Burlington eats Vermont. Cheddar from Cabot, Jasper Hill in Greensboro and Shelburne Farms anchors the local cheese plate; maple syrup from sugar bushes 20 miles inland turns up as creemee glaze, brown butter for trout and a finish for pork; and the craft beer rivals anything coming out of Portland or San Diego. Pine Street in the South End is the brewery spine, with Zero Gravity at 716, Queen City at 703, Foam Brewers two blocks west on Lake Street and Vermont Pub and Brewery (Vermont's first brewpub, 1988) on College Street. Church Street Marketplace is the dining spine, with Hen of the Wood farm-to-table at 55 Cherry Street, Honey Road eastern Mediterranean mezze at 156 Church, Pizzeria Verita Neapolitan pies at 156 Saint Paul and the new-classic Frankie's that took the old Penny Cluse space in 2024. The New England Culinary Institute closed in 2020 after 40 years but its alumni still run the kitchens. Recent French Canadian, Bosnian, Nepali and Bhutanese waves shape the Old North End food scene; Winooski across the river holds Misery Loves Co. and Onion City Chicken and Oyster.

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Where to eat in Burlington

All 15 restaurants

  1. Hen of the Wood

    Order The mushroom toast with bacon and poached egg, plus whatever the daily Vermont cheese flight is pouring.

  2. Honey Road

    Order The harissa chicken wings, the whipped feta with hot honey and the whole lamb shoulder for the table.

  3. Pizzeria Verita

    Order The Margherita with San Marzano tomato and house-made mozzarella, plus a side of the burrata.

  4. Trattoria Delia

    Order Whatever the hand-cut pasta of the day is, plus a glass of regional Italian off the bottle list.

  5. Leunig's Bistro and Cafe

    Order The French onion soup gratinee and the moules frites, plus a glass off the Burgundy list.

  6. Pascolo Ristorante

    Order Whatever pasta is on the daily board, plus a Wood Mountain Fish crudo to start.

Fine dining

Food festivals coming up in Burlington

All Burlington food festivals

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Signature dishes in Burlington

All 12 dishes

Where to eat by neighborhood

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Map of Burlington

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Burlington, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

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Everything in Burlington

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When to come hungry in Burlington

Peak food season
May through October for produce, lake fishing and farm dinners. The Vermont Brewers Festival hits Waterfront Park July 17-18; the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival lands at Shelburne Farms on September 20; the South End Art Hop fills Pine Street September 11-13. Maple Open House Weekend at sugarhouses across the state is in late March. Avoid mud season in April; many farm restaurants pivot to lighter menus then.
Local dining hours
Lunch 11:30-14:00, dinner 17:00-21:00 with last seating usually 20:30; many kitchens close 21:00 in Vermont. Brewery taprooms and pizza counters run latest, generally to 22:00 or 23:00 on weekends. Monday closures are common for chef-driven rooms; brunch on weekends 09:00-14:00.
Tipping
Tip 18 to 22 percent on the pre-tax total at sit-down restaurants. Brewery taprooms and counters get $1 to $2 per drink or 15 to 20 percent. Tour guides get $10 to $20 per person for a 2.5-hour brewery bus or walk; check the bill for included gratuity before adding more.

Burlington food, FAQ

What food is Burlington known for?

Burlington's signature dishes include Vermont cheddar, Maple creemee, Heady Topper double IPA, Sugar on snow, Vermont cheddar apple pie. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Burlington?

TableJourney editors map Burlington by district. Church Street Marketplace, Old North End, Hill Section, Waterfront are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Burlington?

Editor picks in Burlington include Hen of the Wood, Honey Road, Frankie's, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Burlington?

TableJourney covers 5 editor-picked food tours in Burlington, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Burlington have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Burlington dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.