Burlington Restaurant Guide for UVM Weekend
With UVM Weekend upon us, I asked (gently forced) the team to come up with a list of our various favorite restaurants- and then some good categories to put them into. Here’s what 5 UVM undergrads think are the best places to eat when you have visitors in town. Let’s skip the fluff: we know what you’re here for. Without further ado, the BORED team proudly presents:
Where to eat when…
You want food with a side of fun:
You know the phrase “dinner and a show?” This is like that but a variety of activities + food.
The Boardroom
Who doesn’t love a good board game? At the Boardroom for just $6 per person, you can get unlimited access to their collection of over 700 games from old classics to new challenges! And for food, they feature a menu of nostalgic favorites and fun beverages (with some 21+ options too)!
Queen City Cat Lounge
Queen City Cat Lounge is Burlington’s first cat lounge featuring a by-the-hour space where you can casually hang out with ADOPTABLE kitties or participate in their more structured programming like animal science, behavior, and welfare workshops, game nights, movie nights, cat story time, paint and nip, cat yoga, meetings, and retreats! It is $15 per person per hour and is a BYO (bring your own) establishment for food and beverages. Reservations are strongly encouraged!
BurlyAxe Throwing
Ever wanted to throw an axe? Whether you’re literally a lumberjack or have never touched an axe in your life, the IATF qualified staff at BurlyAxe are there to make sure that you’re being safe and having fun! They also feature a drink and food menu to check out while you’re throwing (I know axe throwing makes ME hungry)! Plus, they have 25% off student Thursdays!
Spare Time Entertainment
Spare Time has it all! From bowling to an arcade to laser tag to escape rooms and even more, you’ll never be bored (and trust me we’re experts on that). They have so many great deals to check out and an expansive food and drink menu to enjoy too!
You’re not paying:
Because let’s be real: there’s some amazing cuisine here to enjoy that is just much tastier when you aren’t paying for it.
Leunig’s
Leunig’s is one of the oldest, continually operating restaurants in Church Street Marketplace! The “Panache of Paris” in the center of the marketplace offers delicious French cuisine and live music. They also have an adorable kiosk on Church Street featuring baked goods, drinks, and poutine!
Honey Road
Honey Road is an eastern Mediterranean mezze offering small plates, cocktails and creative desserts. Just the plating of these dishes will blow you away!
Onion City Chicken & Oyster
From the same wonderful people behind Misery Loves Co., Onion City Chicken & Oyster located in Winooski offers well…..some pretty spectacular chicken and oysters! They also have tasty drinks and hors d’Oeuvres to enjoy if you’re feeling fancy.
Trattoria Delia
Trattoria Delia is an authentic Italian restaurant with locally sourced and imported ingredients! They also have a seasonal food menu and an extensive wine, cocktail and beer list for all of you 21+ friends.
Pizzera Verita
Pizzeria Verita is a Neapolitan pizzeria with delicious antipasti, pizze, dolci (dessert) and a dedicated gluten-free oven!
You are paying:
These restaurants are a college student’s night-out DREAM.
Pho Hong
When my ragtag high school friend group of 7 came to visit me here, Pho Hung welcomed our empty bellies with open arms. Seriously, I cannot rave about this place more. It’s a BYOB Vietnamese restaurant with traditional dishes in a casual setting. You MUST go.
American Flatbread
Flatbread pizza with ingredients grown by local farmers and made by artisans… are you hungry yet? American Flatbread is a Burlington staple and it’s one for a reason. This is also the perfect spot when you have a crowd visiting- lots of delicious options and they take reservations for larger groups.
Papa Franks
Now Papa Frank’s has a special place in my heart because it’s my friend and I’s go-to restaurant, but seriously, this Winooski Italian restaurant is the real deal. It’s locally owned and family operated with fantastic prices (and cheesy garlic bread).
Fu Da
Fu Da is a Chinese restaurant just ten minutes from University Green with carryout and in person dining options! The food is super yummy, well-priced and the place itself is open until 10pm (a real rarity around these parts)!
Mountain Valley
Authentic Indian cuisine right in Winooski! Enjoy soups, noodles and dumplings with plenty of plant-based options for a fun night out.
They’re an early riser:
We had to make a separate category for this because BORED loves brunch.
Friendly Toast
This was almost put in the “you want to seem cool” category (see below) because everything about the Friendly Toast is so effortlessly fantastic. The atmosphere is all about nostalgia with brightly colored funky decor, a full bar, and SUCH good food. My personal favorite has to be their Hash Quiche (shown above).
The Café HOT.
We love, love, love The Cafe HOT. One of our frequent Freebie Friday collaborators, The Cafe HOT. offers breakfast sandwiches, sweet stuff (like my personal fav the GBC) and rich coffee. Their merch is also the coolest!
Burlington Bagel
Burlington Bagel is the five-year-in-a-row winner of our “best bagel shop” category in the BORED Awards and for good reason! They have so many flavors of bagels, sandwiches and drinks that make for the perfect breakfast! Stay tuned for a Freebie Friday giveaway with them soon…
Henry’s Diner
Henry’s is everything you love about a classic diner. It has an adorable aesthetic and so many great food options!
Morning Light Bakery
Morning Light is a lovely local Asian bakery featuring sweet buns, savory buns, tarts and steamed pastries. They also have the best boba around!
You want to seem cool:
Let’s just be honest: you want your visitors to be jealous that you live here.
Venetian Soda Lounge
Located in the Soda Plant on Pine Street, the Venetian Soda Lounge is a speakeasy-style cocktail and soda stop featuring creative drinks (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic), a Prohibition-era inspired appearance and so many weekly events like karaoke Sundays, and Wednesday trivia night, and special events, like murder mystery dinner where everyone’s a suspect!
Muddy Waters
This spot is quintessential, quirky Burlington. Stepping inside feels like you’ve just climbed into a tree house… but one with really good coffee and lots of funky art.
Poco
No reservations, intimate setting, sharable plates – need we say more? Poco oozes “it” spot energy, and for good reason. The menu rotates weekly with eclectic and seasonal bites that never disappoint (if the fingerling potatoes are on the menu when you go, GET THEM). Show your visitor you know what’s up by getting there early to snag a table (they open at 5:30 and fill up quick!), or swing by closer to close to share an app at the bar.
Al’s French Frys
Al’s is a local fav for a reason. It’s been around since the 1940s and still has that retro diner vibe that makes you want to grab a booth and yap about life over some milkshakes. Plus, they’re open ‘til midnight on weekends, making for the perfect late-night spot when you’re craving a burger and fries.
Pingala
A food-truck inspired, all vegan masterpiece with two locations in Burlington! They have smoothies, bowls, crunch wraps, sandwiches…pretty much anything you can think of!
