Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Vermont

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Vermont? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Starry Night Cafe

4.9

4.9 (1179)

$31 to $50

American

Ferrisburgh

About the restaurant

Specializing in locally-sourced, organic and seasonal Vermont products, the Starry Night Café invites you to experience our unique and intimate historic buildings, artistan-crafted decor and our fresh, inventive menu. We invite you to enjoy a little taste of delicious cuisine within our lovely countryside setting under the stars!

Top review

janetvip

Dined 6 days ago

Lovely meal in the sun room; delicious pastas. Only thing that would have made the dishes A+: the toffee cake would have benefitted from being served warm

CurATE at Southern Vermont Arts Center

4.8

4.8 (444)

$30 and under

American

Manchester

About the restaurant

curATE café in Vermont promises to bring a modern sensibility paired with classic and regional fare. Artfully curated small plates, salads, artisanal sandwiches, flatbreads, entrees and a full bar — all in the artful setting of SVAC’s galleries and grounds.

curATE will delight diners enjoying the museum’s art and beautiful grounds. The café will be the perfect spot for a special lunch or afternoon beverage – curate your own experience.

Top review

Neil

Dined 1 day ago

A great experience either together or even alone, the staff in particular make you feel welcome special and comfortable.. we love the food choices and quality, the architectural space and decor, the connection to local art which you can enjoy before or after dining, and the wonderful outside space that connects seamlessly somehow to the tables outside or by window, making it one of the best places to eat locally!

Simon Pearce Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (6051)

$50 and over

American

Quechee

About the restaurant

Reservations are recommended.
LUNCH 11:30 AM – 2:45 PM Wednesday-Sunday | DINNER 5:30 -8:30PM Wednedsay + Thursday
| 5:30 – 9:00PM Friday + Saturday

The dining room at the Mill is a wonderful way to experience Simon Pearce. Using fresh local ingredients, thoughtfully prepared creative American cuisine is served with the backdrop of the Ottauquechee River waterfall and covered bridge.

Simon Pearce Retail Store- Shop before you dine! Our restaurant also features our flagship retail store, where you can explore all our Simon Pearce glass and pottery in person. All our products are handmade with love.

Top review

Kate

Dined 2 days ago

Food is always superb, and waitstaff is very well trained. This was my 6th lunch there over the years. We drive over 2 hours to get there.

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Red Rooster at The Woodstock Inn and Resort

4.7

4.7 (943)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Woodstock

About the restaurant

Our award-winning restaurant, The Red Rooster, captures the essence of Vermont in its delightful satisfying dishes and relaxed setting. Sip a finely crafted cocktail in the elegant bar, or enjoy the lovely restaurant setting. The restaurant showcases menus that draw from the best purveyors in New England, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients – including specialty cheeses, beef, and heirloom fruits and vegetables, all perfectly prepared by Chef Matthew McClure and our culinary team.

Top review

Elinor

Dined 2 days ago

Very nice lunch spot in a beautiful historic hotel. Good food, service and setting.

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Popular dish

Vermont Maple Cake

Kelly Way Gardens

4.7

4.7 (16)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Woodstock

About the restaurant

Kelly Way Gardens is a farm-to-table program started from scratch, providing the Woodstock Inn & Resort with an on-site holistic food supply straight from the ground. We specialize in unique and heirloom varieties and provide culinary inspiration to our chefs.

Join our Resort Executive Chef Matthew McClure on select dates during warmer months for an evening of dinner party-style dining featuring the local artistry of Vermont’s Cheesemakers, Farmers, Beekeepers, and Dairymen while celebrating the bounty of our own Vermont Certified Organic Kelly Way Gardens. The Red Barn Dinners Series cuisine honors our local farms and artisans; similarly, we celebrate our community through our gathered-style dining arrangement with unique menus for each seating.

Top review

Austingal

Dined on Sep 26, 2024

We loved our experience at Kelly Way! The gardens were beautiful to walk around in - especially with a glass of champagne. Walk through the gourd tunnel. The chipmunks running around were very cute to watch. The food was outstanding! Except that the chicken entree was just basic. Thigh and drumstick with skin & bones made it difficult to eat. I was mostly full by then so it didn't matter. My husband just picked it up and gnaw on it. Yes this is expensive but you're paying for the experience as much as for the dinner and wine. We made great friends at our table from different parts of the world and would definitely return!

Roots The Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1285)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Rutland

About the restaurant

*For parties larger than 6 please call for your reservation.

Roots mission is to create delicious food from fresh, local ingredients. Vermont offers an agricultural bounty of flavorful produce, meat, dairy and other food products that are staples of the Roots menu.

Roots is committed to providing affordable meals from minimally processed, locally grown ingredients, including organic crops and humanely raised, pasture fed livestock.

We are proud to partner with local providers Boardman Hill Farm, Hathaway Farm, Woods Market, Blue Ledge Farm, and other smaller scale produce, dairy and maple syrup providers.

Visit us at 55 Washington Street in downtown Rutland and enjoy a delicious, wholesome local meal.

Top review

Robynvip

Dined 3 days ago

We elected to sit at a high top in the bar and received outstanding service from Jenn, Ross and Shannon. A favorite VT restaurant! The food is consistently great with a solid wine list.

Long Trail Brewing Company

4.6

4.6 (462)

$30 and under

Brewery

Bridgewater

About the restaurant

Our brewery is located in Bridgewater Corners at the junction of Rte. 4 and 100a. We’re 2.5 hours north of Boston, about 1.5 hours south of Burlington, VT, and just 15 minutes from Killington Resort.

Top review

Patrickvip

Dined 6 days ago

We entered and were immediately seated .Skyler, our server was over to take our beer order. Helen had the Pumpkin Beer, which she loved and I had the Limbo, one of my favorites. We both had the Burger with cheese that was cooked perfectly. Service was excellent throughout.

The Hermitage Inn

4.6

4.6 (92)

$50 and over

American

Dover

About the restaurant

The Hermitage Inn’s award-winning cuisine celebrates the best regional products that New England has to offer, served with our unique brand of mountain elegance.

Our menus, created by Executive Chef Chris Bonnivier, borrow from haute cuisine and local artisanal foods creating a unique gastronomic experience that is both rustic and refined.

Our wine program delights beginners and connoisseurs alike with thousands of bottles to choose from our Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence wine list. Led by our expert team, guests can explore regions, varietals, producers and vintages from local to all over the world in an elegant yet unpretentious setting.

Top review

Samvip

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Excellent experience Highly recommend Will come again!

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Experience

Thanksgiving Grand Buffet at The Hermitage Inn '24

Plated Restaurant & Bar

4.6

4.6 (35)

$31 to $50

American

Brattleboro

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Brattleboro, Plated offers not just a meal, but a journey through a fusion of flavors, artfully combining the comfort and sophistication of American cuisine with the rich, aromatic spices of Indian culinary traditions.
The ambiance of Plated is designed to complement its innovative menu, featuring a modern, yet inviting interior that creates the perfect backdrop for any occasion - from intimate dinners to celebratory gatherings. The restaurant and bar area is crafted to enhance the dining experience, allowing guests to enjoy meticulously prepared dishes and expertly mixed cocktails in a relaxed, chic setting.

Top review

Judy

Dined 1 day ago

The food was outstanding and the plate presentation. Drinks served with a smile from Ryan and creative suggestions. The lay out of the dining room was very nice and spread out so each table had their own space. Looking forward to another visit for dinner.

Richardson’s Tavern

4.4

4.4 (222)

$30 and under

American

Woodstock

About the restaurant

Richardson's Tavern has been a comfortable haven for American travelers since 1793.
Our cuisine is thoughtfully sourced throughout Vermont.
During the summer growing season we feature fresh produce from our very own 3 acre organic certified Kelly Way Gardens right down Route 106.
The essence of Vermont and flavor-driven plates are paired with a bar featuring local craft brews, hand crafted cocktails, and a wide range of wines by the glass, half bottle, and bottle.
A relaxed atmosphere invites warm conversation and friendly company among friends and family. Dine al fresco on the porch in the warmer months or sink into the oversized lounge chairs fireside for a casual drink or meal.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Sep 26, 2024

The Woodstocker burger, roasted squash and tomato soup, and Campanelle pasta were absolutely delicious! However reservations are a must because they don’t seem to hold back any tables for walk-ins (same goes for the Red Rooster.)

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