Burlington, Vt. and Providence, R.I

Near Burlington, Tucker Hill Lodge is not to be missed.  It's in the Warren/Waitfield area, just down the road from the Mad River Glen ski area.  You never know just what will be on the menu, but I've never had less than a wonderful meal there.

   -Jim

Someone wrote:
|> Sorry for the garble at the end of that last message. In any case, I'm just looking for VERY EXCELLENT eats anywhere in the vicinity of Burlington, Vt. and
|> Providence, R.I. Any nice breakfast (capuccino, if possible) or lunch
|> suggestions in the area would also be much appreciated. We would be willing to travel a ways for something really worthwhile.
|>
|> Thanks very much.
|>
|> Dominique Lepoutre
|>

I would consider the best place for a VERY EXCELLENT meal in the Burlington area would be Butler's Restaurant and the Birch Tree Cafe at the Inn at Essex. Located in Essex (just off the circumferential highway) these are run by the New England Culinary Institute.  Butler's is the more formal of the two, and more costly, but that is somewhat offset by the fact that you don't tip, the servers all being students.  About 15 minutes from Burlington.  (Also, the Sunday brunch is superb.)

Another place would be the Cafe Shelburne Francais in on Rt. 7 in Shelburne. Also about 15 minutes away.

My two haunts (one is in the town I live in and one is in the next town over) are Mary's Restaurant (located near the juction on 116 and 17 in Bristol).  It is chef-owned, (Doug Mack and Linda Harmon), and always has wonderful, well prepared, and imaginative selections.  Even though they've recently moved into the present larger location on an old estate, I'd recommend reservations for weekend dinners and Sunday brunch.  (I used to drive there from Burlington just for the meals, then we finally decided it would be easier just to move to Bristol :-) The other would be the Swift House Inn in Middlebury (off Rt. 7).  May I recommend their Creme Brulee?  There are other good restaurants in Middlebury, but the Swift House Inn is a cut above. Mary's is about 30 minutes south of Burlington on route 116, and the Swift House Inn is about 45 minutes south of Burlington on route 7.

Birch Tree Cafe & Butler's Restaurant  (802) 878-1100

Mary's  (802) 453-2432

Swift House Inn  (802) 388-9925