Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Vermont

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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!

Jessica's at Swift House

4.9

4.9 (861)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Middlebury

About the restaurant

Jessica's at Swift House Inn is located in Middlebury, Vermont, just two blocks from downtown Middlebury. Set in an 1814 stately home, surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens, Jessica's elegant atmosphere is the perfect place for a dinner for two, or a celebratory dinner for four to forty. Come experience Chef Rob Fenn's seasonal, Vermont-inspired menu for yourself!

Our Sommelier Sam Lipin can help you choose the right bottle of wine from our extensive cellar. Jessica's is the recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for our wine list, one of only a small handful of restaurants in Vermont and fewer than 1400 restaurants world-wide which have won at this level.

Outdoor seating is weather dependent. Call to inquire.

Please note that when making a reservation online, we plan on seating your party in the dining room at that time. If you'd like to relax with a pre-dinner beverage in the bar or parlor, we invite you to arrive well before your reservation time.

Top review

Rebecca

Dined 3 days ago

We had an excellent time at Jessica’s. The food and wine were excellent. The service was exceptional and the ambiance just right for the celebration of a good friend’s birthday!

Starry Night Cafe

4.9

4.9 (1177)

$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

TripleLeo

Dined 4 days ago

We love this cafe. Delicious & a different seasonal menu from a week ago. Service was friendly & cheerful too. My only suggestion is to trim the tree covering the sign at the front door, and light the large Starry Night Cafe sign from below, because it is hard to see the parking lot entrance coming from Rte 7 North. Easy to miss the entrance.

The Inn at Burklyn

4.8

4.8 (175)

$50 and over

American

Lyndonville

About the restaurant

The Inn at Burklyn is excited to present our Restaurant serving a la carte dinners off a small, locally-focused menu each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening along with daily specials. We also offer seasonal cocktails, local craft beers and our extensive wine list, featuring over 100 curated choices from around the world!

Top review

BillMcG07vip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

Another wonderful dinner at the finest restaurant in the Northeast Kingdom. Superb! Our favorite by far!

Kelly Way Gardens

4.7

4.7 (15)

$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

Rosemarie

Dined on Aug 22, 2024

Excellent culinary experience! We have done this before and would certainly do it again!

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Pop-Up Red Barn Dinner with Chef Philippe Niez

Roots The Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1280)

$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

Suevip

Dined 3 days ago

Great small place with good food, but a little overpriced.

Harpoon Brewery - Windsor

4.6

4.6 (1115)

$30 and under

Brewery

Woodstock

About the restaurant

WE ARE OPEN FOR ON-SITE INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING!

The Harpoon Riverbend Taps is now open for dining in our spacious dining room or patio. We look forward to welcoming you!

The Harpoon Brewery Taproom and Beer Garden is open 7 days/week for outside/inside dining or take-out food orders. We are open Sunday through Tuesday from 11AM to 6PM- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11AM to 8PM. We have live music every Thursday from 5pm-8pm. Our retail store is also open for merchandise, beer, cider, and hard seltzer to go. You must have proper ID that verifies you are 21+ to pick up alcoholic beverages.

Please call 802-674-5491 x221 with any questions or to place a take-out order. Click here to order online and to see our daily offerings.

Top review

Eileen

Dined on Aug 27, 2024

We brought our Harpoon Brewery fan guests. We were all delighted with Declan's great and friendly service, good food with generous portions. The Brussel sprouts and fresh corn apps were standouts and the waffle sweet potato fries...to die for! Thank you for a memorable evening!

Long Trail Brewing Company

4.6

4.6 (456)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Great service - we are lucky to get the same waiter every time - he is great! Great food!

Copper Grouse - Taconic Hotel

4.5

4.5 (1394)

$31 to $50

American

Manchester

About the restaurant

The Copper Grouse serves regionally-inspired, soulful dishes from the kitchen. Not to be missed, our beverage program of classic cocktails, artisanal spirits, Vermont craft beers and a wide selection of Wines from regions spanning the globe. Reservations are recommended for all dining and all meal periods. Last dinner seating on Fridays and Saturdays is 9:00pm.

Top review

Joe

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent food and service. A real treat. Highly recommend

The Lake House Pub & Grille on Bomoseen

4.5

4.5 (82)

$31 to $50

American

Castleton

About the restaurant

**If it appears that we do not have availability, please call us. We almost always can fit you in! **
Vermont’s finest, scenic dockside dining and mountainside sunset views. The Lake House Pub & Grille on Bomoseen has a delectable selection of classic seafood, burgers, chowder, and more! In our tap room or on the docks, it’s a guarantee you’ll get the best view Lake Bomoseen has to offer. Pull up to The Lake House by boat, car, or bike and you’re in for a great experience! For the best views of live music and sunset, visit our Tiki Bar between 5 and 9pm.

Top review

Stuartvip

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Staff was amazing, fast, courteous, we sat outside, they were attentive with a bowl of water for our dog and a dog treat. The food was hot, and fantastic, fish was excellent, wings were perfect. Can't say enough about this Gem, we will be going back for sure.

Red Mill Restaurant

4.3

4.3 (231)

$30 and under

American

Middlebury

About the restaurant

The distinctive décor featuring rough-hewn beams, antique farm equipment, and walls covered in Basin Harbor nostalgia makes The Red Mill Restaurant a resort favorite. The renovated sawmill features the best fresh and local food ingredients, along with signature Vermont brews, including our own Red Chair Ale. It is a casual dining experience you will appreciate.

And where else in VT can you fly in for a burger? Our grass airstrip is a great destination for small planes. The Red Mill also has an enormous outdoor play structure, guaranteed to provide hours of fun for the younger crowd…Just another reason we are family approved! Tax and service is additional. Please note that an 18% Gratuity will automatically be added to all parties of 6 or more.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Aug 22, 2024

It was great! awesome service and staff. I will definitely be back again :)

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