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 Chow!Bella Café & Wine Bar — 28 N. Main St., St. Albans. Chow!Bella and its partner, Encore!, are in adjoining spaces combined in a charming, Old World style. Diners enjoy exciting, upscale dining in the spacious, elegant, newly renovated dining rooms. Booths provide privacy and comfort. Sample microbrews are on tap at the inviting Italian granite bar. A charming brick room in the back provides private space for business meetings, conferences or just plain fun. There is ample space for dancing. Open Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. www.chowbella.us. 524-1405.
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 Denny’s — 730 Shelburne Road, South Burlington. Denny’s restaurants offer a casual dining atmosphere and moderately priced meals served 24 hours a day. Denny’s is well known for its breakfasts served around the clock, including the popular Original Grand Slam. The restaurant’s menu also features a variety of appetizers, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken, steak and seafood entrées, and desserts. Specialty menus for health-conscious guests feature low-carb and low-fat offerings. Denny’s also offers customers age 55 and over selections at special prices, and children 10 and under a specially priced menu. 863-4000.
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 Foodee’s — A world of pizza. Located in Essex Shoppes & Cinema Complex on Vt. 15 in Essex. Foodee’s serves award-winning pizza; the five different crusts are from Old World bread recipes like Bavarian six-grain or San Francisco sourdough. They are heaped with selected toppings to create more than 35 flavors, such as pesto fajita, Reuben, taco and French onion. Choose from an array of specialty sodas, juices and waters or select from more than 60 beers — domestic, imported and microbrews. Foodee’s also offers fresh salads, sandwiches and its signature Stuffn’ Bakers. Enjoy your selections in Foodee’s casual surroundings or take them with you. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. 878-3834.
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 Junior’s Italian — 6 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester, left from Exit 16 off I-89 North. Called “Vermont’s Little Italy,” Junior’s Upstairs offers pasta specialties, including linguine, penne, fettuccine, cappellini, ravioli and tortellini, with a choice of 19 sauces; and chicken, veal and seafood entrées made to order. Downstairs at “The Bakery” are luscious Italian pastries, cakes, cookies and Italian breads. Junior’s Long Island–recipe pizzas include Florentine, Brooklyn and Greek. On- or off-site catering available. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight. 655-5555; www.juniorsvt.com.
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 Leonardo’s Pizza — 83 Pearl St., Burlington; 1160 Williston Road, South Burlington. A hometown favorite, Leonardo’s pizza was voted “Best Pizza 2001-2002” by a local survey. Take it out or have it delivered, but do try the creative offerings that come with an array of toppings — with a particularly wide selection of vegetarian favorites. The Leonardo’s works or vegetarian works are two great choices. There’s free delivery, and Leonardo’s offers corporate charge accounts. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 862-7700.
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 Leunig’s Bistro — 115 Church St., on the Church Street Marketplace, Burlington. Experience Leunig’s and you’ll believe its motto: “The spirit of an Old World café in the heart of downtown Burlington.” It has charming decor, creative food and a well-appointed bar. At the corner of Church and College streets, Leunig’s offers a prime spot for downtown people-watching (or for being seen). Start your Saturday or Sunday with Leunig’s special-blend coffee and fresh orange juice. Serving lunch, dinner and brunch. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. 863-3759. www.leunigsbistro.com
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 Mexicali — On the green at Maple Tree Place, Williston’s Mexicali Authentic Mexican Grill is a popular spot for lovers of the true, tangy flavors of Mexico. Inexpensive and casual, its menu covers the basics, with interesting variations on burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas, tamales, nachos, chiles rellenos and quesadillas. Try one of the homemade salsas, with your choice of zing ranging from mild to XXX hot. Daily specials on food and drinks. Awesome food and Fantastic margaritas. Catering available. Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 879-9492; www.mexicalivt.com.
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 Starry Night Café — 5371 U.S. Route 7, North Ferrisburgh. Midway between Middlebury and Burlington in a renovated cider mill sits this fine-dining restaurant. Chef David Hugo prepares creative American cuisine using traditional techniques with a focus on freshness and simplicity and featuring local, seasonal and organic produce wherever possible. Appetizers range from fresh Maine crab to steak tartare. A favorite entrée is grilled lamb chops with tequila, lime and chipotle butter. Prices start at $5.50 for appetizers and $15 for entrées. Desserts include crème brûlée with ginger shortbread. Reservations recommended. Open Wednesday through Sunday 5:30 to 9 p.m. 877-6316; www.starrynightcafe.com.
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 T Bones Restaurant and Bar — 38 Lower Mountain View Drive, Colchester. A family-owned restaurant next to the Hampton Inn. Tastefully redecorated to reflect Vermont’s way of life and its history. The menu provides a variety of moderately priced choices. Beef-lovers will enjoy the King of Steaks, a 12-ounce, center-cut New York sirloin; baby back ribs are slow-roasted and smothered in sauce. Steaks are USDA choice and hand-cut on the premises. The menu also features favorites such as grilled Cajun skillets, prime rib and several pasta dishes. The bar boasts a large model train that periodically circles overhead and a long list of martinis. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 654-8008.
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 Tilley’s Cafe — 161 Lower Church Street, Burlington. A nautical paradise featuring fresh fish flown in daily from Hawaii, American fusion cuisine, top-shelf tropical cocktails, grand aquariums brimming with saltwater fish, and eye-opening tropical decor. Try imaginative dishes like coconut prawns with pineapple chutney, guava and passion fruit vinaigrette or Hawaiian marlin with roasted butternut squash puree, wilted spinach and Meyer lemon sauce. Whether sipping a Long Trail Tilley’s Ale or Honolulu Tini, laughing with friends, or sharing a plate of sushi, you can’t help but be swept away. Serving lunch, dinner and a late night menu. Open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Sunday 5 to 10 p.m. Valet parking Wednesday through Saturday 5 to 10 p.m. 658-4553; www.tilleyscafe.com.
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 Toscano Café/Bistro — 27 Bridge St., Richmond. Opened by chef Jon Fath, a 1995 graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, and his wife, Lucie Bolduc-Fath, this cozy little bistro offers Old World charm in downtown Richmond, just 20 minutes from Burlington. Fresh flowers on the table and soft candlelight create a romantic ambiance. The menu features rustic Mediterranean cuisine with fresh seafood and veal, fine Italian wines and Vermont microbrews. Appetizers include crab cakes with saffron aioli, and Prince Edward Island mussels with white wine, plum tomatoes and basil. Entrées include wild mushroom ravioli with Gorgonzola sauce, Parmesan-crusted salmon with saffron risotto, and beef tenderloin with peppercorn demi. Soups and desserts, such as crème brûlée and cappuccino chocolate mousse, are made in-house. Open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday; dinner Tuesday through Sunday; brunch Sundays. 434-3148.
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 Windjammer — 1076 Williston Road, South Burlington. You can expect simple, classic cuisine at the Windjammer. The fish is fresh, steaks are hand-cut on the premises daily, and the salad bar has the freshest produce available. The Windjammer is known for its prime rib, slow-roasted all day with the right seasonings, making it juicy, tender and delicious. Try it alone or paired with combos of steak, seafood or the house favorite, teriyaki chicken. The restaurant features a boat-shaped salad bar, an abundance of fresh vegetables, and cold salads and fixings that complement each dinner entrée. Serving lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and dinner only on Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations accepted. 862-6585.
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