Seeking Recs Near Hyw 89 between Lebanon, NH and Burlington, VT
Hi, I drive between Boston and Montreal twice monthly (usually on Friday and Sunday nights).
I'm looking for recomendations for casual places that are easily accessible from the exits on the 89 (between Lebanon, NH and Burlington, VT).
Ideal places wouldn't have long waits or require reservations and would offer relatively quick service. It could be a place where I could call ahead and eat-in.
I am open to all types of restaurants - take away or sit down - and types of food - sandwiches, asian, pizza to diner/cafe/bistro.
I'd prefer to avoid chain restaurants.
Thanks much!
By maviris
on Apr 12, 2006 04:20 PM
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Outside of Burlington, get off of I89 at Exit 16 (I think)--you'll be on Ethan Allen Hwy, on the border between Colchester and Winooski. Try Junior's for great Long Island Italian. Super pizzas, good caesar salad as I recall, and calzones and mozzarella sticks, and more formal sit-down dining as well.
If it's morning, drop by the Bakery downstairs (open real early) for biscotti or Italian pastry, and good strong coffee (espresso, too) from Speeder and Earl's, a local roastery.
PS--if you call ahead, you can pre-order freshly-made cannoli...
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Tommy's City Grill. Off of Exit 13. Right at the end of the exit. Right again into the Gateway Shopping Center. Tommy's is next to the Blockbuster. Breakfast, sandwiches, and good homemade Mexican food. The Huevos Rancheros are great. They also do a decent Philly Cheese Steak.
Link: http://tommyscitygrill.com/
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That's Exit 13 in Burlington VT for Tommy's City Grill. Sorry about that folks.
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I like stopping in Montpelier, cute little town, good for a short walk and a bite.
La Brioche, part of New England Culinary School, is good for pastry, sandwiches.
Capitol Grounds is a cool cafe.
There's a little family restaurant across from La Brioche for basic breakfast/lunch fare, can't remember the name.
There's a brew pub right at the West Lebanon exit that's pretty good, a Weathervane seafood restaurant, a pizza/Italian place called Lui Lui (or something like that) in a small mall area. Four Aces further down the road in Lebanon for a true diner experience.
And before Lebanon but a good stop that gets suggested here is the Foothills Restaurant in Warner NH (6AM-2PM, closed Mon, I-89 North, exit 8. Left off exit ramp. Right at next stop sign. 1 mile to Village District on right; http://www.warner.nh.us/phototou.htm).
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The little restaurant in Montpelier across from La Brioche is the Coffee Corner - wonderful pancakes, breads, soups.
Also in Montpelier/Barre/Berlin is the Wayside Restaurant , a very fine diner with a big, very local menu (you can't get salt pork and milk gravy just anywhere!) and low prices. The soups are great - best split pea that I've had away from home - and the usual diner fare is excellent. Roast Pork dinner comes with potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a side AND soup or salad, all under $7. It's also pretty speedy, a definite bonus while enroute.
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Check out the Alchemist in Waterbury (same exit as Stowe, but the opposite direction). Really good food for a brewpub and the owner/brewer makes the best beer in VT.
Opens 4pm on weekdays and 3pm on Fri Sat, and Sun.
Link: http://www.alchemistbeer.com/
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However, if you are in the middle of a long drive, please stick to the food and forego the beer.
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The best take out lunch in Montpelier is NiNi's wraps. Lots of choice and fresh ingredients. Excellent value and will keep you full for the rest of the day. If you want to be decadant, drop down Elm Street to Gesine's for a superb dessert and coffee. Only a tiny table to prop yourself at or take out again.
The Thai restaurant on Elm Street is excellent for lunch and dinners. Good clean food, no MSG, and they can make it extra hot if you want it spicy. Soups and curries a big speciality.
I also love the Korean lunch boxes at Naru in Williston.
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I second the Thai rec. The duck dishes there are something I actually dream about. Imho the best Thai in Vermont.
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My wife and I have also travelled that route many times.
One of our favorites is The Fort @ Exit 18, a truck stop.
Extremely good diner food-breakfast all day.Nice desserts, and very fresh.
They will do take out as well.
THE FORT @ EXIT 18
151 Heater Road
Lebanon, NH 03766
603-448-5512 PH
Contact: Barbie Hazlett
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Can't wait to get on the road this weekend with my new, wider culinary horizons! Cheers!
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Lui Lui, right off exit 20 in West Lebanon, has some fantastic Italian food. I drive from Burlington to Boston regularly and stop here as often as I can. It is quite popular, so there's often a wait. I am fairly certain that you can call ahead to get your name on the list, though. The food is truly worth the wait. Even the freshly baked rolls and dipping oil are good enough to make a meal of! I always have a difficult time with the menu since everything is so good.
Link: http://luilui.com/
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Happened to drop into Lui Lui tonight... the Grilled Chicken, Sausage and Mushroom Risotto was excellent... the Chicken Scalloppini of Picatta was acceptable... noise level was quite high - but we preferred sitting upstairs, away from the awful Muzak downstairs...
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Recently we were in stayed in Burlington and had a tour of the New England Culinary Ins. in Winooski. They had a very fancy restaurant and a pub, both great. On Church Street, there is Three Tomatos, worth the short wait. They have a wood fired oven. Everything that came out of it was delicioous!
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