Spring/Summer 2010 Business Travel Guide

Dining Out

Our area boasts a considerable and diverse number of restaurants per capita, many of them exceptional. The following short reviews of some of our favorites are meant to help you find a starting place on your quest for Vermont’s finest.

Click on restaurant thumbnails for full-size images.

Chow!Bella Café & Wine Bar — 28 N. Main St., St. Albans. Chef-owner Connie Jacobs Warden has created an environment offering upscale dining in a charming, Old World environment. Sample microbrews are on tap at the inviting Italian granite bar; booths provide privacy and comfort. A brick room in the back provides private space for meetings or gatherings, with ample space for dancing. Two private rooms seat from 10-75 people. Chow!Bella specializes in supporting local farmers and producers and the menu reflects it. The grill features steaks, free-range chicken, salmon, pork chops, or portabella mushrooms. A variety of pastas are offered, each with its delicately seasoned sauce, and Bella! flatbreads are unparalleled. 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. Brunch and lunch specials available on Sundays 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.chowbella.us; (802) 524-1405.

Joyce’s Noodle House — 5 Carmichael St., Essex Junction. For dining in or takeout, Joyce Fong, the chef-owner of Joyce’s Noodle House, creates lip-smackingly authentic Chinese dishes generous with vegetables. Joyce’s will make any menu item a vegetarian one on request. Specialties are dim sum Mandarin-style, Cantonese meat, spicy Szechuan and Hunan dishes, and noodles, soft, crispy, fried, in soups, delicious noodles. The menu includes several Thai dishes, and combination dinners are served all day. Full bar. No MSG is used, and Joyce’s cooks with only 100% vegetable oil. Prices are reasonable, and credit cards are accepted. (802) 288-9828. www.joycesnoodlehouse.com.

Junior’s Italian — Two locations: 85 South Park Drive, Colchester, left from Exit 16 off I-89 North; and 176 Main St., downtown Burlington. Known as “Vermont’s Little Italy,” Junior’s is family-owned and -operated, offering classic recipes from the Old Country. This destination spot for authentic Italian has something for everyone: casual fine dining (inside or out), traditional pizzeria, scrumptious bakery, full-service bar, WiFi, and space for private events. Open for lunch and dinner; dinner reservations recommended. For dining room/reservations, (802) 655-0000; pizzeria, take-out and delivery, (802) 655-5555; catering and bakery, (802) 655-5282; downtown Burlington (802) 862-1234. For more information and menu, go to www.juniorsvt.com.

Leonardo’s Pizza — 83 Pearl St., Burlington; 1160 Williston Road, South Burlington. Leonardo’s Pizza is a local, family-owned and -operated company established in 1990. It has been voted “Best Pizza” by several local surveys. Leonardo’s recently introduced organic wheat dough made with King Arthur Organic flour. A member of the Vermont Fresh Network and Local First Vermont, Leonardo’s offers traditional, gourmet, and vegetarian pizzas; salads; bread sticks; and five flavors of chicken wings. Free delivery, business charge accounts, and online ordering at www.leonardosonline.com. Open seven days a week. Burlington (802)862-7700 or S. Burlington and Winooski (802)951-9000.

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). Leunig’s special-blend coffee and fresh orange juice make a great start for Saturday or Sunday. 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. (802) 863-3759. www.leunigsbistro.com.

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant & Bar — 276 N. Main St., Barre. Lucia’s serves classic Italian comfort food in the Neapolitan style. Try baked ziti, lasagna, manicotti, or eggplant Parmesan straight from the oven, or choose one of the many sauté items made fresh to order, such as pasta primavera, chicken piccata, shrimp Fra Diavolo, or veal saltimbocca. The large dining room features warm Mediterranean earth tones on the walls, red-and-white checkered tablecloths, and a friendly, casual atmosphere welcoming locals and travelers alike. Lucia’s will accommodate private parties from 15 to 150 people in the extensive banquet rooms and will tailor menu choices accordingly. Come to Lucia’s for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch or meet a friend at the bar for a cocktail after work. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for lunch; 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner; 4 to 9:30 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday brunch 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (802) 476-7722.

Magnolia — One Lawson Lane, Burlington. Magnolia calls itself a “breakfast and lunch bistro,” and that fits. The ambience is definitely downstairs bistro with heavy stone and brick walls and deep basement windows; a place for that 7 a.m. business meeting. The food has an upscale appeal and is moderately priced. Presentation counts at Magnolia, as do flavor and innovation. Breakfast and lunch specials are served all day and feature the classic and the innovative. The crisp Magnolia French toast is made with organic bread. The Lime waffle has a hint of fresh lime juice and zest. Vegetarians won’t be disappointed by the tofu “omelets,” but there’s plenty for the traditionalists: eggs benedict, huevos con diablo, steel-cut oatmeal, and an elegant house-cured salmon on hash browns. For lunch, try the garbanzo burger or the local steak sandwich. Lunch-size salads range from a mesclun mix served with goat cheese and other goodies to Mango shrimp salad tossed with black bean vinaigrette, and fresh mozzarella salad. (802) 846-7446; www.magnoliabistro.com.

Pauline’s Café and Restaurant — 1834 Shelburne Road, South Burlington. Chef David is the creative energy behind one of the area’s best-known chef-owned restaurants. Pauline’s has been serving locals and tourists alike for over 20 years. Whether you’re seeking an intimate dinner for two or entertaining large groups of family, friends, or clients, the restaurant offers a fine-dining experience in a casual, comfortable environment. Menus feature many locally raised or foraged edibles from the Lake Champlain basin. Famous for its Maine crab cakes, Pauline’s also offers local free-range chicken, organic American beef, and farm-fresh vegetables in season. The wine list is carefully chosen to complement the food and features many biodynamic and organically produced wines from around the world. Dining options include a casual café; relaxed, elegant upstairs dining rooms; two private party rooms; an outdoor patio in season; and a cozy bar. All dining venues are wheelchair accessible. Reservations are recommended. (802) 862-1081; www.paulinescafe.com.

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. (802) 877-6316; www.starrynightcafe.com.

The Belted Cow — 4 Park St., Essex Junction. A casual American eatery has blossomed in the space formerly occupied by the Lincoln Inn’s coffee shop at Five Corners. Proprietors Caitlin Bilodeau and John Delpha completely renovated the kitchen and redid the dining room, which seats 85. Delpha, an award-winning chef trained at Johnson and Wales, earned his executive chef chops at some of Boston’s finest kitchens. Bilodeau is an Olympic fencer and former national human resources manager. The menu features American bistro fare with a strong emphasis on seasonal products and local flavors. Think prosciutto-wrapped Pete’s salad greens with shaved fennel and scallion vinaigrette, or roasted halibut with spring peas, fingerling potatoes, pea-shoot broth, and garlic scapes. Don’t miss the grilled flatbread with duck confit, blue cheese, fontina, and black figs. The couple offers off-site catering and in-house banquets. Open Tuesday and Wednesday 5 to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 5 to 9:30 p.m. (802) 316-3883; beltedcowbistro@hotmail.com.

Three Tomatoes Trattoria — Serving rustic Italian cuisine to rave reviews for 20 years, Three Tomatoes features signature pasta dishes, thin crust pizzas, antipasti, salads, fresh seafood and more, all with a focus on wholesome local food products from Vermont and New Hampshire farms and food producers. Fine Italian wines, casual atmosphere and friendly service. Large parties are welcome. Seasonal outdoor dining is available at both locations. Join the Frequent Diner Club online or in person. With additional locations in Rutland and Lebanon, N.H., you’ll find out why Three Tomatoes is called, “Your passport to Italy, right in your hometown.” 83 Church Street, Burlington (802) 660-9533. Maple Tree Place, Williston (802) 857-2200. www.ThreeTomatoesTrattoria.com.

Tilley’s Café — 161 Church St., Burlington. A nautical-themed restaurant serving creative seafood, American, and vegetarian fusion cuisine. Diners enjoy sipping Long Trail Tilley’s Ale or one of many tropical cocktails while sitting beside two saltwater fish tanks, or simply gazing at the island mural painted by internationally renowned hometown mural artist Lillian Kennedy. The brainstorm of Realtor Suzanne Johnson, Tilley’s Café will be sure to tempt the taste buds with daily specials to complement the already exceptional menu. A Vermont Business Environmental Partner and member of the Vermont Fresh Network. Monday through Saturday 5 p.m. to closing. Serves dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Burlington’s only restaurant with valet parking on Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. and special events. (802) 658-4553. The Web site has a complete list of menus: www.tilleyscafe.com or email tilleyscafe@comcast.net.

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 tables 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, artichoke pesto–crusted salmon, roasted vegetable risotto, and chef’s choice, beef tenderloin filet. 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. (802) 434-3148.

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, 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations accepted. www.windjammerrestaurant.com (802) 862-6585.