I spend a lot of time oogling over new, inventive dishes from Vermont restaurants. I’m a fan of all kinds of Vermont eateries and the dishes they put love. I love the road-side sandwich shop to farm-to-table fine-dining to everything in between, including quality take-out for a date night at home. So, if you’re looking to mix up your Vermont restaurant outings, here are are some eateries I’m excited to try in Vermont this year. I’ve also included some of my frequent-flyer Vermont restaurant favorites to give a whirl. What would you add to the list?

9 Vermont Restaurants to Visit This Year

1. The Grey Jay, Burlington, Vermont

135 Pearl Street, Burlington, Vermont
9AM-2PM, Wednesday-Friday, 9AM-3PM Saturday & Sunday

The Grey Jay is the Queen City’s newest brunch joint and an offshoot of the popular Honey Road, founded and owned by Chef Cara Tobin. From Pistachio-Saffron Sticky Buns to a Grapefruit-&-Sumac Glazed Donuts to Chicken Shawarma, Lamb Burgers, and a Turkish breakfast, the fare is eastern Mediterranean inspired. Don’t miss the Haloumi Biscuits.

2. Burger Barn, Jeffersonvile, Vermont

4968 VT-15, Jeffersonville, Vermont
Check hours seasonally

If you drive through Jeffersonville in the summer months around lunch time, you’ll spot picnic tables overloaded with visitors chomping on 15+ varieties of grass-fed burgers. Burger Barn is a small green building with a cow-spotted roof that cranks out burgers. All burgers range from $6-9, a steal for lunch. For a more traditional burger, check out the Amerigo Vespucci, with lettuce tomato, onion, pickles, mayo and American. For something more inventive, try the Ethan Allen with grilled apples, cheddar, and cranberry garlic mayo. Don’t miss the fried beans, fried cauliflower, fried pickles, fried zucchini and fried mushrooms to round out your meal

3. Pioneer Lakeshore Cafe, Colchester, Vermont

824 W Lakeshore Drive, Colchester, Vermont
11AM-8, Wednesday-Saturday; 9AM-2PM Sundays

Pioneer Lakeshore Cafe started as a popular food truck in Chittenden Country and recently found a home on West Lakeshore Drive on Mallett’s Bay. The no-frills eatery boasts one of the best, if not the best, fried chicken sandwiches in the state, complete with herb aioli, pepper honey and bread & butter pickles. On Thursdays they host a Burger and a Beer Night, where you can get an Alpaca Burger or Eggplant Parm with a 12 ounce McLight’s for 12 bucks.

4. Honeypie, Rawsonville, Vermont

Vermont Route 30, Jamaica
See website for summer and winter hours.

Located in the tiny village of Rawsonville, in the town of Jamaica, in Southern Vermont, Honeypie is a roadside eatery known for their variety of daily ground burgers with inventive add-ons (like kewpie mayo, bacon jam, kimchi, special sauce and more deliciousness). They also make sausage sandwiches with local ingredients, including a Lamb Merguez, Vietnamese Pork Sausage, and Pork Chorizo sausage. It’s situated between Bromley and Stratton, which makes for a perfect pre-or-post ski visit. Don’t miss their sister restaurant, SoLo Farm & Table, in Londonderry.

5. Bramble, Essex Junction, Vermont

21 Essex Way, Essex Junction, Vermont
Sunday, Monday, Thursday – 5-9PM; Fridays & Saturdays, 5-9:30PM

One thing Vermont is lacking is Italian restaurants. I can think of only a handful that come top of mind throughout the whole state. New to the dining scene in Essex Junction at the Essex Experience, however, is Bramble. The two founders’ goal is to “provide a canvas for local farmers, butchers, and artisans to showcase their products.” All dishes are served family style, and the menu ranges from pies from the wood oven to diverse salads, hearty from the hearth entrees, and from the fire dishes like Beans and Escarole, Roasted Bone Marrow, and Crispy Duck Leg Confit. Most items can be modified to be gluten-free, including their homemade gluten-free pizza dough.

6. Taco Gordo, Burlington, Vermont

208 N Winooski Ave, Burlington, Vermont
Tuesday – Saturday, 5-10PM

Who doesn’t love tacos and burritos, especially west-coast style tacos? Taco Gordo is a laid-back neighborhood joint on North Winooski Ave. From Tinga, Carnitas, Al Pastor and Bean Tacos, to a “Crispy Boi Tostada”, Taco Gordo has it all. Also, don’t miss the Little Gordo Creemee Stand with handmade custom flavors, unique toppings, and cereal on your cone.

7. Onion City Chicken and Oysters, Winooski, Vermont

3 E Allen St, Winooski, Vermont
Wednesday-Saturday, 4:30-9:00PM; Sundays, 3-8PM

For years, Misery Loves Company has been a well-loved establishment on the Winooski Circle. Enter Onion City Chicken and Oysters (OCCO), an offshoot of Mistery. Located at the top of the Circle, OCCO’s claim to fame is their oysters and fried chicken – including a whole bird, honey butter wings, biscuits, collards greens and all of the good fixin’s for a proper southern meal.

8. Nagueños Diner, Essex Junction, Vermont

34 Park Street, Essex Junction, Vermont
Wedneday-Sunday, 11AM-9PM

A melding of Filipino favorites and American classics, Nagueños Diner has a variety of offerings. For appetizers, try the  Sweet Potato Lumpia Rolls or Pork Belly Lollipops for appetizers. For rice meals, they have a variety of stews in savory broths, along with Silog meals – Filipino-style spring rolls, sausage, and milkfish. Don’t miss the Turon, a deep-fried banana and jackfruit spring roll coated in brown sugar for dessert.

9. Twiggs at Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont

For the first time in the 30-year history of Relais-&-Chateaux, all-inclusive Twin Farms, there is now a dedicated dining room called Twiggs. Twin Farms has been known for its menu-less dining experience – now Twiggs boasts a bar, lounge, and dining area. Twin Farms is a bucket-list experience and the rate includes all meals, wine pairings and spirits. It’s truly an “ideal spot to unwind, reflect, and refuel.”

What are your favorite Vermont restaurants to visit? What Vermont restaurants would you add to this list?

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