Mad River Valley/Waterbury (9)
Apple Core Luncheonette & Brew
3600 Route 100 Waterbury Center, 802-244-8771
Sandwiches are served on Vermont-baked bread at this lunch spot located by Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Save room for cider doughnuts and one of 60 locals beers and ciders.
Hen of the Wood (Waterbury)
92 Stowe St., Waterbury, 802-244-7300
Upscale dining takes a rustic turn in this former grist mill. Creative use of ultra-local meats, greens and cheeses has earned the chef-owner seven James Beard Award nominations.
Hyde Away Inn and Restaurant
1428 Route 17, Waitsfield, 802-496-2322
Classic comfort food gets a boost from local ingredients — think bacon-wrapped meatloaf and cider-braised pork osso bucco.
Maxi’s Restaurant
47 North Main St., Waterbury, 802-244-0910
Home-style fare here includes pastas, open-faced sandwiches and smoked-Gouda mac and cheese. Breakfast all day, including seven different eggs Benedicts.
Michael’s on the Hill
4182 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center, 802-244-7476
Elegant, ever-changing dishes highlight Vermont ingredients and the chef-owner’s European roots. Closed Tuesday.
Prohibition Pig
23 S. Main St., Waterbury, 802-244-4120
Locals come for the barbecue and “proper” cocktails, as well as one of the largest craft-beer selections in New England. In the adjacent brewery, pair a pint with tacos and small bites.
The Mad Taco (Waitsfield)
2 Village Sq., Waitsfield, 802-496-3832
This lucha-themed eatery specializes in Mexican dishes made with local, farm-fresh ingredients. Have a margarita with your tacos, or opt for one of 11 craft beers on tap.
The Reservoir Restaurant & Tap Room
1 S. Main St., Waterbury, 802-244-7827
Dive into Vermont’s culinary culture here: There are 38 beers on tap — some of them brewed on-site — and locavore pub fare such as fried chicken and big-time burgers. Lunch on weekends only.
Zenbarn
179 Guptil Rd., Waterbury, 802-244-8134
Items such as charred broccolini mingle with juicy half-pound burgers — topped with kimchi or onions braised in Heady Topper — at this “soil-to-soul” facility, which also houses a yoga studio and cultural center. Live bands on the weekend.
