American (Traditional) (9)
August First Bakery & Café
149 S. Champlain St., Burlington, 802-540-0060
Laptops and tablets are off-limits at this community-focused café — all the better to strike up a conversation over fresh croissants, soups, garden salads and sandwiches. Look for the baguette-carting Bread Bike in summer.
Fire & Ice Restaurant
26 Seymour St., Middlebury, 802-388-7166
Adults dig the steakhouse’s historic décor and huge salad bar. Kids love the room with books and movies. And where else can you pour yourself a glass of local chocolate milk on draft?
Grazers
192 Boxwood St., Williston, 802-857-5829
Creative burgers anchor the menu at the busy restaurant right next to Majestic 10 cinema. Pair your patty with a specialty milkshake or vodka martini.
Grazers (St. Albans)
133 N. Main St., Suite 7, 14th Star Brewing Co., St. Albans, 802-782-8703
Inside a veteran-owned brewery in a former bowling alley, creative burgers, salads and pretzel sticks pair with ales, stouts and aromatic IPAs. Sunday brunch.
Heart n Soul by Mark BBQ
34 Park St., Essex Junction, 802-662-4381
Chicken-fried steak, crab cakes and maple-kissed pork chops are among the offerings at this “inspired comfort food” restaurant — the second from chef-owner Darrell Langworthy of Mark BBQ.
The Friendly Toast
86 St. Paul St., Burlington, 802-495-5491
Retro furnishings complement a fun menu of all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are six types of eggs Benedict. Don’t miss the cocktail flights.
The Marina
28 Spring Tree Rd., Brattleboro, 802-257-7563
Soak up views of the West River over fried whole-belly clams. Burgers and brewskis on the patio make sunsets extra-special.
The Reservoir Restaurant & Tap Room
1 S. Main St., Waterbury, 802-244-7827
Beer fans hit up “the Rez” for its locally famous draft list and locavore pub snacks: chorizo tacos, fried chicken and big-time burgers.
Three Penny Taproom
108 Main St., Montpelier, 802-223-8277
Twenty-three taps dispense craft brews for every palate. Sip one with a handful of spiced peanuts, or fill up on a falafel wrap or a “fish’wich.”
