The rooms worth a reservation in Burlington, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Burlington. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
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.
Signature: Mushroom toast, Roasted local pork, Cheese plate
Order: The mushroom toast with bacon and poached egg, plus whatever the daily Vermont cheese flight is pouring.
Tip: Book on Resy 30 days ahead for prime weekend slots. The bar takes walk-ins from 16:00 and serves the full menu.
Cara Chigazola Tobin and Allison Gibson opened Honey Road on Church Street in 2017. The eastern Mediterranean mezze room has been a James Beard finalist.
Signature: Harissa chicken wings, Tirokafteri whipped feta, Lamb shoulder for the table
Order: The harissa chicken wings, the whipped feta with hot honey and the whole lamb shoulder for the table.
Tip: Reservations open on Resy 30 days out and book out the same day. The bar holds walk-ins and serves the full menu.
John Rao shipped a two-ton wood-fired oven from Italy when he opened Pizzeria Verita on Saint Paul Street in 2012; pies cook at 900F in two minutes.
Signature: Margherita DOP, Soppressata pizza, House-made burrata
Order: The Margherita with San Marzano tomato and house-made mozzarella, plus a side of the burrata.
Tip: Walk-ins on Sunday-Thursday move quickly; Friday and Saturday book on the operator site. Bar seats serve the full menu.
Trattoria Delia opened on Saint Paul Street in 1993 inside the historic Vermont House; its Italian wine list is Wine Spectator-recognised every year.
Signature: Hand-cut pappardelle, Wood-grilled meats, Tiramisu
Order: Whatever the hand-cut pasta of the day is, plus a glass of regional Italian off the bottle list.
Tip: Open daily 17:00-21:00; book Resy 1-2 weeks ahead for prime weekend slots. The pasta-of-the-day board is the move.
Leunig's Bistro and Cafe sits on the corner of Church and College streets in the Church Street Marketplace and is one of the oldest continually operating.
Signature: French onion soup, Moules frites, Steak frites
Order: The French onion soup gratinee and the moules frites, plus a glass off the Burgundy list.
Tip: The sidewalk patio is the best people-watching seat in Burlington. Book lunch and brunch through OpenTable.
Pascolo Ristorante returned to its original subterranean Church Street home at 83 Church in January 2026 after three years up the block at 120 Church.
Signature: House-made pasta, Wood Mountain Fish seafood, Cannoli
Order: Whatever pasta is on the daily board, plus a Wood Mountain Fish crudo to start.
Tip: The wine bar pours by the glass with no minimum and serves the full antipasti menu. Bar holds walk-ins.
A Single Pebble has anchored Bank Street since the 1990s, serving family-style classical Chinese with a Sichuan lean. Mock eel is the long-running signature.
Signature: Mock eel, Dan dan noodles, Salt-and-pepper shrimp
Order: The mock eel (deep-fried shiitake in a tangy soy glaze), the dan dan noodles and a sizzling clay pot.
Tip: Lazy Susans at every six-top. Order family-style; minimum three plates plus rice. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Paul Sayler and Rob Downey opened American Flatbread Burlington Hearth in 2004; in-house brewery (Zero Gravity's original home) and an upper-deck patio.
Signature: Wood-fired flatbreads, Punctuated Equilibrium IPA, Local salads
Order: The New Vermont Sampler with house cheese and maple-fennel sausage, plus a Punctuated Equilibrium IPA.
Tip: Weeknight walk-in only; weekends take a Resy waitlist. Upper deck opens late spring.
Jordan Ware and Cindi Kozak (both Hen of the Wood alumni) opened Frankie's in April 2024 in the old Penny Cluse Cafe space. Daily farm-to-table menu.
Signature: Daily-changing menu, Vermont blue crab, Pickled sweet corn
Order: Whatever is on the daily menu; the kitchen leans into peak Vermont produce.
Tip: Open daily 17:00-22:00 with last seating 21:00; reservations open 60 days out on Resy and book the same day.
Aaron Josinsky and Laura Wade opened Misery Loves Co. in Winooski in 2012. The 2024 reset made it a daytime bruncheonette with market and natural-wine bar.
Signature: House-cured pastrami sandwich, Daily market plates, Natural-wine flight
Order: House-cured pastrami sandwich plus whatever the daily market plate is and a natural-wine pour.
Tip: Daytime only; lunch and grab-and-go from the cold case. The sister restaurant Onion City Chicken and Oyster runs dinner two blocks away.
Aaron Josinsky and Laura Wade's sister restaurant to Misery Loves Co. opened in August 2022 in the historic Block Building at the top of the Winooski rotary.
Signature: Fried chicken, Shucked oysters, Hot-honey biscuit
Order: The fried chicken half-bird plus a half-dozen Vermont oysters and a hot-honey biscuit.
Tip: Bar takes walk-ins; book the dining room on Resy. Dinner 16:00-21:00 daily; weekend brunch 10:00-15:00.
Bluebird Barbecue runs from an early-1900s farmhouse on Riverside Avenue overlooking the Winooski River. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Smoked wings, BBQ ramen
Order: The brisket plate by the pound, a basket of smoked wings and a side of cornbread.
Tip: Closed Monday through Wednesday; book Thursday-Sunday or arrive at 16:30 opening for a counter seat.
Pho Hong is the family-owned Vietnamese counter on North Winooski Avenue that locals queue for. Pho with rich aromatic broth, fresh banh mi, vermicelli bowls;
Signature: Pho tai with rare beef, Banh mi, Vermicelli bowls
Order: Pho tai with rare beef and meatballs; add fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime at the table.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday and cash-or-card both accepted; BYOB and the lunch rush after 12:30 clears fast.
May Day opened on North Winooski Avenue in the Old North End in 2024 from local industry pros. House-made bread and charcuterie for deli-inspired sandwiches,
Signature: Deli-inspired sandwiches, House charcuterie, Natural wine flight
Order: The daily sandwich off the chalkboard plus a natural-wine pour.
Tip: Resy reservations; walk-up bar seats run quickly on weekends.
The Daily Planet on Center Street since 1982 (one block east of Church). Bohemian bar, tranquil solarium, romantic dining room; cocktails the signature.
Signature: Award-winning cocktails, Eclectic mains, Solarium dining
Order: Whatever the cocktail of the month is, plus a daily blackboard plate.
Tip: Weekend brunch from 11:30; weeknight dinner from 17:00. Solarium is the best off-Church table for two.