLETOPS WITH WINDEX !!!!!!!!!!! It stinks and does not sanitize. Nothing grosser than getting a big whiff of ammonia while eating. If these few blemishes could be addressed, the Cider House would move up a few notches.; read more about this restaurant

Great Bread !: Reviewed by TonyO on May 30, 2010; This place has incredible bread. In the hopes that I can continue to enjoy it, I urge the ignorant "patrons" that camp out and use the "free" wi-fi to go elsewhere. This is a restaurant, not your office. Maybe I can hang out from 11:30 - 1:30 with a bullhorn and a whip to enforce some common sense. To the owners, I would suggest hutting the wi-fi off during these hours as a "subtle" hint to those that can't figure it out (or see comment above about bullhorh and whip.......); read more about this restaurant

Eclectic Mix: Reviewed by TonyO on May 29, 2010; I can't quite figure out the Bearded Frog after a few visits. It is a compbination of fine dining meets neighborhood pub meets Route 7 tourist stop. The ambiance is pleasant but the two tops are super small and the main dining area can get really loud (neighborhood bar noise). The menu has many varied dishes (positive) but flavors and styles of dishes make it difficult to have multiple courses that compliment each other (kind of disjointed). The calamari starter is quite good, the watercress salad was fair, the duck entree would be improved with a a few minutes under the broiler to crisp the skin. I commend the server bringing the bottle of wine to the table when ordering a single glass but cocktail service can be super slow when the bar is full. The chocolate cake was beautifully plated and tasty. This is a solid restaurant that most will enjoy.; read more about this restaurant

Excellent from Start to Finish: Reviewed by TonyO on May 18, 2010; I was happy to see so many people commenting that the Belted Cow was part of their Vermont Restaurant Week plans. Tonight was our turn. Knowing that the BBQ items sell out quickly, we reserved a couple orders of ribs prior to our visit. If you enjoy ribs, you owe it to yourself to try them at the Belted Cow. They simply do not get any better. The starters were both excellent (a roasted beet salad with blue cheese and arugula and a delicious asparagus soup with wild mushrooms and bacon). The strawberry rhubarb crostada with vanilla ice cream was an excellent finish to a great meal. I'm sure many 1st time visitors will become Belted Cow regulars after Vermont Restaurant Week. !; read more about this restaurant

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