Vermont Pub and Brewery in Burlington, VT

I have not eaten here, but they have a big menu and I have heard that the food is decent pub stuff. I came here and tried a sample of six beers for six dollars. I was very pleased. The beers are all distinct, and there should be something for everyone. Their smoked stout was great. I am a fan of a smoky flavor, and this certainly has it. Their Duyvil was also good. It has a sour apple flavor, not like you are drinking cider, but it is definitely there. They have a very fruity beer, a Hoegaarden-esque beer that was probably my least favorite but my friend’s top choice, and I had a sweet and sour beer that was certainly that, and pretty enjoyable too. The waitress was a little absent, and forgot to put in the food order my friend made. Otherwise, this was a great place to go get some interesting and unique microbrews, and because of this, I am not opposed to trying out some food the next time I go.

08/18/2009

Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury, VT

Another fine choice for food in Middlebury. Good choice of beer on tap and the food is definitely better than your average pub. I have had a number of consistently good meals here, and I think their food has continued to develop over the past few years, getting better and better. I have had their smoked pork sandwich, the salmon, and the portobella stack recently. All have been very good. The pork sandwich had a hint of smokey flavor with tender pork and a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. The caramelized onions finished it off very well. The salmon did not blow me away, but had decent flavor and was cooked well. It was good, but it was something you could find at a lot of places. The portabello stack was fantastic. The garlic, basil, and roasted red peppers were sweet and savory additions to the earthy tomato, and the pomodoro sauce and balsamic reduction finished the dish, adding a tremendous complexity of flavors. I think they added chicken to this as I was ordering it for an entree. I truly enjoyed this dish, and I wanted to order it again as soon as I had finished. It was excellent, and I am going to have to make it back soon in order to have it again.

07/22/2009