Garlic John's

I went here twice when I was in VT last week. The food was pretty damn good, the service was good, and the prices were reasonable. I will definitely keep this place in mind the next time I head up that way.

Garlic John's needs to look into getting someone on staff who can figure out basic economic principles of how to optimize revenue.  Had the really unfortunate experience recently where the bartender insisted on trying to charge us a split entree fee when my Mother and I had ordered 3 dishes in total, yet 2 of them appeared on the appetizer portion of the menu.  Split entree fees are big in this area, I guess to detract tourists from sharing meals and establishments from not taking in full revenue during the few times a year it is more crowded here (ski season).

The average entre price was around $11, as all pasta come in half or full orders ranging from about $9 - $16.  One of the appetizers we ordered, mussels, was more expensive than more than half of the entrees.  I asked if this could qualify as my entree. "No." The salad we ordered was also more than 4 of the entres.  Can this qualify as my entree? "No."  I think tried to appeal to basic math and profit potential - if I paid the split charge on just one entree, the restaurant would earn $17 from 2 people on food, an ave of $8.50 pp.  If they allowed us to order the entree and then an app, the restaurant would make $25. Yes, they would cook 2 dishes, but the ave check would be $12.50 pp, still more than the average entree price on the menu.  We were trying to order 3 total items for 2 people for $32, at $16 pp - double what they would make off the split charge up-fee.  In that scenario, we'd already passed what I believe to be the spirit of the 'rule' of one dish pp, we were at 1.5 dishes.  Out of principle, I refused to pay the fee, so reduced the order to the 2 appetizers only, for which we then paid a total of $19 in food, less money than the restaurant would have earned if they applied the split charge and less than if they allowed us to keep the original order (note we only stayed because everything in this town closes at 9pm and Garlic John's is open till 11).

I left upset, but more so feeling troubled that they could not grasp such basic concepts of economics and how to run a profitable business.  The profit potential is obviously further lessened here because I will never go back and will encourage anyone in the area to approach with caution.

yay for gluten-free Italian food!  i had the shellfish in brodo with gluten-free penne and it was delicious.  it had more p.e.i. mussels than clams and shrimp - and unfortunately for me i learned the hard way that i don't care for p.e.i. mussels.  but i picked some of them out and the rest of it was great.  the salad was too small but good and our server was great.