Ever since I spent time working at a luxury dude ranch in Montana, I have a fondness for log-style lodges with grand—yet cozy— interiors. Imagine my delight when we arrived at Johnny Seesaw’s for dinner on the grounds of the recently renovated Seesaw’s Lodge in Peru, Vermont. The historic lodge in Vermont has been reimagined and renovated over the past three years. The result? A welcoming restaurant and Southern Vermont lodging option. It’s rooted in the community it serves. And now, once again, it’s a gathering place for tourists coming to ski next-door Bromley Mountain and locals alike.

I love how current owners, Ryan and Kim Prins, have made every effort to preserve the history of the space within Johnny Seesaw’s and elevate classic comfort foods. The main dining room of the restaurant dates to the footprint of the 1924 roadhouse. Ryan and Kim tried painstakingly to bring back the look and feel of the original restaurant. And they’ve accomplished their goal. The interior is cozy and modern, yet with a historic, well-loved feeling.

The original log beams are used on the ceilings. The same mural (the “Seducerie,” which dates to World War II) lines the back wall. An oversized, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, showcases an original The Wonder View Log Pavilion sign. And, my favorite, the circular fire pit with a black hood with copper cutouts is a focal point for the space. The inviting, rustic space, paired with the open fire pit, delicious fare, and wide variety of Vermont craft beers and thoughtfully crafted spirits, has me already planning our next Southern Vermont getaway.

Visiting Johnny Seesaw’s

We pulled into Seesaw’s Lodge around 7PM on a Friday night, nearing the end of ski season in Vermont. I had no idea how busy it would be. Peru, Vermont, is only a little over two hours from Hartford, three hours from Boston, and four hours from New York City. After our two-and-a-half hour drive down from Burlington, Vermont, we drove into the main parking lot for the restaurant and circled a few times to find a spot. This was a good sign! When we found Johnny Seesaw’s entrance, among other cabins and lodges scattered around the historic property, we went inside and was greeted by a distinct buzz and energy. Johnny Seesaw’s was packed!

We grabbed a craft beer from their large rectangular bar space with ample seating… A Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine for me and a Von Trapp Dunkel for him. We were so ready to celebrate the weekend and unwind. Then we moved over to the fire pit, where Johnny Seesaw’s has oversized leather chairs and coaches. We cozied in. I could sit in front of the open flames drinking good beer all day. It’s the perfect gathering space to relax after a day at the mountain or a long work week.

After we finished half a beer, we were taken over to a cozy table for two in the back of the restaurant. Imagine my surprise when, seated at the table next to us, was a friend who lives in nearby Weston, Vermont. She and her husband frequent Johnny Seesaw’s and shared that we needed to try the fried pickles… She was right. They were some of the tastiest fried pickle chips we’ve had. (And I eat them just about everywhere I can find them…)

Dining at Johnny Seesaw’s

Johnny Seesaw’s Chef, Tim Cocheo, serves up “simple inventive food with deep connections to the area and the inn’s heritage.” Like most restaurants in Vermont, Johnny Seesaw’s features local ingredients to celebrate the growers and makers in Vermont. The menu at Johnny Seesaw’s is really diverse. To start, the menu has a housemade soft pretzel with a Grafton cheddar beer dip, a Vermont Creamery goat cheese and maple toast with roasted root vegetables, forest mushrooms and pecans, PEI mussels, New England oysters on the half shell and other diverse appetizers.

We shared their Fiddlehead IPA-battered fried pickles, of course, and a mezze plate, with their own hummus, tabouli, and baba ghanoush, served with local vegetables and grilled bread. The hummus was so creamy and delicious. I cleaned every bit I could find off of that plate – yum. They also have a variety of salads. One has baby kale, parmigiana, pine nuts, and olive oil and aged balsamic. Another is the Bayley Hazen blue cheese salad, with butter lettuce, buttermilk dressing, local bacon, roasted tomatoes and walnuts.

The Diverse Menu at Johnny Seesaw’s

For our entrees, we picked classic pub fare and comfort foods. I had the char-grilled Vermont hanger steak, with a baby green salad with shaved Thistle Hill Farm tarentaise cheese and hand-cut fries. The steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned, offset by the tarentaise cheese. Nick is a serious burger connoisseur. So he enjoyed the Ephraim Mountain Farm beef burger, lightly smoked, with Bayley Hazen blue, smoked tomato aioli, North Country smokehouse bacon, and crispy onions on a brioche bun. There’s nothing like hyper-local beef when it comes to a good, juicy burger. I had to have a bite to see how the smokiness set off the whole meal. So delicious.

Also for entrees, the menu features Mediterranean (a falafel rice bowl), Italian (a classic bolognese), and seafood (a market fresh fish and sautéed New England sea scallops). They also have housemade spaetzle, honey-glazed duck breast, and a roasted statler chicken breast. All of the portions are hearty to fill you up and fuel you for your next day on the mountain.

For dessert, we enjoyed chocolate molten cake with Wilcox ice cream and salted caramel sauce. I was also tempted by the coconut milk panna cotta with passion fruit and cacao nibs, and the Rookie’s root beer float. Is there a more classic comfort food sweet treat to end your meal? Maybe the Mudseason, a Stoli vanilla vodka, Bailey’s, Kahlua and vanilla ice cream drink. That sinful milkshake-inspired dessert is on deck for our next visit.

Tips for Traveling like a Local to Johnny Seesaw’s:

• Make a reservation, especially during ski season. It was popping when we arrived with little bar space and no empty tables. Plan ahead, or be ready to enjoy a few beers while you wait around the warming fire pit.
• You can make a reservation here on their website or call 802-824-5533.
• When you enter the property, the restaurant is off to the left of the property from the main driveway.
• The restaurant only serves dinner, so don’t attempt to come for brunch, daytime drinking, or lunch. Visit nearby Bromley Market for an awesome breakfast sandwich or J.J. Hapgood’s for lunch.
• Are you a local? Visit on Mondays for Local’s Night for specials!

Johnny Seesaw’s

3574 VT-11 Peru, VT 05152
Starting at 5:00 Thursday – Monday
802-824-5533

*We received a complimentary meal at Johnny Seesaw’s. All opinions contained in this blog are our own.