Delicious food, wonderful ambiance and a raging waterfall to boot. Our meal began with a lovely glass of red from Italy and the beet bites. Flavorful, cheesy and a bit aggressive. For appetizers a lobster on a parsnip mash followed by the special -- short ribs on peas which was tasty but not amazing and a bit heavy for a summer evening. The bf got the scallops and after I tried them after never liking scallops I'm a convert. Settled on a base of bean salad, it made for the perfect summer entree. Lastly, we dipped into a strawberry sorbet crumble- yum!
In addition, there were flash flood warnings the whole day and the waterfall was the highest since hurricane Irene. Everyone was super excited. The biggest complaint was their inability to honor our reservation in the window box seat. This is the best seat in the house, and would've been even more exciting bc of the raging river and they did not kick out  the people who were SLOWLy drinking their bottle of wine. Disappointed!
My first time here and it was delicious. Â We had a great seat outside by the waterfalls on a nice summer night. Â The grilled octopus was my favorite dish of the night, but everything we had was really good. Â Our service was great and i look forward to coming back again sometime soon.
Review Source:One of the best restaurant experiences (if not the best) I have ever had. The staff was extremely friendly, even the chefs wished me well on my way out, as well as over-the-top knowledgeable about every ingredient in the dishes. The food was incredible. We had appetizers, cheese plates (the cheese was absolutely wonderful), drinks (Hill Farmstead and The Alchemist's Heady Topper on tap) as well as entrees. I had the Hanger Steak, which blew my expectations away - almost suspiciously delicious (in a good way). Highly recommended. Parking lot had ample spaces and we ate at 7:00 on a Saturday (made reservations a month in advance though, just in case). Easily 5 stars. A hidden gem.
Review Source:Amazing..simply AMAZING. Â The food, the service, the ambiance. Â They know their s%$t. Â I love places that know their s$%t. Â You will not be disappointed we had everything on the menu that night, not kidding. Â Every morsel of food we put in our mouths made our eyes roll to the back of our heads. Â The staff could not have been more accommodating and friendly. Â I'm glad I don't live there or I would spend all my money at this place! Â I would have a cot on the deck.. yes..YES. Â It's That good.
Review Source:My boyfriend and I came back to Stowe over the last weekend, and made reservations for Hen of the Wood on 6/6. Again, this is easily the best meal I've ever had- except for maybe when I was here back in August of 2012. The sausage and polenta with the sunny side up duck egg is THE BEST dish I have ever had- ever. I honestly cannot imagine something tasting better than that. I had the braised rabbit for an entree, and the frozen yogurt sundae for a dessert. My goodness, the quality and care put into these dishes is just not comparable to anything else. The waitstaff is incredibly friendly, the host was very pleasant and helpful, and the chef waves off his guests and says thanks when they walk out. Their attention to detail, flavor pairings, atmosphere and general vibe is just so over the top amazing I can't really describe it- just go and find out for yourself. You will absolutely not be disappointed.
Review Source:Maybe my expectations were just too high for Hen of the Wood.
Overall, I had an OK experience, which at this price point, is not cool! I eat vegetarian, so maybe they're not well-versed in the ways of non-meat eaters?
The highlight: the cheese with rhubarb jam and delicious little brown sugar-maple chips.
The rest: flavors were nothing special! Everything tasted OK, but not especially tasty. I had a roasted vegetable entree that was so, so, so lackluster.
ALSO - please draw white lines so people park efficiently in your lot! It's just common sense and good service to your customers.
First time here. It didn't start well because there were no parking spaces and no valet and no white lines on the ground to tell people where to park so there was extra space between cars but not enough space to park. We parked 1/8 of a mile under a bridge and walked up...
Here's what we ate and drank:
1 Tarentaise - $7
1 Sweet Peas - $7
1 Beets - $7
1 Redfish - $25
1 Roasted Vegetables - $19
1 Folk Machine (Wine) - $52
1 Opera Cake - $8
Tax: $11.77
Total: $136.77
The Tarentaise was a cheese with hazelnuts and 2 types of jam. Â That along with the beets, wine and cake were the parts worth recommending.
The peas and both of our entrees were only OK.
In general the portions were small. Â The presentation and atmosphere was nice but neither made up for the small portions or the unimpressive flavors.
The waiter was attentive but not warm.
At the price, I expected more. Â Perhaps the food is more impressive if you are a meat eater since people have written nice reviews about some of the meat dishes. However, they don't seem to cater to vegetarians - they simply try to accommodate them with a few dishes.
Other restaurants like Prohibition Pig in Waterbury and The Farm House Tap & Grill in Burlington offer better food, better prices and therefore a better value. Hen of the Wood has a nicer atmosphere than either of them but it's not worth paying their prices just for that.
LIsten........ Â Please go to Hen of the Woods. Â Please get the pork anything. even if you dont eat pork, go. Â I took my bfriend to Stowe for his bday and i regret nothing because of this restaurant. Â They also gave me the good advice to go to Pistou in Burlington and that also blew us away. Â Go Vermont:)
Review Source:I have been going to Stowe for years, and I would keep reading of this place Hen of the Wood written up all over the place. Our last long weekend away we went to Hen of the Wood back ot back nights because we were worried our friends may want to try somewhere else since they were arriving a day later then us. Two fantastic yet completely different meals that is what you get for a rotating daily menu. Â
I would skip the bread basket (although AMAZING) to save room for dessert. It is not to be missed.
Well, let's discuss ambiance. Gorgeous decor - tucked away in an old homestead basement. We had a reservation but had to wait a while due to a large party... which was not a problem as we were comped 3 cocktails including an apple jack, an elderberry fizz and an orleans, all 3 were wonderful. Not only this, but they also brought us all 3 starters on the menu: beet caprese, pickled carrots & cauliflower, pollenta on the house. For my entree, I had pan-seared scallops which were large yet tender and came over a rich lobster potato stew. Finally, for desert we had a trio of sorbets: red wine/pear, lemon/lime, lemon/maple which were both pallet cleansing & stomach calming after all the wonderful cuisine.
Review Source:My family has been skiing Stowe for years, and it wasn't until this past winter that we finally checked out Hen of the Wood. I was actually blown away by my experience; I had not expected a restaurant of this caliber in rural Vermont.
Wine was phenomenal, dinner was delicious, and, oh my lord, the cheese. Nothing makes me happier than ending a meal with a well-curated cheese plate, and this topped it all.
Service was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive.
The decor and atmosphere is also a highlight; make sure to go outside and check out the watermill.
Hen of the Wood really is as good as it gets. *Everything* was beyond good - delicious, subtle, pretty, unusual. The standout was the beef short ribs with gnocchi. Meltingly rich and beefy, yet lightly sauced, with the best gnocchi I've ever had. Really the definitive gnocchi. Crispy haddock was also great, as was the pork loin.
We loved the "bites" (little appetizers) and shared many. Great vegetable things. (The Crispy Prosciutto should really be called Marinated Vegetables with Crispy Prosciutto tho - there's not that much ham in it!). The kale and turnip sides were also yummy.
Service was very pleasant and attentive.
We loved it.
We went to Hen of the Wood on the last night of our three night visit in Stowe. Though we had great experiences at other restaurants in the area, Hen of the Wood was the best. In fact, it may be one of the best restaurants in New England.
We called to make a reservation on a Saturday night, but did not realize how difficult it is to get a table at this place. We lucked out because a party had canceled and we got their table. So, call way ahead and make reservations.
First off, the restaurant itself is beautiful and resides in an old mill building built in the early 1800's. Â Walking downstairs you are embraced by an extremely warm and cozy dining room with perfect lighting. Â Rustic and elegant, but not overly fancy, much like the menu. Â The host also happened to be the co-owner and the sommelier. He was incredibly nice and really put a personal touch to the restaurant. The food is incredible. They focus on farm to table and a forever changing menu. Â
Apps-
Hen of the wood. Â Wild mushrooms and bacon on grilled toast topped with a poached egg- heaven
Entrees-
We got the hanger steak with kale graten with local blue cheese crumbles which was cooked perfect. We also ordered the gloucester day-boat cod, which was so fresh you'd never know you were miles from the ocean.
Sides- Pumpkin polenta- was so smooth and luxurious
Dessert- Sort of blew my mind- Maple french macaroon in the bottom of a wine glass topped with maple mousse and candied nuts then topped with house made  butter pecan ice cream.  There was a pinch of salt in the dish as well and when the flavors combined it tasted like salted caramel, but laced with a background of vermont maple syrup.
The service was impeccable and the dining atmosphere could not have been more perfect for the overall experience. This restaurant is worth a trip, even if you have to drive a few hours to get there.
We've been here twice, and each time the food was fantastic. Personally, I love the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs go about their business. The decor is warm and inviting, informal enough for families and romantic enough for couples. The sensation of being near a waterfall due to the water mill out back is indescribable - a "wow" moment the first time we were there.
The host is also the sommelier, and his recommendations were, both times, very good and accurate for the food we ordered. I wish I could remember the exact wine he recommended during our first visit - but I do remember that I had the chicken, and the crispy skin from the chicken brought out the woodsy/oaky notes in the red wine. It was an amazing taste experience.
Hen of the Wood is quite expensive but definitely worth it. They have a number of events throughout the year that we'd like to be able to get to - mostly wine and food pairing dinners featuring locally sourced ingredients. Love this place!
Pure excellence.
We dined here this evening, very much anticipating the visit after reading so many glowing reviews. Â Hen of the Wood exceeded those expectations with ease.
This is a place that prides themselves on using (as much as possible) locally sourced ingredients, as demonstrated by a menu that is printed daily, offering different dishes depending on what is in season and what is available.
Upon arriving, you will hear the sound of rushing water from behind the restaurant - a reminder of the building's original purpose as a mill. Â The water can be seen from a viewing deck, and also from inside the restaurant. Â Inside, the rustic interior is warm and inviting, with dark woods, deep red walls, and a stone-layered wall with votive candles placed on various outcroppings. Â The intimate lighting and seating lends a classy touch.
We began our meal with the "Pawlet" cheese plate and the Duck Sausage & Local Cornmeal Polenta. Â While the cheese was excellent, there were only two small pieces - this was the only slight disappointment of the meal. Â The duck sausage was very savory, mixed with a creamy corn polenta and topped with a duck egg prepared sunny-side up.
My husband opted for the Smoked Hangar Steak, which appears to be a standard on the menu. Â Prepared medium-rare, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender with a nice, smokey flavor. Â I ordered one of the night's specials (not on the menu), which was Rabbit with Potato Gnocchi and Cauliflower. Â This seemed to be a popular menu item, as I overheard several other tables around us ordering it as well. Â The rabbit was amazingly tender, a little on the salty side but still very good. Â The pan-seared gnocchi had a crisp exterior with a mashed potato-esque interior. Â Just fabulous.
We ended our meal with the Pear Tart Tatin and coffee. Â The pears were sweet, with a thin, buttery tart crust on the bottom and caramelized sugar on top.
Service was impeccable from start to finish. Â Our server was very pleasant and attentive, ensuring the meal was well-paced and relaxed.
Be sure to make reservations. Â We called about two weeks in advance and they only had three reservations available. Â The restaurant was full when we left, with two couples enjoying cheese and wine in the waiting area, obviously waiting for a table.
You must go to Hen of the Wood. If you are a fan of farm to table, restored antique buildings and chef-owned restaurants, it's not an option. You must go. Not only is the food exceptional, but the ambiance and ferocious commitment to local ingredients will elevate a simple meal here to a remarkable EXPERIENCE.
The most delectable food I've ever had has been home-cooked and from street stalls and food carts in India and southeast Asia. Nothing quite compares to this. But a meal, a real sit-down meal in a nice restaurant...that's different.
You remember a few meals in your lifetime. Part of this memory is built upon memories of the food, but most of it hinges on the company, the service, the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells, the pace of the meal. During our time at Hen of the Wood, I was suspended in a happy haze of meals past: reminded of falling in love at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal, my sore euphoria at Fid Resto in Halifax after a week of hiking Cape Breton, my deep belly laughter at Ten Tables in Boston; transported back to the thrill of new friendships I experienced over the most tender roast chicken in Riga, Latvia; reminded of my tired relief while slurping ridiculously good bone marrow at The Black Hoof in Toronto, my pure bliss while sinking into soft smoked pastrami at Good Luck in Rochester NY, the feelings of quiet familiarity over meltaway steak at Eden in Dublin; the excitement of the unknown while biting into layers of kangaroo lasagna at an isolated cafe in outback Australia. Hen of the Wood reminded me of some of the most happy moments I've known in life thus far and this, I have to say, is what a great meal is all about.
We started with local cheeses - Jasper Hill Hazen Blue (raw cow - sharp, soft, pungent, salty) and the Boston Post Dairy (raw goat, hard, mild), which were accompanied by sweet drizzly honeycomb and curiously gritty fig bread. A very interesting combination. It was over and I still wanted more.
Then we had my favorite dish of the evening: garlicky wild mushrooms and spinach sauteed in butter and piled atop dense olive oil-infused toast, topped with a glorious poached egg. Cut into the egg and let the yellow runny yolk coat the salty mushroom and crisp toast in all its goodness. Marvelous. We also had a duck rillette special: heavily salted duck simmered slowly in duck fat and allowed to cool and gel into a pate that was spread over more of the delicious olive oil infused bread. Oh, my arteries were hardening.
The main course was the smoked hangar steak, medium rare, covered in a rich balsamic reduction with flecks of sharp soft blue cheese. A truly delicious and savory marriage.
The service was friendly and unobtrusive. Our waitress had a true passion for the place that she conveyed without being pushy or effusive. The atmosphere was casual upscale, intimate and relaxed. It's in a restored mill next to the waterfall. Think stone walls, candles, rustic chandeliers, wooden tables. You can order wines by the glass, carafe or bottle. We were too full for dessert, unfortunately.
Go to Hen of the Wood with an open mind, a sense of adventure, reverence for the past and an appreciation for being in the moment. I think the experience will not disappoint!
Of note: I did call to make reservations, approximately 5 weeks in advance. Make sure to plan your visit accordingly.
The best. Â Before you die, eat here. Â
When you see the menu, you'll regret that you had lunch.
When you try to choose just one bottle of wine, you'll wish you'd taken a taxi.
When you taste your food, you'll be swallowing very, very slowly and cutting your plate smaller and smaller to extend the experience.
When you pay, it will not be a small amount of cash, but you will feel that you got a bargain.
When you leave, you'll be planning your return trip.
Go. Â Reserve a week or two out and go.
Take a short or long drive.....and be impressed!
Well where do we start? Having heard a number of good personal reports we thought we'd celebrate our 7th anniversary of arriving in the US to become innkeepers with a dinner of note. We like good creative food cooked with passion in a not too poncy atmosphere, and as we walked in the chef said 'Hello....' This was a good beginning!
The server who was jolly pretty and knew her onions, only added to the feeling that these folks cared about food. We had starters of oysters deep fired in a light no greasy batter and calamari so tender they melted in your mouth. Followed this by the daily specials of rabbit and skate.....again 10/10. For puds we shared the ice cream...and it delivered freshness and taste. A few various glasses of wine through the meal and suddenly we were $160.00 lighter....but we were happy and contented!
As we left the kitchen staff said 'goodbye...' now how many restaurants in Vermont can you actually see the kitchen let alone get acknowledged by the kitchen staff?
Took the dog for an amble before we hit the road home and both of us thought...we'll come again!
It really is a great eating place, the sort you expect to find in a city but it is in a backwater in Vermont....long may the place continue to thrive!
Oh my.
To say I had high expectations coming in was an understatement, and they were exceeded in almost every way.
Ambiance was pleasant; fairly intimate, but casual. Â It wasn't quiet inside, nor was it overly loud - an animated conversation wouldn't be out of place.
Service was very good - not amazing. Â The waitress was knowledgeable where we had questions, and provided prompt service. Â The meal progressed at a relaxed pace (2 hours for 3 courses), and at no point did we feel rushed.
The food was the star of the evening. Â The weakest link was the bean salad with poached egg and bacon - everything on their own was great, but all together, I think the egg/bacon/vinaigrette/bean combination is a bit much. Â The dish was still good, though.
The duck egg served over polenta and duck sausage was perfect. Â Just order it. Thinking of getting something else? Â Think again.
 I ordered pork - it included two pieces of loin, a piece of pork belly, with sweet corn and a mustard jus - the loin was delicious - the belly was, however, astonishing. The jus and corn were a perfect pairing. And the black carrots were neat, too.
My dining partner got a braised short rib (served off of the rib) dish that was a special for the evening, and it too, was fantastic. It was a very good piece of meat, cooked and seasoned perfectly.
Dessert was actually great, too. Â The pana cotta and plum galette were both great. Â Some comments here indicated that the desserts weren't up to the level of the entrees - that may be the case here, but they were still absolutely delicious.
Oh yeah. Â Even the bread was magnificent.
Overall, it was one of, if not the best dinner I've ever had. Â If you're in the area and can afford the splurge, just do it.
We just got back from a fantastic meal at the Hen of the Wood. The meal was amazing- very rich and flavorful. The menu varies everyday depending on the ingredients available on the local farms. The atmosphere was very pleasant. We sat outside surrounded by the beautiful waterfall. Â It was a bit more fancy and formal inside. Can't wait to go back!
Review Source:Hen of the Wood, is, without a doubt, one of those places you go out of your way to go and visit.
I hadn't been in two years and have dreamt of the time when I could come again.
We ordered the beets (delightful, little gems as always), radicchio and frisee salad with bleu cheese (amazing) and I had the sweet corn dumplings with chanterelle mushrooms.
Not only is the food out of this world, every moment of the dining experience is such a pleasant treat. Our server was amazing. My Manhattan was amazing. My IPA was amazing.
I hope I don't have to wait two years until I get the pleasure of dining here again.
Lotsa reviews on Yelp and almost all are at 4 stars or above. My beloved bride of 30+ years also rates the Hen at 5 stars. At the risk of incurring the wrath of my fellow Yelpers or worse, being consigned by my bride to sleeping in the garage, the best I can do (based on the totality of the dining experience) is three stars.
My 3 stars are based on the following:
No handicap parking areas in the lot.
No handicap access to the dining area. In fact, the dining area is inaccessible to the handicapped. Now I understand, have supported and rallied the support to all who were destroyed by the flooding in Waterbury and can even understand that the Hen's facilities lost their rear deck handicap access because of the flooding but c'mon folks, it has been a year. At the least disclose on your web site handicap inaccessibility or you'll continue to have the occasional individual show up with their mother in a wheel chair and no way in...
Tables are too close together. Â Don't expect a table for two and intimate conversation. Â On our last visit, the table next to ours was seating two young professionals. Â The dance of seduction was in display and totally exposed as (surprise) she was trying her damned best to insure they would end the evening inflagrante. I was betting against her, my wife felt strongly she'd bed him but dismissed the target as not being worth the effort. Bottom line, don't expect privacy and gird yourself for a loud dining experience.
None of my harping is cause for my 3 star rating but it does factor in. The three stars arise out of the food and the drink.
On the drink side, if wine or beer is your thing, you'll be happy with the selection. If you want a mixed drink, say a martini or really any kind of mixed drink, you're in trouble. The Hen has no bartender, your wait staff person is your bar keep and your choices are limited to their mixocology expertise (or lack thereof). Be forewarned. I teased my waitress a bit after  requesting a Cafe Patron on the rocks only to be asked: "What's that? I'll try to make it if we have the ingredients and you can tell me what to do?"
On to the food...I will say that universally the food would be great, I mean really really really great if it weren't for the over the top application of salt on nearly every dish.
I had calamari as a starter. Not your typical rings deep fried in some batter with marina on the side, no, this was THE Calamari. Perfectly cleaned, pure white save for the char of the flames, soft, tender and absolutely perfect except it was salted, no not just salted, way over salted to the point of ruination. A big swing and miss when it could've been a grand slam. I ordered the frites. Perfect perfect perfect-4 frites-the exact shape of a fish stick-not fried but baked-the aioli perfect but again over salted. Way over salted.
My wife opted for the beet salad. I don't do beets but she raved: "These are the
best beets I've ever had." I take her word for it...
She had the duck sausage. Again she raved and raved. I sampled-too much damn sodium chloride again. Â Now I should tell you, my wife has a jones for salt, this despite the fact she's supposed to be on a low sodium diet. Â At the Hen with salt a plenty my wife was in nirvana.
We both had the steak. It was ok. Not remarkable and cooked to perfection. What failed was that it came already cut in bite size portions from the kitchen. Handy but, all those wonderful juices from the medium rare I ordered were flowing out of all those cuts.  We also ordered the smashed potatoes and the greens (potatoes again over salted, the greens not over salted)  but the greens failed.  The greens were chard, woody and not  chopped. They would have been excellent had they simply been chopped once or twice.
Desserts were ok.
I give the Hen credit for trying. If they use garlic (and I don't believe they do)-you'd never know it. They irony of course is that there are no salt or pepper shakers on any table. Thank god for small favors I guess.
Bottom line, too much salt, pricey (dinner for two with tip was $266) and quite honestly while far more adventuresome than The Common Man- a bust. A for effort, C- on delivery.
Last night I visited Hen of the Wood for probably the fourth or fifth time. It was, as always, unbelievable. I went with two friends who are also in the restaurant/hospitality industry, so our standards are high.
I could describe each dish in porny detail, but let me just say I literally teared up when I tasted the duck sausage over polenta with fried egg, needed a quiet moment when I tasted the smoked hanger steak, and seriously discussed ordering a second round of banana cream pudding.
I can't imagine a better vibe, space or taste, Hen of the Wood is truly a gem and I feel so lucky to have it so nearby.
My second visit to Hen of the Wood was much better than my first salty experience. Since reopening last fall, the restaurant looks the same. The menu has the new addition of bites, which are small appetizers for $7 each.
We started our dinner with the braised cod cheeks. It was served with preserved tomatoes and chili flakes - the fish cheeks was exceptional and flaked easily. For starters, I had the crispy oysters served with horseradish aioli, fried lemon, and parsley. It was perfectly fried and even my girlfriend who is not a fan of shellfish liked it enough to eat one. Her roasted parsnip and winter squash soup was great as well. This time, the addition of pancetta to the soup didn't overwhelm the dish with saltiness.
For entrees, I tried the smoked hanger steak with crushed Nicola potatoes and rucola with crème fraîche. The steak was tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The day-boat Gloucester skate wing that my girlfriend had was served with winter squash, pears, hazelnuts, and brown butter. It was cooked and sauced well. The dessert was a cornmeal cake served with a scoop of almond covered crème fraîche ice cream. This along with the braised cod cheeks were the top dishes of the night. Both were served in a miniature cast iron pot so good things must come in small packages.
This was the type of food I first expected from the Hen of the Wood. Fresh, local flavor that highlights the farm-to-table aspect of Vermont fine dining. Congratulations to Chef Eric Warnstedt for garnering another James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef: Northeast 2012.
One of the best, if not the best dinner I've ever had. Looked this place up on Yelp before a recent ski trip and had very high expectations considering the buzz it had generated.
Although I was quite worried I'd leave disappointed (as I too often do from restaurants), I was stunned that it lived up to the reviews 110%. The place is beautiful inside and out, and the service outstanding.
For appetizers, we had a squash soup and duck sausage/cornmeal polenta, both which were fantastic. The sausage, crumbly and salty, was my favorite of the two. Also tried a cheese plate with a sheep's milk bleu cheese, which came with fig bread and was killer.
Dinner was skate over a light broth with mussels, which was lightly breaded and perfectly seared. The other entree was a smoked hanger steak which I will never forget. The most perfect medium rare I've ever seen, topped with an incredibly fresh chimichurri type mixture. Divine.
Dessert was a coffee semifreddo over a chocolate ganache and cookie-ish thing. Again, just stunned by how good it was.
Portions are reasonable for the type of place, and I can't wait to have an excuse to head back to Vermont and dine at Hen of the Wood again.
I went to Hen of the Wood for the second time on a Tuesday night. It seems like each time I have been, I am initially disappointed when I look at the menu at the apparent lack of options because their menu is so small. Upon second look this time, I eventually found something that I wanted to order. I decided to start with their only salad choice - a radicchio and frisee salad with buttermilk, apples, and hazelnuts. When it arrived, it was somewhat bitter and the dressing lacked any real flavor - a disappointing salad overall. For the entree I chose the hangar steak with nicola potatoes and creme. The entree was perfectly cooked and delicious - significantly better than the appetizer and the reason for a 4-star rating. Bread is available to start upon request and comes out warm and is delicious.
There were no desserts that warranted ordering which is very disappointing since desserts are typically why I go to restaurants. I will probably go back to Hen of the Wood at some point, but I haven't had much luck with their menu and I hope that changes in the future.
I agree with another reviewer - I consider Hen of the Wood to be the absolute BEST restaurant in the state (and having grown up here, I've been to a few!). Â Since discovering this hidden gem last year, we've been twice and are planning another visit in a couple of weeks to celebrate my birthday. Â Be prepared to drop some serious money but it is really worth it. Â
The last time we went, we visited with friends of ours from Montreal. Â They were wowed by the atmosphere and quality of the food. Â They still rave about it! Â We dined like kings (and queens!) on the Hen of the Wood (appetizer), homemade sausage with polenta (wow!), lobster ravioli, and later shared four desserts. Â We left fat and deliriously happy. Â
Highly recommend this fine dining restaurant for all of life's special occasions!
This is, in my opinion, the absolute best restaurant in Vermont. There is not one other restaurant I have visited that even comes close. The setting is an old grist mill, and you dine among old river rocks lit by small tea lights. It's intimate and romantic. The chef prepares local, in season food to absolute perfection, consistently. I have been 4 times now, and every time I go I am more and more impressed by the service and the incredible local food. My last meal there a few weeks ago was no exception.
We chose two cheeses (all the cheeses are all local to vermont). The taste of each well explained on the menu or by the server - making it easy to venture out of or stay in your cheese comfort zone. The cheese selections were served with crostini and candied fennel. The candied fennel was to die for - perfect complement to the cheese. I had the lobster tail entree (I got the last one!) and it was the best lobster I have ever had, in a rich butter sauce with a local parsnip mash. So simple and understated, meant to bring out the freshness and superb taste of the ingredients.
The service was, of course, perfect. In past visits I have tried the calamari. They were glad to give me tips on how to cook my own (non-breaded, just pan seared with herbs). I could recommend dishes to you, but as the chef only cooks with the best, local and in-season ingredients he can get, Â the menu fluctuates often. Just know that what you order, will be delicious. And the server will be more than happy to recommend the best wine for the occasion and the food. Thank you Hen of the Wood. I will be back again and again.
This was one of our favorite restaurants when we took a trip to Burlington, Vermont. Â The restaurant is in the downstairs of an old gristmill about 20-minutes from Stowe. Â What makes the decor of the restaurant unique is the exposed river rock, wood beams, candles, and a set of windows overlooking a stream that gives it a cozy feel during the winter months.
The food is fantastic and almost all ingredients are sourced locally from Vermont. Â Because of this, the menu changes daily so it doesn't make much sense to talk about how wonderful our entrees were. Â The food is what you would expect however from a upscale restaurant in Boston or NYC.
If you do want to dine at Hen of the Wood, make your reservation early. Â We made our reservation 2-weeks in advance and got the only available opening on a Saturday night at 5pm. Â If we are in the area again, we will definitely be back.
There is a lot of hype surrounding Hen of the Wood located in the small town of Waterbury near Stowe, VT. The atmosphere is authentic and intimate, some of the food is exciting and tasty. However, here are a few reasons why I put into question five star reviews:
Our experience started with a bottle of wine - smashed at our feet because of poor hand-eye coordination, I suppose. Seriously, one second she is holding the full bottle, next it is at our feet, on our pants, in our shoes... It was cleaned up, but that's about it. We didn't complain but no manager came over to double-check or offer anything. Five-star restaurant?
We each chose several courses, a few of which were very good. However, two of the appetizers and the gnocchi were doused in way too much oil. It was unbearable and even though we weren't full, no one could finish the gnocchi. And I'm not shy when it comes to buttery greasy!
Overall, the wait and kitchen staff, and manager seemed to all be very very young. Being young is certainly OK! But coming off as a young and inexperienced team is not Five-star in my book. If the price and hype was less, I may have given four stars, because some dishes did taste really well.
Hen of the Wood is one of the reasons we were excited about our mini vacation to Vermont last fall. It did not disappoint. Seriously, this is in my Top Five Ever list.
Start with a few cheeses. You're in Vermont, after all. If you don't know what to try, ask your waiter for suggestions. The menu changes daily, so it doesn't make sense to gush about our fantastic meals because they won't be there by the time you go. But rest assured, they were wonderful.
The staff is equally gracious. The location is cozy and quaint, with a grist mill waterfall out back. If it's warm, check out the patio. We loved the history of the place and how it feels like you've discovered a secret relic.
This is a destination restaurant. Make a reservation, plan to linger and wear elastic pants.
Finally got to go back to Hen of the Wood a few nights ago. It was fabulous!
We had the Polenta and Duck Sausage with a Duck Egg, Squash and Leek soup with Brown Butter Croutons, a slaw of Kholrabi Apples and Celeriac, the Mussels, Calamari with Breadcrumbs, Lemon, Parsley and Red Pepper, and Fried Oysters with a Tarragon Aioli and Lemon Zest.
Everything was fabulous!!! The oysters and calamari were standouts for me. The only thing that could've been improved upon was the way the apps were brought out. There were 4 of us and they brought out all 6 apps at the same time. I would have preferred things to be coursed out, and although I didn't ask for it, I would've expected our server to do that. She was really great otherwise and made me 2 fabulous martinis.
My entree goes in the top 20 (at least). It was Maine lobster out of the shell over a parsnip puree, with hen of the woods mushrooms, and mirepoix. Oh and about a stick of butter! Incredibly delicious. It was a special, and I secured on of the last two. Yay!
This restaurant really is an amazing place, definitely visit if you can.
Went to Hen of the Woods during Vermont restaurant week. $35 for 3 course meal (cheese, appetizer and entree). This is clearly a new venture for Vermont and this restaurant hasn't learned what the other big city places are doing (aka offering pre-cooked cheap stuff for restaurant week...). Lucky for me...
Location: I love the Stowe area in general, but it is settled in an old mill with great views of the river right next of it. Even has an outdoor porch area.
Environment: Quiet, warm. Great for a date or a small party. My date and I got the high chair seat overlooking the river which was fantastic.
Food: We both had salads for appetizer, done very well. I had the duck with a dark Asian sauce for my entree. Duck was cooked perfectly, the sauce was a little on the salty side. But I usually don't like salty food in general. My date thought it tasted super good. I tried his salmon. Cooked to perfection, nothing to pick there. I picked a soft cheese but it ended up being very "barn-yardy". Completely my own fault for not asking before ordering. We ordered profiteroles for dessert in addition, which was a great ending to a good meal.
Service: Top notch, the waiters seem to know a lot about their food, albeit sometimes opinionated. Very attentive.
Overall: Great dining experience at $35 a pop is a great deal. Â But restaurant week only comes once a year. No need to wait that long, the food is still worth the regular price.
When you first move to this area and you ask about restaurants, you are basically guaranteed to be told that you have to go to Hen of the Wood. Â They will rave and rave about it and how good it is and what an incredible experience it is. Â
It is a rare occasion that the reality lives up to the hype, but this is one of them. Â
First of all, the ambiance is fantastic - this is a small restaurant (which means it is very difficult to get reservations, and you NEED reservations) that is very intimate and has a ton of character. Â If you're lucky enough to score a seat by the window that overlooks the river, you're in for a really unique experience, but it really doesn't matter where you sit - we sat right by the entrance of the restaurant and we enjoyed the surroundings and the view of the kitchen. Â
Food is just fabulous - locally sourced and perfectly prepared. Â I would tell you what we had, but it is kind of a moot point, since the menu changes regularly. Â If you happen to be there when the lobster and hen of the wood mushroom appetizer is on the menu, get it! Â You will understand why the mushroom was worthy of naming a restaurant after it.
The service is highly attentive but by no means stuffy - our waiter joked with us and while he took great care of us, he also didn't fuss or rush us, which made for a pleasantly long, luxurious meal.
Its been a while since I did a 5 star review but this is NOT out of pity or feeling as though I'm due a 5 star to yelp. This place hit ALL the marks save for, admittedly, the dessert. That said, with all the negative comments, why would I order it? I was in a state of bliss I tell you and I had to try everything. But stick with the cheese as a way to finish.
Yes, the portions are somewhat small but, considering the prices, I think its entirely reasonable. We started with the pork belly, the rabbit toast and the mixed greens split between my wife and I. She then had the ricotta gnocchi and I had the pork loin. That might have been the best pork loin I've ever eaten and I've been to the little owl.
We had a bottle of the Willamette Pinot with dinner (had pre-dinner beers at the Alchemist - also highly recommended) and then two cheeses for dessert along with the coffee cake/blueberry crumble thing. It wasn't awful but just not in the realm of the rest of the meal. All this, plus 20% tip and it came to just under $200. I'm not going to say this was cheap but for the quality of the food and service (plus we had 3 appetizers + 2 mains + 2 cheeses and a dessert and a bottle of wine) it was perhaps better than reasonable.
We hiked the appalachian trail the next day to fight off the calories and it was worth it I tell you.
One of the best meals ever, well worth traveling to the Waterbury area just to have dinner at Hen of the Wood. Â
If you love the idea of local food, sustainable food ...
If you love the idea of a menu selected each day based on what are the finest ingredients available...
If you love the idea of eating in a beautifully scenic and unique atmosphere....
If you love the idea of selecting from a large menu of hand selected local cheeses...
If you love great food, great service, and walking out of restaurant on a food high....
you will LOVE Hen of the Woods. Â
Incredibly fresh salmon, grass fed steak, homemade ricotta dumplings, hand foraged mushrooms, delicious brightly colored vegetables-- i cant say enough!  Their award winning chef does a wonderful job of combining simplicity  (offering ingredient focused dishes) with great chefsmanship (also offering more creative options where appropriate).  Their cheese menu is outstanding and so varied we had a hard time selecting.  Its worth it to visit this restaurant just for the cheeses!  (note-- some people order their cheese as a first course but I recommend saving it for the end of the meal.)  Menus change daily so an open mind is an absolute requirement. Â
I rarely pay a lot of attention to service, unless there was something wrong with it, but Hen of the Woods provided exceptional unhurried service. Â Our waitress was knowledgable and helpful about everything on the menu, and I followed her recommendations all evening with outstanding results. Â
The beauty and simplicity of the atmosphere matches the food perfectly. Â The tables are comfortable and large and the view is -- well, perfect!
Amazing food surrounded by the beauty of Northern Vermont's green mountains-- Â consider a trip to Hen of the Woods to be a special occasion worth celebrating. Â After a memorable evening, we walked out of Hen of the Woods happy, somewhat food drunk...we lit some great cigars, and watched the stars thinking...life is good.
After reading Mark Bittman's article about local Vermont cuisine, I was dying to check this place out.
My friend and I drove up from Boston, met another friend in Montpelier and headed over to dinner this past Saturday. Â I should start by saying that this dinner was not only worth the price, but also worth the ~6 hours I spent in a car this weekend. Â Yeah.
We started off with a cheese plate--they have an extensive menu of local cheeses. Â We went with the blue cheese, a triple cream, and something from Jasper Hills Farm (who'll be opening their cheese cave to the public soon). Â They were all excellent and absolutely delicious paired with bread and a pear sauce.
According to the website, the menu changes on a daily basis, so you might have different offerings, but our table ended up getting the halibut, the steak and the sheep's milk gnocchi. Â I didn't try the halibut, but my friend said it was perfectly cooked. Â I had a taste of the steak, which was quite delightful. Â The gnocchi was, in my mind, the hit of the evening. Â They were delicious little pillows of flavor. Â I thought that the flava bean topping was going to be a little odd, but it was absolutely delicious. Â If they're serving this when you're there, I would strongly recommend it.
The dessert was the weak link here, and it was still pretty damn good. Â We had the chocolate cake, served with malted chocolate ice cream. Â I thought the ice cream was delicious, but wished the cake had been served warm. Â We all agreed that it would have been nice if they served espresso drinks, a cappuccino would have topped the meal off nicely.
To be perfectly honest, I was surprised by the price. Granted, I had a vegetarian entree, but the whole meal ran me about $35. I've spent more on a mediocre night at a crummy bar in Boston. Â
We didn't have a problem getting reservations, but we did make them about two weeks in advance. Â
Moral of the story: Plan ahead, if you're anywhere in New England, this place is worth the trip. Get the gnocchi.
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