When someone asks me to recommend a romantic restaurant in Vermont, Starry Night Café Local favorite: Starry Night Café in Ferrisburgh is always high on my list.
Located along Route 7, almost halfway between Middlebury and Burlington, Starry Night has been a favorite of mine for years. It’s a beautiful restaurant with incredible food, fresh pastas, creative cocktails and several distinct dining spaces, each with its own personality.
And it’s become a special occasion destination for our family, too. We’ve celebrated birthdays, enjoyed memorable dinners and even hosted my dad’s retirement party here.
But here’s what I love about Starry Night: romance doesn’t always have to mean white tablecloths and an elaborate, multi-course dinner. Sometimes it’s a seat at the bar, a great cocktail and what I would argue is one of the best cheesesteaks in Vermont.
Especially on a cold winter evening.
A Longtime Favorite in the Vermont Restaurant Scene
Starry Night Café opened in 2000 and has become one of Addison County’s most celebrated restaurants.
The restaurant occupies a collection of historic buildings along Route 7, including a former cider press that was relocated from Southern Vermont and incorporated into the original dining room.
Over the years, the property has expanded and undergone several renovations, but the original wooden beams and floors remain, adding plenty of character.
And while Starry Night is located right along one of Vermont’s busiest north-south roads, you’d hardly know it once you step inside.
The property has beautiful gardens, a pond, a stone patio and several dining rooms overlooking the grounds. I love that you can have a completely different dining experience depending on where you’re seated.
Three Dining Spaces, Three Different Experiences
One of the things that sets Starry Night apart is its layout. Instead of one large dining room, the restaurant has several spaces that feel quite different from one another.
The Octagonal Dining Room
The octagonal dining room is probably the space most people associate with Starry Night.
Added in 2001 and renovated in 2022, the room is lined with windows overlooking the gardens and grounds. There’s also a fireplace and intimate booth seating.
It’s beautiful during the warmer months when the gardens are in bloom, but I think it’s particularly romantic during winter, with the fireplace going and darkness settling outside the windows.
This would be my choice for an anniversary dinner or a special occasion.
The Fireside Room
The Fireside Room is another favorite, with cathedral ceilings, a beautiful stone fireplace and views of the gardens and pond.
It also happens to be where we celebrated my dad’s retirement.
I’ve always appreciated restaurants that can accommodate a family gathering without making it feel like a banquet or corporate event. Starry Night was a wonderful setting for such an important milestone, and it’s a memory I’ll always associate with the restaurant.
The room can accommodate private dinners and gatherings, making it a great option for birthdays, rehearsal dinners and celebrations.
The Bar Room
And then there’s the bar.
If I’m stopping in for a more casual dinner, this is where I’d want to sit.
The original beams, warm lighting and beautiful bar create an inviting atmosphere, and you can order from the regular dinner menu or take advantage of the smaller bar menu.
Which brings me to one of my favorite things to eat at Starry Night.
The Starry Cheesesteak: One of Vermont’s Best
I love a great fine-dining experience, but I’m equally happy with an outstanding sandwich.
And Starry Night’s cheesesteak is seriously good.
The Starry Cheesesteak is made with Vermont chuck roll, Cooper Sharp cheese, white onion and benne seed, served on a house-made baguette.
It’s a fairly simple combination, but the quality of the ingredients and preparation make all the difference. The beef is flavorful, the cheese melts beautifully into the sandwich, and the bread has enough structure to hold everything together.
I’d put it among the best cheesesteaks I’ve had in Vermont (and beyond). And there’s something rather entertaining about ordering a cheesesteak at a restaurant known for its refined, seasonal cooking.
The cheesesteak is available exclusively in the bar room during regular dinner service, so make sure you request the right seating area if that’s what you’re coming for.
For me, a winter evening at Starry Night with a cheesesteak and a cocktail sounds like a pretty fantastic date.
Farm-to-Table Dining at Starry Night Café
Of course, there’s much more to Starry Night than its cheesesteak.
Executive Chef Robert Smith III has brought an Italian-influenced, California-inspired approach to the restaurant’s seasonal menu, with an emphasis on Vermont and New England ingredients.
The menu changes frequently, reflecting what’s available from local farms and producers.
House-made pasta is a particular strength. Recent offerings have included tagliatelle Bolognese, cacio e pepe and spinach mafaldine with mushroom ragù.
You’ll also find wood-grilled meats, seafood, seasonal vegetables and carefully prepared appetizers.
I’m a big fan of starting with something to share, and Starry Night’s complimentary house-made focaccia with vadouvan butter is a wonderful beginning.
Oysters, steak tartare and roasted vegetables are other options worth considering.
The restaurant puts considerable thought into sourcing and presentation, but I appreciate that the food still feels approachable.
And the portions are substantial enough that you won’t leave looking for another meal.
Don’t Overlook the Cocktails
Starry Night’s cocktail program deserves just as much attention as the food.
I love restaurants that treat cocktails as an important part of the dining experience rather than an afterthought.
The bartenders incorporate seasonal ingredients, fresh herbs and interesting flavor combinations into drinks that are beautifully presented without being overly complicated.
The restaurant also has an extensive wine list, making it a great destination for a leisurely dinner with a bottle of wine.
I’d recommend arriving a little early for a cocktail at the bar before heading to your table.
And during warmer months, the garden patio is a wonderful place to enjoy a drink outdoors.
A Restaurant for Celebrations Big & Small
Part of the reason Starry Night has remained such a favorite of mine is that it works for so many different occasions. You can plan an elaborate anniversary dinner in the octagonal dining room, celebrate a family milestone in the Fireside Room or enjoy a spontaneous date at the bar.
Hosting my dad’s retirement party here made the restaurant even more meaningful to me.
I love having restaurants that become part of your family’s history. Places you return to over the years, where certain tables or rooms remind you of the people you’ve celebrated with.
And Starry Night has become one of those places for us.
The restaurant also hosts private events, including intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners and larger gatherings. The Fireside Room accommodates up to 28 guests, while the Octagonal Room can seat up to 50.
During warmer months, the gardens and outdoor patio offer additional space for events.
What to Know Before You Go
- Location
- Starry Night Café is located at 5371 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, between Burlington and Middlebury.
- Hours
- Dinner is currently served Wednesday through Sunday, 4:30–8 p.m. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Reservations
- Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekends and special occasions. Book online or call the restaurant directly. Starry Night also tries to accommodate walk-ins when possible.
- What to Order
- The Starry Cheesesteak is my pick for a casual dinner. For a more traditional dining experience, look for the house-made pastas, wood-grilled entrées and seasonal appetizers.
- Cheesesteak Availability
- The cheesesteak is served only in the bar room, not the main dining rooms. The current listed price is $25.
- Cocktails
- The cocktail menu changes seasonally. I’d recommend trying one of the house specialties rather than sticking with your usual order.
- Dining Rooms
- Choose from the Octagonal Dining Room, Fireside Room or Bar Room. Outdoor patio seating is available seasonally.
- Private Events
- Starry Night hosts private dinners, family celebrations, rehearsal dinners and small weddings. Contact the restaurant to discuss room availability and event menus.
- Parking
- On-site parking is available.
- Nearby Stops
- Vergennes, Rokeby Museum, Dakin Farm, Vermont Flannel and the Lake Champlain shoreline.
- Phone
- 802-877-6316
Starry Night has been part of some pretty wonderful memories for our family, and I suspect we’ll continue finding reasons to celebrate here.
But I don’t need a birthday, anniversary or retirement party to make a reservation.
Sometimes a snowy Vermont evening, a great cocktail and a cheesesteak at the bar are reason enough.
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