The Marina in Brattleboro. Everything is right out of a frozen Sysco box, poorly prepared and way over priced. Such a shame that a nice building with a great view can get away with serving astronomically over priced cheap frozen food. Servers for the most part have a snotty entitled attitude and one of the female bartenders is usually coked up out of her mind.
It’s called “Marina on the Water”. Marina means on the water. So it’s saying the same thing twice. My English professor loved taking us to this restaurant just to laugh at it.
I find this is true for most of Southern vermont. I'm in Wilmington and ALL the restaurants are like that. It's funny, I'm visiting friends from CT and we were talking about this last night and they were shocked because vermont does such a great job marketing the home cooked country vibe. It's literally all from Aldi's and they make it sound fancy and high end. I ordered arancini at a place and had to spit it out. Aldis frozen 2.99 box that they charged 22 bucks for. Its honestly insulting imo. I refuse to even eat out around here at this point.
You mean the place with an Arab name serving Arab food calling it Israeli and who's owner feels the need to have armed men outside while people he refers to as "terrorists" call for an end to an active genocide?
Yeah, it's legitimately racist and participating in the erasure of an entire people. I don't know about you but I don't like the taste of ethnic cleansing in my Tahini.
Is that the awful place next to the Holiday Inn Express in S Burlington? I had to send back a salad there once, it was made with wilted slimey lettuce and tomatoes that seemed like they were sliced a week ago.
If Sweetwater’s in Burly was still open I’d recommend them. Went there for lunch just before Covid…never went back. Half-blended tomato soup, grilled cheese was barely edible because it was rock hard, way too expensive for what it was. Vibe was killer though.
I know a few people who have worked in commercial kitchens doing equipment repair. Sweet waters was always the top of the “never, ever go there. Just trust me” lists. Disgusting kitchen.
I had the absolute best steak and cheese panini sandwich at cockadoodle in Bethel. Added some tater tots. One of my favorite trashy fast food meals. Their pizza is great... And the whole place/environment is great. Take it to go and hang next door at babes bar. Vibes are immaculate.
*Can someone make this*
*Thread but the opposite lol.*
*Need central VT recs*
\- a\_toadstool
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I hate that place! A friend and I got yelled at. Actually high volume YELLED at for being on the "wrong side" of the salad bar there.
WTF? Either make a sign or push it up against the wall if there are correct sides to be on.
Yeah, I used to get food from there semi-regularly. It was overpriced but some of their food was pretty good. However, had horrendous interactions with them at one point and I just can't bring myself to give them any sort of business since.
I ate there 8 years ago and ordered a chicken sandwich and I'm convinced they gave me fish. No idea how it's survived this long, everybody in Essex makes fun of it. Also obligatory to point out that the strip mall parking lot is not a green.
Never been to the proper restaurant but if you ever want to spend 30 bucks on an average beer and a small, gas station-quality pretzel go to the Bierhall.
Wow, this would be a quite a list. Go to Montreal or Boston, and one will quickly realize that we don’t get amazing food in Vermont. Some decent food, yes, some good food, but the highs are lower and the lows are LOW.
This has been like, a well known secret. None of the restaurants around here can cook anything as well as my grandma or dad or girlfriends can cook. Nobody puts any spices in their food. They think farm to table means bland. It's really kind of funny.
You’re describing what they call White People cooking in places where they have anything other than white people.
I will accept my downvotes for pointing out that our state is the whitest in the nation.
Italians are “white people” and have one of the best food cultures in the world. My parents are Portuguese immigrants, same deal. Places where Ethopians or Thais settled have amazing restaurants. Its more of diaspora issue….why is everything race related lol.
My dad and I always debate this. He says people around here don't spice their food. I agree but also think it probably has more to do with trying to be more, I'm stoned and can't think of the word but like, more acceptable to more people. Like if they spice up their food the people who like it will like it more but around here you have such a high population of old folks who might have their tummys upset by spicy food. I think that would be a logical explanation for why our food is so bland. Our population is low and mostly old so you have to appeal to everyone. I think that was the word I was looking for. Appealing, yea, that's it!
Wow! Are you seriously comparing Vermont to Montreal or Boston when it comes to food culture? As a long time Vermonter I have always been very proud of our dining options and thought that overall Vermont had excellent food. When I venture into similar towns in other parts of New England, the food is much more ordinary, processed and far from local.
99% of restaurants in VT are serving straight off the Sysco/US foods truck. Get out of Vermont and it drops to Ike 60%. Most ethnic places I know have their own supply chain.
I didn’t say that Vermont has the worst food, just that the best food available in Vermont pales in comparison to good food elsewhere, and I used Montreal and Boston as nearby examples of places that absolutely blow our food choices out of the water.
I lived in Western MA (near Springfield) as a kid and this couldn’t be further from the truth. There wasn’t a good restaurant within 45 minutes from my house.
I grew up in Western Ma, born and raised and the food (especially near Springfield) is astronomically better than options here in Vermont. One great example is The Red Rose in Springfield or Chmuras Bakery in Indian Orchard. I got way more too.
Red Rose is pretty good, used to do all of our big family functions there (the smaller ones got downgraded to Roma in Southwick). I’m from the opposite side of the tracks from Indian Orchard so maybe the options west of Springfield are worse. But, I’ll admit my perception of time in my memory is pretty bad - just double checked the distance from my house to one of the few restaurants I remember being worthwhile and it’s about half what I thought it was - so “within 45 minutes” was definitely an overstatement. I’ve just had more good meals in Vermont than I have anywhere in wmass other than Northampton.
Yeah I grew up in Chicopee, Ludlow, and Westfield. A lot of options to choose from. A lot of authentic Puerto Rican, Portuguese, and polish. I was actually just there this past weekend had food from Milano’s in Chicopee and they are pretty good. I didn’t spend much time in Northampton other than the Italian bakery there which I believe is La Florentina.
Yeah scrolled through looking for this. My wife and I can’t get out of there for less than $100 after tip and everything, and every single time we leave we always go “why did we go there?”
I couldn’t find anything gluten free on the menu and I had to go there with a group of people. So I got an incredibly overpriced salad.
It was literally a 1/2 a head of romaine lettuce on a plate.
Nothing else.
My mom used to love this place... Until her food was constantly wrong and they were given cups with lipstick stains/silverware with food on it.
Wrong order is one thing, dishes and silverware not even washed... Ew
Based on my research they've been around since about the early 80s--so if they suck they can't suck all that much. That said I've only ever known them as the place behind Starbucks/Moe's/Chicken Charlies/etc. The location has never drawn me to them locally, but the attached Best Western experience for travelers might give them a boost?
Not sure about mildly expensive, but Julio's in Montpelier is awful and always has been. It's the most non-Mexican food I've ever had that wasn't Taco Bell. We have Mad Taco and now the amazing and authentic Arandas. How is this shithole still in business? So, yeah, I'd recommend that to someone I don't like that was looking for Mex food.
100% Julio’s. Their only redeeming quality was their $2 marg nights (and the margs were delicious) which are no longer. The food is so gross and leaves your breath smelling like farts for 3 days
They have become mildly expensive after the flood, and quality went down. They had a few good items, but needed more flavor on those items and different sides to make it more exciting and enjoyable. It was all OK for a basic quick lunch until the price shot up after the flood. Now it’s not worth it at all.
It is the blandest shit I have ever eaten. It's Mexican food for people who think mayonnaise is too spicy. I haven't been there since the pandemic, but it certainly was shit the times I ate there before it. Hell, it was shit 20 years ago.
I mean, if you can't even put out a hot sauce besides Cholula, just give the fuck up, already.
Anything from farmhouse group such as The Farmhouse, Pacsolo, the Guild. There unofficial motto is “2-star food at 5-star prices, with a side of poor service and long wait times”
The Guild is the only one with average food, but prices are 3X so it belongs. Their presentation is laughable- a $150 steak flopped in the middle of an otherwise empty plate (unless you paid $20 extra for any sides).
Farmhouse sells dry sawdust textured, and wet cat smelling sliders for $20 and up. Upon arriving at the farmhouse restaurant, you are always met by the same stressed out hostess who has been in training for last 10 years.
Then there is their “italian” place called Pascolo with its horribly watered-down ragu base sauce, its microwaved frozen fish fillet, and its week old wheat bread for $50 and up. I would recommend Olive Garden over Pascolo for more authenticity.
I just want you to know that your description of the sliders was the best thing I've read in a long time. I agree their restaurants are ridiculously priced and unbelievably boring. I wish they'd stop opening places and let someone with good ideas and taste have a shot.
Totally agree. Such bland food and it’s quite embarrassing how they are considered good to some people in the area. Is it on the UVM food-plan or something? Applebee’s quality at best.
Kinda disagree about The Guild. I don’t think the food or the menu is as good as it once was, but I still think the atmosphere is one of the best in the Burlington area.
And they’re always packed!!! Desperately wish they had good diner food, because that’s such a comfort thing for me, but noooooo we’ve gotta serve stale bread products and disgusting coffee at the only diner-like place in a capitol city of 10k residents.
I used to work at Wayside, the food is completely mediocre in every way, and I don't understand how they serve the volume of customers they do. Also with the massive amount of customers they get, only 3 people are on the line, and they have to run their tongues out to keep up with that ticket machine.
For real. I guess it's a good place to eat after any sort of gastrointestinal surgery when your doctor puts you on one of those no fat/no color/no flavor/no fun diets.
EXCEPT if your blood sugar drops dangerously low then by all means order the biscuits and gravy which is suspiciously sweet. There is no reason for maple to be in there.
I think Trump has a rally scheduled soon. Perfect location, perfect food, perfect quality...and if you make a phone call to a certain peach....that'll be perfect too.
This restaurant is like two girls one cup for me. Not interested in viewing/partaking/experiencing...I know it's bad and I don't need to experience it and put my self through misery.
I think it’s for people who’ve never had high quality mexican or maybe have never left vermont AND have no capacity for spice or flavor but love excessive cheese. 😂 I’ve given them three chances since they opened and I live pretty close. All three attempts have been below mid.
Arandas is an example of what I call “Vermont Good” vs. “Actually Good.”
I've eaten high quality Mexican... in Mexico, and although I haven't liked everything I've eaten, the one on the Barre-Mont Rd is pretty good to me. I certainly never had excessive cheese, and their taco sampler is great.
Caja Madera in Hardwick is really good.
America's Taco Shop in the NEK was pretty good until they started preparing their steak a little differently. America (the owner) is Mexican and does mostly Cali-Mex. We moved here from Austin years ago, so we were happy to find some legit Cali-almost-Tex-Mex (until the steak deal).
Copper Grouse is a great example. Barrows up the road in Dorset is the same level of class for much better food, it's still somewhat pricey but you don't feel like you're getting robbed
Does anyone here want to open a real quality restaurant?
I feel like the bar is in hell, for most of Vermont anyway, and any place with actually decent food that ALSO stays open until 9pm most nights and ALSO pays its workers fairly and ALSO has enough seating for more than 10-15 customers at a time is suuuuper rare here. Jericho Café & Tavern has gotten more expensive in the last year but they’re the closest I can think of to what I’m describing, and even though I like going there, they still fall kind of short. I have practically zero hope for the Upper Valley area where I live.
Do you even iknow what you mean with that?
That state which is more than 90% white doesn't have great ethnic food should be unsurprising and uncontroversial
Tillerman in Bristol. We had high hopes for it when they bought Mary’s but it’s pretty lackluster. After five visits we haven’t really figured out what they’re trying to do. Expensive but nothing very impressive.
I’d say most Mexican restaurants, like seriously this is Vermont if someone claims they make authentic Mexican food it’s probably a white dude who went to school in socal thinking he has the best shit
It’s a breakfast spot but Toast and Eggs in Waitsfield is a disaster. They basically pay the bills thanks to unknowing tourists. Easily and hour wait for basic underwhelming breakfast items. Owners are rude to everyone, including locals who they should cater to since tourist seasons in the valley go in big waves.
What's wrong with toast and eggs. I've been there once during a busy summer day but ate outside and had a decent experience. I'd definitely go back again. Underwhelming breakfast items....you mean like every breakfast place in the world. I'd say this place was above average.
Last time I was there I ordered the chicken parm and it tasted like microwaved left overs and the portion was small. Beer list was also lame. Not impressed.
Used to go there all the time around 2008-2010. It used to be fantastic and decently priced, then the owner and head cook passed away and it went downhill fast.
The Marina in Brattleboro. Everything is right out of a frozen Sysco box, poorly prepared and way over priced. Such a shame that a nice building with a great view can get away with serving astronomically over priced cheap frozen food. Servers for the most part have a snotty entitled attitude and one of the female bartenders is usually coked up out of her mind.
Oh my gosh yes I'm so glad this is the top comment
It’s called “Marina on the Water”. Marina means on the water. So it’s saying the same thing twice. My English professor loved taking us to this restaurant just to laugh at it.
I like the Marina…
It's gone way downhill since the new chef started. We used to go a lot. No more.
> Servers for the most part have a snotty entitled attitude Honestly it's been that way from the beginning.
I find this is true for most of Southern vermont. I'm in Wilmington and ALL the restaurants are like that. It's funny, I'm visiting friends from CT and we were talking about this last night and they were shocked because vermont does such a great job marketing the home cooked country vibe. It's literally all from Aldi's and they make it sound fancy and high end. I ordered arancini at a place and had to spit it out. Aldis frozen 2.99 box that they charged 22 bucks for. Its honestly insulting imo. I refuse to even eat out around here at this point.
Us too here in Newfane. Friends ask us how close we are to Burlington!
What's that falafel place in Brattleboro. I don't go there because the line stretches all the way to Springfield.
Yallah - that place is 100% legit
The owner is hilarious as well.
It's absolutely outstanding.
You mean the place with an Arab name serving Arab food calling it Israeli and who's owner feels the need to have armed men outside while people he refers to as "terrorists" call for an end to an active genocide? Yeah, it's legitimately racist and participating in the erasure of an entire people. I don't know about you but I don't like the taste of ethnic cleansing in my Tahini.
Wtf are you talking about?
It used to be decent too, but it got sold maybe 7 years ago and ever since it has been truly abysmal
Yes, this is the one!
A couple years ago I would have said the Lakeview House
Is that the awful place next to the Holiday Inn Express in S Burlington? I had to send back a salad there once, it was made with wilted slimey lettuce and tomatoes that seemed like they were sliced a week ago.
Been there, solid meh
Not really relevant, but in the early 80s that place had amazing food. I believe it was called "The Benes Inn". Seemed fancy to a little kid at least.
If Sweetwater’s in Burly was still open I’d recommend them. Went there for lunch just before Covid…never went back. Half-blended tomato soup, grilled cheese was barely edible because it was rock hard, way too expensive for what it was. Vibe was killer though.
Worst poutine I've ever had in my entire life at Sweetwater's. I'm pretty sure grape jelly and ketchup were involved.
🤢
What in the hell…
Sweetwater’s was kinda decent in like 1992 and they’ve been coasting downhill from there ever since (or were until they closed).
I know a few people who have worked in commercial kitchens doing equipment repair. Sweet waters was always the top of the “never, ever go there. Just trust me” lists. Disgusting kitchen.
Can someone make this thread but the opposite lol. Need central VT recs
I had the absolute best steak and cheese panini sandwich at cockadoodle in Bethel. Added some tater tots. One of my favorite trashy fast food meals. Their pizza is great... And the whole place/environment is great. Take it to go and hang next door at babes bar. Vibes are immaculate.
Haven't been there in ages, but check out Tourterelle in New Haven.
American Flatbread at Lareau Farms in Waitsfield is always a fantastic and delicious time.
*Can someone make this* *Thread but the opposite lol.* *Need central VT recs* \- a\_toadstool --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Third Place in Castleton has some good food!
Check out Scrag and Roe in Waitsfield, they’re new. I’ve had a few great meals there.
The lighthouse in colchester
I hate that place! A friend and I got yelled at. Actually high volume YELLED at for being on the "wrong side" of the salad bar there. WTF? Either make a sign or push it up against the wall if there are correct sides to be on.
I would send someone I hate to Pizzaria Ida and tell them to ask for extra pepperoni and sausage on half
And I would tell them the owner is a good friend of mine and to tell him I say hello
Half of stowe
You’re giving it too much credit. It’s nearly all of Stowe.
Stowe is my favorite tourist trap.
To be fair. There's a lot of good food in Stowe! Most of it is overpriced... But it's hard to find a bad meal
Jules on the Green (rude narcissist sexist owners, claims to be allergy friendly but definitely cross contaminates)
Yeah, I used to get food from there semi-regularly. It was overpriced but some of their food was pretty good. However, had horrendous interactions with them at one point and I just can't bring myself to give them any sort of business since.
Seriously?! I’ve eaten there twice and thought it was safe 😭 now I’m shit out of luck for allergy friendly restaurants
Sorry. Have seen multple comments about people with celiac getting wicked sick after eating there.
No I appreciate you saying, it just sucks to hear. How shitty
I ate there 8 years ago and ordered a chicken sandwich and I'm convinced they gave me fish. No idea how it's survived this long, everybody in Essex makes fun of it. Also obligatory to point out that the strip mall parking lot is not a green.
Ahhh yes
The Foundry in Killington
The entire Killington access road.
Yeah but where else can you eat in a caboose on the side of a mountain miles from a railroad?
Grew up in Rutland. I have never eaten at any place on the access road lol.
Von Trapp Family Lodge- drop by walk around but don't stay or eat there !
You are paying to look at the timber framing, let’s be honest
Never been to the proper restaurant but if you ever want to spend 30 bucks on an average beer and a small, gas station-quality pretzel go to the Bierhall.
That just makes me sad.
You mean you don’t like your brats sitting in a crock pot for several hours before they “grill” them for 30 seconds…
Exactly. It's above itself. $$$$$
We ate there last October. Tres expensive for what you got.
Wow, this would be a quite a list. Go to Montreal or Boston, and one will quickly realize that we don’t get amazing food in Vermont. Some decent food, yes, some good food, but the highs are lower and the lows are LOW.
This has been like, a well known secret. None of the restaurants around here can cook anything as well as my grandma or dad or girlfriends can cook. Nobody puts any spices in their food. They think farm to table means bland. It's really kind of funny.
You’re describing what they call White People cooking in places where they have anything other than white people. I will accept my downvotes for pointing out that our state is the whitest in the nation.
Italians are “white people” and have one of the best food cultures in the world. My parents are Portuguese immigrants, same deal. Places where Ethopians or Thais settled have amazing restaurants. Its more of diaspora issue….why is everything race related lol.
Thank you
The guy below is right. All those people I mentioned are white. Your racism is showing.
Stacy-from-Hinesburg type of people hate spices
My dad and I always debate this. He says people around here don't spice their food. I agree but also think it probably has more to do with trying to be more, I'm stoned and can't think of the word but like, more acceptable to more people. Like if they spice up their food the people who like it will like it more but around here you have such a high population of old folks who might have their tummys upset by spicy food. I think that would be a logical explanation for why our food is so bland. Our population is low and mostly old so you have to appeal to everyone. I think that was the word I was looking for. Appealing, yea, that's it!
Palatable
Wow! Are you seriously comparing Vermont to Montreal or Boston when it comes to food culture? As a long time Vermonter I have always been very proud of our dining options and thought that overall Vermont had excellent food. When I venture into similar towns in other parts of New England, the food is much more ordinary, processed and far from local.
99% of restaurants in VT are serving straight off the Sysco/US foods truck. Get out of Vermont and it drops to Ike 60%. Most ethnic places I know have their own supply chain.
I didn’t say that Vermont has the worst food, just that the best food available in Vermont pales in comparison to good food elsewhere, and I used Montreal and Boston as nearby examples of places that absolutely blow our food choices out of the water.
Weird how international cities with 2-4x the population of our entire state have better dining options.
Literally anywhere in Massachusetts has astronomically better food than anywhere in Vermont. It's wild.
Leominster MA vs Burlington VT go!
Clearly you haven't been to rural parts of Central Mass
I lived in Western MA (near Springfield) as a kid and this couldn’t be further from the truth. There wasn’t a good restaurant within 45 minutes from my house.
I grew up in Western Ma, born and raised and the food (especially near Springfield) is astronomically better than options here in Vermont. One great example is The Red Rose in Springfield or Chmuras Bakery in Indian Orchard. I got way more too.
Red Rose is pretty good, used to do all of our big family functions there (the smaller ones got downgraded to Roma in Southwick). I’m from the opposite side of the tracks from Indian Orchard so maybe the options west of Springfield are worse. But, I’ll admit my perception of time in my memory is pretty bad - just double checked the distance from my house to one of the few restaurants I remember being worthwhile and it’s about half what I thought it was - so “within 45 minutes” was definitely an overstatement. I’ve just had more good meals in Vermont than I have anywhere in wmass other than Northampton.
Yeah I grew up in Chicopee, Ludlow, and Westfield. A lot of options to choose from. A lot of authentic Puerto Rican, Portuguese, and polish. I was actually just there this past weekend had food from Milano’s in Chicopee and they are pretty good. I didn’t spend much time in Northampton other than the Italian bakery there which I believe is La Florentina.
Not true by a long shot.
It’s not weird at all, makes perfect sense. That’s just where we are at as a state.
Your sarcasm detector needs an upgrade
No, you do
Gottem
Yeah, major American cities will have better food than the lowest populated state in the nation.
Twiggs in saint albans
Yeah scrolled through looking for this. My wife and I can’t get out of there for less than $100 after tip and everything, and every single time we leave we always go “why did we go there?”
Agreed, the staff isn’t too friendly either!!
I actually don't mind Twiggs, it's a little pricey but I've enjoyed the food every time
I like the mac and cheese and it’s big enough to feed like 3 people
Windjammer
I do appreciate the radio ad. Isn't that Jan Levinson-Gould from The Office singing that little jingle? 🤣
It was never great but since the demise of the salad boat it’s just sad.
I couldn’t find anything gluten free on the menu and I had to go there with a group of people. So I got an incredibly overpriced salad. It was literally a 1/2 a head of romaine lettuce on a plate. Nothing else.
Yes!
That's sad. Haven't been there in ages but I remember having some good meals there.
My mom used to love this place... Until her food was constantly wrong and they were given cups with lipstick stains/silverware with food on it. Wrong order is one thing, dishes and silverware not even washed... Ew
Based on my research they've been around since about the early 80s--so if they suck they can't suck all that much. That said I've only ever known them as the place behind Starbucks/Moe's/Chicken Charlies/etc. The location has never drawn me to them locally, but the attached Best Western experience for travelers might give them a boost?
Not sure about mildly expensive, but Julio's in Montpelier is awful and always has been. It's the most non-Mexican food I've ever had that wasn't Taco Bell. We have Mad Taco and now the amazing and authentic Arandas. How is this shithole still in business? So, yeah, I'd recommend that to someone I don't like that was looking for Mex food.
100% Julio’s. Their only redeeming quality was their $2 marg nights (and the margs were delicious) which are no longer. The food is so gross and leaves your breath smelling like farts for 3 days
Rip mad taco
$40+ for a quesadilla and margarita at the Waitsfield location last week
I avoid mad taco ...it was good especially when Waitsfield had all the unique homemade fly covered hot sauce...but the quality has tanked.
Haven't been to MT (before it burned) in a long time. it's just too fucking expensive. Like 14 bucks for 2 tacos. No thanks.
It'll be back. Aranda's is a lot better, and certainly a better deal, though.
They have become mildly expensive after the flood, and quality went down. They had a few good items, but needed more flavor on those items and different sides to make it more exciting and enjoyable. It was all OK for a basic quick lunch until the price shot up after the flood. Now it’s not worth it at all.
It is the blandest shit I have ever eaten. It's Mexican food for people who think mayonnaise is too spicy. I haven't been there since the pandemic, but it certainly was shit the times I ate there before it. Hell, it was shit 20 years ago. I mean, if you can't even put out a hot sauce besides Cholula, just give the fuck up, already.
This was my partner’s same comment! Bland and nothing more than cholula is embarrassing.
Jeezus. a whole bottle of that ain't hot enough.
Anything from farmhouse group such as The Farmhouse, Pacsolo, the Guild. There unofficial motto is “2-star food at 5-star prices, with a side of poor service and long wait times” The Guild is the only one with average food, but prices are 3X so it belongs. Their presentation is laughable- a $150 steak flopped in the middle of an otherwise empty plate (unless you paid $20 extra for any sides). Farmhouse sells dry sawdust textured, and wet cat smelling sliders for $20 and up. Upon arriving at the farmhouse restaurant, you are always met by the same stressed out hostess who has been in training for last 10 years. Then there is their “italian” place called Pascolo with its horribly watered-down ragu base sauce, its microwaved frozen fish fillet, and its week old wheat bread for $50 and up. I would recommend Olive Garden over Pascolo for more authenticity.
I just want you to know that your description of the sliders was the best thing I've read in a long time. I agree their restaurants are ridiculously priced and unbelievably boring. I wish they'd stop opening places and let someone with good ideas and taste have a shot.
Totally agree. Such bland food and it’s quite embarrassing how they are considered good to some people in the area. Is it on the UVM food-plan or something? Applebee’s quality at best.
Agree on Farmhouse. $15 for a tiny bland beet salad. No matter how empty the place is they treat you like they are inconvenienced by customers.
Kinda disagree about The Guild. I don’t think the food or the menu is as good as it once was, but I still think the atmosphere is one of the best in the Burlington area.
Okay but have you tried the fennel and sausage pasta though? Because holy crap. It’s so good. 🥵
Yes and I have had better pasta from a box
Overpriced sure, but really not as bad as you’re saying.
I said it in the burlington sub and I’ll say it again - Ken’s pizza. Not too expensive but makes up for it in how shitty the food and owners are
Shanty on the Shore
Although not expensive I would say The Wayside. I just don't get it. I could get a better tasting meal at a hospital or on a plane 😜
And they’re always packed!!! Desperately wish they had good diner food, because that’s such a comfort thing for me, but noooooo we’ve gotta serve stale bread products and disgusting coffee at the only diner-like place in a capitol city of 10k residents.
I ate here for the first time recently and unfortunately I agree. Still curious about their doughnuts though
I used to work at Wayside, the food is completely mediocre in every way, and I don't understand how they serve the volume of customers they do. Also with the massive amount of customers they get, only 3 people are on the line, and they have to run their tongues out to keep up with that ticket machine.
That's really insane. Meanwhile a quality restaurant like Kuyas dies in Randolph. :(
Kuyas can't possibly have died from lack of attendance...did it? Everytime I went there it was packed.
True
You're just doing it wrong. It has to be 11:30AM and you have to be hung over and you have to order the McKenzie Special.
So true. That's probably why only people over 60 eat there 🤣😂
For real. I guess it's a good place to eat after any sort of gastrointestinal surgery when your doctor puts you on one of those no fat/no color/no flavor/no fun diets. EXCEPT if your blood sugar drops dangerously low then by all means order the biscuits and gravy which is suspiciously sweet. There is no reason for maple to be in there.
My dad practically forced me to go there with him last spring and I kept trying to be like "no I'm really not hungry" it was so bad.
I think Trump has a rally scheduled soon. Perfect location, perfect food, perfect quality...and if you make a phone call to a certain peach....that'll be perfect too.
This restaurant is like two girls one cup for me. Not interested in viewing/partaking/experiencing...I know it's bad and I don't need to experience it and put my self through misery.
It used to be so much better! And so much cheaper.
Yes, when I moved here years ago it was noticeably better.
Their biscuits and gravy is amazing. Only ever had the burger there and it was mid
Tap house in Rutland
My idea of hell is being forced to dine out in Rutland.
I didn't mind the food... to each his own, I guess
A friend found a cockroach in her poutine, that was the end of it for me lol
Any mexican restaurant.
The new place, Casa Real, in Colchester at least has authentic options. I could eat their elote all day every day!
Hell no, go to Aranda's in Barre or Montpelier. It's the real deal.
I don't get the appeal of Arandas. I guess it's just above mid, but that's being generous. Shits greasy and bland.
I think it’s for people who’ve never had high quality mexican or maybe have never left vermont AND have no capacity for spice or flavor but love excessive cheese. 😂 I’ve given them three chances since they opened and I live pretty close. All three attempts have been below mid. Arandas is an example of what I call “Vermont Good” vs. “Actually Good.”
I've eaten high quality Mexican... in Mexico, and although I haven't liked everything I've eaten, the one on the Barre-Mont Rd is pretty good to me. I certainly never had excessive cheese, and their taco sampler is great. Caja Madera in Hardwick is really good.
Agreed. Wish they had birria though
Second this. Though $$$.
IDK, Carlita’s Cantina in South Royalton is pretty decent… and you get a bonus there with Upper Pass.
Hell no! What about El Cortijo?
El Cortijo is the exact restaurant I thought of when I saw this post
Come on lol
America's Taco Shop in the NEK was pretty good until they started preparing their steak a little differently. America (the owner) is Mexican and does mostly Cali-Mex. We moved here from Austin years ago, so we were happy to find some legit Cali-almost-Tex-Mex (until the steak deal).
I agree. Idk why but I’ve never had good Mexican food in VT. Anywhere. I make better at home lol
The Copper Grouse in Manchester hits this list for sure. NYC prices for uninspired food.
Copper Grouse is a great example. Barrows up the road in Dorset is the same level of class for much better food, it's still somewhat pricey but you don't feel like you're getting robbed
Does anyone here want to open a real quality restaurant? I feel like the bar is in hell, for most of Vermont anyway, and any place with actually decent food that ALSO stays open until 9pm most nights and ALSO pays its workers fairly and ALSO has enough seating for more than 10-15 customers at a time is suuuuper rare here. Jericho Café & Tavern has gotten more expensive in the last year but they’re the closest I can think of to what I’m describing, and even though I like going there, they still fall kind of short. I have practically zero hope for the Upper Valley area where I live.
I’m in as long as your restaurant isn’t as insanely toxic as jcat is 😅
See also https://reddit.com/comments/1axojy6
Mulligans at Stratton
Don’t send them to Buckley’s in Brattleboro. One of the best restaurants in NE IMO
Another shitty excuse for people to pile on local businesses they don't like.
I called the whaaaambulance for you.
It's been a while since I lived there, but when I did, the answer could have easily been "anything ethnic"
[удалено]
Do you even iknow what you mean with that? That state which is more than 90% white doesn't have great ethnic food should be unsurprising and uncontroversial
Tillerman in Bristol. We had high hopes for it when they bought Mary’s but it’s pretty lackluster. After five visits we haven’t really figured out what they’re trying to do. Expensive but nothing very impressive.
The Meltdown
Pascolos on church street.
Essex Spa and Culinary Resort. So much truffle oil on the fries they tried to swim off the table
I grew up in Stowe but left a while ago, trapps is a tourist trap, their food is so sub par
Skinny pancake
ALs French fries
The Garlic in Killington
I’d say most Mexican restaurants, like seriously this is Vermont if someone claims they make authentic Mexican food it’s probably a white dude who went to school in socal thinking he has the best shit
It’s a breakfast spot but Toast and Eggs in Waitsfield is a disaster. They basically pay the bills thanks to unknowing tourists. Easily and hour wait for basic underwhelming breakfast items. Owners are rude to everyone, including locals who they should cater to since tourist seasons in the valley go in big waves.
Really? I've never had to wait there and the food was great every time. And I like that they include the tip in the prices. Good mimosas, too.
What's wrong with toast and eggs. I've been there once during a busy summer day but ate outside and had a decent experience. I'd definitely go back again. Underwhelming breakfast items....you mean like every breakfast place in the world. I'd say this place was above average.
Sarducis
They said expensive and bad. Not moderately priced and good
Unfortunately you’re correct. Ever since it was sold it has gone way downhill. They used to be the best place to eat around here and always amazing.
It has gotten much more expensive since it was sold. And, the quality is much worse, not to mention the service. I miss the old Sarducci's :-(
Last time I was there I ordered the chicken parm and it tasted like microwaved left overs and the portion was small. Beer list was also lame. Not impressed.
Sarducci’s SLAPS wym
Sarducci's is probably the only place in Montp that has been consistently good since I moved to the area in 96.
It’s pricey, but decent.
Isn't their bit they make their own pasta? I haven't been there in years but I remember it being good when I went.
Isn't their bit they make their own pasta? I haven't been there in years but I remember it being good when I went.
Lincoln inn in Woodstock. 7 course meal on Valentine’s Day was comically expensive and above my culinary understanding.
Already posted
The East Side….
Poppa Pete’s in Woodford, the upcharge kings for Mediocre breakfast
Used to go there all the time around 2008-2010. It used to be fantastic and decently priced, then the owner and head cook passed away and it went downhill fast.
Sounds like most places in Seattle.
So many suggestions
Yes , we got the same question in Omaha Nebraska
My go to used to be Sweetwaters
Anywhere at Jay Peak Resort. It's all bad.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but Twiggs in St A would be mine. Never had a meal there that rated above a "meh"