7 Nights Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars

For a great experience, trust the chef: Reviewed by Cat Woodward Sergeant on July 26, 2011; San Sai was deserted at 5 pm Sunday evening, but it was not a harbinger of bad things to come. Quite the opposite, the kitchen was quiet, so they seemed to take extra care and effort on the "Chef's Choice" entrees. Chef's Choice was similar to the Omikaze option, but it was $30 for 4-5 courses rather than setting a price and "eating until you're full." I ordered the chirashi and while it was delicious, I was jealous of the creativity and variety showcased by letting the chef decide. I agree with some other posters that they need to educate their new waitstaff - our server came up blank when I asked about the types of sake, but she did ask about my preferences, then run back to get recommendations from the chef. They were out of their most popular sake, but had several other tasty options, of which I tried the sweet Southern Beauty and the slightly nutty Gura. Overall, San Sai has excellent food and extremely fresh fish. With the flavors we experienced, we could easily disregard some of the minor service hiccups that are bound to occur with a new restaurant.; read more about this restaurant

Decent food, good ambiance, angry server: Reviewed by Cat Woodward Sergeant on May 21, 2010; We had traveled from Burlington for their Restaurant Week specials, only to be told that they were not offering the menu from which I wished to order. I told the server that this was unacceptable and she spoke to a manager. It was quickly resolved that I could order off the advertised menu, with the exception of the swordfish, which they were out of. Perfect. A satisfactory compromise - this should have been the end of it. Unfortunately, the server seemed to have taken my objection as a personal affront and would brightly ask the other tables if they needed anything else, then either avoid ours or talk only to my fiancee, snarling acceptance only when I asked if I could please have a refill or a coffee. Though the food was good and the restaurant well decorated & cozy, this attitude made the entire dining experience awkward and moderately unpleasant. The bartender, sensing some of this, invited us to the bar to taste a beer in which I'd expressed interest, but at that point, we just wanted to slink home and stop feeling like we'd committed a federal offense.; read more about this restaurant

More "comfort" than "twist," but all delicious: Reviewed by Cat Woodward Sergeant on May 21, 2010; I have been to Our House for dinner twice and they have been open less than a week. That should tell you something about how yummy their food is. The first time, I unwittingly attended their "friends and family" soft opening, but was welcomed in to dine anyway. Some high points of the night included their huge wings and homemade blue cheese dressing that had a gorgeous, earthy taste that commercial dressings lack. I got a pasta dish, which was fine, but a nearby diner's grilled cheese & soup looked/smelled so good I came back to sample their Restaurant Week options the next night. I was completely satisfied with my choices - the crab cake was fresh, the grilled cheese was perfect, the soup flavorful, and I didn't have room to finish my chocolate lava cake. Overall, Our House has some delicious, well made food, though I found the menu more heavily "comfort" than "twist." As for the drinks? Well, bacon pineapple jalapeno margaritas are an acquired taste... by the end of mine, I was still uncertain about the flavor combination, but my fiancee was starting to enjoy his.; read more about this restaurant

Drink a couple steins before you eat: Reviewed by Cat Woodward Sergeant on April 7, 2010; I've eaten here a few times. The first was one of the preview nights - big wait time/service issues, but delicious food & great beer. The second, the food was mediocre (maybe because I didn't drink as much this time?). The third, we sat in the dining room - my order was wrong and my schnitzel, when it did arrive, was underseasoned to the point that I would have preferred a McNugget. We ordered quite a sampling from the menu and the only things that weren't completely bland & boring were my fiancee's currywurst & the pretzel we shared. Gotta love those pretzels. Anyway, in the future, I'm going to think of this more as a bar that happens to have some snacks than as a restaurant, since eating there sober has been a disappointment.; read more about this restaurant

Val's Wild Awesomeness: Reviewed by Cat Woodward Sergeant on March 23, 2010; Last night, I headed to Val's for some take-out and marveled at the simplicity, yet deliciousness of her creations. Everything is freshly prepared and Val will chat with you as she makes it too. I was initially put off by the thought of sriracha on my sandwich as I am somewhat spice-averse, but Val assured me it would be ok. It actually made a perfect complement to her well thought-out combination of chicken, cranberries, bacon, spinach, & cucumbers - a little spice without the burning I typically associate with that condiment. I ordered a salad for dinner and planned to save the sandwich for lunch today, but it smelled so good that it did not make it to lunch - I had it for breakfast this morning! I will definitely return (dinner tonight?). On par or better than my current fave sandwich shop, only with more food options (wings!) and more readily available parking.; read more about this restaurant

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