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Vermont may be a small state, but it’s a big player on the culinary scene, and the restaurants in Burlington, VT, are some of the best of the best!
With an emphasis on locally grown food, Vermont is a leader in farm-to-table dining. Offering seasonal delicacies, fresh ingredients, and locally inspired meals, the Green Mountain state is a mecca for amateur foodies and gastronomers alike.
To help you make the most of your culinary adventures in the state’s largest city, we’ve compiled below the ultimate list of restaurants to visit in Burlington.
While there are many fun things to do in Burlington, especially for the outdoor adventurer, these restaurants are undoubtedly a highlight of this incredible city!
15 Best Restaurants in Burlington, VT
Here’s everything you need to know about the best restaurants in Burlington, VT. Our recommendation is to visit them all, if you have the time – trust us when we say, your taste buds will thank you for this!
Farmhouse Tap & Grill
$$ | website | (802) 859-0888 | 160 Bank St
Embracing Vermont’s local food movement, The Farmhouse Tap & Grill on Bank Street is the quintessential farm-to-table gastropub.
Specializing in burgers, charcuterie boards, and cheese plates, this acclaimed restaurant offers seasonal dishes that feature farm-raised meats, dairy, and produce.
Alongside its delectable menu, you’ll find a wide variety of craft beers, many of which are made locally in Vermont.
Offering a casual, laid-back setting, this family-friendly grill provides several dining spaces for you to enjoy.
Besides its traditional restaurant space, the grill also houses a speakeasy-style bar in its basement that offers a relaxing dining experience around a fireplace.
During the summer months, the restaurant is even known to open up an outdoor beer garden, which features live music from time to time.
Tiny Thai
$$ | website | (802) 655-4888 | 293 Main St
Tiny Thai is one of the best Asian restaurants in the Burlington area.
Located just outside the city, in Winooski, this restaurant offers a wide variety of authentic Thai food, including curry, stir fry, noodles, fried rice, appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts.
There’s even a “Genuine Thai” menu, which aims to replicate dishes just as you would see them in Thailand. Reserved for expert spice consumers, most of the dishes on this menu are extra spicy and flavorful.
In addition to this, the restaurant also offers several gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes for those who may have dietary restrictions.
The restaurant does get quite busy, especially on weekends, so it’s best to get here early to reduce your wait time!
Read next: Best Cabins in Vermont
Farmers and Foragers Food Truck
$$ | website | (802) 557-5074 | 75 Penny Ln
Open seasonally from May to September, Farmers and Foragers is one of the most popular food truck restaurants in Burlington, VT.
Located dockside by the Burlington Harbor Marina, this casual dining spot offers a variety of hand-held bites, desserts, and alcoholic beverages.
Like many other restaurants in the area, the menu utilizes locally sourced ingredients from organic, sustainable farms.
Some of the more popular local items on the menu include Lake Champlain perch tacos, Vermont cheesesteaks featuring Vermont-raised beef, and lobster rolls made with fresh Maine lobsters.
Even many of the drinks here come from Burlington VT breweries and distilleries that are local to the New England area.
Penny Cluse Café
$$ | website | (802) 651-8834 | 169 Cherry St
Serving breakfast and lunch all day, Penny Cluse Café is one of the most popular places to eat in Burlington, VT, for brunch-goers.
Their extensive menu includes pancakes, buttermilk biscuits, huevos rancheros, and beyond. It’s common to see long lines out the door here on any given weekend.
It’s even a beloved spot for many celebrities and politicians, including Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood, Vermont’s own Senator Bernie Sanders, and US President Joe Biden.
Its celebrity status aside, the café is well worth the hype and certainly deserves a spot on your itinerary.
Just be sure to plan ahead! They don’t take reservations here, so you’ll want to arrive as early as you can!
Istanbul Kebab House
$$ | website | (802) 857-5091 | 175 Church St
The Istanbul Kebab House on Church Street is a small, cozy, unassuming restaurant that offers some of the best Turkish food you can find in Burlington.
While their kebabs are undoubtedly the most popular items on the menu, the restaurant also serves up a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, and traditional Turkish casseroles.
Of course, we can’t forget about their desserts either, which include the likes of Maple Baklava (Vermont meets Turkey), Turkish Rice Pudding, and the ever-popular Turkish Coffee.
If you’re hoping to be transported to the streets of Istanbul, even if it’s just for an afternoon, the Istanbul Kebab House is your ticket!
Honey Road
$$ | website | (802) 497-2145 | 156 Church St
Offering a variety of Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare, Honey Road combines Turkish and Greek flavors with Vermont produce to create nationally-acclaimed dishes.
The restaurant has been nominated several times for the James Beard Award, a national organization that recognizes the top players within the culinary world. In fact, the restaurant’s chef was selected as a finalist for the title of the best chef in the Northeast.
Given all of this, it should come as no surprise to hear that Honey Road is a popular destination among locals and visitors alike.
Between its homemade pita, buttermilk crab cakes, and house-made baklava, it’s one restaurant that’s hard to pass up.
Juniper Bar & Restaurant
$$ | website | (802) 651-5027 | 41 Cherry St
Located right off the waterfront, inside of Hotel Vermont, Juniper is a modern, stylish restaurant and bar that serves locally-made, seasonal meals.
Offering breakfast and dinner, the restaurant’s menu presents a variety of regionally inspired dishes and appetizers. Some of these include favorites such as Montreal spiced brisket poutine, red flannel hash (a New England favorite made of corned beef hash and beets), as well as Vermont cheese platters.
Even the drinks menu here features a variety of locally made liquors, wines, and hard ciders.
To top it all off, the restaurant offers several seating options, including outdoor dining with a view.
You can sip on Vermont wine and chow down on a local charcuterie board while taking in the breathtaking scenery of Lake Champlain.
Misery Loves Company
$$ | website | (802) 497-3989 | 46 Main St
With a focus on providing locally-sourced meals, Misery Loves Company is a farm-to-table eatery that is located just outside of Burlington, in Winooski.
While the restaurant used to operate a sit-down service, they have shifted to take-out only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite this, you can still expect incredible meals that taste just as good at home as they do at the restaurant. You can even order craft cocktails to go, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!
Some of the restaurant’s more popular meals include its pot pies, BBQ pork lettuce wraps, as well as the Rough Francis sandwich, a long-time specialty that features fried chicken, hot sauce, and blue cheese dressing.
Leunig’s Bistro
$$ | website | (802) 863-3759 | 115 Church St
If you’re wondering where to eat in Burlington that offers European flavors, look no further than Leunig’s Bistro on Church St.
Providing only the finest in French cuisine, this vintage French bistro and bar is one of Burlington’s oldest, continually operating restaurants – and for good reason, it’s a long-time favorite among locals and visitors alike!
Here you can find all the French classics including escargot, soup au pistou, salade niçoise, and, of course, crème brûlée. As well as a few Americanized meals, such as caesar salad, burgers, and Vermont cheese platters.
In addition to its formal restaurant space, the bistro also houses an upstairs lounge that offers cocktails, small bites, as well as live jazz music on occasion.
ArtsRiot
$$ | website | (802) 540-0406 | 400 Pine St
ArtsRiot is, without a doubt, one of the most intriguing and artistic restaurants in Burlington, VT.
Featuring a performance space, gallery, and cafe all rolled into one, ArtsRiot offers an art experience that you don’t only get to see but taste as well.
Serving brunch and dinner, the cafe’s menu features a variety of cuisines, including American favorites such as fried chicken and biscuits, Mediterranean-inspired mezze, Vietnamese banh mi, as well as Mexican tacos.
With an array of regular live performances scheduled throughout the year, ArtsRiot is one of the most popular destinations in Burlington’s South End.
Whether you’re in search of live music, video showings, puppet theaters, or even book readings, you’re sure to find it here and more!
Read next: Best Places to Visit in the Northeast, USA
Pizzeria Verità
$$ | website | (802) 489-5644 | 156 St Paul St
Praised for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, Pizzeria Verità is one of the best Italian restaurants in Burlington, VT.
Using a variety of locally-sourced ingredients, including house-made Vermont sausage, the restaurant offers an array of delectable pizza toppings that are colorful, flavorful, and savory.
In addition to pizza, the menu here also includes a few pasta options, as well as salad and desserts.
For those who like to pair their pizza with the perfect drink, the restaurant also features a sizable list of cocktails, wine, and beer.
Ideally located in downtown Burlington, only steps away from the Church Street Marketplace, Pizzeria Verità is the perfect way to begin a night out on the town!
Bistro de Margot
$$$ | website |(802) 863-5200 | 126 College Street
Offering upscale dining in the heart of the city, Bistro de Margot is the perfect destination for those seeking classic French cuisine with a modern flare.
Open for dinner only, the restaurant provides a variety of appetizers, main courses, and desserts to choose from.
Some of the bistro’s most popular dishes include its escargots de bourgogne, moules frites (steamed oysters), souris d’agneau braisée (braised lamb), and vanilla crème brûlée.
The restaurant also offers an extensive list of drinks that feature several French-inspired cocktails, a plethora of French wines, as well as a few local craft brews.
Between its delectable menu, elegant setting, and ideal location, Bistro de Margot is the perfect destination for a romantic dinner out with that special someone!
Hen of the Wood
$$$ | website | (802) 540-0534 | 55 Cherry St
Hen of the Wood on Cherry Street is one of the coziest and most intimate places to eat in Burlington, VT.
Offering small, candle-lit tables surrounded by mood lighting, this restaurant is another excellent destination for a romantic night out on the town.
Serving dinner only, the restaurant offers a constantly changing menu that fluctuates daily in response to the availability of local produce.
This means that every visit is guaranteed to be a surprise, bringing with it new flavors and pairings.
While it’s difficult to predict what you may find on your visit to the restaurant, you can expect an array of high-end American fare, with possible dishes including swordfish, steak, scallops, duck, and a variety of vegetable-inspired dishes.
American Flatbread
$$ | website | (802) 861-2999 | 115 St Paul St
A favorite among many local Vermonters, American Flatbread is an organic pizzeria and brewery.
Offering wood-fired pizzas, in-house craft brews, and a lively, friendly atmosphere, it’s a popular gathering spot for groups and meet-ups.
All of the pizza here is made on-the-spot using organically grown wheat and locally-acquired seasonal toppings.
Meanwhile, the craft beers are brewed on-site for in–house consumption only.
The restaurant also provides a variety of salads, non-alcoholic beverages, and desserts.
Given the popularity of this restaurant, we highly recommend arriving early, as reservations are only available to groups of 7 or more.
For those unable to grab a table, you could always swing by the grocery store to pick up a frozen American Flatbread pizza – it won’t be as fresh, but it’ll be just as delicious!
Bleu Northeast Seafood
$$$ | website | (802) 864-8600 | 25 Cherry St
If you’re a seafood fanatic wondering where to eat in Burlington, VT, consider giving Bleu Northeast Seafood a visit on Cherry St.
Serving breakfast, brunch, and dinner, this upscale restaurant offers only the best in locally-sourced, sustainably-caught seafood.
With a variety of dishes to choose from, including oysters, octopus, arctic char, and local perch, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings.
In addition to seafood, the restaurant also provides several farm-fresh American meals, such as chicken, pasta, burgers, steaks, as well as kids’ meals – so you can bring even the pickiest eaters along with you.
While you’re there, make sure to also sample the restaurant’s drink menu, which includes a variety of cocktails, wine, draft beer, and special “after dinner” drinks.
More Burlington VT Restaurants You Might Want to Check Out
- Trattoria Delia – Italian restaurant
- A Single Pebble – Chinese restaurant
- Sherpa Kitchen – Nepalese restaurant
- Waterworks Food + Drink – American restaurant (the lunch menu features a wide selection of American Bistro favorites)
Final Thoughts on Restaurants in Burlington, VT
These were our favorite spots for eating out in Burlington VT.
With so many excellent restaurants to choose from in Burlington, you may just find yourself hopping from meal to meal, spending more time eating than doing anything else. And that’s okay!
After all, Burlington has delicious food worth checking out. Between its locavore movement, farm-to-table dining options, and creative international offerings, there’s so much to see, smell, and taste here!
So we encourage you to try it all and eat until your heart (or taste buds) are content!!
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