Just over the border from Burlington Vermont?

[ottohinze]

I just moved to Burlington Vermont and what I want Chowhounds to recommend is the nearest great places to eat (up-scale or just good local, French food ideally but not necessarily) on the Quebec side of the border.

Surely I don't need to drive all the way to Montreal...?

[InterFoodie]

Ottohinze,

Have you tried "Rotisserie" on Williston Rd in Burlington?

They serve some very good food.

Also downtown Burlington has a few decent spots that will hold you over till you can make it to Montreal.

[FlavoursGal]

How about taking the Alburg Springs, VT/Clarenceville, Quebec border crossing, accessed via Route 78 from Swanton, then turning off to the right immediately after crossing the bridge over Missisqoi Bay. We used to use this tiny crossing all the time when my parents had a country house in St. Albans; it's great for avoiding line-ups.

I recall that there were a couple of inns just after crossing over in to Quebec. The names escape me now, but if I remember them, I'll re-post.

Here's a link to a map showing the route to the "small border." It's worth knowing about, especially during holiday weekends. I seem to remember it being closed after midnight, though.

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&...

[Kat]

My recollection of the drive between Burlington and Montreal is that there are a few truck stop type cafes along that road, but that's about it.

[Laker115]

If you want to head south of Burlington, try the Good Times Café in Hinesburg. It's on a sharp corner of Route 116 in the middle of town, tricky to enter and leave, but worth a visit. Great handmade, non-chain style pizza, and a number of good cajun specialties (jambalaya, gumbo, etc.). Very small and friendly.

[Laker115]

If you are headed for Montréal, go up through the Champlain Islands on Route 2, stop at Hero's Welcome in North Hero for fresh homemade pastries and coffee, then cross the border at Alburgh. Just 1 km north of customs make a right down a farm road with a sign and arrow for "Fromagerie" and stop at Fritz Kaiser's family cheese factory in Noyan. Over 20 kinds of French/Swiss/European style cheeses, very yummy!

[RhondaB]

Why not drive the short distance? If you drive from Burlington to the border it's about 45 or so minutes. Say you exit the 89 & go through the Lake Champlain Islands via Route 2 & hit the border at Rouses Point, it's only about another 35 minutes to Montreal. About the same time to go to the Townships but you're in Montreal. And APDC is only about 10 minutes off the Jacques Cartier bridge during non-rush hour. No brainer!

[ottohinze]

Well, I can drive 45 minutes for dinner very easily, but driving an hour and a half is just not going to happen every week.

[Frenchie]

I might be mistaken, but accross the border from Burlington is not the eastern townships at all... it's St-Jean and Venise-and-Québec. I'm not sure there are any great restos there!

[ottohinze]

Frenchie - that's absolutely right. Are there any good places to eat in St-Jean or Venise-en-Québec?

[Frenchie]

I seriously doubt it...I think it's worth the drive to Montreal...

[librarian]

The Eastern Townships has some excellent chow (restos and food products). You can also search out products in the Southwestern Townships (circuitdupaysan.com). My favourite would be a little gem of a cafe in Stanstead (literally on the border of Canada and the US) just up from the customs station. I believe its called Millie's cafe. Its worth the trip.

[rillettes]

Thanks for the correction. Colour me mistaken.

[rillettes]

Have they rebuilt Ripplecove? Because, didn't it burn down last year?

[Lgalen]

Ripplecove is fine, it was Augerge Hatley, I think that burned down.

[carswell]

It's more like just over the border from Newport, not Burlington, but La Table Tourigny is worth the detour.

4288, chemin Georgeville (between Georgeville and Magog; you can googlemap it)
Canton de Stanstead
Georgeville (Québec) J0B 1T0
819 868-2894

And what do you know, they now have a website: www.tabletourigny.com

[Lgalen]

It seems this place might be close to Augerge Ripplecove, in Ayer's Cliff. We've stayed there a few times, (at least two years ago) and liked the food as well as the lodging. Is it still good (food, that is).
We love exploring the Eastern Townships, and we'll give Tourigny a try. Thanks again Carswell--you're always a great source of reliable info.

[carswell]

Ripplecove's a sweet little spot. I actually prefer it to Hovey Manor.

While I don't think I've ever driven from Georgetown to Ayer's Cliff, eyeballing the map, I'd say Table Tourigny is 20 to 30 minutes from Ripplecove by side roads and double that by major highway. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially because chef Tourigny sometimes closes the restaurant so he can cater parties for the Memphemagog mansion set.

[ScoobySnacks20]

Eastern Townships have some very nice place indeed, Owl's bread in Masonville is a real treat for frenc hbread (duh!) as well as Lunch, pastries (great cookies!) and more.

Also in Hatley you will find fantastic upscale places like Manoir Hovey or a (reportedly) great Table Champetre (loosely translated into Pastoral Table, or grower's table) called la Table Tourigny)

Many other nice places can be found along the Vintner's route. The white wines are actually getting to a respectabel quality too!