7 Nights Guide to Vermont Restaurants and Bars

Intentional execution, superb results: Reviewed by malpaflea on January 23, 2013; The most striking thing about MLC is that, despite the varied and changing nature of the menu, everything is purposeful. On a recent lunch trip, the sandwich I ordered was...perfect. The bread was made in house and was matched exactly to the contents. The meats had the right amount of seasoning and fat. The sauces were matched to the contents. Balance, balance, balance. Nothing on that meal was superfluous, everything had a reason to be there. Fries, similarly, were seasoned properly, even containing fried herbs which complimented eat bite. Everything about the food screamed "no compromises". That mentality seems pretty common these days, but this is one of the only spots that seems to be able to consistently deliver. Highly recommended.; read more about this restaurant

Thoroughly impressed: Reviewed by malpaflea on October 10, 2012; Arrived for lunch on a rainy day and was immediately greeted by a friendly person who turned out to be the owner. He sat me down and noticed I had a newspaper. He let me know that there was a coupon that I should use in the paper (thanks!). The decor is a bit late 90's (teal and purple), but the table had real linen and everything was very clean. The lunch menu had several items that looked interesting, and I ended up going with a ground lamb dish on the owner's recommendation along with a Turkish coffee. The coffee came out and was excellent--perfect on a cold, fall day. I noticed that almost all of the people leaving the restaurant were gushing to the owner about their meals. It was odd now happy people seemed to be. The food arrived in short order. The lamb skewer was nicely spiced and seasoned, with the accompanying sides being fresh and light. The complexity of the lamb was appreciated--especially in an area where it's not uncommon to see 'Americanized' versions of ethnic food. Pleasant conversation with the owner continued, and he seemed genuinely thrilled that I had stopped in. After thanking him for a great meal, I realized that I sounded a lot like the other customers. I'll be back.; read more about this restaurant

Standout lunch: Reviewed by malpaflea on September 11, 2012; I revisited this spot recently and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered an "off the menu" dish that the server recommended. It was pad thai-esque with panko breaded chicken chunks and a deeper tasting sauce. Loved it, although I had a hard time keeping my wife's fork out of the bowl. I believe he called it a Crazy Bowl, but whatever it was, I enjoyed it immensely. The flavor and finesse of the dishes we had was more refined and balanced than last visit. Service was prompt and friendly as well. Excellent all around. Looks like they've found their footing.; read more about this restaurant

Neat concept, poor execution: Reviewed by malpaflea on August 16, 2012; Wanted to check this place off the "to-do" list, so I stopped in for drinks, dinner, and some music on a nice night. The space was as expected...a bit of a throwback roadhouse that was right for the area. The menu options were predictable. What really was a turnoff, though, was that more than half of the items had their prices crossed out and handwritten in (with $1-$2 increases). I won't begrudge the increased prices, but it makes for poor presentation of your establishment. Beer was fine. Food was a little slow to table, under-seasoned, and very dry. Having sat at the bar, I was privy to conversations between who I assume was the owner (drinking/eating at the bar) and several employees that I thought should not have been public. I might try this again for drinks and apps on a nice summer night, but that's about it.; read more about this restaurant

Superlative in every way: Reviewed by malpaflea on June 27, 2012; This was our second stop at Hen of the Wood. I cannot find fault with the meal. Service was attentive yet quiet. You could see and hear the chef subtly command the room with simple instructions that made the staff instantly respond. Ambiance was fantastic. The food was exemplary. The simple, fresh preparation of each item we ordered was inspiring. Even something as 'plain' as polenta was presented in a way that made it more than the sum of its parts. Absolutely worth it.; read more about this restaurant

Good not great: Reviewed by malpaflea on June 27, 2012; Stopped by for lunch to try this spot for the first time. The Italian was my choice, had all the toppings that were suggested. The quality of the meat and cheese were good, however the whole of the sandwich just didn't click. This was a good sub, but not enough to elicit that intangible craving that I was hoping for. Might stop by to try a roasted meat offering--perhaps I ordered the wrong thing. Portion size was good, service was prompt and polite.; read more about this restaurant

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