How is NECI on Main restaurant rated?

NECI on Main

4.2 (434)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

118 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

About this restaurant

Innovative
Good for special occasions
Romantic

Imagine the entire state of Vermont as a food experiment or as its own laboratory where food products are grown and created for this particular climate; seasonally, organically, and sustainably. Now imagine restaurants as teaching laboratories this restaurant for instance.

NECI on Main is a production lab for New England Culinary Institute. For 30 years we have been teaching students to make connections with farmers, between the landscape and our food, and between seasons and culinary traditions. Sometimes we include food items that express a particular sense of place from outside of Vermont, or culinary traditions from other cultures, and use those items or experiences to enhance the foods grown here in Vermont.

Our menu is no exception in this teaching philosophy, and reflects the best that Vermont’s farmers, and America’s next generation of young chefs offer.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Contemporary European
Hours of operation
SUNDAY Closed MONDAY Closed TUESDAY - SATURDAY Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Lite Fare 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm Farm to Table
Phone number
(802) 223-3188
Website
http://www.neci.edu/neci-on-main/index
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Catering
Our Wine Room is a private room located in our Cellar area. It seats 16 guests comfortably. This space is popular for smaller gathering or meetings. Please contact Neil Archibald for Wine Room inquiries 802-225-3314 Our Chef’s Table dining room is located on our second floor. It offers seating for up to 40 guests. In our quiet, private space, separate from the rest of the hustle and bustle of our Cellar and Main Floor. Please contact Fawn Wells Maxfield for Chef's Table inquiries 802-225-3333
Private party facilities
NECI's fabulous dining rooms are available to you for business meetings, corporate retreats, holiday parties, rehearsal dinners, banquets, private dining and so much more.The use of regional ingredients, innovative cuisine and gracious service in an intimate setting continues on. For a one of a kind culinary experience, no matter the occasion, a fine dining experience awaits you and your guests.

Location
118 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Neighborhood
Montpelier
Cross street
School St.
Parking details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Minestrone Soup$5.95
pesto
French Onion Soup$5.95
Gruyere cheese
Frisee Salad w/ Caramelized Onion Vinaigrette$6.95
seared Duck Liver
Chef's Salad$7.95
mixed greens, house-smoked pork, hard boiled egg, Grafton Village smoked cheddar, ranch dressing
Classic Caesar Salad$5.95
romaine, garlic croutons, shaved parmesan, white anchovy
- Seared Shrimp$5.95
House Charcuterie$6.95
class-made charcuterie of the day, whole grain mustard, pickled vegetable
Steamed Mussels$6.95
Green curry, jicama, carrot slaw, grilled bread
Seared Crab Cake$8.95
chipotle aioli, cucumber salad

Entrées

Ploughman's Platter$11.95
a combination of Vermont cheeses, class-made charcuterie, crusty La Brioche bread, accompaniments
Fish & Chips$10.95
Trapp Lager, haddock, house-cut fries, cole slaw, tartar sauce
Crispy Duck Leg Confit$12.95
roasted fingerling potatoes, green beans, orange demi glace
NECI Quiche of the Day$8.95
daily selection, side salad
Leek & Mushroom Strudel$10.95
wilted frisee, root vegetable puree
Pan-Seared Salmon$11.95
creamy polenta, citrus-herb compound butter, sautéed kale
Jaeger Schnitzel$12.95
Mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach
Half Roasted Chicken$12.95
Cabot Mac & Cheese, Broccoli

Sandwiches

Back 40 Burger$10.95
grass fed ground beef, house-made roll, lettuce, tomato, red onion, house-cut fries
Pulled Pork Sandwich$7.95
Cole slaw, house made roll, fries
Pick your Reuben$8.95
Pastrami Tempeh OR Traditional Rye bread, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, house cut fries
Steak Frites$11.95
Grilled hangar steak, fries, side salad, bearnaise

Desserts

Chocolate Rye Cake$4.95
vanilla ice cream, salted caramel ganache, caramel sauce
Warm Orange Semolina Cake$4.95
candied almonds, vanilla sauce, cranberry sorbet
Hot Chocolate$4.95
served with cookie of the day
Coconut Rice Pudding$4.95
pomegranate seeds, black sesame tuile, mango sorbet

What 434 people are saying

NECI on Main reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

4.2

4.2 based on all time ratings

4.2Food
4.1Service
4.1Ambience
0.4Value

Noise • Moderate

423 Reviews

JE
JamesE
Dallas - Fort Worth7 reviews
4.0
Dined on October 6, 2017
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
This is our second time having dinner at NECI on Main. We have not been disappointed either time and will come back again every time we come up to Montpelier to visit our son at Norwich University. The overall quality of the food is very good, and we love the fact that we are supporting the students by dining there. The staff is friendly and efficient. This has to be the best restaurant in Montpelier for a fine meal.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston1 review
4.0
Dined on October 6, 2017
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Could not be happier with our choice of prime rib. It was perfectly cooked and the pumpkin panna cotta was the perfect ending highlight.
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PG
PatriciaG
Detroit / Eastern Michigan1 review
5.0
Dined on September 16, 2017
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Steak was one of the best I've had. Fish and chips...incredible...going back to have it !!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on August 26, 2017
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We had a very good dining experience at NECI. The food was well presented and tasty. It's been our experience that in this type of restaurant (culinary school) always does a great job. We would recommend.
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g
gretchen VIP
Philadelphia County63 reviews
4.0
Dined on August 23, 2017
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Actually we were slightly disappointed here. We have been each summer as we visit this area for the last 5 years. The service was very professional but delivery very slow. The sweet pea soup was delicious. Cheese plate was great. The deviled eggs and salmon appetizer was very good altho not sure if that was supposed to be dill because it had no taste. The risotto was barely warm and the veggies served with it were overcooked and mushy. The fish and chips platter was very good with the exception of fries being too many. The strawberry ice cream was icy and perhaps flavorless. The coffee was strong and tasted old but the waitress did say she was brewing fresh decaf.
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s
sandyv
New York City2 reviews
4.0
Dined on August 12, 2017
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Mostly everthing was very good. I did think the demonico steak was overpriced. Hopefully you do change the menu often as it is rather limited.
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PP
PaPatti
Philadelphia County13 reviews
3.0
Dined on August 4, 2017
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our group of six liked their meals to different degrees. Veggie burger had wonderful ingredients but was bland. Salmon and risotto meals were delicious. All portions were reasonably sized. Great VT beers on tap. The daily specials were pricy. The bartender/waitress in downstairs dining room was exceptional, however not a NECI student.
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j
jillery VIP
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill46 reviews
5.0
Dined on August 1, 2017
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everyone should eat here. Wonderful dinner and food was fab.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Wisconsin1 review
5.0
Dined on July 25, 2017
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Took my father on vacation and made Montepelier a stop just to experience NECI on Main. Well worth the visit. Fine dining and great food.
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M
Maxx VIP
Las Vegas27 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 30, 2017
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I always loved this restaurant when it was the chefs table. I am sorry to see the upstairs dining room is closed, as I loved the ambience there. The night I went school was out of session. So the menu was sadly very limited. That said, what we had was excellent, but I was disappointed in the limited options.
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FAQs

NECI on Main is rated 4.2 stars by 434 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

118 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

Additional information

Cross street
School St.
Neighborhood
Montpelier
Hours of operation
SUNDAY Closed MONDAY Closed TUESDAY - SATURDAY Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Lite Fare 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm Farm to Table
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Contemporary European
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.neci.edu/neci-on-main/index
Phone number
(802) 223-3188
Catering
Our Wine Room is a private room located in our Cellar area. It seats 16 guests comfortably. This space is popular for smaller gathering or meetings. Please contact Neil Archibald for Wine Room inquiries 802-225-3314 Our Chef’s Table dining room is located on our second floor. It offers seating for up to 40 guests. In our quiet, private space, separate from the rest of the hustle and bustle of our Cellar and Main Floor. Please contact Fawn Wells Maxfield for Chef's Table inquiries 802-225-3333
Private party facilities
NECI's fabulous dining rooms are available to you for business meetings, corporate retreats, holiday parties, rehearsal dinners, banquets, private dining and so much more.The use of regional ingredients, innovative cuisine and gracious service in an intimate setting continues on. For a one of a kind culinary experience, no matter the occasion, a fine dining experience awaits you and your guests.

NECI on Main

About this restaurant

Permanently Closed

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Menu

Starters

Minestrone Soup$5.95

French Onion Soup$5.95

Frisee Salad w/ Caramelized Onion Vinaigrette$6.95

Chef's Salad$7.95

Classic Caesar Salad$5.95

House Charcuterie$6.95

Steamed Mussels$6.95

Seared Crab Cake$8.95

Entrées

Ploughman's Platter$11.95

Fish & Chips$10.95

Crispy Duck Leg Confit$12.95

NECI Quiche of the Day$8.95

Leek & Mushroom Strudel$10.95

Pan-Seared Salmon$11.95

Jaeger Schnitzel$12.95

Half Roasted Chicken$12.95

Sandwiches

Back 40 Burger$10.95

Pulled Pork Sandwich$7.95

Pick your Reuben$8.95

Steak Frites$11.95

Desserts

Chocolate Rye Cake$4.95

Warm Orange Semolina Cake$4.95

Hot Chocolate$4.95

Coconut Rice Pudding$4.95

What 434 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is NECI on Main restaurant rated?

Permanently Closed

Additional information