Burlington and Stowe Vt

[RYP]

Hello -- This will be the first time my husband and I will be taking a trip with our two year old. Usually when travelling we would visit the best restaurants and enjoy three hour tasting menus. Clearly that is not going to happen with a toddler :)

I'm looking for family friendly restaurants that serve really good food Burlington and Stowe. I saw a recent post here for breakfast and may check out some of those restaurants. I would like to avoid the restaurants that have been automatically adding 18% tip to bills of out of country tourists!

We will be staying at the Marriott in Burlington then Trapp Lodge in Stowe.

Also are there any must visit food destinations (ie. cheese makers)? We will be making the requisite trip to B&J.

Thank you and I look forward to our trip.

[woodleyparkhound]

The Trapp Lodge has a bakery with fabulous apple strudel - don't miss it!

[mckee]

Check out our blog on places to eat in the Stowe area. No place in Stowe should add 18% tip unless you are a large party. These are all for the most part family friendly.

http://blog.smithmacdonaldrealestategroup.com/2012/01/19/stowe-restaurants-some-of-our-favorite-places/

Many ski towns offer a variety of food, but not a variety with quality. Stowe is known for having both; here are a few of our local favorites:

Harrison’s, ask for Andrew and Kathy Kneale, the mother and son duo that has been pleasing locals with their food for decades. Casual dining located in the Stowe village below the Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate office, try the mussels or cheese burger, both are amazing. http://www.harrisonsstowe.com/

Frida’s Taqueria brings traditional Mexican to Stowe. Known for clean, crisp flavors and local ingredients, Frida’s offers something not normally found this far north. The tres tacos platter offers you variety; the fried cod, fried oyster, carnitas and carne asada are just a few that bring Mexico to the cold north. http://www.fridastaqueria.com/

Cork located in downtown Waterbury, VT at the corner of Stowe Street. This wine bar and market was just opened by a long time friend Danielle Nichols. She offers a wide variety of beautiful tasting wines along with a cozy atmosphere. Stop by on your way to Stowe for a drink and pick up a bottle on your way out the door. http://corkvt.com/

Piecasso Pizzeria, NYC slices in Stowe also rated Top 11 slices in America by Travel and Leisure Magazine. They have a great family set up and also a cool bar and game room, plus the pizza is great. http://www.piecasso.com/

Gracie’s, another Stowe Classic, run by Archie, you’ll never leave there hungry. Known for their burgers, Gracie’s take it to the next level. I love the boxer and their famous chicken sandwich. http://www.gracies.com/

Cactus Cafe is Stowe’s Tex-Mex favorite. Offering their famous jalapeño chips at the table, beware they bring the heat. Also on the menu are slow smoked pulled pork tacos, a southern twist to a Mexican standby. Wash it all down with their Mansfield marg! http://www.thecactuscafe.com/

McCarthy’s is the only stop for breakfast in Stowe. They’ve been serving it up for over 30 years and know how breakfast should be done. Ask for Diane, she’ll probably be at the door waiting for you with a smile. Their homemade corn beef hash is made from scratch, just like the maple nut bread. http://mccarthysrestaurantstowe.com/

For more formal dining try:

Michael’s On The Hill located in Waterbury center, just south of Stowe. This chef owned restaurant sources local foods at a very high quality. Offering tasting menus and creativity, Michael’s if perfect for a romantic dinner. Try their Manhattan, made with port wine, as a bourbon lover; I give it two thumbs up. http://www.michaelsonthehill.com/

Hen Of The Wood located just off I-89 in Waterbury this kitchen has been cranking out high-end food for many years. The unique location and old stone mill offers a view of the river and waterfall which is only match by the quality of the food. http://www.henofthewood.com/

Kitchen Table Bistro, a bit further away, located in Richmond, but well worth the drive. As with the other two they locally source their food and offer a stunning wine list. The menu changes with the seasons and offers a real look into handcrafted Vermont food. http://kitchentablebistro.com/

[RYP]

Oh wow, this is great. I'm drooling! Looks like I didn't plan enough time in Stowe. I think we will also need to plan a return trip sans toddler :)

[Morganna]

There are no restaurants in Vermont that I know of that automatically add tips unless the group is very large.

Trapp Lodge has some lovely food and a nice cafe on premises.

There's a 50s style diner in the lower village of Stowe that would be family friendly. They make good burgers, shakes, and fries. Mostly local and really tasty. I don't think The Whip is necessarily family-friendly but I've never been there, so I'm not sure. Pie in the Sky or Piecasso, I think both are on the Mountain Road, would be family-friendly. I think you could get away with going to Mr. Pickwick's, but that might be pushing it with a toddler. Maybe for lunch.

There's a place in Waterbury, just off exit 10, called Maxi's. This is a decent family restaurant with respectable food. I wouldn't call it outstanding, but it's reliably good. Ocha Thai in Waterbury is good Thai food.

Laughing Moon chocolates is in the lower village of Stowe.

[RYP]

Thank you for your suggestions. BTW, there seems to be a trend happing in Burlington where some restaurants are automatically adding tips for people who seem to be from out of country (especially Quebec). It's been all over the news here in Ontario.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/t...

[Morganna]

Wow! I hadn't realized. I hope that if you avoid places that might add a gratuity, you at least tip appropriately. It appears there's actually a real problem here they're trying (badly) to address.

http://www.7dvt.com/2012are-burlingto...

From the article:
Are customs to the north really that different? Québecois waitstaff earn a minimum $8.55 an hour, plus any tips they make. Vermont restaurants pay servers as little as $4.10 an hour, but if hosts, waiters, waitresses and bartenders don’t make enough in tips over the course of a week to bring the wage up to the state’s minimum — $8.46 an hour — the employer makes up the difference.

I really wonder how many servers in Vermont KNOW that their employer is supposed to make sure they earn at least minimum wage. And how often that actually gets enforced.