New American is the deepest category in Burlington, running from farm-to-table fine dining to neighborhood small-plates rooms and a chili-dog bus. Hen of the Wood opened its downtown location at 55 Cherry Street in 2013, Frankie's took over the former Penny Cluse Cafe space in April 2024 from Hen of the Wood alumni, and Juniper at Hotel Vermont cooks ingredient-driven plates by a wood-burning hearth overlooking the lake. Out in the Old North End, May Day bakes its own bread on North Winooski Avenue while Beansie's Bus serves cheap chili dogs at Battery Park.
New American restaurants in Burlington
14 new american places in Burlington we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Burlington · New American across every city.
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Hen of the Wood
Order The mushroom toast with bacon and poached egg, plus whatever the daily Vermont cheese flight is pouring.
Eric Warnstedt's Hen of the Wood opened a second location at 55 Cherry Street in downtown Burlington in 2013, eight years after the Waterbury original.
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Frankie's
Order Whatever is on the daily menu; the kitchen leans into peak Vermont produce.
Jordan Ware and Cindi Kozak (both Hen of the Wood alumni) opened Frankie's in April 2024 in the old Penny Cluse Cafe space.
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Misery Loves Co.
Order House-cured pastrami sandwich plus whatever the daily market plate is and a natural-wine pour.
Aaron Josinsky and Laura Wade opened Misery Loves Co.
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May Day
- ★ 4.5
- New American
- $$
- Old North End
Order The daily sandwich off the chalkboard plus a natural-wine pour.
May Day opened on North Winooski Avenue in the Old North End in 2024 from local industry pros.
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The Daily Planet
Order Whatever the cocktail of the month is, plus a daily blackboard plate.
The Daily Planet on Center Street since 1982 (one block east of Church).
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Misery Loves Co.
Order The pastrami sandwich and a glass of natural orange wine.
Aaron Josinsky and Laura Wade's market-cum-restaurant in Winooski.
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May Day
Order Daily sandwich plus a charcuterie plate to share.
Old North End neighborhood bar with house-baked bread, in-house charcuterie and a natural-wine list.
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The Daily Planet
Order Whatever the cocktail of the month is plus the daily blackboard plate.
Bohemian downtown bar-restaurant with a tranquil solarium and an outdoor patio.
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Juniper at Hotel Vermont
Order Whatever is off the hearth, plus a Vermont-gin cocktail.
Hotel Vermont's lobby-level bar and restaurant from Executive Chef Doug Paine.
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Frankie's
- ★ 4.5
- New American
- $$$$
Jordan Ware (formerly Hen of the Wood) opened Frankie's in April 2024 in the former Penny Cluse Cafe; named to Eater's Best New Restaurants the same year.
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Juniper at Hotel Vermont
- ★ 4.0
- New American
- $$$$
Hotel Vermont's local-ingredient flagship from Executive Chef Doug Paine.
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Light Club Lamp Shop
- ★ 4.4
- New American
- $$
- Old North End
Try Craft cocktails, DJ sets
Fri-Sat only; opens 21:00 and runs till 02:00.
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Beansie's Bus
Try Michigan hot dog and fries combo
An $8 chili-dog-and-fries combo at Battery Park with a Lake Champlain view is cheaper than any sit-down room downtown.