The Great Debate: Vermont’s Best BBQ / Pizza / Seafood Spots Ranked
In Burlington, Vermont’s largest city nestled on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, you’ll find American Flatbread, a beloved spot just a few minutes from downtown’s Church Street Marketplace. This eatery elevates pizza beyond simple fast food by baking it in wood-fired ovens using organic local ingredients. Their thin, crackly crusts topped with fresh Vermont cheeses and seasonal vegetables celebrate the state’s agricultural bounty. Dining here in the warm months is especially magical on their outdoor patio, where views of the lake and Adirondack Mountains blend with the scent of pine smoke. The rustic yet artful approach to pizza at American Flatbread highlights Vermont’s farm-to-table ethos and makes it a must-visit for pizza aficionados.
Heading about 35 minutes southeast of Burlington to the town of Middlebury, you’ll find a different kind of culinary delight at Otter Creek Brewing. While known for craft beers, they also serve up a smoky barbecue experience that’s rare in Vermont’s landscape of maple syrup and cheese shops. Their signature pulled pork, slow-cooked over hardwood, carries a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with their house-made sauces. The brewery’s rustic taproom, housed in a historic mill building by the Otter Creek river, adds a cozy vibe to the smoky flavors. Visiting during fall, when the surrounding Vermont foliage explodes in reds and golds, enhances the sensory feast and makes the barbecue here stand apart from other regional offerings.
For seafood lovers, a visit to The Blue Paddle Bistro in Montpelier, Vermont’s state capital about 40 minutes east of Burlington, delivers a unique inland taste of the ocean. This bistro champions fresh, sustainably sourced seafood, including oysters and lobster, brought up from the nearby New England coast. The Blue Paddle’s thoughtful preparations—like a crisp oyster po’ boy with a Vermont twist—showcase how even landlocked Vermont can surprise with its seafood prowess. The intimate dining room, decorated with local art, invites a relaxed meal. Early spring is a great time to visit when the menu features the first shucking of the season’s oysters, making it a true treat for those craving fresh shellfish.
In Barre, roughly 25 minutes southeast of Montpelier, a town known for its granite quarries rather than its culinary scene, lies The Lion’s Den BBQ, an unassuming spot that has quietly built a reputation for authentic smoked meats. Their brisket, rubbed and smoked low and slow over Vermont applewood, offers a tender, flavorful bite that feels both hearty and refined. The rugged, industrial interior echoes Barre’s quarry past, creating a unique atmosphere where smoke and stone meet. Visiting in the colder months here can turn a meal at The Lion’s Den into a cozy refuge, warming visitors after exploring the nearby Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, one of the largest in the world.
Stowe, a charming mountain town about 45 minutes northeast of Burlington, stands out not just for skiing but for its pizza at Piecasso, a colorful pizzeria that blends New York-style pizza with Vermont ingredients. The restaurant’s signature pies feature thick, chewy crusts topped with robust, locally made sausages and fresh cheeses from nearby dairies. Its lively atmosphere, filled with art-inspired decor, captures the creative spirit of the region. Summer evenings on Piecasso’s patio provide a lively spot to enjoy a slice after hiking the Stowe Recreation Path or climbing the nearby Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, whose summit rewards hikers with panoramic views of the Green Mountains.
Down in Brattleboro, in the southeastern corner of Vermont about an hour and a half southeast of Montpelier, the Windham Restaurant serves up a BBQ experience that stands out with its southern-style ribs and smoked chicken. The restaurant embraces its local roots by sourcing pork and chicken from regional farms, then slow-smoking the meats over Vermont hardwoods to develop deep, layered flavors. Windham’s rustic-chic interior reflects Brattleboro’s artsy, independent vibe. Visiting during the vibrant fall festival season enhances the experience, as the town buzzes with creativity and the barbecue’s smoky aromas mingle with crisp autumn air.
Lastly, near the northeastern town of Newport on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, the Lakeview Restaurant offers a surprising seafood escape about an hour northeast of St. Johnsbury. Known for its fresh fish dishes, it leverages the lake’s own bounty alongside imported Atlantic seafood. Their pan-seared trout, caught locally, is a standout, served with locally grown herbs. The restaurant’s large windows frame sweeping views of the lake’s shimmering waters, especially striking at sunset. Summer evenings here create an idyllic setting where visitors can unwind after exploring the scenic Clyde River Trail or the nearby Memphremagog State Park, marrying local landscapes with seafood flavors in a distinctively Vermont way.